Tag Archives: to put off your old self

Put On The New Self

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Transformation - Ephesians 4:20-24 - Put On The New Self - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Transformation – Ephesians 4:20-24 – Put On The New Self – Growing As Disciples

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NIV)

Set Free

What happened to the old life that you once lived? It is dead and gone. It was left behind when I turned away from it and began to follow and serve you. You took me from being dead in my trespasses and sins and made me alive. I am now alive to you and dead to the sin I once lived in. Are you completely dead to sin and fully alive to me? That is a good question that I don’t fully understand. What don’t you understand? When I turned away from sin you made me alive in you. Yes, I did. Your Spirit came to live and dwell inside of me. Yes, He did. The power of sin over my life was broken. I was set free to live my life for you. Yes, you were. Your question is coming, isn’t it? Yes, it is. How come I still struggle with sin? It doesn’t seem completely dead to me. I know that I took off the old clothes of my sinful life. Yes, you did. Why then do I sometimes feel tempted to put those old and stinky clothes of the sinful life back on? It is like my old life and my new life are at war with each other. Yes they are, but I have already won the victory for you. You still live in a sin filled, broken world, that is filled with temptations. The world, sin and the devil will never stop waging war against you. Temptations will come your way. They came my way. You must stand against them. How will I do that? I’m sure that you already know the answer to your question.

You tell me, what have I given you to strengthen you so that you will be able to stand against temptation? You have given me your word. Yes, I have. What has my word done for you? Your word has been transforming and renewing my mind. Yes, it has. What has the world, sin and the devil been attempting to do? They are continually trying to corrupt my mind. Yes, they are. You must separate yourself from all their corruption and immerse yourself in my word. Let my word dwell in you richly. My word will set you free. My word will strengthen you against every attack of temptation and evil. My word will help you to put on the new life that I have given you to live. My word will transform and renew your mind so that you can think my thoughts and be able to know and do my will. Is that what you desire? Yes Lord, it is my delight and desire to live my life completely for you.

Lord, thank you for helping me to turn around and walk away from my old life when I came to know you. You helped me to set aside my old life as you renew my mind and help me put on the new life you have given me to live for you. Amen

Key Question… How has the Holy Spirit been renewing your mind and helping you to live your new life in Christ?

Living It Out… Allow the Holy Spirit to use God’s word to renew your mind and empower you to live your new life In Christ.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that Jesus Christ has made it possible for you to set aside your old life and live your new life in Him.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Holy Spirit has been helping you to live your new life in Christ.

Prayer To Bless Others…  May you quietly and anonymously and generously give to others.

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

Transformation – Ephesians 4-20-24 – Put On The New Self – 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

Put Off – Put On

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Rhythms - Ephesians 4:20-24 - Put Off - Put On - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Rhythms – Ephesians 4:20-24 – Put Off – Put On – Growing As Disciples

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NIV)

Made New

Would you like to be made new? Do you want to put on the new life that I have given you to live? Yes, of course I want to be made new. I certainly do want to put on the new life that you have given me to live. How do you think I will make you new? How do you think I will make you able to live the life that I have given you to live? I know that I will play a role in you making me new. I am certain I will have a part in putting on the new life you have given me to live. How so?

If I want to be made new and put on the new life I have in you then I will need to leave my old life behind. That’s what I thought I did when I came to know you. I turned away from my old life of sin. I asked for your forgiveness of all my sin and cleansing of all my unrighteousness. You became my Savior and Lord. Yes, I did. But, there was a problem wasn’t there? Yes, there was. I didn’t make a clean break with my old life of sin. At times I wanted a completely new life in you. At other times I was drawn back into the sinful patterns, practices and values of my old life. It was like I was trying to live in two different worlds at the same time. That will never work. No, it won’t.

Why do you think you were having such a hard time putting off your old life? I was trying to put off my old life by my own efforts. I would try harder and fail. I would try harder and harder and fail even more. I was very discouraged and defeated. That isn’t your story now, is it? No, it isn’t. What happened to you? You rescued me from all my trying and all my failing. Yes, I did. How did I do that? You showed me that you have a tool that will help me to put off my old life and put on the new life you have given me to live. What tool is that and how does it work? Your tool is your word. Your word is the tool that is changing my heart and transforming my mind.  Without your word working in me I would have never been able to put off my old life and put on the new life that you have given me to live. But, your word has been changing my heart. Your word has been transforming my mind. Yes, it is. Now, I’m not interested in my old life. Now all I want to do is put on the new life that you have given me to live. You have changed my desires. You changed my life. You are making me new every day as I meet with you in your word. Yes, I am.

