AS YOU COME TO ME AND TAKE MY Yoke upon you, I fill you with My very Life. This is how I choose to live in the world and accomplish My purposes. It is also how I bless you with inexpressible, glorious Joy.
Dear Jesus, We delight in coming to You, but we are not quite as eager to be yoked. That sounds restrictive, and we definitely like to feel free. However, we are gradually learning that You do know what is best for us, even when it involves restrictions or suffering. We want to be filled with Your Life and Joy, so please show us how to take Your yoke upon us. Amen.
Beloved, the simplest way is to say yes to Me and My ways. I want you to be teachable. Receive My yoke as a teaching tool that helps you learn more and more about Me. Being yoked keeps you close to Me, on the path I have chosen for you. While this may feel restrictive at times, it protects you from many dangers.
As you live close to Me, My Life within you is nourished and strengthened. This enables Me to live more fully in you, accomplishing My purposes through you. I assure you, though, that I do not use you in a mechanistic way. There is a vibrant kinship between us as I live in and through you. This intimate connection produces immense Joy - far beyond anything the world can offer. The Joy I give is so wondrously glorious that it cannot be expressed in words.
My yoke is not harsh, hard, sharp or pressing. On the contrary, it is comfortable, gracious, and pleasant. As you submit to these bonds of Love, I fill you with Life and Joy in overflowing abundance.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Matthew 11:29-30; 1 Peter 1:8-9 and John 15:11
Friday, July 31, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
Anxiety Wraps You Up In ...
ANXIETY WRAPS YOU UP IN Yourself, trapping you in your own thoughts. When you look to Me and whisper My Name, you break free and receive My help.
Dear Jesus,
You understand us so well. When we are feeling anxious, we lose the ability to think clearly. Our thoughts spin out of control with ever-increasing velocity. This sets us on a downward spiral of increasing anxiety and runaway thoughts. At such times, it is hard to remember You are with us - ready to help. Amen.
Beloved, I know how difficult it is for you to break free when you are trapped in anxious thoughts. That's why I encourage you to change the subject by whispering My Name, "Jesus." The very simplicity of this act makes it possible to do - even when you are not thinking clearly. There is immense Power in My Name to help you break free from the anxiety closing in on you. When you speak My Name, however quietly, you acknowledge My continual Presence. This truth is promised to all My followers, and it sets you free. Freedom and My Presence make an excellent combination, enabling you to turn your thoughts into conversation with Me.
Begin by thanking Me for always hearing your prayers. Then, talk with Me about whatever is worrying you, trusting that I understand you and your situation perfectly. As you converse with me, the weight of your burden shifts to My strong shoulders, enabling you to relax. Now you are ready to receive My help, which I continually offer you.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 8:31-32; Psalm 139:23 and Deuteronomy 33:12
Dear Jesus,
You understand us so well. When we are feeling anxious, we lose the ability to think clearly. Our thoughts spin out of control with ever-increasing velocity. This sets us on a downward spiral of increasing anxiety and runaway thoughts. At such times, it is hard to remember You are with us - ready to help. Amen.
Beloved, I know how difficult it is for you to break free when you are trapped in anxious thoughts. That's why I encourage you to change the subject by whispering My Name, "Jesus." The very simplicity of this act makes it possible to do - even when you are not thinking clearly. There is immense Power in My Name to help you break free from the anxiety closing in on you. When you speak My Name, however quietly, you acknowledge My continual Presence. This truth is promised to all My followers, and it sets you free. Freedom and My Presence make an excellent combination, enabling you to turn your thoughts into conversation with Me.
Begin by thanking Me for always hearing your prayers. Then, talk with Me about whatever is worrying you, trusting that I understand you and your situation perfectly. As you converse with me, the weight of your burden shifts to My strong shoulders, enabling you to relax. Now you are ready to receive My help, which I continually offer you.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 8:31-32; Psalm 139:23 and Deuteronomy 33:12
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Trouble And Distress Are Woven Into ...
TROUBLE AND DISTRESS ARE WOVEN INTO the very fabric of this perishing world. Only My Life in you can empower you to face this endless flow of problems with good cheer.
