Tag Archives: spiritual direction

Seasoned With Salt

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Character - Colossians 4:6 - Seasoned With Salt - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Character – Colossians 4:6 – Seasoned With Salt – Growing As Disciples

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6 (NIV)

My Words

What words are coming out of your mouth? How are you evaluating the words that you are allowing yourself to speak? Are you placing a guard over the words that come out of your mouth? Do you think that I will be pleased with every word that you are allowing yourself to speak? Are your words full of grace? Do your words offer kindness, mercy and love? How well am I able to use your words as a witness for me in the world? Are others drawn to your words? Do your words offer a pleasant flavor that is attractive for all to hear or are your words just like everyone else’s in the world? You have asked me a lot of questions. Have I spoken words that are not pleasing to you? Have I spoken words that have not be full of kindness, mercy and love? Have my words been harsh and critical? Have my words been sarcastic and cutting? Have my words been filled with judgement? Have I selfishly spoken words to solely express my own opinion, make my points and win arguments? Now, it is you who has asked me a lot of questions.

I would like to hear you answer the questions that you have asked of me. I thought you might say that. I am sure that I have spoken words that have not been pleasing to you. Why is that? Your questions have caused me to think more about the words that have been coming out of my mouth. What have you heard? I have heard words that were not filled with kindness, mercy and love. I have spoken words that were filled with judgement. I have been harsh and critical and sarcastic and cutting with the words that have come out of my mouth. I have spoken words solely to get my point across so that I could clearly express my opinion. Do you always need to express your opinion? Is there anything far more important than you being able to clearly make your point?

I want to make the most of every opportunity to be used by you. I want my words to be filled with kindness, mercy and love. I want you to use the words of my mouth to draw others to you. I want my words to add a pleasant and attractive flavor in the world. I want my words to stand out as a bright and shinning witness for you in the world. Will that ever happen if you must use your words to express your opinions, make your points and win your arguments? No, when I am speaking in those ways I am sure that you are not speaking through me. At those times, I have speaking my words solely on my behalf. Will you allow me to speak through you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I want to be a witness for you in all I think, say and do. Guard my thoughts. Give me your words to say. Help my life to express your kindness, mercy and love to everyone so that I will be a vibrant life-giving witness for you in the world. Amen

Key Question… How is the grace that you have received from Jesus Christ being spread through you to others?

Living It Out… Let your life and your conversation be life giving and encouraging so that you will be a vibrant witness for Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you just the right words to say to others as a witness for Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how Jesus Christ has used your words to minister to another person.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your words be full of grace and seasoned with salt so you will answer others well.

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

Character – Colossians 4-6 – Seasoned With Salt – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Show It

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - James 3:13 - Show It - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – James 3:13 – Show It – Growing As Disciples

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13 (NIV)

Success?

I want to be wise and understanding. I want my life to demonstrate that I am both wise and understanding. Why do you want to be wise and understanding? What do you mean by asking me that? What is wise? What is understanding? How are you defining those terms? Why is it your desire and goal to be wise and understanding? I’m still not fully understanding where you are headed with your questions. Let’s take a step back. I will ask you another question. Go ahead, I’m listening. What possible reasons could a person have for wanting to be wise and understanding? A person might want to be wise and understanding so that they can be successful in life. I suppose you will now ask me what a successful life would look like. You are right about that. What would a successful life look like to you? What would a successful look like to someone else? Now, I’m starting to understand where you are headed with your questions. Someone might evaluate their success in life by how much they have acquired. They would think that their life is successful if they have acquired possessions, power and prestige in an abundance. They might think that their life has been successful if they have lived a life filled with comfort and pleasure. Their desire for wisdom and understanding would simply be tools on that path to their idea of success. That’s right. Is this how you view success? Is this why you want wisdom and understanding? No, it is not.

How do you define success? My life will be successful if I have come to know and do your will. My life will be successful if I have born an abundance of fruit for your kingdom and brought glory to your name. That is a very different definition of success. Yes, it is. Only my followers would ever hold on to that definition of success. That’s right. Loving, following and serving you is my desire and goal in life. So, it should be easy for you to now tell me why you want to have wisdom and understanding. I want to have wisdom and understanding so that I will be able to know and do your will. Wisdom and understanding from you, will guide me on the proper path in life. My life will succeed in bearing fruit for your kingdom and bringing glory to your name if I have your wisdom and understanding. Yes, it will. Without your wisdom and understanding I will be unable to know and do your will. That’s right. It is my prayer that I will have your wisdom and understanding so that I can live my life fully for you. That is a prayer that I will hear and answer.

