Tag Archives: discipleship devotional

Told Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 256 - 2 Kings 5:13-15 - Told Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 256 – 2 Kings 5:13-15 – Told Him – Growing As Disciples

Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant.” 2 Kings 5:13-15 (NIV)

Who Am I?

Who am I that I need to figure everything out? Who am I that I need full understanding? Who am I that I need to be in complete agreement? What are you talking about? What don’t you need to figure out? About what do you not need full understanding? Why don’t you need to be in complete agreement? I’m talking about your will. I am thinking about following your guidance and receiving your instruction. Am I the evaluator of your guidance and instruction? I think not. Will I only do as you ask of me only if I understand or agree or am in complete agreement? I think not. Will I do what you ask me simply because it is you that has asked me? I hope so. I believe so. I pray so. Where would faith and hope and trust be if I only did what made sense to me? Would I ever be taking a step of faith with you if you needed to convince me to do what you asked of me every time? That would be no faith at all. That’s true. If I need to figure everything out, fully understand or be in complete agreement, then I would be simply relying on my own thoughts and ideas and understandings. That is also true. 

I know something for certain. What’s that? You will call me to leave the familiar to do the uncomfortable. You will cause me to come to rely on you. You will stretch and grow my faith in you by asking me to do what does not seem understandable, likely or even possible. Taking a step of faith with you into the unknown to do the impossible is a real step of faith. Yes, it is. That is what I want to do. I want to take real steps of faith with you. I want you to do in and through me what only you can do as I come to rely on you. That will be very good. Follow me. Yes Lord, I will. 

Lord, I have not always followed your guidance or accepted your instruction. I have foolishly thought that I had a better way that was an improvement on your guidance and instruction. Obviously, that was a huge mistake. Help me now to follow and obey you. Amen

Key Question…How has the Lord blessed your life as you have followed and obeyed His instructions?

Living It Out… Hear, follow and obey all the Lord’s guidance and instruction.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bless your life as you follow His guidance and accept His instruction.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how following the Lord’s guidance and instruction has blessed your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you follow and obey the Lord’s instructions.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 256 – 2 Kings 5-13-15 – Told Him – 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 Demolish Strongholds

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 218- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - We Demolish Strongholds - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 218- 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – We Demolish Strongholds – Growing As Disciples

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV)

Battleground

That’s where my battles will most often be fought. What battles? Where will your battles be fought? The spiritual battles I will fight in life will often be fought in my mind. You could even call my mind a battleground. Yes, that is true. There will always be external components to the spiritual battles I will face in life. But what I allow my mind to think about spiritual battles and evil strongholds will be critically important. You are on the right track. Tell me what you have on your mind. Let me start by describing different kinds of strongholds. That’s a good place to start. I thought so. There are many different types of strongholds that might take my heart and mind and life captive. Doubt and fear are powerful strongholds. Pride and arrogance are others. Lust and materialism are as well. The list of possible strongholds is almost endless…anger and bitterness, dishonesty and gossip, unforgiveness and resentment, selfishness and self-centeredness, greed and gluttony…it is hard to know where to stop. With each spiritual battle and stronghold a question is asked. What question is asked? What will I allow my mind to think? Will I allow my heart and mind to think doubt filled, fearful thoughts or angry and bitter thoughts or unforgiving and resentful thoughts? The heart of the question is, “Will I allow myself to think earthly and worldly and evil thoughts or will I think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to you?” Those are very good questions to ask yourself.

The answer is obvious, I want to think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to you. That is a good answer. How will you think thoughts that are good and right and pleasing to me? I know me, I can’t just turn off my thoughts. There is no off button. But I do know you and I do know your word. I know that your word can and will push earthly and worldly and evil thoughts out of my mind. Your world will cleanse my heart and transform my mind. Your word will give me new thoughts to think. Your word will demolish strongholds and help me to take every thought captive to you. Your word will fight in me, with me, for me and through me like a sword to give me victory over the spiritual battles and powerful strongholds I will face in life. Yes, my word will fight for you. Yes, my word will deliver you. Yes, my word will lead you in victory. Take my word deep into your heart and mind and life. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know I will face spiritual battles. I know spiritual forces of evil will attempt to set up strongholds in my life to hinder me from fully knowing and loving and following and serving you. Help me to demolish every stronghold with weapons you have given me. Amen

Key Question… How has God’s word helped you to take captive your thoughts and make them obedient to Christ?

