Tag Archives: therefore

Humble Yourselves

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Mixed Emotions - 1 Peter 5:6-7 - Humble Yourselves - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Mixed Emotions – 1 Peter 5:6-7 – Humble Yourselves – Growing As Disciples

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

My Anxiety

I would have never guessed the true source of my anxiety. What’s the true source of your anxiety? I’m not absolutely positive that I am correct. But, it seems to me that pride is the true source of my anxiety. How is pride the true source of your anxiety? Well, my pride has told me that I can handle every problem and that I can work my way out of every difficult circumstance. My pride has told me to keep my problems and difficult circumstances to myself. My pride has told me that I should not want or need help from anyone. So, I should not ask anyone for any help of any kind. Does that include me? I’m embarrassed to say, yes, it has included you. That’s not good. No, it’s not.

How has not wanting or needing or asking for any help of any kind worked out for you? Not well, at all. Pridefully trying to be self-sufficient and self-reliant has only served to fill my life full of anxiety. That should come as no surprise to you. Why is that? Do you think I made you to be self-sufficient and self-reliant? No, I don’t think so, I doubt it. Do you think I made you to live in close and intimate relationships with others and with me? Yes, I do. Would you live in close and intimate relationships with others and me if you never needed any help of any kind? Knowing myself, I would say, no, not ever. Then your needing help is a good thing? Then your needing to rely on me is a very good thing? Yes, it is. I can see that now. 

Will you ask for help? Will you come to rely on me? Will you cast all your anxieties on me? Yes, Heavenly Father, I will ask you for your help. I will come to rely on you. I will cast all my anxieties on you. What will happen to you when you do these things? I will be helped. I will be relieved. The pressure and anxiety that has been filling my life will be released. I will be filled with peace and calm and joy. Why is that? You will be helping me. You will be lifting me up. You will be encouraging me. Why will I be doing all of these things for you? You love and care for me. Yes, I do. You can be sure of that.

Heavenly Father, I have pridefully thought I could handle every problem and work my way out of every difficult circumstance. I was wrong. My pride only served to fill my life full of anxiety. Now, I will humbly cast all my cares on you. I know you care for me. Amen

Key Question…  When has prideful self-reliance caused your life to be filled with anxiety?

Living It Out…  Humble yourself before God so you can cast all your anxieties on Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will lift you up, in due time, as you humble yourself before Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how humility has helped you to cast your anxieties on God.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you humble yourself before God by casting all your anxieties on Him.

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

Mixed Emotions – 1 Peter 5-6-7- Humble Yourselves – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Fix Your Thoughts

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Thoughts - Hebrews 3-1 - Fix Your Thoughts - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Thoughts – Hebrews 3-1 – Fix Your Thoughts – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. Hebrews 3:1 (NIV)

Fix My Thoughts

Fix my thoughts. Now, that is a thought. My thoughts have been all over the map. I have thought high and lofty thoughts. I have thought good and pure and right thoughts. I have thought helpful thoughts. Then I have thought what I shudder to think. I have thought dark and sinful thoughts. I have thought what I would be embarrassed to admit. My mind has been a battleground between opposing thoughts that war against each other. I have been trying to guard my thoughts. I have been resisting thoughts that I know are not pleasing to you. I know that I am in danger. Why is that? Thoughts become words and words become deeds and deeds add up to how a life is lived. In every way I want to live a life that is pleasing in your sight. Without a change in my thinking I know that will not be possible. Do you have any idea what I am going through? Can you help me in anyway? Can I help you in anyway? I can help you in every way. I know exactly what you are going through. I lived a life filled with temptations just like yours. Because I was tempted I am able to help you in all your temptations. How can you help me?

You need to do two things. First you need to take your mind off of evil thoughts. Where you go and what you do can feed evil thoughts. Remove yourself from any person, place, activity or circumstance that will feed evil and sinful thoughts. You are going to put sinful and evil thoughts on a starvation diet. Do you understand exactly what I am saying to you? Yes, you are telling me to completely leave my life of sin. You have heard that before. You are listening to me. Yes, I am. When you left your life of sin you started following me. Yes, I did. That’s good. Did you think leaving your life of sin and deciding to follow me was a one-time decision? I thought it was a one-time decision. You are only partly right in that thought. You did make a once and for all time decision. I am your Savior and Lord. My Holy Spirit lives and dwells inside of you. Every day and through every moment of each day you will have the opportunity to reaffirm your decision by walking away from sin to keep on following me. You will be taking your heart and mind off of evil and sinful thoughts. Then, you will fix your heart and mind and thoughts on me. I will be the focus of your attention. I will help you to think my thoughts and walk in my ways. I will lead you through life. I will help you on your way. I will help you to live a life that is pleasing to me. Do you get all of this? Yes, I do. I will take my thoughts off of sin and fix them on you. That’s right. Will you do that? Yes, I will.

