Tag Archives: discipleship devotional

Even A Fool Is Thought Wise

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 340 - Proverbs 17:28 - Even A Fool Is Thought Wise- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 340 – Proverbs 17:28 – Even A Fool Is Thought Wise- Growing As Disciples

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. Proverbs 17:28 (NIV)

Remain Silent

I could certainly learn to do that far more often. You could certainly learn to do what far more often? I could learn to keep my mouth shut. I could learn to remain silent. Why is that? I can’t tell you how many times I have foolishly opened my mouth and deeply regretted the words that came out. Yes, I know. Yes, you know my words before I speak them. You know my words even before I think them. Yes, I do.

Here are my thoughts. I’m listening. I don’t need to offer my opinion on every subject. I don’t need to engage in every debate. I don’t need to try to solve every problem. I will often do far better by listening carefully than by speaking profusely. I know one thing that is absolutely sure. What’s that? When words are spoken in abundance, sin is not lacking. That is a good thought for you to think. That is a good lesson for you to learn. Well, I can’t say that I have fully learned this lesson yet. But I do know that I am your work in progress. You have definitely been helping me to think your thoughts and speak your words. Yes, you are my work in progress. Yes, I will help you to think my thoughts and speak my words. For that, I am thankful. For that, I am grateful.

I have more to say on this subject. I have a request to make to you. I have a prayer to pray to you. I’m listening. I don’t want to quickly move on from my need. I want to circle back and talk to you more about need. I want you to know that I am asking for a serious amount of your help. It seems to me that I over speak and under listen nearly every day. I really do need you to help me to know when to speak and when to remain silent. Let me ask you a question. I’m listening. That’s good. Who do you need to listen to most attentively? I need to listen to you most attentively. Do you believe that I will speak to you? Do you believe that I will give you words to speak? Yes, I believe that you will speak to me. Yes, I believe that you will give me words to speak. Then you have your answer. Draw near to me. Listen to me. I will give you my thoughts to think and my words to speak. Thank you, Heavenly Father. 

Heavenly Father, I have foolishly spoken when it would have been far better to have remained silent. Forgive me. Give me your wisdom. Help me to know when to speak and when to remain silent. I will humbly rely on you to place a guard over my mouth. Amen

Key Question… How are you relying on God to help you to know when to speak and when to remain silent?

Living It Out… Rely on God to help you to know when to speak and when to remain silent.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will help you to know when to speak and when to remain silent.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has helped you to remain appropriately silent.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on God to give you wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 340 – Proverbs 17-28 – Even A Fool Is Thought Wise- 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

Give Praise To God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 187 - Luke 17:11-19 - Give Praise To God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 187 – Luke 17:11-19 – Give Praise To God – Growing As Disciples

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him–and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19 (NIV) 

Attitude Of Gratitude

This is an area where I really need to grow. Where do you need to grow? I need to grow in my gratitude. I don’t have much of an attitude of gratitude. I’m not ungrateful. I’m not unthankful. I just fail to recognize and acknowledge and take time to give you thanks and praise for all your goodness to me. I know that this is no small problem. It is a significant flaw. I know without a doubt that it is a sin to fail to give you thanks and praise for all your goodness to me. So, I am confessing my sin to you. I ask you to forgive my lack of . You are forgiven. I am also asking you to help me to develop an attitude of gratitude. I want to be able to recognize and remember and give thanks to you for all your goodness to me. That will be very good.

Where would you like to begin? When do you think might be the time and place for you to give thanks and praise to me? I think that my daily prayers to you should begin with my giving thanks to you. I can enter your presence with praise and thanksgiving. Does that idea have a familiar sound to you? Yes, I have heard that idea expressed frequently in the Psalms. I could recall your goodness and give you glory every day when I draw near to you in prayer. That’s good. When else? I could be watchful and thankful for the goodness of your activity in my life, moment by moment throughout my day. I could spontaneously express gratitude and thankfulness as I recognize your goodness, as I walk through life with you. That will be very good. 

