Tag Archives: discipleship devotional

You Hear My Voice

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Woman hands praying for blessing from god on sunset background

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:1-3 (NIV)

Time And Place

I have set a time and a place to meet with you. I have you firmly on my schedule. I have made meeting with you the absolute priority of my life. I will not let a day go by that I have not met with you. Why is that? Why am I on your schedule? I get distracted. I lose track of what is vitally important. Many times, what has seemed to be urgent but is ultimately unimportant has pushed aside what is actually urgent and of ultimate importance. You are on my schedule, first and foremost, because I have nothing of higher priority or of greater importance than meeting with you. I have not squeezed you into my schedule. No, not at all, everything else in my life comes after and is built around my meeting with you. That is very good.

I have more to say about meeting with you. I’m listening. Having you on my schedule does not mean that once we have met, we are done meeting for the day. Having you on my schedule, in the morning, is the beginning of what I hope will be our dialogue of prayer together throughout each moment of my day. Our meeting together in the morning is the way that I want to start my day with my heart and mind and life focused on you. I know that you will help me to remain attentive to you throughout my day. I will do that for you. 

What do you hope to accomplish as you meet with me in prayer? What is your goal? What is your hope? What is your dream? What is your desire? I am glad that you have asked me these questions. It is my hope and dream and desire to know and to love and to follow and serve you will all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I want to live my life with and for you. I want to walk in an intimate relationship with you. I want to be able to know and do your will. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. Do you believe that I will hear and answer these prayerful desires of your heart? Yes, I believe you will answer these prayerful desires of my heart far beyond what I could ask for or even imagine. It is good that you believe I will hear and answer these prayerful desires of your heart. Why is that? Because this is exactly what I will do for you. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will make our time together the absolute priority of my life. Transform my heart and mind and life as I meet with you in prayer. Thank you, for hearing and answering my prayers as I expectantly lay them before you. Thank you for your goodness to me. Amen

Key Question… What prayer requests would you like to make to the Lord right now?

Living It Out… Make it your consistent daily pattern to meet in prayer with the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer your prayers as you make them known to Him.

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

Prayer To Bless Others…May you lay all your prayers before the Lord.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 188 – Psalm 5-1-3 – You Hear My Voice – 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

The Greatest

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 305 - Matthew 23:11-12 - The Greatest - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 305 – Matthew 23:11-12 – The Greatest – Growing As Disciples

The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:11-12 (NIV)

Great 

What does it mean to be great? Is it a sin to want to be great? Do you define greatness in a way that is unique, and different from the world? Do you want me to be great in some way? You have a lot of questions about greatness. I can see that you are more than a little uncomfortable with the idea of being great. Yes, I am, without a doubt. Well, I am going to ask you to answer your own questions for me. I thought you might say that. Go ahead, I’m listening. Your definition of greatness is far different than the world’s definition of greatness. How so? Being great according to the world’s definition is very self-serving, self-centered and self-reliant. Being great according to the world’s definition includes a desire to be better and have more than anyone else. The idea of being great is rooted in pride. It desires and demands attention. It wants to be noticed and recognized and applauded. The person wanting to be great, in the eyes of the world, can’t take their thoughts off of themselves. In fact, everything and all of life revolves around the worldly greatness seeker. Yes, it does. Your idea of greatness is the exact opposite. You want me to be great at loving and caring for others. You want me to be great at helping and serving people in need. Your idea of greatness is rooted in humility. A truly great person, in your eyes, has taken their thoughts off of themselves. Their focus is on you. They want to know and do your will. They want to follow your example. I know that you want me to follow your example. How so? You want me to take on the form of a servant. You want me to lay aside my rights and privileges. You want me to love like you loved. You want me to give like you gave. You want me to serve like you served. Yes, I do want all of these things for you.

