Tag Archives: In the same way

In The Same Way The Spirit Helps Us

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 276 - Romans 8:26-27- In The Same Way The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 276 – Romans 8:26-27- In The Same Way The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness – Growing As Disciples

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)

Weak Or Strong?

There is no doubt about that. There is no doubt about what? I am weak. How are you weak? How much time do you have? I could go on and on about how weak I am. That wouldn’t be a bad exercise. Why is that? You don’t need to worry so much about your weaknesses. When you should begin to worry is when you begin to think you are strong. Why is that? What do you do when you know you are weak? I come to rely on you. I ask you for your help. What do you do when you begin to think that you are strong? I rely on my own gifts and talents and abilities. I try to go and do your will with my own efforts. You do now see the problem, don’t you? Yes, I do.

You had a very specific weakness in mind when you said there was no doubt about your weakness. Yes, I did. Tell me about the weakness you had in mind. I can’t tell you how often I have not known how to pray. Does that seem like a weakness to you? Yes, it does. Are you sure about that? No, I’m not. If you haven’t known how to pray what have you done? If you don’t know how to pray what will you do? If I don’t know how to pray, I will ask you to show me how to pray. That is what I have done and that is what I will do. When have you been so sure of how to pray that you didn’t need to ask me to show you how to pray? When have you not needed me to guide your prayers? You’ve got me there. I can’t say that I have ever not needed you to guide my prayers. I have always and will always need you to show me how to pray. Yes, you will.  Wouldn’t needing and relying on my help be more of a strength than a weakness? Yes, it would. Wouldn’t relying on yourself to come up with your own prayers to pray be more of weakness? Yes, it would. Aren’t you strongest when you rely on me? Yes, I am. Aren’t you weakest when you rely on yourself? Yes, I am. So, what will you do? I will rely on you to show me how to pray. I will let you guide my prayers. That will be very good.  

Holy Spirit, often I have no idea how to pray. I have no thoughts to think or words to say. I am left speechless, which is a good thing. I will rely on you to teach me how to pray. Guide my prayers. Intercede for me. Bring my prayers into alignment with God’s will. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Holy Spirit been teaching you to rely on Him to guide your prayers?

Living It Out… Rely on the Holy Spirit to guide your prayers so that they will be in alignment with God’s will.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Holy Spirit will guide your prayers so that they will come into alignment with God’s will.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has been teaching you how to pray.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Holy Spirit to show you how to pray in and through your weakness.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 276 – Romans 8-26-27 – In The Same Way The Spirit Helps Us – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

The Cost Of Discipleship

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Parables - The Cost Of Discipleship - Luke 14:28-33 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Parables – The Cost Of Discipleship – Luke 14:28-33 – Growing As Disciples

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 (NIV)

Surrender

I give up. I surrender. I’ve counted the cost and I can’t do it. You can’t do what? I can’t build a tower or win a war. What do you mean by that? I know that I am weak. I have no ability to build a tower or wage a war. My own efforts would certainly fail. Why is that? I have no construction ability. I have a gift for hitting my thumb every time I use a hammer. It’s kind of pathetic isn’t it? Yes, it is.  But, are we really talking about building an actual tower here? Maybe, I’m not sure. What if we weren’t? Then, I would think that building a tower, might represent, me trying to build my life into something really impressive like a monument. How would you do on that construction project? I would fail even more miserably than trying to build an actual tower. Why do you say that? Well, I’ve already tried to build a life that would stand out and be really impressive. How did that work out for you? My own efforts just led me further away from you and into sin that really hammered my life. Only this time it wasn’t just my thumb that hurt. Your whole life hurt? Yes, it did.

So, you can’t build a tower monument to yourself? No, I can’t. How good are you at fighting a war? I’m better at building a tower than I am at fighting a war. That bad, huh? Yes, I’m afraid so. What kind of war have you been fighting? I have been fighting a war between right and wrong. I’ve wanted to do the right thing. I’ve wanted to make the right choices. How have you done? Haven’t you noticed? Yes, I have. Well, as you can see I’ve often liked the alluring and attractive easy sinful choice. So, I’ve chosen it. Have you been happy with your choices? Absolutely not, I’ve experienced so much pain and suffering I can’t stand it anymore. That’s why I’m giving up. I’ve counted the costs of trying to live my life apart from you. The price is too high to pay. I want to surrender my life to you. You do? Yes, I most certainly do.