How do you think you might benefit by watching for and recognizing and acknowledging my goodness to you? I will be more aware of your activity in my life. I will be lifted up. I will be encouraged. I will be strengthened. Yes, you will. What else? I will have more joy in my life. Why is that? I will be more aware that you are with me to help me. Yes, you will. That is what I desire for you. You have all my thanks and praise. To you belongs all the glory. It is good to hear all your thanksgiving and praise. Thank you, Lord for your goodness to me. 

Lord, you have done so much for me. You saved me from a life without you. You have made me to be your child. You have given me a life to live with you. You are working in and through my life. You have a place in heaven for me. You have my thanks and praise. Amen

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 187 – Luke 17-11-19 – Give Praise To God – 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

Fan Into Flame

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 240 - 2 Timothy 1:6-7 - Fan Into Flame - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 240 – 2 Timothy 1:6-7 – Fan Into Flame – Growing As Disciples

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (NIV)  

On Fire

That is what I want to be? What do you want to be? I want to be on fire for you. What does that mean to you? I want to boldly and passionately serve you. I want to live my life fully for you. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I don’t want to hold anything in reserve. I don’t want to make any retreats. I don’t want to have any regrets. That is very good. I would like to ask you a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. You have my full attention. What might cause you to have regrets? If I half-heartedly followed and served you, I would have regrets. Half-hearted efforts would be no way to for me to express the love I have for you. I want to passionately love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to follow and serve you with all that is within me. That is very good. I have more to say. Go ahead, I’m listening. I would also have regrets if I did not discover and use all the spiritual gifts you have given to me. It would be a tragedy to one day find out that I did not fully use all the spiritual gifts you have given to me. So, it is my prayer that you will help me to fully discover and use all the gifts you have given me so I can bear abundant fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That is a very good prayer that I will hear and answer. For that, I am so very thankful. But I have more to say on this subject. I’m still listening. I would have regrets if I did not boldly use all the spiritual gifts you have given to me. I know well the difference between timidly and boldly using the spiritual gifts you have given to me. I have no interest in being timid. I want to be bold and courageous for you. I’m not exactly sure how to fan into a flame all the gifts you have given to me. But that will be the prayer of heart. Set me on fire for you. Help me to boldly serve you with all the spiritual gifts you have given to me. That is another prayer that I will hear and answer. These prayers will continually be in my heart and on my mind as I love, follow and serve you. That will be very good. You will be on fire for me.

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me spiritual gifts. Help me to discover and use all the gifts you have given to me. I don’t want one gift to go undiscovered or unused. Help me to fan into flame of the gifts you have given me so that I can boldly serve you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you been able to discover and use your spiritual gifts for God’s purposes?

Living It Out…  Fan into a flame the spiritual gifts that God has given to you so you will be able to boldly serve Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to fan into a flame the spiritual gifts He has given you.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are fanning into a flame the spiritual gifts given to you.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you fan into flame the gifts that God has given you to boldly serve Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 240 – 2 Timothy 1-6-7 – Fan Into Flame – 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

He Explained Everything

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 346 - Mark 4:30-34 -He Explained Everything - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 346 – Mark 4:30-34 -He Explained Everything – Growing As Disciples

Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?  It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground.  Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”  With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.  He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. Mark 4:30-34 (NIV)  

What I Do Not Know

That would help quite a bit. I would certainly listen attentively to that. What would help quite a bit? What would you listen to attentively? I would listen attentively to you. I would listen carefully to you teaching me what I do not know. That is very good. I have some questions for you. Go ahead, I’m listening. What have I been doing all these many years that you have been following me? Have I not been explaining to you what you do not know? Has not my Spirit been bringing to your remembrance what you have heard and seen in my word? Yes, that is true. You have regularly and continually been explaining to me what I do not know. So, you have no complaints? No, I certainly do not have any complaints. What do you have then? I have a desire to grow stronger in my faith. I have a desire to be more powerfully used by you. I have a desire to bear more fruit for your kingdom and bring more glory to your name. Those are all good desires you have in you.