Lord, often my thoughts have wandered from one worry to another. At other times temptations have tried to attack me through my thinking. Help me to fix my thoughts on you. Change my heart and transform my mind as I keep all my thoughts on you. Amen

Key Question…  How have you grown closer to the Lord as you have fixed your thoughts on Him?

Living It Out…   Develop a new pattern of meditating on and praying God’s word throughout your day as you fix your mind on Christ.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that Jesus Christ will change your heart and transform your mind as you fix your thoughts on Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are going about fixing your thoughts on Jesus Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you fix your thoughts on Jesus Christ as He leads you through life.

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

Thoughts – Hebrews 3-1 – Fix Your Thoughts – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Renewing Your Mind

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - The Mind - Romans 12:1-2 - Renewing Of Your Mind- Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – The Mind – Romans 12:1-2 – Renewing Of Your Mind- Growing As Disciples

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Conformed Or Transformed

Let’s talk about your mind. I’m listening. Your mind is a battleground. How so? All that you think, say and do in life will be guided by your mind. There is not one thing that you have thought, said or done that hasn’t started in your mind. Your mind is being bombarded daily by all that is in the world. The world is continually trying to conform your heart, and mind and life according to its patterns and practices. If you do nothing at all you will think and speak and act like all those who are in the world. You will think worldly thoughts. You will speak worldly words. You will live a worldly life. None of this kind of living is pleasing to me. None of this kind of living is according to my will and my ways. This kind of thinking, speaking and living is the way of the world. I don’t want to live my life according to the patterns and practices of this world. I want to know and do your will. I want to live in ways that are pleasing to you. That’s good.

If you want to know and do my will then you must know my thoughts. How can I know your thoughts? You must meet with me in my word. My word will change your heart and transform your mind. You must meditate on my word day and night. You must let my word dwell in you richly. Instead of letting the world conform you, you must allow my word to transform you. My word will change the way that you think, speak and act. My word will make you able to know and do my will. My word will make you able to live in ways that are pleasing to me. That’s what I want. That is the desire of my heart.

How often do you think it would be good to meet with me in my word? How often do you want to grow in your knowing my will and walking in my ways? How often do you want to be made able to live in ways that are pleasing to me? How often is the world trying to conform you to according to its patterns and practices? There is one word that answers all of these questions. I want to meet with you in your word everyday. I want your word to be working in my heart and on my mind every day. That will be very good.

Lord, for so long my heart and mind were in the grip of this world as I was being conformed to its patterns, values, and practices. Thank you, for changing my heart and transforming mind by your word so I can know you and do your will. Amen

Key Question…  How has God used His word to transform your mind so you could know Him and do His will?

Living It Out…  Allow God’s word to transform your mind so you will be able to know Him and do His will.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will use His word to transform your mind so you will be able to know Him and do His will.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God is helping you to both know Him and do His will.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to change your heart and transform your mind so you can know Him and do His will.

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

The Mind – Romans 12-1-2 – Renewing Of Your Mind – 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

Cast All Your Anxiety On Him

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Peace - 1 Peter 5:6-7 - Cast All Your Anxiety On Him - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Peace – 1 Peter 5:6-7 – Cast All Your Anxiety On Him – Growing As Disciples

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

Come To Me

I worry a lot. I have a lot of anxieties. I carry a very high level of stress. I know that worry and anxiety have been harming me physically, emotionally and spiritually. My energy and joy in life has been dragged down and diminished by worry and anxiety. How can I let go of worry? Even when I think I have cast my worries and anxieties on to you I seem to find a way to reel them back to me. How can I cast all my anxieties on to you? That’s a good question. Let me ask you a question.

