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If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Wisdom - James 4:13-17 - If It Is The Lord's Will We Will Live And Do This Or That - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Wisdom – James 4:13-17 – If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That – Growing As Disciples

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. James 4:13-17 (NIV)

 Ask The Question

You are a planner. You like to think and dream big. You like to think about all the possibilities of life. You see things and wonder how they could be changed and made better. You’re always wondering what you could do differently. It’s hard for you to sit still. You like to be on the move. You want your life to count for something. You want your life to have made a difference in this world. Yes Lord, you are describing me quite well. That shouldn’t be too hard for me because I made you. I enjoy seeing all these qualities at work in your life. You are who I have made you to be. But there is something more that you want to talk to me about, isn’t there? Yes, there is.

What do you want to say to me? There is a question that I always want you to have front and center in your heart and mind. It is a great question that I want you to ask me at the start, in the middle, and at the end of your thought process when you are planning to do something. If you don’t ask me this question, your plans will not succeed. Ask me, “is this your will?” You will need to know my answer before you proceed. You have a lot of energy and you can become very enthusiastic and excited about a plan or project you are working on. Your natural energy and excitement might carry you off in the wrong direction to attempt to do what is not my will for you. You may have the right plan or project but the wrong timing. I want you to really involve me in your thinking and planning. Don’t come up with your great plan and ask me to bless it at the very end. I want to bless the work of your hands by guiding you to do what I have always planned for you to do for me. I do have a purpose and plan for your life. Ask me what that plan and purpose is. Do you think that I will hide my purposes and plans from you? No, there is no chance of that. If you don’t know my purposes and plans, what do you think the problem might be? I think that I probably haven’t asked you and then waited for your answer. Yes, I want you to keep asking me to reveal my purposes and plans for you. What will you do as you continue to ask me? I will continue to serve you where I am and wait until I have an answer from you. Yes, asking and waiting is exactly what I want you to do. I will show you when, where, and how to act. Then you will bear an abundance of fruit for me.

Lord, I have raced off in a thousand different directions all based on my thoughts and plans. I have made so many mistakes. No more. Help me to rely on your for your wisdom. I want you to guide my life according to your will. Amen

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

Wisdom – James 4-13-17 – If It Is The Lord’s Will We Will Live And Do This Or That – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord’s Will

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The Virtuous Life - Day 202 - James 4:13-16 - You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord's Will - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 202 – James 4:13-16 – You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord’s Will – Growing As Disciples

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.  Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. James 4:13-17 (NIV)

Listening

That seems to be the key. What seems to be the key to what? Listening, it seems to me, is the key to being able to know and do your will. Why do you think so? If I am unwilling to listen to you, I will never know and do your will. If I am too busy to listen to listen to you, I will never know and do your will. If I would rather listen to myself than to you, I will never know and do your will. Those are all correct statements. What will be required of you if you want to hear from me? If I want to hear from you, I will need to humbly, and attentively, listen to you. I will need to set aside my agenda. I will need to stop and make time so I am not too busy or distracted to hear from you. I must be willing to follow and obey you once I hear from you. It would do me no good if I were only a hearer of your word. I must be willing to go and do whatever you ask of me. Why would you bother to speak to me if you knew that I wouldn’t listen or follow or obey you? I suspect you would not, unless you really wanted to get my attention, so you could turn my life around. And I know that you have done that before in my life. That is true.

But I don’t want to be a reluctant listener. I don’t want to be a hesitant follower. I want to live my life in such a way that I am in sync with you. I want to live in an intimate relationship with you. I want to hear your voice. I want to know and do your will. I want to go and do all that you ask of me. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. So, I will listen attentively to you. You are correct, that is the key, do that and you will be able to know and do my will. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I know I can dream up elaborate plans to keep me busy. I do not want to be busy. I want to be productive. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. I want to be able to know and do your will. Help me to listen attentively to you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making time to listen to the Lord so you can know and do His will?

Living It Out…  Listen attentively to the Lord so you will be able to know and do His will.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to know and do His will as you listen to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has been guiding your steps as you listen to Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you listen to the Lord so you can know and do His will.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 202 – James 4-13-16 – You Ought To Say If It Is The Lord’s Will – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Now Listen

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 68 - James 4:13-17 - Now Listen - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 68 – James 4:13-17 – Now Listen – Growing As Disciples

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”  As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil.  Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. James 4:13-17 (NIV)

Your Plans

What are your plans? That sounds like a trick question to me. It might be, why do you think so? You want me to discuss my plans with you. If I have made elaborate plans without discussing them with you, that is not good. That is a huge problem. Why is that? You want me to know and do your will. You want me to be able to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. You want me to store up treasure in heaven with you. Plans that don’t have you in them will amount to nothing of lasting and eternal value. Plans to pursue all that this world has to offer will surely result in a wasted and misspent life. I don’t want to waste and misspend my life. One day I want to hear you say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Nothing will give me more pleasure and joy than knowing that I have gone and done your will. I will have no greater happiness than knowing that I have lived a life that was pleasing to you. That is very good.