Lord, I want to be wise and understanding. I want my life to be filled with your wisdom and understanding. Help me to do humble deeds that display wisdom as I follow and serve you. Use my life to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. Amen

Key Question… Who has been a good role model for you by displaying wisdom through their actions?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to show you what humble and wise deeds you can do for others as you follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will lead you to do humble deeds for others that display true wisdom and understanding.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord is leading you to humbly and wisely serve others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you do wise, humble and good deeds for others as you follow and serve the Lord.

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

Wisdom – James 3-13 – Show It – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Lead The Blind

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Guidance - Isaiah 42:16 - I Will Lead The Blind - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Guidance – Isaiah 42:16 – I Will Lead The Blind – Growing As Disciples

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.  Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)

Unfamiliar Paths

I’m not a fan of unfamiliar paths. I have never wanted to blindly enter a situation. I would like to know where I am going. I would like to know what I should be doing. I don’t like uncertainty. You know that I have wanted you to give me a roadmap with each step of my way marked out for me. Yes, I am aware of what you have wanted from me. Do you think I will ever give you a roadmap with every step of your marked out for you? No, I don’t think that you will ever give me a roadmap marking out every step of my way. Why is that? I have never heard or seen of you doing that for anyone. That’s right. Why won’t I ever give you a step by step roadmap to follow? I’m not sure. If I gave you a step by step road map would you follow me or the roadmap? That’s a very good question. We both know that if I had a roadmap through life I would follow that roadmap. That’s right. It is not my plan for you to follow a roadmap. It is my plan for you to follow me. I want you to live in a vital and intimate relationship with me. Is that what you want? Yes Lord, I want to live a vital and intimate relationship with you. That’s very good.

What can you be certain of as you follow me? I can be certain that you will lead me by ways that I have not gone before. You will guide me on unfamiliar paths. You will lead me through rough places that I probably would not have chosen for myself. That sounds like a dramatic understatement. Yes, it is, I have wanted to walk on well-marked and familiar paths. I have not wanted to travel through difficulty. You have wanted a smooth path that is well lit and easy to follow. Yes, that’s right. Let’s talk about that. Why do you think I will lead you on unfamiliar and difficult paths? You want me to come to rely on you. You want my faith in you to grow. You want to do in and through me what I could have never done by myself. Those are very good answers. What kind of path has caused you to rely on me? When has your faith in me grown stronger? When have you know with the greatest certainty that I was working in and through your life? All your questions have one answer. You have worked powerfully in and through my life when you have led me on a difficult path. That’s right. What else can you also be certain of as you follow me? You will always be with me. You will never forsake me. You will shed light on my path. You will smooth out the rough spots that are ahead of me as I love, follow and serve you. That’s right. I will lead you through life as you follow me every step of your way.

Lord, I will hold on to your hand through dark places along unfamiliar paths to unknown places. I know you will give me light to guide my way and smooth out the rough spots ahead of me. I will trust in you every step of my way as I follow you. Amen

Key Question… What are some dark, unfamiliar and unknown paths that the Lord has helped you to walk through?

Living It Out… Rely on the Lord to lead you by the hand along unfamiliar paths to unknown places, giving you light along the way.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will give you light in darkness and guide you along unfamiliar paths and to unknown places.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God has given you light and smoothed out your path through life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to lead you on unfamiliar by ways that you have not known.

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

Guidance – Isaiah 42-16 – Lead The Blind – 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

May Approach God

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Freedom - Ephesians 3:12 - May Approach God - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Freedom – Ephesians 3:12 – May Approach God – Growing As Disciples

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)

Into My Presence

The way has been opened. The dividing wall has been broken down. The chasm has been bridged. There is now no barrier. There is now no separation. Nothing is preventing you from coming to me. My Son, has forgiven you of all your sins. My Son, has cleansed you of all your unrighteousness. He has redeemed your life. He has set you on new course. He has given you a new life to live. You are now acceptable in my sight. You are now welcome in my presence. You have been adopted into my family. You are my child. I am your Heavenly Father. I am calling you to come to me. Do you hear my call? Do you have my desire? Do you long to be in my presence? Do you want to know me? Do you want to be known by me? Do you want to come into my presence? Do you want to live in an intimate relationship with me? Yes, Heavenly Father I want what you want. I have your desire. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. That is very good.

