LET ME FILL YOU WITH MY Love, Joy and Peace: these are Glory gifts, flowing from My living Presence. Though you are an earthen vessel, I designed you to be filled with heavenly contents.
Dear Jesus, We are not only an earthen vessel. We are also a leaky container. We need to be filled and refilled - over and over again. Without You, our emptiness is profound. Please fill us with Your Love, Joy and Peace to full measure.
Beloved, come to Me and linger in My Presence. I am eager to fill you with MY Glory gifts, but this takes time: focused time with Me. Do not rush into My Presence: trying to grab as much blessing as you can before making a quick exit. Instead, stay with a while, enjoying the awesome privilege of communing with your King. As you wait with Me, My very Life flows into you. I choose to fill you with heavenly substance, even though you are a jar of
clay - a leaky one at that!
I want you to be all Mine - filled to overflowing with My Love, Joy and Peace. Because these Glory gifts leak out of you, you need Me continually for renewal. Your neediness is not a mistake or defect. It keeps you looking to Me, depending on Me, communicating with Me. Though you are a frail earthen jar, I have filled you with the most precious treasure: the divine Light of the gospel. Your human frailty is necessary to show that this exceedingly great Power is not from you but from Me.
I am Christ in you, the hope of Glory. As I fill you with My Glory-gifts, let My wondrous Light shine through you into other people's lives.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Galatians 5:22; 2 Corinthians 4:7; Colossians 1:27 and
Matthew 5:16
Friday, October 2, 2015
Thursday, October 1, 2015
I Am A God Of ...
I AM A GOD OF both intricate detail and overflowing abundance. When you entrust the details of your life to Me, you are surprised by how thoroughly I answer your petitions.
Dear Jesus, We rejoice in Your overflowing abundance! Time after time we have come to You for Life, and You have provided plentifully. It amazes us that One so immeasurably great would care about the tiny details of our lives.
Beloved, My infinite abundance enables Me to be attentive to every bit of your life. Actually, small matters can lead to major consequences, so it's wise to entrust to Me even things that seem unimportant. One way of doing this is through seeking to please Me in every aspect of your life. This changes your perspective and invites Me into all your moments. When you go through a day desiring to please Me, feelings of emptiness give way to abundant fullness. Things around you seem brighter, because the Light of My Presence casts a gentle glow on them. Your efforts to please Me draw us closer and put you in sync with My will. Thus connected with Me, you can enjoy sharing My pleasant, comfortable yoke and My light, easily borne burden.
You receive many blessings through entrusting the details of your life to Me. When you do so, I surprise you in several ways, I answer your prayers bountifully and I awaken your heart to the radiant pleasure of living in union with Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:9; 2 Samuel 22:29 and
Matthew 11:30
Dear Jesus, We rejoice in Your overflowing abundance! Time after time we have come to You for Life, and You have provided plentifully. It amazes us that One so immeasurably great would care about the tiny details of our lives.
Beloved, My infinite abundance enables Me to be attentive to every bit of your life. Actually, small matters can lead to major consequences, so it's wise to entrust to Me even things that seem unimportant. One way of doing this is through seeking to please Me in every aspect of your life. This changes your perspective and invites Me into all your moments. When you go through a day desiring to please Me, feelings of emptiness give way to abundant fullness. Things around you seem brighter, because the Light of My Presence casts a gentle glow on them. Your efforts to please Me draw us closer and put you in sync with My will. Thus connected with Me, you can enjoy sharing My pleasant, comfortable yoke and My light, easily borne burden.
You receive many blessings through entrusting the details of your life to Me. When you do so, I surprise you in several ways, I answer your prayers bountifully and I awaken your heart to the radiant pleasure of living in union with Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 5:9; 2 Samuel 22:29 and
Matthew 11:30
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
You Can Feel Secure, Even In The ...
YOU CAN FEEL SECURE, EVEN IN THE Midst of cataclysmic changes, through awareness of My continual Presence. The One who never leaves you is the One who never changes. I am the same yesterday, today and forever.
Dear Jesus, We think what You are saying is: Because You never change, we have a firm foundation for handling whatever changes come our way. You are that foundation - the Rock on which we can build our life. However, catastrophes tend to destroy what people have built. We don't think we are ready to face cataclysmic changes yet.
Beloved, I am indeed the firm foundation on which you can build your life. The significance of your life is not in buildings or other things that can be swept away by catastrophes. Though I want you to enjoy the material blessings I provide, you must not depend on them to feel safe. Real security rests in Me alone - not in Me plus favorable circumstances. If you build your life on the Rock of My Presence, nothing can destroy that foundation. It is invincible! Moreover, the essence of who you are - your soul - is indestructible.
You said you are not yet ready to face cataclysmic change. I don't expect you to be ready for that until the moment it actually occurs. But I am training you to trust Me enough to believe you can handle anything that happens - with My help. Remember My promise that I will never leave you or forsake you. Though My Presence with you is absolutely guaranteed, it reassures you only to the extent that you are aware of Me. I am vibrantly present in all your moments, but sometimes you have to search for Me. Seek Me as a vital necessity - not a luxury - and you will find Me: search for Me with all your heart.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 13:8; Isaiah 26:4; Hebrews 13:5 and
Jeremiah 29:13
Dear Jesus, We think what You are saying is: Because You never change, we have a firm foundation for handling whatever changes come our way. You are that foundation - the Rock on which we can build our life. However, catastrophes tend to destroy what people have built. We don't think we are ready to face cataclysmic changes yet.
Beloved, I am indeed the firm foundation on which you can build your life. The significance of your life is not in buildings or other things that can be swept away by catastrophes. Though I want you to enjoy the material blessings I provide, you must not depend on them to feel safe. Real security rests in Me alone - not in Me plus favorable circumstances. If you build your life on the Rock of My Presence, nothing can destroy that foundation. It is invincible! Moreover, the essence of who you are - your soul - is indestructible.
You said you are not yet ready to face cataclysmic change. I don't expect you to be ready for that until the moment it actually occurs. But I am training you to trust Me enough to believe you can handle anything that happens - with My help. Remember My promise that I will never leave you or forsake you. Though My Presence with you is absolutely guaranteed, it reassures you only to the extent that you are aware of Me. I am vibrantly present in all your moments, but sometimes you have to search for Me. Seek Me as a vital necessity - not a luxury - and you will find Me: search for Me with all your heart.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 13:8; Isaiah 26:4; Hebrews 13:5 and
Jeremiah 29:13
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
There Is No Condemnation In ...
THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION IN My Presence, for I view you robed in My righteousness. Savor the delightfulness of your guilt-free existence in Me.
Dear Jesus, We are so thankful for Your robe of righteousness! The longer we know You, the more conscious we are of our utter unrighteousness. We could easily fall prey to self-hatred if we focused on all the ways we fall short. But we remind ourselves that You have clothed us with garments of salvation: setting us free from condemnation.
Beloved, I want to help you see yourself consistently the way I always view you: dazzling in royal righteousness. You may find it easier to see yourself this way when you are living up to your standard of performance. But you have never yet lived up to My standard, and you never will - in this life. You need My righteousness just as much on good days as on bad ones. A common pitfall is to think you can manage without Me when things are going well in your life.
At such times you may feel that you have no need of My royal robe. Another common pitfall is to become so preoccupied with your sinfulness and failures that you despair - forgetting that My salvation clothing is sufficient to cover all your sins.
I want you to enjoy the riches of your salvation: the delightfulness of guilt-free existence in Me. I array you as a robe of perfect righteousness when I became your Savior. Nothing and no one can strip you of that covering! The more consistently you see yourself clothed in My royal garments, the more you can rejoice in My radiant Presence. You are chosen royalty, belonging to Me - that you may proclaim My excellencies. I am the One who called you out of darkness into My marvelous Light!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 8:1-2; Isaiah 61:10 and 1 Peter 2:9
Dear Jesus, We are so thankful for Your robe of righteousness! The longer we know You, the more conscious we are of our utter unrighteousness. We could easily fall prey to self-hatred if we focused on all the ways we fall short. But we remind ourselves that You have clothed us with garments of salvation: setting us free from condemnation.
Beloved, I want to help you see yourself consistently the way I always view you: dazzling in royal righteousness. You may find it easier to see yourself this way when you are living up to your standard of performance. But you have never yet lived up to My standard, and you never will - in this life. You need My righteousness just as much on good days as on bad ones. A common pitfall is to think you can manage without Me when things are going well in your life.
At such times you may feel that you have no need of My royal robe. Another common pitfall is to become so preoccupied with your sinfulness and failures that you despair - forgetting that My salvation clothing is sufficient to cover all your sins.
I want you to enjoy the riches of your salvation: the delightfulness of guilt-free existence in Me. I array you as a robe of perfect righteousness when I became your Savior. Nothing and no one can strip you of that covering! The more consistently you see yourself clothed in My royal garments, the more you can rejoice in My radiant Presence. You are chosen royalty, belonging to Me - that you may proclaim My excellencies. I am the One who called you out of darkness into My marvelous Light!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 8:1-2; Isaiah 61:10 and 1 Peter 2:9
Monday, September 28, 2015
The More Aware You Are Of My ...
THE MORE AWARE YOU ARE OF MY Presence, the safer you feel. This is not some sort of escape from reality; it is tuning in to ultimate reality.
Dear Jesus, You understand us wonderfully well! When we are conscious of Your Presence, we feel safer and more peaceful. Sometimes, though, it is hard for us to remember You are still in charge of this world, especially when we watch the news on television. There is so much spin on what they present as fact and You are invariably left out of the picture. It is a huge challenge to stay aware of You while media is bombarding us with evil and cynicism.
Beloved, one of the problems with television is that it puts viewers into a passive mode. If you come across something disturbing while you are reading, you can stop for a while and think about the matter. You can also take time to talk it over with Me. Television, however, sends a constant barrage of stimuli your way, making it hard for you to think about you're seeing and hearing. Nonetheless, there are still some measures you can take to stay engaged with Me. You can pray before you turn the set on, asking Me to help you view things from My perspective. When you have finished watching whatever you planned to see, take time to talk with Me about it. I will help you regain a biblical worldview.
I am indeed in charge of the world: I created it and I sustain it. When you are aware of My Presence, you feel more at home in your surroundings. I am your ultimate dwelling place, and I am preparing a home for you in heaven. I am also continually with you on earth. Though you cannot see Me, the reality is that I am your home - both now and each and forevermore in paradise.
= Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 90:1-2; John 14:2 and Psalm 23:6
Dear Jesus, You understand us wonderfully well! When we are conscious of Your Presence, we feel safer and more peaceful. Sometimes, though, it is hard for us to remember You are still in charge of this world, especially when we watch the news on television. There is so much spin on what they present as fact and You are invariably left out of the picture. It is a huge challenge to stay aware of You while media is bombarding us with evil and cynicism.
Beloved, one of the problems with television is that it puts viewers into a passive mode. If you come across something disturbing while you are reading, you can stop for a while and think about the matter. You can also take time to talk it over with Me. Television, however, sends a constant barrage of stimuli your way, making it hard for you to think about you're seeing and hearing. Nonetheless, there are still some measures you can take to stay engaged with Me. You can pray before you turn the set on, asking Me to help you view things from My perspective. When you have finished watching whatever you planned to see, take time to talk with Me about it. I will help you regain a biblical worldview.
I am indeed in charge of the world: I created it and I sustain it. When you are aware of My Presence, you feel more at home in your surroundings. I am your ultimate dwelling place, and I am preparing a home for you in heaven. I am also continually with you on earth. Though you cannot see Me, the reality is that I am your home - both now and each and forevermore in paradise.
= Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 90:1-2; John 14:2 and Psalm 23:6
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Listen To Me Even While You ...
LISTEN TO ME EVEN WHILE YOU are listening to other people. As they open their souls to your scrutiny, you are on holy ground. You need the help of My Spirit to respond appropriately.
Dear Jesus, This is an area when we really want to grow. When people open up to us, we get so focused on them and what they are saying that we forget to listen to You. The latent hero in us tries to take charge of the situation and rescue the other person. While we're listening our mind is analyzing data, searching for solutions. The main problem with this approach is that we are relying on ourselves - trusting in our own abilities, which are usually inadequate.
Beloved, it's good that you recognize your tendency to play the hero. It's even better that you want to grow out of this role. When people bare their souls to you, you are indeed on holy ground. Your responsibility is to listen and love. If you jump in with both feet - trying to rescue them - your muddy footprints pollute the holy terrain. Some people will retreat when this happens, others may be too wounded to realize they have been violated. Either way, you have missed the mark and spoiled a splendid opportunity.
To function effectively on holy ground, you need the help of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to think through you, listen through you, love through you. As the Spirits Love shines through you. My healing Presence goes to work in the other person. While you continue listening, I will sometimes give you words of wisdom to share. But your main role is to direct the person toward Me and My limitless resources.
If you follow these guidelines, both you and others will be blessed. They will connect with My unfailing Love at soul level. My Spirit will flow through you delightfully - refreshing your soul. You may not feel heroic, but your soul will feel satisfied.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Exodus 3:5; Psalm 143:8; Psalm 63:5
Dear Jesus, This is an area when we really want to grow. When people open up to us, we get so focused on them and what they are saying that we forget to listen to You. The latent hero in us tries to take charge of the situation and rescue the other person. While we're listening our mind is analyzing data, searching for solutions. The main problem with this approach is that we are relying on ourselves - trusting in our own abilities, which are usually inadequate.
Beloved, it's good that you recognize your tendency to play the hero. It's even better that you want to grow out of this role. When people bare their souls to you, you are indeed on holy ground. Your responsibility is to listen and love. If you jump in with both feet - trying to rescue them - your muddy footprints pollute the holy terrain. Some people will retreat when this happens, others may be too wounded to realize they have been violated. Either way, you have missed the mark and spoiled a splendid opportunity.
To function effectively on holy ground, you need the help of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to think through you, listen through you, love through you. As the Spirits Love shines through you. My healing Presence goes to work in the other person. While you continue listening, I will sometimes give you words of wisdom to share. But your main role is to direct the person toward Me and My limitless resources.
If you follow these guidelines, both you and others will be blessed. They will connect with My unfailing Love at soul level. My Spirit will flow through you delightfully - refreshing your soul. You may not feel heroic, but your soul will feel satisfied.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Exodus 3:5; Psalm 143:8; Psalm 63:5
Saturday, September 26, 2015
Anxious Thoughts Meander About And ...