Do you believe that I love you? Yes, of course I believe that you love me. Do you believe that I can and will help you with what causes worry and anxiety in you? Yes, I believe that you can and will help me with whatever causes me worry and anxiety. Are you sure about that? Why are you asking me if I am sure about that? If you believe that I can and will help you wouldn’t it make sense for you to come to me to ask for my help? You hardly ever ask for my help when you are worried and filled with anxiety. That’s a problem, isn’t it? Yes, it is.  

There are only two possible reasons why you wouldn’t come to me to ask me for my help. What are the two possible reasons for me not asking for your help when I am filled with worry and anxiety? You either don’t believe that I can and will help you or you think that you can handle all your worries and anxieties by yourself. Would you like me to be even more clear? Yes, I would. Your two reasons for not asking for my help when you are worried and filled with anxiety are either unbelief or pride. Maybe it’s a combination of both. You got that right. I am sorry about this. I want to live a life of faith in you. I want to rely on you for your help. I don’t want to be filled with either unbelief or pride. What do you suggest? How can I live a life of faith that is reliant on you?

Come to me. Make it your practice to come to me to ask me for my help. Turn every one of your worries and anxieties into a prayer to me. Trust that I will hear and answer your prayers. As you keep coming to me your faith in me will grow. As you keep asking me for my help your reliance on yourself will decline as your trust in me will grow. You will see that I do hear and answer your prayers. You will know that you can trust in me. As you pray and trust in me your worries and anxieties will be replaced with my peace. Would you like that? Yes, Lord, I would like to be filled with your peace. Come to me. Turn every one of your worries and anxieties into a prayer to me. Yes, Lord, I will.

Lord, I have pridefully thought I could handle my worries and anxieties. I have held on to my worries and anxieties as I worked harder to try and solve them. This has been no way to live. Forgive me. I will now turn all my worries and anxieties into prayers to you. Amen

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

Peace – 1 Peter 5-6-7 – Cast All Your Anxiety On 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

Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You

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The Prayer Filled Life - Day 86 - 1 Peter 5-6-7 - Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You - Growing As Disciples

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 86 – 1 Peter 5-6-7 – Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You – Growing As Disciples

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NIV)

Problems 

Problems. Whose got problems? I’m kidding of course. It is one of those terrible, no good days. I feel like I’m under attack. It was a day in which I was bruised and battered. I stood alone, or so it seemed. I know that you are with me. You will help me. You are for me. You are on my side. By that, I don’t mean that you have chosen sides and I am on the winning side. There were no winners today. In conflict, there are only losers. And I was a big loser, at least in my opinion. I have only one way to turn. I have only one thing to do. I will come to you. I will take refuge. In this storm, you are my refuge. I will take shelter in you. That is a very good decision.

Do you find it a little ironic that your verse for today so closely matches your experience? This was your verse, before your day even began, isn’t that true? Do you find that unusual? Do you find that a bit odd? Not at all. Why is that? You have gotten my attention. You are no doubt trying to teach me something. What am I trying to teach you? You want me to humble myself before you. You want me to learn to humbly rely on you. You want me to put all my faith and hope and trust in you. You want me to stop trying to solve all my problems by myself. You want me to ask you for your help. You want me to cast all my anxieties on you. Why would I want you to learn these things? You love and care for me. Yes, I love and care for you.

How would your life change if you did cast all your anxieties on me? I would have far less stress and anxiety. I would be happier and enjoy life much more as I did cast all my anxieties on you. I would be more joyful and be a brighter witness for you if I did cast all my anxieties on you. My life would bear more fruit for your kingdom and glory to your name if I did cast all my anxieties on you. Will you turn your life over to me? Will you humbly rely on me for my help? Yes, Heavenly Father, I will. That will be very good. Today’s lesson will be a very small price to pay if you truly do cast all your anxieties on me. I agree. That is very good.

Heavenly Father, I have been proudly determined to solve all my own problems. I have been foolishly relying on myself. Forgive me. I will now bring all my problems and anxieties to you. I will rely on your help. Thank you that you love and care for me. Amen

Key Question…  What problems and anxieties would you like to give to God right now?

Living It Out…  Give your problems and anxieties to God so you can rely on Him for His help.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will help you with your problems and relieve you of anxiety when you bring them to Him.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how God has helped you with problems and relieved your anxieties.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you humbly rely on your Heavenly Father to carry your burdens and relieve your anxieties.

