Tag Archives: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Renewed Day By Day

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 120 - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - Renewed Day By Day - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 120 – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Renewed Day By Day – Growing As Disciples

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) 

Don’t Lose Heart

Don’t lose heart. Why should I not lose heart? That is a good question. I will tell you how you will certainly lose heart. How is that? If your heart and mind and life are focused on this life and the things of this earth, you will certainly lose heart. Why is that? This sin broken world is full of pain and suffering and sickness and death. When sin came into this world it ceased to function according to its original design. Nothing in this world has been left untouched by sin. Does any of this surprise you? No, not at all. Look at your own body. You are no longer as young as you once were. Outwardly, your body is wasting away. You are growing old. Yes, I am. If you were to focus on the passage of time and the condition of your body, you would certainly lose heart. Yes, that is true. Look at the changes that have been occurring all around. Friends have come and gone. Love ones have passed away. You have experienced significant loses. There is no doubt about that. Look at what were once your prized possessions. Most are long gone from rust and decay. Are we coming to the encouraging part yet? If we keep going, I might continue to lose even more heart. I want you to see that nothing from this life will keep you from losing heart. I get that. You have me convinced. That’s good.

Maybe I should ask a better question. What’s that? How can I be kept from losing heart? That is a far better question. I will help you with the answer. I’d like that. Focus your heart and mind and life on me. Focus your heart and mind and life on what is unseen and eternal. Focus your heart and mind life on the fact that I am renewing you inwardly day by day. I am doing a work in you every day as you love and follow and serve me. This life and all that is in it will pass away. The troubles of this life are but for a moment. One day you will come to live forever with me in the glorious splendor of heaven. Follow me to where I lead. Do what I give you to do. Bear fruit for my kingdom. Bring glory to my name. Allow me to use you for my purposes to fulfil my plans. Do all these things and you will never lose heart. I will do all that you are asking of me. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, it is obvious that my body is wasting away. That does not discourage me. I know that I am not meant for this life. No, day by day you are renewing me inwardly. You are helping me to keep my focus on you and what is unseen and eternal. Thank you for that. Amen

Key Question… What are you now doing solely because your focus is on the unseen and eternal?

Living It Out… Fix your eyes on what is unseen and eternal as the Lord renews you inwardly day by day.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is renewing you inwardly day by day as you fix your eyes on what is unseen and eternal.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been renewing you inwardly day by day.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you fix your eyes on what is unseen and eternal.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Promises – Day 120 – 2 Corinthians 4-16-18 – Renewed Day By Day – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Renewed Day By Day

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 24 - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - Renewed Day By Day - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 24 – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Renewed Day By Day – Growing As Disciples

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) 

Renewed Inwardly

I don’t know why I thought I would be young forever. How have all the years gone by so quickly? Who is that old person staring back at me in the mirror? Is that really me? I can hardly believe it. I can think of days long ago that seem like yesterday. People and places and things are all quite different, nothing looks the same. Everything has changed. Nothing remains as it once was.  Now, I know without a doubt, that this life is like a blink of an eye or a snap of the fingers. Soon, my life here will be over. I could be sad. I could be discouraged. I could be depressed. I could feel the pain and suffering of loss. But, I don’t. I think and feel none of those things. Why is that? My heart and mind and life are not focused on this life. What I can see from this life does not command my attention. In many ways this life is like a mirage up ahead on a hot roadway. This life is not the ultimate reality. You have so much more for me. Eternal life awaits me. So, my heart and mind and life are focused on the unseen. My heart and mind and life are focused on you and heaven that is prepared for me. So, I am not discouraged or depressed. I feel no pain and suffering with loss. I have everything to gain when I begin my new life with you. Yes, you do.

But there is more. What else is there? As my outward body wastes away, I am being renewed inwardly day by day. You are molding me. You are shaping me. You have given me a new heart and mind. You have fixed my heart and mind and life on you. So, I am lifted up. I am encouraged. I am spurred on to live the rest of my life with and for you. For me, eternal life has already begun. You are now preparing me for my final destination. Soon, I will come to live forever in heaven with you. Yes, you will. I eagerly look forward to that day. That is very good.

