Jesus Calling: September 25

Poor all of your energy into trusting Me. It is through trust you stay connected to me, aware of My Presence. Every step on your life – journey can be a step of faith. Baby steps of trust are simple for you; you can take them with almost unconscious ease. Giant steps are another matter altogether: leaping across chasms in semidarkness, scaling cliffs of uncertainty, trudging through the valley of the shadow of death. These feats require sheer concentration, as well as utter commitment to Me.
    Each of My children is a unique blend of temperament, giftedness, and life experiences. Something that is a baby step for you may be a giant step for another person, and vice versa. Only I know the difficulty or ease of each segment of your journey. Beware of trying to impress others by acting as if your giant steps are only baby ones. Do not judge others who hesitate, in trembling fear, before an act that would be easy for you. If each of My children would seek to please Me above all else, fear of others' judgments would vanish, as would attempts to impress others. Focus your attention on the path just ahead of you and on the One who never leaves your side.

Psalm 23:4
English Standard Version

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

Matthew 7:1–2
^{English Standard Version} 

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Proverbs 29:25

English Standard Version   The fear of man lays a snare,     but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Thoughts (2019)

The comparison trap is a huge one in life. If I can just walk through life, with My Savior, and not look to my left and right, at my neighbor, at my friends at what they are doing, at what they have and simply stay focused on my relationship with God, then all is fine. The problem is I do stop and stare and in the process I begin to question my Maker. I must return to the Word each day and examine in light of the gifts that God has given me. He has gifted me, but in a unique way. And my responsibility is to lay hold of those gifts and use them for His glory. At times, I actually think that life would be better if everyone was just like me. I want everyone to have my temperament, and often think my life experiences make me greater than others. Jesus meets each of us right where we are. 

Prayer (2019)
Lord, forgive me for the thoughts I have inside of me, that stir in my head. Rarely do they come out of my mouth. If they do, I am embarrassed, but you know me, all of me, and you hear my thoughts of envy, of me thinking I am better than others. Lord, there are good things that happen to friends in my life and yet I often want them to fall and experience hardship. I want to come out on top. I want to get the medals and thought of as the great one. Lord, free me from myself. Help me to rejoice more in the victories of others and come alongside those who are hurting. I am not in a race with others. I want to be a man of integrity - inside and out. Take me there. 

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. If you haven't already, please purchase the book and support the author.


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