I have a few more questions to ask you. I’m still listening. That’s good. What will help you to grow stronger in your faith? What will help you to bear more fruit for my kingdom and bring more glory to my name? How will I be able to use you more powerfully? Those are all good questions. If I listen attentively to you, I will grow stronger in my faith. If I take your word deep into my heart and mind and life, I will grow stronger in my faith. As I put into practice what you teach me, I will grow stronger in my faith. Yes, all of this is true. If I follow you to where you lead me and do what you ask of me, I will bear more fruit for your kingdom and bring more glory to your name. You will powerfully use me as I love, follow and serve you. Yes, I will. Along the way, as you follow and serve me, I will continue to teach you what you do not know. How does all this sound to you? It sounds fantastic! Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will listen attentively to you. I know you will explain all things to me. You will help me to know what I do not know. Grow the seed of faith in me, as I listen to you. Powerfully use me to plant seeds of faith in others, so that they will come to know you. Amen

Key Question… How has the seed of faith grown in you as you have listened attentively to the Lord?

Living It Out… Listen attentively to the Lord so that the seed of faith will grow in you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will powerfully use you to plant seeds of faith in others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to plant seeds of faith in others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow your faith to grow by listening to the Lord.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 346 – Mark 4-30-34 – He Explained Everything – 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

Save What Was Lost

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 348 - Luke 19:1-10- Save What Was Lost - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 348 – Luke 19:1-10- Save What Was Lost – Growing As Disciples

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.  A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.  He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.  When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”  So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.  All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.'”  But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”  Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Luke 19:1-10 (NIV)  

Small And Insignificant

I was small and insignificant. I could go unnoticed in a crowd. I could remain nameless and unknown. There was nothing remarkable and outstanding about me. To almost everyone, I could be invisible. That is to everyone, except you. To you I was not small and insignificant. To you, I would never go unnoticed in a crowd. To you, I would never be nameless and unknown. You know everything that there is to know about me. You know me by name. I have never been invisible to you. Not a moment of my life has been unknown and unnoticed by you. Yes, I know everything about you. I know you better than you know yourself. I know your thoughts before you think them. I know your words before you speak. I know your actions before you take them. I know the days of your life before you live them. That is amazing. That is astounding. That is incredible. Why is that? Knowing all you know; you still love and care for me. Knowing all you know; you came into this world to live and die for me. You paid for my sins. You made it so I could be forgiven of all my sins and cleansed of all my unrighteous. You turned my life around. You gave me a completely new life in you. Was I worth it? It is a very good thing that I wasn’t required to answer that question. It is a very good thing that you answered that question for me. You took action. You would not let me go. You pursued me. You sought me out. You adopted me into your family. You made me to be your child. You saved me when I was lost and without hope in the world. Yes, I have done all of these things for you. I have given you a completely new life to live as you love, follow and serve me. Thank you, Lord.

Now there is something I want to do with and for you. What’s that? I know that you are still seeking and saving the lost. Yes, I am. I want to join you in what you are doing. So, it is my hope, my prayer, and my utmost desire that you will use me to be a part of your seeking and saving the lost. Use me to help draw others to you. I am at your service. I am ready for your use. That is very good. You will join me in what I am doing. I will use you to draw others to me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, you made every effort to seek and save me. Even though, I was small and insignificant, you pursued me. You rescued me from a life without you. You turned my life around. You gave me a new life to live. Use me to be a part of seeking and saving the lost. Amen

Key Question… How is the Lord now using you to be a part of His seeking and saving the lost?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to use you in being a part of seeking and saving the lost.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord also wants to use you in being a part of seeking and saving the lost.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you in seeking and saving the lost.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to use you to be a part of seeking and saving the lost.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 348 – Luke 19-1-10 – Save What Was Lost – 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

We Have Different Gifts

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 349 - Romans 12:6-8 - We Have Different Gifts - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 349 – Romans 12:6-8 – We Have Different Gifts – Growing As Disciples

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;  if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)

Gifts That Differ

There is one thing I know for certain. What’s that? You have given me gifts to use in serving you. There is something else that I know. What’s that? Others have different gifts that I have not been given. At one time, this troubled me. How so? I would look around and compare myself with others. That is never a good idea. Why is that? There is the very real and strong possibility that I would either be envious of the gift’s others have been given or I would be proud of the gift’s I have been given. Neither is a good outcome. Both attitudes are counterproductive and a waste of time and energy. That is true, without a doubt.