How will you ever be able to be like me? How will you ever be able to be great as a servant? Not by my own power and strength that is for sure. But I know one thing. What’s that? You will change me. You will mold and shape me. You will make me as you want me to be. Yes, I will. What will you do? I will keep my heart and mind and life focused on you. In your presence I will be changed. It your presence you will make me to be like you. You will make me great in loving and serving you and those all around me in this world. Yes, I will. Keep on loving, following and serving me. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, I believe what you are saying about true greatness. I will follow your example. I will take on the form of a servant. I will humbly serve others. Help me to think and speak and act like you. Help others to see you in me. Use me to help draw others to you. Amen

Key Question… What has helped you to come to believe that true greatness is found in humbly serving others?

Living It Out… Follow Christ’s example by humbly giving yourself in service to others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith to believe that true greatness is found in following Christ’s example of humbly serving others.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are following Christ’s example of humbly serving others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow the Lord’s example by humbling yourself to serve others today.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 305 – Matthew 23-11-12 – The Greatest – 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

Make Disciples

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 304 - Matthew 28:18-20 - Make Disciples - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 304 – Matthew 28:18-20 – Make Disciples – Growing As Disciples

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

Go

That is a powerful word. What is a powerful word? “Go”, is a powerful word. Why is that? You have given me a commission. I have your command before me. You have given me your guidance and direction. You have made known what you want me to do for you. What’s that? You want me to, “go”. You don’t want me to sit around and do nothing. You want me to get up and go. With what purpose do I want you to get up and go? You want me to get up and go and make disciples. You want me to help others to become your followers. Yes, I do.

Let me ask you a question. I’m listening. Where would you be if someone didn’t take seriously my command to go and make disciples? I would be lost and without hope in the world. I wouldn’t be one of your followers today. I would have never become one of your disciples. I would still be walking on the path that led away from you. I would still be dead in my sins. I would have no hope of eternal life forever with you. I would not be living in an intimate relationship with you. No, you would not. But someone did respond to my call. Someone got involved in your life. Someone took the time and made the effort to help you to come to know and love and follow and serve me. Yes, they did.

I have a couple more questions to ask you. I’m still listening. Did a total stranger lead you to me? Did someone you did not know have a great and powerful impact in your life? No, not really. Someone I knew reached out to me. Someone who cared about me took the risk of sharing the Gospel with me. Someone took the time to establish a relationship with me so that they could help me to come to know you. They loved and cared for me. I know now that they were praying for me. They invested their time in my life. They allowed you to use them to minister to me. Yes, they did. Did they have to go far and travel a great distance to help you to become one of my disciples? No, they did not. Will you do the same for others? Will you get and go and help make disciples of the people you know, who live around you right now? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will respond to your command. I will say yes to you. I will do what you ask of me. I will go and make disciples of all nations. I will teach others what you have taught me. Use me to help others to love and follow and serve you. Empower me to serve you. Amen

Key Question… Where do you think the Lord is leading you to go and make a disciple?

Living It Out… Respond to the Lord’s command by going and making disciples.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will be with you as you go and make disciples.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to make disciples.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you go wherever the Lord guides you to make disciples.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 304 – Matthew 28-18-20 – Make Disciples – 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

Often Withdrew

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 302 - Luke 5:15-16 - Often Withdrew - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 302 – Luke 5:15-16 – Often Withdrew – Growing As Disciples

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16 (NIV)

Withdraw

There is no doubt about it, that is what I need to do, right now. What do you need to do right now? I need to withdraw from the busyness of life to meet with you in prayer. Why do you need to meet with me in prayer? I’m running on empty. I am weary and worn out. I have been allowing myself to be swallowed up by the busyness of life. I have been running myself ragged. I am certain that I have allowed others to set the pace and agenda of my life. It seems like I have been chasing one great idea after another. None of them are bad. All of them are good. Something has give. Something has to go. My life is lacking a defined purpose and a focused direction. I’d have to say that my life is somewhat of a scattered mess. I need to pull back. I need to refocus. I need you to revive and refresh and restore my life. I need to receive guidance and instruction from you. I want to know where you are leading me. I want to know what you are giving me to do. For all these reasons, I need to quiet myself before you. I need to meet with you in prayer. Yes, you do.

