Tag Archives: James 1:22-25

Hearer Of The Word

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - 365 Days Of Guidance - Day 41 - James 1:22-25 - Hearer Of The Word - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – 365 Days Of Guidance – Day 41 – James 1:22-25 – Hearer Of The Word – Growing As Disciples

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:22-25 (ESV)

Hearing And Doing

Do you want my blessing to be on your life? Do you want to live in the freedom that I have secured for you? Yes, of course I want your blessing to be on my life. Yes, I want to live in the freedom that you have secured for me. If you want to receive my blessing and live in my freedom there are two things that you must do without fail. What are they? What does my word tell you? You want me to hear your word. You want me to listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. You don’t want half-hearted listening or quick glances into your word on my part. No, I do not. You want me to look intently into your word. You want your word to be in my heart and on my mind continually. You want me to focus all my attention on your word. Yes, I do. Why do you think I want you to give attention to my word? Your word is how you will speak to me. Your word is the foundation of our relationship. The only way that I will come to know you is by listening to your word. That’s right.

If you want to receive my blessing and live in the freedom that I have secured for you what else must you do? I must put your word into practice. How will you begin to put my word into practice? I will start putting your word into practice by listening attentively to your word. As I listen to your word, you will change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, I will. Listening to your word will change the thoughts of my mind, and the desires of my heart. That’s true. As I continue to listen attentively to your word it will become my joy and desire to know your will and walk in your ways. It will be no burden for me to follow and obey you. It will be no heavy task to put your word into practice. It will be the desire of my heart to live my live fully and completely for you. How do you know this to be true? It is now my desire to do whatever pleases you. I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I am receiving your blessings and living in your freedom. Yes, you are. Thank you, Lord.

 Lord, I will not allow myself to be fooled. I will both hear and do your word. I will listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. I will remember to put into practice all that you have to teach me. I will live in all the freedom that your word will give to me. Amen

Key Question…  When have you recently put something into practice that you heard from God’s word?

Living It Out…  Listen attentively to God’s word so you will be able put it into practice as you follow Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will bless your life as you listen to and put His word into practice.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has blessed your life as you have heard and done His word.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be both a hearer and doer of God’s word.

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

365 Days Of Guidance – Day 41 – James 1-22-25 – Hearer Of The Word – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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

A Doer Who Acts

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Discipleship - James 1:22-25 -A Doer Who Acts - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Discipleship – James 1:22-25 – A Doer Who Acts – Growing As Disciples

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:22-25 (ESV)  

Look Intently

I will not be only a hearer of your word. I will not be like a person who forgets what they look like immediately after looking at themselves in a mirror. I will not give your word a quick glance. I have done that with a mirror and failed to see what I needed to see. What an embarrassing experience that has been. Such embarrassing experiences have taught me to look more intently into the mirror. Life is like that. There have been times, when I have suffered embarrassment because I gave your word a quick glance and did not put it into practice. I have taken missteps, made huge mistakes and sinned against you, because I did not follow what your word had to say to me. Forgive me. You are forgiven.

What do you want to do differently? How will you make sure that you are both hearing and doing my word? How will you put my word into practice? First of all, I will look intently into your word. I will read your word. I will study your word. I will meditate on and memorize your word. I will pray your word and I will put your word into practice. I will take hold of your word so that your word will take hold of me. I will allow your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. That will be very good.

What has my word done for you? Your word has helped me to know your will and walk in your ways. Your word has been molding and shaping my life. Your word has guarded and guided my life. Your word has made me able to stand against temptation and resist evil. Your word has set me free. Your word has kept me for going where I should not go. Your word has prevented me from doing what I should not do. Your word has blessed my life. Your word has helped me to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That’s right. Will you continue in my word? Will you keep on putting my word into practice? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, every day I will look intently into your word. I will not forget what your word says. I will be a careful listener of your word. I will not deceive myself by thinking that it is enough to only hear your word. Help me to be both a hearer and doer of your word. Amen

Key Question… How are you being very careful to be both a hearer and doer of God’s word?

Living It Out… Allow time every day to hear God’s word so you can be a both hearer and doer of His will.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will bless your life as you hear and do His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are hearing and doing God’s word.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you, as you look intently into God’s word, be a doer who acts.

