Tag Archives: spiritual direction

Seek Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Will - Jeremiah 29:13 - Seek Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Will – Jeremiah 29:13 – Seek Me – Growing As Disciples

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)

All Your Heart

That is a very important concept. What’s that? I want you to think deeply about seeking me with all your heart. I want you to consider what it means to seek me with all your heart. I want you to take the thought of seeking me with all your heart deeply into your heart and mind and life. What does seeking me with all your heart look like? Why do you want to seek me with all your heart? Why is seeking me with all your heart a worthy pursuit for your entire life. How will your life look different because you are seeking me with all your heart? Where will you go because you are seeking me with all your heart? What will you do because you are seeking me with all your heart? What will you let go of and leave behind because you are seeking me with all your heart? What will you take hold of and move forward with because you are seeking me with all your heart? How will seeking me with all your heart change your thoughts and words and deeds. What will hinder or help you to seek me with all your heart? When have you sought me with less than your whole heart? Are you now seeking me with all your heart? What will need to happen for you to decide to seek me with your whole heart? How will you keep on seeking me with your whole heart? Have I asked you enough questions? Have I given you enough to think about? You have asked me enough questions. I don’t know how I will ever be able to fully answer all your questions. I did not ask you all these questions with the expectation that you would answer every one of them. I asked you all these questions to help you to think about the importance of seeking me with all your heart. I get it.

I know that I have not always sought you with all my heart. I know that there have been many times that I have followed you half-heartedly. At times, there has been a battle raging in my heart and mind and life over the question of seeking you with all my heart. Yes, I know, what about now? Now, seeking you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength is an answered question. I will seek you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. How has this become an asked and answered question for you? I can tell you one thing for certain. What’s that? Seeking you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength is not an effort of my will. It’s not, then what is it? Seeking you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength is an act of my heart. I am seeking you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength because I love you. I have no other desire. I have no other hope. I have no other purpose. Your love for me and my love for you makes me want to seek you with all my heart. It is no sacrifice for me to seek you with all my heart. It is my joy to seek you with all my heart. I am doing what I was made to do. I am doing what I want to do. I am doing what is pleasing to you. I am fully living my life with and for you. Yes, you are and that is very good. 

Lord, I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. It is my joy to seek you with all my heart. It is my desire to do what is pleasing to you. I want to fully live my life with and for you. I will follow and serve you wherever you lead me. Amen

Key Question…Why is seeking the Lord with all your heart a worthy pursuit for your life?

Living It Out… Let the Lord’s love for you and yours for Him drive your desire to seek Him with all your heart.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord’s love for you and yours for Him will give you the desire to seek Him with all your heart.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your love for the Lord drives you to seek Him with all your heart.

Prayer To Bless Others… May the Lord’s love for you and yours for Him drive you to seek Him with all your heart.

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

Heart – Jeremiah 29-13 – Seek Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Do Not Love The World

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Love - 1 John 2:15-17 - Do Not Love The World - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Love – 1 John 2:15-17 – Do Not Love The World – Growing As Disciples

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world–the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does–comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)

The World 

At one time, I was captivated by the world. I loved the world and everything in it. I wanted everything that the world had to offer. I chased after every comfort. I sought every pleasure. I lived entirely for my own gratification. I was filled with sinful cravings. My eyes allured me into lustful desires. I boasted about all that I had and all that I had done. I was pleased with myself and with all my accomplishments. I’m sure that I was very full of myself. I was hard to like. I was difficult to be around. I know that I was not living in ways that were pleasing to you. You got that right.

What happened to you? What has changed? Why are you no longer pursuing the world and all that it has to offer? The world never satisfied me. My life became a continual desire for more of what I did not have. I was not content. I was restless. I was empty. The next latest and greatest thing never brought me pleasure. That’s not all. What else? Pursuing the world and all that it has to offer leads to a broken and bruised and battered life. A life cannot go unscathed while pursing sinful cravings and lustful desires. A life cannot be healthy and whole when it is filled with prideful boasting about what one has or what one has done. No, it cannot. There is painful price to pay for living that kind of life. Yes, there is. Your word says that, the “wages of sin is death.” Yes, it does. Death was an apt description of my life. Death well describes a life that is lived apart from you. That’s right. 