Come to me. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Quiet yourself before me so you can hear me speaking to you. I will revive and refresh and restore your life. I will show you where I am leading you. I will show you what I am giving you to do. I have a purpose and plan for your life. You will receive guidance and instruction from me. I will strengthen you. I will empower you. Rest in my presence. In me, you will find hope and meaning and purpose. In me, your life will overflow with joy and thanksgiving. I will come. I will draw near. I will quiet myself before you. That will be very good.

I do know one thing for sure. What’s that? You are leading me to you. You want me to go deeper with you in prayer. You want me to learn to do the work of prayer. I don’t need to run here and there and everywhere. I don’t need to come up with a great idea. I don’t need to seek to achieve some great accomplishment. You simply want me to hear from you. You want me to pray the prayers that you will give me to pray as I meet with you in prayer. Yes, I do.

Lord, I will withdraw from the busyness of life to meet with you. I will not let the demands of life distance me from you. I will not allow myself to be swallowed up by all the demands of life. I will go to a quiet place so that I can hear from you as we meet in prayer. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it your daily pattern and practice to meet with the Lord in prayer?

Living It Out… Make it your daily pattern to withdraw from the busyness of life to meet with the Lord in prayer.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that it will be well worth your time to withdraw to meet with the Lord in prayer.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are making it your pattern to regularly withdraw to pray.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you take time to withdraw from the busyness of life so you can pray.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 302 – Luke 5-15-16 – Often Withdrew – 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

Remember Before Our God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 301 - 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 - Remember Before Our God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 301 – 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 – Remember Before Our God – Growing As Disciples

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NIV)

Mentioning

That has not been my continual everyday practice, I can tell you that for sure. What has not been your continual everyday practice? I have not been mentioning my fellow coworkers in Christ, every day in my prayers. Do you believe that it is critically important to pray for your fellow coworkers in Christ? Yes, I do. Do you believe that I am asking you to pray for your fellow coworkers in Christ? Yes, I do. Do you know that I will hear and answer your prayers as you continue to pray for your fellow coworkers in Christ? Yes, I do. If you believe and know all of these things, why have you not been continually praying every day for your coworkers in Christ? I’m not sure. I may not have been thinking deeply about engaging in that kind of prayer. I will tell you one thing for certain. What’s that? I will start praying continually and daily for my fellow coworkers in Christ. That will be very good.

There is something else that I know I will need. What’s that? I will need your help. I will need you to give me prayers to pray. I will need you to guide my prayers. I will need you to teach and train me how to pray. Do you believe that I will do all these things for you as you meet with me in prayer? Yes, I do. What else do you believe? I believe that you will hear and answer my prayers. I believe that fruit will be born for your kingdom and glory will be brought to your name through the prayers that you give me to pray. I believe that work produced by faith will grow. I believe that labor prompted by love will grow. I believe that endurance inspired by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ will grow as you hear and answer not only my prayers but also all those who call on your name as they meet with you in prayer. Yes, all these things, and much more than you could hope for or even imagine will be accomplished as you and your fellow coworkers in Christ meet with me in prayer. Will you meet with me? Will you pray as I guide you? Yes, Heavenly Father, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I will continue to pray for my fellow coworkers. Make us all faithful and fruitful workers in your kingdom. Help us to bear abundant fruit for you. Use our faith and hope and love in and for you to keep us joyously and energetically serving you. Amen

Key Question… How are you continually praying for your coworkers who are loving, following and serving the Lord?

