Tag Archives: spiritual disciplines

Being Sure Of What We Hope For

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 266 - Hebrews 11:1 - Being Sure Of What We Hope For - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 266 – Hebrews 11:1 – Being Sure Of What We Hope For – Growing As Disciples

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

Holding On

I’m holding on. I won’t let go. What are you holding on to? What won’t you let go of? I am holding on to you. I won’t let go of your promises. All the twists and turns and ups and downs of life won’t loosen my grip on you. Or maybe, I should more properly say, you will never let go of me. Nothing will loosen your grip on me. Which sounds better? Which is truer? It is far better and truer that you are holding on to me. I like the sound of that. Why is that? My grip is only so strong. I am weak. You are strong. I could let go, you would certainly not. So, it gives me great faith and hope knowing that you have me in your hands. You will never let me go. You have your firm grip on me. Yes, I do.

As I hold on to you and your promises, I know that I will be tested. How so? I have found that there is often a gap between the hearing and receiving of your promises. What has happened to you in this gap between your hearing and receiving one of my promises? As I have waited for one of your promises to be fulfilled, my faith is grown. Why is that? I have kept on believing your promises. I have kept on placing all my faith and hope in you. You have never let me down. You have never left me all alone. You have always been with me to help me. Have I always been completely aware of your nearness to me? Have I always seen your hand at work in my life? No, not always. There have been many times that I have been called to keep on placing all my faith and hope in you, even when I was in the midst of great and painful difficulty. In those moments, that is when and where my faith and hope in you has grown the strongest. It has been your plan for me to maintain my faith and hope in you even when my eyes or ears could not see or hear your promises being fulfilled in or for me. You have wanted me to walk by faith and not by sight. Yes, that is what I want you to do. That is how I have wanted you to grow. As painful as this process has been at times, I have not regretted it, nor would I ever wish it away. It has been very good and kind and loving of you to grow my faith in you and your promises. For that I give you all my thanks and praise. That is very good. 

Lord, I have placed all my faith and hope in you. I am sure that you will fulfill all your promises to me. Your word is good. You are trustworthy. I will rely on you. I know every one of your promises will come true as I keep on loving, following and serving you. Amen

Key Question… How has your faith grown as you waited and hoped for a promise of God to be fulfilled?

Living It Out… Place all your faith and hope in God and all His promises.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will fulfill all His promises to you.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how your faith has grown as you have hoped in God’s promises.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you have faith and believe all the promises of God.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 266 – Hebrews 11-1 – Being Sure Of What We Hope For – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Let Us Consider How We May Spur One Another On

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 267 - Hebrews 10:24 - Let Us Consider How We May Spur One Another On - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 267 – Hebrews 10:24 – Let Us Consider How We May Spur One Another On – Growing As Disciples

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24 (NIV)

Love And Good Deeds

That is what I need to be, of that I am sure. I have no doubt. What are you sure of, without any doubt? You want me to be an example of your love to others in the world. You want others to see your love flowing in and out of me. You want others to see your light and life in me. You want me to be a bold and bright witness for you in the world. You want my life to be an example that others can follow. You want me to become like you in all that I think, say, and do. You are my example. Yes, I am. You are molding and shaping me. Yes, I am. You are making me into your masterpiece. Yes, I am. You loved others. Yes, I did. Your life was a demonstration of love as you did good deeds for others. Yes, it was. That is the kind of life I want to live. I want to love like you loved. I want to give like you gave. I want to serve like you served. In every way and on every day, I want to become more and more like you. That is a good and right and pure desire in you.

I will tell you a secret. What’s that? It’s not really a secret. You want what I want. You will not be alone in your efforts. You will not need to struggle and strive and dream up good deeds to do for others. I will bring you opportunity after opportunity to love and do good deeds for others. There may be times when you will wish that you had less opportunities to show love by doing good deeds for others. Don’t grow weary, don’t become tired, don’t give up. I will spur you on. I will encourage and lift you up. I will strengthen you to do the work I will give you to do for me. You will be a bright witness for me in the world. I will accomplish my purposes and fulfill my plans through your life. You will bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name. Thank you, Lord.

