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But Take An Interest In Others

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 237 - Philippians 2:1-4 - But Take An Interest In Others - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 237 – Philippians 2:1-4 – But Take An Interest In Others – Growing As Disciples

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?  Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.  Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. Philippians 2:1-4 (NLT)  

It’s Not About Me

I know, I know, it’s not all about me. What’s not all about you? Life is not all about me. I am not the center of the universe. Life does not revolve me. The sooner I realize this, I mean really realize this, the better. Why is that? I am more than a little embarrassed to come to realize how self-centered my thoughts have been. Even being embarrassed is another symptom of my problem. People are not thinking about me. I am not on everyone’s mind. That’s true.

What are you going to do about your self-centeredness? Even that is heard to hear. That question is hard to take. But it is one for me to think deeply about. That will be good. However, I do know what I will do. What’s that? I will take my focus off myself and put it on you. That will be step one. I will consider you and all that you want to give me. What do I want to give you? You want to give me encouragement. You want to comfort me with your love. You want to fill me with your Spirit.  You want to give me a loving and tender and compassionate heart. You want to root me in fellowship in your body of believers. You want me to work together with fellow believers to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. You want to give me a humble and sacrificial heart that has no need or desire to impress others. In short, in more ways that I can think of, count, or even imagine, you want to make me like you. You want me to follow your example. 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. That brings me to step two. Step two, was all that you have already mentioned just part of step one? I think so, there is much overlap between step on and step two, of that I am sure. Tell me what is step two. I will look not only to my own interests but also to the interests of others. I will humbly consider others as better than myself. The way I see it, step one puts my focus on you. Step two puts my focus on others that you have called me to love and serve. If I implement step one and two, I will leave my self-centered life far behind me. I will live the life you have called me to live. I will be able to go and do what you ask of me. Yes, you will. That will be very good.   

Lord, I will look out not only for my own interests but also for the interests of others. I will have a tender and compassionate heart for those in need.  I will work together with one mind and purpose with fellow believers. I will fully love others just as you love me. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord made you tender and compassionate to others who are in need?

Living It Out… Look out not only for your own interests but also for the interests of others.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to look out for the interests of others.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to look out for the interests of others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you take an interest in others by helping them with what they need.

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

Promises – Day 237 – Philippians 2-1-4 – But Take An Interest In Others – 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

Another Counselor

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 97 - John 14:15-17 - Another Counselor - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 97 – John 14:15-17 – Another Counselor – Growing As Disciples

“If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever– the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:15-17 (NIV)  

My Counsel

Do you want to receive my counsel? Do you have need any of my comfort? Could you use some of my help? Are you kidding me? I will receive all the counsel you will give to me. I need all the comfort you have for me. I need more than some of your help. I need a lot of your help. I need all your help. I have had enough of following my own counsel. My self-sufficiency and self-reliance and self-centeredness have caused me much pain and suffering in this life. I am no longer interested in relying on my own wisdom and understanding. It is good that you are admitting that you need my help. It is good that you have had enough of relying on yourself.

There is something you must do if you want my counsel and comfort and help. What is that? You must obey my commands. It is by your following and obeying my commands that you will receive my counsel and comfort and help. Will it be difficult for you to follow and obey me? That is not an easy question to answer. Why is that? On the one hand, I know that I do not obey you perfectly. I make mistakes. I take missteps. I sin. That is also good that you are willing to admit and confess your sins to me. I have and will forgive all your sins. For that, I am thankful and grateful beyond measure. I have more to say in answer to your question. Go ahead, I’m listening. I do love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I do want to obey you. I do want to live a life that is good and right and pleasing to you. So, generally I do not find it difficult to follow and obey. It is the desire of my heart to follow and obey you. That is very good.

Now there is one more thing you must do if you want to receive my counsel and comfort and help. What is that? You must listen to me. You must quiet yourself before me. You must make yourself attentive to my voice. Does that make sense to you? It sure does. How would I ever be able to receive anything from you if I didn’t listen to you? So, you will listen attentively to me? You will quiet yourself before me so you can hear my voice? Yes, I will. That will be very good. Then you will be able to receive all that I have for you.  Thank you, Holy Spirit. 

Holy Spirit, I know I have not always listened well to you. I have been hard of hearing. Help me to slow down and quiet myself before you so that I can listen attentively to you. Lead me through life as I receive your comfort and counsel, encouragement and help. Amen

Key Question… When have you desperately needed and dramatically received comfort and counsel from the Holy Spirit?

Living It Out… Listen attentively to the Holy Spirit so you will be able to receive wise counsel from Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will give you wise counsel as you listen attentively to Him.

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

Prayer To Bless Others… May you receive the counsel the Holy Spirit want to give you.

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

Promises – Day 97 – John 14-15-17 – Another Counselor – 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