Tag Archives: devotional study guide

Holds A Grudge

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Genesis 50:15 - Holds A Grudge - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Genesis 50:15 – Holds A Grudge – Growing As Disciples

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” Genesis 50:15 (NIV)

 Pay Back

Has someone done something evil against you? Are you having a hard time forgiving them? Are you carrying a grudge and thinking ways to pay them back? I would never try to pay someone back for the evil that they have done against me. You would just think about a lot of different ways to pay them back. I suppose so. It does you no good to carry a grudge. Failing to forgive others harms you far more than it harms them. It is a heavy burden to carry unforgiveness around in your heart and on your mind. Unforgiveness will eat you alive from the inside out. Unforgiveness will make you a bitter person. I have forgiven you of all your sins. Yes, I am so thankful that you have forgiven me of all my sins. I expect you to forgive others of the evil that they have done against you. Yes Lord, I will forgive others of the evil that they have done against me. Extending forgiveness to others may open up an opportunity for you to minister to them. You will be doing what those that are of the world do not do. They may wonder why you are so kind and loving and forgiving. Then you will have an opportunity to tell them about me. That would be amazing.

There is something very important that I want you to remember. What’s that? I can bring good out of the evil that has been done against you. Can you think of ways that I have already brought good out of evil that has been done against you? Yes, in some ways evil that has been done against me has changed the entire course of my life. You have been able to redirect my life in response to the evil that has been done against me. You have been able to send me in a new direction and use me to do new things for you as a result of something evil that has been done against me. That’s right. I didn’t author the evil. I didn’t bring the evil against you. But, I have been able to bring good out of evil that has been done to you. That is for sure. There is no doubt about that. Let me ask you a couple questions. If you allowed yourself to hold on to unforgiveness and grudges would you be able to recognize the good that I had brought into your life as a result of the evil done against you? No, probably not. How long has it taken for you to be able to look back to see the good that I have brought out of evil done against you? Sometimes, it has taken quite a bit of time. Yes, it has. Will you forgive others? Will you let go of grudges? Will you stop think about paying others back for the evil that has ben done against you? Will you wait to see the good that I will bring into your life even out of evil that has been done against you? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, I have had a hard time forgiving others of evil they have done to me. It has been easy to carry a grudge and think about ways to pay them back. No more. I will forgive others and wait to see the good you will bring even out of the evil done against me. Amen

Key Question… Why will it never benefit you to carry a grudge against someone who has done evil against you?

Living It Out… Forgive others and let go of grudges so you can see the good the Lord will be bring even out of evil done against you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bring good even out of evil that has been done against you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has brought good even out of evil done against you.

Prayer To Bless Others…May you never hold a grudge but rather recognize that God can bring good even out evil done against you.

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

If – Genesis 50-15 – Holds A Grudge – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Temple Of The Holy Spirit

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 131 - 1 Corinthians 6-18-20 - Temple Of The Holy Spirit - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 131 – 1 Corinthians 6-18-20 – Temple Of The Holy Spirit – Growing As Disciples

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.  Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NIV)

Honor Me

Do you want to honor me? Do you want to honor me with all your thoughts and words and actions? Do you want to honor me with all that is within you? Do you want to honor me with your body? Yes, I want to honor you with all that is within me. I want all my thoughts and word and actions to honor you. I want my body to honor you. How can all this be true of me? How can I make sure to honor you? First, you must do what you have just done. What have I just done? You have made a decision. You have stated your intent. You have committed to a plan. It is your decision and your intent and your plan to honor me. Yes, this is what I have done. That is very good.

Do you know why it is important that you have stated your decision and intent and plan? I’m not sure. Temptation will certainly come your way. Evil desires will try to entice. Sexual immorality will seek to ensnare you. It is then when you need to remember your decision, intent and plan. It is then that you will need to put your decision and intent and plan into action. How will I put my decision and intent and plan into action? How will I make sure that I will honor you with all that is within me? That is a good question that you must answer. I can think of only one answer. Let me hear your answer. I must flee evil desires that try to entice me. I must run from sexual immorality when it seeks to ensnare me. Why is that? Lingering around evil desires and sexual immorality is the surest way to be enticed and ensnared by them. I must not allow myself to enter tempting circumstances. I must not place myself in the midst evil and enticing desires. I must immediately run from this evil and these temptations. It is not good enough to simply run away. I know that, without a doubt. To where will you run? I will run to you. I will leave evil and enticing desires far behind me, as I run to you. By running away, I will be resisting the devil. By running to you, I will be submitting myself to you. When I do both, the devil and all is evil will flee from me. That is true. That is good. That is right. That is how you will put your decision and intent and plan to honor me into action. That is how you will be able to honor me with all that is within you. That is my decision, intent and plan. That is very good.