ANXIOUS THOUGHTS MEANDER ABOUT AND crisscross in your brain, but trusting Me brings you directly into My Presence.
Dear Jesus, Our thoughts do meander quite a bit, and they get tangled up with various thought fragments. It takes a lot of effort for us to think straight, especially when we are anxious. Sometimes when we are feeling frazzled we say out loud or in a whisper, "We trust You, Jesus." This calms us down and helps us to think more clearly.
Beloved, you have found an excellent way to calm yourself. That short statement switches your focus from you and your worries to Me and My boundless resources. Your affirmation of trust helps you remember that I am taking care of you, it also draws you close to Me. As you commune with Me face to Face, you are free to express all your concerns. Some worries will evaporate as soon as you look at them in the strong Light of My Presence.
Other concerns remain, but you feel less anxious about them. Trusting Me to help you deal with those problems encourages you and gives you hope.
Remember that I am your Refuge: an unshakable fortress. Demonstrate your trust by pouring out your heart to Me - expressing all the feelings welling up inside you. I am your ever present Helper: in good times, in bad times, at all times. Your soul finds rest in Me alone.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 56:3; Jeremiah 29:12; Psalm 46:1 and
Psalm 62:5-8
Dear Jesus, Our thoughts do meander quite a bit, and they get tangled up with various thought fragments. It takes a lot of effort for us to think straight, especially when we are anxious. Sometimes when we are feeling frazzled we say out loud or in a whisper, "We trust You, Jesus." This calms us down and helps us to think more clearly.
Beloved, you have found an excellent way to calm yourself. That short statement switches your focus from you and your worries to Me and My boundless resources. Your affirmation of trust helps you remember that I am taking care of you, it also draws you close to Me. As you commune with Me face to Face, you are free to express all your concerns. Some worries will evaporate as soon as you look at them in the strong Light of My Presence.
Other concerns remain, but you feel less anxious about them. Trusting Me to help you deal with those problems encourages you and gives you hope.
Remember that I am your Refuge: an unshakable fortress. Demonstrate your trust by pouring out your heart to Me - expressing all the feelings welling up inside you. I am your ever present Helper: in good times, in bad times, at all times. Your soul finds rest in Me alone.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 56:3; Jeremiah 29:12; Psalm 46:1 and
Psalm 62:5-8
Friday, September 25, 2015
I Have Awakened In Your Heart ...
I HAVE AWAKENED IN YOUR HEART Strong desire to know Me. This longing originated in Me, though it now burns brightly in you.
Dear Jesus, Thank You for awakening our hearts! Before we knew You, we tried to find life in many different places. Often we would think we had found what we were searching for - only to be disappointed later. After we became thoroughly disillusioned, You reached down and took us into Your own family. Years later, we began thirsting for you: longing to know You at a deeper heart level. We set aside time to meet with You as our living God - vibrantly present with us.
Beloved, when you set out to know Me more intimately, I rejoiced but I wasn't surprised. I had been pursuing you long before you began your quest. I was working in our life experiences, as well as in your heart, mind and spirit. Your desire for a closer walk with Me grew out of My painstaking work in you. I initiated our longing for Me, and your response delights Me.
It is important for you to know Me as the Initiator in our relationship. If you think it is your spiritual disciplines that keep you close to Me, you are at risk. Some days you may skimp on your time with Me or not be able to concentrated well. If you are depending on your own efforts to stay near Me, you will feel distant from Me at such times. But if you are relying on Me - what I have done, am doing, will do - you know My Love for you is always assured. So you can rest in Me: trusting in My unfailing Love, flourishing in My abiding Presence.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Proverbs 4:23; Psalm 42:2; John 15:5 and Psalm 52:8
Dear Jesus, Thank You for awakening our hearts! Before we knew You, we tried to find life in many different places. Often we would think we had found what we were searching for - only to be disappointed later. After we became thoroughly disillusioned, You reached down and took us into Your own family. Years later, we began thirsting for you: longing to know You at a deeper heart level. We set aside time to meet with You as our living God - vibrantly present with us.
Beloved, when you set out to know Me more intimately, I rejoiced but I wasn't surprised. I had been pursuing you long before you began your quest. I was working in our life experiences, as well as in your heart, mind and spirit. Your desire for a closer walk with Me grew out of My painstaking work in you. I initiated our longing for Me, and your response delights Me.
It is important for you to know Me as the Initiator in our relationship. If you think it is your spiritual disciplines that keep you close to Me, you are at risk. Some days you may skimp on your time with Me or not be able to concentrated well. If you are depending on your own efforts to stay near Me, you will feel distant from Me at such times. But if you are relying on Me - what I have done, am doing, will do - you know My Love for you is always assured. So you can rest in Me: trusting in My unfailing Love, flourishing in My abiding Presence.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Proverbs 4:23; Psalm 42:2; John 15:5 and Psalm 52:8
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Human Weakness, Consecrated To Me, Is Like A ...
HUMAN WEAKNESS, CONSECRATED TO ME, IS LIKE A Magnet - drawing My Power into your weakness.
Dear Jesus, This is good news! We have plenty of weaknesses to bring to You. We have suspected for some time that our weaknesses are more useful to You than our strengths. Please teach us how to consecrate all of ourselves to You.
Beloved, this is a contagious request. Consecrating yourself to Me involves abandoning yourself to My service and worship. You relinquish to Me all rights of control over your life. When you consecrate weaknesses to Me, you are inviting Me to use them as I will - for My Glory and purposes. This requires vulnerability on your part: willingness to let lowly aspects of yourself be exposed to public scrutiny. Since this goes against the grain of human nature, you may need to dedicate yourself to Me day after day.
Though consecrating yourself to Me is costly, the benefits far outweigh the cost. As you release your weaknesses to Me for My purposes, you become a treasure in My kingdom. Making yourself fully available to Me guarantees that your life will not be wasted. I will use it for My Glory! When you offer your frailty to Me for My service, I receive it as a sacred act of worship. In response, I dispatch My Power to you. My strength is fulfilled and
completed - shows itself most effective - in your weakness. Moreover, as you abandon yourself to Me, My Power pitches a tent over you and dwells with you. (2 Corinthians 12:9/Amplified Version)
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 12:1; Leviticus 20:7 and Revelation 4:11
Dear Jesus, This is good news! We have plenty of weaknesses to bring to You. We have suspected for some time that our weaknesses are more useful to You than our strengths. Please teach us how to consecrate all of ourselves to You.
Beloved, this is a contagious request. Consecrating yourself to Me involves abandoning yourself to My service and worship. You relinquish to Me all rights of control over your life. When you consecrate weaknesses to Me, you are inviting Me to use them as I will - for My Glory and purposes. This requires vulnerability on your part: willingness to let lowly aspects of yourself be exposed to public scrutiny. Since this goes against the grain of human nature, you may need to dedicate yourself to Me day after day.
Though consecrating yourself to Me is costly, the benefits far outweigh the cost. As you release your weaknesses to Me for My purposes, you become a treasure in My kingdom. Making yourself fully available to Me guarantees that your life will not be wasted. I will use it for My Glory! When you offer your frailty to Me for My service, I receive it as a sacred act of worship. In response, I dispatch My Power to you. My strength is fulfilled and
completed - shows itself most effective - in your weakness. Moreover, as you abandon yourself to Me, My Power pitches a tent over you and dwells with you. (2 Corinthians 12:9/Amplified Version)
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 12:1; Leviticus 20:7 and Revelation 4:11
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
When You Walk Through A Day With ...
WHEN YOU WALK THROUGH A DAY WITH childlike delight, savoring every blessing, you proclaim your trust in Me, your ever-present Shepherd.
Dear Jesus, We would love to go through our days with childlike delight - enjoying every blessing You provide. However, we are rarely that lighthearted. Oh, we have our moments: times when we rejoice in You and with You. We long for those bright moments, which punctuate the timeline of our days, to spread out and cover increasingly more of our lives.
Beloved, this is a good desire, but you cannot achieve it through self-discipline or by trying harder. Your ability to rejoice in Me with childlike delight flows out of your relationship with Me. Think of all it means to have Me as your Shepherd. My full-time job is watching over you, taking care of you. Because I am infinite, I can care for you as if you were My only "sheep." Remember that I am the Good Shepherd. When danger threatens, I never abandon you. I have even gone so far as to lay down My Life for you. I, the Good Shepherd, know My sheep and My sheep know Me - just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. Chew on that awesome truth as you lie down and rest in green pastures.
To walk through a day with carefree delight, you must trust in My Love with childlike certainty. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing Love for you will not be shaken. The more you trust in this unfailing Love, the more you can enjoy My Presence. Look trustingly to Me while we journey together, and I will point our delights along the way. As you savor these pleasures, your bright moments will multiply in the Light of My Presence.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 23:1-2; John 10:14-15 and Isaiah 14:10
Dear Jesus, We would love to go through our days with childlike delight - enjoying every blessing You provide. However, we are rarely that lighthearted. Oh, we have our moments: times when we rejoice in You and with You. We long for those bright moments, which punctuate the timeline of our days, to spread out and cover increasingly more of our lives.
Beloved, this is a good desire, but you cannot achieve it through self-discipline or by trying harder. Your ability to rejoice in Me with childlike delight flows out of your relationship with Me. Think of all it means to have Me as your Shepherd. My full-time job is watching over you, taking care of you. Because I am infinite, I can care for you as if you were My only "sheep." Remember that I am the Good Shepherd. When danger threatens, I never abandon you. I have even gone so far as to lay down My Life for you. I, the Good Shepherd, know My sheep and My sheep know Me - just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. Chew on that awesome truth as you lie down and rest in green pastures.
To walk through a day with carefree delight, you must trust in My Love with childlike certainty. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing Love for you will not be shaken. The more you trust in this unfailing Love, the more you can enjoy My Presence. Look trustingly to Me while we journey together, and I will point our delights along the way. As you savor these pleasures, your bright moments will multiply in the Light of My Presence.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 23:1-2; John 10:14-15 and Isaiah 14:10
Tuesday, September 22, 2015
While You Wait In My ...
WHILE YOU WAIT IN MY Presence, I do My best work within you: transforming you by the renewing of your mind. Do not skimp on this vital time with Me.
Dear Jesus, When there is work staring us in the face, it is a challenge to wait in Your Presence. Our eager, active mind wants to plunge into the day's duties so that we can scratch them off our to-do list. We struggle to remember that Your work is more important than mine. We need to give You time to transform us.
Beloved, consider the work I am doing in you. Among other things, I am renovating your mind - a big job! As I shine the Light of My Presence into your mind, darkness flees and deception is unmasked. However, there are many crevices in your brain: places where old thought patterns tend to hide. My Spirit within you can search out and destroy those enemies, but He awaits your cooperation. Perhaps you consider waiting in My Presence a passive use of time, but it actually requires a lot of effort. Habitual ways of thinking do not die easily. When the Spirit shares His light on a hurtful thought pattern, you need to capture it by writing it down. Then bring it to Me, so we can examine it together. I will help you find the distortions and replace them with biblical truth.
The more you focus on Me and My Word, the more you can break free from distorted thoughts. Most of the distortions stem from childhood or from traumatic experiences you have endured. So the patterns are deeply etched into your brain. You may need to recapture the same thought many times before you gain mastery over it. But all that effort leads to a marvelous result: increased freedom to think My thoughts and commune deeply with Me. Wait with Me while I renovate you - from the inside out!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 130:5; Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 10:5
Dear Jesus, When there is work staring us in the face, it is a challenge to wait in Your Presence. Our eager, active mind wants to plunge into the day's duties so that we can scratch them off our to-do list. We struggle to remember that Your work is more important than mine. We need to give You time to transform us.
Beloved, consider the work I am doing in you. Among other things, I am renovating your mind - a big job! As I shine the Light of My Presence into your mind, darkness flees and deception is unmasked. However, there are many crevices in your brain: places where old thought patterns tend to hide. My Spirit within you can search out and destroy those enemies, but He awaits your cooperation. Perhaps you consider waiting in My Presence a passive use of time, but it actually requires a lot of effort. Habitual ways of thinking do not die easily. When the Spirit shares His light on a hurtful thought pattern, you need to capture it by writing it down. Then bring it to Me, so we can examine it together. I will help you find the distortions and replace them with biblical truth.
The more you focus on Me and My Word, the more you can break free from distorted thoughts. Most of the distortions stem from childhood or from traumatic experiences you have endured. So the patterns are deeply etched into your brain. You may need to recapture the same thought many times before you gain mastery over it. But all that effort leads to a marvelous result: increased freedom to think My thoughts and commune deeply with Me. Wait with Me while I renovate you - from the inside out!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 130:5; Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 10:5
Monday, September 21, 2015
Do Not Fear My ...
DO NOT FEAR MY Will, for through it I accomplish what is best for you. Take a deep breath, and dive into the depths of absolute trust in Me.
Dear Jesus, Although we often pray for Your will to be done, at times we are fearful of what this may involve. We know that Your will sometimes includes pain. When we are hurting - physically, emotionally, spiritually - we search for ways to relieve or escape our pain. This easily becomes our focus, as we obsess about how to solve our problems. Help us really believe that Your way is perfect.
Beloved, this is a good request, but the answer will not be easy. It is natural that you want to minimize pain. However, natural responses are often not the best. In My Word I continually call you to transcendent living - going beyond what is natural to what is supernatural. My will is far deeper than your understanding. Though My ways may entail sacrifice and pain. I accomplish through them not just what is good for you - but what is best.
Beneath the surface of this life - completely beyond your awareness - there are countless interconnections of people and events. Things that appear senseless to you make perfect sense when you can view the total picture. Occasionally I may give My followers glimpses of the big picture, to strengthen and encourage them. Generally, though, I call My people to live by faith not by sight. Sometimes that will be frightening, like diving into water so deep that it seems bottomless. You need utter trust in Me to push through your fear into those unknown depths. After diving in, though, your buoyant body will gradually rise to he surface. You keep swimming till you are exhausted. When you can go on no longer, you begin to sink. However, just before your head goes under, your feet touch something solid! You realize My hands are beneath your feet. I am your Refuge and dwelling place, underneath are the everlasting arms.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: 2 Samuel 22:31; 2 Corinthians 5:7 and Deuteronomy 33:27
Dear Jesus, Although we often pray for Your will to be done, at times we are fearful of what this may involve. We know that Your will sometimes includes pain. When we are hurting - physically, emotionally, spiritually - we search for ways to relieve or escape our pain. This easily becomes our focus, as we obsess about how to solve our problems. Help us really believe that Your way is perfect.
