Jesus Calling: January 3

Refresh yourself in the Peace of My Presence. Peace can be your portion at all times and in all circumstances. Learn to hide in the secret of My presence, even as you carry out your duties in the world. I am both with you and within you. I go before you to open up the way, and I also walk alongside you. There could never be another companion as devoted as I am.
      Because I am your constant Companion, there should be a lightness to your step that is observable to others. Do not be weighed down with problems and unresolved issues, for I am your burden-bearer. In the world you have trials and distress, but don't let them get you down. I have conquered the world and deprived it of power to harm you. In Me you may have confident Peace.

Psalm 31:19-20
New American Standard 
How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men! You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man; You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues.

John 16:33
Amplified
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

My Prayer
Lord, this is what I'm searching for in my life right now--to be refreshed. And it's in your presence where that refreshment is truly found. There is peace simply in You. Yet, this is not often my way, but instead I often think peace is found in having a better plan (getting organized or having my to do list filled out). There is nothing wrong with making these plans and getting organized, but they are not the means to me having peace. Peace is found resting in Your presence, taking refuge in You, abiding in You, being with You.

Lord, as I'm busy with so many tasks and responsibilities and roles each day, don't let me think for a moment that I can take care of myself and find peace apart from You. My refuge is found hiding in the secret place of Your presence. My confidence is in You Lord. Shift my focus; shift my ways. Teach me and train me correctly. I do not want to live in deception.

Lord, why do I think that you aren't engaged in my daily tasks? Why do I continually think that these tasks and duties are to be solved by my methods. You are with me. You walk alongside me. Help me to not be defined by my feelings, but instead defined by Your words.

Lord, you are there with me, so what should I fear? Nothing. You are my constant companion. You are there. Not just on the shelf for me to dial into when it is convenient. I can be of good cheer. Lord, I need help in this. I get so down on life. Last night, welling up in me, was this dissatisfaction. I got short with with my two oldest children. I got critical with how they were planning their world, thinking that those plans would not have the right outcome. There is no problem with helping them, but I need to help them in the right way. "But be of good cheer!" Take courage, be confident, certain, undaunted. Lord, I get tired of me and the way I react to things in life. Lord, I hate my impatience. And yet this should remind me how much more I need You for I am a sinner. My kids come home and come to me and I will up with disappointment and dissatisfaction. I let circumstances reign instead of the Peace of Your Presence. Lord, trials will come. But, a trial is not my kids wanting to be with me. When my oldest spoke of his leader from church and getting help from him, I hurt for a moment. I am selfish. I don't just want my kids best, but I want to be the reason they are getting the best. I wanted my son and I to work on things together, not him working with anyone else. Oh Lord, I want to be with my kids. And yet I have trained myself to be this tyrant, this judgmental person, with expectations. I feel disconnected from them. I want to be near them. When they were kids, it seemed easier, and yet, all too often, even at that time, I didn't take advantage of those moments. Now they are gone. Re-train me. 

Lord, I want to learn this. I want to learn this peace. Lord, I want to learn that you have overcome the world and so I can be of good cheer. Change my mood Lord. Sure, life is full of trails and frustrations and distresses; they never end. One ends. One gets completed and something new springs up. They don't end. They continue. That is the way it is. But, I can still be of good cheer. Re-train me. I want to learn how to be of good cheer. Lord, I don't want to be weighed down with all these problems. Right now, there is a weight. I'm letting these things take me down. I have many unresolved issues. Show me how to work through them and yet, at the same time, have Your peace; at the same time, be in Your presence; at the same time, be of good cheer. You Lord are my burden-bearer.

Don't let me get down by all these roles and responsibilities and unknowns and tasks and duties. It doesn't mean I am to avoid them. Lord, I need to address them head on. But, through that, help me to remain in Your presence, to be of good cheer, to notice You right beside me, to trust that You have conquered these problems and nothing can harm me. 

Lord, my friend is carrying a weight around today. Lord, help him to give it to You. Show him that he doesn't need those secret sins, but he can find peace and comfort and be of good cheer in You and away from those sins. Show him how you have conquered those things.

As my son begins his time of talking to a counselor today, help him to find comfort in this. Provide a good discussion and help him to see the value of yourself in him. Give him peace. 

Lord, give us wisdom in these car purchases and borrowing money. Lord, part of me wants to just borrow a lot of money so we have it. And yet Lord, you don't want us to be dependent on others and pay interest. Lord, daily I need to learn how to spend money. And daily I need to surrender this to You. 

Lord, if I'm to do this time with You, I need to get to bed sooner. Which means I need to stop thinking that rest is found in watching TV.

Note: The devotion and scriptures are from author Sarah Young. Please purchase the book and support the author.