Living It Out… Continue to pray for your coworkers in Christ so that your and their labor will be faithful and fruitful.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that Your Heavenly Father will hear and answer your prayers for your coworkers in Christ.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group the prayers you are praying for your coworkers in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you continually remember in your prayers before God, those who labor for Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 301 – 1 Thessalonians 1-2-3 – Remember Before Our 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

To Live Is Christ

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 300 - Philippians 1:19-26 - To Live Is Christ - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 300 – Philippians 1:19-26 – To Live Is Christ – Growing As Disciples

for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. Philippians 1:19-26 (NIV)

Abundant Fruit

That is what I want to accomplish with my life. That is my reason to be living this life. What do you want to accomplish with your life? What is your reason to be living your life? I want to bear abundant fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. I want to live my life with and for you. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to live the life you have called me to live. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want my life to have counted for something. I want my life to have made a difference. I want to leave behind a legacy. Now, I need to make something clearer. What is that? I don’t want to leave a legacy that is about me. I want to leave a legacy that points others to you. I want to have helped others make progress in their life of faith with you. I want to have helped others to have gone deeper and further in their life of loving and following and serving you. There is nothing unclear about your hopes and dreams and desires. Well, that’s good. If there was any lack of clarity it would have been in and with me, not with you. I am stating what I want to be clear in my heart and mind and life. That is very good. 

Now, I know a couple things I would like to point out. What’s that? It is you who has fanned the flame of these hopes and dreams and desires within me. For this, I am thankful beyond measure. I am thankful beyond what my words could possibly express. All that is within me is thankful. All that is within me is grateful. You have given me a passionate desire to love and follow and serve you. You could not have given me a better gift. You could not have filled me with more hope and joy. That is very good. Yes, it is. It is far beyond good. Yes, it is. What else do you know? I know that you will keep on fanning the flame of my desire to love and follow and serve you. You will make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom. You will make me able to bring glory to your name. You will make me able to live my life with and for you both now and forever. Yes, I will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, thank you for helping me through all the twists and turns and ups and downs of life. You have brought me though every adversity. You have helped me to become a bold witness for you. Help me to keep on bearing abundant fruit for you and bringing glory to your name. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord used some of your trials and adversities to help you to bear fruit for Him?

Living It Out… Rely on prayer and help from the Holy Spirit to bear abundant fruit for the Lord as you go through life with Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to bear abundant fruit as you go through life with Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is using your life to bear abundant fruit for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to use your life to bear abundant fruit for Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Philippians 1-19-26 – Day 300 – To Live Is Christ – 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

His Good Favor

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 299 - Ezra 7:27-28 - His Good Favor - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 299 – Ezra 7:27-28 – His Good Favor – Growing As Disciples

Praise be to the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem in this way and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me. Ezra 7:27-28 (NIV)

On My Side

I know that you are on my side. What does that mean to you? That is a good question. I may have stated my thought incorrectly. How so? I maybe could have and should have said that I know that we are both on the same side. If I were not on your side, you certainly would not have come over to my side. You have made me able to leave my old way of thinking and speaking and acting. You have turned my life around. You have helped me to turn away from my old life of sin. You pulled me off the road that led away from you. You rescued me from a life without you both now and forever. You have given me a passionate desire to love and follow and serve you. You have made it to be my delight and joy to live my life with and for you. So, in this sense I know that you are on my side. You love and care for me. You are guarding and guiding my life. You are making me able to know and do your will You have been leading me to where you want me to go. You have been giving me what you want me to do. That is what I mean when I say that I am on your side and you are on my side. You are encouraging and strengthening me to follow and serve you. You are making me able to be a witness for you in the world. You are helping me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Yes, I have done, am doing and will continue to do these things in and for you. You are correct. I am on your side.

Why is it critically important for you to keep on remembering that I am on your side? The road ahead will not always be easy. I will face difficulty and challenges as I follow and serve you. I will face opposition. I will experience attack. Discouragement, depression and defeat may try to overcome me. I must always remember that you are with me to help me. I must always believe that your good favor and strong hand rests on me. You will lift me up. You will carry me on to victory. You will help me to overcome every obstacle as I continue to love, follow and serve you. You will make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You will keep me moving forward with you. Yes, I will. You can be sure that I will always be with you to help you. Thank you, Heavenly Father. I will always remember that you are on my side. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, I know you have given me work to do for you. Thank you that your good favor and strong hand are guarding and guiding me as I serve you. Help me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Bring others alongside me to help me. Amen

Key Question… When have you been encouraged because you knew God was helping you to do His work?