Living It Out… Allow God to help you to demolish strongholds with the weapons He has given to you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will help you to demolish strongholds with the weapons He has given to you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has helped you to demolish a stronghold in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the weapons God has given you to demolish strongholds in your life.

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

Day 218 – Becoming Like Christ – 2 Corinthians 10-4-5 – We Demolish Strongholds – 4 Page Discipleship 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

Those Who Are Persecuted

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 208 - Matthew 5:10 - Those Who Are Persecuted - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 208 – Matthew 5:10 – Those Who Are Persecuted – Growing As Disciples

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 (NIV)

Witness

I want to be your witness in the world. I want the faith that I have in you to stand out from the darkness of this world. I want to shine brightly as a light in the world. I want others to be able to see and recognize that your life is being lived out in and through me. Those are all very good desires that you have within you. As you love and follow and serve me, you will shine brightly for me. I will powerfully use you as my witness in the world. Others will be drawn to me because my life is being lived out in and through you. The righteousness you have in me will boldly stand out in the darkness of this world. For that, I am thankful beyond words. I can think of nothing more that I want than to be used by you. That is very good.

What can you expect as the righteousness you have in me boldly and brightly stands out in the darkness of this world? I can expect to be verbally abused and mocked because of the faith I have in you. I can expect to be ostracized, treated harshly and even persecuted because I am your follower. I can expect to be slandered, cursed at and even lied about because I will be living the new life that you have called me to live. All of these things happened to you. I should not be surprised when any of these things happen to me. The darkness of this world does not like the light I have in you. The sinfulness of this world does not and cannot accept the righteousness I have in you. No, it does not. No, it cannot. Yes, my life will live in and through you. Yes, you will shine brightly for me in the darkness of this world. For that, you will be persecuted.

Will you be disappointed when you are rejected? Will you be discouraged when you are persecuted? Will you be depressed when you are mistreated? No, I will not, not for one minute, not even for one second. Why is that? I will know that your word is true. I will know that I have been forewarned. I will know that I am being treated as you were treated. I will know that it is your righteousness being lived out, in and through me that is being rejected. I will know that I am truly living the life that you have called me to live. The more light I have in you, the more the darkness of the world will come against me. In those moments, I know that you will be with me to help me. You will guard and guide me. You will lead me through the darkness of this world as I love, follow and serve you. Yes, I will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I am thankful for the new life I have in you. You have made me righteous. You have forgiven and cleansed my sins. You are using me as your witness in the darkness of this world. I joyfully anticipate that I will be persecuted because I am your follower. Amen

Key Question… How are you living in the world even though you are not of the world?

Living It Out… Joyfully anticipate that you will be persecuted because the righteousness you have in Jesus Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the righteousness you have in Christ will stand out from the evil that is in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the righteousness you have in Christ stands out in the world.

Prayer To Bless Others… May the righteousness you have in Christ stand out as a witness in the world.

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

Day 208 – Becoming Like Christ – Matthew 5-10 – Those Who Are Persecuted – 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

If Anyone Is Thirsty

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 335 - John 7:37-39 - If Anyone Is Thirsty - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 335 – John 7:37-39 – If Anyone Is Thirsty – Growing As Disciples

On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39 (NIV)

Thirsty

I have been thirsty. By that, I don’t mean that I have wanted a little something to drink. What do you mean? I mean to say, I have been thirsty like a person crawling across the sun scorched desert floor in search of water. I have been dry and weary and worn out, looking for something to revive and refresh and renew my life. What have you discovered? I have discovered that I cannot revive and refresh and renew my life. I have discovered that nothing in this world can satisfy my thirst and revive and refresh and renew my life. Why is that? Only you can satisfy my thirst. Only you can revive and refresh and renew my life. In fact, it is my thirst for you that drew me to you. So, I am thankful beyond measure that you placed this thirst within me. That is very good.