You did not leave me to live the life I was living. You did not let me continue on the path that led away from you. No, I did not. You pursued me. You reached out to me. You showed me your love. You let me taste of your kindness and mercy. Your love drew me to you. Your love changed the course of my life. Yes, it did. Your life is continuing to change the course of my life everyday as I continue to follow and serve you. You are the Savior and Lord of my life. Your love for me and my love for you is now overpowering all my old sinful cravings and lustful desires. Yes, it is. Your love for me has humbled me. Your love has bowed me down. Now, my only boast is that I know and love you. It is now the pursuit of my life to follow and obey you. That is very good.

Lord, your love for me has drawn me away from loving the things of this world. Your love for me has caused me to love you with all my heart, mind, soul and strength. Your love has given me the desire to know your will and walk in your ways. Amen

Key Question… How is your love for God overpowering your old desires for the things of this world?

Living It Out… Let your love for God overpower your old desires for the things of this world.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that your love for God will overpower your old desires for the things of this world.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your love for God is overpowering your desires for worldly things.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your love for God cause you to leave behind your desire for the things of this world.

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

Love – 1 John 2-15-17 – Do Not Love The World – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

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

Come After Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - Luke 9:23-25 - Come After Me- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – Luke 9:23-25 – Come After Me- Growing As Disciples

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?  Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)

Deny Myself 

What do you want? Your entire life will be guided by how you answer that one question. All that you think, say and do will be directed by what you want. There are really only two answers to my question. How could there be only two answers to your question. Oh, I’m absolutely sure that you already know the two answers to my question. If you’re positive then I must have the answers. That’s right. 

I will start with my answer. I want you. I know that you want me. You love me. You came into this world to rescue me from a life without you. You died on the cross so that I could be forgiven of all my sins and cleansed of all my righteousness. You pursued me when I was walking on a path away from you. You turned my life around. I told you that I would turn away from my sin so I could follow you. What do you mean by saying that you want me? I want to know you. I want to love you. I want to serve you. My life is in your hands. I am at your service. I will go where you guide me. I will do all that you ask of me. I want to live the life that you have called me to live. I will deny myself and take up the cross and follow you. How often will you deny yourself and take up the cross and follow me. I will deny myself and take up the cross to follow you everyday from now and until I meet you face to face. That will be very good. What is the other answer to my question?

The other answer to your question is not my answer. Let me hear the answer that you have rejected. There are two answers. There are only two choices. I can live my life with and for you or I can live my life for all that the world has to offer. I can lose my life for you by going and doing whatever you ask of me or I can lose my life by pursuing all that the world has to offer. Pursuing the world and all it has to offer is a tragic mistake. Yes, It is. Pursuing the world and all it has to offer leads to death now and forever. Yes, it does. Choosing to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you leads to life now and forever. Yes, it does. I am choosing to live the life that you have called me to live. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for drawing me to you. I am coming after you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I will deny myself and take up the cross, as I love, follow, and serve you. It is my joy to lose myself in your service. I am all yours. Amen

Key Question… What has denying yourself and taking up the cross of Christ looked like in your daily life?

Living It Out… Lose your life for Christ by denying yourself and taking up the cross as you love, follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to deny yourself and take up the cross daily as you love, follow and serve Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what denying yourself and taking up the cross has meant in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you lose your life for Christ by denying yourself and taking up His cross daily.

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

If – Luke 9-23-25 – Come After Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

Obey Your Instructions

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- Therefore - Psalm 119:55-56 - Obey Your Instructions - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide- Therefore – Psalm 119:55-56 – Obey Your Instructions – Growing As Disciples

I reflect at night on who you are, O LORD; therefore, I obey your instructions. This is how I spend my life: obeying your commandments. Psalm 119:55-56 (NLT)

Reflection

Set apart a place to come to meet with me. Set apart a time to come to know me. Reflect on who I am. Consider all that I have done. In my presence, I will change your heart. In my presence, I will transform your mind. It will become the desire of your heart to follow my instructions.  It will become the thought of your mind to obey my commands. As you come to know and love me you will want to live your life for me. I will change your thoughts and words and deeds. You will know my will. You will walk in my ways. You will fulfill my plans. You will accomplish my purposes. You will do what I have prepared for you to do. You will spend your life serving me. This is what I want. This is more than I could have hoped. This is more than I could have dreamed. This is more than I could have asked for or imagined.

