Tag Archives: devotional study guide

His Workmanship

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 9 - Ephesians 2:8-10 - His Workmanship - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 9 – Ephesians 2:8-10 – His Workmanship – Growing As Disciples

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

Good Works

I know a few things about those. You know a few things about what? I know a few things about good works. I’d like to hear what you know about good works. So, go ahead, I’m listening. Tell me what you know. First, I know only what I have been taught. I am not pridefully holding up what I know. I only know what I have heard and seen and learned and received from you. And even then, my knowing, is faulty. Understood, go ahead. Most importantly, I have learned, your salvation is a free gift. Nothing I have done or could ever do would earn or merit my salvation. Trying to earn or merit my salvation, by doing good works, would not be pleasing to you in any way, shape or form. No, it would not. What is pleasing to you, is receiving my salvation by faith in all that Jesus Christ has done for me on the cross. His death and resurrection secured my salvation and has given me a completely new life in Him. He is my Savior and Lord. You are my God and Father. I have been filled by your Holy Spirit, who is like a deposit, guaranteeing my inheritance in heaven. All this has come to me by faith, as a gift. Yes. None of what you have given to me has been earned. So, I have nothing to boast about. How am I doing so far? You have listened and learned well. Keep going.

So, I can confidently say that I have not been saved by good works. That is correct. But on the day, I turned my life over to you, a work was started in me. What sort of work? You have been molding and shaping my life. I am your workmanship. You are the potter. I am the clay. I am the work of your hands. Yes, you are, without a doubt. You have been preparing me to do good work for you. You have given me gifts and talents and abilities. You have been teaching and training me. You have been getting me ready. What have I been getting you ready for? You have good works already lined up and ready for me to do for you. You have a purpose and plan for my life. You have places you want me to go. You have things you want me to do. How do you feel about that? I feel excited. I feel grateful. I feel thankful. The idea that you want to use me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans is incredibly amazing. The thought that I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name is astounding. To all of this I can only say, “Here I am Lord, use me!” That is very good. Yes, I will use you to do good works that I have prepared for you. You will bear fruit for my Kingdom and bring glory to my name. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the free gift of salvation I have in Jesus Christ. I know I have not been saved by any of my good works. Thank you for molding and shaping my life. I’m the work of your hands. Help me to do the good works you have prepared for me. Amen

Key Question… How has your Heavenly Father been molding and shaping your life since the day you gave your life to Him?

Living It Out… Be ready and willing to go and do all the good works that your Heavenly Father has prepared you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your Heavenly Father is making you ready and able to go and do good works for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what good works your Heavenly Father has given you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you do the good work that God created you to do.

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

Promises – Day 9 – Ephesians 2-8-10 – His Workmanship – 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

Live In Harmony

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 354 - 1 Peter 3:8-9 - Live In Harmony - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 354 – 1 Peter 3:8-9 – Live In Harmony – Growing As Disciples

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV)  

What Would Love Do?

That is a very good question. What is a very good question? What would love do? Yes, that is a very good question. Do you have an answer for that question? Yes, I do. As your follower, I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I love you because you first loved me. Your love has changed my heart and transformed my mind. How so? All my thoughts and words and actions are now different because I love you. Now, I want to do what is good and right and pleasing to you. Before, I lived to do what was good and right and pleasing to me. I lived for my own interests. I was pridefully focused on myself. Now, I want to humbly follow and obey you because I love you. I’m not looking for what might be the minimum requirement of loving you either. That would be no expression of love at all. Now, I am constantly on the lookout for ways to express my love to you. So, the answer to the question of, “What would love do?” is anything and everything. There is nowhere I would not go, or nothing I would not do because I love you. That is a very good answer. 

What have I asked you to do for me? How do I want you to treat others? What am I asking you to do for others? You are asking me to love others deeply from my heart. You want me to be sympathetic and compassionate and loving to all. Say more about who is included in that word, “all”. You want me to love those who don’t love me. You want me to love everyone. Give me an example. If someone committed some evil against me or hurled some insult at me, you want me to bless them anyhow. In fact, you have called me to be a blessing to everyone around me. Yes, that is my calling on your life. What will you receive and inherit as you live as my blessing in the world? I will receive your blessing. Yes, you will. Will you love me? Will you love others? Will you follow and obey my two great commandments? Yes Lord, I will, with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will live in harmony with others. I will not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. Instead, I will be sympathetic, loving and compassionate to all. I will repay evil and insult with blessing. With your help, I will be a blessing so that I can inherit a blessing. Amen

Key Question…  Why will personal pride almost always get in the way of being able to live in harmony with others?