Lord, I will honor you with my body. That is my advance decision. I know that your Holy Spirit lives and dwells within me. I don’t want any of my thoughts or words or actions to grieve you. So, I will immediately flee sexual immorality whenever it approaches me. Amen

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

Promises – Day 131 – 1 Corinthians 6-18-20 – Temple Of The Holy Spirit – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

God Intended It For Good

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life - Genesis 50:20 - God Intended It For Good - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Genesis 50:20 – God Intended It For Good – Growing As Disciples

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

A Dream

You have a dream don’t you? Yes, I do.  Where do you think that your dream came from? It certainly didn’t come from me. Why do you say that? I’m sure that the dream that I have came from you. Why is that? The dream that I have is to bear an abundance of fruit for you. I want you to use me for your kingdom and your glory. That dream could have never started with me. Why is that? I would have never dreamed up something like that on my own. I would never have desired that without you placing it in my heart. You have a very good point. I understand why you are so certain about the origin of your dream. You are right, by the way, that dream of yours did originate with me. I’m very glad that you have embraced it as your own. Yes, I have embraced it as my own. That dream burns in my heart to be fulfilled. I ache with desire for you to use me in your service. Aren’t I using you right now? Yes, you are, but I sense that there is more. What I have been experiencing has seemed like preparation for something more. I think you want to use me more fully in some larger way. Yes, I do, you can be sure of that.

You’re anxious aren’t you? Yes, I am. You are a little discouraged? Yes, I am. Why is that? I have had so many twists and turns and ups and downs in life. I have had one trial and setback after another. I have begun to wonder if the dream that you have given to me will ever be fulfilled. Are you beginning to doubt me? No, I don’t doubt you. I think I am beginning to doubt myself. I have been wondering if I have heard you correctly. I have been wondering if you really will be able to use me for your purposes and in your plans. Do you think my ability to use you depends on you? Now, that’s an attention getter of a question. No, your ability to use me depends on you, not me. That’s right don’t ever forget that. You have been waiting for me to use you is that right? Not really. What have you been doing? I have been going wherever you have directed me. I have been doing whatever you have asked of me. So, you haven’t been sitting around waiting for me to use you, is that right? No, I have been busy doing whatever you have given me to do. Yes, that’s right and that’s very good. Have I have been using you everyday? Yes, you have been using me everyday. But, you sense that I have much more for you. You know that I have some larger purpose and plan for your life, is that right? Yes, that’s right.

You said that you have gone through twists, turns, ups, downs, trials and setbacks, is that right? Yes, that’s right. What have all those detours, trials and setbacks felt like to you? They have felt like preparation. It feels like you have been teaching me to rely on you so that I can persevere through every difficulty. When you look back over your life up to this point what do you see? I see that your hand has been on me. You have used every twist, turn, up, down, trial and setback to teach and strengthen me. Do you want me to stop teaching you? No, I don’t. Do you want me to stop preparing you for the work that I have for you? No, I don’t. Can you be thankful for every twist, turn, up, down, trial and setback that I have been able to use for good in your life? Yes, I can. Do you believe that I will accomplish my purposes and plans in your life? Yes Lord, I do. That’s very good, because I will.

Lord, thank you that you can even use evil that people have done to me to accomplish your purposes and plans in my life. Help me to persevere through every setback in life on the way to you accomplishing your plans in my life. Amen

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

Life – Genesis 50-20 – God Intended It For Good – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

The One Who Is In You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises - 1 John 4:4-6 - The One Who Is In You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – 1 John 4:4-6 – The One Who Is In You – Growing As Disciples

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:4-6 (NIV) 

Overcoming Evil

There is evil in this world, are you watching and on guard against it? Yes, I’m watching and on guard. What do I need to be on guard against? What do I need to be watching out for? Those are good questions. You need to have an attitude of watchfulness. You need to have ears that are attentive to my voice. You need to be listening to all that I want to say to you. You need to be watching for all that I want to show to you. Does this sound like something that will be hard for you to accomplish? It sounds easy. But, I’m not foolish enough to think that it will be easy. Why is that? It’s easy to be absorbed in all the activities of life. It’s easy to race through life and forget to listen to all that you want to say to me or to fail to watch all that you want to show to me. It’s easy to become conformed to all the patterns, practices and values of the world. If I am not very careful, I could become unaware of how the world is continually trying to shape me into its mold. It’s much harder to be attentive and watchful to all that you want me to hear and see. Yes, it is.

Let’s talk about the focus of your attention. Alright, go ahead. You have my full attention. Good, that’s what I want. You have mentioned two possibilities. You can either focus your attention on the world or you can focus your attention on me. If I focus my attention on the world I will have a very difficult time listening to what you want me to hear or watching what you want me to see. Yes, that’s exactly right. I will have a very difficult time identifying what is true and what is false. Does that sound like an understatement to you? I will have an impossible time identifying what is true and what is false. That’s more like it. If I have the focus of my attention on you, I will be able to know what is true and what is false because my eyes and ears will be open to you. That is also correct. As I continue to have my focus on you I will grow in my ability to listen to what you want me to hear and to watch what you want me to see. How do you know that? That has been my experience as I have had my focus on you. That is very good.

