Tag Archives: O LORD

Meditation Of My Heart

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Meditation - Psalm 19:14 - Meditation Of My Heart - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Meditation – Psalm 19:14 – Meditation Of My Heart – Growing As Disciples

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Words

What words are you allowing your heart to think? What words are you allowing your mouth to speak? Do you think that the thoughts you think and the words you speak are pleasing to me? I know that my thoughts and words fall far short of what is pleasing to you. I feel powerless to change my thoughts and words so that they are pleasing to you. That is a good thought. That thought pleases me. How does my thought please you? You know that you cannot think thoughts and speak words that are pleasing to me without my help. You are powerless to change your thoughts and words without my help. Where does that leave me? That leaves you needing my help.

How will you help me to think thoughts and speak words that are pleasing to you? That is a very good and important question. I have one tool and one way that I will change the thoughts you think and the words you speak. You have my full attention. I’m listening very carefully to all that you want to say to me. That’s good. Hear me clearly say this to you, my word will change the thoughts that you think and the words that you speak. How so? My Holy Spirit will use my word to change your heart and transform your mind. My word will help you to think my thoughts and speak my words. I’m not sure that I understand. My word is like a sword in the Holy Spirit’s hand. The sword of my Holy Spirit will fight in you, with you and for you. Then I will not be powerless in the battle over the thoughts of heart and the words of my mouth. No, you will not be powerless in the battle over the thoughts of your heart and the words of your mouth because you will not be fighting alone. I like that.

I want you to notice one more important point. What’s that? You are in the battle. You are in the fight. What does that mean? You must engage in the battle over the thoughts of your heart and the words of your mouth. How do I do that? I have told you that my Holy Spirit will take my word and use it to fight in you, with you and for you. Yes, I heard you say that. I will ask you a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. How will you place my word in the hand of my Holy Spirit so He has a sword to fight in you, with you and for you? I think I understand. If I don’t know your word, the Holy Spirit will have no sword in His hand for me. In order to place the sword of the word in the Holy Spirit’s hand I need to know your word. I need to meet with you in your word. I need to meditate to on your word. I need to let your word dwell in me richly. Will you meet with me in my word? Will you meditate on my word? Will you let my word dwell in you richly? Yes, Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, as I meet with you in your word I ask you to change my heart and thoughts and words. I trust you because you are my rock and redeemer. Thank you for making my heart and life new so that I can think thoughts and speak words that are pleasing to you. Amen

Key Question… When do you meditate on God’s word so He can use it to change your thoughts and words?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to change the thoughts of your heart and words of your mouth as you meditate on His word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will change the thoughts of your heart and words of your mouth as you meditate on His word.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used His word to change your thoughts and words.

Prayer To Bless Others… May the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart be pleasing to the Lord.

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

Meditate – Psalm 19-14 – Meditation Of My Heart – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

The Meditation Of My Heart Be Pleasing

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May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Meditation

That is what I will do. That will change my heart. That will transform my mind. That will help me to know and do your will. That will make me able to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you. What will do all these things in, for, and through you? Meditating on your word will do all these things in, for and through me. Tell me more about what you have in your heart and on your mind. If I take your word deeply into my heart and mind, I will not be left unchanged. Your word is living and active. Your word is powerful. If I meet with you in your word, you will use it to mold and shape my life. Your Holy Spirit will take it and use it like a sword to fight in me, with me, for me, and through me. Your word will help me to resist temptation and fight against evil. Yes, my word will do all these things in, for, and through you.