Do you realize that there is a cost to follow me? There is? Yes, there is. What is the cost? If you want to follow me it will cost you everything. What do you mean by everything? What part of everything is hard for you to understand? Do you mean everything I have? Yes, I do. Do you mean everything I am? Yes, I do. Do you mean everything I hope to be? Now, you understand, don’t you? Yes, I think so. Can I ask you a question? Yes, of course. Won’t either choice I make end up costing me everything? If I choose to lead a self-centered, selfish, and sinful life, won’t living that kind of life cost me everything and lead me away from you forever? Yes, it will.  But, if I give myself to you completely, won’t you help me to live a life of loving, following, and serving you? Yes, I will. Then I’m done counting the cost. I surrender myself to you. It will be my joy and pleasure to follow you to wherever you lead me to do whatever you ask of me. That will be very good.

Lord, it is my delight and joy to give up everything I am, have, and hope to be as I follow you as my Savior and Lord. You are first place in my life. You have my heart, and mind and life at your disposal. Use me according to your purposes and plan, for your glory. Amen

Key Question…  Why is it worth giving up all you have, are, and hope to be to follow Christ as your Savior and Lord?

Living It Out…  Give up everything you are, have, and hope to be to Jesus Christ as you follow Him as your Savior and Lord.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that Jesus Christ really is asking you to give up everything you have, are, and hope to be to follow Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group the love, joy, and peace you have in giving up all to follow Jesus Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you give all your heart and mind and life to Christ as you follow Him today.

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

Parables – Luke 14-33 – The Cost Of Discipleship – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness

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The Spirit Empowered Life - Day 131 - Romans 8:26-27 - The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness - Growing As Disciples

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 131 – Romans 8:26-27 – The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness – Growing As Disciples

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)

Help

I need that without a doubt. What do you need without a doubt? I need help without a doubt. I desperately need your help without a doubt. How have you come to realize that you desperately need my help? I have foolishly relied on myself. I tried and failed miserably to be self-reliant and self-sufficient. Learning the foolishness of my self-reliance and self-sufficiency has not come quickly or easily. I have suffered bruising and battering and brokenness as I have slowly learned that I desperately need to rely on you. I have learned painful lessons that I have no desire to repeat. That’s good. As painful as the lessons were, it was critically important that you learn them. Of that, I am sure.

I have more to say about relying on you. I’m listening. I cannot assume that I have learned the lesson of relying on you fully and completely. I cannot say that I don’t need to be on guard against drifting back toward self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Every day I will need to reaffirm that I will be relying on you to help me in my weakness. Every day I will need to give you control of my life. Every day I will need to ask for your help. That will be very good.

I have even more to say. I am still listening. I am so weak. I am so in need. I don’t need a little bit of help here and there and now and then. Realizing that you are weak and need help is a very good thing. Do not let your weakness discourage or defeat you. I specialize in working through weakness. I work best through weakness. I work most powerfully when you rely most completely on me. If you think you are strong and capable, you will only get in the way of my accomplishing God’s will in and through you. That is so helpful. That is so encouraging. For that, I am so very thankful.

I have more to say. Now it is I who is listening. I am praying for you. I am interceding for you. I am praying that God’s purposes and plans will be accomplished in and through you. I will give you prayers to pray. I will pray through you with groans that words cannot express. Be sure of this, I am with you to help you. Rely on me. That I will do. That will be very good.

Holy Spirit, I am weak. I need help. It has been foolish for me to rely on myself. No more of that! I will fully rely on you. Help me to pray when I have no idea how to pray. Intercede for me in accordance with God’s will so I will live a fruitful life, pleasing to Him. Amen

Key Question…  How have you come to better understand why you need to rely on the Holy Spirit to help you?

Living It Out…  Rely on the Holy Spirit to help you in your weakness.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you can rely on the Holy Spirit to help you in your weakness.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are relying on the Holy Spirit to help you in your weakness.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you rely on the Holy Spirit to help you in your weakness.

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

The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 131 – Romans 8-26-27 – The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness – 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

Alive To God In Christ Jesus

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - Romans 6:11 - Alive To God In Christ Jesus -  Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Romans 6:11 – Alive To God In Christ Jesus –  Growing As Disciples

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.  Romans 6:11 (NIV)

Count

Count, now that is a very important word. Why is that? I’m going to let you answer that question. I want you to think deeply about your answer. I think you are giving me a clue. Yes, I am. Counting on something relates to what I believe. Yes, it does. What I believe will determine all my thoughts, words and actions. Yes, it will. So, I should be very careful about how I count in life. If I don’t count properly my life will not add up to all that you have prepared for me. Incorrect counting will prevent me from living the life that you have called me to live. Yes, it will.