What will you do with the gifts, I have given to you? I will use the gifts you have given me to faithfully and fruitfully serve you. What will that look like?  I will use my gifts generously, diligently and cheerfully. You will see me giving my fullest and best efforts in following you to where you lead me to do what you ask of me. It will be the priority of my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I will not let myself to be caught up and dissipated by the cares of this world. My eyes will be on you. I will be fully devoted to loving, following and serving you. It will be my goal to store up treasure in heaven with you. What does it mean to store up treasure in heaven with me? I came into this world with nothing. I will leave this world with nothing. Only the fruit I bear for you will be a treasure stored up in heaven with you. Fruit and treasure stored up in heaven will be the result of my using the gifts you have given to me. People will come to know and love and follow and serve you because I have used the gifts you have given to me. People will be in heaven because you have worked in and through my life. People will give their lives to you because your light has shined through me. That is the fruit, that is the treasure, that will be the result of my faithfully and fruitfully using the gifts you have given to me. Yes, it will. Keep on using all the gifts I have given to you. Encourage others and spur them on to use the gifts I have given to them. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for the gifts you have given to me. With a heart filled with faith, I will use the gifts you have given to me to serve you. Not only will I joyously and enthusiastically use my gifts, I will encourage and spur others on to do likewise; all for your glory. Amen

Key Question… How have you been able to discover your gifts the Lord has given to you?

Living It Out… Use whatever gifts the Lord has given you to serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord has given you gifts with which you can serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are using your gifts to serve the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you faithfully use the gifts you have been given.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 349 – Romans 12-6-8 – We Have Different Gifts – 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

He Has Anointed Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 350 - Luke 4:18-19 - He Has Anointed Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 350 – Luke 4:18-19 – He Has Anointed Me – Growing As Disciples

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”  Luke 4:18-19 (NIV)  

Anointing

That is what I need, without a doubt. What’s that? What do you need without a doubt? I need your anointing to do the work of ministry. That is correct. How do you know this to be true? I can’t tell you how many times I have powerlessly and ineffectively tried to minister to others with my own power and strength. Operating under my own power and strength is a fruitless endeavor that can only end in discouragement and defeat. Nothing will weary a person faster than trying to minister to others without your power. This sounds like the voice of your experience. Yes, it is. What will you do differently, now that you have such a wealth of experience? I will rely on you. I will ask for your help. I will ask you to empower me with your Spirit.  I will allow you to work in and through me. It will me my hope and purpose and plan to live as a vessel that you can use. That’s an important thought. What will hinder your use as my vessel? Any unconfessed sin will hinder your ability to use me. So, I will confess all my sins to you. I will ask for your forgiveness and cleansing. I will submit my life to you. I will seek to fully live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. I will go where you guide me. I will do what you ask me. I will join you in the work I see you doing. I will allow myself to be a tool in your hands. That will be very good. I will use you to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans. I will work in and through you. My hand will be on you. My Spirit will fill and empower you. You will bear fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. Thank you, Lord.

You mentioned that you would join me in the work I am doing. Yes, I did. What kind of work do you expect to see me doing? I expect to see preaching of good news to the poor, proclaiming freedom for prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, and release to those who are oppressed. The opportunities you bring before me, to serve you, will no doubt look something like this work. Yes, it will. Keep your eyes open and join me in what I am doing. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Holy Spirit, without your anointing I’m powerless to do the work of ministry. My efforts alone will end in failure. So, I will rely on you to anoint me to minister to others. Powerfully use me to bring good news, freedom and release to all those who are in bondage. Amen

Key Question… When have you powerlessly tried to minister to others without the Holy Spirit’s anointing?