I will set apart a time and a place to meet with you. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. I will listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. There is nothing I would rather do than hear from you. I will leave the noise and busyness of life so that I can hear from you. I will humble myself before you so that I can receive all that you have to say to me. I will open myself up to you so that I can accept all that you want to give to me. I will reflect on who you are. I will consider all that you have done. I will let you change my heart. I will allow you to transform my mind. I will welcome you to mold and shape my life. Make me into the person that you want me to be. Use me however you see fit. I want to know and do your will. I want to love you just as you love me. I want to follow you to where you lead me. I want to do all that you ask of me. I am all yours. I am at your service. I am at your disposal. I will spend my life in your service. I will speak to you. I will change you. I will use you. You will bear fruit for my kingdom. You will bring glory to my name.  

Lord, it is the joy of my life to come to meet with you. It is the passion of my heart to come to know and love you. Knowing and loving you has motivated my desire to follow your instructions and obey every one of your commands. I will spend my life serving you. Amen

Key Question… How has reflecting on who the Lord is motivated your desire to follow and obey Him?

Living It Out… Reflect on who the Lord is so that you will be able to follow His instructions and obey His commands.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that as you reflect on who the Lord is, you will be able to follow His instructions and obey His commands.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how knowing the Lord has helped you to follow and obey Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…May you reflect on who the Lord is, as you live by His word and follow His counsel.

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

Therefore – Psalm 119-55-56 – Obey Your Instructions – 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

Great Peace

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Word - Psalm 119:165 - Great Peace - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Word – Psalm 119:165 – Great Peace – Growing As Disciples

Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.  Psalm 119:165 (NIV)

Your Word

I love your word. I love listening to all that you have to say to me. Your word guides my life. Your word gives me great peace. Your word keeps me from stumbling. You are using your word to change my heart. You are using your word to transform my mind. Your word has helped me to think your thoughts. Your word has helped me to walk in your ways. Without your word I would not know you. You have revealed yourself to me by your word.

Your word strengthens me. Your word is my delight. I want to meditate on your word. I want your word to dwell in me richly. I want to feast on your word. I want to rest in your word. I want to be revived, refreshed and restored by your word. I want to be taught and trained by your word. I want to be molded and shape by your word. I want to live my life according to everyone one of your words.

Your word is making me usable in your service. Your word is helping me to bear fruit for your kingdom. Your word is helping me to bring glory to your name. Your word is helping me to shine brightly as your witness in the world. I will remain in your word. Apart from your word I can do nothing. Your word guides me to where you want to me to go. Your word gives me what you want me to do for you.

I will follow and obey your word. I will set aside my thoughts for your thoughts. I will set aside my ways for your ways. I will humbly come to meet with you in your word. I will be still before you. I will open my heart and mind to all that you have for me. I will not run ahead of your word. I will not turn to the left or the right of your word. I will not lag behind your word.

I will hold on to your word. Your word is strong. Your word is sure. You word gives me a level path. Your word helps me to walk on solid ground. Your word lifts me up out of the muck and the mire. Your word keeps my feet from slipping. Your word fills me with peace as I listen attentively to all that you have to say to me. Help me to live my life according to your word. Yes, I will.

Lord, I love your word. You teach me and guide my life by your word. As I rely on your word you give me peace and stability. I know that you are with me. You are leading me along life’s path. I will live in peace and stability by following and obeying your word. Amen

Key Question… How can it be demonstrated from your life that you really do love God’s word?

Living It Out… Determine to live your life by loving and following and obeying God’s word.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s word will bring peace and stability into your life as you follow and obey it.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how God’s word has brought peace and stability into your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May your love for God’s word bring you great peace.

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

God’s Word – Psalm 119-165 – Great Peace – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

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

A New Creation

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - If - 2 Corinthians 5:17 - A New Creation - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – If – 2 Corinthians 5:17 – A New Creation – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!   2 Corinthians 5:17  (NIV)

What’s New?