I do have more to say. I’m listening. I know that this world would like me to think, and speak, and act according to it’s patterns and practices. If I do nothing, my mind will conform to the world. I will think and speak and act like everyone else in the world. Why is this true? My mind is a battle ground. What will I think? Will I think worldly and sinful thoughts that are displeasing to you or will I think heavenly and godly thoughts that are pleasing to you? I really have only two choices. That is correct.  I have made my choice; I will think heavenly and godly thoughts that are pleasing to you. Making that choice alone will not be enough, however. Why is that? It is your word, working powerfully in my heart and mind that will change my heart and transform my mind. So, I have also made the choice to meet with you daily in your word. That is when and where and how, you will help me to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you. Yes, it is. Keep on coming to me. Keep on drawing near to me. Keep on meeting with me in my word. I will make you able to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I know the world would like me to think, speak, and act according to its patterns, and practices. Which would not be pleasing to you. Use your word to change my heart and transform my mind so I can think, speak, and act in ways that are pleasing to you. Amen

Key Question…  What specifically from God’s word has helped you to think, speak, and act in ways that please Him?

Living It Out…  Allow your heart to be changed and your mind transformed by God’s word.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will use His word to help you to think, speak, and act in ways that please Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has helped you to think and speak in ways that please Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May the meditation of your heart and the words of your mouth be pleasing to the Lord.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 82 – Psalm 19-14 – The Meditation Of My Heart Be Pleasing – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Wait In Expectation

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 80 - Psalm 5-1-3 - Wait In Expectation - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 80 – Psalm 5-1-3 – Wait In Expectation – Growing As Disciples

Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.  Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.  In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:1-3 (NIV)

In The Morning

When will you meet with me? When will you turn your heart felt sighs into prayers to me? When will you cry out to me for help? When will I hear your voice? When will you come into my house? When will you enter my temple? When will you bow down before me? When will you take refuge in me? When will you be glad and sing joyfully to me? When will you allow me to guide you on a straight path? When will you allow me to bless you? When will you allow my favor to surround you like a shield? When will you allow me to hear and answer your prayers? You want to do all these things for me? If I did not want to do these things for you, would I bother to ask you these questions? No. I’m sure not. Do you believe that I want to do these things for you? Yes, I do. Then do you have an answer for my questions? In the morning I will meet with you. Then and there and throughout all the moments of my day, I will turn my sighs into prayers to you. You will hear my crying out to you. You will hear me asking for your help. I will come to rely on you. I will place all my faith and hope and trust in you. I will humbly come into your presence. I will bow down before you. I will submit my heart and mind and life to you. I will have no need to worry. I will not be filled with anxiety. You will be my refuge. You will be my shelter in every storm. I will be filled with joy and gladness because I know that you will be with me to help me. You will help me to walk a straight path as I love and follow and serve you. You will help me to live a life that is pleasing to you. You will help me to know and do what is right so I can be a bright and bold witness for you in the darkness of this world. You will bless my life with your kindness and mercy and love. Your favor will rest on me and surround me like a shield. You will hear and answer my prayers. Yes, I will do all these things for you. Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, I will meet with you in the morning. I will humbly bow down in prayer to you. I will turn the sighs into prayers to you. I will expectantly wait for you to answer my prayers. Help me to walk a straight path with you. Be a shield of protection around me. Amen

Key Question…  When have you expectantly waited for the Lord to hear and answer your prayers?

Living It Out…  Meet with the Lord in the morning to humbly bow down in prayer before Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will hear and answer your prayers as you wait expectantly before Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you making your prayers know to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you wait in expectation for the Lord to hear and answer your prayers.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 80 – Psalm 5-1-3 – Wait In Expectation – 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Open His Eyes

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - 2 Kings 6:17 - Open His Eyes - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – 2 Kings 6:17 – Open His Eyes – Growing As Disciples

And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)

Look Up

You’re missing quite a bit. What do you mean by that? Life is racing by and you are very busy. Yes, I am. There is a lot you are missing. There is a lot you fail to realize. What do you have in mind? I want you to slow down and take a greater notice of what I am doing in and through your life. I would like to do that. Is there something specific you are asking? Yes, there is.

What have you seen or understood only because you came to me in prayer and we talked about it? Every time I come to you in prayer I know your love more intimately and personally. I can see that your hand is on me. You are guarding and guiding my life. In prayerfully reading your word, you are transforming my mind and guarding my heart. Yes, I am. You are giving and granting me new desires in my heart. I am experiencing new joy and peace in your presence that I have never known before.