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

Discipleship – James 1-22-25 – A Doer Who Acts – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Be Doers Of The Word

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The Word Centered Life - Day 7 - James 1:22-25 - Be Doers Of The Word - Growing As Disciples

The Word Centered Life – Day 7 – James 1:22-25 – Be Doers Of The Word – Growing As Disciples

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.  For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.  But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:22-25 (ESV)

Blessed In Your Doing

Would you like to be blessed in your doing? What does that mean? Let me ask you a few different questions. Would you like to be able to know and do my will? Would you like to know where I am leading you? Would you like to know what I am asking of you? Would you like to be able to accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans for your life? Would you like me to work in and through you? Would you like to know that my hand is on you? Would you like to be blessed in what I have given you to do in this life? In other words, would you like to be blessed in your doing? Now, I understand. Now, I get what you are asking of me. To all your questions, I will give one strong and emphatic yes. That’s good.

What must I do if I want to be blessed in my doing? That is a question, I know you can answer. So, I will listen to your answer. If I want to be blessed in my doing, I must do two things. First, I must hear your word. I must look intently into your word. I must allow your word to deeply penetrate my heart and mind and life. I must allow your word to dwell in me richly. I must allow your word to do its work in me. What kind of work will my word do in you? Your word will change my heart, transform my mind, and guide my life. Your word will make me able to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you. Your word will help me to know and do your will. Second, and I already drifted into what I must also do, is that I must put your word into action. It will never be enough for me to only hear your word. Only hearing your word will be of no benefit to me. Thinking that I only need to hear your word would be a great self-deception. No, if I want to be blessed in my doing, I will need to put your word into practice. If I both here and do your word, I will live in freedom. If I both hear and do your word, I will be blessed in my doing. Your hand will be on me. You will do in and through me what I could have never done on my own, all by myself. You make me able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That is what I will do. I will be a hearer and doer of your word. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will look intently into your word. I will allow your word to deeply penetrate my heart, mind, and life. I will not be a hearer only of your word. I will be a doer who acts on your word. Use your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Amen.

Key Question…  How has the Lord blessed your life as you have both heard and put His word into practice?

Living It Out…  Make sure that you are both hearing and putting God’s word into action.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that your life will be blessed as you hear and act on God’s word.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are hearing and putting God’s word into action.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you both hear and put God’s word into action.

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

The Word Centered Life – Day 7 – James 1-22-25 – Be Doers Of The Word – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Do Not Merely Listen To The Word

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Rhythms - James 1:22-25 - Do Not Merely Listen To The Word - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Rhythms – James 1:22-25 – Do Not Merely Listen To The Word – Growing As Disciples

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (NIV)

Do What It Says

How goofy would that be, to glance into a mirror and forget what I look like? I will say this; I have made the mistake of taking too quick of a glance into a mirror and failed to notice what I looked like. I failed to see what the mirror wanted to show me. I didn’t have to make that mistake too many times before I learned to take a good and long intent look at myself in the mirror. What about my word, are you taking a good and long intent look at my word or are you making the same kind of quick glance mistakes? That’s a good question. The only consequence of quickly glancing at yourself in the mirror may only be embarrassment. What do you suppose might be the consequences of only taking a quick glance at my word? If I only take quick glances at your word, it will never sink into my heart and mind and life. My heart will not be changed by your word. My mind will not be transformed by your word. I may half hear your word, but, never put it into practice. That’s right. 

Do you want to hear my word? Do you want to put my word into practice? Do you want your heart to be changed by my word? Do you want your mind to be transformed by my word? I want your word to flourish and grow in my life. I want your word to work in me, through me and for me. I want your word to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. There is not one sentence from your word that I don’t want to hear and put into practice. I want to know and do your word. So, what will you do? I will look intently into your word. I will make hearing and doing your word the rhythm of my life. A day will not go by that I will not meet with you in your word. I will continually ask you to help me to put your word into practice in my life. That will be very good. Your life will be blessed as you hear and do my word.

