Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional by Sarah Young: May 31st The Peace that I give you transcends your intellect. When most of your mental energy goes into efforts to figure things out, you are unable to receive this glorious gift. I look into your mind and see thoughts spinning round and round: going nowhere, accomplishing nothing. All the while, My Peace hovers over you, searching for a place to land. Be still in My Presence, inviting Me to control your thoughts. Let My Light soak into your mind and heart, until you are aglow with My very Being. This is the most effective way to receive My Peace. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 NLT 16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all. (Related verse = Romans 15:33 - "And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen") Job 22:21 NLT 21 “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.
Comments
Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 30th Time with Me cannot be rushed. When you are in a hurry, your mind flitters back and forth between Me and the tasks ahead of you. Push back the demands pressing in on you; create a safe space around you, a haven in which you can rest with Me. I also desire this time of focused attention and I use it to bless you, strengthening and equipping you for the day ahead. Thus, spending time with Me is a wise investment. Bring Me the sacrifice of your precious time. This creates sacred space around you--space permeated with My Presence and My Peace. Psalm 119:27 NLT 27 Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds. 2nd Chronicles 16:9 NLT 9 The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war.” Hebrews 13:15 NLT 15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young - May 29th, 2024 I am with you, watching over you constantly. I am Emmanuel (God with you); My Presence enfolds you in radiant Love. Nothing, including the brightest blessings and the darkest trials, can separate you from Me. Some of My children find Me more readily during dark times, when difficulties force them to depend on Me. Others feel closer to Me when their lives are filled with good things. They respond with thanksgiving and praise, thus opening wide the door to My Presence. I know precisely what you need to draw nearer to Me. Go through each day looking for what I have prepared for you. Accept every event as My hand-tailored provision for your needs.When you view your life this way, the most reasonable response is to be thankful. Do not reject any of My gifts; find Me in every situation. Matthew 1:23 NLT 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” Colossians 2:6 NLT 6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Have a blessed day! Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 28th Let Me anoint you with My Presence. I am King of kings and Lord of lords, dwelling in unapproachable Light. When you draw near to Me, I respond by coming closer to you. As My Presence envelops you, you may feel overwhelmed by My Power and Glory. This is a form of worship; sensing your smallness in comparison to My Greatness. Man has tended to make himself the measure of all things. But man's measure is too tiny to comprehend My majestic vastness. That is why most people do not see Me at all, even though they live and move and have their being in Me. Enjoy the radiant beauty of My Presence. Declare My glorious Being to the world! 1st Timothy 6:15-16 NLT 15 For, At just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. 16 He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen. James 4:8 NLT 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Acts 17:28 (NIV) 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ Have a blessed day! Good morning, In honor of our fallen heroes on this Memorial Day. We thank you for your service and sacrifice and pray for your loved ones as they remember you this day. God bless you all! Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 27th Seek My Face at the beginning of your day. This practice enables you to "put Me on" and "wear Me" throughout the day. Most people put on clothes soon after arising from bed. Similarly, the sooner you "put Me on" by communicating with Me, the better prepared you are for whatever comes your way.
To "wear Me" is essentially to have My mind; to think My thoughts. Ask the Holy Spirit to control your thinking; be transformed by this renewal within you. Thus you are well equipped to face whatever people and situations I bring your way. Clothing your mind in Me is your best preparation for each day. This discipline brings Joy and Peace to you and those around you. Psalm 27:8 NLT 8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “ LORD, I am coming.” Romans 13:14 NLT 14 Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires. Colossians 3:12 NLT 12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 26th Jesus Calling: May 26thIn a world of unrelenting changes, I am the One who never changes. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Find in Me the stability for which you have yearned.
I created a beautifully ordered world: one that reflected My perfection. Now, however, the world is under the bondage of sin and evil. Every person on the planet faces gaping jaws of uncertainty. The only antidote to this poisonous threat is drawing closer to Me. In My Presence you can face uncertainty with perfect Peace. Revelation 22:13 NLT 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” John 16:33 NLT 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Have a blessed day! Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 25th The world is too much with you, My child. Your mind leaps from problem to problem to problem, tangling your thoughts in anxious thoughts. When you think like that, you leave me out of your world-view and your mind becomes darkened. Though I yearn to help, I will not violate your freedom. I stand silently in the background of your mind, waiting for you to remember that I am with you.
When you turn from your problems to My Presence, your load is immediately lighter. Circumstances may not have changed, but we carry your burdens together. Your compulsion to "fix" everything gives way to deep, satisfying connection with Me. Together we can handle whatever this day brings. RELATED BIBLE VERSES: Isaiah 41:10 NLT 10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Additional insight regarding Isaiah 41:10: All believers are God's chosen people, and all share the responsibility of representing Him to the world. One day, God will bring all his faithful people together. We need not fear because (1) God is with us ("I am with you"); (2) God has established a relationship with us ("I am your God"); and (3) God gives us assurance of his strength, help, and victory over sin and death. Are you aware of all the ways God has helped you? Zephaniah 3:17 NLT 17 For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears*. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Psalm 34:19 NLT 19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time. Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 23rd Approach each new day with desire to find Me. Before you get out of bed, I have already been working to prepare the path that will get you through this day. There are hidden treasures strategically placed along the way. Some of the treasures are trials, designed to shake you free from earth-shackles. Others are blessings that reveal My Presence: sunshine, flowers, birds, friendships, answered prayer. I have not abandoned this sin-wracked world; I am still richly present in it.
