Jesus Calling: May 15

     Spending time alone with Me is essential for your well-being. It is not a luxury or an option; it is a necessity. Therefore, do not feel guilty about taking time to be with Me. Remember that Satan is the accuser of believers. He delights in heaping guilt feelings upon you, especially when you are enjoying My Presence. When you feel Satan's arrows of accusation, you are probably on the right track. Use your shield of faith to protect yourself from him. Talk with Me about what you are experiencing, and ask Me to show you the way forward. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to Me, and I will come near to you. 

Revelation 12:10
English Standard Version

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.

Ephesians 6:16
English Standard Version

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.

James 4:7-8
English Standard Version

⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

My Prayer (2018)
Lord, thank you for being near. for helping me to see that you have not only saved me for eternity, but you also care for me each day. Thank you for helping me see that my faith is a form of protection. Lord, I had some days this past week where I was calling on you, hoping that my faith would save someone else, in that moment. My son who continues to be racked with this addiction in his life. It is an idol in his life and you know I would love to see him freed from it as he has become dependent on another means to escape from this life. I so pray that my faith could rescue him. I continue to talk to You about him. Keep my confidence in You. I also return to work today after being off the past 6 days. Thank you for keeping us all safe as we traveled to Denver and then flew to Atlanta. I don't want to ever take for granted the many miles traveled in which we can be together and be safe together. You are so good to us. Help my wife and I today now as we return to work. Thank you for the time off.

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: May 14

     I am a mighty God. Nothing is too difficult for Me. I have chosen to use weak ones like you to accomplish My purposes. Your weakness is designed to open you up to My Power. Therefore, do not fear your limitations or measure the day's demands against your strength. What I require of you is to stay connected to Me, living in trusting dependence on My limitless resources. When you face unexpected demands, there is no need to panic. Remember that I am with you. Talk with Me, and listen while I talk you through each challenging situation.
     I am not a careless God. When I allow difficulties to come into your life, I equip you fully to handle them. Relax in My Presence, trusting in My Strength. 

Luke 1:37
English Standard Version

For nothing will be impossible with God. 

Verse Thoughts - This is towards Mary in response to Elizabeth having a child at an old age.  

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.


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: May 13

     Thank Me in the midst of the crucible. When things seem all wrong, look for growth opportunities. Especially, look for areas where you need to let go, leaving your cares in My able hands. Do you trust Me to orchestrate your life events as I choose, or are you still trying to make things go according to your will? If you keep trying to carry out your intentions while I am leading you in another direction, you deify your desires.
     Be on the lookout for what I am doing in your life. Worship Me by living close to Me, thanking Me in all circumstances. 

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
One of the evidences of lack of submission and humility is impatience with God in his work of humbling believers. He exalts us at the proper time. While I wait, I come before him with humility. I wait for his timing. Christians are to cast (to throw something on something) all of their discontent, discouragement, despair, and suffering on the Lord, and trust him for knowing what he's doing with their lives. Along with submission (I Peter 5:5) and humility (5-6), trust in God is the third attitude necessary for victorious Christian living. 
 
I Thessalonians 5:18
English Standard Version

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Verse Thoughts
Thanklessness is a trait of unbelievers.  The first thing those that know God do when they begin to reject and replace God in their life is not giving thanks (Romans 1:21). To be grateful is a command and God's will in my life. 

My Prayer
Lord, too often I am not thankful. Teach me and remind me to be thankful, even in circumstances where my first instinct is not to be thankful. I want to trust You even though I don't see a way out. 

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: May 12

     Learn to relate to others through My Love rather than yours. Your human love is ever so limited, full of flaws and manipulation. My loving Presence, which always enfolds you, is available to bless others as well as you. Instead of trying harder to help people through your own paltry supplies, become aware of My unlimited supply, which is accessible to you continually. Let My Love envelop your outreach to other people.
     Many of My precious children have fallen prey to burnout. A better description of their condition might be "drainout." Countless interactions with needy people have drained them, without their conscious awareness. You are among these weary ones, who are like wounded soldiers needing R&R. Take time to rest in the Love-Light of My Presence. I will gradually restore to you the energy that you have lost over the years. Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and you will find rest for your souls.

Exodus 33:14
English Standard Version

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Verse Thoughts - In the original manuscript the phrase with you is not present, so literally this is my presence will go up. Verse 14 is a response to Moses praying in verses 12, Bring up this people. Thus, God is saying He will literally be there, His presence. And this presence means His people have rest, both today and tomorrow and always. 

