Psalm 119:137-144 - Faithful Obedience

Psalm 119:137-144

¹³⁷ Righteous are you, O Lord,
    and right are your rules.
¹³⁸ You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness
    and in all faithfulness.
¹³⁹ My zeal consumes me,
    because my foes forget your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your promise is well tried,
    and your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised,
    yet I do not forget your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is righteous forever,
    and your law is true.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have found me out,
    but your commandments are my delight.
¹⁴⁴ Your testimonies are righteous forever;
    give me understanding that I may live.

Message: Faithful Obedience

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:  Righteous are you, O Lord, - in all the ways you are, you act correctly; you are above reproach; your ways dealings with man are correct and justified. Your ways are not like mine for you do life always correctly. and right are your rules. Your rules and commands are correct. They are always correct and true. You are Truth. The standard described in scripture are complete and true.

You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness - You have declared your people to do good works and to be about you. In saving your chosen ones, you intend for our lives to be marked by goodness, love, charity. Christ is in me, working through me, not because of any goodness that is found in me, a sinner, but because of your appointment of me living in righteousness and faithfulness. The reason I can be good is because of You.

My zeal consumes me, My ways consume me; I get distracted because my foes forget your words. the world lives in opposition to you. This nation has transgressed from being a Christian nation to a nation of relative living. 

But Your promise is well tried, your ways are well tested and your servant loves it. I love what is taught me through this testing in my life. 

I am small and despised, You are vast and respected, but on this earth, I am small and often despised; yet I do not forget your precepts. I stand by your words and power. 

Your righteousness is righteous forever, Your ways are not momentary, but long lasting. and your law is true. Your law is always true; it is not momentary, but eternal. 

Trouble and anguish have found me out, In my life, trouble and anxiety well up inside me all too often. They stake a place in me. But bring me back to you, to your words, your truth; but your commandments are my delight.

Your testimonies are righteous forever; Again, your ways are righteous forever, so give me understanding that I may live.

Promise: From Tabletalk - True persevering faith exhibits itself when we stand fast under trial. If we truly love the Word of God, then, like the author of Psalm 119, we will not abandon the Lord’s revelation when it is unpopular to keep His law.

Jesus Calling: December 28

I AM your refuge and strength, an ever-present Help in trouble. Therefore, you don't need to be afraid of anything -- not even cataclysmic circumstances. The media are increasingly devoted to fear-inducing subject matter: terrorism, serial killers, environmental catastrophes. If you focus on such dangers and forget that I am your Refuge in all circumstances, you will become increasingly fearful. Every day I manifest My grace in countless places and situations, but the media take no notice. I shower not only blessings but also outright miracles on your planet.
     As you grow closer to Me, I open your eyes to see more and more of My Presence all around you. Things that most people hardly notice, like shifting shades of sunlight, fill you with heart-bursting joy. You have eyes that see and ears that hear, so proclaim My abiding Presence in the world. 

Psalm 46:1-3
English Standard Version
¹ God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

Psalm 89:15
English Standard Version
Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
    who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,

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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: November 30

Problems are part of life. They are inescapable: woven in to the very fabric of this fallen world. You tend to go into problem-solving mode all too readily, acting as if you have the capacity to fix everything. This is a habitual response, so automatic that it bypasses your conscious thinking. Not only does this habit frustrate you, it also distances you from Me.
     Do not let fixing things be your top priority. You are ever so limited in your capacity to correct all that is wrong in the world around you. Don't weigh yourself down with responsibilities that are not your own. Instead, make your relationship with Me your primary concern. Talk with Me about whatever is on your mind, seeking My perspective that comes to your attention, ask Me to show you what is truly important. Remember that you are en route  to heaven, and let your problems fade in the Light of eternity. 

Psalm 32:8
English Standard Version
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Luke 10:41-42
English Standard Version
⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
 
Philippians 3:20-21
English Standard Version
²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

My Prayer
Help me to understand Lord that eternity is in my heart and I don't need to look at every problem like their is a solution I must solve. May I be more focused on our relationship and less focused on solving problems. As your word says, you will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go. My citizenship is in heaven. My belonging is with You. Again, keep me eternity minded and not of this world. 