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

The Prayer Filled Life – Day 86 – 1 Peter 5-6-7 – Cast All Your Anxiety On Him Because He Cares For You – 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

 

To Work In You

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The Word Centered Life - Day 15 - 1 Thessalonians 2-13 - To Work In You - Growing As Disciples

The Word Centered Life – Day 15 – 1 Thessalonians 2-13 – To Work In You – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NLT)

Work In You

Do you want me to work in you? Do you want me to change your heart? Do you want me to transform your mind? Do you want me to guide your life? Do you want me to mold and shape you into the person that I have called you to become? Do you want to be able to know and do my will? Do you want to be able to resist temptation and stand against evil? Do you want me to use you as a powerful witness in this world? Would you like to bear fruit for my kingdom and bring glory to my name? You have asked me many questions that all have the same answer from me. What is your answer? My answer is, “yes” to every one of your questions. I want all these things to be true in my life. I don’t want to miss the mark or fall short on any of these questions. That is very good.

What must I do? What is my part? What is my role? How can I be sure that all these things will be true in my life? Now, it is you that are asking good questions. It is good that you know that you will have a very important role in these things being true in your life. You will need to be a very active participant in my doing my work in your life. You can help or hinder or even thwart or reject my work in you. It is my desire and goal to welcome your work in me. That is where you need to start. Your desire for my work to continue in you is critically important. Even that desire in me has come from you to me as a gift. I can take no credit for the desire I have for you to do your work in me. That is true. You must allow that desire to take action. What action must I take?  You must accept and receive my word in you. You must take my word deeply into your heart and mind and life. You must hunger and thirst for my word. You must meditate on my word day and night. You must allow my word to dwell in you richly. You must grab ahold of my word and allow it to grab ahold of you. It is my word that will do its work in you. All you hope to be and all you hope to do in life, for me, will be empowered by my word. My word will mold and shape you. My word will guard and guide you. My word will help you to be able to know and do my will. All my purposes and plans for your life will be accomplished as you continue to allow my word to work in you. That I will do, I will allow your word to work in me. That will be very good.

Lord, thank you for your word. I will continue to receive your word into my life. Keep on using your word to do your work in me.  Help me to share your word with others so that they also will come to know and love and follow and serve you with all their hearts. Amen

Key Question…  How are you making it your daily practice to receive the word of God into your life?

Living It Out…  Receive God’s word into your life so that it will continue to do its work in you.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the word of God will continue to work in you as you accept it into your life.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are continually allowing God’s word to work in your life.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you continue to accept the word of God so it will work in you who believe.

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

The Word Centered Life – Day 15 – 1 Thessalonians 2-13 – To Work In You – 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Let Us Draw Near

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The Sacramental Life - Day 330 - Hebrews 10:19-25 - Let Us Draw Neat To God - Growing As Disciples

The Sacramental Life – Day 330 – Hebrews 10:19-25 – Let Us Draw Neat To God – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,  by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:19-25 (NIV)

Draw Near

There is nothing I would rather do than draw near to you. There is no place I would rather be than in your presence. In your presence, there is hope and joy and peace. In your presence, there is rest and renewal and restoration. In your presence, there is power and strength. In your presence, there is a place of refuge from every storm. In your presence, there is instruction and guidance and direction. In your presence, there is health and healing and wholeness. I need to draw near to you. I want to draw near to you. I have needs that can only be met by you, as I live in an intimate relationship with you. Is that what you will do? Will you draw near to me? Will you live in an intimate relationship with me? Yes, I will. That is very good.         

You have more to say on this subject. You have more to ask of me? Yes, I have more to say and more to ask. I wonder why drawing near to you doesn’t come easier. I know how much I want to draw near to you. I know how much I will benefit as I draw near to you. Why am I so distracted? Why is drawing near to you so difficult? Why does drawing near to you require such effort and discipline on my part? Why must I schedule a time and place to meet with you? Why will I not draw near to you if I don’t make doing so the priority of my life? How could I let trivial things of much less value crowd you out of my life? Why am I so allured by the demands of this life? Why don’t I automatically choose what is far better and more important? Why am I so strongly tempted to focus on earthly and temporal things over heavenly and eternal things? Do you want an answer? Do you need an answer? I know that I live in a sin broken world. I know that this world is always attempting to mold me into its pattern. I know that I need to be careful and focus my attention so that I am not allured and distracted by the things of this life. I will focus my attention on you. I will draw near to you. I will live in an intimate relationship with you. I know that doing so will require my very best effort and my full commitment. Drawing near to you is now and will forever be the priority of my life. That is very good. You will never regret making this choice. Yes, I know. Thank you, Heavenly Father for allowing me to draw near to you and live in an intimate relationship with you. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son into the world to pay for my sins. I have been forgiven and cleansed. The way to you has been opened. I am acceptable in your sight. I can draw near to you. Help me to live in and intimate relationship with you. Amen