Living It Out… Allow the Holy Spirit to anoint you so you will be empowered to do works of ministry.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will anoint you to do works of ministry.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has anointed you to do works of ministry.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Holy Spirit to anoint you to do works of ministry.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 350 – Luke 4-18-19 – He Has Anointed Me – 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

The Prayer Offered In Faith

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 353 - James 5:13-16 - The Prayer Offered In Faith - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 353 – James 5:13-16 – The Prayer Offered In Faith – Growing As Disciples

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.  James 5:13-16 (NIV)  

Prayers Of Faith

That is what I want to offer to you. What do you want to offer to me? In every circumstance of life, I want to offer prayers of faith to you. When there is sickness or sadness or sorrow, I will pray. When there is happiness and joy and celebration, I will give thanks to you. When there is trouble and great need, I will pray. All my prayers will be filled with faith. I will trust in you. I will rely on your help not only for myself but for others as well. That will be very good. There is a side note I would also like to make. What’s that? I know the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. You will hear and answer the prayers of the righteous, of that I am certain. Yes, I will. Is there a problem? Yes, there is a problem. I am a sinner. I take missteps. I make mistakes. I sin. On my own, I am not righteous. The only righteousness I have is in you. Is that not enough? Yes, your righteousness is more than enough. I want to point out that I will be making confessing my sins to you a regular part of my daily prayer life. I will be relying on your forgiveness and cleansing. You will make me pure and clean and righteous. Yes, I will. Yes, I have. You will make me a vessel that you can use. Yes, I will use you as my vessel.  

Say more about being my vessel. How will you be my prayer vessel? I have been thinking about that quite a bit. Your forgiveness and cleansing make me a clean vessel for your use. Yes, it does. However, there is another requirement to having prayers heard and answered. What is that? Prayers that are heard and answered must be filled with faith. I must believe that you will hear and answer my prayers. If I pray prayers filled with doubt, I cannot expect to receive anything from you. That is correct. So, I will be relying on you to guide my prayers. I believe that you will give me prayers to pray. You will encourage and strengthen me as I live a life of prayer with you. You will hear and answer my prayers and fill my heart with faith as I continue to live in an intimate prayer filled relationship with you. Yes, I will give you prayers to pray. Yes, I will hear and answer your prayers. Yes, I will grow your faith as you walk through life holding on to me. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will pray in all the circumstances of life. I will pray faith filled prayers for others and myself in times of happiness, sickness, sorrow, trouble or need. I will pray prayers of confession. Make me righteous so that my prayers can be heard and answered. Amen

Key Question… How are you praying for those who are in trouble, sick or in some kind of great need?

Living It Out… Continue to pray faith filled prayers to the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer your faith filled prayers.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has heard and answered your faith filled prayers.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you offer faith filled prayers to the Lord.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 353 – James 5-13-16 – The Prayer Offered In Faith – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Don’t Be Hardened By Sin’s Deceitfulness

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40822559 – today is the day reminder on a sticky note against burlap canvas

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.  But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12-13 (NIV)