So, better questions, that are not a trick questions, would be my asking, “What are your plans for me?” How can I go and do your will today? How can I bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name? How can I store up treasure in heaven with you now? Those questions are in my heart and on my mind. Why is that true? Why are you asking such good questions of me? I love you with all my heart and mind and soul and strength. I love you with all that is within me. There is nothing I would rather do than go and do what is pleasing to you. I see, how did you come to love me so deeply? I love you because you first loved me. You rescued me from a life without you. You saved my soul. You forgave my sins and cleansed my unrighteousness. You gave me a new life to live. That life is with you. You made it so I could love you with all that is within me. Now, I want to live and walk in an intimate relationship as I go and do your will. That is very good and so you shall. One day I will say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Thank you, Lord. 

Lord, many times I have relied on myself. I have made my own plans. I have gone my own way. I have suffered disastrous results by making dumb decisions. No more! I will rely on you by listening to your voice. Help me to be fruitful for your kingdom and glory. Amen

Key Question…  When are you setting aside time to stop and listen to the Lord so you can know and do His will?

Living It Out…  Listen attentively to the Lord so you will be able to know and do His will, bearing fruit for His Kingdom and glory.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to know and do His will when you listen attentively to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are continually seeking to know and do the Lord’s will.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you listen to the voice of the Lord so you can know and do His will.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 68 – James 4-13-17 – Now Listen – 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

Healing Of Naaman

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Old Testament Events - 2 Kings 5:13-14 - Healing Of Naaman - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Old Testament Events – 2 Kings 5:13-14 – Healing Of Naaman – Growing As Disciples

Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 2 Kings 5:13-14 (NIV)

Listening To Instructions

I’m not sure why I make so many mistakes. I have no idea why I take so many wrong turns and head the wrong direction. It seems like I am forever changing my course. I waste a lot of time stopping, turning around and retracing my steps. It would be so much better if I didn’t make so many missteps in the first place. You got that right. Would you like me to ask you a few questions? Go ahead, I’m listening. Now that’s a very good first step. What’s that? Listening is a very good first step. Learning to listen carefully will serve you well. How well do you listen to others? How well do you listen to me? Think about your answer very carefully. Why is that? I know you think that you are a pretty good listener. Am I not a good listener? Do you really need to ask me that question? Alright, I’m not a great listener. Really? How about, I’m a poor listener? That’s much closer to the truth.

Are you willing to admit that you don’t listen very well to me? Yes, I am. Are you willing to admit that you don’t listen very well to others? Yes, I am. Why do you think you are a poor listener? I hate to admit this, but I think my pride makes me a poor listener. What do you mean by that? I think I know. You know what? I think I know what I need. I think I know what I should do. I think I know where I should go. I know it all. I am a “know it all.” I have an answer for every question. I have a solution for every problem. You’re not serious? What else would explain my not listening to wise counsel from others? What else would explain my not receiving wisdom and direction from you? You have a very good point there.

Do you like being a “know it all?” No, not at all. My life has been bruised, battered and broken by my “knowing it all”. Now, I would much rather be a “know nothing”. What do you mean by that? If I “know nothing” I will listen carefully. If I “know nothing” I will listen to wise counsel from others. If I “know nothing” I will receive your wisdom and direction. If I “know nothing” I will listen carefully to your instructions. Yes, you will.

Lord, I have an idea of the way that things should go. I have an opinion of the way things ought to be. Help me to lay aside my ideas and opinions and thoughts so that I will be able to follow and obey you wherever you lead me. Amen

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

Old Testament Events – 2-Kings-5-13-14 – Healing Of Naaman – 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

Understand What The Lord’s Will Is

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Spiritual Warfare - Understand What The Lord's Will Is - Ephesians 5:15-21- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Spiritual Warfare – Understand What The Lord’s Will Is – Ephesians 5:15-21- Growing As Disciples

Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:15-21 (NIV)

Be Filled

Watch your step. Be very careful how you walk. Why is that? The times that you live in are filled with evil. You must be wise about how you live. I want you to make the most of your time. How will I do that? You can know my will by meeting with me in my word as you have been doing. I will show you my will and my ways as you study and pray through my word. The truth that is in my word will set you free so that you can serve me and bear fruit for my glory. I will show you the next steps that I want you to take in life. I will guide you to where I want you to go. I will give you all that you will need to follow and serve me. That’s exactly what I want and desire above all else.