You are correct in saying that you cannot satisfy your own thirst. It would be foolish for you to think that you can revive and refresh and renew your own life. But do you have no role in your thirst being satisfied? Oh yes, I have a role in my thirst being satisfied. Tell me about your role in your thirst being satisfied. You can make me lie down in green pastures. You can lead me by still waters. You can set up all the conditions that make me able to be revived and refreshed and renewed by you. But I still must drink of your refreshment. I must allow you to fill me with your living water. How will you drink? How will you be filled? How will my living water overflow your life? I will ask for you to satisfy my thirst. I will ask you to revive and refresh and renew my life. I will ask your living water to overflow my life. When will you ask? Where will you ask? How will you ask? I will ask you, as I am in your presence. I will ask you, as I come before you with a glad and thankful heart. I will ask you, as I live and walk through life in an intimate relationship with you. That will be very good. I will satisfy your thirst and revive and refresh and renew your life as you come and drink from me. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know that nothing from the world will ever be able to satisfy my thirst. There is a thirst within me that only you can satisfy. Thank you for satisfying my thirst and refreshing my life as I draw near to you. May your living water overflow my life to others. Amen

Key Question… How did your thirst first draw you to the Lord so you could be refreshed by Him?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to satisfy your thirst and refresh your life as you draw near to Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will refresh your life as you draw near to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing the Lord to refresh your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow Jesus Christ to satisfy your thirst.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 335 – John 7-37-39 – If Anyone Is Thirsty – 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

Do Not Worry

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 213- Matthew 6:25-27 - Do Not Worry - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 213- Matthew 6:25-27 – Do Not Worry – Growing As Disciples

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:25-27 (NIV)

Stop Worrying

That sounds a lot easier than it is to do. What’s that? I’m not supposed to worry. I’m supposed to stop worrying. Am I hearing you correctly? Yes, you are hearing me correctly. Where is my switch to turning off worry? What button do I press? You are very funny. Is that all I said? Did I say nothing more than, “Do not worry?” Is that all you heard? You said quite a bit more. Tell me what I said? You said the birds of the air are well cared for by your Heavenly Father. You indicated that I am much more valuable than the birds of the air. You have made it clear that my Heavenly Father knows my needs. You have made it clear that my Heavenly Father will take care of me. Do you believe what I have said? Do you believe that your Heavenly Father knows your needs and that He will take care of you? Yes, I do. Good, then you are halfway to being able to stop worrying about your needs. Believing that my Heavenly knows my needs and will take care of me is halfway to my being able to stop worrying about my needs? That’s what I said.

What else is there? What else will I need to do if I want to stop worrying about my needs? When you are worrying, what are you focusing on? I am focusing on myself. I am focusing on my needs. I am focusing on my worries. I am focusing on my circumstances. That’s true. That is exactly what you are focusing on. As long as you keep on focusing on yourself, your needs, your worries and your circumstances you will never be able to stop worrying. What must I do? You must take your focus off of yourself. You must place your focus on the kingdom of God. You must seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. What does that mean? You must have your heart and mind and life focused on your Heavenly Father and the life He is calling you to live. That’s it? That’s it. Believe that your Heavenly Father knows and will take care of your needs. Focus heart and mind and life on your Heavenly Father and live your life with and for Him. Then you will be able to stop worrying. I will do both of these things. That will be very good. Yes, it will. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, I have wasted a lot of time and energy and resource by allowing myself to be filled with worry. Help me to not worry. I know you are with me. I know you will help me. Help me to keep my heart and mind and life focused on you and the life you have for me. Amen

Key Question…When has focusing on the Lord and the life He has for you helped you overcome worry?

Living It Out… Overcome worry by focusing your heart and mind and life on the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to overcome worry as you focus your heart and mind and life on Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to overcome worry.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you overcome worry by keeping your heart and mind and life focused on the Lord.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 213 – Matthew 6-25-27 – Do Not Worry – 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

Walks With The Wise

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 8 - Proverbs 13:20 - Walks With The Wise - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 8 – Proverbs 13:20 – Walks With The Wise – Growing As Disciples

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20 (NIV) 

Suffering Harm

Well, I have done plenty of that. You have done plenty of what? I have suffered plenty of harm. Why is that? I have wrongly chosen to become a companion of foolish people. Sometimes, I have wondered what has been wrong with me. How so? I have attracted so many foolish people into my life. Is that right? Yes, it is. In that case, who would be a foolish person? That would be me, without any doubt. It is also true without a doubt and without any exception that a companion of fools will suffer harm. It is not a question of “if” it is just a matter of “when”. Harm comes to all those who make themselves to be companions with fools. That is true. I need no convincing. That is good.