There is more. What’s that? As I spur you on to love and good deeds, you will spur others on to love and good deeds. Both your life and your words will encourage others to do my work in the darkness of this world. Look not only for the opportunities I will give you to love and do good deeds but look also for opportunities to spur others on to love and good deeds. Both will come to you in abundance. I will love and do good deeds. I will spur others on to love and do good deeds. Both will be very good. Thank you, Lord, for using me in your service. 

Lord, I know this world is starving for the kind of love that only comes from you. I also know I have fallen far short of demonstrating your love in this world. Help me to love others. Lead me to do good deeds. Make me to be a bright witness for you in this world. Amen

Key Question… When has someone, both by words and example, spurred you on to loving others and doing good deeds?

Living It Out… Make it your consistent and ongoing practice to spur others on to love and good deeds.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to spur others on to love and good deeds.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have spurred someone on to love and good deeds.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you consider how you can spur others on to love and good deeds.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 267 – Hebrews 10-24 – Let Us Consider How We May Spur One Another On – 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

They Shall Be As White As Snow

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 268 - Isaiah 1:18 - They Shall Be As White As Snow - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 268 – Isaiah 1:18 – They Shall Be As White As Snow – Growing As Disciples

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18 (NIV) 

Reason Together

That is what I will do, with you. What will you do with me? I will reason with you. Although, it will be a very quick process. Why is that? I don’t need convincing. I have come to my senses. Why don’t you need convincing? What have you come to your senses about? I am a sinner. There is no doubt about it. There is no getting around it. It is the absolute truth. I have sinned. I will sin. So, there you have it, I am a sinner. There is nothing to hide. So, you want that to be the end of the discussion? You would like to leave your confession of sin rather general and unspecific, is that the idea? Would that be alright with you? You tell me. Would you like to know that you are rather generally but not specifically forgiven of any of your particular sins? What does that mean? Think about the future. Let’s say that one day one of your past sins comes to your mind. You recoil at the thought of your past sin. You are repulsed by the evil of your past sin. You are feeling condemnation from the devil over your past sin. You are depressed and discouraged by your past sin. Wouldn’t it be great to know that you already confessed that sin to me and that you have already been forgiven and cleansed of it? Not only have you been forgiven and cleansed of it, but I have made you clean and as white as snow in regard to it.  Wouldn’t that be encouraging? Would you feel joy in knowing that not one of your sins is outside my forgiveness and cleansing? Yes, that would be very encouraging. That would be very freeing. That is exactly what I want for you. I want you to know without a doubt that I have forgiven and cleansed you of all of your sins. I have taken way the stain of every one of your sins. So, I should be very specific in confessing my sins to you. I have a very long list of sins. It would take quite a while for me to confess all my sins to you. I have time. We are not in a rush. I have committed so many sins that I can’t possibly remember them all. Yes, I know. But you can confess all your sins that come to your mind. You can ask me to forgive and cleanse you of each and every one of them. That I will do. That will be very good. What if I think of more of my sins in the future? What will I do with them? Confess all your sins to me. I will forgive you of each and every one of your sins. Did you think that confessing your sins to me is a one and done event? Maybe. No, confessing your sins and receiving your forgiveness and cleansing of them will be an ongoing activity throughout your life. But know this without a doubt, I have and will forgive you. I have and will cleanse you. You are and will be whiter than snow. I have given you a new and fresh and clean life to live in me. I have made you righteous in my sight. Thank you, Lord.  

Lord, I don’t have to reason with you very long. I know that I am a sinner. I confess my sins to you. I will turn my life over to you. Thanks to you, I can be forgiven and cleansed of all my unrighteousness. You have made me new and clean; whiter than snow. Amen

Key Question… How are you living the new and clean and fresh life that you now have been given in Christ?