Make sure that you think and act wisely. What do you have in mind when you say that to me? Don’t waste and misuse your time. What do you consider to be time wasters? I’d like you to answer that question for me. I know that I have wasted a lot of time when I have relied on my own wisdom, strength or guidance. I have gone off in the wrong direction to try to do what I was not called or gifted to do. Yes, you have. How did that feel to you? I felt very frustrated, discouraged and weary. I also felt weak and alone in all my efforts. But, you made a very important discovery didn’t you? Yes, I did. Tell me about it. I learned that it is very unwise for me to try to take charge and be in control of my own life. Yes, it is. Who then should be in control of your life? You are the one that I want to be in control of my life. I want to be filled with your Holy Spirit. I can’t live the life you want me to live unless I am filled with your Spirit.

What do you mean by that? If I’m not filled with your Holy Spirit I don’t feel like singing at all. Why is that? I’m too tired and worn out because of all my self-effort. Who wants to sing because they can hardly breath? If I’m not filled with your Holy Spirit I don’t feel very thankful either. Why is that? Instead of being thankful for all the great things that you have done through me, I’m more likely to be proud of my small and pathetic accomplishments. Oh and this very same self-centered pride makes it very difficult for me to be submissive to others in any way. So, what are you asking of me? I’m asking you to fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can wisely live the life that you have called me to live for you. Do you believe that I will hear and answer your prayer? I know that you have been answering and will continue to answer my prayer. Yes, you are right about that. 

Lord, help me to live and walk carefully in this world so that I am making the most of every opportunity that you give to me. Fill me Holy Spirit so I will be able to encourage others and give thanks to God for all that I have been given. Amen

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

Spiritual Warfare – Ephesians 5-15-21 – Understand What The Lord’s Will Is – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Live A Life Worthy Of The Calling

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Love - Ephesians 4:1-3 - Live A Life Worthy Of The Calling - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Love – Ephesians 4:1-3 – Live A Life Worthy Of The Calling – Growing As Disciples

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  Ephesians 4:1-3 (NIV)

Follow Me

What kind of life is worthy of my calling? I’m not exactly sure what you mean? If you wanted to live your life in a way that would please me how would you live it? I know for sure what would not work and what would not be pleasing to you. What’s that? You wouldn’t be pleased to see me struggling in my own best efforts to try and please you. Why do you say that? First, of all I would fail miserably. Secondly, I would be trying to live a self-righteous life. Finally, I would be discouraged and depressed by my miserable efforts. I don’t think you would want to see any of that. No, I would not.

Let’s go back to the part about calling? What did I call you to be and do? You called me to be your child. You called me turn away from my sin to follow you. If you focused entirely on trying to please me by the way that you were living what might you loose sight of? I don’t even want to use the word might. I would loose sight of the fact that I was your child. I would be so busy trying to live a certain way that I would forget to follow you. Yes, you would.

So, let’s go back to my first question. What kind of life is worthy of my calling? A life that relies on you is a life that is worthy of your calling. That’s right. I didn’t just call you to turn away from sin. I also called you to follow me.  You will never be able to live the life I have for you, that is worthy of me, unless you follow me. I get it.

I know that you want to be gentle and patient and humble. I know that you want to love others just as I love you. I know that you want to be a peacemaker that brings unity into every divisive situation. Yes, I do. Where do you think all those desires came from in the first place? They came from you. Yes, they did. Do you believe that I will grant these desires that I have put into your heart? Yes, I certainly do. You must know that you will be none of these things with your own strength, by your own best efforts. I’m absolutely certain of that. You must also know that I will grant everyone of these desires because I have put them into your heart.  I am also absolutely certain that you will grant me these desires of my heart. As you do what? As I follow you and rely on you to do your work in and through my life. Now, you do get it.

Lord, it is my desire to live my life in every way that is worthy of your call. I will need your help and strength to do so. Develop in me the qualities of humility, gentleness and patience so I can love others and live in unity with them. Amen

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

Love – Ephesians 4-1-3 – Live A Life Worthy Of The Calling  – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Now I Know

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - 2 Kings 5:13-15 - Now I Know - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – 2 Kings 5:13-15 – Now I Know – Growing As Disciples

Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant.” 2 Kings 5:13-15 (NIV)

Pride Versus Humility

Do you think that you know it all? Do you have every question answered? Do you know every decision to make and step to take? I definitely don’t know it all. I certainly don’t have every question answered. I don’t even know what I don’t know. Take one look at my life and you will see that I have made many missteps. I have left a trail of foolish and unwise decisions. Well, it is very good that you recognize your need for help. Why is that?