Like a famished beggar, I hunger for you. Like a dessert crawler in search of an oasis, I thirst for you. Like a heart broken lover, my heart aches for you. Yet, I am not starved. I am not dehydrated. I am not unloved. You have lavished me with your love. You fed my hunger. You have satisfied my thirst. You have not withheld any of your goodness from me. You have shown me every kindness, extended to me every mercy and filled me with your love in limitless abundance. Yet, somehow, I cannot get enough of you. I cannot spend too much time in your presence. I cannot receive too much of what you want to give me. You fill me with desire for you. You keep drawing me back to you. I cannot give you enough adoration. I cannot praise and thank and worship you enough. I cannot bow down deep enough. I cannot raise my hands in praise high enough. I want to stay longer. I want to know you more. I want to be known by you more. It is my delight to rest in your presence. It is my joy to know you and be known by you. That is very good.

I will bring my confession to you. I will bring my intercession to you. I will bring my petitions to you. Guide our conversations. Help me to hear all that you want to say to me. Give me thoughts to think. Give me feelings to feel. Give me words to speak. Give me prayers to pray. Yes, I will. Help me to live in an intimate relationship with you. Help me to live and walk in a constant dialogue with you. I am your child. You are my God and Father. I am so thankful that I can live and walk with you. I can always come into your presence to be with you. Yes, you can. Yes, you will.

Lord, thank you for making it possible for me to enter God’s presence. I will make it the priority of my life to make time to enter His presence. I will joyfully express worship, confess sin, give thanks, pray prayers of intercession and petition as I meet with Him. Amen

Key Question… Why can you confidently and boldly enter God’s presence?

Living It Out… Make it a daily priority of your life to take time to enter God’s presence so that you can hear from Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that Jesus Christ has made it possible for you to confidently and boldly enter God’s presence.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are confidently and boldly entering God’s presence.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you take every opportunity, Christ has secured for you, to confidently and boldly enter God’s presence.

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

Freedom – Ephesians 3-12 – May Approach God – 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

Cry Out To Him Day And Night

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Prayer - Luke 18:7 - Cry Out To Him Day And Night - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Prayer – Luke 18:7 – Cry Out To Him Day And Night – Growing As Disciples

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?  Luke 18:7 (NIV)

Persistence

Persistence in prayer has not been my one of my strongest points. I have seldom prayed more than a couple times for any one request. I must admit that I have sometimes even wondered why I need to pray at all. You know what I want and need even before I ask for it. Yes, I do. Can you think of any reasons why I want you to be persistent and consistent in your prayers to me? I know that you want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. Yes, I do. Coming to meet with you in prayer is part of that intimate relationship you want to have with me. Yes, it is. Have you sometimes thought that I should give you exactly what you want at the very moment you ask for it? I have thought that before; I’ll have to admit. Why don’t I always give you what you want, when you want it? Sometimes, I have asked for something that would not be good for me. You might have something entirely different that is far better for me. I might not be ready to receive what I am asking for from you. It might not be the right timing. An improper gift or a gift given before the right time might be a curse rather than a blessing. You are wise to understand that.

What possible answers might I have for your prayers? Your answers could be “yes”, “no”, or “not yet”. That’s right. “Yes”, is not the only possible answer to your prayer. “No”, may be an even better answer to your prayer. Don’t think that I have not heard and answered your prayer simply because my answer to your prayer was “no”. In response to a “no” answer to your prayer, what would happen if you kept on praying? I might better understand why you said, “no” to my prayer? That’s right. “Not yet”, is an answer to your prayer that would offer a good reason for you to keep on praying, don’t you think? Yes, I do. Why is that? As I keep on praying, I will better understand your timing. Yes, you will.

You can be very sure of one thing. What’s that? I delight to hear and answer your prayers. It gives me great joy to see you coming to rely on me. I do want you to live in a close and intimate relationship with me. I do want you to ask me for all that you want and need. Will you keep on bringing all your prayers to me? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good.

Lord, often I have prayed just once for something. If I didn’t receive an answer I did not pray again. Now I see that you want me to be urgent and consistent and persistent in my prayers. I will pray and not give up. I will wait until you hear and answer my prayer. Amen

Key Question… When have you been tempted to give up praying when an answer to your prayer has not come quickly?