Dear Jesus, We confess that good cheer does not describe our usual attitude when we are faced with multiple problems. Difficulties tend to become our focus, obscuring our view of You. We know in our head that the world is in a state of brokenness, but our heart still yearns for a problem-free life. Help us to be realistic about the condition of this world without succumbing to despair. Amen.
Beloved, you need to remember that this fallen world is temporary: It is perishing! The world is not your true home, thus, it's normal for you to feel uncomfortable in it. The yearnings of your heart point to your real, eternal home, so do not squelch those longings. Instead, let them serve as reminders that your ultimate destination is heaven. Nonetheless, I do want you to live well in this world for as long as I keep you here.
I have not left you to handle by yourself the trouble and distress of this life. I have poured My very Being into you, in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Make plenty of space in your heart for this glorious One. Let Him empower you to live above your circumstances. I am telling you these things so that you can experience My Peace in the midst of a problem filled life. You will continue to have trials and frustration in this world, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 14:2; John 14:16-17 and John 16:33
Dear Jesus, We confess that good cheer does not describe our usual attitude when we are faced with multiple problems. Difficulties tend to become our focus, obscuring our view of You. We know in our head that the world is in a state of brokenness, but our heart still yearns for a problem-free life. Help us to be realistic about the condition of this world without succumbing to despair. Amen.
Beloved, you need to remember that this fallen world is temporary: It is perishing! The world is not your true home, thus, it's normal for you to feel uncomfortable in it. The yearnings of your heart point to your real, eternal home, so do not squelch those longings. Instead, let them serve as reminders that your ultimate destination is heaven. Nonetheless, I do want you to live well in this world for as long as I keep you here.
I have not left you to handle by yourself the trouble and distress of this life. I have poured My very Being into you, in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Make plenty of space in your heart for this glorious One. Let Him empower you to live above your circumstances. I am telling you these things so that you can experience My Peace in the midst of a problem filled life. You will continue to have trials and frustration in this world, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 14:2; John 14:16-17 and John 16:33
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
I Have Prepared This Day With ...
I HAVE PREPARED THIS DAY WITH The Most Tender Concern And Attention To Detail. Instead of approaching the day as a blank page you need to fill up, try living it in a response mode: being on the lookout for all that I am doing.
Dear Jesus, This is the way we want to live - discovering what You are doing, and responding to the opportunities You place before us. We know this is the most joyful and productive way to live. Nonetheless, the part of us that likes being in control resists this manner of living. Please teach us the art of living responsively. Amen.
Beloved, because I am your Creator, I am the Initiator of your very life. Your first cry as an infant was a response to the life I provided. Many people think they can live independently of Me, but that is an illusion. I sustain everything by My powerful word! When I cease sustaining someone's life, that person dies. So, living responsively is a matter of aligning yourself with ultimate reality. My sovereignty over the universe. The fact that I am sovereign over every aspect of your life can increase your sense of security, to the extent that you trust in My perfect Love. Thus, the art of living responsively rests upon a foundation of trust - in My absolute goodness. My infinite wisdom, My loving Presence.
To build on this trust foundation, you need to be perceptive, seeing things from My perspective as well as yours. Search for what I am doing in the big picture as well as in the details of your day. Living this way requires concentration, because the world is rigged to distract you from Me. However, the times when you do succeed in living responsively will be the best in your life. You will feel fully alive and richly connected with Me at such times. This is a foretaste of what awaits you in heaven, when you will respond to Me perfectly - throughout eternity!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 10:29-31 and Psalm 13:5
Dear Jesus, This is the way we want to live - discovering what You are doing, and responding to the opportunities You place before us. We know this is the most joyful and productive way to live. Nonetheless, the part of us that likes being in control resists this manner of living. Please teach us the art of living responsively. Amen.
Beloved, because I am your Creator, I am the Initiator of your very life. Your first cry as an infant was a response to the life I provided. Many people think they can live independently of Me, but that is an illusion. I sustain everything by My powerful word! When I cease sustaining someone's life, that person dies. So, living responsively is a matter of aligning yourself with ultimate reality. My sovereignty over the universe. The fact that I am sovereign over every aspect of your life can increase your sense of security, to the extent that you trust in My perfect Love. Thus, the art of living responsively rests upon a foundation of trust - in My absolute goodness. My infinite wisdom, My loving Presence.