Let’s talk about overcoming evil that is in the world. To overcome evil in the world I must be able to identify it. I also must have the strength and desire to resist it. Can you identify or overcome evil if your focus is on the world? Certainly not, if my focus is on the world then I will be wrapped up and enticed by evil. That is not my will for you. It is my will that my Spirit living in you will make you able to overcome evil that is in the world. Do you believe that my Spirit living in you will make you able to overcome evil in the world? Yes, I do. Why do you believe? You have changed the desires of my heart as I have had my focus on you. You have given me both the desire and strength to do your will. You have made me able to overcome evil in the world. Yes, I have.

Holy Spirit, thank you that you live inside of me. You have made me able to know what is true and what is false. You have made me able to recognize and overcome evil that is in the world. Help me to hear and really listen to you. Amen

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

Promises – 1 John 4-4-6 – The One Who Is In You – 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

Pray Earnestly To The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Therefore - Matthew 9:37-38 - Pray Earnestly To The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Therefore – Matthew 9:37-38 – Pray Earnestly To The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  Matthew 9:37-38 (ESV)

Your Harvest

I have called you. I have sent you. You are now working as one of my laborers in my harvest. You will go where I guide you. You will do what I ask of you. Yes Lord, I heard your call. It gives me great joy to be sent to do work that you have given me to do for you. I will do whatever you ask of me. I will go wherever you guide me. That is very good.

Have you noticed that the harvest is plentiful? Have you noticed that the laborers in my harvest are few? Yes, there have been many times that I have felt overwhelmed by the work that needed to be done. I have been discouraged by the so few that have stepped forward to do your work. Don’t be discouraged. I am with you to help you. I will strengthen you. I will revive and refresh your life. I will work in and through you. Your work for me will never be in vain. I will make you able to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. You can come to rely on me. I will come to you for all the help that I will need. That is very good.

What help do you need right now? I need you to send out more laborers into your harvest. That is a good prayer. That is a prayer that is according to my will. I am glad that you are asking this of me. Why is that? You tell me. You want me to acknowledge that you are in charge of the harvest. You will help me to work in your harvest. Yes, I will. But it is still your harvest. Yes, it is my harvest. You will guide the work of my hands in your harvest. Yes, I will. But it is you who will make me to be fruitful working in your harvest. Yes, I will. Apart from you I can do nothing. That’s right. My working harder would never bear the amount of fruit that more of your workers can accomplish. That’s true. You want me to acknowledge not only that it is your harvest and also that it is your workers that you will bring into your harvest. As I pray, I will be dependent on you to make me fruitful and to bring other workers alongside me to labor together in your harvest. So, I will pray earnestly for you to send more workers into you harvest. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will pray earnestly to you to send out more workers into your harvest. Just as you called me, I know that you will call others. Just as you sent me, I know that you will send others. Use us all to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

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

Therefore – Matthew 9-37-38 – Pray Earnestly To The Lord – 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

Perseveres Under Trial

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Blessing - James 1:12 - Perseveres Under Trial - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Blessing – James 1:12 – Perseveres Under Trial – Growing As Disciples

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12 (NIV)

Persevere Through Trials 

You are the only one that can make me able to persevere the trials of life. I don’t want to be one bit self-reliant or self-sufficient in the trials of life. I don’t want to allow myself to think that I can fend for myself through even the smaller trials in life. Why is that? Smaller trials have a way of becoming larger trials. I lack wisdom, especially when I am going through trials. I react. I make mistakes. I take missteps. I have often thought or said or done what was helpful when I have been in the midst of trials. I have regretted my thoughts and words and actions. I have had to go back and retrace my steps. I have had to try to unsay or undo what I have unwisely said or done. That isn’t easily said or done. Besides, going through smaller trials seems like a training ground for the larger trials in life that are sure to come. That’s true. So, I would rather rely on you upfront in every small and large trial in life. That sounds good to me. It sounds good to me too.

What will you ask me for when you are going through trials in life? I will ask you for wisdom. I will ask you for strength. I will ask you to give me all I will need to go through the trials of life. I will ask you to guide my life. I will ask you to guard my path. I will ask you to lead me to where I should go. I will ask you to give me what I should do. I will ask you to help me to form the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and actions of my life. Those are all very good requests that I will hear and answer as you come to rely on me.

How will you ask me for all that you need as you go through the trials of life? With a heart full of faith, I will ask you for your help. I will believe and not doubt. I will draw near to you and know with certainty that you will draw near to me. That is very good. I will hold on to you as I am certain that you will hold on to me. I will trust that you will guard and guide and protect my life as I keep on following you. I know that you will be with me every step of the way as I walk through the trials of life. You will help me in every way. Yes, I will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I have not always understood trials in life. Sometimes, I have wondered what was going on and where you were when I was in the midst of a trial. Looking back, I can see you were with me to help me. Thank you for helping me to persevere through trials. Amen

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

Blessing – James 1-12 – Perseveres Under Trial – 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