Living It Out… Continue to come to the Lord and pray and don’t give up even when answers to your prayers do not come quickly.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will hear and will answer your prayers as you faithfully pray to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what you are persistently praying for day and night.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you persistently and consistently keep bringing your prayers to the Lord.

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

Prayer – Luke 18-7 – Cry Out To Him Day And Night – 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

Keep Yourself Pure

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 2 Timothy 2:21 - Keep Yourself Pure - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 2 Timothy 2:21 – Keep Yourself Pure – Growing As Disciples

If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.  2 Timothy 2:21 (NLT)

Ready

I know that you want to be used by me. I know that you want your life to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. I know that you want me to use your life according to my purposes and plans. I know that you don’t want any of the gifts, talents and resources that I have given you to go to waste. I know that one day you would like to hear me say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” You have told me all of these things in your prayers. Yes, I have prayed for all these things. It gives me great joy to know that you have heard these prayers of mine.

How you live your life will determine how fully these prayers of yours will be answered. How so? How you live your life will determine if you are ready to be used by me. I want to be ready to be used by you at all times and in every situation. If you want to be used by me you must turn and run away from evil. You must separate yourself from anything that will stimulate sinful desires within you. You must resist the urge to engage in unfruitful arguments that will only start fights. Avoid all foolish and worthless talk of every kind. Instead pursue me. Pursue the righteous life I have given you to live. You will not be alone in your pursuit of me. Be encouraged by and give encouragement to those who, with a pure heart, are also pursuing the righteous life that I have called you to live. Will you do what I am asking of you? Yes Lord, I will do all that you are asking of me. Then you will be ready to be used by me. You will be a tool in my hand. You will do the work that I have prepared in advance for you to do. You will know my will. You will walk in my ways. You will bear fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name. That is what I want. That is what you will do.

Lord, I am all yours. I will turn away and run from every evil. I will pursue you and the righteous life you have called me to live with and for you. It will be my joy and pleasure to be ready for you to use, Bear fruit and bring glory to your name though my life. Amen

Key Question… What unfruitful activity can be eliminated from your life to make you more available for the Lord’s use?

Living It Out… Turn and run away from every evil that will make unready and unusable and ineffective for the Lord’s use.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you and bear fruit through your life according to His purposes and plans.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how turning from every evil has made you ready for the Lord to use.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you turn from evil and pursue righteousness so you will be ready for the Lord to use.

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

If – 2 Timothy 2-21 – Keep Yourself Pure – 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

All Things Are Pure

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Titus 1:15-16 - All Things Are Pure - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Titus 1:15-16 – All Things Are Pure – Growing As Disciples

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:15-16 (NIV) 

Influences 

Be careful about the influences you allow into your life. What do you mean by that? I’m sure that you have a very good idea about the meaning of my question.  I would like to hear your thoughts about what influences you are allowing into your life. Do you think I have a lot to say on that subject? Yes, I do. I want to hear and you need to hear what you have to say on this subject. At one time, there was no guard over the influences that I allowed to come into my life. I allowed anything and everything from the world to speak into my life. I equally accepted the good and the bad. I was willing to listen to everything the world had to say to me. My life was shaped by both the good and the bad that I took into my life. Unfortunately, the world spoke far more of its corruption and impurity into my life. On top of that, the world has a habit of elevating what is corrupt and impure while it also ridicules what is good and right and pure. So, as I was following the values, patterns and practices of the world I was becoming more and more corrupt as I allowed the world to mold and shape my life. My heart and mind and life were becoming more and more corrupt as I followed the ways of the world. I approved of what was evil. I ridiculed and mocked all that was good and right and pure. That’s not good. No, it is not.

What happened to you? How did you change your course? How did you turn away from the evil influences of the world?The impure and corrupt life I was living left me bruised and battered. I began to suffer the consequences of my self-centered, self-indulgent and self-sufficient life. I hurt others and others hurt me. I felt weary, worn out, empty and hopeless. That is when I cried out to you. I asked you to come into my life. I asked you to change the course of my life. I’m sure that I am incorrectly expressing what happened. Why is that? I know that you were pursuing me. I know that you were seeking me out. I know that you were calling me to come to you. I deserve no credit for crying out to you. It was you that brought me to yourself. Yes, I did. 

