Tag Archives: You

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

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

The One Who Is In You

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Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises - 1 John 4:4-6 - The One Who Is In You - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Promises – 1 John 4:4-6 – The One Who Is In You – Growing As Disciples

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 1 John 4:4-6 (NIV) 

Overcoming Evil

There is evil in this world, are you watching and on guard against it? Yes, I’m watching and on guard. What do I need to be on guard against? What do I need to be watching out for? Those are good questions. You need to have an attitude of watchfulness. You need to have ears that are attentive to my voice. You need to be listening to all that I want to say to you. You need to be watching for all that I want to show to you. Does this sound like something that will be hard for you to accomplish? It sounds easy. But, I’m not foolish enough to think that it will be easy. Why is that? It’s easy to be absorbed in all the activities of life. It’s easy to race through life and forget to listen to all that you want to say to me or to fail to watch all that you want to show to me. It’s easy to become conformed to all the patterns, practices and values of the world. If I am not very careful, I could become unaware of how the world is continually trying to shape me into its mold. It’s much harder to be attentive and watchful to all that you want me to hear and see. Yes, it is.

Let’s talk about the focus of your attention. Alright, go ahead. You have my full attention. Good, that’s what I want. You have mentioned two possibilities. You can either focus your attention on the world or you can focus your attention on me. If I focus my attention on the world I will have a very difficult time listening to what you want me to hear or watching what you want me to see. Yes, that’s exactly right. I will have a very difficult time identifying what is true and what is false. Does that sound like an understatement to you? I will have an impossible time identifying what is true and what is false. That’s more like it. If I have the focus of my attention on you, I will be able to know what is true and what is false because my eyes and ears will be open to you. That is also correct. As I continue to have my focus on you I will grow in my ability to listen to what you want me to hear and to watch what you want me to see. How do you know that? That has been my experience as I have had my focus on you. That is very good.

Let’s talk about overcoming evil that is in the world. To overcome evil in the world I must be able to identify it. I also must have the strength and desire to resist it. Can you identify or overcome evil if your focus is on the world? Certainly not, if my focus is on the world then I will be wrapped up and enticed by evil. That is not my will for you. It is my will that my Spirit living in you will make you able to overcome evil that is in the world. Do you believe that my Spirit living in you will make you able to overcome evil in the world? Yes, I do. Why do you believe? You have changed the desires of my heart as I have had my focus on you. You have given me both the desire and strength to do your will. You have made me able to overcome evil in the world. Yes, I have.

Holy Spirit, thank you that you live inside of me. You have made me able to know what is true and what is false. You have made me able to recognize and overcome evil that is in the world. Help me to hear and really listen to you. Amen

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

Promises – 1 John 4-4-6 – The One Who Is 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                      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