Lord, I will not be a hearer only of your word. I will listen carefully to your word so that I can also put it into practice. I will make hearing and doing your word the daily rhythm of my life. Help me to remember your word. Bless my life as I hear and do your word.  Amen

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

Rhythms – James 1-22-25 – Do Not Merely Listen To The Word- 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Do What It Says

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Word - James 1:22-25 - Do What It Says - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Word – James 1:22-25 – Do What It Says – Growing As Disciples

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (NIV)

A Quick Glance

What will a quick glance into my word do for you? I’m not sure. What has a quick glance in a mirror done for you? It has never been good idea for me to rely on a quick glance at myself in the mirror. Why is that? I can’t tell you the number of times I have been embarrassed because I missed something I didn’t see with a quick glance in the mirror. Do you now look intently in the mirror every day before leave your home? Yes, I do. I’m pretty sure that I look in the mirror much longer and more frequently than needed. I look in the mirror every chance I get. Why is that? I don’t want anything to be out of place or to not look right. I see.

My word is like a mirror. How so? My word will help you to examine your life to see if anything is out of place or doesn’t look right. My word will help you to evaluate all that you think, say and do. A quick glance at my word will help you about as much as a quick glance into the mirror has helped you. Why is that? You tell me. When I rely on quick glances into your word I’m not look intently or listening carefully. My heart and mind are not ready and receptive to take your word into my life. Just minutes after quickly glancing into your word I have forgotten what I just read. There is very little chance that I will ever put your word into practice when I cannot even remember what I just read. That’s right.

What will you do if you want my word to bless your life? What will you do if you want my word to set you free? I will look intently into your word. I will listen carefully to your word. I will consider deeply all that your word has to say to me. Can you listen carefully and consider my word deeply with quick glances into it, here and there, and now and then? No, I cannot. What else will you do with my word? I will put your word into practice. I will let your word change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. My word will bless your life as you listen to it carefully, consider it deeply and put it into practice. My word will set you free to live the life that I have given to you. That is what I want. That is what I will do. That will be very good.

Lord, I know that I look at a mirror a lot. With a very quick glance I have been embarrassed because I missed what I needed to see. Help me to look intently in the mirror of your word so that I will be able to hear and do your will. Amen

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

God’s Word – James 1-22-25 – Do What It Says – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Looks Intently

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 19 - James 1:22-25 - Looks Intently- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 19 – James 1:22-25 – Looks Intently- Growing As Disciples

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (NIV)

Freedom

Well, I certainly want that. You certainly want what? I want to live and walk in freedom. I don’t want to live in any kind of bondage. I don’t want the devil and all his evil to have any kind of foothold in my life. I want to live in all the freedom that you have secured for me. That is a very good desire you have in you. What will you be very careful to do if you want to live and walk in all the freedom, I have secured for you? What will make you able to live in freedom from any bondage? What will prevent the devil and any of his evil from gaining a foothold in your life? What will you certainly do if you want to live a life that I can and will certainly bless? You have asked a lot of questions for which there is only one answer. Let me hear your answer. I will look intently into your word and put it into practice. I will not only hear your word, but I will do what it says. I will not make the foolish and unwise mistake of hearing your word but failing to do what it says. Worse yet, I will not fail to hear your word all together. It will be my daily and consistent practice to look intently into your word and do what it says. I will not be like the person who catches a quick casual glimpse or hears a little bit here or there and forgets everything that was seen or heard. That would be like me getting a quick glance of myself in a mirror and completely forgetting what I looked like. What help or value would that be? None at all. So, I will take a long and deep intent look into your word. I will allow your word to guard and guide the entire course of my life. That will be very good.