Beloved, this is a good request, but the answer will not be easy. It is natural that you want to minimize pain. However, natural responses are often not the best. In My Word I continually call you to transcendent living - going beyond what is natural to what is supernatural. My will is far deeper than your understanding. Though My ways may entail sacrifice and pain. I accomplish through them not just what is good for you - but what is best.
Beneath the surface of this life - completely beyond your awareness - there are countless interconnections of people and events. Things that appear senseless to you make perfect sense when you can view the total picture. Occasionally I may give My followers glimpses of the big picture, to strengthen and encourage them. Generally, though, I call My people to live by faith not by sight. Sometimes that will be frightening, like diving into water so deep that it seems bottomless. You need utter trust in Me to push through your fear into those unknown depths. After diving in, though, your buoyant body will gradually rise to he surface. You keep swimming till you are exhausted. When you can go on no longer, you begin to sink. However, just before your head goes under, your feet touch something solid! You realize My hands are beneath your feet. I am your Refuge and dwelling place, underneath are the everlasting arms.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: 2 Samuel 22:31; 2 Corinthians 5:7 and Deuteronomy 33:27
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Living Close To Me Is A ...
LIVING CLOSE TO ME IS A way of continual newness. I, the Creator of the universe, am more creative than you can imagine.
Dear Jesus, We love living close to You. It satisfies deep longings in us. We confess, though that we are a creature of habit. When we find a way of approaching You that works, we stick with that method - making it part of our routine. As we discover other means of drawing near to You, we add them to our routine as well. This approach helps us to be faithful in praying, but it is definitely not a way of continual newness. We would like to be more creative in our relationships with You, yet we don't want to abandon our old ways completely.
Beloved, your desire to live close to Me delights My heart. I'm also pleased that you are committed to praying for people and situations on a regular basis. I understand the tension you feel between being faithful in your prayers and being creative. Because your mind is both fallen and finite, you are not capable of continual creativity. Your routine prayers help you cover a wide range of praises and petitions without overtaxing your brain. But that very efficiency carries with it a danger. You can sleepwalk through your regular prayers. To avoid doing that , make use of the massive Power source within you - the Holy Spirit. He will help you stay alert, as you invite Him to empower your prayers with Life.
I'm not asking you to abandon your old ways of praying, but I am challenging you to seek new ways of communing with Me. You are capable of much more creativity than you realize, because I made you in My own image and put My Spirit within you. As you ponder ways to bring Me pleasure, I "tiptoe" closer to you. If you listen attentively, I will whisper some ideas in your mind. Seeking fresh ways to commune with Me will awaken your soul and enliven your relationship with Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 6:18 and Psalm 57:10-11
Dear Jesus, We love living close to You. It satisfies deep longings in us. We confess, though that we are a creature of habit. When we find a way of approaching You that works, we stick with that method - making it part of our routine. As we discover other means of drawing near to You, we add them to our routine as well. This approach helps us to be faithful in praying, but it is definitely not a way of continual newness. We would like to be more creative in our relationships with You, yet we don't want to abandon our old ways completely.
Beloved, your desire to live close to Me delights My heart. I'm also pleased that you are committed to praying for people and situations on a regular basis. I understand the tension you feel between being faithful in your prayers and being creative. Because your mind is both fallen and finite, you are not capable of continual creativity. Your routine prayers help you cover a wide range of praises and petitions without overtaxing your brain. But that very efficiency carries with it a danger. You can sleepwalk through your regular prayers. To avoid doing that , make use of the massive Power source within you - the Holy Spirit. He will help you stay alert, as you invite Him to empower your prayers with Life.
I'm not asking you to abandon your old ways of praying, but I am challenging you to seek new ways of communing with Me. You are capable of much more creativity than you realize, because I made you in My own image and put My Spirit within you. As you ponder ways to bring Me pleasure, I "tiptoe" closer to you. If you listen attentively, I will whisper some ideas in your mind. Seeking fresh ways to commune with Me will awaken your soul and enliven your relationship with Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Genesis 1:1; Ephesians 6:18 and Psalm 57:10-11
Saturday, September 19, 2015
Instead of Gazing Into The ...
INSTEAD OF GAZING INTO THE Unknown Future live each moment in joyful awareness of My Presence. I hold your future safely in My hands. It will unfurl before you as you go step by step through each day.
Dear Jesus, We love this imagery. It reminds us of seeing red carpet rolled out in front of an honored person. We are blessed by knowing that You hold our future safely in Your hands: releasing it to us moment by moment. Help us enjoy the wonder of Your Presence - accessible to us only in the present.
Beloved, I want to teach you how to spend more of your time in the present. The future, as most people conceptualize it, does not really exist. I hold it far beyond the reach of any person. When you or others gaze into the future, making predictions, you are simply exercising your imagination. I alone have access to what is "not yet," because My existence isn't limited by time. As you go step by step through each day, I unroll the future before you. While you walk forward on the red carpet of time, you never set foot on anything but the present moment. Recognizing the futility of future gazing can help set you free to live more fully in the present. The freer you become, the more you an enjoy the reality of My Presence.
Becoming free is a demanding process, because your mind is accustomed to wandering into the future at will. When you find yourself engaged in such thoughts, recognize that you are roaming in a fantasy land. As you awaken yourself with this truth, its as if the ground drops out from under whatever you were fantasizing. This helps you return to the present: the here and now. I eagerly await you, ready to enfold you in My unfailing Love.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Ecclesiastes 8:7; Revelation 1:8 and Psalm 32:10
Dear Jesus, We love this imagery. It reminds us of seeing red carpet rolled out in front of an honored person. We are blessed by knowing that You hold our future safely in Your hands: releasing it to us moment by moment. Help us enjoy the wonder of Your Presence - accessible to us only in the present.
Beloved, I want to teach you how to spend more of your time in the present. The future, as most people conceptualize it, does not really exist. I hold it far beyond the reach of any person. When you or others gaze into the future, making predictions, you are simply exercising your imagination. I alone have access to what is "not yet," because My existence isn't limited by time. As you go step by step through each day, I unroll the future before you. While you walk forward on the red carpet of time, you never set foot on anything but the present moment. Recognizing the futility of future gazing can help set you free to live more fully in the present. The freer you become, the more you an enjoy the reality of My Presence.
Becoming free is a demanding process, because your mind is accustomed to wandering into the future at will. When you find yourself engaged in such thoughts, recognize that you are roaming in a fantasy land. As you awaken yourself with this truth, its as if the ground drops out from under whatever you were fantasizing. This helps you return to the present: the here and now. I eagerly await you, ready to enfold you in My unfailing Love.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Ecclesiastes 8:7; Revelation 1:8 and Psalm 32:10
Friday, September 18, 2015
Walk With Me In ...
WALK WITH ME IN Holy Trust, responding to My initiatives rather than trying to make things fit your plans.
Dear Jesus, Thank You for making crystal-clear the choice we face many times each day: responding to Your initiatives in our lives verses trying to force things into our plans. When we choose responsiveness, we gain closeness to You and ready access to Your resources. When we try to make things fit into our plans, we usually become frustrated and anxious. In spite of these negative consequences, however, we continue to feel a magnetic pull toward the planning path. This sabotages our deep desire to walk in Your ways, responding wholeheartedly to what You have prepared.
Beloved, I am blessed by your longing to walk in My ways, even when your behavior doesn't line up with that desire. This is really an issue of trust. There is nothing wrong with making plans, but you must not trust in them more than in Me.
I am calling you to walk with Me as holy trust. "Holy" means "set apart for sacred use." Your primary purpose in this life is to be available for sacred use: ready to do My will. When you get so focused on your plans that you hardly see anything else, you are unavailable to Me. If you start feeling frustrated or distant from Me, take time to seek My Face. Open yourself to My loving Presence. The magnetic attraction of My Love will empower you to resist the pull of your planning path. This frees you to respond to My initiatives: joining in the things I have already set in motion. For you are My own handwork, born anew to do those good works I planned beforehand for you - taking paths I prepared ahead of time. Thus you live the good lie that I prearranged and made ready for you.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Proverbs 16:9; Nahum 1:7 and Ephesians 2:10
Dear Jesus, Thank You for making crystal-clear the choice we face many times each day: responding to Your initiatives in our lives verses trying to force things into our plans. When we choose responsiveness, we gain closeness to You and ready access to Your resources. When we try to make things fit into our plans, we usually become frustrated and anxious. In spite of these negative consequences, however, we continue to feel a magnetic pull toward the planning path. This sabotages our deep desire to walk in Your ways, responding wholeheartedly to what You have prepared.
Beloved, I am blessed by your longing to walk in My ways, even when your behavior doesn't line up with that desire. This is really an issue of trust. There is nothing wrong with making plans, but you must not trust in them more than in Me.
I am calling you to walk with Me as holy trust. "Holy" means "set apart for sacred use." Your primary purpose in this life is to be available for sacred use: ready to do My will. When you get so focused on your plans that you hardly see anything else, you are unavailable to Me. If you start feeling frustrated or distant from Me, take time to seek My Face. Open yourself to My loving Presence. The magnetic attraction of My Love will empower you to resist the pull of your planning path. This frees you to respond to My initiatives: joining in the things I have already set in motion. For you are My own handwork, born anew to do those good works I planned beforehand for you - taking paths I prepared ahead of time. Thus you live the good lie that I prearranged and made ready for you.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Proverbs 16:9; Nahum 1:7 and Ephesians 2:10
Thursday, September 17, 2015
As You Spend Time In My ...
AS YOU SPEND TIME IN MY Presence, My thoughts gradually form in your mind. My Spirit is the Director of this process.
Dear Jesus, There are so many influences on our mind! We are thankful for Your Spirit, who infuses Life and Peace into our minds. If we didn't have the Spirit's help, our thoughts would be savagely roaming the landscape of our brain - searching for satisfaction. Even so, our thinking is often unruly. We long to think Your thoughts more and more.
Beloved, I know even better than you the contents of your thoughts. Your mind is a spiritual battlefield. That's why I urge you to stay alert! When you spend time listening to Me, you need to begin with prayer for protection. The evil one is the father of lies, his deceptions can worm their way into your mind if you let down your guard. When you ask for protection, always pray in My Name, because I defeated the devil utterly on the cross!
I'm pleased that you desire to think My thoughts. Having prayed for protection, you should also ask the Holy Spirit to help you listen well. Remain alert while you listen, ready to reject anything inconsistent with biblical truth. As My thoughts gradually form in your mind, you may find it helpful to write them down. Thank Me for what you have received and continue to seek the help of My Spirit. Don't become overly focused on writing. The process - listening to Me under the direction of My Spirit - is more precious than the product: what you write. As you spend time focusing on Me, you will grow not only closer to Me but also more like Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 8:6; 1 Peter 5:8 and John 8:44
Dear Jesus, There are so many influences on our mind! We are thankful for Your Spirit, who infuses Life and Peace into our minds. If we didn't have the Spirit's help, our thoughts would be savagely roaming the landscape of our brain - searching for satisfaction. Even so, our thinking is often unruly. We long to think Your thoughts more and more.
Beloved, I know even better than you the contents of your thoughts. Your mind is a spiritual battlefield. That's why I urge you to stay alert! When you spend time listening to Me, you need to begin with prayer for protection. The evil one is the father of lies, his deceptions can worm their way into your mind if you let down your guard. When you ask for protection, always pray in My Name, because I defeated the devil utterly on the cross!
I'm pleased that you desire to think My thoughts. Having prayed for protection, you should also ask the Holy Spirit to help you listen well. Remain alert while you listen, ready to reject anything inconsistent with biblical truth. As My thoughts gradually form in your mind, you may find it helpful to write them down. Thank Me for what you have received and continue to seek the help of My Spirit. Don't become overly focused on writing. The process - listening to Me under the direction of My Spirit - is more precious than the product: what you write. As you spend time focusing on Me, you will grow not only closer to Me but also more like Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 8:6; 1 Peter 5:8 and John 8:44
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
I Have Designed You To ...
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.
Dear Jesus, The longer we live, the more aware we become of our neediness. Many people - as they gain life experience - seem to become increasingly confident about the accuracy of their opinions. We are increasingly aware that our understanding is like the tip of an iceberg. What we don't comprehend is so much greater than what we actually understand. This is just one of many areas where our neediness has become more apparent to us.
Beloved, recognizing the limits of your understanding is good, because it can enhance your relationship with Me. You need Me continually - not only for daily bread and blessings, but also for the endless decisions you must make each day. If you had greater confidence in your knowledge and openness, you might feel more comfortable: that walking close to Me on the path of Life is far more important than comfort. Remember that the road leading to Life is a narrow one and only a few find it. So don't expect your journey along this path to be easy.
Awareness of your neediness helps you receive many blessings from Me. As you come to Me with your vast insufficiency, I draw near you with My infinite sufficiency. My abundant supply and your needy condition fit together perfectly - keeping you intimately connected to Me. The more consistently you rely on Me, the better your life will be. Not only will I meet all your needs through My glorious riches, I will also delight you with the Joy of My Presence. This is the way I want you to live: in joyful dependence on Me!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Philippians 4:19; Matthew 7:13-14 and Psalm 43:4
Dear Jesus, The longer we live, the more aware we become of our neediness. Many people - as they gain life experience - seem to become increasingly confident about the accuracy of their opinions. We are increasingly aware that our understanding is like the tip of an iceberg. What we don't comprehend is so much greater than what we actually understand. This is just one of many areas where our neediness has become more apparent to us.
Beloved, recognizing the limits of your understanding is good, because it can enhance your relationship with Me. You need Me continually - not only for daily bread and blessings, but also for the endless decisions you must make each day. If you had greater confidence in your knowledge and openness, you might feel more comfortable: that walking close to Me on the path of Life is far more important than comfort. Remember that the road leading to Life is a narrow one and only a few find it. So don't expect your journey along this path to be easy.
Awareness of your neediness helps you receive many blessings from Me. As you come to Me with your vast insufficiency, I draw near you with My infinite sufficiency. My abundant supply and your needy condition fit together perfectly - keeping you intimately connected to Me. The more consistently you rely on Me, the better your life will be. Not only will I meet all your needs through My glorious riches, I will also delight you with the Joy of My Presence. This is the way I want you to live: in joyful dependence on Me!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Philippians 4:19; Matthew 7:13-14 and Psalm 43:4
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
I Guarantee You Wil Always Have ...