Living It Out… Confess your sins and turn your life over to the Lord so you can receive His forgiveness and cleansing.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord has forgiven your sins and cleansed your unrighteousness; making you whiter than snow.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you have confessed your sins and turned your life over to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you confess your sin and turn your life over to the Lord so you can receive His forgiveness and cleansing.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 268 – Isaiah 1-18 – They Shall Be As White As Snow – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide.pdf

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

Listens To A Life Giving Rebuke

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 269 - Proverbs 15:31 - Listens To A Life Giving Rebuke- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 269 – Proverbs 15:31 – Listens To A Life Giving Rebuke- Growing As Disciples

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. Proverbs 15:31 (NIV)

I’m Listening

That is exactly what I am doing. What are you doing? I’m listening. What are you listening to? I’m listening to whatever you want to say to me. It would be foolish for me to do otherwise. Yes, it would be very foolish. It sounds like you have quite a bit of experience in this matter, is that true? I have much more experience in being a poor listener and doing what was foolish. I have been strong willed. I have been headstrong. I have been self-reliant. I have been independent. I have self-sufficient. I have been stubborn. I have been something of a “know it all” All of these have been foolish attitudes that I have held at one time or another. For that, I ask your forgiveness. You have my forgiveness. How have all these foolish attitudes impacted your life? I have thought and said and done very foolish things. I have wasted time and energy. I have gone and done what was unfruitful and unrewarding. Basically, these self-reliant and self-absorbed attitudes have led me to go and do my own thing. I have done what was right in my own eyes. What’s wrong with that? I don’t come with wisdom built into me. On my own, I have taken many missteps. I have headed the wrong direction. I have done the wrong things. I have bounced around from one unfruitful endeavor to another. All of this is not good. Yes, I know.

What do you know? How would you like to live your life differently? I want your wisdom. I want to follow your guidance. I want to receive your instruction. I want to be able to know and do your will. That is very good. So, you will listen to me? Yes, I will. So, you will listen to wise and godly people that I bring into your life? Yes, I will. You will let people know that you are open to correction? You will listen to feedback? You will even welcome life-giving rebukes into your life? Yes, I will. Let me be clear, life-giving rebukes may be painful. Life-giving rebukes will make you uncomfortable. Life-giving rebukes may even tend to cause you to become defensive. But you will hear life-giving rebukes? You will welcome life-giving rebukes into your life? Yes, I will. 

What will happen to you as you hear and receive and act on life-giving rebukes? I will be changed. I will be made different. Why is that? You will use life-giving rebukes to mold and shape my life. Yes, I will. You will use life-giving rebukes to make me into the person you want me to become. Yes, I will. So, I will hear and receive and act on any and all life-giving rebukes you want to send my way. I’m listening. That will be very good.

Lord, I want to send off signals that I will receive and act on life-giving rebukes. I will not be stubborn. I will not be resistant. I will not be strong-willed and firmly set in my ways. Rather, I will be receptive and welcoming of any life-giving rebukes I need to hear. Amen

Key Question… When have you heard and taken action as a result of receiving a life-giving rebuke?

Living It Out… Listen very carefully to life-giving rebukes from the Lord so that you will be at home among the wise.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to listen to life-giving rebukes that will make you at home among the wise.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how listening to life-giving rebukes is making you wise.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you listen to life giving rebukes so you will be at home among the wise.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 269 – Proverbs 15-31 – Listens To A Life Giving Rebuke – 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

Give Thanks To Him And Praise His Name

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 270 - Psalm 100:1-5 - Give Thanks To Him And Praise His Name - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 270 – Psalm 100:1-5 – Give Thanks To Him And Praise His Name – Growing As Disciples

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:1-5 (NIV)

Give Thanks 

Why should you give thanks to me? Am I worthy of your thanks? Do you desire to give me thanks? Have I done anything for you that is deserving of your thanks? You have done much that is worthy of my enthusiastic thanks. Like what? First of all, you made me. If you hadn’t made me, my giving thanks and praise to you would be a non-issue. I wouldn’t exist. But not only have you made me, you made me to be your very own. You are my good shepherd. I am one of your sheep I have often wandered off and gotten myself in trouble. I have walked on a path that led away from you. But you would not let me go. You would not leave me to myself. You would not let me live a life without you. You sought me out. You brought me back into your fold. You forgave my sin and cleansed my unrighteousness. You healed my bruised and battered and broken life. You restored my soul. You set me on the path of loving, following and serving you. You have given me a completely clean and fresh and new life to live in you. My old dark and dingy life of sin is a thing of the past, it is long gone. Now, it is my joy to love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. This love for you, that you have placed in me, causes me to want to give you thanks and praise with all that is within me. That is very good.