 Today Is The Day

Today is the day. What does that mean? Today is the day that I will be very careful that I don’t have a sinful unbelieving heart. Today is the day that I will make sure that my heart does not succumb to the deceitfulness of sin. Today is the day that I will turn toward you rather than away from you. Today is the day that I will both give and receive encouragement to passionately love, follow and serve you. Today, I will love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. This is all very good. I do have a question for you. What’s that? You are using that word, “today” quite a bit. Yes, I am. What about yesterday or tomorrow? I can only live one day at a time. So, I am focusing on today. I am taking one day and one step at a time. That is very good. Are these steps you are taking today brand new for you? Oh no, not at all. Yesterday, I took all the same steps. Yesterday, I was careful to not have a sinful, unbelieving heart. Yesterday, I made sure that my heart did not succumb to the deceitfulness of sin. Yesterday, I turned toward you rather than away from you. Yesterday, I gave and received encouragement to passionately love, follow and serve you. That is very good. I hope and pray that I will take all the same steps with you tomorrow and every day after that. But here is the deal, here is what I know for sure. Were all my steps perfect? Did I never make mistakes? Did I never take missteps? Did I never sin? My steps were never perfect. I did make mistakes and take missteps. I did sin against you. But here is what I also know. I am moving forward with you. My eyes are on you. You are holding on to me as I hold on to you. You are leading me through life. You have given me a heart to love you with all that is within me. So today, it is my desire and joy to live my life with and for you. With your help, I know that today, will be similar tomorrow. You will help me to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. You will help me to love and follow and serve you one day and one step at a time. Yes, I will. You can count on me. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, I want a soft and obedient heart that loves, follows and serves you. I will be careful to guard my heart, so it does not become hardened by succumbing to the deceitfulness of sin. Help me to encourage others to live a life that loves you with all their heart. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord helped you to have a soft and obedient heart that loves, follows and serves Him?

Living It Out… Be careful to guard your heart so it will not become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to guard your heart so it will not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are guarding your heart so it will not be hardened by sin.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be careful to guard your heart so that is does not become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 355 – Hebrews 3-12-13 – Don’t Be Hardened By Sin’s Deceitfulness – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

He Commands All People Everywhere To Repent

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 357 - Acts 17:30 - He Commands All People Everywhere To Repent - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 357 – Acts 17:30 – He Commands All People Everywhere To Repent – Growing As Disciples

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. Acts 17:30 (NIV) 

My Way, Your Way 

That’s what it came down to. I had to make a choice. I had to come to a decision. What choice did you need to make? What decision did you have to come to? I had to decide what kind of life I was going to live. Was I going to live my way or was I going to live your way? Tell me about that. I was living a self-centered, self-indulgent, self-prompting life with me at the center. I was on throne. I was the boss. I was in control or at least I thought so at the time. Everything revolved around me. I lived for comfort. I sought pleasure. I was independent, strong willed and stubborn. No one could tell me anything. I followed my own counsel. I listened to my own advice. I went where I wanted to go. I did what I wanted to do. Did you enjoy this life that you were living? For a time, I thought that I did. But I was wrong. How so? I was living a sinful life that led me into brokenness. There is no truer statement than, “The wages of sin is death.”  How do you know that to be true? I was living a pain filled life that was without hope. I was suffering the natural consequences of the way that I was living. Yes, you were. But the story does not end there. No, it doesn’t.

What happened to you? My pain and suffering and brokenness caused me to cry out to you. I asked you to show yourself to me, if you were real. Did I show myself to you? Yes, you did. I now know that you had been pursing me. You would not let me go. You would not let me live a life without you. It was your plan to rescue me from a life without you. So, what happened to you? I reached rock bottom. I asked for your help. I said that I wanted to follow you. I told you that I want you to be my Savior. I asked you to come into my life. I asked for forgiveness of my sin. I told you that I would allow you to turn my life around. I said that I would no longer live my way and that I wanted to live your way. Yes, you did. That is what you have been doing these many years. Do you have any regrets? Do you have any second thoughts? None, whatsoever. You are my Savior and Lord. It is my pleasure and joy to live my life your way. I will follow you to where you lead me. I will do whatever you ask me. I am fully devoted to you. Why is that? I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. That is very good. Yes, it is. 

Lord, I believe in you. I have turned away from my old life. You are my Savior and Lord. I want to live the new life you have secured for me. Do your work in me. Change my heart. Transform my mind. Help me to follow and serve you with all that is within me. Amen

Key Question… How did you come to believe in Jesus Christ and want to turn your life over to Him?

Living It Out… Turn to follow Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord so you can live a brand-new life with Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will radically change your heart, mind and life as you turn to follow Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is radically changing your life as you follow Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… My you allow the Lord to radically change your life as you turn to follow Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 357 – Acts 17-30 – He Commands All People Everywhere To Repent – 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