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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: November 28

Rest in the deep assurance of My unfailing Love. Let your body, mind, and spirit relax in My Presence. Release into My care anything that is troubling you, so that you can focus your full attention on Me. Be awed by the vast dimensions of My Love for you; wider, longer, higher, and deeper than anything you know. Rejoice that this marvelous Love is yours forever!
    The best response to this glorious gift is a life steeped in thankfulness. Every time you thank Me, you acknowledge that I am your Lord and Provider. This is the proper stance for a child of God: receiving with thanksgiving. Bring Me the sacrifice of gratitude, and watch to see how much I bless you. 

I Peter 5:7
English Standard Version
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Ephesians 3:16-19
English Standard Version
¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.


Psalm 107:21-22
English Standard Version

²¹ Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
²² And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,    and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

My Prayer
Lord I thank you for your steadfast Love. Lord, you do wondrous works in the lives of your children. I offer sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise you in songs of joy. I cast all of my anxieties upon you. You care for me. Thank you for caring for me. Thank you for strengthening me with power through your Spirit. I need Christ to dwell in my heart. I want my life to be rooted, grounded in love. I want to know the love of Christ and be filled with all the fullness of God. Help me to know what this means and be ready for it. Lord, I thank you.

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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Psalm 22:1-15 - The Messiah Forsaken

Psalm 22:1-15
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. ² O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; and by night, but I have no rest. ³ Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. ⁴ In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them. ⁵ To You they cried out and were delivered; in You they trusted and were not disappointed. ⁶ But I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised by the people.⁷ All who see me sneer at me; they separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, ⁸ “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.” ⁹ Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; you made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts. ¹⁰ Upon You I was cast from birth; you have been my God from my mother’s womb.¹¹ Be not far from me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help.¹² Many bulls have surrounded me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. ¹³ They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and a roaring lion.¹⁴ I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; is melted within me. ¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and You lay me in the dust of death.

Message: The Messiah Forsaken

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

Background and Initial Observations
I continue to forge through these readings from Psalm. It has been illuminating and I admit, I tend to approach each one sort of separate from the others. I was reading the first couple of chapters of CS Lewis book on Psalm and reminded that there is a lot of consistent ideas and thoughts and approaches that were a part of these poetic dissertations. So hopefully that can help me look at these differently.

The reading from Tabletalk associated with this entry mentions that the outcry of Christians and even the holy leaders of that day, namely David shared a sentiment that we often have regarding a desire for answers and for being rescued and often we feel the Lord is not heeding our cries. And yet in those dark times we do continue to pray, demonstrating that we believe that our Father has not forsaken us.

The first words of this Psalm were echoed by Jesus on the cross, My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? It was Jesus proclamation on the cross and speaks of his full humanity on the cross and the abandonment he felt from God. But, this is really just a feeling and not a fact. God never leaves us though it does feel like it often. There is comfort for us for Jesus to feel this. Even though the cross was a path he knew he would be on, the experience was still a hard one for him.

And I think it is interesting to read this Psalm, for it sits in our Bible before Psalm 23. Psalm 23 has been memorized and recited over and over, at so may different occasions.

1st Reading
The Psalmist is not only feeling hurt, but sort of abandoned by God. He mentions that God is faithful and he knows this because of those that have come before him assure him of this; he also knows this because he was born into love; but he still hurts and he still feels pain. And being a man of faith often brings him ridicule from others as they mock his faith and trust in God.

There is such an intense realness and authenticity in these words; in this prayer to God. He knows God is real and there, but he does not hear an answer to his cries. God is holy and God has been there for those in his family, in the past. Those individuals in the past cried out and he knows that God came to their rescue. He has heard the stories, the victories, the deliverance. But, he is not experiencing this and instead, he is experiencing the pain from those that just want to see him do poorly. But, God has chosen him and has pulled him into community with Himself, God. And so he continues to call upon the Lord as he hurts, as he has no strength, as he sinks down in despair.