I GUARANTEE YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE Problems in your life; but they must not become your focus. When you feel yourself sinking in the sea of circumstances, cry out: "Help me, Jesus!" and I will draw you back to Me.
Dear Jesus, Guarantees are usually about something positive, but this one (about constant problems) has a negative feel to it. It can remind us of parents who say to a wailing child, "If you keep on crying, I'll give you something to cry about!" However, we know You well enough to trust that Your motive is not to threaten us but to help us.
Beloved, I do indeed want to help you deal with the problems in your life. There are a variety of wrong ways to handle difficulties. Some people simply pretend they don't exist - like ostriches hiding their heads in the sand. You, however, tend to go to the other extreme. You focus on problems much more than necessary. When you give in to this tendency, you become anxious and disheartened. I am training you to pry your mind away from trouble, so you can fix your thoughts on Me. You are making progress, but you need to persevere in directing wayward thoughts toward Me.
One of the most challenging situations is when you are faced with many difficulties at the same time. You start to feel overwhelmed as your mind goes into high gear, trying to take care of everything at once. Your thoughts play hopscotch - jumping from one problem to the next, then turning around and jumping back again. If this continues too long, you become exhausted and begin to sink in the swirling sea of your circumstances. At this point, your emotional pain will alert you to your need for help. In a split second you can cry out, "Help me, Jesus!" and I will come to your rescue. As I pull you away from your problems, I draw you close to Me. While you gaze at Me, your panic begins to subside and you regain some sense of security. As you take time to enjoy My Presence, I bless you with My Peace.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 3:1; Psalm 145:18 and Ephesians 2:14
Dear Jesus, Guarantees are usually about something positive, but this one (about constant problems) has a negative feel to it. It can remind us of parents who say to a wailing child, "If you keep on crying, I'll give you something to cry about!" However, we know You well enough to trust that Your motive is not to threaten us but to help us.
Beloved, I do indeed want to help you deal with the problems in your life. There are a variety of wrong ways to handle difficulties. Some people simply pretend they don't exist - like ostriches hiding their heads in the sand. You, however, tend to go to the other extreme. You focus on problems much more than necessary. When you give in to this tendency, you become anxious and disheartened. I am training you to pry your mind away from trouble, so you can fix your thoughts on Me. You are making progress, but you need to persevere in directing wayward thoughts toward Me.
One of the most challenging situations is when you are faced with many difficulties at the same time. You start to feel overwhelmed as your mind goes into high gear, trying to take care of everything at once. Your thoughts play hopscotch - jumping from one problem to the next, then turning around and jumping back again. If this continues too long, you become exhausted and begin to sink in the swirling sea of your circumstances. At this point, your emotional pain will alert you to your need for help. In a split second you can cry out, "Help me, Jesus!" and I will come to your rescue. As I pull you away from your problems, I draw you close to Me. While you gaze at Me, your panic begins to subside and you regain some sense of security. As you take time to enjoy My Presence, I bless you with My Peace.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 3:1; Psalm 145:18 and Ephesians 2:14
Monday, September 14, 2015
The True Question Is ...
THE TRUE QUESTION IS Not whether you can cope with whatever happens but whether you and I together can handle anything that occurs. It is this "you and I" together factor that gives you confidence to face the day cheerfully.
Dear Jesus, We really want to live this day confidently and cheerfully. That seems only fitting, since we are one of Your followers. But we often begin the day wondering how demanding it will be and whether we will be able to cope. Help us in our unbelief!
Beloved, come to Me in your state of unbelief. I want you to experience My loving you perfectly even when your faith seems weak. Many of My followers wake up in a foggy, frazzled state of mind - as you do. However, I can see into your heart, where I find genuine trust in Me. Your challenge each morning is to untangle your thoughts so that they line up with the faith in your heart. You need to set aside adequate time each morning for the vital task. I want you to stay in My Presence - reading Scripture: praying, meditating on Me -- till your mind is clear.
When you begin the day with a muddled mind; you tend to ask yourself the wrong question: whether you will be able to cope with whatever happens. But the true question is whether you and I together can handle the circumstances you face. As you look forward into the day, broaden your perspective so you can "see" Me there alongside you - strengthening, guiding, and encouraging you. If you omit this "you and I" together factor from your perspective, you miss out on the help I am offering. So, as you work to unscramble your thinking, focus on who I am: Immanuel - God with you. While you meditate on this joyous focus, the qualms you had about the day will gradually give way to cheerful confidence.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Philippians 4:13; Psalm 112:7 and Matthew 1:23
Dear Jesus, We really want to live this day confidently and cheerfully. That seems only fitting, since we are one of Your followers. But we often begin the day wondering how demanding it will be and whether we will be able to cope. Help us in our unbelief!
Beloved, come to Me in your state of unbelief. I want you to experience My loving you perfectly even when your faith seems weak. Many of My followers wake up in a foggy, frazzled state of mind - as you do. However, I can see into your heart, where I find genuine trust in Me. Your challenge each morning is to untangle your thoughts so that they line up with the faith in your heart. You need to set aside adequate time each morning for the vital task. I want you to stay in My Presence - reading Scripture: praying, meditating on Me -- till your mind is clear.
When you begin the day with a muddled mind; you tend to ask yourself the wrong question: whether you will be able to cope with whatever happens. But the true question is whether you and I together can handle the circumstances you face. As you look forward into the day, broaden your perspective so you can "see" Me there alongside you - strengthening, guiding, and encouraging you. If you omit this "you and I" together factor from your perspective, you miss out on the help I am offering. So, as you work to unscramble your thinking, focus on who I am: Immanuel - God with you. While you meditate on this joyous focus, the qualms you had about the day will gradually give way to cheerful confidence.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Philippians 4:13; Psalm 112:7 and Matthew 1:23
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Rejoice In This Day Of ...
REJOICE IN THIS DAY OF Life, being willing to follow wherever I lead. Follow Me wholeheartedly, anticipating blessing as we journey together.
Dear Jesus, Since You have created this day of life and presented it to us free of charge, help us receive it gratefully. Our natural tendency when we wake up is to assess the day before us, trying to discern how good (or bad) it will be. We do almost unconsciously, often basing our conclusions on something as trivial as the weather. We would like to break free from this habit so we can be more receptive to You and Your blessings.
Beloved, I take much pleasure in your desire for greater receptivity to Me. You have already mentioned something that can help you in this quest: a grateful attitude. If you awaken to find a dark, rainy day, thank Me for the rain. Having done so, you will be much less likely to grumble about the weather. Also, remember that I have arranged the conditions of your day. So you can assume there is much good to be found in it.
Rejoicing will help you find blessings in the day. If your circumstances are looking rather bleak, then be joyful in Me - your faithful Companion. Knowing how much I gave to rescue you from sin, you can trust that I have placed precious gifts along the path we are following. In faith, be on the lookout for good things - both great and small. Because I am your Teacher. I promise to provide learning opportunities as we travel together. When you reach the end of this day, stop and look back at the distance we have covered. Take time to ponder what you have learned and to savor the gifts you have found. Let your mind dwell on these things as you lie down to sleep tonight, rejoicing in Me and My blessings.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 118:24; John 13:13 and Romans 8:32
Dear Jesus, Since You have created this day of life and presented it to us free of charge, help us receive it gratefully. Our natural tendency when we wake up is to assess the day before us, trying to discern how good (or bad) it will be. We do almost unconsciously, often basing our conclusions on something as trivial as the weather. We would like to break free from this habit so we can be more receptive to You and Your blessings.
Beloved, I take much pleasure in your desire for greater receptivity to Me. You have already mentioned something that can help you in this quest: a grateful attitude. If you awaken to find a dark, rainy day, thank Me for the rain. Having done so, you will be much less likely to grumble about the weather. Also, remember that I have arranged the conditions of your day. So you can assume there is much good to be found in it.
Rejoicing will help you find blessings in the day. If your circumstances are looking rather bleak, then be joyful in Me - your faithful Companion. Knowing how much I gave to rescue you from sin, you can trust that I have placed precious gifts along the path we are following. In faith, be on the lookout for good things - both great and small. Because I am your Teacher. I promise to provide learning opportunities as we travel together. When you reach the end of this day, stop and look back at the distance we have covered. Take time to ponder what you have learned and to savor the gifts you have found. Let your mind dwell on these things as you lie down to sleep tonight, rejoicing in Me and My blessings.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 118:24; John 13:13 and Romans 8:32
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Limitations Can Be ...
LIMITATIONS CAN BE Liberating, when your strongest desire is living close to Me.
Dear Jesus, This is a fascinating concept. It seems almost paradoxical. Liberation is about becoming free, and limitations set boundaries around freedom. Our desires bump up against such boundaries many times each day. We do want to live close to You, but we yearn for more freedom in our lives.
Beloved, I know your limitations are hard to accept, but I also know how much good I can bring out of them. Many people are troubled by having too much freedom in their lives. This can have a paralyzing effect. They face so many possibilities that making decisions becomes extremely difficult. Your limitations actually provide a solid structure within which you can make choices about your life. Significantly, as you say yes to the boundaries I have placed around you, you can look up and see Me smiling upon you. You realize that up is the only direction where you face no limitations. What's more, you recognize that this is the most important dimension of your life.
Sometimes you feel cramped because you can't go very far to the right or to the left, forward or backward, without bumping against a boundary. At such times you face an important choice. You can give into feelings of frustration and self-pity, or you can look up to Me for help. If you choose Me, your limitations will give you wings. You can use those wings to soar heavenward, closer to Me. As you enjoy the heights in My Presence, glance down at the ground where your restrictions await you. From this perspective they look unimpressive - like lines drawn in the earth. Even when you return to ground level and your boundaries surround you again, you can look up to Me anytime. Bask in the Light of My smile, enjoying the easy intimacy of our relationship. Limitations can indeed be liberating, when your utmost desire is to live ever so near Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 34:18; Ephesians 2:6 and 2 Corinthians 3:17
Dear Jesus, This is a fascinating concept. It seems almost paradoxical. Liberation is about becoming free, and limitations set boundaries around freedom. Our desires bump up against such boundaries many times each day. We do want to live close to You, but we yearn for more freedom in our lives.
Beloved, I know your limitations are hard to accept, but I also know how much good I can bring out of them. Many people are troubled by having too much freedom in their lives. This can have a paralyzing effect. They face so many possibilities that making decisions becomes extremely difficult. Your limitations actually provide a solid structure within which you can make choices about your life. Significantly, as you say yes to the boundaries I have placed around you, you can look up and see Me smiling upon you. You realize that up is the only direction where you face no limitations. What's more, you recognize that this is the most important dimension of your life.
Sometimes you feel cramped because you can't go very far to the right or to the left, forward or backward, without bumping against a boundary. At such times you face an important choice. You can give into feelings of frustration and self-pity, or you can look up to Me for help. If you choose Me, your limitations will give you wings. You can use those wings to soar heavenward, closer to Me. As you enjoy the heights in My Presence, glance down at the ground where your restrictions await you. From this perspective they look unimpressive - like lines drawn in the earth. Even when you return to ground level and your boundaries surround you again, you can look up to Me anytime. Bask in the Light of My smile, enjoying the easy intimacy of our relationship. Limitations can indeed be liberating, when your utmost desire is to live ever so near Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 34:18; Ephesians 2:6 and 2 Corinthians 3:17
Friday, September 11, 2015
The Secret Of Being Thankful Is ...
THE SECRET OF BEING THANKFUL IS Learning to see everything from My perspective. My world is your classroom. My Word is a lamp to your feet and a light for your path.
Dear Jesus, We know from experience that days when we are thankful tend to be times of blessing. Sometimes it's easy to be grateful - when we wake up on the right side of the bed and encounter no major problems. At other times, thankfulness feels as unreachable as the stars. That's when we need a perspective lift: helping us see things from Your viewpoint.
Beloved, I delight in lifting your perspective. That's why I ventured into your world as an infant, even though I knew the price I would pay. My motivation was to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. When you are feeling thankless, ask Me to open your eyes and release you from the dark dungeon of ungratefulness.
You live in an age of entitlement, so you need to counteract the barrage of propaganda proclaiming you deserve more. One way to lean against such lies is to jot down each day some things for which you are thankful. This helps you focus on blessings in your life, rather than on things you want but do not have.
It is crucial to saturate your mind with Scripture: reading it, pondering it, memorizing portions of it. This can help you see things from My infinitely wise perspective. My Word is sharper than any double-edged sword. I use it to perform spiritual surgery on the thoughts and attitudes of your heart. As Scripture lights up your perspective and your path, I set you free from the prison of ingratitude. Thus I release you to enjoy the pleasures of a thankful heart.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Isaiah 42:7; Psalm 119:105 and Hebrews 4:12
Dear Jesus, We know from experience that days when we are thankful tend to be times of blessing. Sometimes it's easy to be grateful - when we wake up on the right side of the bed and encounter no major problems. At other times, thankfulness feels as unreachable as the stars. That's when we need a perspective lift: helping us see things from Your viewpoint.
Beloved, I delight in lifting your perspective. That's why I ventured into your world as an infant, even though I knew the price I would pay. My motivation was to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison, and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. When you are feeling thankless, ask Me to open your eyes and release you from the dark dungeon of ungratefulness.
You live in an age of entitlement, so you need to counteract the barrage of propaganda proclaiming you deserve more. One way to lean against such lies is to jot down each day some things for which you are thankful. This helps you focus on blessings in your life, rather than on things you want but do not have.
It is crucial to saturate your mind with Scripture: reading it, pondering it, memorizing portions of it. This can help you see things from My infinitely wise perspective. My Word is sharper than any double-edged sword. I use it to perform spiritual surgery on the thoughts and attitudes of your heart. As Scripture lights up your perspective and your path, I set you free from the prison of ingratitude. Thus I release you to enjoy the pleasures of a thankful heart.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Isaiah 42:7; Psalm 119:105 and Hebrews 4:12
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Because You Are ...
BECAUSE YOU ARE Human, you will always have ups and downs in your life experience. But the promise of My Presence limits how far down you can go.
Dear Jesus, We have a hard time accepting the downs in our life. We tend to feel like a failure at such times. It comforts us to realize this is simply part of being human. When we are feeling down, it's almost impossible to remember the Joy of Your Presence. So when You are absent from our emotions, we cling to the promise of Your Presence.