When you let your busy life and your surroundings grab your attention, what happens? I loose sight of the fact that you are with me to help me. I start to think that I am all alone to fight the battles of life. Then what? Then worry and fear begin to take a hold of me. What is the result of that? Worry and fear have held me back from going where you want me to go. I have believed that I couldn’t do what you have asked me to do. Yes, and where has your focus turned to then? My focus has turned to myself. What do you see then? I see only my own weakness. What do you think I really want you to see? I think you want me to see you. You want me to rely on your power and strength to help me. You want me to know that I am not all alone in the battles of life. You are with me. Your hand is on me. You are surrounding me with help on every side. Yes, I am.

How will you be able to keep your focus on me and see the help I want to give to you? I know that you will keep showing yourself to me as I meet with you in prayer. Yes, I will. Let me ask you something. Go ahead. Why would you ever stop praying? What do you mean? Can’t you have set times of prayer with me that continue on and are ongoing throughout your day? Yes, I suppose that I can. That is what I want to grow and develop within you. I want to teach you how to keep your eyes on me by praying throughout your day. Then I won’t fail to notice what you want to show me. I will look up and see that you are with me to help me. Yes, you will.

Lord, so often I have looked at battles with the eyes of fear, doubt and worry. I have looked at myself and the size of the battle and thought I was headed toward defeat. But, you have been with me to help me. Help me trust and rely on your help at all times. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – 2 Kings 6-17 – Open His Eyes – 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                                                               http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Teach Me, O Lord, To Follow

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Identity - Teach Me, O Lord, To Follow - Psalm 119 - 33-37 - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Identity – Teach Me, O Lord, To Follow – Psalm 119 – 33-37 – Growing As Disciples

Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. Psalm 119:33-37

Huddle

There is a lot of noise out there. I know, it’s so distracting. Sometimes it gets so loud it’s hard to think straight. I feel like my life is under a constant bombardment of noisy messages from the world. What are they saying? Do this. Go there. You will be happy if you have this or try that. You can’t possibly be happy without this or that. If I listened to all these voices I would have no direction in life at all. I’d be running around in circles and wanting to pull out my hair in frustration. How do you know that’s true? I’ve lived it. I’ve made the mistake of falling under the influence of the world. At times I have felt like I’ve been running on a treadmill that leads to nowhere. Do you want to get off? Yes, I do. How can I?

I want you to imagine that you are in a very large stadium. The crowd is roaring so loud your ears are beginning to hurt. Down on the field there is a football game being played. You are on the team and in the game. What do you need to do to learn what the next play will be? I would need to huddle up, lean in, and listen very carefully for the next play to be called. Would there be any other way to learn the play? I’m not sure what you mean. Would the crowd ever be able to shout out the next play? Would the opposing team give you the correct signal? Would you be able to guess what you were supposed to do next? No, the only way that I would know what to do next is by leaning in and listening very carefully. That’s exactly right. How does this help me? 

The stadium is like the world. The crowd noise is every thought, opinion and suggestion the world has to offer. The game is life and you are a player in it. The plays that are called in the huddle are what you are to do next. You will only know what to do next as you lean in and listen very carefully. I am the signal caller. You are on my team. You are my follower. Leaning in and listening is called prayer. The playbook is my word. Now, I get it. Do you? Tell me what you understand.

As your follower, it is my role to know your word and lean into you in prayer. As I study your word and come to you in prayer, you will guide my life. Yes, you do understand. Is this what you will do? Yes Lord, I will.