I feel alone
Verse 1 - My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. This verse begins with David (I'm going to assume at this point that this prayer is a prayer of David) expressing not just to the God who is out there, put this God is his God. He says My God here. He is somewhat at the end of the ropes. I think it is normal to want to believe that rough circumstances we experience in life don't come from God, but instead something else. I think we want to believe this. We want to think that our God who loves us and cares for us is not the one that is abandoning us. We don't want to think that the one who knows us better than we know ourselves is now, not just involved, but at the foundation of the misery we are experiencing. And how is it possible that the God who saves, who has saved me from eternal damnation and rescued me from the wages of sin, is now allowing me to suffer. David feels forsaken or left alone. So much has been done for me so why am I feeling forsaken or removed from the presence of God? Far from my deliverance is to me the feeling that my rescuer isn't even nearby. This feeling of the trail ending is not even close by, but rather my deliverance is far away and the words of my groaning exclaim the degree of pain I am experiencing. It is completely normal to ask God why bad things are happening to me. There is the ever present question often asked in life, "Why do bad things happen to people" but I think we too quickly want to debate this question among peers. This is a question only for God. My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Where are you God in this pain I am experiencing?

Verse 2 - O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; and by night, but I have no rest. My crying is not a momentary thing. The pain I am experiencing is not just for the moment. But, also, my cry to God is not just a one occasion happening. But I cry by day...and night. And God You do not answer and I have no rest. I imagine on the cross, Jesus experiencing a never ceasing pain and his cry was ever apparent. God is there. He has not abandoned us. But His answers are sometimes not quick. They are delayed. And in that delay it is normal to feel that he is not going to ever answer and rescue and my unrest is fine for now.

God is Holy
Verse 3 - Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. But our confidence remains in God. He may not be answering, but He is still the answer. There are contrasting feelings here. One, David feels forsaken or left alone, and yet his confidence in God remains. God must have a reason for the calamity he is experiencing. And in a moment he will talk about what God has done in the past. For some reason, I think at times, we think that since God is love that only good things are to come to His children; that there can only be things to happen that will make us happy and when something bad happens, exceedingly bad, though we have experienced exceedingly good things as well, we just question that God is there at all. Yes, David is hurting. Yes, he feels alone. He expresses those feelings. But, God is still his answer. God is still his God.  

God has delivered in the past
Verse 4 - In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them. David remarks first that God is holy and then states that those that came before him, his ancestors, his heritage put their trust in God. He has heard the stories and he knows, despite his current circumstances that those before him trusted God and God delivered them. Obviously, not stated here is a tough circumstance or a forsaken feeling his ancestors experienced and yet God delivered them. David was reminded. We need to be reminded. Celebrations, such as the Passover, the Lord's Supper, the birth and resurrection of our Savior, the feast of tabernacles, etc. We need to be careful that our focus is not simply "what have you done for me lately" because as we experience trials we can stop and remember that God has been there in the past and he will be there in the future. Even a wedding day is a celebration day that we commemorate each year to remind ourselves of a joining together, of God removing the loneliness and replacing it with a union.

Verse 5 -  To You they cried out and were delivered; in You they trusted and were not disappointed. In verse 2 David cries out, but receives no answer. Here, he is reminded that his ancestors cried out and were delivered. In other words, wait for it. The answer may not be quick, but our confidence can remain to be delivered. And also their trust in God did not disappoint. [Lord, I so need to remember what you have done in my life. I'm too quick to be mired in feeling like life is just one new problem. Show me past victories.] 

I am a worm
Verse 6 -  But I am a worm and not a man, a reproach of men and despised by the people. Basically, woe is me. My ancestors got delivered, but I got nothing. This is the proclamation of a man in pain. Declaring himself to be a worm or the lowest form of an animal. Worms are primarily used as bait for catching other animals. This could also more clearly be referring to Messiah. He is publicly ridiculed and despised. 