Why will my word make you able to live and walk in freedom? Why will my word allow you to resist temptation and stand against evil? Why will my word prevent the devil and all his evil from gaining a foothold in your life? I cannot remain the same as I look intently into your word. Looking intently into your word will change my heart and transform my mind. Looking intently into your word will allow me to think your thoughts, speak your words and do your deeds. Looking into your word will help me to know and love and follow and serve you. Your Holy Spirit will take your word and use it like a sword to fight in me, with me, for me, and through me. You will use your word to mold and shape my life. You will use your word to make me able to live the life you have called me to live. Yes, my word will do all these things in and for you. Keep looking intently at my word. Keep putting my word into practice. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for your word. I will look intently into your word. I will allow your word to change my heart and transform my mind. I will allow your word to guard and guide the entire course of my life. I will allow your word to make me able to live in freedom. Amen

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

Promises – Day 19 – James 1-22-25 – Looks Intently – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Gives Freedom

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Becoming Like Christ - Day 75 - James 1:22-25 - Gives Freedom - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 75 – James 1:22-25 – Gives Freedom – Growing As Disciples

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (NIV)

Freedom

I certainly want to live in freedom. I definitely want to live a life that you can and will bless. Those are good desires that you have in your heart. What must you do if you want to live in freedom? What must be your habits if you want to live a life that I can and will bless? That is a good question. Obviously, you are referring to more than one habit. Yes, I am. First, I must make every effort to hear your word. How will you make every effort to hear my word? How frequently will you make yourself available to hearing my word? I will hear your word by reading your word. I will hear your word by studying your word. I will hear your word by meditating on and memorizing your word. I will hear your word by praying your word. These are some of the ways that I will make every effort to hear your word. I will engage in these efforts to hear your word every day as I come to meet with you in your word. I will sit silently and in solitude before you so I can hear you speaking to me through your word. This is the first habit. This habit will help me to hear your word. I will develop this habit of listening to you. That will be very good.

The second habit that will help me to live in freedom and allow you to bless my life will be to put your word into practice. I can expect to receive no benefit from your word by hearing it but failing to put it into practice. That’s true. So, I will make every effort to put into practice all that you have shown me from your word. I will follow and obey you. I will do what you ask of me. I will allow your word to form the thoughts of my mind, words of my mouth and the deeds of my life. This is the second habit. Putting your word into practice will bless my life and make me fruitful as I love, follow and serve you. I will develop this habit of putting your word into practice. That will be very good. 

Lord, I will not merely listen to your word. I will not deceive myself. I will not forget all that you have said to me. Thank you for richly blessing my life and helping me to live and walk in freedom as I make every effort to both hear and put your word into practice. Amen

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 75 – James 1-22-25 – Gives Freedom – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Looks Intently

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Blessing - James 1:22-25 - Looks Intently - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Blessing – James 1:22-25 – Looks Intently – Growing As Disciples

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25 (NIV)

Into Practice

What do you think will happen to you if you continue to look intently into my word? That is a very good question. I know that if I continue to look intently into your word I will be changed by it. How so? Your word will change my heart. Your word will transform my mind. Your word will guide my life. You will use your word to mold and shape my life. You will use your word to make me into the person that you have called me to be. That’s right. So, it is not a waste of time of your time to continue to look intently into my word. There is nothing that I consider to be of higher value than to meet with you in your word. That’s an interesting way that you said that. You are not merely studying my word? No, certainly not. You are meeting with me in my word. Yes, that’s right. You are meditating on my word. You are praying my word. You are letting my word dwell in you richly. Yes, I am.

You know that my Holy Spirit will take my word and apply it right to your life, right now. Yes, that’s exactly what I am counting on. I know that your word is like a sword in the Holy Spirit’s hand. He will use your word to fight in me, with me, and for me. What do you mean by that? Well, putting your word into practice will set me free. The world and all its principles, values and practices will lose their grip on me as I take hold of your word. Your word will strengthen me and make me able to stand against temptation. Just as your word fought for you against the devil and all his evil so also will it fight for me. Yes, it will. 

How has my word blessed your life? Your word has changed my thoughts, words, and deeds. Your word has changed the desires of my heart and the goals of my life. Your word has given me hope and meaning and purpose in life. How so? Now, I want to live my life fully for you. Now, I want to go and do what is pleasing to you. Now, I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Now, I am looking forward to a future and far better day when I will come to live forever in heaven with you. In the meantime, I will continue to put your word into practice with all the strength that you will give to me. That is very good.

Lord, I have no desire to merely listen to your word. Every day I will look intently into your word. Show me what you want me to see and know. Help me go and do all that you are teaching me. Set me free and bless my life by your word as I put it into practice. Amen

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

Blessing – James 1-22-25 – Into Practice – 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