So, it is not a duty for me to give thanks and praise to you. I don’t give thanks and praise to you because I should or must. No, it is a burning desire within me to give you all my thanks and praise. I want to shout. I want to clap. I want to make a joyful noise that praises and thanks you because you are so good. You are faithful. You are kind. You are merciful. You love and care for me. You are with me to help. I am all yours. You are mine. Can anything be this good? Can my praise and worship adequately express the thanks I have in my heart for you. I’m sure not. But help me to continually express all my thanks and praise to you. Help me to enter your gates with thanksgiving and your courts with praise. Yes, I will. We will meet together in your praise and thanksgiving. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I have many reasons to give my thanks and praise to you. You made me. I am yours. I am the work of your hands. You love and care for me. You are with me to help me. You are good. You are faithful. I will enter your presence with thanksgiving and praise. Amen

Key Question…  What are reasons why you would like to give your enthusiastic thanks and praise to God right now?

Living It Out… Make it your regular pattern and practice to daily enter the Lord’s presence with thanksgiving and praise.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord is worthy of all your thanks and praise.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are giving all your thanks and praise to the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you enter into the Lord’s presence with thanksgiving.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 270 – Psalm 100-1-5 – Give Thanks To Him And Praise His Name – 4 Page Discipleship 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

Above All, Love Each Other Deeply

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 271 - 1 Peter 4:8 - Above All, Love Each Other Deeply - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 271 – 1 Peter 4:8 – Above All, Love Each Other Deeply – Growing As Disciples

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

My List 

I have had a mental list in my mind. I don’t know that I have deliberately or even consciously kept this mental list. I just know that it has existed. It exists today, even right now. What kind of list have you kept in your mind? I am sad to say that I have kept a mental list in my mind of wrongs that people have committed against me. What do you think about such a list being in your mind? I think it is a worthless list. It is an unhelpful list. I suppose it is even a sinful list. Why is the list worthless? I don’t plan on taking any action related to the list. I won’t be seeking revenge. That’s good. But there is more isn’t there? Yes, there is. Once someone has gotten on my mental list of wrongs done against me, it is unlikely that I will ever be close to them again. That sounds terrible, I know. But it is worse than that. How so? Once someone is on my list, it is quite likely that I will take steps to distance myself from them. How does that sound? Not good. I know. What do you know? My attitude and my list is not at all loving and forgiving. My attitude and my list certainly does not leave much hope and room for reconciliation. Why are we talking about your attitude and list now anyhow? Well, I am confessing this sin to you. I am asking for your forgiveness. You have my forgiveness. But I also want to let go of wrongs committed against me. I don’t want to have a list of wrongs committed against me, residing in my mind. That’s good.

What would you like me to do for you? I have frequently, almost daily, asked you to make me to be more like you. Yes, I have heard that prayer of yours many times. What do you have in mind? I want to love like you loved. I want to do what you did. How so? Your deep love for others made you able to overlook and forgive the sins that they committed against you. You did not keep a list of wrongs committed against you. You did not distance yourself from those who hurt or harmed you. Instead, you loved and forgave them. Even more, you prayed for those who sinned against you. You are always ready to forgive. You are also seeking reconciliation. Yes, I am. You are always hoping that people will turn to love and follow and serve you. Yes, I am. So, I want you to help me to love others deeply from my heart. I want you to make me able to fully love and freely forgive others just as you do. I want you to destroy my list and help me to make sure that no one gets on it, because it no longer exists. That I can and that I will do for you. That will be very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, help me to love others deeply from my heart. Keep me from holding on to a list of wrongs that have been committed against me. Rather give me a love for others that is ready, willing and able to cover over any sin that has been committed against me. Amen

Key Question…  How has your deep love for others helped you to overlook failings and weaknesses in them?