Verse 7-8 - All who see me sneer at me; they separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying, “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”
The meaning here is to mock, to deride, to treat with scorn. There is no evidence that this occurred in David's life. He could have felt it or this could be more the focus of a prophecy towards Jesus, our Savior and Lord. He is receiving insults. And people express mocking and taunting words about his trusting in the Lord. Like, if your God is so great, he will deliver you and rescue you.

Yet, I am of value
Verse 9 - Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; you made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts. There is almost this sort of tennis match or back and forth that David is expressing here. He starts with feeling alone and yet God is holy and His deliver. But, he feels like a worm. He is bouncing back between feelings and facts. There isn't guilt in this passage. There is not right now verses crying out mistakes that David has been made. These are simply words where David is knee deep in his feelings of feeling alone and even abandoned. David is proclaiming that God brought him into this world and since an early age, he has had a love for God; he has had a faith; so it doesn't make sense that now he would then be abandoned. Verse 10 - Upon You I was cast from birth; you have been my God from my mother’s womb. Once again his words are pleading verses. He is not a momentary believer of God. He is a lifer. He hopes that this will make a difference. 


Be not far from me
Verse 11 - Be not far from me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help. Verse 12 - Many bulls have surrounded me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. Verse 13 - They open wide their mouth at me, as a ravening and a roaring lion. Trouble is near. I need you God to be close to me. I talk to a lot of people and they often exclaim, "How do I get close to God? I don't feel like he is close." I should encourage them to tell God to not be far away. 

Verse 14 - I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; is melted within me. ¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and You lay me in the dust of death. - There is reality here in these verses and what David is feeling. He feels like no one is there to help him. He is being surrounded by attackers. They are ready to pounce on him. He is weak. He has no strength. 

We come to God open and honestly. In this passage, I feel alone. God is Holy. God has delivered people in the past. I feel like a worm. But I know God sees value in me. God, be not far from me. 

Promise: Be honest with God. Share your feelings, but also be reminded that God is there. He is holy. He saves people.

Jesus Calling: October 20

I am your living God, far more abundantly alive than the most vivacious person you know. The human body is wonderfully crafted, but gravity and the inevitable effects of aging weigh it down. Even the most superb athlete cannot maintain his fitness over many decades. Lasting abundant life can be found in Me alone. Do not be anxious about the weakness of your body. Instead, view it as the prelude to My infusing energy into your being.
     As you identify more and more fully with Me. My Life becomes increasingly intertwined with yours. Though the process of aging continues, inwardly you grow strong with the passing years. Those who live close to Me develop an inner aliveness that makes them seem youthful in spite of their years. Let My Life shine through you, as you walk in the Light with Me. 

Psalm 139:14
English Standard Version

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.

Colossians 1:29
English Standard Version

For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

I John 1:7
English Standard Version

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

My Prayer
Thank you O God that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Help me to never doubt your creation. I often only praise your creation when I'm standing in a beautiful setting, but your creation is always correct, no matter how I may describe it. Even thorns have been fearfully and wonderfully made. Help me to always live close to You. I pray that my faith does not change because of my circumstances. There will be tough days, tough roads, uncertain paths, unknown outcomes, but help me God to always stay close to you, realizing that you are still working in me, no matter how it may look. You are a great God and help me never to stop thanking you.   

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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: September 17

You will not find My Peace by engaging in excessive planning: attempting to control what will happen to you in the future. That is a commonly practiced form of unbelief. When your mind spins with multiple plans, Peace may sometimes seem to be within your grasp; yet it always eludes you, but when you think you have prepared for all possibilities, something unexpected pops up and throws things into confusion.
     I did not design the human mind to figure out the future. That is beyond your capability. I crafted your mind for continual communication with Me. Bring Me all your needs, your hopes and fears. Commit everything into My care. Turn from the path of planning to the path of Peace. 

I Peter 5:6-7
English Standard Version

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Verse Thoughts
Humbling myself means that I do not place myself above others. I am to submit myself to him and let him lift me up. If afflicted, I do not murmur; if corrected, I accept it. I wait for his timing to lift me to a high place. 

Proverbs 16:9
English Standard Version

The heart of man plans his way,
    but the Lord establishes his steps.

