Jesus Calling: November 15

Approach problems with a light touch. When your mind moves toward a problem area, you tend to focus on that situation so intensely that you lose sight of Me. You pit yourself against the difficulty as if you had to conquer it immediately. Your mind gears up for battle, and your body becomes tense and anxious. Unless you achieve total victory, you feel defeated.
     There is a better way. When a problem starts to overshadow your thoughts, bring this matter to Me. Talk with Me about it and look at it in the Light of My Presence. This puts some much-needed space between you and your concern, enabling you to see from My perspective. You will be surprised at the results. Sometimes you may even laugh at yourself for being so serious about something so insignificant.
     You will always face trouble in this life. But more importantly, you will always have Me with you, helping you to handle whatever you encounter. Approach problems with a light touch by viewing them in My revealing light. 

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

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.”

My Prayer (2022)

Lord, thank you for being with me as I go about my day, as I experience situations, as I am with people, as I come upon difficult situations. You are with me Holy Spirit, guiding me and directing me. I need not be afraid. There are times when things happen that are such a challenge to me. Thank you God for being with me, for showing me that even in these circumstances there is peace. I want to continually walk O Lord in the light of your face. 

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 10

Focus your entire being on My living Presence. I am most assuredly with you, enveloping you in My Love and Peace. While you relax in My Presence, I am molding your mind and cleansing your heart. I am recreating you into the one I designed you to be.
     As you move from stillness into the activities of your day, do not relinquish your attentiveness to Me. If something troubles you, talk it over with Me. If you get bored with what you are doing, fill the time with prayers and praise. When someone irritates you, don't let your thoughts linger on that person's faults. Gently nudge your mind back to Me. Every moment is precious if you keep your focus on Me. Any day can be a good day, because My Presence permeates all time.

Psalm 89:15-16

English Standard Version

Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.

I John 3:19-20

English Standard Version
By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

Jude 24-25
English Standard Version
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Psalm 41:12
English Standard Version
But you have upheld me because of my integrity,
and set me in your presence forever.

My Prayer (2022)

Lord, I notice in my life a habit forming of not thinking of You first when I experience trials, difficult situations. Instead, I think of first -- who can I talk with, who will listen to me. Lord, would you re-train me to go to you first? Nudge me back to You. You know everything and yet I too often act like you are a last resort than a first solution. Thank you for placing good people in my life and I do value their words and their listening ear, and I will continue to consult them, but first let me start with You God. Lord, I do ask that I am the person that You see that listens to You and will relax in Your presence. 

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 9

Sit quietly with Me, letting all your fears and worries bubble up to the surface of your consciousness. There, in the Light of My Presence, the bubbles pop and disappear. However, some fears surface over and over again, especially fear of the future. You tend to project yourself mentally into the next day, week, month, year, decade; and you visualize yourself coping badly in those times. What you are seeing is a false image, because it doesn't include Me. Those gloomy times that you imagine will not come to pass, since My Presence will be with you at all times.
     When a future-oriented worry assails you, capture it and disarm it by suffusing the Light of My Presence into that mental image. Say to yourself, "Jesus will be with me then and there. With His help, I can cope!" Then, come home to the present moment, where you can enjoy Peace in My Presence. 

Luke 12:22-26
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?

Deuteronomy 31:6
English Standard Version
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

2 Corinthians 10:5
English Standard Version
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.

My Prayer

Lord, I cast my cares upon your throne. Help me see you are with me today, tomorrow and every day in the future. I want to live obedient to Your Word, trusting in You, not anxious about today. You remind me the way you provide for the birds and animals that you created. I am much more valuable than them. Forgive me for thinking at times that I must prepare for the future and not seeing You already in my future. I can be strong and courageous for every 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.

Jesus Calling: November 8

Learn to appreciate difficult days. Be stimulated by the challenges you encounter along your way. As you journey through rough terrain with Me, gain confidence from your knowledge that together we can handle anything. This knowledge is comprised of three parts: your relationship with Me, promises in the Bible and past experiences of coping successfully during hard times.
     Look back on your life, and see how I have helped you through difficult days. If you are tempted to think, "Yes, but that was then, and this is now," remember who I AM! Although you and your circumstances may change dramatically, I remain the same throughout time and eternity. This is the basis of your confidence. In My Presence you live and move and have your being. 

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 102:27
English Standard Version
but you are the same, and your years have no end.

Acts 17:28
English Standard Version
for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are indeed his offspring.’

My Prayer
I am so accustomed to thinking that good days are the only type of days I should have. Yes, it is what I want, but Lord, help me to appreciate difficult days and what I can learn from them. Granted, I know that I'm able to accept 1 or 2 in the midst of many good days, but it could be there is a tough journey you would like me to be on. Help me take my refuge in You always. I don't need to fear. You will help me. Give me strength Lord for I can be weak.


