Tag Archives: discipleship devotional

My Refuge And My Fortress

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 360 - Psalm 91:1-6 - My Refuge And My Fortress - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 360 – Psalm 91:1-6 – My Refuge And My Fortress – Growing As Disciples

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”  Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.  He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.  You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. Psalm 91:1-6 (NIV)

Dwell

That is what I want to do. That is what I will do. What do you want to do? What will you do? I will dwell in your presence. Why will you dwell in my presence? I will dwell in your presence because you are my Savior and Lord. I will dwell in your presence because I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will dwell in your presence because I want to live and walk through life with you. I want to know you intimately. I want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. That will be very good.

What will happen to you as you dwell in my presence? As I dwell in your presence, I will know you and have faith to declare that you are my refuge and fortress. You are my hope and deliverer. In you, I can confidently place all my trust. That conviction is yours because you have come to know me as you have dwelt in my presence. Yes, that is true without a doubt.

What has dwelling in my presence also done for you? As I have dwelt in your presence you have changed my heart and transformed my mind. I have wanted to know and do your will.  As I have dwelt in your presence, you have guided the course of my life. You have led me to where you wanted me to go. You have given me what you wanted me to do. Living the life, you have called me to live has been like a shield all around me. Following you has led me away from dangerous traps and hidden hazards. You have been my place of protection. You have been my shelter in the midst of storms. I have been able to hold on to you. I know that you have been holding on to me. Has the road always been easy? No. Have there been bumps and bruises along the way? Yes. Do I know that no matter what life throws at me, my eternal future, is secure and being kept and guarded by you? Yes, I do. And that has made all the difference. I know that my life now and forever is in your hands. In that, I have all the peace and hope and comfort and joy that I need. That is very good. Yes, it is. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, you are my refuge and fortress. You are my hope and deliverer. Thank you that I can dwell in your presence and have peace and rest in even the most troubling of times. You will help me. You will bring me through. I will hold on to you as you hold on to me. Amen

Key Question… When has dwelling in the presence of the Lord given you peace and rest in troubling times?

Living It Out… Dwell in the presence of the Lord so you can receive His peace and calm and rest in the storms of life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will be your refuge and fortress through all the storms of life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been your refuge and fortress in the storms of life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you dwell in the presence of the Lord so you can receive His peace in the midst of storms.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 360 – Psalm 91-1-6 – My Refuge And My Fortress – 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

This Ministry

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 359 - 2 Corinthians 4:1 - The Ministry - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 359 – 2 Corinthians 4:1 – The Ministry – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Corinthians 4:1 (NIV)

Don’t Quit

Alright, I won’t. You won’t what? I won’t quit. You won’t quit what? I won’t quit serving you. I won’t quit doing the ministry you have given to me. Have you been tempted to quit? You know the answer to that question. Yes, I know the answer to that question. Remember, I know your thoughts even before you think them. Then why ask me? I want to talk to you about your temptation to quit. Why haven’t you quit? What has kept you going? Knowing that you have given me this ministry has kept me going. Knowing that you will help me has kept me going. Knowing that you have gifted me to do this work has kept me going. Wanting to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name has kept me going. Wanting to do what is good and right and pleasing to you has kept me going. Those are all very good reasons to keep on serving me. Those are all very good reasons to keep on doing the work I have given you to do. That is what I thought. That is what I think.

But I don’t want you to be weary. I don’t want you to be worn out. I don’t want you to be burned out and on the verge of quitting. That is not my desire and plan for you. What do you want from me? What do you expect from me? What is your plan for me? Those are all very good questions. Let me ask you some more questions. Go ahead, I’m listening. How have I helped you? How have I strengthened you? How have I refreshed and revived and strengthened you? What has helped and hindered you from continuing to move forward with me? Letting my life get out of balance has hindered me from moving forward with you and continuing your work. Failing to come to rest in your presence has left me weary and worn out. So, what will you do differently? I will make sure that I am take care of my body. How so? I will get enough sleep. I will get enough exercise. I will eat a healthier diet. That is a good start, what else? I will allow you to take care of my soul. I will come to rest in your presence. I will take time just to be with you. I will listen attentively to you. I will meet with you in prayer and worship. I will offer to you all my praise and thanksgiving. That will be even better. Take care of your body and let me take care of your soul. Then you will have all that you need to keep on moving forward with me, to do the work I have given you. Does this sound like a good plan? This is a great plan. Yes, it is. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, thank you for preparing me to join you in what you are doing. Thank you for giving me a ministry to do for you. Strengthen and empower me to keep on serving you. Help me to never lose heart, quit, or give up doing the work you have prepared for me. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord uniquely prepared you to do the ministry He has given to you?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to empower and strengthen you to do the ministry He has given to you.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to keep on doing the ministry He has given to you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what ministry the Lord has given you to do for Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you not lose heart so you can do the ministry the Lord has given to you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 359 – 2 Corinthians 4-1 – This Ministry – 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

Salt Of The Earth

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 210 - Matthew 5:13-16 - Salt Of The Earth - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 210 – Matthew 5:13-16 – Salt Of The Earth – Growing As Disciples

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and walked on. “You are the light that gives light to the world. A city that is built on a hill cannot be hidden. And people don’t hide a light under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand so the light shines for all the people in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16 (NCV)

Salt And Light

I want to be like salt for you in the world. What does that mean? You’re asking me that question. Yes, I am asking that question. I thought you might tell me what that means. No, I would prefer to hear from you. I want to season the world with your flavor so that people will be attracted to you. I want to flavor the world with all your goodness. I want others to fully taste of your goodness by the flavor that you bring out of my life. That’s good. What else? I want my life to act as a preservative that will prevent the world from falling into corruption and experiencing decay, as I live the life you have called me to live, by going and doing all that you ask of me. I expect that you will use me to right wrongs. I expect that you will use me flight injustice. I expect that you will give me good deeds to do for you that will bring praise and glory to your name.  Yes, I will. What else?