What about now? How are you guarding the influences that come into your life? I am separating myself from what is corrupt and impure. I am very careful about what I allow to speak into my life. As I have left my old life behind I am allowing you to change my heart and transform my mind with your word. I am allowing you to mold and shape my life as I love, follow and serve you in the new life that you have given me to live. That is very good. Now, you are using me to be an influence for what is good and right and pure. You are using me to speak what is good and right and true into the lives of others. Yes, I am. 

Lord, at one time all my thoughts, words, and actions were corrupt and impure. Thank you that you are purifying my thoughts, words and actions as I follow and serve you. May all I think, say and do be a testimony that brings glory to your name. Amen

Key Question… What new perspectives has God given you regarding people and situations you encounter in life?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to purify all your thoughts, words and actions as you follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will change your thoughts, words and actions from impure to pure as you follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God is changing your thoughts, words, and actions.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow the Lord to change your thoughts, words and actions as you follow and serve Him.

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

The Mind – Titus 1-15-16 – All Things Are Pure – 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

Shuts His Ears

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Proverbs 21:13 - Shuts His Ears - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Proverbs 21:13 – Shuts His Ears – Growing As Disciples

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13 (NIV)

Cry Of The Poor

Are you listening? Are you watching? Are you paying attention to the needs of those around you? It is easy to ignore those who are poor. Nothing will stop you from walking right on by those who are in need. Are you seeing and hearing the cries of the poor? Those are tough questions. Why is that? I can’t honestly say a wholehearted yes to any one of your questions. I probably haven’t been listening. I’m sure that I have not been watching. The poor and needy have become invisible to me. I don’t mean to walk right on by those in need. I want to hear and respond to the cries of the poor. That’s all I wanted to hear from you. 

Since you have said that you want to hear and respond to the needs of the poor you will be tested. How will I be tested? I will make it so you will be able to hear the cries and see the needs of the poor. You will no longer be able to walk blindly by those in need. You will no longer be deaf to the cries of the poor. The poor and needy are all around you. Those who need help are both near and far. Once you hear and once you see you will be tested. How will I be tested? Do you really need to ask that question? I suppose not. The test will be in how I respond to what I see and hear. That’s right. The question you will ask me is, “Will I hear and answer the cries of the poor?” That’s right. You want to know if I will help those who are in need. Yes, I do. You want me to know how I will respond to what you allow me to see and hear. Yes, I do.

I will tell you right now how I will respond to your questions. I will give my answer in advance of your test. I will make my answer firm and sure right now. I will not waver. I will not shrink back. I will not change my mind. I will hear and respond to the cries of the poor. I will help those in need. Why will you do this? I want to become like you. I want to love like you loved. I want to give like you gave. I want to do all that you would do for all those who are in need. I will do whatever you are calling me to do for you. That will be very good.

Lord, I will not shut my ears to hearing and responding to the cries of the poor. I will listen carefully and respond enthusiastically to those who are in need. Use me to help others. Help me to love like you loved and give like you gave. Amen

Key Question… What relationship is there between hearing the cries of the poor and your prayers being heard?

Living It Out… Open your ears so that you will hear and respond to the cries of the poor.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use you to hear and respond to the cries of the poor.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used you to hear and respond to the cries of the poor.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you open up your ears and respond to the cries of the poor so that your prayers will also be heard.

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

If – Proverbs 21-13 – Shuts His Ears – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

A Gentle Answer

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - Proverbs 15:1 - A Gentle Answer - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – Proverbs 15:1 – A Gentle Answer – Growing As Disciples

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 (NIV) 

Stirring Up Anger

You have an easy choice to make. What’s that? You can either turn away from wrath or stir up anger. Is that really an easy choice to make? What do you think? Well, it may be an easy choice to make away from the heat of a battle. During an argument or debate, it is a very difficult choice to make. Why is that? I like to win arguments and debates. I’ve noticed. Sometimes, I will go to great lengths to win an argument or debate. How so? In the heat of an argument or debate I will sometimes say things that I know I will deeply regret later. But, I will completely lose perspective. What do you mean by that? I will make winning an argument or debate my only goal. I will use words I shouldn’t have used. My words have done damage that is hard to repair. I will have said things that are difficult to retract. Whoever said, “sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” was an idiot. Words do hurt. Words do cause damage. Yes, they do.