Search for deep treasure as you go through this day. You will find Me all along the way. Colossians 2:2-3 NLT 2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Related Bible verses to Colossians 2:2-3: Matthew 11:25-27; Ephesians 1:18-19; Colossians 2:19; Isaiah 11:2; Romans 11:33; Ephesians 3:8,19). Isaiah 33:6 NLT 6 In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD will be your treasure. Have a blessed day! Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 23rd Approach each new day with desire to find Me. Before you get out of bed, I have already been working to prepare the path that will get you through this day. There are hidden treasures strategically placed along the way. Some of the treasures are trials, designed to shake you free from earth-shackles. Others are blessings that reveal My Presence: sunshine, flowers, birds, friendships, answered prayer. I have not abandoned this sin-wracked world; I am still richly present in it.
Search for deep treasure as you go through this day. You will find Me all along the way. Colossians 2:2-3 NLT 2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. 3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Isaiah 33:6 NLT 6 In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD will be your treasure. Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 22nd When things don't go as you would like, accept the situation immediately. If you indulge in feelings of regret, they can easily spill over the line into resentment. Remember that I am sovereign over your circumstances, and humble yourself under My mighty hand. Rejoice in what I am doing in your life, even though it is beyond your understanding.
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. In Me, you have everything you need, both for this life and for the life to come. Don't let the impact of the world shatter your thinking or draw you away from focusing on Me. The ultimate challenge is to keep fixing your eyes on Me, no matter what is going on around you. When I am central in your thinking, you are able to view circumstances from My perspective. 1st Peter 5:6 NLT 6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. John 14:6 NLT 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 21st I, the Creator of the universe, am with you and for you. What more could you need? When you feel some lack, it is because you are not connecting with Me at a deep level. I offer abundant Life; your part is to trust Me, refusing to worry about anything. It is not so much adverse events that make you anxious as it is your thoughts about these events. Your mind engages in efforts to take control of a situation, to bring about the result you desire. Your thoughts close in on the problem like ravenous wolves. Determined to make things go your way, you forget that I am in charge of your life. The only remedy is to switch your focus from the problem to My Presence. Stop all your striving, and watch to see what I will do. I am the Lord! Romans 8:31-32 NLT 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Micah 7:7 NLT 7 As for me, I look to the LORD for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 20th When your sins weigh heavily upon you, come to Me. Confess your wrongdoing, which I know all about before you say a word. Stay in the Light of My Presence, receiving forgiveness, cleansing, and healing. Remember that I have clothed you in My righteousness, so nothing can separate you from Me. Whenever you stumble or fall, I am there to help you up. Man's tendency is to hide from his sin, seeking refuge in the darkness. There he indulges in self-pity, denial, self-righteousness, blaming, and hatred. But I am the Light of the world, and My illumination decimates the darkness. Come close to Me and let My Light envelop you, driving out darkness and permeating you with Peace. 1st John 1:7 NLT 7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. Additional insight regarding 1st John 1:7: How does Jesus' blood cleanse us from all sin? In Old Testament times, believers symbolically transferred their sins to an animal, which they then sacrificed (see a description of this ceremony in Leviticus 4). The animal died in their place to pay for their sins and allow them to continue living in God's favor. God graciously forgave them because of their faith in him and because they obeyed his commandments concerning the sacrifice. Those sacrifices anticipated the day when Christ would completely remove sin. Real cleansing from sin came with Jesus, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). Sin, by its very nature, brings death - this is a fact as certain as the laws of gravity. Jesus did not die for his own sins; he had none. Instead, by a transaction that we may never fully understand, he died for the sins of the world. When we commit our life to Christ and thus identify ourselves with him, his death becomes ours. He has paid the penalty for our sins and his blood has purified us. Just as Christ rose from the grave, we rise to a new life of fellowship with him (Romans 6:4 - "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."). Isaiah 61:10 NLT 10 I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels. Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 19th I want you to know how safe and secure you are in My Presence. That is a fact, totally independent of your feelings. You are on your way to heaven; nothing can prevent you from reaching that destination. There you will see Me face to face, and your Joy will be off the charts by any earthly standards. Even now, you are never separated from Me, though you must see Me through eyes of faith. I will walk with you till the end of time, and onward into eternity. Although My Presence is a guaranteed promise, that does not necessarily change your feelings. When you forget I am with you, you may experience loneliness or fear. It is through awareness of My Presence that Peace displaces negative feelings. Practice the discipline of walking consciously with Me through each day. 1st Corinthians 13:12 NLT 12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Psalm 29:11 NLT 11 The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace. Have a blessed day! Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young - May 18th, 2024 Come to Me with your plans held in abeyance (suspension). Worship Me in spirit and in truth, allowing My Glory to permeate your entire being. Trust Me enough to let Me guide you through this day, accomplishing My purposes in My timing. Subordinate your myriad plans to My Master Plan. I am sovereign over every aspect of your life! The challenge continually before you is to trust Me and search for My way through each day. Do not blindly follow your habitual route, or you will miss what I have prepared for you. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts. John 4:24 NLT 24 "For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT 8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Good morning, Jesus Calling Devotional, by Sarah Young: May 17th As you sit quietly in My Presence, remember that I am a God of abundance. I will never run out of resources. My capacity to bless you is unlimited. You live in a world of supply and demand, where necessary things are often scarce. Even if you personally have enough, you see poverty in the world around you. It is impossible for you to comprehend the lavishness of My provisions: the fullness of My glorious riches. Through spending time in My Presence, you gain glimpses of My overflowing vastness. These glimpses are tiny foretastes of what you will experience eternally in heaven. Even now you have access to as much of Me as you have faith to receive. Rejoice in My abundance--living by faith, not by sight. Philippians 4:19 NLT 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. 2nd Corinthians 5:7 NLT 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. |