Training Us

The Virtuous Life - Day 218 - Titus 2-11-14 - Training Us - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 218 – Titus 2-11-14 – Training Us – Growing As Disciples

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,  training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,  waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,  who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14 (ESV)

Train Me

Here I am. I have renounced my old life in the world. I have left behind worldly passions that once dominated my life. I am now living the life of salvation that you have secured for me. It is my eager desire that you train me to live a godly life. I want to live a life that is pleasing to you. I want you to purify my thoughts and words and actions so that they are acceptable to you. Make me eager to always do what is good. Is that your prayer? Is that your utmost desire? Is this truly the work you want me to do in you? Do you really want me to train you? Yes, this is my prayer and utmost desire. This is the work I want you to do in me. Yes, I really want you to train me. But there is something of which I am supremely confident. What is that? You have already begun this work in me. This work started in me, long ago, on the day I turned my life over to you. Once you became my Savior and Lord nothing about my life has remained the same. You have been molding and shaping me. You have been changing my heart. You have been transforming my mind. You have been guiding my life. It is you that has given me this eager desire to live out the life of salvation you have given me to live. So, my prayer and desire and eagerness are in alignment with your will. I want what you want for me. Of that, I have no doubt. You want to do this work in me. I want you to do this work in me. I welcome you to do this work in me. Continue to train me. Yes, I will train you. Yes, I have been training you. Yes, I will continue to train you. You are correct, long ago, I began this work in you. My work in you will continue until the day we meet face to face.  For that I am grateful. For that you have all my thanks and praise. Knowing that you are working in me has filled me with hope and peace and joy. That is very good.

There are two things I want you to do as I train you. What is that? Keep my word every before you. Keep on hearing and doing my word. Keep on putting my word into practice. That I will do, what else? Live day by day, moment by moment, with the eager expectation that one day very soon we will meet face to face. That knowledge will fan the flame of your eagerness to live your life fully for me. These two things I will do. That will be very good. Thank you Lord, that you have been, are now, and will continue to train me.

Lord, I have renounced my old life in the world for the new life I have in you. Train me in godliness so I can live the new life of salvation I have in you. Help me to say no to ungodliness. Train me to always think and say and do what is pleasing to you. Amen

Key Question…  How has the grace of God caused an eagerness to do what is godly to grow strong in you?

Living It Out…  Allow the grace of God to train you to say no to ungodliness.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the grace of God will train you to say no to ungodliness.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the grace of God has been training you to say no to ungodliness.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you allow the grace of God to train you to say no to ungodliness.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 218 – Titus 2-11-14 – Training Us – 4 Page Discipleship 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

Teaches Us To Say No To Ungodliness

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 245 - Titus 2:11-15 - Teach Us To Say No To Ungodliness - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 245 – Titus 2:11-15 – Teach Us To Say No To Ungodliness – Growing As Disciples

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.  These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you. Titus 2:11-15 (NIV)  

A Godly And Upright Life 

You have much to say on this topic. I have much to say on what topic? You have much to say about living a godly and upright life that is good and right and pleasing to me. If I have much to say, it is certainly not about my great record of success. I have had many days and weeks and months and even years where I would say that I have not been able to successfully live a godly life in the darkness of this world. For many years, I have lived as a discouraged and depressed and defeated follower of yours. I have wanted to live a life that is pleasing to you. I have wanted to live the life you have called me to live. Wanting is good. Wanting is a great place to start. Where did this desire and wanting to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to me come from? That is obvious. It certainly did not come from me. You planted this desire in my heart and mind and life. That is very good for you to know. If I planted a desire within you, do you think that I would not nourish it and make it grow? Would I allow a desire I planted within you to wither and die? No, you would not. That is correct. What I plant in you, I will nurture and make grow. What has caused your lack of success? What has been the source of your problem? Why have you found such great difficulty? You must have some answers. You are no longer talking like a discouraged and depressed and defeated follower of mine. No, I am not. I have found the source of my discouragement, depression, and defeat. I now know how to live the life you are calling me to live. Tell me what you have found. I have found that I was relying on my own power and strength and ability to live the life you have called me to live. I was relying on myself. That has not, nor will ever, lead to success, either for me, or anyone else for that matter. Only you can make me able to live the life you have called me to live. So, as I keep on turning away from ungodliness and worldly passions, I must keep on turning to you. I must keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. I must live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. You will continue to change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. You will mold and shape me. You will guard and guide me. You will complete the work you started in me. You will fulfill every desire you have planted in me. Yes, I will. Separate yourself from evil, draw near to me, and you will live the life I have called you to live. That I will keep on doing. That is very good. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I am glad that it is your grace that will make me able to live a godly and upright life in the darkness of this world. I will rely on you. Help me to think, speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you. Make me able to live the life you have called me to live. Amen

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

Promises – Day 245 – Titus 2-11-2 – Teaches Us To Say No To Ungodliness – 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