Lord, I have put off my old life. I have left behind all its patterns, practices, and values. I am all yours. You are my Savior and Lord. I will follow you. Renew my mind. Change all my thoughts, words, and deeds. Help me to put on the new life that I have in you. Amen

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

Rhythms – Ephesians 4-20-24 – Put Off – Put On – 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

Your Former Way

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Life - Ephesians 4:20-24 - Your Former Way - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Life – Ephesians 4:20-24 – Your Former Way – Growing As Disciples

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24 (NIV)

Your Former Way

What’s that over there? You know. Yes, I do. But I would like to hear you tell me what’s over there. Those are the stinky and dirty clothes of my old life. They no longer suit you do they? No, they do not. Why is that? You have given me a completely new life to live. So, you have taken off all those old clothes and thrown them away, is that right?  Yes, that’s right. You have no desire to put them back on and wear them again, is that right? That’s something that I would like to talk to you about.  Yes, I’m sure that you do. What’s on your mind? I know that this is hard to believe. Not really. But, I’m having a hard time. How so? At times, I want to put some of those old stinky and dirty clothes back on. Yes, I’ve noticed that. When are you having your greatest difficulty? I’m not sure what you mean? Are there any situations or circumstances that most tempt you to put those old stinky and dirty clothes back on? I’m still not sure how to answer that question. Have you made a clean break from your old manner of living? Are you allowing anything to feed the sinful desires, patterns and practices of your old life? I guess so. What you feed will grow. What you starve will die. If you really want to put on the new life I have for you then you will need to make a clean break with your old life. Now, I understand.

Let’s talk some more about a question I just asked you. What’s that? I asked what’s on your mind. Yes, you did. What’s on your mind is very important. How so? The world will continually bombard you with its patterns, practices, and values. You don’t want worldly thoughts on your mind. You will never be able to fully live the new life I have for you unless you allow my word to be on your mind. It is my word that will change your heart and transform your mind. When my word is in your heart and on your mind you will have no desire to put on those dirty and stinky clothes from your old life. I get it. Well, you understand what I am saying. You won’t really “get it” until you make meeting with me in my word an absolute priority in your life. Then you will have but one desire. What’s that? When you have put off the clothes of your old life and are allowing me to change your heart and renew your mind with my word, you will have a joy and passion to fully put on and live out the new life that I have given to you. Then you will want nothing else. Then the clothes of your old life will be really repulsive to you. Then you will only want to see and put on the new clothes that I have given you to wear as you live your life with and for me. That is what I want with all my heart! Yes, I can see that and so you will. 

Lord, thank you for the new life I have been given. I have left my old life and its practices behind me. Your word is changing my heart and transforming my mind. I’m excited to put on and live out the new life I have in you. Amen

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

Life – Ephesians 4-20-24 – Your Former Way – 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

Renewed

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Be - Ephesians 4:20-24 - Renewed - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Be – Ephesians 4:20-24 – Renewed – Growing As Disciples

But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20-24 (ESV) 

Changed Heart And Renewed Mind

I have broken the power of sin and darkness over your old life. When you turned away from you sin and gave your life to me, I forgave your sin and cleansed you of all your unrighteousness. I washed you and gave you a completely new and fresh life to live in me. I set you on a firm foundation. You began, and are continuing, to love, follow and serve me. Your old life, that you once lived, is now like a set of dirty and stinky old clothes. You took them off. They have been thrown away. There is nothing that should be appealing about them. You should have no desire to put those dirty and stinky old clothes, of your old life, back on. Then I have a question. Go ahead, ask your question, I’m listening. I have a problem. What’s that? I don’t know how, I’m not sure why, but somehow and sometimes I am tempted to put back on those dirty and stinky clothes of my old life. I’ve noticed that.

It is your desire to put off your old life and put on the new life that I have called you to live. Yes, I want to completely and fully live the new life you have called me to live. You are having difficulty putting off your old life and putting on your new life in me. Yes, there has been an ongoing battle in my heart and mind over what kind of life I will live. I am glad that you have identified the battle ground. You are right to say that the battle that rages in you is in your heart and mind. You cannot change your heart. You cannot transform your mind. On your own you cannot win the battle that is raging in your heart and mind. I’m certain of that. I have already won that battle for you. You need to live and walk in the victory that I have secured for you. How will I do that? How will I change your heart and transform your mind? What tool have I made available to you, that will change your heart and transform your mind? What tool will make you able to keep putting off your old life and keep putting on your new life? You have given me your word. That’s right. Let my word dwell in you richly. Meditate on my word day and night. As my word dwells in you, the Holy Spirit will take my word and use it like a sword to fight in you, with you and for you. My word will strengthen you. My word will make you able to stand against temptation. My word will make you able to put off your old life and put on the new life I have already given you to live. Will you allow my word to change your heart and transform your mind? Yes Lord, I will let your word dwell in me richly as I meditate on it day and night. I will allow your word to change my heart and transform my mind. That will be very good. 

Lord, thank you for breaking the power that my old life had over me. Thank you for making it possible for me to live a new life in you. Use your word to renew and transform my mind as I put off my old life and put on the new life that you have given me to live. Amen

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

Be – Ephesians 4-20-24 – Renewed – 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