I also want to be like a light in the world. What does that mean? I want to shine brightly for you in the darkness of this world. I want your light in me to overcome the darkness of the world. I want you to use me to change what is not good and right and pleasing to you. I want you to use me to overturn what is evil and establish what is right. I want others to see your kindness and mercy and love through the testimony of my life. I want your light in me to draw others to you. I want a multitude to come to know and love and follow and serve you because they see you in me. That will be very good. I will use you to be my salt and light in the world.  You will help a multitude to taste and see my goodness. You will help a multitude to come to know me. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I want to be used as your salt and light in the world. Help me to bring the flavor of you to everyone I meet. Help me to shine your light in the world so many will come to know, love and follow you. Use my life to do good deeds that brings glory to you. Amen

Key Question… How has the flavor of your life helped others to taste the goodness of the Lord?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to use you as His salt and light in the world so that others will be drawn to Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to be used by Him as His salt and light in the world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to be his salt and light in the world.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your life be like salt and light that helps others to taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

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

Day 210 – Becoming Like Christ – Matthew 5-13-16 – Salt Of The Earth – 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

The Mind Of Christ

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 358 - 1 Corinthians 2:13-16 - The Mind Of Christ- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 358 – 1 Corinthians 2:13-16 – The Mind Of Christ- Growing As Disciples

This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.  The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:  “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:13-16 (NIV)

My Teacher

There is nothing I need more. I have no stronger desire. What is your desire? What do you want? I want you to be my teacher. I am thankful that you are my teacher. You give me understanding. You show me what is true and what is false. You protect me from what is foolish and guide me into what is wise. No longer do I need to live by what is my best guess. No longer will I be guided by the thoughts and opinions and values of the world. What will you do? I will listen attentively to you. I will not race ahead with my own plan. I will not stubbornly hold on to my own ways. I will humbly and attentively listen to you. I will seek your guidance. I will follow your direction. That will be very good.

How will you receive my teaching? How will you listen to my instruction? How will you follow my guidance and direction? What are some actual steps that you will implement? How will your life look and be different because you want me to be your teacher? Those are all very good questions. Do you have any answers? Yes, I do. I will come to meet with you. I will draw near to you. I will quiet myself before you. I will center my attention on you. I will submit my heart and mind and life to you. How will you meet with me? I will meet with you in prayer. I will meet with you in worship. I will meet with you in your word. Those seem like part of the classroom to me. Those seem like where my instruction will begin. I will make it my priority to meet with you in prayer and worship and in your word on a daily basis so that I can place myself in a position to hear and be taught by you. That will be very good. Can you think of any other times and places when and where I will teach you? You will teach me at all times and in all places as I love, follow and serve you. Our formal and set times together in prayer and worship and in your word will strengthen my ability to hear from you at all times and in all places. Yes, it will. I look forward to all that you will teach me. I am glad beyond words that I am your student and you are my teacher. Teach me, I’m listening. That is very good. 

Holy Spirit, you are my teacher. You will give me understanding. You will teach me what I don’t know. You will give me wisdom and discernment to guide me through life. Thank you, I will no longer need to rely on my best guesses or the opinions of this world. Amen

Key Question… How has the Holy Spirit used the word of God to change your heart and transform your mind?

Living It Out… Allow the Spirit of God to guard and guide all your thoughts and words and actions.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will teach you and give you understanding to guard and guide you through life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are listening attentively to the Holy Spirit teaching you.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen attentively to the Holy Spirit teaching you.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 358 – 1 Corinthians 2-3-16 – The Mind Of 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

Repent

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 357 - Acts 17:30 - Repent - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 357 – Acts 17:30 – 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 has the Lord been radically changing your life since you turned to follow 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… May 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 – 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

Hardened By Sin’s Deceitfulness

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 355 - Hebrews 3:12-13 - Hardened By Sin's Deceitfulness - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 355 – Hebrews 3:12-13 – Hardened By Sin’s Deceitfulness – Growing As Disciples

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 have others encouraged you to have a soft and obedient heart that believes in God?

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… 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 – Hardened By Sin’s Deceitfulness – 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

Prayer Offered In Faith

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

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

Anointed Me

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

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 350 – Luke 4:18-19 – 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…Why is it critically important to be anointed by the Holy Spirit to do the work of ministry?

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 – 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

Gifts That Differ

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

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 349 – Romans 12:6-8 – Gifts That Differ – 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 – Gifts That Differ – 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 Was Lost

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

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 348 – Luke 19:1-10- 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 – 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