You want to know me. Yes, I want to know you. Nothing will hinder you from coming to know me more than pride. Why is that? You tell me. What are you like when you are filled with pride? When I am filled with pride I am self-reliant and self-sufficient. No one can tell me anything when I am filled with pride. Then I think that I know it all. Then I am sure of my decisions to make and steps to take in life. My life could look like a train wreck waiting to happen to everyone around me and no one would be able to flag me down to change my course. Why is that? I would not listen. My pride would make me so sure that I am absolutely right. Has that ever happened to you? Yes, I have gone full speed into bad decisions more often than I want to admit. When you are filled with pride how well have you listened to me? When I have been filled with pride I have had no need to listen to you. I have thought I had no need for you to guard and guide my life. That’s true. That’s why pride will hinder you from coming to know me. I get it.

Nothing will help you more to come to know me than humility. Why is that? You tell me. What are you like when you are filled with humility? When I am filled with humility I am open to listen to whatever you have to say to me. I spend time with you in your word. I listen attentively to your voice. I allow your word to change my heart and transform my mind. I allow you to replace my thoughts and ways with your thoughts and ways. Even the pace of my decisions slows way down. Why is that? I am willing to wait for your instructions. I don’t want to run ahead of you or lag behind you. I want to follow you to wherever you are leading me to do whatever you are asking of me. I especially want you to guard and guide my life. Then you will come to know me as you rely on me. Is that what you want? Yes Lord, I will humbly rely on you so that I can come to know you.

Lord, I admit it. I don’t have the answers. I don’t know every decision to make or step to take. I have been foolish and unwise. I have gone left instead of right. I have stopped instead of started. I have retreated instead of advanced. I will follow and obey you. Amen

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

Knowing God – 2 Kings 5-13-15 – Now I Know – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

God Is For Us

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Knowing God - Romans 8:31-32 - God Is For Us - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Knowing God – Romans 8:31-32 – God Is For Us – Growing As Disciples

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all–how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31-32 (NIV)

Say To Yourself

I am with you. I am on your side. I will help you through life. You can rely on me. Do you believe me? Are you really hearing what I am saying to you? Are you taking my words into you heart and mind? Yes, I think so. Is there some reason you are asking me these questions? Do you think that I might not really be hearing these words of yours? Why do you believe my words? What gives you confidence that my words are right and true and sure? Well, you have demonstrated your love for me. There would be nothing more precious to you than your Son. That’s true. You did not spare your Son. You sent Him into this world to die on the cross for me, to pay for my sins. Yes, I did. You gave me what was most precious to you. Yes, I did. That guarantees to me that you really are on my side. Yes, it does.

Are you living each day with the confident certainty that I am on your side? Are you placing all your trust in me with the knowledge that I am with you to help you? Now, I understand why you are asking me these questions. You do? I think so. When I am filled with fear and worry I’m often living as if I have forgotten that you are on my side. I am failing to remember that you are with me and that you will help me. When I take on all my problems and challenges as if they were mine alone to face, all by myself, I am certainly not trusting in you, who are on my side. No, you are not.

What would you like to do differently? What would you like to say to yourself? I would like to tell myself the truth. I would like to say to myself what you are saying to me. What’s that? You are on my side. You are with me to help me. You will help me through life. You will give me what I need. You will help me to accomplish what you have given me to do for you. I can trust in you fully. I can rely in you completely. I can be confident. I can have courage. I can be bold. Will you say these words to yourself? Will you hear and put into practice all that I am saying to you? Yes Lord, I will.

Lord, many times I have been filled with fear and doubt because I have forgotten and lost sight of the fact that you are on my side. You have demonstrated to me, beyond all doubt, that you love me and are on my side. I will rely on you to help me through life. Amen

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

Knowing God – Romans 8-31-32 – God Is For Us – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Good Gifts To Those Who Ask Him

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Discipleship Study - If - Matthew 7-9-11 - Good Gifts To Those Who Ask Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Study – If – Matthew 7-9-11 – Good Gifts To Those Who Ask Him – Growing As Disciples

“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV)

Ask Me

I want you to come and ask me for all that you need. Does that surprise you? No, not really. Do you know why I want you to come and ask me for all that you need? I’m not sure. Can you think of any reasons why I might want you to come and ask me for all that you need? Do you want me to take a guess? Yes, that would be a great idea. The alternative to me asking you for what I need would be you giving me what I need without me having to ask you for it. So, there is some aspect of me coming to ask you that is important to you. Yes, there is. Obviously, you know what I need even before I ask it. Yes, I do.