Key Question…  How are you taking daily advantage of your new privilege and opportunity to draw near to God?

Living It Out…  Daily draw near to God so you will be able to live in an intimate relationship with Him.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that you have been given the privilege and opportunity to draw near to God.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are daily drawing near to God.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you draw near to God and live in an intimate relationship with Him.

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

The Sacramental Life – Day 330 – Hebrews 10-19-25 – Let Us Draw Near – 4 Paged 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                                                                                    http://www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

He Had Compassion On Them

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The Compassionate Life - Day 261 - Matthew 9:35-38 - He Had Compassion On Them - Growing As Disciples

The Compassionate Life – Day 261 – Matthew 9:35-38 – He Had Compassion On Them – Growing As Disciples

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:35-38 (NIV)

Use Me

That is my prayer. That is my request. What is your prayer? What is your request? I want you to use me. How do you want me to use you? I want you to use me to bear fruit for your Kingdom. I want you to use me for your glory. That is a very good prayer. That is an excellent request. Do you believe that I will use you to bear fruit for my Kingdom and bring glory to my name? Maybe an even better question would be, “Do you believe that I am now using you for my kingdom and glory?” Do you know that I am bearing fruit for my Kingdom through your life right now? I know why those are two very good questions for me to consider at this moment. Why is that? I sometimes have my doubts. I sometimes become discouraged. I know that I am impatient. I want to see more fruit born through my life for your kingdom. I want to bring more glory to your name. Those are not wrong desires within you. However, there is something that I must remind you. What’s that? Sowing and reaping do not occur in the same season. Sometimes reaping occurs quite a while after sowing. There will be some reaping and harvesting that you will never see. Some of your efforts will bear fruit of which you will only learn about once you are in heaven with me. I see, I understand. You must not become so impatient or discouraged that you give up and quit. That would be a tragic mistake. I will never become discouraged, give up, and quit. That is very good.

I need to point something else out toy you. What’s that? You are working hard in my harvest field. Yes, I am. Why would I also ask you to pray for more workers in my harvest field? Aren’t you busy enough? That thought has crossed my mind. Think hard, why am I also asking you to pray for more workers in my harvest field? There aren’t enough workers. That is true, what else? You want others to join me in the work. Yes, I want others to join you in the work. Will you be encouraged as others join you in the work? Will you be spurred on by others joining you in the work? Will you keep on serving me as others come to work side by side with you in the work? Yes, I will. I see your point. Will you pray for others to join you to work in my harvest field? Yes, I will. That will be very good. Together you will reap a rich harvest for my kingdom. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, use me to serve in your harvest field. Help me to also pray for others to serve in your harvest field. Let there be a rich harvest for your kingdom. May there be a multitude that come to know, love, follow, and serve you. Use us for your kingdom and glory. Amen

Key Question…  How has the Lord been using you as a worker in His harvest field?

Living It Out…  Pray that the Lord will powerfully use you and a multitude of others to compassionately serve in His harvest field.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will use you to serve and pray for others to serve in His harvest field.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are serving and praying for others to serve the Lord.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May your compassion for others motivate your desire to serve the Lord in His harvest field.

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

The Compassionate Life – Day 261 – Matthew 9-35-38 – He Had Compassion On Them – 4 Page Discipleship Study Guide

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By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                                                        Copying not permitted                          

Do Not Conform

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The Virtuous Life - Day 194 - Romans 12:1-2 - Do Not Conform- Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 194 – Romans 12:1-2 – Do Not Conform- Growing As Disciples

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Transformed

Is that what you would like? Is what would I like? Would you like to be transformed? Would you like to have a new mind? Would you like to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me? Would you like to be able to know and do my will? Yes, I would like to be transformed. Yes, I would like to be able to know and do your will. Yes, I would like to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to you. Why do you have this desire in you? I have tasted of your kindness and mercy and love. Because of all that you have done for me, I now want to live my life with and for you. I would like to give myself completely to you as a living sacrifice, as a spiritual act of worship. I want to love and follow and serve you with all that is within me. That is very good. 