Beloved, I assure you that I can bring much good out of the times in your life when you are sad. These painful times teach you to depend on Me more fully, as you seek My Face for help and strength. I have blessed you with many joyful experiences as well, but you must not cling to them or try to make them permanent. Rather, hold them lightly - with open hands - enjoying the beauty of the moment. Thank Me for what you are experiencing, and your gratitude will increase your Joy. Be willing to release the pleasures to Me in due time, then move on to the next stage of your journey.
When Sorrow becomes your travel companion, embrace her as a blessing from Me. If you receive her into your heart, she will bring new depth and richness to your soul. She can teach you more about Me - a Man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. She can also give you hope, based on the promise of My Presence. Hoping in Me will limit how far down you go to your suffering: it assures you that you will again praise Me for the help of My Presence. Although this protects you from falling into deep despair, it is not a "quick fix." You and Sorrow may continue to journey together for a while. Nonetheless, you will discover along the way a new capacity growing within you: the ability to be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Isaiah 53:3, Psalm 42:5 and 2 Corinthians 6:10
Dear Jesus, We have a hard time accepting the downs in our life. We tend to feel like a failure at such times. It comforts us to realize this is simply part of being human. When we are feeling down, it's almost impossible to remember the Joy of Your Presence. So when You are absent from our emotions, we cling to the promise of Your Presence.
Beloved, I assure you that I can bring much good out of the times in your life when you are sad. These painful times teach you to depend on Me more fully, as you seek My Face for help and strength. I have blessed you with many joyful experiences as well, but you must not cling to them or try to make them permanent. Rather, hold them lightly - with open hands - enjoying the beauty of the moment. Thank Me for what you are experiencing, and your gratitude will increase your Joy. Be willing to release the pleasures to Me in due time, then move on to the next stage of your journey.
When Sorrow becomes your travel companion, embrace her as a blessing from Me. If you receive her into your heart, she will bring new depth and richness to your soul. She can teach you more about Me - a Man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. She can also give you hope, based on the promise of My Presence. Hoping in Me will limit how far down you go to your suffering: it assures you that you will again praise Me for the help of My Presence. Although this protects you from falling into deep despair, it is not a "quick fix." You and Sorrow may continue to journey together for a while. Nonetheless, you will discover along the way a new capacity growing within you: the ability to be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Isaiah 53:3, Psalm 42:5 and 2 Corinthians 6:10
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Remember That You Live In A ...
REMEMBER THAT YOU LIVE IN A FALLEN World, an abnormal world tainted by sin. Much frustration and fallen result from you seeking perfection in this life.
Dear Jesus, We know we live in a fallen world, but sometimes we slip into denial of that truth. We are still driven to seek perfection where it can never be found - this world. We waste so much time and energy trying to do things perfectly, when simply getting them done would be sufficient. This leads not only to frustration but also, at times, to its close ally, anger. Please help us break out of this self-defeating behavior.
Beloved, your yearning or perfection is not bad in itself. I placed this longing in your heart so you would search for Me. However, your heart also contains many effects of the fall. As a result, you often seek perfection apart from Me. This sets you on a path of frustration and failure - sometimes even idolatry. You can always return to Me by choosing to seek Me first and foremost. As you do so, I set your feet on a rock and give you a firm place to stand. I also put a new song in your mouth: a hymn of praise.
Do not try to stifle your longing for perfection. It serves a paramount purpose - pointing you not only to Me but also to your future, eternal home. Your unsatisfied yearnings can awaken you to the radiant perfection awaiting you in heaven. So, let the frustration of living in a fallen world remind you that you originated in a perfect place (Eden) and you are on the way to an inexpressibly glorious place - heaven!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 40:2-3; Genesis 2:8 and Philippians 3:20-21
Dear Jesus, We know we live in a fallen world, but sometimes we slip into denial of that truth. We are still driven to seek perfection where it can never be found - this world. We waste so much time and energy trying to do things perfectly, when simply getting them done would be sufficient. This leads not only to frustration but also, at times, to its close ally, anger. Please help us break out of this self-defeating behavior.
Beloved, your yearning or perfection is not bad in itself. I placed this longing in your heart so you would search for Me. However, your heart also contains many effects of the fall. As a result, you often seek perfection apart from Me. This sets you on a path of frustration and failure - sometimes even idolatry. You can always return to Me by choosing to seek Me first and foremost. As you do so, I set your feet on a rock and give you a firm place to stand. I also put a new song in your mouth: a hymn of praise.
Do not try to stifle your longing for perfection. It serves a paramount purpose - pointing you not only to Me but also to your future, eternal home. Your unsatisfied yearnings can awaken you to the radiant perfection awaiting you in heaven. So, let the frustration of living in a fallen world remind you that you originated in a perfect place (Eden) and you are on the way to an inexpressibly glorious place - heaven!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 40:2-3; Genesis 2:8 and Philippians 3:20-21
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Come To Me When You Are ...
COME TO ME WHEN YOU ARE Hurting, and I will share your pain. Come to Me when you are joyful, and I will share your Joy -- multiplying it many times over.
Dear Jesus, We are so grateful that no matter what condition we are in, we can come to You - just as we are. We don't have to clean up our act first, since You already know the worst about us. When we are hurting, we want to be with someone who understands us without condemning us. When we are happy, we delight in being with someone who loves us enough to celebrate with us. Help us bring more and more of ourselves to You.
Beloved, this is a good request, better than you realize. Most people are selective about which parts of themselves they bring to Me. Some hesitate to bring traits they consider shameful. Others are so used to living with painful feelings - loneliness, fear, guilt - that it never occurs to them to ask for help in dealing with these things. Still others get so preoccupied with their struggles that they forget I'm even here.
There are hurting parts of you that I desire to heal. However, some of them have been with you so long that you consider them part of your identity. You carry them with you wherever you go, with little awareness. On occasions when you have brought some damaged portion of yourself to Me, I have helped you walk in newfound freedom. However, you are so addicted to certain painful patterns that you cannot easily break free from them. Only repeatedly exposing them to My healing Presence will bring you long term freedom. When that happens, you will be released to experience Joy in much fuller measure. I will share your Joy and multiply it many times over.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 8:1; Psalm 126:3 and Psalm 118:5
Dear Jesus, We are so grateful that no matter what condition we are in, we can come to You - just as we are. We don't have to clean up our act first, since You already know the worst about us. When we are hurting, we want to be with someone who understands us without condemning us. When we are happy, we delight in being with someone who loves us enough to celebrate with us. Help us bring more and more of ourselves to You.
Beloved, this is a good request, better than you realize. Most people are selective about which parts of themselves they bring to Me. Some hesitate to bring traits they consider shameful. Others are so used to living with painful feelings - loneliness, fear, guilt - that it never occurs to them to ask for help in dealing with these things. Still others get so preoccupied with their struggles that they forget I'm even here.
There are hurting parts of you that I desire to heal. However, some of them have been with you so long that you consider them part of your identity. You carry them with you wherever you go, with little awareness. On occasions when you have brought some damaged portion of yourself to Me, I have helped you walk in newfound freedom. However, you are so addicted to certain painful patterns that you cannot easily break free from them. Only repeatedly exposing them to My healing Presence will bring you long term freedom. When that happens, you will be released to experience Joy in much fuller measure. I will share your Joy and multiply it many times over.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 8:1; Psalm 126:3 and Psalm 118:5
Monday, September 7, 2015
Spend Time Allowing My Light To ...
SPEND TIME ALLOWING MY LIGHT TO infuse your dreams with life, gradually transforming them into reality.
Dear Jesus, We bring You our dreams. Some of them are shadowy and two-dimensional: lacking reality. Only You can breathe life into them. We are tired of waiting, but the very nature of dreams is that they are beyond our control. So we wait in Your Presence, asking You to do what is impossible for us.
Beloved, someday you will realize this time of waiting is really a gift from Me. Whether or not your dreams come true, spending time in the Light of My Presence is extremely good for you. Consider the richness of sunlight. When it passes through a prism, you can se the seven distinct colors that are in it. Sunlight promotes growth and healing, and it has many other helpful qualities. However, the Light of My holy Presence is much more powerful and beneficial than natural light. That is why waiting on Me brings beautiful blessings. The full spectrum of My supernatural Light shines upon you while you linger in My Presence. Thus you receive many benefits: new strength, guidance, protection, encouragement and countless other blessings.
Bring all your dreams into My vibrant Light, so we can look at them together. Some of them are not in My plans for you, as you commit them to Me, seeking My will. I gradually remove them from your heart. Other dreams I approve, encouraging you to work prayerfully toward reaching those goals. Some dreams, however, remain veiled in mystery. I neither remove them from your heart nor provide a path for you to follow. This keeps you waiting on Me, enjoying the benefits of My Presence. When time is right, I can transform your long held hopes into delightful reality.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 36:9; Isaiah 40:30-31 and Isaiah 30:18
Dear Jesus, We bring You our dreams. Some of them are shadowy and two-dimensional: lacking reality. Only You can breathe life into them. We are tired of waiting, but the very nature of dreams is that they are beyond our control. So we wait in Your Presence, asking You to do what is impossible for us.
Beloved, someday you will realize this time of waiting is really a gift from Me. Whether or not your dreams come true, spending time in the Light of My Presence is extremely good for you. Consider the richness of sunlight. When it passes through a prism, you can se the seven distinct colors that are in it. Sunlight promotes growth and healing, and it has many other helpful qualities. However, the Light of My holy Presence is much more powerful and beneficial than natural light. That is why waiting on Me brings beautiful blessings. The full spectrum of My supernatural Light shines upon you while you linger in My Presence. Thus you receive many benefits: new strength, guidance, protection, encouragement and countless other blessings.
Bring all your dreams into My vibrant Light, so we can look at them together. Some of them are not in My plans for you, as you commit them to Me, seeking My will. I gradually remove them from your heart. Other dreams I approve, encouraging you to work prayerfully toward reaching those goals. Some dreams, however, remain veiled in mystery. I neither remove them from your heart nor provide a path for you to follow. This keeps you waiting on Me, enjoying the benefits of My Presence. When time is right, I can transform your long held hopes into delightful reality.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 36:9; Isaiah 40:30-31 and Isaiah 30:18
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Hope Is A Golden Cord Connecting You To ...
HOPE IS A GOLDEN CORD CONNECTING YOU TO Heaven. This cord helps you hold your head up high, even when multiple trials are buffeting you.
Dear Jesus, When our lives are flowing smoothly, the golden cord of hope provides additional blessing - like icing on a cake. However, when we are dealing with multiple trials, this cord is a lifeline protecting us from despair. As we cling to hope in the midst of trouble, we are able to perceive You cheering us on: encouraging us with the absolute certainty of heaven. In order to behold You, though, we have to keep our head held high. If it droops down, we lose sight of You and see only the perplexity of our problems.
Beloved, hope is indeed My gift to you in both good times and bad. I'm pleased that you rejoice in the promise of heaven even when your life is going smoothly. Many of My followers get so intent upon seeking pleasure in this world that they forget about their ultimate eternal home.
It's good that you cling to My hope cord as a lifeline when you're struggling with various problems. This reduces the weight of your burdens, making it easier for you to stand up straight. However, you must still make the effort to focus more on My Presence than on your difficulties. Your tendency to be problem-focused robs you of much Joy. As you cling to hope, looking to Me for help, you can be joyful and patient in the midst of affliction.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Proverbs 23:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Romans 12:12 and
Hebrews 6:19-20
Dear Jesus, When our lives are flowing smoothly, the golden cord of hope provides additional blessing - like icing on a cake. However, when we are dealing with multiple trials, this cord is a lifeline protecting us from despair. As we cling to hope in the midst of trouble, we are able to perceive You cheering us on: encouraging us with the absolute certainty of heaven. In order to behold You, though, we have to keep our head held high. If it droops down, we lose sight of You and see only the perplexity of our problems.
Beloved, hope is indeed My gift to you in both good times and bad. I'm pleased that you rejoice in the promise of heaven even when your life is going smoothly. Many of My followers get so intent upon seeking pleasure in this world that they forget about their ultimate eternal home.
It's good that you cling to My hope cord as a lifeline when you're struggling with various problems. This reduces the weight of your burdens, making it easier for you to stand up straight. However, you must still make the effort to focus more on My Presence than on your difficulties. Your tendency to be problem-focused robs you of much Joy. As you cling to hope, looking to Me for help, you can be joyful and patient in the midst of affliction.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Proverbs 23:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; Romans 12:12 and
Hebrews 6:19-20
Saturday, Sept 5th - The More Challenging Your Day, The More ...
THE MORE CHALLENGING YOUR DAY, THE MORE of My Power I place at your disposal. As your day, so shall your strength be.
Dear Jesus, This is a wonderful, practical promise. Our strength seems quite sufficient for the demands we face today. Yet we know Your promises are trustworthy and true. So we look to You for strength sufficient to handle the challenges of this day.
Beloved, no matter how inadequate you may feel, you can always look to Me for help. You don't need to go to a special place or assume a certain posture to seek My Face. Nor do you need to use elegant language or otherwise work to win My favor. I always look favorably on you, because I can see in you My own perfect righteousness. I am alive in you, and I know your thoughts better than you do. So a simple glance at Me, made in faith, is enough to connect you to My Power.
You tend to waste energy trying to determine whether your resources are adequate for the day's demands. How much better to simply acknowledge your inadequacy when you awaken each morning! This frees you to rely on My infinite sufficiency. If you stay in touch with Me throughout the day, I will place enough Power at your disposal to meet your needs as they arise!
You often run into trouble when you keep checking up on your "power gauge" rather than looking to Me for My provision. This self-assessment can lead to panic, which quickly sends you in a downward spiral. As your mind races, searching for ways to bolster your resources, you become increasingly anxious. Yet as soon as you turn away from self-help and turn toward Me - your ever present Help - you find that your strength surges, becoming equal to the demands of your day!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Deuteronomy 33:25; Psalm 105:4 and Psalm 46:1
Dear Jesus, This is a wonderful, practical promise. Our strength seems quite sufficient for the demands we face today. Yet we know Your promises are trustworthy and true. So we look to You for strength sufficient to handle the challenges of this day.