Verse Thoughts
Do I need to plan? Yes. Do I need to prepare? Yes. But this doesn't mean troubles and difficulties will be averted. And am I willing to change my plans, if the Lord is leading me in a new direction? 
 
Psalm 37:5
New King James Version

Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.

Verse Thoughts
Why do I commit m way to Him? Because he will, either way, he will work out my life in the way He deems appropriate, so why not start by surrendering my will to him rather than fighting with him.

My Prayer
Lord, I notice too often the world in which I live, the media often, spends much time analyzing the "what if" of life. And if I am not careful, I mirror this approach to my own life. Help me to understand how I am to prepare and plan. Speak to me Holy Spirit throughout my day to confirm His will on my life. I want to trust in You alone, Lord, even when it hurts. Thank you for caring for me and help me to not start at my circumstances to the point that I forget this.

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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: July 15

Do not worry about tomorrow! This is not a suggestion, but a command. I divided time into days and nights, so that you would have manageable portions of life to handle. My grace is sufficient for you, but its sufficiency is for only one day at a time. When you worry about the future, you heap day upon day of troubles onto your flimsy frame. You stagger under this heavy load, which I never intended you to carry.
     Throw off this oppressive burden with one quick thrust of trust. Anxious thoughts meander about and crisscross in your brain, but trusting Me brings you directly into My Presence. As you thus affirm your faith, shackles of worry fall off instantly. Enjoy My Presence continually by trusting Me at all times.

Matthew 6:34
English Standard Version

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
 
2 Corinthians 12:9
English Standard Version

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
 
Psalm 62:8
New King James Version

Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us.    Selah

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


Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: July 5

Draw near to Me with a thankful heart, aware that your cup is overflowing with blessings. Gratitude enables you to perceive Me more clearly and to rejoice in our Love relationship. Nothing can separate you from My loving Presence! That is the basis of your security. Whenever you start to feel anxious, remind yourself that your security rests in Me alone, and I am totally trustworthy.
     You will never be in control of your life circumstances, but you can relax and trust in My control. Instead of striving for a predictable, safe lifestyle, seek to know Me in greater depth and breadth. I long to make your life a glorious adventure, but you must stop clinging to old ways. I am always doing something new within My beloved ones. Be on the lookout for all that I have prepared for you.

Romans 8:38-39
English Standard Version

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
Psalm 56:3-4
English Standard Version

³ When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
⁴ In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

Isaiah 43:19 
English Standard Version

Behold, I am doing a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.

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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: June 29

As you get out of bed in the morning, be aware of My Presence with you. You may not be thinking clearly yet, but I am. Your early morning thoughts tend to be anxious ones until you get connected with Me. Invite Me into your thoughts by whispering My Name. Suddenly your day brightens and feels more user-friendly. You cannot dread a day that is vibrant with My Presence.
     You gain confidence through knowing that I am with you--that you face nothing alone. Anxiety stems from asking the wrong question: "If such and such happens, can I handle it?" The true question is not whether you can cope with whatever happens, but whether you and I together can handle anything that occurs. I is this you-and-I-together factor that gives you confidence to face the day cheerfully. 

Psalm 5:3
English Standard Version

O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
    in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

Verse thoughts
In the midst of distress, I petition the Lord. In the midst of distress, I trust in the Lord's protection. I need to re-focus my thoughts on the Lord and His promises and not focus on the words of the world and the worries of life.

Psalm 63:1
New King James Version

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.

Verse thoughts
God is my protection. I come to You completely, with my whole being, in the same way that I would want water in a barren desert, is how I want to be quenched by You.

Philippians 4:13
English Standard Version

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Verse thoughts
When I rely on Christ's power (in Me) and follow His example, then and only then, am I able to face all circumstances with contentment. 

My Prayer
Lord, I want to roll out of bed with my first thoughts being trusting You with my day and the things that I have to experience. It is true that I go to worry and anxiety too quickly. I want to run to Your arms and let you carry me.  