Living It Out…  Allow your deep love for others to cover over the sins they have committed against you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to love others deeply from your heart.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how your deep love for others covers over their sins.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you love others deeply so you can forgive them freely.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 271 – 1 Peter 4-8 – Above All, Love Each Other Deeply – 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

If You Possess These Qualities

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 272 - 2 Peter 1:5-9 - If You Possess These Qualities - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 272 – 2 Peter 1:5-9 – If You Possess These Qualities – Growing As Disciples

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 2 Peter 1:5-9 (NIV) 

Effective And Productive

That is what I want to be. What do you want to be? I want to be effective and productive in your service. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom. I want to bring glory to your name. I want to be a bright and shining light for you in the darkness of this world. I want people to be drawn to you because they see your light and life in me. Those are very good and right and pure desires in you.

How will you be effective and productive for me in the world? Not by my efforts alone, that is for sure. My efforts alone will end in miserable failure, there is no doubt about that. I’m glad that you know that you cannot make yourself godly by your own efforts. What will you rely on? What will be your source of help? I will rely on you. I will rely on your divine power. I will rely on your powerful promises. Your power and your promises working in me will develop godly character in me that you desire for me.  Yes, that is true. Will I be able to sit back and simply allow your power and promises to work in and through me? Will I have no role in the development of godly character in me? No, I must also make every effort and participate fully in the development of godly character in me. How so? I must know your promises. I must grab hold of your promises. I must allow your promises to dwell in me richly. I must allow your promises to change my heart, transform my mind and guide my life. Your promises will help me to stand against temptation and resist evil. The Holy Spirit will use your promises like a sword to fight in me, with me, for me and through me. As I rely on you and your powerful promises, godly character will grow in me, I will escape corruption in the world, and I will be effective and productive in serving you. Yes, you will and that will be very good. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I rely on your power and promises to help me to escape the corruption in the world. I will rely on your power and promises to live the life you want me to live. I will make every effort to grow in godly character so I can be effective and productive for you. Amen

Key Question…  How has God’s divine power been making you able to grow in godly character?

Living It Out…  Rely on God’s power and promises as you make every effort to grow in godly character.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord’s power and promises will make you able to grow in godly character.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord’s promises have helped you to grow in godly character.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you make every effort to grow in godly qualities so you will be effective and productive in serving the Lord.

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

Day 272 – Becoming Like Christ – 2 Peter 1-5-9 – If You Possess These Qualities – 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

You Yourself Fail To See

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 274 - Luke 6:41-42 - You Yourself Fail To See - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 274 – Luke 6:41-42 – You Yourself Fail To See – Growing As Disciples

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. Luke 6:41-42 (NIV)

Corrections 

I know without a doubt that I have blind spots. I am certain that I have flaws that are difficult, maybe even nearly impossible, for me to see. I also know that I have been stubborn and resistant to making corrections in my life. Why is it so easy to see the flaws in others and so difficult to see the flaws in me? Why do I think I should help fix other people when I pay so little attention to fixing me? Why do I think that I know it all? Why do I feel like I am it all? These thoughts are hard to admit. These thoughts are not pretty ones to think. It is more than a little embarrassing to say them out loud. But here you have it. These thoughts are my confession to you. I have been proud. You are making a good confession. It is good to acknowledge that you do not know it all. It is good to admit that you don’t have it all together. You are a work in progress. Even more importantly, you are my work in progress. How do you feel knowing that I will mold and shape you into the person I want you to become? I would say that, the pressure is off. Why is that? I can simply admit my sins and failings and weaknesses to you. I can rely on you to mold and shape me. I can trust that you will show me the corrections that need to be made in my life. If I will humbly allow you to do your work in my life, how can I go wrong? You can’t. You won’t. Will you forget to do your work in me? No, I will not. Will you fail to make the corrections that need to be made in my life? No, I will not.