Living It Out…  Make every effort to live in harmony with others.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to live in harmony with others.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to live in harmony with others.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you live in harmony with others.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 354 – 1 Peter 3-8-9 – Live In Harmony – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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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

In My Prayers

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 351 - Ephesians 1:15-16 - In My Prayers - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 351 – Ephesians 1:15-16 – In My Prayers – Growing As Disciples

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. Ephesians 1:15-16 (NIV)

Remembering Prayer

That is what I will do. That is what I want to do. That is what I will not fail to do. What will you do? What do you want to do? What will you not fail to do? I will give thanks for the fellow believers that you have brought into my life. Why is that? Where would I be without the encouragement I have received from my fellow believers? That is a very good question. That is a question you should reflect on and deeply consider. Now, I want to ask you why is that? Have I not spurred you on in your faith by the fellow believers I have brought into your life? Have I not picked you up off the carpet by the encouragement you have received from others? Yes, you have spurred me on, and picked me up by the encouragement I have received from fellow believers. There is something you have not yet said that I might as well confess up front. I’m sure that you want to have a fuller discussion on this topic. You are correct. There is another strong reason why I need to reflect on and deeply consider the encouragement and spurring on I have received from fellow believers. Yes, there is another very important reason I want you to consider. Do you want to say it, or do you want me to confess it? It would be far better for you to confess it. Alright, here goes. I have been somewhat of a loner. Somewhat? Alright, I have kept to myself. I have not shared my life fully with other believers. I have not asked for prayer, nor have I given thanks or prayed for others as fully as I am sure that you have desired. You want me to live and walk in a closer relationship with others. Yes, I do. You want me to both make and receive prayers. And the emphasis, at the moment, may be more on my being willing to receive prayer from others. You think? Yes, I am beginning to get this into my thick head. You want me to open up to receiving prayer from others. As I am willing to receive prayer from others, I am sure that I will also be more energetic in praying for them as well. That will be true without a doubt. So, what will you do? I will do two things. I will ask others how I can pray for them. I will ask others to pray for me. Prayer will become a two-way street in my life. I will make and receive prayers, as I live my life with and before you. That will be very good. In this way you will continue to both give and receive encouragement as you love, follow and serve me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I give thanks to you for all the fellow believers you have brought into my life. You have encouraged and spurred me on by their faith. Help me to regularly intercede in prayer for the needs of others. Help me also to welcome and receive prayer from them. Amen

Key Question…  How are you regularly interceding in prayer for the needs of people that are all around you?

Living It Out…  Allow the Lord to guide you to give thanks and intercede in prayer for the needs of others.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will guide you to give thanks and intercede in prayer for the needs of others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has led you to intercede in prayer for others.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you give thanks and intercede in prayer for your fellow believers.

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

Becoming Like Christ -Day 351 – Ephesians 1-15-16 – In My Prayers – 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

With Great Boldness

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 356 - Acts 4:29-30 - With Great Boldness - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 356 – Acts 4:29-30 – With Great Boldness – Growing As Disciples

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.  Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” Acts 4:29-30 (NIV)  

Great Boldness

Well, I don’t think that exists within me. It certainly does not come naturally to me. What does not exist within you? What does not come naturally to you? I don’t have great boldness within me. No, you do not have great boldness within you. No, great boldness does not come naturally to you. But that should not discourage you. Why is that? It is a very good thing that you know without a doubt that you do not have great boldness within you. Why is that? What have you done when you have faced a significant threat? I have done three different things when I have faced a significant. Sometimes, I have foolishly tried to face a significant threat with my own power and strength. How has that worked out for you? Those efforts could best be described as timid and feeble and highly unsuccessful. That’s not good. No, it’s not. But my second response to significant threats has been even worse and if possible, even less successful. What has been that response? I have avoided significant threats at all costs. I have run away from significant threats as I have seen them approaching. How do you feel about that approach to significant threats? Nothing could be more defeating or discouraging or depressing. Why is that? You did not create me to be timid or run away from significant threats. You did not design me to wilt under pressure. No, I did not.  

You mentioned that you have had a third response to significant threats. Yes, I did. Surely that response must be better than the first two that you have mentioned. My third response to significant threats is far better. Tell me about that response. My third and only successful response to significant threats is to call out to you and ask for your help. You have helped me to think and speak and act boldly when I have relied on you. You have filled me with your Spirit. You have given me your power. You have enabled me to think and speak and act with courage. You have helped me to do what I could have done by myself. You have helped me to overcome significant threats in life. You have made me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name in the face of significant threats. To you belongs all the honor and glory. To you belongs all the thanks and praise. Will you continue to ask for my help? Will you continue to rely on me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.  