Living It Out… Rely on God’s good favor and strong hand to guard and guide the work He has given you to do for Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s favor will rest on you as you do the work, He has given you to do for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has given you work to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on God’s good favor and strong hand to guard and guide you as you serve Him.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 299 – Ezra 7-27-28 – His Good Favor – 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 Good Gifts

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 297 - Matthew 7:9-11 - Good Gifts - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 297 – Matthew 7:9-11 – Good Gifts – Growing As Disciples

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV) 

Good Gifts

It has been a joy and delight of mine to be a giver of good gifts. I have liked to consider what someone might want and need as a gift and then give it to them as a surprise. I have wanted to greatly exceed their expectations, as well. For me, it has often been true, that it is more blessed to give than to receive. I have frequently had more joy and satisfaction in giving a gift than in receiving a gift. Obviously, it is true, that I still do very much like receiving good gifts especially if they come as an unexpected surprise. This comes as no surprise to me.

No one is a better giver of surprise and wonderful gifts than you. You think so? Yes, I do, without a doubt. If I have any small quantity or quality of being a giver of good gifts, it has only been true because you have made me in your image. I am only a giver of good gifts either because of how you have made me or because of what I have heard or seen or received from you. It pleases me that you know and understand how you have come to be a giver of good gifts.

What will you do differently, now that you better understand that I am a giver of good gifts? What will you do differently, now that you have come to believe that it is my joy and delight to give good gifts to you? I will make my needs and wants known to you. I will more readily bring my prayer requests to you. I will not foolishly think that some need or want is too big or too small to ask of you. I will trust that you will keep on giving good gifts to me. Yes, I will.

There is something I would like to ask you. There is some help I need from you. What is that? I would like more wisdom to know what to ask of you. I would like you to help guide my prayers. I know that you both given and granted the desires of my heart. How so? Well, for example, you have been both giving and granting my desire to know you. No gift is better than that. I’m glad you think so. In the past, I might not have thought of or considered asking for that as a gift from you. I want you to keep on giving and granting me desires that come from you. I want to be able to ask for and receive what you want to give to me. Does that make sense? It makes a lot of sense. Do you believe that I will hear and answer this prayer of yours? Will I give you this good gift? Will I help you to ask for all that I want to give to you? Without, a doubt. Of that, I am very sure. You are correct. That is what I will do in and for you. Thank you, Lord.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being a giver of very good gifts. You have richly blessed my life far beyond my hopes and dreams and desires. Help me to learn to keep on asking for the good gifts I need from you. Help me to receive all you want to give to me. Amen

Key Question… What do you think have been some of your Heavenly Father’s favorite gifts He has given to you?

Living It Out… Ask your Heavenly Father to give you the good gifts you need from Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you can ask your Heavenly Father to give good gifts to you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what good gifts you are asking your Heavenly Father to give you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you ask your Heavenly Father for the good gifts you need from Him?

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 297 – Matthew 7-9-11 – Give Good Gifts – 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

Is With You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 296 - Zephaniah 3:17 - Is With You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 296 – Zephaniah 3:17 – Is With You – Growing As Disciples

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

Rest

That definitely does not come naturally to me. What does not come naturally to you? Rest does not come naturally to me. Why is that? I am much more likely to be doing things. I have liked to be busy. I liked to go places and do things. Does rest seem like a waste of time to you? Does rest seem to have no good purpose to you? I suppose it sounds pathetic to admit, but yes, rest has seemed like a purposeless waste of time to me. You couldn’t be more wrong. I have had that suspicion. What would you think if I were to tell you that resting is not easy? I would be interested in hearing more. Rest can actually be a form of hard work. How can that be? If you were to set aside all your urges to be busy doing things would that be easy or hard for you? That would be exceedingly difficult for me. There you go then. You understand some of the difficulty of entering my rest. I guess I do. Yes, you do.