Beloved, no matter how inadequate you may feel, you can always look to Me for help. You don't need to go to a special place or assume a certain posture to seek My Face. Nor do you need to use elegant language or otherwise work to win My favor. I always look favorably on you, because I can see in you My own perfect righteousness. I am alive in you, and I know your thoughts better than you do. So a simple glance at Me, made in faith, is enough to connect you to My Power.
You tend to waste energy trying to determine whether your resources are adequate for the day's demands. How much better to simply acknowledge your inadequacy when you awaken each morning! This frees you to rely on My infinite sufficiency. If you stay in touch with Me throughout the day, I will place enough Power at your disposal to meet your needs as they arise!
You often run into trouble when you keep checking up on your "power gauge" rather than looking to Me for My provision. This self-assessment can lead to panic, which quickly sends you in a downward spiral. As your mind races, searching for ways to bolster your resources, you become increasingly anxious. Yet as soon as you turn away from self-help and turn toward Me - your ever present Help - you find that your strength surges, becoming equal to the demands of your day!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Deuteronomy 33:25; Psalm 105:4 and Psalm 46:1
Friday, September 4, 2015
The Peace I Give You Transcends Your ...
THE PEACE I GIVE YOU TRANSCENDS YOUR Intellect. When most of your mental energy goes into efforts to figure things out, you are unable to receive this glorious gift.
Dear Jesus, We really desire to receive Your Peace. Yet we know we spend way too much time trying to figure things out. Actually, many of the problems we try to solve are not even our own. Our overactive mind clamps on to other people's difficulties - trying to work out what the best solution might be. We would like to think our motive is compassionate concern, but we know there is also a strong element of seeking to play god in people's lives. Help us relinquish this role, which was never meant to be ours, so we can rest in You - the One who has everything figured out.
Beloved, your very active mind definitely causes you problems, but it can also be a source of blessing. You need to practice directing that mental energy toward Me. I have taught you to use My Name as a reminder that I am with you. Lovingly whispering "Jesus" can turn your day around. Giving thanks is another wonderful way to come into My Presence frequently. I also want you to use brief prayers of praise and petition, which glorify Me and soothe your anxious thoughts. None of this is new to you, but you need practice in these delightful disciplines.
If you use your mental energy to focus on Me, you will have no problem receiving My Peace. My Presence and Peace are inseparable. When your mind is stayed on Me, I keep you in perfect Peace. I understand that your ability to stay focused on Me is limited. I do not expect perfection from you - only perseverance. Never give up!!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Philippians 4:6-7; Proverbs 20:24 and Isaiah 26:3
Dear Jesus, We really desire to receive Your Peace. Yet we know we spend way too much time trying to figure things out. Actually, many of the problems we try to solve are not even our own. Our overactive mind clamps on to other people's difficulties - trying to work out what the best solution might be. We would like to think our motive is compassionate concern, but we know there is also a strong element of seeking to play god in people's lives. Help us relinquish this role, which was never meant to be ours, so we can rest in You - the One who has everything figured out.
Beloved, your very active mind definitely causes you problems, but it can also be a source of blessing. You need to practice directing that mental energy toward Me. I have taught you to use My Name as a reminder that I am with you. Lovingly whispering "Jesus" can turn your day around. Giving thanks is another wonderful way to come into My Presence frequently. I also want you to use brief prayers of praise and petition, which glorify Me and soothe your anxious thoughts. None of this is new to you, but you need practice in these delightful disciplines.
If you use your mental energy to focus on Me, you will have no problem receiving My Peace. My Presence and Peace are inseparable. When your mind is stayed on Me, I keep you in perfect Peace. I understand that your ability to stay focused on Me is limited. I do not expect perfection from you - only perseverance. Never give up!!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Philippians 4:6-7; Proverbs 20:24 and Isaiah 26:3
Thursday, September 3, 2015
Trust Is Like A Staff You Can Lean On As You ...
TRUST IS LIKE A STAFF YOU CAN LEAN ON AS YOU journey uphill with Me. If you trust in Me consistently, the staff will bear as much of your weight as needed.
Dear Jesus, We find this teaching very comforting, since our journey seems to be more uphill than down. We love the idea of having something we can lean on as much as we need: a trust-staff. We confess there are many other things we tend to lean on in tough times, but not one of them is sufficient to bear the full weight of my neediness. Help us turn away from these inadequate supports and turn toward You - through trust.
Beloved, it's good that you want to turn away from your deficient supports. Not only will they let you down eventually, but they can become idolatrous. I'm delighted that you desire to turn toward Me through trust. If you want your trust staff to support you adequately, you must lean on Me consistently. Don't wait till you are in desperate straits! Turn to Me before the mighty waters of trouble engulf you.
You said that more of your journey is uphill than down. That is as it should be. Ultimately, you are on a highway to heaven. Though there are many ups and downs along the way, the overall gradient is upward. I am in the process of transforming you - preparing you for an eternity of living face to Face with Me. Do not expect easy conditions on such a high-reaching adventure. But do expect Me to support you all the way to heaven. Lean on, trust and be confident in Me with all your heart and mind!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Proverbs 3:5; Psalm 32:6 and Acts 14:21-22
Dear Jesus, We find this teaching very comforting, since our journey seems to be more uphill than down. We love the idea of having something we can lean on as much as we need: a trust-staff. We confess there are many other things we tend to lean on in tough times, but not one of them is sufficient to bear the full weight of my neediness. Help us turn away from these inadequate supports and turn toward You - through trust.
Beloved, it's good that you want to turn away from your deficient supports. Not only will they let you down eventually, but they can become idolatrous. I'm delighted that you desire to turn toward Me through trust. If you want your trust staff to support you adequately, you must lean on Me consistently. Don't wait till you are in desperate straits! Turn to Me before the mighty waters of trouble engulf you.
You said that more of your journey is uphill than down. That is as it should be. Ultimately, you are on a highway to heaven. Though there are many ups and downs along the way, the overall gradient is upward. I am in the process of transforming you - preparing you for an eternity of living face to Face with Me. Do not expect easy conditions on such a high-reaching adventure. But do expect Me to support you all the way to heaven. Lean on, trust and be confident in Me with all your heart and mind!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Proverbs 3:5; Psalm 32:6 and Acts 14:21-22
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
Taste And See That I Am ...
TASTE AND SEE THAT I AM Good. The more intimately you experience Me, the more convinced you become of My goodness.
Dear Jesus, We have been taught since early childhood that You are good. However, that teaching did not change us significantly. Eventually we became Christians, and we tasted Your goodness briefly. Yet we still did not know You very deeply. As a result, when things went badly in our lives, we tended to resent Your ways with us. Only when we begin investing time in seeking Your Face did we start to know You intimately. Now that we have tasted Your goodness, we want to experience more and more of You.
Beloved, your desire to know Me more fully is a delight in My heart. Actually, I have been pursuing you for quite some time. Long before you became a believer, I was working to reveal Myself to you. I placed experiences in your life that exposed your deep need to know Me. I brought you people in whom you could see the Light of My Presence. Even after you trusted Me as Savior I continued to pursue your heart, which was divided between Me and worldly goals. Finally, you begin seeking Me with your whole heart, and I rejoiced!
Your wholeheartedness has opened the way for genuine intimacy between us. You have tasted My goodness, and you want more. I have responded to this desire in several ways. I've allowed suffering in your life, so that you can learn to trust Me more. Also, I have blessed you with intimate experiences of My Presence - to boost your confidence in My perfection. My goal is for you to become so convinced of My goodness that nothing can shake your trust in Me. Then, your soul will be deeply satisfied - as with the richest of foods.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 34:8 and Jeremiah 29:13
Dear Jesus, We have been taught since early childhood that You are good. However, that teaching did not change us significantly. Eventually we became Christians, and we tasted Your goodness briefly. Yet we still did not know You very deeply. As a result, when things went badly in our lives, we tended to resent Your ways with us. Only when we begin investing time in seeking Your Face did we start to know You intimately. Now that we have tasted Your goodness, we want to experience more and more of You.
Beloved, your desire to know Me more fully is a delight in My heart. Actually, I have been pursuing you for quite some time. Long before you became a believer, I was working to reveal Myself to you. I placed experiences in your life that exposed your deep need to know Me. I brought you people in whom you could see the Light of My Presence. Even after you trusted Me as Savior I continued to pursue your heart, which was divided between Me and worldly goals. Finally, you begin seeking Me with your whole heart, and I rejoiced!
Your wholeheartedness has opened the way for genuine intimacy between us. You have tasted My goodness, and you want more. I have responded to this desire in several ways. I've allowed suffering in your life, so that you can learn to trust Me more. Also, I have blessed you with intimate experiences of My Presence - to boost your confidence in My perfection. My goal is for you to become so convinced of My goodness that nothing can shake your trust in Me. Then, your soul will be deeply satisfied - as with the richest of foods.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 34:8 and Jeremiah 29:13
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
A Life Lived Close To Me Will ...
A LIFE LIVED CLOSE TO ME WILL never be dull or predictable. Expect each day to contain surprises!
Dear Jesus, We seem to have a love-hate relationship with surprises. We enjoy the adrenalin rush that accompanies them; it wakes us up and takes us beyond our ordinary routine. However, there is also a part of us that longs for our life to be predictable. In fact, we usually try to arrange things so as to minimize the possibility of being startled. Nonetheless, we do want to live close to you!
Beloved, a life lived close to Me could never be predictable. My ways and thoughts are too high above yours for that to be possible. I will never limit Myself to doing only what you can anticipate and understand. To do so would be to cease being God! So, expect your life to become increasingly surprising as you grow closer to Me.
I want to help you become more joyful about your unpredictable journey with Me. There is actually much merit in reporting each day to contain surprises. This helps you view an unforeseen event not as something wrong but as something from Me. With this mindset you are more likely to turn to Me immediately, rather than getting upset. You can ask Me to help you find all the good I have infused into the event. I also stand ready to help you respond appropriately. If you feel unsteady in the wake of a startling situation, simply draw nearer to Me.
As you learn to expect surprises each day, your life will become more exciting. You will discover traces of My vibrant Presence in unusual places. Increasingly, you will find your days bright with Joy - the pleasure of knowing Me more intimately.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Isaiah 55:9; Psalm 18:29 and 1 Peter 1:8
Dear Jesus, We seem to have a love-hate relationship with surprises. We enjoy the adrenalin rush that accompanies them; it wakes us up and takes us beyond our ordinary routine. However, there is also a part of us that longs for our life to be predictable. In fact, we usually try to arrange things so as to minimize the possibility of being startled. Nonetheless, we do want to live close to you!
Beloved, a life lived close to Me could never be predictable. My ways and thoughts are too high above yours for that to be possible. I will never limit Myself to doing only what you can anticipate and understand. To do so would be to cease being God! So, expect your life to become increasingly surprising as you grow closer to Me.
I want to help you become more joyful about your unpredictable journey with Me. There is actually much merit in reporting each day to contain surprises. This helps you view an unforeseen event not as something wrong but as something from Me. With this mindset you are more likely to turn to Me immediately, rather than getting upset. You can ask Me to help you find all the good I have infused into the event. I also stand ready to help you respond appropriately. If you feel unsteady in the wake of a startling situation, simply draw nearer to Me.
As you learn to expect surprises each day, your life will become more exciting. You will discover traces of My vibrant Presence in unusual places. Increasingly, you will find your days bright with Joy - the pleasure of knowing Me more intimately.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Isaiah 55:9; Psalm 18:29 and 1 Peter 1:8
Monday, August 31, 2015
If You Try To Carry Tomorrow's Trouble Today, You Will ...
IF YOU TRY TO CARRY TOMORROW'S TROUBLE TODAY, YOU WILL stagger under the load and eventually fall flat. You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today.
Dear Jesus, This discipline is extremely difficult for us, but it is one we strongly desire to master. Our focus slips from today into tomorrow with the greatest of ease. We are beginning to realize this is a form of escapism. By focusing on tomorrow's problems, we avoid facing today's. However, this type of escapism is extremely unpleasant, since worry is so painful. The more we worry about tomorrow, the less we can accomplish today.
Beloved, I agree with your self-analysis, but there is more. Focusing on tomorrow's trouble is our only escapist, it is also irresponsible. Each day of your life is a precious gift from Me. When you squander My gift, I am displeased. Of course, you cannot avoid thinking about tomorrow altogether. That, too, would be irresponsible. The real question is where do you live most of the time - in the present or in the future?
I see all your thoughts, so I know how many of them are needlessly future-oriented. If you want to break this deeply ingrained habit, you will need to monitor your thinking relentlessly. It is helpful to pay attention to your feelings, they can give you clues that your thinking is off course. When your present surroundings are pleasant yet you start feeling some negative emotion, it's important to capture your thoughts and examine them. Most of the time you will discover you have been worrying about some future event. Offer that concern up to Me, asking Me to either take care of the matter Myself or help you deal with it later. Then, rejoice in Me, your Savior and Sovereign Lord. I enable you to go on the heights - transcending your trouble! (Habakkuk 3:19).
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Matthew 6:34 and 2 Corinthians 10:5
Dear Jesus, This discipline is extremely difficult for us, but it is one we strongly desire to master. Our focus slips from today into tomorrow with the greatest of ease. We are beginning to realize this is a form of escapism. By focusing on tomorrow's problems, we avoid facing today's. However, this type of escapism is extremely unpleasant, since worry is so painful. The more we worry about tomorrow, the less we can accomplish today.
Beloved, I agree with your self-analysis, but there is more. Focusing on tomorrow's trouble is our only escapist, it is also irresponsible. Each day of your life is a precious gift from Me. When you squander My gift, I am displeased. Of course, you cannot avoid thinking about tomorrow altogether. That, too, would be irresponsible. The real question is where do you live most of the time - in the present or in the future?
I see all your thoughts, so I know how many of them are needlessly future-oriented. If you want to break this deeply ingrained habit, you will need to monitor your thinking relentlessly. It is helpful to pay attention to your feelings, they can give you clues that your thinking is off course. When your present surroundings are pleasant yet you start feeling some negative emotion, it's important to capture your thoughts and examine them. Most of the time you will discover you have been worrying about some future event. Offer that concern up to Me, asking Me to either take care of the matter Myself or help you deal with it later. Then, rejoice in Me, your Savior and Sovereign Lord. I enable you to go on the heights - transcending your trouble! (Habakkuk 3:19).
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Matthew 6:34 and 2 Corinthians 10:5
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Quiet Your Mind In My ...