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 7

Worship Me in the beauty of holiness. All true beauty reflects some of who I AM. I am working My ways in you: the divine Artist creating loveliness within your being. My main work is to clear out debris and clutter, making room for My Spirit to take full possession. Collaborate with Me in this effort by being willing to let go of anything I choose to take away. I know what you need, and I have promised to provide all of that -- abundantly!
     Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions or in things going your way. I am training you to depend on Me alone, finding fulfillment in My Presence. This entails being satisfied with much or with little, accepting either as My will for the moment. Instead of grasping and controlling, you are learning to release and receive. Cultivate this receptive stance by trusting Me in every situation. 

Psalm 29:2
New King James Version
Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 27:4
English Standard Version
One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple.

My Prayer (2019)
Once again Lord, I see a common theme in this devotion - putting my trust in You throughout all of life - every turn. Before I go any further Lord, let me say thank you for Your Grace. Thank you that my efforts, my deeds, my works, have nothing to do with your acceptance of me. I'm not trained in this kind of thinking in this works-oriented world I live in, but I am so thankful that you accept me as your child without even expecting anything in return. As you know God, I've been reading Packer's Knowing God and studying wisdom and seeing that wisdom is me learning to navigate through all of life's twists and turns, in a manner worthy of my calling, and this wisdom begins with my fear of You. My anchor must reside in You and only You. I give you the Glory, not me. I worship You, not me. It is your beauty I desire. This is the way I want my life to look to everyone around me - that I seek after something greater than things. Lord, show me what I'm holding onto in my life that I am placing higher than You. Take it away if that is what it takes. You have been speaking to me the past couple of weeks and showing me my sin of judging others - how I have these little commentaries on people and what I view as their failures and then the dialogue I can have with others about these failures. Lord, it took someone who doesn't even call you Lord (how embarrassing God) to help me see this sin in me. Damage has been done by my words; their is poison under my lips. I want to begin afresh, yet I have repairs to be made along the way that will also assault my pride. But, I want to release my control and instead let you Holy Spirit take full possession of me. I ask you Lord to bring me into the stance of trusting You in every situation.    


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 6

Seek to please Me above all else. As you journey through today, there will be many choice-points along your way. Most of the day's decisions will be small ones you have to make quickly. You need some rule of thumb to help you make good choices. Many people's decisions are a combination of their habitual responses and their desire to please themselves or others. This is not My way for you. Strive to please Me in everything, not just in major decisions. This is possible only to the extent that you are living in close communion with Me. When My Presence is your deepest delight, you know almost instinctively what will please Me. A quick glance at Me is all you need to make the right choice. Delight yourself in Me more and more; seek My pleasure in all you do.

John 8:29
English Standard Version
And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.

Hebrews 11:5-6
English Standard Version 
⁵ By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. ⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Psalm 37:4
English Standard Version 
Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.

My Prayer (2019)
Holy Spirit, I want to be in tune to what you are speaking to me so that when you speak, I listen. When You tell me to do something, I do it. I don't want to be a product in life of my habitual responses that are often there to safeguard me from pain and suffering and in turn, disobedient to your commands. Whatever the situation in life - big or small - I want to be about giving glory to God. I want to delight myself in You more and more and delight myself in me less and less; I want to delight myself less in what the world values - comfort, peace, safety, like-mindedness, feelings, entertainment, ambition for things. I want to delight myself in You Lord. O God forgive me for not really striving to please you in everything. I look at your commandments and I pick and choose the ones that are most comfortable to me. Jesus, yes, you fulfilled your words of always doing the things that are pleasing to the Father, but I fail. Change me O God. Change 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: November 5

You can live as close to Me as you choose. I set up no barriers between us; neither do I tear down barriers that you erect.
     People tend to think their circumstances determine the quality of their lives. So they pour their energy into trying to control their situations. They feel happy when things are going well, and sad or frustrated when things don't turn out as they'd hoped. They rarely question that correlation between their circumstances and feelings. Yet it is possible to be content in any and every situation. 
     Put more energy into trusting Me and enjoying My Presence. Don't let your well-being depend on your circumstances. Instead, connect your joy to My precious promises:

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. 

I will meet all your needs according to My glorious riches.

Nothing in all creation will be able to separate you from My Love.

Philippians 4:12
English Standard Version
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
 
Genesis 28:15
English Standard Version
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.
 
Philippians 4:19
English Standard Version
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
 
Romans 8:38-39
English Standard Version

³⁸ 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.

My Prayer (2019)
Yes, Lord, I want my well-being to be defined by my closeness to you and not my circumstances. Forgive me Lord for letting worldly gains, money, define my mood. Lord, I want instead to be defined by the simple promised that you are with me...wherever I go. That you will not leave me...that you will supply every thing I need - forgive me for thinking life is about meeting my wants in order to be happy. It is Your Love God that I need. Convince me of this because Lord I get so distracted so much. But, as I arise this day and look to Your Words, may they not only bring me comfort, but define me. Give me the strength to walk each day in this definition. 


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.