So, here I am Lord. I am like a lump of clay. You are my potter. Mold and shape me. Make me into the person you want me to become. Do your work in and through me. Make whatever corrections are necessary in my life. I welcome your hand on me. That is very good. 

Lord, I will not be stubborn and resistant to the changes you want to make in my life. I will be ready and willing and able to make any correction you want to make in my life. Help me to think and speak and act in ways that are good and right and pleasing to you. Amen

Key Question… Why is it so difficult to see corrections that you need to make in your own life?

Living It Out… Be ready and willing and able to see and make the corrections the Lord wants you to make in your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to see and make corrections in your life that are good, right and pleasing to Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has helped you to see and make corrections in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you see the corrections that need to be made in your life.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 274 – Luke 6-41-42 – You Yourself Fail To See – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Make Every Effort To Do What Leads To Peace

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 275 - Romans 14:19 - Make Every Effort To Do What Leads To Peace - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 275 – Romans 14:19 – Make Every Effort To Do What Leads To Peace – Growing As Disciples

Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Romans 14:19 (NIV)

Finger Pointing 

This world is not a peaceful place. This world is filled with division and strife and acrimony of every kind. When will the destructive debate and angry finger pointing ever end? It is easy to get drawn into the conflict. It is alluring to join in the battle. One side is always right. The other side is clearly wrong. One side is good and has the best intentions. One side is evil and filled with dark and disturbing motives. Which side am I on? I’m always on the good side. My intentions are nothing but the best. Who is fooling who? That is a very good question to ask yourself. Yes, I know that it is a very good question to ask myself. Why is that? I so easily join the debate. I am so willing to be drawn into the battle. Winning becomes the goal. Destroying the thoughts and opinions of others who are so obviously misguided and deluded is the plan. Guess what. What? Nobody wins these destructive debates and angry conflicts. You are incorrect at this point. Yes, I suspected that. No person wins these destructive debates and angry conflicts. Now, you are correct. The devil and all his evil wins when people from different perspectives try to destroy each other with their words and actions. Now, you are on to something very important. What has happened to your ability to be my witness in the world when you engage in angry debate and ugly finger pointing? My ability to be your witness in the world vanishes in an instant. No one sees the light of your life flowing in and through me. No one sees your kindness and mercy and love through my life. All they see is an angry and combative, debate filled me. There is no joy in that. There is no hope and life in that. No, there is not. It is good that you see this angry and combative, debate filled world, that you live in, for what it is.

So, let me ask you a question. Go ahead, I’m listening. What do you want your life to be about? Do you want to join in debates and win conflicts or do you want to be a bright and shining witness for me in the world? Do you want to win arguments or bear fruit for my kingdom and glory? My answer to your questions is obvious. I want to be a bright and shining witness in the world that bears fruit for your kingdom and glory. Then leave the debating and arguing and finger pointing behind. Make every effort to do what leads to peace. Use your words to encourage and edify others. Love and lift others up with your words. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, steer me clear of the lack of peace and harmony in this world. Free me from the nonstop destructive debating that goes on in society today. Help me to make every effort to do what leads to peace. Help me to encourage others with my words and actions. Amen

Key Question… When have you been able to use your words and actions to do what led to peace and edification?

Living It Out… Make every effort to do what leads to peace and edification in the turbulent world of today.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will help you to bear fruit for Him as you do what leads to peace and edification.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are making every effort to do what leads to peace.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you make every effort to do what leads to peace.

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 275 – Romans 14-19 – Make Every Effort To Do What Leads To Peace – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

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

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

Helps Us

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ - Day 276 - Romans 8:26-27- Helps Us - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Becoming Like Christ – Day 276 – Romans 8:26-27 – Helps Us – Growing As Disciples

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

Weak Or Strong?

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

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

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

Key Question… When have you been so deeply disturbed by a situation that your prayers were like groaning?

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

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

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

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

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

Becoming Like Christ – Day 276 – Romans 8-26-27 – Helps Us – 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