What do you want to do with what you have learned? First, I will distant myself from foolish people. I will not let foolish people into my inner circle. I will not allow foolish people to become my counselors. I will not tag along with foolish people as they go down the path, that will certainly end in harm. Having said all of this, I will still minister to everyone who needs to come to know you. The most foolish decision of all is to live a life without you. I will allow you to use me to rescue those that are on the path that leads away from you. I will hope to be used by you ,to bring people to you, so that they will come to know and love you as their Savior and Lord. That will be very good.

What else will you do with what you have learned? I will seek to walk closely with wise people that you will bring into my life. Why is that? Walking distantly with wise people you bring into my life will be of no benefit to me. I will not become wise unless I walk closely with the wise. Walking closely with wise people will help me to see what I cannot see. Walking closely with wise people will help me to know what I have not known. Walking closely with wise people will help me to do what I almost certainly would have never done. You want to use wise people to help me to become wise. That is true. So, I will allow you to do what you want to do. I will walk closely with the wise people you bring into my life. That will be very good.  

Lord, I have made terrible choices about who I would walk with closely in life. I can’t tell you how many times I have suffered harm by allowing myself to become a companion of a foolish person. Help me now to walk closely with wise people you bring into my life. Amen

Key Question… How has your life suffered harm because you were a companion of a foolish person?

Living It Out… Make it your plan to walk closely with the wise people the Lord brings into your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to grow wise as you walk closely with the wise people He brings into your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how walking closely with other wise people has helped you to grow wise.

Prayer To Bless Others… Walk closely with the wise people the Lord brings into your life.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 8 – Proverbs 13-20 – Walks With The 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

What Do You Want?

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 343 - Matthew 20:29-34 - What Do You Want - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 343 – Matthew 20:29-34 – What Do You Want – Growing As Disciples

As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.  Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”  Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.  “Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”  Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Matthew 20:29-34 (NIV)

What Do I Want? 

What do I want? That is quite a question. What would I ask for if I was certain that my prayer would be heard and answered? What would I most want from you? I know my request without a doubt. I have no hesitation in my request. You are quite confident? You are absolutely certain? You have no second guesses or alternate requests? There is nothing you want more? No, I do not. Then tell me what is the request that you have to ask of me. Lord, I want to be powerfully used by you. I want to bear an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to go where you guide me. I want to do what you ask of me. I want to shine brightly in this world. I want people to be drawn to you through the work you do in and through my life. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. One day, I want to hear you say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” That is a very good request, that I will certainly answer.

You know something about your request that you haven’t mentioned. Yes, I do. What is that? I can’t be powerfully used by you unless I know you intimately. If I know you intimately, I will love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. If I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength, then I will follow and serve you with all that is within me. I will live my life with and for you. I will be fully devoted to you. So, your one request includes much more than just being powerfully used by me? Yes, it does. If it did not, I would not have asked for it from you. That makes your request even better. Yes, it does. That is very good. You will have all that you have asked of me. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, what a wonderful question that is, “What do you want me to do for you?” I have one answer. I want to be powerfully used by you, so I can bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to be used by you, to accomplish your purposes. Amen

Key Question… Why is it important for you to make your wants and needs known to the Lord?

Living It Out… Make all your wants and needs known to the Lord so He can hear and answer your prayers.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer the prayers that you pray to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group the prayers you are praying to the Lord in this season of your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you make your wants and needs known to the Lord.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 343 – Matthew 20-29-34 – What Do You Want? – 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

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

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

Under Control

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16582155 – illustration depicting a roadsign with an under control concept. white background.

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control. Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)

Be Wise

That is what I would like to be. What would you like to be? I would like to be wise. I would like to think and speak and act wisely. Why would you like to think and speak and act wisely? Living a life that is wise would be pleasing to you. Living a life that is wise would allow me to be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. Living a life that is wise would make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Being foolish would hinder all of these things from being true of my life. You have very good reasons for wanting to be wise. You are not wanting to be wise so you can become the center of attention. You are not wanting to be wise to win applause and accolades from the world. You are not wanting to be wise to become powerful or so you can acquire possessions in this world. You want to live wisely because you want to live the life that I am calling you to live. Is that true? Am I correct? You are never wrong. You are never misinformed. You know my heart. You know my thoughts. You know my desires. Yes, I do know everything that there is to know about you. That’s good. Yes, it is good. 