To build on this trust foundation, you need to be perceptive, seeing things from My perspective as well as yours. Search for what I am doing in the big picture as well as in the details of your day. Living this way requires concentration, because the world is rigged to distract you from Me. However, the times when you do succeed in living responsively will be the best in your life. You will feel fully alive and richly connected with Me at such times. This is a foretaste of what awaits you in heaven, when you will respond to Me perfectly - throughout eternity!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 10:29-31 and Psalm 13:5
Monday, July 27, 2015
I Am Ever So ...
I AM EVER SO Near You, hovering over your shoulder, reading every thought. People think that thoughts are fleeting and worthless, but yours are precious to Me.
Dear Jesus, This is glorious - yet disconcerting! Our thinking is not only the part of us that feels most hidden and secret; it is also the most difficult part of our behavior to master. In relationships with other people we can interact with them while keeping our secret thoughts to ourselves. Your ability to read our every thought is alarming, but it is also wonderful. It is a relief that there is Someone from whom we cannot hide. Secretiveness breeds loneliness. Moreover, the fact that You care about every aspect of us - even all our thoughts - demonstrates how important we are to You. Amen.
Beloved, I know how difficult it is for you to control your thoughts. Your mind is a battleground, and evil spirits work tirelessly to influence your thinking: even deceiving you with intrusive thoughts at times. Your own sinfulness also finds ample expression in your thoughts. You need to stay alert and fight against evil! I fought and died for you, so remember who you are and Whose you are. Thus you put on the helmet of salvation. This helmet not only protects your mind, it also reminds you of the victory I secured for you on the cross.
Your thoughts are precious to Me because you are My treasure. As soon as your thinking turns My way, I notice and rejoice. The more thoughts you bring to Me, the more you can share in My Joy. I disarm evil thoughts and render them powerless. Then I help you think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable - excellent and praiseworthy things. Ponder these things, while resting in the Peace of My Presence.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 139:1-2; Ephesians 6:17 and Philippians 4:8
Dear Jesus, This is glorious - yet disconcerting! Our thinking is not only the part of us that feels most hidden and secret; it is also the most difficult part of our behavior to master. In relationships with other people we can interact with them while keeping our secret thoughts to ourselves. Your ability to read our every thought is alarming, but it is also wonderful. It is a relief that there is Someone from whom we cannot hide. Secretiveness breeds loneliness. Moreover, the fact that You care about every aspect of us - even all our thoughts - demonstrates how important we are to You. Amen.
Beloved, I know how difficult it is for you to control your thoughts. Your mind is a battleground, and evil spirits work tirelessly to influence your thinking: even deceiving you with intrusive thoughts at times. Your own sinfulness also finds ample expression in your thoughts. You need to stay alert and fight against evil! I fought and died for you, so remember who you are and Whose you are. Thus you put on the helmet of salvation. This helmet not only protects your mind, it also reminds you of the victory I secured for you on the cross.
Your thoughts are precious to Me because you are My treasure. As soon as your thinking turns My way, I notice and rejoice. The more thoughts you bring to Me, the more you can share in My Joy. I disarm evil thoughts and render them powerless. Then I help you think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable - excellent and praiseworthy things. Ponder these things, while resting in the Peace of My Presence.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 139:1-2; Ephesians 6:17 and Philippians 4:8
Sunday, July 26, 2015
As The Holy Spirit Controls Your ...
AS THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLS YOUR Mind and Actions More Fully, you become free in Me. You are increasingly released to become the one I created you to be.
Dear Jesus, This sounds like a contradiction: becoming free through being controlled. Yet I know that when Your Spirit is controlling our thinking and behavior, we feel more alive -- more real! You have taught us to pray, "Holy Spirit, think through me, live through me, love through me." We have found we are most content when we intentionally yield to You: inviting You to live through us. Nonetheless, our desire to be in control and do things our way often sabotages us. Amen.