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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: June 24

     Hold My Hand--and trust. So long as you are conscious of My Presence with you, all is well. It is virtually impossible to stumble while walking in the Light with Me. I designed you to enjoy Me above all else. You find the deepest fulfillment of your heart in Me alone.
     Fearful, anxious thoughts melt away in the Light of My Presence. When you turn away from Me, you are vulnerable to the darkness that is always at work in the world. Don't be surprised by how easily you sin when you forget to cling to My hand. In the world, dependency is seen as immaturity. But in My kingdom, dependence on Me is a prime measure of maturity. 

Isaiah 41:10
English Standard Version

Fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Psalm 62:5-6
English Standard Version

⁵ For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
    for my hope is from him.
⁶ He only is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: June 7

I am all around you, like a cocoon of Light. My Presence with you is a promise, independent of your awareness of Me. Many things can block this awareness, but the major culprit is worry. My children tend to accept worry as an inescapable fact of life. However, worry is a form of unbelief; it is anathema to Me.
     Who is in charge of your life? If it is you, then you have good reason to worry. But if it is I, then worry is both unnecessary and counterproductive. When you start to feel anxious about something, relinquish the situation to Me. Back off a bit, redirecting your focus to Me. I will either take care of the problem Myself or show you how to handle it. In this world you will have problems, but you need not to lose sight of Me. 

Luke 12:22-31
English Standard Version

²² And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! ²⁵ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁶ If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ²⁸ But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. ³⁰ For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

John 16:33
English Standard Version

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

- Sorry, I had a few mistakes in earlier versions of the words from Sarah Young, leaving out a couple of words. 

My Prayer (2018) 
Lord, continue to train me daily to not worry, to not have anxiety, but instead to trust You, have faith in You. I do not want to have a hardened heart and think that I must be in control, but you know that is my tendency Lord. Some days are worse than others. I want to be rooted in You. Sometimes I need to be like a race horse, with blinders on the side of me, so that I'm not looking at other people, but staying focused on You. You are not surprised by the tribulation that is in the world, for you have predicted it, but I thank you for the peace that you give me. And help me to not think that by trusting You I will necessarily get everything the way I want it.

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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: April 18

     Peace is My continual gift to you. It flows abundantly from My throne of grace. Just as the Israelites could not store up manna for the future but had to gather it daily, so it is with My Peace. The day-by-day collecting of manna kept My people aware of their dependence on Me. Similarly, I give you sufficient Peace for the present, when you come to me by prayer and petition with thanksgiving. If I gave you permanent Peace, independent of My Presence, you might fall into the trap of self-sufficiency. May that never be!
     I have designed you to need Me moment by moment. As your awareness of your neediness increases, so does your realization of My abundant sufficiency. I can meet every one of your needs without draining My resources at all. Approach My throne of grace with bold confidence, receiving My Peace with a thankful heart. 

Exodus 16:14-20
English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁴ And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. ¹⁵ When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. ¹⁶ This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer, according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.’” ¹⁷ And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less. ¹⁸ But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. ¹⁹ And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” ²⁰ But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

Philippians 4:6-7, 19
ESV

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
¹⁹ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 4:16
ESV

¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

My Prayer
Lord, I come to you for answers in my life. Instead of worrying, I look to you. Thank you for the peace that you give so freely. Thank you for providing for my needs. Provide for everyone's needs. Help me to know this.  


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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: April 9

     YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME; nothing can separate you from My Love.  Since I have invested My very Life in you, be well assured that I will also take care of you.  When your mind goes into neutral and your thoughts flow freely, you tend to feel anxious and alone.  Your focus becomes problem solving.  To get your mind back into gear, just turn toward Me, bringing yourself and your problems into My Presence.

     Many problems vanish instantly in the Light of My Love, because you realize you are never alone.  Other problems may remain, but they become secondary to knowing Me and rejoicing in the relationship I so freely offer you.  Each moment you can choose to practice My Presence or to practice the presence of problems. 