What’s New? That is an interesting question. Why are you asking me, “What’s new?”  I want you to think about what is new in your life since the day that you came to believe in me. That would be quite a long list. I have plenty of time to hear all that you have to say to me. The newness that you brought into my life began on day one with you. What do you mean by that? On day one with you I turned away from my sin to follow you. I asked you to forgive me of my all sins and cleanse me of all my unrighteousness. I said that I was giving my life to you and that I would follow you as my Savior and Lord. You answered my prayer and did all that I asked of you. Yes, I did. There was something more that I didn’t know was coming. What’s that? You filled me with your Holy Spirit. Your Holy Spirit made it so I could be born again to a new life in you. On day one, you made me to be your new creation. Yes, I did.

What changed since you become my new creation? I could live in a close and intimate relationship with you. I could talk to you in prayer. We could have an ongoing conversation together. You would draw near to me as I would draw near to you. I could listen to you as you also listened to me. That’s right. What else? Did everything in your life change all at once? What do you mean by that? Did you completely leave your old life so that you could live the new life I had for you to live? There were many things from my old sinful live that fell away right away. Much of my old life no longer appealed to me. I wanted to fully live the new life that you had given me to live in you. What happened? I began to see that not all of my old life of sin fell away. I found that quite discouraging. Why is that? I thought that you would make me a completely new creation all at once. That’s exactly what I did. Your spirit was reborn. I gave you a new heart and mind. Didn’t it become your desire to love me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength? Yes, that was and still is my desire. You thought you might be a completely new creation on day one? You thought I might finish all my work in your life in one day? I guess so. Well, you now know that my work continues in your life every day. Yes, I now know that and I welcome your ongoing work in my life. I will make you and every day new as you continue to love, follow and serve me.

Lord, thank you for drawing me to you. You made it possible for me to come to believe in you. You have made me to be a completely new creation. You have given me a completely new life to live you in you. Keep on molding and shaping my life as I follow you. Amen

Key Question… How has the Lord been continuing to make you new every day as you follow Him?

Living It Out… Allow the Lord to continue to make you into His new creation as you live the new life that He has given you to live.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord made you into a new creation, giving you a new life to live since you came to believe in Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group what has changed in your life since you came to believe in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you live as the new creation that the Lord has created to be since you came to believe in Him.

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

If – 2 Corinthians 5-17 – A New Creation – 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

Is Perfect

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God's Word - Psalm 19:7-11 - Is Perfect - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God’s Word – Psalm 19:7-11 – Is Perfect – Growing As Disciples

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11 (NIV) 

My Next Step

You need my word. You need to hear all that I want to say to you. I’m here. I’m listening. What do you want to say to me? My word will supply what you need. What do I need? You tell me. Right now, I am weary and worn out. You have come to the right place. As you meet with me in my word I will revive your soul and refresh your life. What else do you need? I need guidance and direction. I’m not sure about my next steps in life. I don’t know where to go and what to do. I lack wisdom. I desperately need help. Are you asking me for help? Yes, I am. My word will give you wisdom. My word will give you guidance. My word will shed light on your path and help you to know your next steps in life. Will you let my word guide your life? Yes, I will. I know that there is much more that you want and need. I have been discouraged and depressed. I have been lacking in joy. That will happen when you allow yourself to become weary and worn out. As you meet with me in my word I will not only revive and refresh your soul. I will also fill you with joy. My joy will make your face radiant. My joy will brighten your eyes. My joy will fill you with hope today, tomorrow and forever. Do you want to live in my fullness of joy? Yes Lord, I do. Then come to me to meet with me in my word. Listen to all that I have to say to you. I’m here. I’m listening. That’s very good. 

You can trust in my word completely. You can rely on my word fully. My word is sweeter than honey. My word is more precious than silver or gold. Nothing in all of life is more valuable than my word. My word will protect your life. My word will guard you from danger. There is nothing more rewarding than living according to my word. There is nothing more important than listening to all that I have to say to you. Will you listen to me? Will you make my word your pursuit? Will you live your life according to my word? Yes Lord, I will.

Has my word already started to revive you? Is my word refreshing you? Is hearing my word giving you joy? Is my word showing you your next step in life? Yes to all that you have asked me. My next step in life is to keep on meeting with you in your word. That will be very good.