Beloved, in My kingdom freedom comes from yielding to My will, which is perfect. Because I am infinite and you are not, My will may appear to be anything but perfect. I want you to trust Me at all times, even when you cannot understand what I'm doing. The Holy Spirit will help you in this, as you invite Him to control your thinking. He lives in the depths of your spirit, and He knows you better than you know yourself. His work in you can liberate you to become more completely the one I designed you to be. The Spirit and I work together in perfect harmony.
I am pleased when you ask My Spirit to think, live, and love through you. This is the collaborative way of living I had in mind when I created mankind. The more you collaborate with the Spirit, the freer you become: free to live exuberantly, to love extravagantly, to know Me in ever-increasing intimacy!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 8:6; Romans 12:2 and Romans 8:26-27
Dear Jesus, This sounds like a contradiction: becoming free through being controlled. Yet I know that when Your Spirit is controlling our thinking and behavior, we feel more alive -- more real! You have taught us to pray, "Holy Spirit, think through me, live through me, love through me." We have found we are most content when we intentionally yield to You: inviting You to live through us. Nonetheless, our desire to be in control and do things our way often sabotages us. Amen.
Beloved, in My kingdom freedom comes from yielding to My will, which is perfect. Because I am infinite and you are not, My will may appear to be anything but perfect. I want you to trust Me at all times, even when you cannot understand what I'm doing. The Holy Spirit will help you in this, as you invite Him to control your thinking. He lives in the depths of your spirit, and He knows you better than you know yourself. His work in you can liberate you to become more completely the one I designed you to be. The Spirit and I work together in perfect harmony.
I am pleased when you ask My Spirit to think, live, and love through you. This is the collaborative way of living I had in mind when I created mankind. The more you collaborate with the Spirit, the freer you become: free to live exuberantly, to love extravagantly, to know Me in ever-increasing intimacy!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 8:6; Romans 12:2 and Romans 8:26-27
Saturday, July 25, 2015
I Know The Depth And Breadth Of Your ...
I KNOW THE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF YOUR Need For Me. I can read the emptiness of your thoughts when they wander away from Me.
Dear Jesus, The longer we live, the more we recognize how desperately we need You. We want You to be central in our lives. However, we can be easily distracted. Our thoughts wander away from You as readily as water flows downhill. We need your help all the time.
Amen.
Beloved, recognizing the extent of your neediness is one of your strengths. Humans can be divided into two categories: needy people who recognize their insufficiencies and needy people unaware of their inadequacies.
Recognition, however, is only half the battle. The other half is turning to Me -- rather than idolatrous substitutes -- to fill your emptiness. Though substitutes may seem appealing, they provide no lasting satisfaction.
Wandering thoughts are even so human. Your thoughts and feelings are constantly influenced by the heaviness of this fallen world. As long as you live on earth you will have to contend with this spiritual emotional "gravity" pulling you away from Me. Thankfully, returning your thoughts to Me is not as laborious as carrying water back uphill would be. A short prayer in My Name is usually sufficient to reconnect with Me, for I am never far from you. Indeed, I have promised to be with you always -- perpetually, uniformly and on every occasion - to the very close and consummation of the age.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Colossians 3:5; Acts 17:27 and Matthew 28:20
Dear Jesus, The longer we live, the more we recognize how desperately we need You. We want You to be central in our lives. However, we can be easily distracted. Our thoughts wander away from You as readily as water flows downhill. We need your help all the time.
Amen.
Beloved, recognizing the extent of your neediness is one of your strengths. Humans can be divided into two categories: needy people who recognize their insufficiencies and needy people unaware of their inadequacies.
Recognition, however, is only half the battle. The other half is turning to Me -- rather than idolatrous substitutes -- to fill your emptiness. Though substitutes may seem appealing, they provide no lasting satisfaction.
Wandering thoughts are even so human. Your thoughts and feelings are constantly influenced by the heaviness of this fallen world. As long as you live on earth you will have to contend with this spiritual emotional "gravity" pulling you away from Me. Thankfully, returning your thoughts to Me is not as laborious as carrying water back uphill would be. A short prayer in My Name is usually sufficient to reconnect with Me, for I am never far from you. Indeed, I have promised to be with you always -- perpetually, uniformly and on every occasion - to the very close and consummation of the age.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Colossians 3:5; Acts 17:27 and Matthew 28:20
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