Lord, it is obvious, my outward body is wasting away. That could be discouraging if this life was my focus. My heart and mind and life are focused on you. I’m looking at what is invisible and eternal. Keep on renewing me inwardly as I love, follow and serve you. Amen

Key Question… What spiritual disciplines has the Lord used to renew you inwardly?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to renew you inwardly day by day as you love, follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is renewing you inwardly day by day as you keep yourself focused on Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been renewing you inwardly.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to continue His day by day renewal of you inwardly.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Becoming Like Christ – Day 24 – 2 Corinthians 4-16-18 – Renewed Day By Day – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Making New Life

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 136 - Making New Life - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 136 – Making New Life – Growing As Disciples

So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace.  These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us.  There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (MSG)

Finish Strong

I know that my body is wasting away. Nothing works quite as well as it once did. I have aches and pains like never before. The snap, crackle, and pop of my body reveals something about my age. Who is that old guy looking back at me in the mirror? That could not be me. Well, guess what? It is me. With this realization I could become discouraged. I could give up. That won’t happen. Why is that? Why will you not become discouraged? Why will you not give up and quit? I know what is true. What’s that? What is true? As my body wastes away and basically falls apart on the outside, you are renewing me on the inside. Day by day, your Holy Spirit is doing a work inside me. You are renewing my spirit. You are making me fresh and alive in you. You are filling my life with joy and peace and hope. You are continually changing my perspective. How so? I am no longer captivated by the world and all I see. I know all that is seen today will be gone tomorrow. This life is like a mirage on a sun scorched road just ahead. It’s only here for moment. What will last forever is what I cannot see. What can’t you see? I can’t yet see the life I will have forever in heaven with you. I can’t see the celebration awaiting my arrival in heaven. I can’t see the new and glorious body you have prepared for me. I can’t imagine that my life in heaven, with you, will never end. That thought, makes my head spin. I can’t comprehend all your goodness. The best of this life will not compare with what you have waiting for me in heaven. You are correct. You are right to be encouraged. Keep your heart and mind and eyes focused on me. Keep on living your life fully for me. Run the face of faith with me. Finish strong. Sprint to the end. Cross the finish line with a flourish. Everything that has been difficult or trying or challenging for you in this life will be forgotten in an instant, once you are with me. Heavenly Father, thank you for kindness and mercy and love. I will run the race of faith. I will finish strong. I will sprint to the end until I am with you. That will be very good. 

Heavenly Father, even though my outward body is falling apart I will not become discouraged and give up. I know that day by day you are renewing me on the inside. Keep doing your good work in me. Help me to run fast and finish strong in my life of faith in you. Amen

Key Question…  Why should you never become discouraged as you age, and your body starts to fall apart?

Living It Out…  Keep on moving forward with the Lord so you will finish strong in your life of faith with Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will renew you on the inside even as your body falls apart on the outside.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how day by day God has been renewing you on the inside.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you never give up because God is renewing you inside day by day as you love, follow, and serve Him.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Devotional Study Guide click here

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 136 – 2 Corinthians 4-16-18 – Making New Life  – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Renewed Day By Day

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Heart - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - Renewed Day By Day - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Heart – 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – Renewed Day By Day – Growing As Disciples

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) 

Fix Your Eyes

I want you to have the proper perspective. How can I have the proper perspective? Am I thinking about life incorrectly? Are my values misplaced? Is my attention focused in the wrong direction? Do I have improper priorities? What exactly do you want to tell me? I want to fix your eyes. What does that mean? You are looking at the wrong things. What am I looking at? You are looking at yourself. You are worried about the brevity of life. As you are aging, you have become concerned that your outward body is slowly but surely wasting away. You’re right, I don’t even like hearing the sound of that. I’m definitely not a fan of aging. It is true, I have let myself become discouraged and depressed about the brevity of life and seeing my body get old and continue to as you say, “slowly and surely waste away.” I have not liked watching the passage of time. I have been saddened by the loss of what once was. Yes, I have noticed. There is no need to be discouraged or saddened or depressed. Why is that?

This life is not all that there is. This life is like the snap of the fingers or the blink of an eye. Your life is like the morning mist that quickly burns off when the sun rises in the sky. You will be here today and gone tomorrow. This is supposed to encourage me? This life is like a mirage. Your real life is forever, in heaven, with me. What are your years on this earth compared to your life with me, forever in eternity? Maybe, this life is like less than a blink of an eye or a snap of the fingers. Maybe, my life on this earth is like less than the mist that appears on the ground, in the morning. That’s right.

You said you want me to fix my eyes. Yes, I did. By that, I meant I want to change your perspective. Yes, I’m starting to understand what you wanted to tell me. Now, I want you to fix your eyes. Now, you have me confused. What do you mean you want me to fix my eyes? You have changed your perspective. You are no longer looking at this life as all that there is. Yes, that’s correct. Now, I want you to fix your eyes on me. I want you to fix your eyes on heaven. I want you to see this life and your remaining days on earth from my perspective. I want you to know that even as your external body wastes away, I am renewing you inwardly day by day. I am renewing you and reviving you and refreshing you, so I can use you to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Will you fix your eyes on me? Will you allow me to use you to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, my eyes are fixed on you and the things of heaven. I will not grow weary, lose heart or give up as I go through difficulties in life. As my body wastes away I know that day-by-day you are renewing me on the inside. Use me in your service for your glory.  Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Heart – 2 Corinthians 4-16-18 – Renewed Day By Day – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com