Father, in the midst of the noise of this world I will huddle up and lean in to you in prayer to listen to your instructions. I will study and know your word to allow it to guide my life. I will follow where you lead and do what you ask.  Amen

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

Identity – Psalm 139-33-37 – Teach Me, O Lord, To Follow – 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

I Will Help You Speak

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Mouth - Exodus 4:10-12 - I Will Help You Speak - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Mouth – Exodus 4:10-12 – I Will Help You Speak – Growing As Disciples

Moses said to the LORD, “O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” Exodus 4:10-12 (NIV)

Go And Do

Don’t make excuses for why you can’t go and do what I am asking you to do for me. Don’t say what is obvious. What is obvious? You are not able to go and do what I am asking you to do for me. Then we agree. No, we don’t agree. It seems like we agree. How is it that we are not in agreement? You think that you are unable, unprepared and unqualified. Yes, I do. On that much we do agree. I thought so. What you don’t understand is that you will never be fully able, completely prepared and totally qualified to go and do all that I am asking you to do for me. Why is that? I will always call you to do more than you can do by yourself. Why is that? You tell me. Well, your word does say that apart from you I can do nothing. I take that to mean that I can’t do anything that will bear fruit for all eternity and bring glory to your name without your help. That’s right.

You need my help to bear fruit for all eternity and bring glory to my name. Yes, I do. Is there more that you have on your mind? I’m guessing that you ask me to do more than I am able so that I will come to rely on you. Why do you think that is? You want to have an intimate relationship with me. You want me to live in close fellowship with you. Yes, I do. If I were completely able to do all that you asked of me I might become self-reliant and self-sufficient. I might think that I don’t really need your help. I probably wouldn’t come to rely on you for your help. That’s true. As it is, I desperately need your help to go and do what you are asking me to do for you. Yes, you do. When you help me to do what I couldn’t possibly do with my own gifts, talents and abilities my faith in you grows. I know that you are with me to help me. I know that I am not alone. I know that you are working in and through me. That is a very good feeling. I am filled with joy and thanksgiving when I know that you are using me. Yes, you are. I and everyone around me gives praise and glory to you for doing only what you could have done in and through me. That’s right. Now, I think we are in agreement. How so? I want you to use me. I will trust you to make me able to go and do all that you ask of me. Yes, I will.

Lord, your call is difficult and challenging. Many times it has been very uncomfortable. Forgive me when I have been tentative and reluctant and wishing you would send someone else. Thank you for not sending someone else and continuing to use me instead. Amen

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

Mouth – Exodus 4-10-12 – I Will Help You Speak – 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

Test Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Psalm 26:2-3 - Test Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Psalm 26:2-3 – Test Me – Growing As Disciples

Test me, O LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth. Psalm 26:2-3 (NIV)

Examine Me

Do you really want me to test your life? Are you really asking me to closely examine your heart and mind? Are you confident that your life will pass my test? Do you think that your heart and mind will be able to stand up under my close examination? Only you can make it so my life will pass your test. Only you can make my heart and mind stand up under your close examination. Do I feel confident that I will pass your test? Do I think that my heart and mind and life will stand up under your close examination? I know with certainty that I am not perfect. I am far from perfect. Why then would you ask me to test your life by examining your heart and mind? There is no closer scrutiny than this test. Do you have no fear in me testing your heart and mind and life? Those are good questions.

I know that you love me. I also love you. You want me to live in a close and intimate relationship with you. Yes, I do. You don’t want anything to hinder our relationship with each other. No, I do not. I want to live my life in every way that is pleasing to you. I want to know you. I want to walk in your ways. I want to follow you to wherever you lead me. I want to do whatever you ask of me. I don’t want to lag behind or run ahead of you. I don’t want to wander to the left or right of you. I want to walk closely with you as you lead me through life. Your love for me makes me unafraid of your testing. Your love for me makes me unafraid of your close examination. My love for you welcomes and invites your testing and close examination of my heart and mind and life. I accept your welcome and invitation. I know that you will work in my life according to your purposes and plans. You will do what needs to be done. You will change my heart and transform my mind. Yes, I will. You will remove anything my heart and mind and life that is not pleasing to you. Yes, I will. That is what I am asking for. That is what I want. Do your work in my life so that I will be able to walk closely with you. Yes, I will.

Lord, go ahead and test my life by examining my heart. I want to know your will. I want to walk in your ways. I want to live my life in ways that are pleasing to you. Use your word to change my heart and transform my mind. Help me to walk closely with you. Amen

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

The Mind – Psalm 26-2-3 – Test Me – 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