How will you become wise? That is a very good question. I know how I will not become wise. How is that? I will not become wise by trying harder. I will not become wise by being more determined. I will not become wise because I have made some new and better resolutions or set some higher and clearer goals. Why is that? Only you can make me wise. Only you can change my heart. Only you can transform my mind. Only you can make me new. You can give me your thoughts to think, your words to speak and your actions to take. You can make me to be more like you. You can mold and shape my life. You can make me into your masterpiece. You can help me to live as you have called me to live. Yes, I can. Yes, I will.

What must you do if you want to be wise and live the life that I have called you to live? What is your part? What is your role? I must come to you. I must submit myself to you. I must live my life with and for you. In your presence you will change me. You will make me to be more like you as I spend time with you. I must live and walk in an intimate relationship with you if I desire to be changed. Is that what you will do? Yes, that is what I am doing. That is what I will do. That is very good. Yes, it is very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, at times, I have given full vent to my anger. I have held nothing back. I said exactly what I thought. What a foolish mistake. What an unwise action. Forgive me. Help me to be wise by keeping myself under control. Help me to be a bold witness for you. Amen

Key Question… Why will giving full vent to your anger only serve to nourish and feed more anger in you?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to help you to be wise by keeping yourself under control.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help to be wise by keeping yourself under control.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to keep yourself under control.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you rely on the Lord to help you to be wise by keeping yourself under control.

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

Becoming Like Christ -Day 352 – Proverbs 29-11 – Under Control – 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

What You Hear

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 183 - Mark 4:21-25 - What You Hear - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 183 – Mark 4:21-25 – What You Hear – Growing As Disciples

He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you–and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.” Mark 4:21-25 (NIV)

Pay Attention

Are you paying attention? Am I paying attention to what? Are you paying attention to me? Are you listening to my voice? Can you hear my gentle whisper? Are you quieting yourself before me? Are you withdrawing from the noise and busyness of the world so that you will be able to hear from me? Those are very good questions. How can I answer them? It is the desire of my heart to listen to your voice. I want to be able to hear your gentle whispers. I want nothing more than to hear from you. Sometimes, maybe more often than not, I think that I am hard of hearing. I am quite sure that I have not heard what you have wanted to say to me. That’s not good. No, it is not.

What would you like to do differently? What kind of effort are you willing to make so that you will be able to hear from me? I will establish a regular time and place to meet with you. I will withdraw from the noise and busyness of the world. I will quiet myself before you. I will meet with you in your word. I will meet with you in prayer. I will meet with you in worship. I will draw near to you. I know that you will draw near to me. I will submit my heart and mind and life to you. I will ask you to guard and guide my thoughts. I will ask you to show me what I do not know. I will allow you to speak into my life. That will be very good.

Is there anything else you would like to do differently? Yes, without a doubt. What’s that? I have been uncritically allowing my ears to hear what is neither healthy nor helpful to me. I have allowed my heart and mind and life to become polluted by the thoughts and opinions and values of the world. That is not good. No, it is not. So, I will ask you to help me to place a guard over my ears to protect me from what I should not allow into my heart and mind and life. That will be very good.

What will you do when you have heard from me? First of all, I will assume that you are not simply conveying information to me. That may be possible. But it is much more likely that you are wanting me to take some course of action. So, I will take action. I will put into practice whatever you have shown me. I will not sit around. I will go and do what you ask me. That will be very good. Speak to me Lord, I am listening. Yes, I will, you can count it. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will pay careful attention to what you say to me. I welcome you to speak into my life. Guard and guide my life by your words. Mold and shape my life by your words. Make me fruitful for you by your words. I will put into practice whatever I hear from you. Amen

Key Question… How are you distancing yourself from what is not healthy or helpful for you to hear?

Living It Out… Pay careful attention to what you hear from the Lord so you will be able to put it into practice.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to pay attention and put into practice what you hear from Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are putting into practice what you are hearing from the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you pay attention to what you hear from the Lord.

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

Day 183 – Becoming Like Christ – Mark 4-21-25 – What You Hear – 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