Romans 8:38-39
English Standard Version (ESV)
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Exodus 33:14
ESV
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

My Prayer
Lord, I pray that I can rest in the fact that I will always be Yours and there is nothing I can do to separate myself from You just as their was nothing I could do to make myself worthy before You. Jesus did it all for me and has made me right with You for all eternity. I want to surrender each day to You and not surrender each day to my problems. I need Your strength to do this.


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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: March 19

    I speak to you from the depths of your being. Hear Me saying soothing words of Peace, assuring you of My Love. Do not listen to voices of accusation, for they are not from Me. I speak to you in love-tones, lifting you up. My Spirit convicts cleanly, without crushing words of shame. Let the Spirit take charge of your mind, combing out tangles of deception. Be transformed by the trust that I live within you.

    The Light of My Presence is shining upon you, in benedictions of Peace. Let My Light shine in you; don't dim it with worries or fears. Holiness is letting Me live through you. Since I dwell in you, you are fully equipped to be holy. Pause before responding to people or situations, giving My Spirit space to act through you. Hasty words and actions leave no room for Me; this is atheistic living. I want to inhabit all your moments--gracing your thoughts, words, and behavior. 

Romans 8:1-2

English Standard Version

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Colossians 1:27

English Standard Version

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

1 Corinthians 6:19English Standard Version
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

My Prayer
Lord, thank you for the truth of your Word. Thank You Holy Spirit for guiding me into all truth and helping me see my sin and then transforming me through the grace of God. Help me to recognize that You are the answer to my questions. You are wanting to work in me to be holy. You don't point the finger at me, but I have been set free in Christ Jesus. Thank you for speaking to me each day and showing me how to live. I pray for obedience to your Spirit and waiting on You before responding to people. I want to be controlled by You. I yield to the Spirit. Help me be patient with those around me and may my words be few.

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

Jesus Calling: March 18

Trust Me one day at a time. This keeps you close to Me, responsive to My will. Trust is not a natural response, especially for those who have been deeply wounded. My Spirit within you is your resident Tutor, helping you in this supernatural endeavor. Yield to His gentle touch; be sensitive to His prompting. 

Exert your will to trust Me in all circumstances. Don't let your need to understand distract you from My Presence. I will equip you to get through this day victoriously, as you live in deep dependence on Me. Tomorrow is busy worrying about itself; don't get tangled up in its worry-webs. Trust Me one day at a time. 

Psalm 84:12
English Standard Version

     O Lord of hosts,

    blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Matthew 6:34
English Standard Version

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

My Prayer
Lord, help me to not get ahead of myself and to thank you about today and focus on today. You tell me to be content. Help me Lord because I tend to continually look anxiously to the future for things that are not known and worry about future outcomes. Help me to stay in the moment. Lord, I realize that it is not natural for me to Trust You. But, You have clearly shown me who You are and what You have done in this world and in My Life. I want to trust You in all circumstances. Give me the Power to do just that. Help me to not focus on understanding before trusting. I pray that the mark of my life would be trusting You.

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

Jesus Calling: March 4

    Refuse to worry! In this world there will always be something enticing you to worry. That is the nature of a fallen, fractured planet: Things are not as they should be. So the temptation to be anxious is constantly with you, trying to worm its way into your mind. The best defense is continual communication with Me, richly seasoned with thanksgiving. Awareness of My Presence fills your mind with Light and Peace, leaving no room for fear. This awareness lifts you up above your circumstances, enabling you to see problems from My perspective. Live close to Me! Together we can keep the wolves of worry at bay.

Luke 12:25-26
English Standard Version
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
English Standard Version
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Once again, I am reminded of my dependence on the Lord. That walking and talking daily with Him is what will keep me on the right track and keep me in balance. Worry adds nothing to life. Instead rejoice.

My Prayer

Lift me up, Lord, to Your Level, so that I see my situations and problems from Your perspective. I can realize Lord that You are in control. You see the whole picture. Keep me away from worry and instead help me to do the opposite and rejoice in each day. Turn my concern and worry to prayer where I depend on Your strength and let You take care of my circumstances. My goal is to be thankful.