Let’s talk more about counting. What do you count as true? I’m not sure what you mean. Do you count my word and what I say to you as being true? Yes, I certainly count your word as being completely reliable and true. Do you believe that all my promises are true? Yes, I do. What do you count as true when my word and your experience don’t seem to match? Can you give me some examples? Sure, I can. My word says, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” does it not? Yes, it does. You know where this is headed don’t you? Yes, I do. There have been plenty of times that I have looked at all my gifts, talents and abilities and then told you there was no way that I could do what you were asking me to do. What does that sound like to you? It sounds like incorrect counting. Good answer. I have made the mistake of counting on myself rather than counting on you. Yes, you have. Would you like another example of incorrect counting? Yes, I would. My word says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Can you tell me where this is headed? Yes, I can. Go right ahead. I have been quite a worrier. That sounds like an understatement. I have been a tremendous worrier. That’s more like it. Is your worrying a good example of incorrect counting? Yes, I have counted on myself to get me through trials in life. The more I have relied on myself, the more I have worried. You want me to count on you by turning every worry of mine into a prayer to you. Yes, I do. By now I should be a tremendous prayer based on how many worries I could have turned into prayers. Now, that’s a thought.

Let’s talk about your counting yourself as being dead to sin and alive to me. Why is it so important for you to believe that you are dead to sin and alive to me? You died on the cross for my sins. Yes, I did. You broke the power that sin had on my life. Yes, I did. You set me free from sin so I could live a new life in you. Yes, I did. You made me alive to you. Yes, I did. You want me to live out in my experience all that you have done for me. Yes, I do. If I don’t believe or correctly count on all that you have done for me then I will not be able to live a life that is dead to sin and alive to you. No, you will not. But, I do believe and I am counting on you. I do know that you have made me alive to you and dead to sin. Yes, I know. I am and will continue to offer myself up to you as an instrument of righteous that you can use. I am counting on you using me for your kingdom and your glory. Yes, you are and you can count on me to do that in and through your life.

Lord, thank you that you have made me dead to sin. Sin has no power over me. Thank you that you have made me alive to you. I will continually offer myself to you as an instrument of righteousness you can use for your glory. Amen

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

Life – Romans 6:11 – Alive To God In Christ Jesus – Growing As Disciples – 4 Page Devotional Discipleship Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

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

Let Your Light Shine

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 124 - Isaiah 45:3 - Treasure Of Darkness - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 122 – Matthew 5:13-16 – Let Your Light Shine – Growing As Disciples

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV)

Salt And Light

Is that what you want to be? Is what do I want to be? Do you want to be salt and light in the world? Do you want others to give thanks and praise and honor and glory to me because of what they feel and see coming out of your life? Nothing would give me greater hope and joy and pleasure to be salt and light for you in the world. To know that I have been, am, and will be used by you would be very satisfying and gratifying. How can I be salt for you in the world? How can I be a light for you in the world? Those are very good questions. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead, I am listening. Does salt and light originate in you? I’m not sure what you mean. Are you the source of salt and light that will cause others to give thanks and praise and honor and glory to me? Will doing what comes naturally to you bring salt and light to others in the world? Those are easy questions to answer. What are your answers? I am certainly not the source of world changing salt and light, there is no doubt about that. Doing what comes naturally to me will never bring salt and light into the world. My efforts alone will never give others cause to give thanks and praise and honor and glory to you. It is good that you know these thoughts to be true.

So, what then will cause you to be able to live as salt and light in the world? Only living in an intimate relationship with you will allow me to be salt and light in the world. You are the source of any salt and light that will come out of my life. As I allow you to live in and through me, I will salt the world all around me with your flavor. As I allow you to live in and through me, I will bring light into the darkness of the world all around me. Will you live in an intimate relationship with me? Will you draw near to me? Will you walk with me through life? Will you allow me to make you salt and light in the world? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Heavenly Father help me to be salt on this earth. Help me to bring your flavor to people everywhere. Help me to be a light in the world. Help me to shine in the darkness in such a way that people will give thanks, praise and honor and glory to you. This is my prayer. Amen

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

Promises – Day 122 – Matthew 5-13-16 – Let Your Light Shine – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Helps Us In Our Weakness

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 86 - Romans 8:26-27 - Helps Us In Our Weakness - Growing As Disciples of man standing in a field at sunset

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 86 – Romans 8:26-27 – Helps Us In Our Weakness – Growing As Disciples of man standing in a field at sunset

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27 (NIV) 