Would you be shocked to learn that you will not come to know me unless you enter my rest? No, not really. It is my hope and desire for you that you come to enter my rest. Would you like a preview of what you will learn as you enter my rest? Wow, a preview! I love previews. I always want to know what is coming next. As you enter my rest you will come to know that I love and care for you. As you enter my rest you will better understand how I have rescued and saved you from a life without me. As you enter my rest you will know that I delight in you. I delight in you so much that I rejoice over you with singing. On the day that you gave your life to me there was rejoicing in heaven. Does that blow you away? Yes, it certainly does. You, the God of the universe, who made everything, have all these thoughts and feelings toward me. Who I am? You are my child. I am your Heavenly Father. Come to rest in my love. Let my love quiet all your fears. Draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Come to rest in my presence. Come now. Yes, Heavenly Father, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being with me to help me. You rescued me from a life without you. How wonderful it is that you love and care me. How fantastic it is that you delight in me and rejoice over me with singing. I love you with all that is within me. Amen

Key Question… How has God’s love for you put life into perspective and quieted your fears?

Living It Out… Allow God to show you how much He loves and cares for you as you rest in His presence.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will help you to come to know and live in an intimate relationship with Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s love for you has quieted your fears.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rest in knowing how much your Heavenly Father loves and cares for you.

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

Day 296 – Becoming Like Christ – Zephaniah 3-17 – Is With 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

Love Each Other Deeply

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 271 - 1 Peter 4:8 - Love Each Other Deeply - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 271 – 1 Peter 4:8 – Love Each Other Deeply – Growing As Disciples

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

My List 

I have had a mental list in my mind. I don’t know that I have deliberately or even consciously kept this mental list. I just know that it has existed. It exists today, even right now. What kind of list have you kept in your mind? I am sad to say that I have kept a mental list in my mind of wrongs that people have committed against me. What do you think about such a list being in your mind? I think it is a worthless list. It is an unhelpful list. I suppose it is even a sinful list. Why is the list worthless? I don’t plan on taking any action related to the list. I won’t be seeking revenge. That’s good. But there is more isn’t there? Yes, there is. Once someone has gotten on my mental list of wrongs done against me, it is unlikely that I will ever be close to them again. That sounds terrible, I know. But it is worse than that. How so? Once someone is on my list, it is quite likely that I will take steps to distance myself from them. How does that sound? Not good. I know. What do you know? My attitude and my list is not at all loving and forgiving. My attitude and my list certainly does not leave much hope and room for reconciliation. Why are we talking about your attitude and list now anyhow? Well, I am confessing this sin to you. I am asking for your forgiveness. You have my forgiveness. But I also want to let go of wrongs committed against me. I don’t want to have a list of wrongs committed against me, residing in my mind. That’s good.

What would you like me to do for you? I have frequently, almost daily, asked you to make me to be more like you. Yes, I have heard that prayer of yours many times. What do you have in mind? I want to love like you loved. I want to do what you did. How so? Your deep love for others made you able to overlook and forgive the sins that they committed against you. You did not keep a list of wrongs committed against you. You did not distance yourself from those who hurt or harmed you. Instead, you loved and forgave them. Even more, you prayed for those who sinned against you. You are always ready to forgive. You are also seeking reconciliation. Yes, I am. You are always hoping that people will turn to love and follow and serve you. Yes, I am. So, I want you to help me to love others deeply from my heart. I want you to make me able to fully love and freely forgive others just as you do. I want you to destroy my list and help me to make sure that no one gets on it, because it no longer exists. That I can and that I will do for you. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, help me to love others deeply from my heart. Keep me from holding on to a list of wrongs that have been committed against me. Rather give me a love for others that is ready, willing and able to cover over any sin that has been committed against me. Amen

Key Question… How has your deep love for others helped you to overlook failings and weaknesses in them?

Living It Out… Allow your deep love for others to cover over the sins they have committed against you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to love others deeply from your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your deep love for others covers over their sins.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you love others deeply so you can forgive them freely.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 271 – 1 Peter 4-8 – Love Each Other Deeply – 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