It seems amazing that I live in society with many comforts, and yet worry and anxiety remain present. Give me peace Lord even as there are situations in my life that are broken, relationships that aren't working out to my design, challenges, fatigue even after a good night's sleep, a mounting list of to-do's, through all of these, help me to rest and embrace the will of God in my life. Keep me centered on Your Gospel and how you have rescued me from judgment, sealing me in Christ.

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

Jesus Calling: March 1

    When something in your life or thoughts makes you anxious, come to Me and talk about it. Bring Me your prayer and petition with thanksgiving, saying: "Thank You, Jesus, for this opportunity to trust You more." Though the lessons of trust that I send to you come wrapped in difficulties, the benefits far outweigh the cost.
    Well-developed trust will bring you many blessings, not the least of which is My Peace. I have promised to keep you in perfect Peace to the extent that you trust in Me. The world has it backwards, teaching that peace is the result of having enough money, possessions, insurance, and security systems. My Peace, however, is such an all-encompassing gift that it is independent of all circumstances. Though you lose everything else, if you gain My Peace you are rich indeed. 

Philippians 4:6
New American Standard Bible
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Isaiah 26:3
New Living Translation
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Thoughts
She mentions how "the world has it backwards, teaching that peace is the result of having enough money, possessions, insurance, and security systems." I Timothy 4:7 talks about exercising oneself or training oneself to godliness. It's a verse that has always spoken to me because of the inverse, when we aren't training ourselves to godliness, we are getting trained by the world. The follower in Christ has been given the Spirit and He speaks, but I wonder if often our attachment to the world and its ways results in us not listening to the Holy Spirit as he speaks to us or listening and not responding.

My Prayer

I don't need to be anxious for anything in my life. When I have trouble, Lord, I am to turn to you and let you know about it. Keep me focused Lord on you and trusting you for the outcomes of my life. Lord, I get into the habit so often of thinking that through my good planning and preparations that I can have peace. I think that I create the peace in my life by having things. But, you remind me that peace is found in You because You are Peace. This doesn't mean that I won't have tough situations, just as it doesn't mean that I won't have great times. But, no matter what, You are there. I need to trust You and fix my thoughts on You. But I cannot do this on my own. I need Your strength to accomplish this.

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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.

Jesus Calling: February 3

I am with you and for you. You face nothing alone--nothing! When you feel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world and leaving Me out of the picture. The remedy is simple: Fix your eyes not no what is seen but on what is unseen. Verbalize your trust in Me, the Living One who sees you always. I will get you safely through this day and all your days. But you can find Me only in the present. Each day is a precious gift from My Father. How ridiculous to grasp for future gifts when today's is set before you! Receive today's gift gratefully, unwrapping it tenderly and delving into its depths. As you savor this gift, you find Me.

Romans 8:31

English Standard Version

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

2 Corinthians 4:18

English Standard Version
...as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Genesis 16:13-14

English Standard Version
So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, “You are a God of seeing,” for she said, “Have I [not] even here [in the wilderness] looked upon Him who sees me [and lived]?” Or have I hear also seen [the future purposes or designs of] Him Who sees me? Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi [A well to the living One who sees me]; it is between Kadesh and Bered.


My Prayer
Lord, thank you for being my advocate. Thank You for choosing me and calling me to be Yours. You are with me every step of the way. I am never alone.

Lord, take away my anxiety and help me to not be worrisome. To keep You at the forefront, I need to stay on the high road and let you define the roller coaster of life.

Help me to fix my eyes on the unseen. To pray. To lean on You Father for everything. To trust in Your word. In Your way. To worship You. Lord, help me to not be quiet about my trust but to be vocal about it.

Lord, help me to thank You and realize the precious gift of each new day.

Lord, you have saved me by Your Grace, not by My efforts or works therefore, even as I walk through life, each day, I do not need to focus on My efforts, but instead fix my eyes on You and let You take the wheel and drive. You know the road better than I so let me trust You for each moment.

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

Also, bookmark https://bibletags.blogspot.com/2019/06/jesus-calling-366-days.html to have an easy link to the entire year of these entries.