Troubling Days 

These are troubling days there is no doubt about that.  In these days of trouble, there have been numerous reasons why it has been harder to pray. Why is that? My emotions have run the gamut. They have covered the spectrum. I have been overcome with a constellation of emotions. I have been fearful. I have been angry. I have been discouraged and depressed. I have been filled with anxiety. I have been weary and worn out. I have been bewildered and confused. I have also had my doubts. Have you had doubts in me? No, but I have certainly had doubts in me. What has been troubling you? To be clear, these are not all my problems alone. It has been a tough year. There has been a global pandemic. There has been blatant racism and police brutality. There has been widespread looting and rioting. Innocent people have lost their businesses. One man lost his life in the most inhumane display of racism and police brutality I have ever witnessed. Did I mention, I have also felt nauseated and disgusted by the evil in our society. These recent events are on top of the rampant displays of hate and intolerance that has been regularly going back and forth in our deeply divided society. Could things get worse? I heard that an asteroid is headed our way. Well, not really, unless 3 million miles away, is “heading our way.” But yes, things could be worse. Sickness and disease, broken relationships and death have come near to us. It is a good time to pray. Yes, it is.

What will happen to you if you simply cannot pray? What will you do when words of prayer will not come out of your mouth? I will rely on you. I will trust you to pray in and through me, when I cannot pray. When only groans will come out of my mouth, I will trust that even my groans will come from you. You will intercede for me. You will pray through me. You will pray for me. You will lift me up. You will carry me. You will revive and refresh and restore me. You will help me to keep on moving forward with you through all the troubling days that are part of living in this sin broken world. Yes, I will pray for you. Yes, I will pray through you. Yes, I will intercede for you every day as you love, follow and serve me. Thank you, Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit, thank you for helping me to pray in all my weaknesses. You have helped me to pray when I have been overcome with emotion or confused and bewildered or weary and worn out or weak in faith. Intercede for me now, in all these troubling days. Amen

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

Promises – Day 86 – Romans 8-26-27 – Helps Us In Our Weakness – 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

Helps Us In Our Weakness

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Holy Spirit - Romans 8:26-27 - Helps Us In Our Weakness - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Holy Spirit – Romans 8:26-27 – Helps Us In Our Weakness – Growing As Disciples

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)

My Help

There is no doubt about it. There is no doubt about what? I am weak and in desperate need of help. It is very good for you to realize that you are weak and in desperate need of help. Why is that? You tell me. What have you done when you have come to realize all your weaknesses? When I become aware of my weaknesses, I have cried out to you. I have come to ask you for your help. I have stopped relying on myself and my own feeble efforts. That’s very good. What have you done when you have been certain that you had all the strength you needed? When I have been certain that I had all the strength I needed, I have relied on myself. You must have frequently thought you had all strength that you needed? Why do you say that? The answer to your question should be obvious even to you.  I know why you said, “even” to me. Why is that? I have been slow to realize how weak I am. I have been slow to ask you for all the help that I need. It pleases me to see that you are becoming more aware of your weaknesses and your need for help from me.

What has happened to you when you have come and asked me to help you? When I have asked for help, you have given me help. When I have asked for strength, you have given me strength. You have generously answered my prayers by giving to me what I have desperately needed. Have you ever wondered why you must come to ask me for my help and strength? Have you ever thought that I could have already given you all the strength you would ever need in life? You know my thoughts. Yes, I do. My questions are meant to remind you of what you have thought about needing to come to ask me for help and strength. I get it. There are at least three reasons, that I can think of, why you made it so I would need to come to ask you for help and strength. First, you want me to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. If I never needed anything I would be self-reliant, self-sufficient, and self-centered. My weaknesses remind me that you are source of my strength. My weaknesses keep me coming back to you for help. My weaknesses cause me to come to rely on you. My weaknesses help keep me living in a close and intimate relationship with you. Yes, that’s right. Next, I think that you want me to work in a partnership with you. What do you mean by that? You want to do in and through me what I could never do by myself. You want me to know that you are helping me to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. Knowing and doing your will has given me hope and meaning in life. It brings me great joy to know that I am doing what you have planned for me to do for you. That is very good. Finally, I’m sure that you want others to know that you have worked in and through my life. As they see you doing in and through me, what only you could do, they will be drawn to you. You will receive all the praise and honor and glory for doing in and through my life, what I couldn’t possibly have done. That’s right. Will you keep on coming to ask for my help? Will you keep on relying on me for all that you need? Yes, I will.

 Holy Spirit, I am weak. I desperately need your help. I don’t know how to pray. I am coming to you now to ask for your help. Thank you for interceding for me even when I don’t know how to pray. Thank you for helping me in every one of my weaknesses. Amen

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

Holy Spirit – Romans 8-26-27 – Helps Us In Our Weakness – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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