I’m guessing that you want me to rely on you. Coming to ask you for what I need is part of me relying on you. Asking for something from you demonstrates that I am relying on you. Yes, it does. There is more though, isn’t there? Yes, there is much more. Coming to ask you for what I need demonstrates that I have faith that you will hear and answer my prayer. Yes it does. There is something more basic, even more fundamental. Asking you for what I need is part of living in a close and intimate relationship with you. You are my Heavenly Father. Yes, I am. I am your child. Yes, you are. You love me. You delight in giving me what I need. Yes, I do. You want me to know that you love me. You want me to know that you are taking care of me. You want me to know that you are supplying my needs. Yes, I do.

Think of yourself as an example. You love your children. It is your joy to meet their needs. You like it best when they come to you to ask you for all that they need. Their requests don’t surprise you. You already know what they need even before they ask you. But, it gives you great joy in your letting them know that you are there for them. Yes, it does. When you see their joy in having their needs met, it gives you joy as well. Yes, it does. I am here for you. It gives me great joy to meet your needs. Will you come and ask me for all that you need? Yes Lord, I will ask you for all that I need.

Heavenly Father, I know I have been making a big mistake. I have not been asking you for all that I need from you. From here on I will come to you to ask you for all I need. I will rely on you to meet all my needs as I follow you. Amen

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

If – Matthew 7-9-11 – Good Gifts To Those Who Ask Him – 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

Sabbath Rest

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Promises - Day 265 - Hebrews 4:9-11 - Sabbath Rest - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – Day 265 – Hebrews 4:9-11 – Sabbath Rest – Growing As Disciples

There remains, then, a Sabbath rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his.  Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. Hebrews 4:9-11 (NIV)

Rest

Is that what I need? Is that been missing from my life? What are you talking about? I’m talking about rest. Do I not have enough rest in my life? Do I not have good balance in my life between work and rest? Seriously, you are asking these questions? Look, if you are weary and worn out isn’t the answer obvious? If your body is often forcing you to take a rest despite your plans, what is that telling you? If you feel stressed out, frazzled, and burned out, what must be missing in your life? If you are having difficulty hearing my voice, receiving my instruction, and following my guidance what is amiss? My life is out of balance. I can see that now. I have been running fast and furious. I don’t have a heathy work and rest balance in my life. I have allowed myself to be caught up in the frantic pace of life. The busyness and noisiness of my life is no doubt making it very hard for me to hear from you. So, no, I am not hearing your voice, receiving your instruction, or following your guidance. That is not good. No, it is not. Let me ask you a few questions. I’m listening. That’s good. How high of a priority do you think I place on your need to carve out one day a week for you to rest from your labors? How important do you think it is to quiet yourself and rest in my presence, so you can hear from me? What example have I given you of resting from your labors? Where did I place my command that you take a day week of Sabbath rest? Well, you worked six days and rested on the seventh day of creation. That is a powerful example, wouldn’t you say? Yes, it is. Keep answering my questions. You placed your command that I take a weekly Sabbath day of rest in your ten commandments. That is high placement isn’t it? Yes, it is. What does that tell you? Don’t overlook or skip this command, with the foolish thought that it isn’t that important. You got that right. Tell me more. Developing my ability to hear from you, so I can receive your instruction, and follow your guidance, is critically important to the entire course of my life. Yes, it is. Where will that ability to hear from me be most strongly developed? I will learn to hear from you as I rest in your presence. The best starting place for me to learn to hear from you is as I rest in your presence when I take a Sabbath day of rest, with you, each week. That’s right. We have talked enough on this topic. Now I will ask you one final question. Will you take one day of Sabbath rest each week so you can rest in my presence? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I have not consistently taken a day a week to rest. I have not seen the value of resting. Now I know how foolish I have been. From now on, I will carve a day a week to rest with you. I know you will use that day to revive and refresh and restore my soul. Amen

Key Question…  How has your relationship with God grown more intimate as you have rested in His presence?

Living It Out…  Take a day of rest with the Lord each week so He can revive, refresh, and restore your soul.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will revive, refresh, and restore your soul as you rest with Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are taking a weekly day of rest.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you take a day a week to rest so the Lord can revive, refresh, and restore your soul.

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

Promises – Day 265 – Hebrews 4-9-11 – Sabbath Rest – 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