QUIET YOUR MIND IN MY Presence. Then you will be able to hear Me bestowing the resurrection blessing. "Peace be with you."
Dear Jesus, Quieting our minds is quite a challenge. Our thoughts tend to go off in many directions at once. We really want to hear Your benediction of Peace. Teach us how to slow down our thinking, so we can experience Your peaceful Presence more fully.
Beloved, you are already doing the most important thing: communicating with Me about your problem. It is also vital to find a place where you can sit quietly, letting your body relax. It's much easier to tone down your thinking when your body is still for a time, since mind and body are so intricately connected. As you slow down your breathing, you will find your thoughts becoming manageable. This makes it possible to focus those thoughts on Me. While you do so, your entire being will become increasingly relaxed.
Ponder the wonder of My Presence with you. Refresh yourself in My promises. I will counsel you and watch over you. I will supply every need of yours according to My riches in Glory. Peace I leave with you. My Peace I give you.
Though My Peace is a forever promise, you need frequent reminders. When your mind becomes quiet enough, listen for My resurrection blessing. "Peace be with you."
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 20:26; Psalm 32:8; Philippians 4:19 and John 14:27
Dear Jesus, Quieting our minds is quite a challenge. Our thoughts tend to go off in many directions at once. We really want to hear Your benediction of Peace. Teach us how to slow down our thinking, so we can experience Your peaceful Presence more fully.
Beloved, you are already doing the most important thing: communicating with Me about your problem. It is also vital to find a place where you can sit quietly, letting your body relax. It's much easier to tone down your thinking when your body is still for a time, since mind and body are so intricately connected. As you slow down your breathing, you will find your thoughts becoming manageable. This makes it possible to focus those thoughts on Me. While you do so, your entire being will become increasingly relaxed.
Ponder the wonder of My Presence with you. Refresh yourself in My promises. I will counsel you and watch over you. I will supply every need of yours according to My riches in Glory. Peace I leave with you. My Peace I give you.
Though My Peace is a forever promise, you need frequent reminders. When your mind becomes quiet enough, listen for My resurrection blessing. "Peace be with you."
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 20:26; Psalm 32:8; Philippians 4:19 and John 14:27
Saturday, August 29, 2015
My Deep Desire Is That You ...
MY DEEP DESIRE IS THAT YOU learn to depend on Me in every situation. I move heaven and earth to accomplish this purpose, but you must collaborate with Me in this training.
Dear Jesus, We love depending on You - afterward! When the task before us is too challenging for us to handle confidently, we almost instinctively turn to You for help. These are times when we are painfully aware of our inadequacy: our need to depend on Someone far greater than we are. They are scary moments - times of having to act on our belief that You will not let us down. These occasions of stepping out in faith feel very much like jumping off a cliff into open space, trusting You to catch us in mid-air. And You do! That is when we feel jubilant - after we have just experienced Your intervention: rescuing us and enabling us to accomplish things we could never do alone.
Beloved, it is good that you have experienced My intervening help many times. Had you refused to "jump off the cliff," you would not have had those thrilling experiences. I hope your feelings of fear will diminish as I prove My faithfulness to you time after time. Let Me suggest a technique that can help. When you face an event that unnerves you, take time to affirm your trust in Me - repeatedly, if need be. This takes your attention off yourself and your fear, helping you focus on Me and My great faithfulness.
Though I'm pleased by your willingness to depend on Me in tough situations, I desire much more from you. I want you to rely on Me even when you feel competent to handle a situation yourself. I have given you talents and abilities. When you utilize them, remember to do so thankfully, asking Me to help you use them wisely: according to My will. This collaborative way of doing things will not only help you accomplish more, it will also keep you close to Me - commuting with Me, delighting in Me, enjoying Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Philippians 4:13 and Lamentations 3:22-23
Dear Jesus, We love depending on You - afterward! When the task before us is too challenging for us to handle confidently, we almost instinctively turn to You for help. These are times when we are painfully aware of our inadequacy: our need to depend on Someone far greater than we are. They are scary moments - times of having to act on our belief that You will not let us down. These occasions of stepping out in faith feel very much like jumping off a cliff into open space, trusting You to catch us in mid-air. And You do! That is when we feel jubilant - after we have just experienced Your intervention: rescuing us and enabling us to accomplish things we could never do alone.
Beloved, it is good that you have experienced My intervening help many times. Had you refused to "jump off the cliff," you would not have had those thrilling experiences. I hope your feelings of fear will diminish as I prove My faithfulness to you time after time. Let Me suggest a technique that can help. When you face an event that unnerves you, take time to affirm your trust in Me - repeatedly, if need be. This takes your attention off yourself and your fear, helping you focus on Me and My great faithfulness.
Though I'm pleased by your willingness to depend on Me in tough situations, I desire much more from you. I want you to rely on Me even when you feel competent to handle a situation yourself. I have given you talents and abilities. When you utilize them, remember to do so thankfully, asking Me to help you use them wisely: according to My will. This collaborative way of doing things will not only help you accomplish more, it will also keep you close to Me - commuting with Me, delighting in Me, enjoying Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Philippians 4:13 and Lamentations 3:22-23
Friday, August 28, 2015
Make Me Your Focal Point As You ...
MAKE ME YOUR FOCAL POINT AS YOU move through this day. Just as a spinning ballerina must keep returning her eyes to a given point to maintain her balance, so you must keep returning your focus to Me.
Dear Jesus, We definitely feel as if we have been spinning around today, but not like a graceful ballerina. Just when we are about to regain our balance, another event surprises us and sets us spinning again. We find ourselves moving faster and faster, trying to keep up with everything that's going on around us. Only as we look to You in the midst of our circumstances can we find stability.
Beloved, your only hope is to look to Me again and again and again. That's why I likened your situation to a ballerina who repeatedly finds her focal point as she twirls. Though many people think beginning the day with Me is sufficient, they frequently go off course unless they continue seeking Me throughout their waking hours. Learn from the ballerina. Each time she turns full circle, she returns her eyes to the same stationary point with a quick turn of her head. If she didn't do that, she would soon become very dizzy. Similarly, you need a stationary focus as you face the dizzying swirl of events in your life. Because I remain the same forever, I am your best focal point. To avoid losing your balance, you must keep looking to Me.
I realize you fix your gaze on Me continually. I understand the limitations of your human condition. You will lose sight of Me at times. But because I am with you always, you can reorient yourself with a quick glance My way. The more frequently you return your attention to Me, the better balanced your life will be. This is how to fix your eyes on Me while living in a fallen world. I assure you, though, that in heaven your limitations will be lifted. Now you see as if you are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim, blurred reflection, but then you will see in reality - face to Face!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 12:2; Psalm 102:27 and 1 Corinthians 13:12
Dear Jesus, We definitely feel as if we have been spinning around today, but not like a graceful ballerina. Just when we are about to regain our balance, another event surprises us and sets us spinning again. We find ourselves moving faster and faster, trying to keep up with everything that's going on around us. Only as we look to You in the midst of our circumstances can we find stability.
Beloved, your only hope is to look to Me again and again and again. That's why I likened your situation to a ballerina who repeatedly finds her focal point as she twirls. Though many people think beginning the day with Me is sufficient, they frequently go off course unless they continue seeking Me throughout their waking hours. Learn from the ballerina. Each time she turns full circle, she returns her eyes to the same stationary point with a quick turn of her head. If she didn't do that, she would soon become very dizzy. Similarly, you need a stationary focus as you face the dizzying swirl of events in your life. Because I remain the same forever, I am your best focal point. To avoid losing your balance, you must keep looking to Me.
I realize you fix your gaze on Me continually. I understand the limitations of your human condition. You will lose sight of Me at times. But because I am with you always, you can reorient yourself with a quick glance My way. The more frequently you return your attention to Me, the better balanced your life will be. This is how to fix your eyes on Me while living in a fallen world. I assure you, though, that in heaven your limitations will be lifted. Now you see as if you are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim, blurred reflection, but then you will see in reality - face to Face!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 12:2; Psalm 102:27 and 1 Corinthians 13:12
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Glorifying And Enjoying Me Is A ...
GLORIFYING AND ENJOYING ME IS A higher priority than maintaining a tidy, structured life. Give up your striving to keep everything under control - an impossible task, and a waste of precious energy.
Dear Jesus, In our heart, glorifying and enjoying You is a much higher priority than maintaining order. In practice, however, we strive to keep things under control. When that becomes our focus, we tend to lose sight of You. Even when we think of You at such a time, we usually try to enlist Your help in restoring order. We want our life to display the deep desire in our heart: glorifying and enjoying You in carefree exuberance!
Beloved, I delight in your heartfelt desire to "kick up your heels" in celebration of who I AM. I can see into the depths of your heart, and I know that what you have expressed is true. I also read your thoughts with perfect accuracy, so I realize how easily you lose sight of My Presence.
Let's think together about this problem. To glorify and enjoy Me as you desire, you need to relinquish control to Me. You may think the world involves giving up something precious, because controlling things is a way you try to feel secure. In reality, however, this effort is bound to fail. Even if you succeed in creating a tidy, structured life for a time, you will not be able to maintain it. So, what I'm asking you to give up - control - this is something that frustrates you far more than it helps you.
Instead of wasting your energy on an impossible task, endeavor to celebrate your relationship with Me. Learn to walk more consistently in the Light of My Presence. Indeed, those who walk in this Light can rejoice in Me all day long, exulting in My righteousness. Glorify Me by living joyously in My energizing Light.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 17:4-5; Psalm 139:1-2 and Psalm 89:15-16
Dear Jesus, In our heart, glorifying and enjoying You is a much higher priority than maintaining order. In practice, however, we strive to keep things under control. When that becomes our focus, we tend to lose sight of You. Even when we think of You at such a time, we usually try to enlist Your help in restoring order. We want our life to display the deep desire in our heart: glorifying and enjoying You in carefree exuberance!
Beloved, I delight in your heartfelt desire to "kick up your heels" in celebration of who I AM. I can see into the depths of your heart, and I know that what you have expressed is true. I also read your thoughts with perfect accuracy, so I realize how easily you lose sight of My Presence.
Let's think together about this problem. To glorify and enjoy Me as you desire, you need to relinquish control to Me. You may think the world involves giving up something precious, because controlling things is a way you try to feel secure. In reality, however, this effort is bound to fail. Even if you succeed in creating a tidy, structured life for a time, you will not be able to maintain it. So, what I'm asking you to give up - control - this is something that frustrates you far more than it helps you.
Instead of wasting your energy on an impossible task, endeavor to celebrate your relationship with Me. Learn to walk more consistently in the Light of My Presence. Indeed, those who walk in this Light can rejoice in Me all day long, exulting in My righteousness. Glorify Me by living joyously in My energizing Light.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 17:4-5; Psalm 139:1-2 and Psalm 89:15-16
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Remember That Your Relationship With Me Is ...
REMEMBER THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ME IS saturated in grace. Therefore, nothing you do or don't do can separate you from My Presence.
Dear Jesus, We are so thankful for Your grace. When we are keenly aware of having failed You, we grasp on to grace for dear life. Feelings of guilt and fear conspire to convince us we have lost Your Love. Our sense of unworthiness tempts us to punish ourselves for our sins. Then we remember You have clothed us with garments of salvation - arrayed us in Your own righteousness. Our salvation is all about You and what You have done to rescue us. Help us feel more secure in Your Love.
Beloved, it is utterly impossible for Me to stop loving you. Your relationship with Me is so saturated in grace that the two are forever inseparable. Meat that has been marinated in a sauce cannot become un-marinated. The longer it soaks, the deeper it penetrates, flavoring and tenderizing the meat. You have been soaking in grace ever since I became your Savior. The longer you "marinate," the more fully My grace permeates our relationship. It is impossible for you to become un-graced!
I want you to rest in the perfection of your salvation. My glorious grace makes you holy and blameless in My sight. So, nothing you do or fail to do could ever separate you from My Love.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Ephesians 2:8; Romans 8:38-39; Isaiah 61:10 and
Ephesians 1:4-6
Dear Jesus, We are so thankful for Your grace. When we are keenly aware of having failed You, we grasp on to grace for dear life. Feelings of guilt and fear conspire to convince us we have lost Your Love. Our sense of unworthiness tempts us to punish ourselves for our sins. Then we remember You have clothed us with garments of salvation - arrayed us in Your own righteousness. Our salvation is all about You and what You have done to rescue us. Help us feel more secure in Your Love.
Beloved, it is utterly impossible for Me to stop loving you. Your relationship with Me is so saturated in grace that the two are forever inseparable. Meat that has been marinated in a sauce cannot become un-marinated. The longer it soaks, the deeper it penetrates, flavoring and tenderizing the meat. You have been soaking in grace ever since I became your Savior. The longer you "marinate," the more fully My grace permeates our relationship. It is impossible for you to become un-graced!
I want you to rest in the perfection of your salvation. My glorious grace makes you holy and blameless in My sight. So, nothing you do or fail to do could ever separate you from My Love.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Ephesians 2:8; Romans 8:38-39; Isaiah 61:10 and
Ephesians 1:4-6
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
The Ultimate Protection Against ...
THE ULTIMATE PROTECTION AGAINST sinking during life's storms is devoting time to develop your friendship with Me.
Dear Jesus, We waste a lot of time worrying about storms we can see forming along the horizon of our lives. Thankfully, many of them in the past have veered off in another direction: never reaching us. Some storms have actually hit, but usually they have lost much of their power by the time they get to us. We need to switch our focus from difficulties that may come our way to Your Presence, which is always with us.
Beloved, you will never find security by trying to anticipate all the storms that may reach you someday. Remember that I control the atmosphere of your life. Trust Me by relaxing and releasing your concerns into My capable care. It saddens Me to see you obsessing about possible problems, rather than bringing these matters to Me. When you find yourself anxiously scanning the horizon of your life, use that as a reminder to seek My Face. You will not find Me off in the distance. I am here beside you, nearer than you dare believe.
Instead of wasting time worrying, devote that time to developing close friendship with Me. Talk with Me about everything that concerns you - your pleasures as well as your problems. I am interested in everything that matters to you, because I care for you. Ask Me to lift your perspective from a problem-focus to a Presence-focus. Remember that I am holding you by your right hand. I guide you with My own counsel, based on eternal wisdom; so there's no need to worry about the future. When the time comes, I will personally escort you into Glory.