Why must you win every argument and debate? That is a very good question. You don’t have to think twice about your answer, do you? No, I do not. It is my pride that drives me to want to win every argument and debate. That sounds and is pathetic, I know. Yes, it is. Can you lay down your pride? Can you humble yourself before me? Can you make better choices that will allow you to be my witness in the world? That is at issue here, isn’t it? Yes, it is. You cannot be filled with pride and driven to win every argument and debate and still be a bright and shinning witness for me in the world. You cannot stir up anger and bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. No one is drawn to stirred up anger. I cannot use a pride filled, angry, argumentative person. That is not who you want to be. That is not who you are. That is not the kind of life that I have called you to live. I get that. I want that. I know.

I want you to make some decisions in advance. Like what? Make serving me your goal. Choose to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Set aside your old sinful desire to win every argument and debate. Walk away from wrath. Choose to not stir up anger. Have a higher purpose in mind. Allow me to work in and through your life. Shine brightly for me in the midst of all the wrath and anger that is in the world. Will you make these decisions so that you can serve me? Will you make these decisions so I can use you?  Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, without your help there is no way I will be able to answer anger with a soft answer. I would rather fight fire with fire. Give me the strength to be your witness by answering anger softly with the grace and mercy you provide. Amen

Key Question… How hard is it to repair relationships with other people once anger has been stirred up and enflamed?

Living It Out… Ask the Lord to help you to use words that turn away wrath rather than stir up anger.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will give you words to speak that will turn away wrath rather than stir up anger.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord used your words to turn away wrath.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your gentle words turn away wrath rather than stir up anger.

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

Wisdom – Proverbs 15-1 – A Gentle Answer – 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

Withdraw – Pray

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Rhythms - Luke 5:15-16 - Withdraw - Pray - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Rhythms – Luke 5:15-16 – Withdraw – Pray – Growing As Disciples

But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray. Luke 5:15-16 (ESV)

Noise

My life has gotten far too busy. I have pursued a hectic and wearying schedule. I’m always on the go. I have raced from one thing to another. I have so little time and no margin. I have been crabby. I have been short tempered. I’m stressed out. I’m at my wits end. The busier I am the less I seem to get done. I feel like I am accomplishing a lot of nothing. I feel like I’m going nowhere fast. Will my life amount to anything when it is all said and done? Will I have gone where you have sent me? Will I have done what you have asked me? Will I have borne fruit for your kingdom? Will I have brought glory to your name? Those are very good questions. How will you ever know the answers to them? What do you mean by that? Where will the answers to your questions come from? Will you find the answers to your questions from within yourself? I will certainly not be able to answer my questions by myself. The answers to my questions are certainly not within myself. Only you can help me to know the answers to my questions. That’s right. 

Are you asking me a lot of questions? Are you quietly waiting to hear my answers to your questions? Do you think that I will shout out answers to your un-asked questions as you race through your busy life? Will you be able to hear me above the crowd that has pressed in on your life? You have asked me great questions. No, I have not been coming to you to ask you questions. No, I have not been quietly waiting to hear any answers from you. No, I don’t think you will shout out answers to questions that I haven’t even bothered to ask of you. No, I don’t think I will be able to hear your answers above the crowd that I have allowed to press in on my life. You have answered me well.

Is there something that you want to do differently? Is there a new pattern that you would like to establish in your life? Is there a new rhythm for your life that would help you to hear from me? Yes, I want to meet with you. I want to take time to listen to you. I want to hear from you. That sounds good. Those are great desires. What action will you take? I will set aside a time and place to meet with you. I will withdraw from the crowds. I will step away from busyness. I will eliminate all the noise in my life. I will talk and listen to you. I will wait patiently for your guidance. I will listen to your instruction. I will go where you guide me and do what you ask of me. Then I will know for certain that my life will count for something as I follow and serve you. Yes, you will.

Lord, I have allowed myself to be surrounded by busyness in life. I have been swallowed up by continually answering the never-ending needs of those around me. Help me to take time and make a place when and where I can withdraw to meet with you in prayer. Amen

Key Question… How are you making it a rhythm in your life to withdraw from the crowds and noise of life so you can pray?

Living It Out… Make it the rhythm of your life to withdraw from the crowds and the busyness of life so you can pray to the Lord.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that it is well worth your time to withdraw from the crowds and busyness of life so that you can pray.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group when and where you withdraw so you can pray to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you withdraw from the crowds and busyness of life so that you can pray to the Lord.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional study guide click here:

Rhythms – Luke 5-15-16 – Withdraw – Pray – 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