Matthew 11:28-29 
English Standard Version

²⁸ Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Verse Thoughts - The idea here is that God provides a rest that no one else can, but here specifically, the context is the Jewish Christians were feeling a heavy burden from the works and toils that the Pharisees and scribes expected them to do. 

My Prayer -  
Lord, the world naturally places many demands on us. Our jobs, each day our lives, where we live, what we do - there is always something to do. Granted, sin resulted in this toil that sometimes has little dividend. Lord, you give us the promise that you will give us rest. I am reminded of the Sabbath day promise you have given us, which means we can rest and you will take care of our burdens. You are there Lord. Thank you for your presence. Thank you for being near.

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: May 11

     Thank Me for your problems. As soon as your mind gets snagged on a difficulty, bring it to Me with thanksgiving. Then ask Me to show you My way to handle the situation. The very act of thinking Me releases your mind from its negative focus. As you turn your attention to Me, the problem fades in significance and loses its power to trip you up. Together we can deal with the situation, either facing it head-on or putting it aside for later consideration.
     Most of the situations that entangle your mind are not today's concerns; you have borrowed them from tomorrow. In this case, I lift the problem out of today and deposit it in the future, where it is veiled from your eyes. In its place I give you My Peace, which flows freely from My Presence.

Philippians 4:6
English Standard Version

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.


John 14:27
English Standard Version

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.


My Prayer 

(2016) Lord, wow, how I never seem to do that in my life.  Train me to do that daily, thanking you for the tough situation at work, the trial with my daughter and college and her health, my wife's difficulty at her job, my son's summer school and camp choices. Thank you for those problems.

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: May 10

     Do not resist or run from the difficulties in your life. These problems are not random mistakes; they are hand-tailored blessings designed for your benefit and growth. Embrace all the circumstances that I allow in your life, trusting Me to bring good out of them. View problems as opportunities to rely more fully on Me.
     When you start to feel stressed, let those feelings alert you to your need for Me. Thus, your needs become doorways to deep dependence on Me and increasing intimacy between us. Although self-sufficiency is acclaimed in the world, reliance on Me produces abundant living in My kingdom. Thank Me for the difficulties in your life, since they provide protection from the idolatry of self-reliance. 

John 15:5
English Standard Version

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 
2 Corinthians 1:8-9
English Standard Version

⁸ For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Verse Thoughts
Paul was sure that he was going to die for the sake of the Gospel. 
 
Ephesians 5:20
English Standard Version

giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

My Prayer (2018) - Thank you Lord for the difficulties in my life. Thank you for protecting me from the idolatry of self-reliance by giving me difficulties. Thank you for pruning me and making me clean before you. Thank you that you do not grade my life or ask me to jump through hops in order to earn salvation, but I am accepted because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross to save me. Now that I am saved, help me with your Spirit to live the best life possible. I want people to speak well of you because of what they see in 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: May 9

     Don't be so hard on yourself. I can bring good even out of your mistakes. Your finite mind tends to look backward, longing to undo decisions you have come to regret. This is a waste of time and energy, leading only to frustration. Instead of floundering in the past, release your mistakes to Me. Look to Me in trust, anticipating that My infinite creativity can weave both good choices and bad into a lovely design.
     Because you are human, you will continue to make mistakes. Thinking that you should live an error-free life is symptomatic of pride. Your failures can be a source of blessing, humbling you and giving you empathy for other people in their weaknesses. Best of all, failure highlights your dependence on Me. I am able to bring beauty out of the morass of your mistakes. Trust Me, and watch to see what I will do. 

Romans 8:28
English Standard Version

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Verse Thoughts
In his providence, God orchestrates every event in life--even suffering, temptation, and sin--to accomplish both our temporal and eternal benefit. "Health, beauty, vigor, riches, and all the other things called goods, operate equally as evils to the vicious and unjust, as they do as benefits to the just." - Plato

Micah 7:7
English Standard Version

But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord;
I will wait for the God of my salvation.
My God will hear me.

Verse Thoughts
In spite of his dire circumstances, Micah, as a watchman would intently look for evidence of God's working, trusting God to act in his own time and way.

My Prayer (2018) - Lord, thank you for the reminder to not be so tough on myself. I admit that at times I look at your standard, see how I don't measure up and then get down on myself. Yet, you are not asking me to measure up. You love me and accept me for who I am and you are constantly working in my life to make me more like you. I can be confident that you are working life out for your purpose. You will hear me. You do hear me. You are there. My hope is in You. Thank you Lord for saving me and calling me to be your child. I do not have to worry about tomorrow. You are with me. Thank you Jesus. 

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.