Lord, on my own, with my own power, I will only speak and act timidly in the face of significant threats. That is not your will and plan for my life, of that I am sure. Empower me to speak and act boldly in the face of significant threats, so I can bear fruit for you. Amen

Key Question… When have you asked the Lord for great boldness in the face of significant threats?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to empower you to speak and act boldly in the face of significant threats.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will empower you to speak and act boldly in the face of significant threats.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has empowered you as a bold witness for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Lord to help you to live life with great boldness.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 356 – Acts 4-29-30 – With Great Boldness – 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

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

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

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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

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

This Is The Way You Should Go

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 234 - Isaiah 30-21 - This Is The Way You Should Go - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 234 – Isaiah 30-21 – This Is The Way You Should Go – Growing As Disciples

Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21 (NLT2)

My Voice 

Will you listen to my voice? Will you follow my direction? Will you receive my guidance? Yes, I will listen to your voice. Yes, I will follow your direction and receive your guidance. What steps will you take to hear my voice, follow my direction, and receive my guidance? Steps? I’m not quite sure what you mean. Let me ask you a few questions. Go ahead, I’m listening.

What will hinder or help your ability to hear from me? If I race through the busyness of life and allow myself to be overwhelmed by its’ noise, I will never be able to hear from you. I need to slow down and withdraw from the noise and busyness of life so I can hear from you. I need to quiet myself before you. I need to come to rest in your presence. I need to be still before you. Then I need to meet with you in your word. Oh, and another thing, I also need to submit my heart and mind and life to you. Then as I do these things, I will be placing myself in a position to hear from you. I do think one other prerequisite, to hearing from you is also important. What’s that? I need to decide in advance that I really will follow and obey you. Why is that important? If I am unwilling to follow and obey you, how attentively could I possibly be listening to you. I can’t imagine going to all this effort to hear from you if I wasn’t really willing to follow your direction or receive your guidance. You have a good point. There is something else that I suspect to be true. What’s that? If I am not willing to follow and obey you, it is very unlikely that you will give me direction or guidance or counsel that I won’t follow anyway. Although, I am not positive on this point. Why is that? I know that I have not always followed your direction and guidance. Yet, you have given it to me anyway. Why would I do that? You want me to learn the importance of hearing and following and obeying you. You want me to know that there are consequences to hearing and obeying or to hearing and not obeying you. Yes, that is true. I want you to learn to hear and follow and obey me. I want you to learn to listen attentively to my voice. That I will do. That will be very good. 

Lord, no longer will I fail to listen to your voice. You have my full and undivided attention. I will quiet myself before you. I will remove myself from the noise and busyness of life. I will hear you. I will follow you. Guide my life according to your will, purpose, and plan. Amen

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

Promises – Day 234 – Isaiah 30-21 – This Is The Way You Should Go – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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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

Come And See

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 230 - John 4:29-30 - Come And See - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 230 – John 4:29-30 – Come And See – Growing As Disciples

Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”  So the people came streaming from the village to see him. John 4:29-30 (NLT)

An Open Invitation

You have an open invitation before you. You have a hardy welcome waiting to greet you. Tell me more. You can draw near to me. You can rest in my presence. You can be still before me. I will revive and refresh and restore your soul. I will heal your bruised and battered and broken life. My healing will come into your life. You can receive my forgiveness. You can receive my cleansing. You will be made fresh and clean. Nothing will stand between us. No barrier will separate us. You can come to know me as your Savior and Lord. You can live in an intimate relationship with me. You can walk through life with me. You will receive my instruction. You will follow my guidance. You can allow me to mold and shape you into the person I have called you to become. Daily as you accept my invitation you will come to know and love and follow and serve me. I will use you to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. You will bear an abundance of fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. You will shine boldly and brightly for me in the darkness of this world. Others will be drawn to me because they will see my life being lived out, in and through you. How does this invitation sound to you? Will you receive this welcome. Will you draw near to me? Will you come to rest in my presence? I have never had a more welcoming invitation and inviting greeting. There is nothing I would rather do than draw near to you and rest in your presence. Teach me. Train me. Guard and guide me. Revive, and refresh, and restore my soul. Make me whole. You are my Savior and Lord. With all that is within me, I will love and follow and serve you, all the days of my life. That will be very good. 

There is something I want you to do for me. What’s that? You name it. I want you to give others an open invitation. I want you to tell others about all that I have done for you. I want others to know about the new life of salvation, that they can have in me. Will you invite others, just as I have invited you? Will you welcome others just as I have welcomed you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for the invitation to come to see and know you. You know, love and care for me. You died for me. Thank you for the forgiveness I have in you. Thank you for the new life I have in you. You are my Savior and Lord. Use me to invite others to you. Amen

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

Promises – Day 215 – John 4-29-30 – Come And See – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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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

We Are God’s Workmanship

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Discipleship Devotional Study - Promises - Day 227 - Ephesians 2:10 - We Are God's Workmanship - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study – Promises – Day 227 – Ephesians 2:10 – We Are God’s Workmanship – Growing As Disciples

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Molding And Shaping

You are my masterpiece. You are the work of my hands. I have molded and shaped your life according to my purposes and plans. You are the person that I have made you to be. I have designed you to join me in doing the work that I have prepared for you to do. What do you think about all of this? These thoughts are wonderful to hear. To think that you have taken the time and made the effort to mold and shape my life leaves me in humble thankfulness. To think that I might be inadequate to do what you have called me to do couldn’t be true. Why is that? You have not only uniquely prepared me to do good works but you are inviting me to join you in doing them. I am not alone. No, you are not. You are working in me and through me. Yes, I am.