Lord, I trust your word. Your word guides my life and directs my steps. Your word gives me joy. You refresh and revive my life by your word. You warn me and make me wise by your word. Your word is more valuable than gold. I will follow and obey your word. Amen

Key Question… What makes you positive that you can have absolute confidence in God’s word?

Living It Out… Allow God to use His word do His work in and through your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God’s word is more precious than gold in your life both now and forever.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how valuable God’s word is to your life and walk with the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to use His word to work in and through your life.

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

Gods Word – Psalm 19-7-11 – Is Perfect – 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

But Christ Lives In Me

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - Galatians 2:20 - But Christ Lives In Me - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Galatians 2:20 – But Christ Lives In Me – Growing As Disciples

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 

Dead And Alive

How can I be both dead and alive? Aren’t I either dead or alive? Your question seems logical enough. But, the only way that you can be alive is if you are dead. I’m confused. I hope you will explain this to me. Yes, I will. At one time, you were very much alive to the evil of this world. You were ruled by your passions and lusts. Your thoughts, words and actions were all thought, said, or done according to the values and wisdom of this world. You lived a self-centered, self-indulgent, and self-reliant life. You did whatever you wanted whenever you wanted. You lived entirely for your own comfort and pleasure. You had no time for me. You had no interest in me. Am I painting a fair picture of your old life? Yes, you are. You were also living a bruised and broken life. You were experiencing the wages and consequences of your sin. Which is death. Yes, it is. You were living in darkness. You were living in death. You were living apart from me. Yes, I was.

I may confuse you a little more. Go ahead. The only way you can be alive is if you are dead. The only way you can be dead is if you are alive. You are right I’m even more confused. Be patient, I’ll explain. You’ll get it, I know that you will.  I’m listening. You have my full attention. I was unwilling to leave you living in your sin filled dead life. I was unwilling to leave you forever separated from life with me. So, I came into this world to die on the cross for your sins. I broke the power that sin held over your life. I made it possible for you to cry out to me. Which, I did. Yes, you did. You asked me to forgive your sins. You asked me to cleanse you of all your unrighteousness. Yes, I did. Well, I did forgive and cleanse you of all your sins. Your sins and your old life were nailed to the cross with me. Your old life died on the cross with me. Are you getting this now? Maybe, tell me more. Your old life died on the cross so you could live a new life with me. You were dead in sin. But, now you are dead to sin. There is a huge difference. I see it. When I was dead in sin I was powerless to live the life you wanted to give to me. Now, because I am dead to sin, it has no power over me. That’s right. Now, I am free to live the life that you have given me to live. Yes, you are. 

Really, I could also say, I no longer live. It is you that is living in and through me. Yes, I am. My old life is dead and gone. It was put to death on the cross with you. Yes, it was. The life that I am now living is the life that you have given me to live. Yes, it is.

Lord, thank you that my old sin filled life is dead and gone. All my sin was nailed on the cross. Now, I am forgiven. Now, I have been cleansed by your blood. Now, I have been set free. Now, I have a completely new life to live. Amen

Key Question… How does your new life in Jesus Christ compare with the old life you once lived?

Living It Out… Live the life of being dead to sin and alive to God that Jesus Christ has secured for you on the cross.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that you are now dead to sin and alive to God because of what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how Jesus Christ has given you a completely new life to live with Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you be dead to sin and alive to God through all that Jesus Christ has done for you on the cross.

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

Life – Galatians 2-20 – But Christ Lives In Me – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Wait For The Lord

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Heart- Psalm 27:14 - Wait For The Lord - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Heart- Psalm 27:14 – Wait For The Lord – Growing As Disciples

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14 (NIV)

How Long

How long? How long, what? How long do I need to wait? You are impatient. You want quick answers and easy results. It is very difficult for you to wait. Yes, I am sorry to say that I have not been a big fan of waiting. I have found it very difficult to wait. You are right, I have wanted quick answers and easy results. I have been and still am an impatient person. You have made a lot of progress. How so? You are much more patient than you once were. I have been developing patience in you. Your ability to wait before me as grown immensely. At one time, you were so impatient you could hardly sit still. Don’t you remember those restless days of your life. Yes, I remember.