There is a problem. What is the problem? You live in a world filled with sin and darkness and evil. You are in danger, at all times, of being conformed to the pattern of the world. If you do nothing, you will think and speak and act like everyone else in the world. If you allow yourself to be conformed to the world you will never be able to know and do my will. If you allow yourself to be conformed to the world, you will never life a life that is pleasing to me. Do you understand? A battle is constantly raging over your heart and mind. Yes, I understand. What must I do to have a transformed mind? You must allow me to use my word to transform your mind. You must take my word deeply into your heart and mind. My word will make you able to know and do my will. My word will make you able to think and speak and act in ways that please me. My word will prevent you from ever being conformed to this world. Will You take my word deeply into your heart and mind? Will you allow me to use my word to transform your mind. Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

Lord, I know this world is continually trying to conform me to its pattern. I know if I do nothing, I will think and speak and act like everyone else in the world. That is not going to happen. I will allow you to use your word to completely transform my mind. Amen

Key Question…  How is God’s word transforming your mind so that you can think, say, and do what is pleasing to Him?

Living It Out…  Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind so you can know and do God’s will.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that God will transform your mind so you can know and do His will.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing God to use His word to transform your mind.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you not be conformed to this word but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 194- Romans 12-1-2 – Do Not Conform – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

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

Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled

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The Virtuous Life - Day 193 - 1 Peter 1:13-16 - Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled - Growing As Disciples

The Virtuous Life – Day 193 – 1 Peter 1:13-16 – Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled – Growing As Disciples

Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.  As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.  But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:13-16 (NIV)

Mindset

What is your mindset? I’m not sure what you mean by that question. What is your mind set on? What are you allowing yourself to think? That is a very important question, I would guess. You would be guessing correctly. Your mindset will direct the course of your life. All your thoughts and words and actions will flow out of your mindset. All your opinions and values will be come from your mindset. If your mind is set on worldly things, you will then think and speak and act in worldly ways. All the conduct and character of your life will be guided by your mindset. Now, do you understand the importance of your mind set? Yes, I do. You have made that quite clear to me. That’s good.

I know that you want to become like me. I know that you want to think and speak and act in ways that are pleasing to me.I know that you want to be holy just as I am holy. Am I correct? Are these the true desires of your heart and mind and life? Yes, you know the desires of my heart. I am also confident that you have placed these desires in me. They have come to me as a great and gracious gift, from you to me. I also know that you have and are continuing to fan the flame of these desires in me. Yes, I am. It is wise that you recognize what I have, am, and will continue to do in you. The only wisdom that I have comes from you. That is also true.

Will you continue to set your heart and mind and life on me? Will you keep on turning away from worldly thoughts from this world? Will you continue to allow me to prepare your mind for action so that you will be able to think and speak and act like me? Will you allow me to make you into a bold and bright witness for me in the darkness of this world? Yes Lord, I will. I will draw near to you. I will submit my heart and mind and life to you. The focus of my attention will be on you. I will listen attentively to you. I will live and walk in an intimate relationship with you. I will go where you guide me. I will do what you ask of me. That will be very good. Then the desires of your heart, and mind and life will be fulfilled. Thank you, Lord.

Lord, I will prepare my mind for action. I will set my heart and mind and life on all the hope that I have in you. Help me to be self-controlled. Help me to think and speak and act like you. Help me to be holy in all I think, say, and do. Make me to be like you. Amen 

Key Question…  How is setting your mind on Christ helping you to be holy in all you think, say, and do?

Living It Out…  Set your heart and mind and life on Christ so you can become like Him in all your thoughts, words, and actions.

Seeing It Happen…  Have faith that the Lord will help you to be holy in all that you think and say and do.

Get Ready To Share…  Share with another person or your small group how you are allowing the Lord to make you like Him.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you be holy in all you think and say and do.

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

The Virtuous Life – Day 193 – 1 Peter 1-13-16 – Prepare Your Minds For Action Be Self-Controlled- 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