I am not finished with you. What does that mean? I’m still molding and shaping your life. My work in your life will continue until the day we meet each other face to face. How does that sound to you? Well, I would rather be a completed work. Yes, I am sure that you would. Being a completed work sounds more comfortable to you doesn’t it? Yes, It does. You know that some of my molding and shaping of your life might make you uncomfortable, don’t you? Yes, I do. Tell me more about that. There is no “might” about it. Whenever you have molded and shaped my life you have always taken me out of my comfort zone. You don’t like that? Not too much. Would you rather that I stopped molding and shaping your life? Would you like to remain as you are right now? No, I don’t want that, not at all. What do you want? I am thankful that I am your masterpiece. I am grateful that you are continuing to mold and shape my life. So, you want me to continue to my work of molding and shaping your life, is that true? Yes Lord, it is. I would like to say more on this subject. What’s that? I welcome your ongoing work in my life. You might hear a groan or a sigh here or there. It might seem like I am protesting and that I want you to go no further, that I want you to stop molding and shaping my life. Do me a favor. What’s that? Ignore my groans and sighs. Disregard what may seem like a protest on my part. Know this, I want you to keep working in my life. I don’t want you to stop molding and shaping me until we meet each other face to face. I’m glad to hear this prayer of yours. You, know this, under no circumstance will I stop making you into the person I want you to be. Then we are in complete agreement. Yes, for the moment we are in complete agreement. There will be times and moments in the future I may remind you of this conversation. Will that be all right with you? Yes, I’m sure that I will need every reminder that you will give to me. So, here I am. Keep on molding and shaping me. Keep on working in and through me. Use me according to your purposes and plans. Help me to join you in the work that you have given me to do for you. Use me for your kingdom and your glory. Yes, I will.

Lord, thank you for designing and creating me as your masterpiece. It is so healing and encouraging and humbling to know that I am the work of your hands. It is my honor and joy to join you in doing the good works you have prepared for me to do. Amen

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

Promises – Day 227 – Ephesians 2:10 – We Are God’s Workmanship – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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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

A Quiet Place And Rest

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 226 - Mark 6:30-31 - A Quiet Place And Rest - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 226 – Mark 6:30-31 – A Quiet Place And Rest – Growing As Disciples

The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught.  Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. Mark 6:30-31 (NLT)

A Quiet Place 

Is there somewhere you would rather be? Is there something you would rather do? No, there is no place I would rather be. No, there is nothing I would rather do. I have made this choice. I have left the busyness of life far behind me. I have gladly entered this quiet place to be with you. You have my full attention. I have no distractions. My heart and mind and life are focused entirely on you. That is very good. What has happened as you have left the busyness of life to enter a quiet place to be with me. I am not primarily talking about right now. Over time what has happened to you because you have chosen to meet with me nearly every day over many years? What hasn’t happened to me? None of my life has been untouched by your hand as I have rested in your presence. Yes, that is true, but it will be beneficial for you to say out loud what has happened to you as you have drawn near to me. I agree and I am ready to answer your question. Go ahead, I am listening. In your presence, I have grown to love you with all my heart and mind, and strength. In your presence, I have come to know you and follow you and serve you. In your presence, you have revived and refreshed and restored my soul. You have brought your healing to me. You have healed my bruised and battered and broken life. You have made me whole. Yes, I have done all these things for you as you have quietly and attentively rested in my presence. What else? You have guarded and guided my life. You have given me a hope filled future. You filled me full of your Holy Spirit so I can shine like a star in the universe for you. Others have been drawn to you because they have seen your life being lived out in and through me. You have made me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Is that it? Certainly not, I am only scratching the surface describing what you have done, are doing and will do as I withdraw from the busyness of life to quietly meet with you. That is correct, without a doubt. Will you keep on meeting with me in a quiet place? Yes Lord, with a joy filled heart that is exactly what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, I have worked myself ragged and run myself weary. I have failed to take a break to leave the busyness of life, to go to a quiet place to rest in your presence. Help me to withdraw daily to meet with you. Fully revive and restore my soul in your presence. Amen

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

Promises – Day 226 – Mark 6-30-31 – A Quiet Place And Rest – 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