What have you learned as you have learned patience? What have you learned as you have come to sit still in my presence? I have learned that there is no greater lesson to learn than to sit still before you. In your presence, I have come to know you, your will and your ways. I have discovered that there is no place that I would rather be than in your presence. I have learned that there is nothing I would rather do than to draw near to you. In your presence, you have taught and trained me. In your presence, you have guarded and guided me. There has been no other way for me to receive your wisdom than to come and ask you for it, as I have waited in your presence. You have blessed my life as I have sat still and waited before you. That’s right.

Let’s return to your first question. How long? Yes, how long. How long do you think you will need to wait before me? That’s a hard question to answer. I don’t know how long. Yes, you do. Tell me what you know. My life will consist of continually waiting before you. I will learn to love to wait before you. Waiting before you will not be a chore. Waiting before you will be a joy. Waiting before you will never be a waste of my time. As I wait before you, I will receive instructions. As I wait before you, I will receive direction. As I wait in your presence, I will know when to go and where to do all that you ask of me. As I wait before you, I will be given power and strength to do whatever you have given me to do for you. Yes, you will. I will be strong and bold and confident because I will know that you are with me to help me. How will you know for certain that I am with you to help you? I will know that you are with me to help me because I will have heard your voice speaking to me as I have sat still and waited in your presence. That’s right.

Lord, I have never liked waiting. I have been impatient and wanted instantaneous results. So often I have raced ahead of you into plans that were not yours for me. Now, I will expectantly and patiently wait for you to act in my life. Amen

Key Question… When have you come to realize that your schedule and the Lord’s schedule were not the same?

Living It Out… Patiently and expectantly wait for the Lord to work in, with and for you as you follow and serve Him.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will act on your behalf according to His purposes and plans for your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has worked in and through your life as you waited on Him.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you expectantly and patiently wait for the Lord to act in your life according to His purposes and plans.

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

Heart – Psalm 27-14 – Wait For The Lord – 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

Love With Actions

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Let Us - 1 John 3:18 - Love With Actions - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Let Us – 1 John 3:18 – Love With Actions – Growing As Disciples

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 1 John 3:18 (NIV) 

Action

You will never be able to express love to others by your words alone. Love will require that you back up the words of your mouth with actions that come from your heart. I get that. Tell me how I backed up my words with my actions that come from my heart. How have I demonstrated my love to you through both my words and my actions? Your words have told me that you want me to know you. Your words have told me that you want me to live in an intimate relationship with you. Your words have told me that you want me to love you with all my heart and soul and mind and strength. Your words have told me that you want me to become like you. If you only spoke these words to me I would never be able to know you. I would not be able to live in an intimate relationship with you. I would not be able to love you. I would not be able to become like you. Why is that? My sin would prevent me from hearing your words. My sin would prevent me from desiring or receiving everything that you want for me. If you let me remain in my sin I would never have been able to become alive to you. I never would have loved you. I never would have wanted to know you. I never would be able to become like you. No, you would not. But, I did not just speak words to you, did I? No, you did not. You acted on my behalf. You rescued me from a life of sin and separation from you. You sent your Son into the world to die as payment for my sins. You forgave me of my sin and cleansed me of all my unrighteousness. You turned my life around and set me on the path so I could love, follow and serve you. Yes, I did. Now, I can know and love you. Now, I can live in an intimate relationship with you. Now, you are making me to be like you. Yes, I am.

What have you learned about love being expressed in words and actions? Loving words without loving actions will never be enough. Words of love are made real when they are backed up by actions. Words of love can be heard and received and acted on when they are accompanied by action. You speak words of love and back them up with action. Yes, I do. You want me to become like you. Yes, I do. Then I will also back up my words of love with actions. When I back up my words of love with actions the world will see your love flowing in and through me. Yes, and that will be very good. 

Lord, I don’t want to say one thing and do another. I want my words and my actions to be consistent in their message. Use both my words and my actions to express love to those around me. Use my life so others can see your love flowing in and through me. Amen

Key Question… Why is love most powerfully expressed with both words and actions together?

Living It Out… Make sure that both your words and your actions express love to other people.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will use both your words and your actions to express love to other people.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used your words and actions to express love to others.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you love others with both your words and your actions.

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

Let Us – 1 John 3-18 – Love With Actions – 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