It is good for you to be near Me. Your best refuge in life's storms is close friendship with Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: 1 Chronicles 14:11; Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 73:23-24, 28
Dear Jesus, We waste a lot of time worrying about storms we can see forming along the horizon of our lives. Thankfully, many of them in the past have veered off in another direction: never reaching us. Some storms have actually hit, but usually they have lost much of their power by the time they get to us. We need to switch our focus from difficulties that may come our way to Your Presence, which is always with us.
Beloved, you will never find security by trying to anticipate all the storms that may reach you someday. Remember that I control the atmosphere of your life. Trust Me by relaxing and releasing your concerns into My capable care. It saddens Me to see you obsessing about possible problems, rather than bringing these matters to Me. When you find yourself anxiously scanning the horizon of your life, use that as a reminder to seek My Face. You will not find Me off in the distance. I am here beside you, nearer than you dare believe.
Instead of wasting time worrying, devote that time to developing close friendship with Me. Talk with Me about everything that concerns you - your pleasures as well as your problems. I am interested in everything that matters to you, because I care for you. Ask Me to lift your perspective from a problem-focus to a Presence-focus. Remember that I am holding you by your right hand. I guide you with My own counsel, based on eternal wisdom; so there's no need to worry about the future. When the time comes, I will personally escort you into Glory.
It is good for you to be near Me. Your best refuge in life's storms is close friendship with Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: 1 Chronicles 14:11; Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 73:23-24, 28
Monday, August 24, 2015
My Light Shines Most Brightly Through ...
MY LIGHT SHINES MOST BRIGHTLY THROUGH believers who trust Me in the dark. That kind of trust is supernatural: a production of My indwelling Spirit.
Dear Jesus, We love walking in the Light with You. We are a creature who craves light - sunlight and even artificial light, but especially the Light of Your holy Presence. We trust You easily when there's plenty of light in our world. Trusting You in the dark is another matter altogether: there is a kind of desperation to it - clinging to You as if our life depended on it.
Beloved, growing in grace is all about trusting Me: in good times, in bad times, at all times. I am Lord over all your circumstances, so I want to be involved in every aspect of your life. One of the best ways of connecting with Me - here and now - is trusting Me in the very situation where you find yourself. When your world seems dark and you trust Me anyway, My Light shines brightly through you. You may not be aware of this illumination, but it is visible to many: both in heavenly realms and on earth. Your display of transcendent trust weakens spiritual forces of evil. People around you are strengthened and blessed by My supernatural Light showing through you.
Clinging to Me in the dark feels like an act requiring all your willpower. Exerting your will is definitely important, but there is more. My hand has an eternal grip on yours, I will never let go of you! Moreover, My indwelling Spirit empowers you to keep hanging on. When you feel on the brink of giving up, cry out for His assistance: "Help me, Holy Spirit!" This brief prayer enables you to tap into His vast Power. Be encouraged by knowing that though you may see only darkness, My Light is shining through you in surpassing splendor!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: 1 John 1:7; Psalm 62:8 and Psalm 139:10
Dear Jesus, We love walking in the Light with You. We are a creature who craves light - sunlight and even artificial light, but especially the Light of Your holy Presence. We trust You easily when there's plenty of light in our world. Trusting You in the dark is another matter altogether: there is a kind of desperation to it - clinging to You as if our life depended on it.
Beloved, growing in grace is all about trusting Me: in good times, in bad times, at all times. I am Lord over all your circumstances, so I want to be involved in every aspect of your life. One of the best ways of connecting with Me - here and now - is trusting Me in the very situation where you find yourself. When your world seems dark and you trust Me anyway, My Light shines brightly through you. You may not be aware of this illumination, but it is visible to many: both in heavenly realms and on earth. Your display of transcendent trust weakens spiritual forces of evil. People around you are strengthened and blessed by My supernatural Light showing through you.
Clinging to Me in the dark feels like an act requiring all your willpower. Exerting your will is definitely important, but there is more. My hand has an eternal grip on yours, I will never let go of you! Moreover, My indwelling Spirit empowers you to keep hanging on. When you feel on the brink of giving up, cry out for His assistance: "Help me, Holy Spirit!" This brief prayer enables you to tap into His vast Power. Be encouraged by knowing that though you may see only darkness, My Light is shining through you in surpassing splendor!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: 1 John 1:7; Psalm 62:8 and Psalm 139:10
Sunday, August 23, 2015
When You Seek Me Instead Of ...
WHEN YOU SEEK ME INSTEAD OF the world's idols, you experience My Joy and Peace. These intangibles quench the thirst of your soul, providing deep satisfaction.
Dear Jesus, Our soul is often thirsty, even though we may not realize it at the time. We may think we are tired or bored or stressed out. So we start looking around in the visible world, searching for satisfaction, or at least some distraction. All the while, You are with Me - invisible, yet infinitely Real. Our soul thirsts for You, Jesus!
Beloved, the world offers more distractions than you could ever fit into one lifespan. They may provide some relief for a while, but your thirst for me remains unquenched. When you realize that your deepest desire is for Me, you are well on the way to finding satisfaction. As you go along this path of Life, you will encounter companions I have chosen for you - Joy and Peace. Though they are intangible, their company is quite beneficial. They can relieve the thirst of your soul.
Joy is radiantly lovely. Her contagious laughter lifts you up and lightens your mood. Peace is quieter than Joy but equally attractive. Her serenity calms you, as you feel fully understood yet totally accepted. The longer you walk with these delightful companions, the better your journey will be. Moreover, Joy and Peace enhance your awareness of Me - the One who ultimately satisfies your soul thirst.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 143:6; Psalm 42:1-2; Psalm 16:11 and Colossians 3:15
Dear Jesus, Our soul is often thirsty, even though we may not realize it at the time. We may think we are tired or bored or stressed out. So we start looking around in the visible world, searching for satisfaction, or at least some distraction. All the while, You are with Me - invisible, yet infinitely Real. Our soul thirsts for You, Jesus!
Beloved, the world offers more distractions than you could ever fit into one lifespan. They may provide some relief for a while, but your thirst for me remains unquenched. When you realize that your deepest desire is for Me, you are well on the way to finding satisfaction. As you go along this path of Life, you will encounter companions I have chosen for you - Joy and Peace. Though they are intangible, their company is quite beneficial. They can relieve the thirst of your soul.
Joy is radiantly lovely. Her contagious laughter lifts you up and lightens your mood. Peace is quieter than Joy but equally attractive. Her serenity calms you, as you feel fully understood yet totally accepted. The longer you walk with these delightful companions, the better your journey will be. Moreover, Joy and Peace enhance your awareness of Me - the One who ultimately satisfies your soul thirst.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 143:6; Psalm 42:1-2; Psalm 16:11 and Colossians 3:15
Saturday - A Thankful Attitude Opens ...
A THANKFUL ATTITUDE OPENS windows of heaven. Spiritual blessings fall freely onto you through those openings into eternity.
Dear Jesus, We love the image of spiritual blessings falling upon us through heaven's open windows. And all You require of us is to be thankful. That seems such an easy condition, yet we stumble over it almost every day of our life. Help us overcome our ungrateful attitude.
Beloved, I rejoice in your desire to become more grateful. Throughout the Bible I repeatedly command thankfulness because it is vital to your well-being. It is also crucial for a healthy relationship with Me, since I am your Creator, your Savior, your King. When you thank Me, you acknowledge your indebtedness to Me, how much I have done for you. This attitude brings Joy both to you and to Me.
Giving thanks is similar to similar priming a pump with water so that it will produce more water. Since thankfulness is one of the spiritual blessings I bestow on you, it will increase along with the others when you "prime" Me with thanksgiving.
Remember that I am the God of all grace. When you fail in your endeavor to be thankful, simply ask Me for forgiveness. As you freely receive this priceless gift - remembering what it cost Me - your gratitude will grow. Look up to Me, and see spiritual blessings cascading down on you through wide open windows of heaven.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 100:4; Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 4:2; Zechariah 9:9
Dear Jesus, We love the image of spiritual blessings falling upon us through heaven's open windows. And all You require of us is to be thankful. That seems such an easy condition, yet we stumble over it almost every day of our life. Help us overcome our ungrateful attitude.
Beloved, I rejoice in your desire to become more grateful. Throughout the Bible I repeatedly command thankfulness because it is vital to your well-being. It is also crucial for a healthy relationship with Me, since I am your Creator, your Savior, your King. When you thank Me, you acknowledge your indebtedness to Me, how much I have done for you. This attitude brings Joy both to you and to Me.
Giving thanks is similar to similar priming a pump with water so that it will produce more water. Since thankfulness is one of the spiritual blessings I bestow on you, it will increase along with the others when you "prime" Me with thanksgiving.
Remember that I am the God of all grace. When you fail in your endeavor to be thankful, simply ask Me for forgiveness. As you freely receive this priceless gift - remembering what it cost Me - your gratitude will grow. Look up to Me, and see spiritual blessings cascading down on you through wide open windows of heaven.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 100:4; Ephesians 1:3; Colossians 4:2; Zechariah 9:9
Friday, August 21, 2015
Be Willing To Go Out On A ..
BE WILLING TO GO OUT ON A Limb with Me. If that is where I am leading you, it is the safest place to be.
Dear Jesus, We are really not much of a risk taker. We prefer to play it safe. However, staying close to You is our heartfelt desire. We want to follow wherever You lead - even if it's out on a limb. Help us follow You confidently, rather than fearfully.
Beloved, bring all your fears to Me. Fears that are not dealt with tend to magnify themselves. Expose them to the revealing Light of My Presence, and they will shrink to manageable proportions. Some of them may even become comical when you view them from this perspective.
As fearfulness loosens its grip on you, you are freed to follow Me. Grasp My hand tightly, as we edge our way out onto the limb. Since I go before you in this venture, you can keep our eyes on Me as you step out in faith. Soon we will get to a resting place, and then you can look around. If you like, glance back at the tree trunk, the place from which we branched out on this adventure. While gripping My hand to steady yourself, look toward the horizon and enjoy the view from this treetop perspective.
You are actually safer here - out on this limb with Me - than you would be on the ground. In this new, challenging environment you stay alert, communicating with Me continually, holding My hand in trusting dependence. Overly familiar surroundings may feel safer, but they can lull you into sleepy self-reliance. That is when you tend to forget about Me; it's also when you are most likely to fall. Follow Me confidently wherever I lead, and the shelter of My Presence will keep you safe.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 37:23-24; Hebrews 22:2 and Psalm 31:20
Dear Jesus, We are really not much of a risk taker. We prefer to play it safe. However, staying close to You is our heartfelt desire. We want to follow wherever You lead - even if it's out on a limb. Help us follow You confidently, rather than fearfully.
Beloved, bring all your fears to Me. Fears that are not dealt with tend to magnify themselves. Expose them to the revealing Light of My Presence, and they will shrink to manageable proportions. Some of them may even become comical when you view them from this perspective.
As fearfulness loosens its grip on you, you are freed to follow Me. Grasp My hand tightly, as we edge our way out onto the limb. Since I go before you in this venture, you can keep our eyes on Me as you step out in faith. Soon we will get to a resting place, and then you can look around. If you like, glance back at the tree trunk, the place from which we branched out on this adventure. While gripping My hand to steady yourself, look toward the horizon and enjoy the view from this treetop perspective.
You are actually safer here - out on this limb with Me - than you would be on the ground. In this new, challenging environment you stay alert, communicating with Me continually, holding My hand in trusting dependence. Overly familiar surroundings may feel safer, but they can lull you into sleepy self-reliance. That is when you tend to forget about Me; it's also when you are most likely to fall. Follow Me confidently wherever I lead, and the shelter of My Presence will keep you safe.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 37:23-24; Hebrews 22:2 and Psalm 31:20
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Trust Me In The Midst Of ...
TRUST ME IN THE MIDST OF a messy day. Your inner calm - your Peace in My Presence - need not be shaken by what is going on around you.
Dear Jesus, Sometimes "messy" is a very apt description of the day. Many things feel out of control, but we are trying to trust You to help us. Our yearning to restore order in our little world tends to give us an outward focus - on our circumstances. We confess that our inner calm is easily shaken by what is going on around us. We know Your Peace is still available to us, but we are having trouble accessing it.
Beloved, your honesty appeals to Me and draws Me near you. When a messy day interrupts your Peace, you discover that your sense of security is quite dependent on circumstances. This is a very common problem, and there are ways you can overcome it. The best way is to stop what you are doing and seek My assistance. Even a brief "time out" from the confusion is extremely beneficial. As you turn your attention to Me, I help you see from My perspective. You realize you are not in the midst of an emergency, so you give yourself permission to slow down. This slower pace makes it easier to stay conscious of Me when you return to the messy situation.
Sometimes it is impossible for you to leave the situation even briefly. In this case, your challenge is to retreat to a place of inner calmness while your mind and body remain largely engaged in problem-solving. This is difficult, but it is still possible. Since I live in your heart, My Peace is accessible to you there. Ask Me to increase your awareness of My peaceful Presence. Keep returning your thoughts to Me, by whispering "Jesus." My Name is a strong tower, as you run to it, you know you are safe.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 16:33; Psalm 121:2 and Proverbs 18:10
Dear Jesus, Sometimes "messy" is a very apt description of the day. Many things feel out of control, but we are trying to trust You to help us. Our yearning to restore order in our little world tends to give us an outward focus - on our circumstances. We confess that our inner calm is easily shaken by what is going on around us. We know Your Peace is still available to us, but we are having trouble accessing it.
Beloved, your honesty appeals to Me and draws Me near you. When a messy day interrupts your Peace, you discover that your sense of security is quite dependent on circumstances. This is a very common problem, and there are ways you can overcome it. The best way is to stop what you are doing and seek My assistance. Even a brief "time out" from the confusion is extremely beneficial. As you turn your attention to Me, I help you see from My perspective. You realize you are not in the midst of an emergency, so you give yourself permission to slow down. This slower pace makes it easier to stay conscious of Me when you return to the messy situation.
Sometimes it is impossible for you to leave the situation even briefly. In this case, your challenge is to retreat to a place of inner calmness while your mind and body remain largely engaged in problem-solving. This is difficult, but it is still possible. Since I live in your heart, My Peace is accessible to you there. Ask Me to increase your awareness of My peaceful Presence. Keep returning your thoughts to Me, by whispering "Jesus." My Name is a strong tower, as you run to it, you know you are safe.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: John 16:33; Psalm 121:2 and Proverbs 18:10
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
In Addition To The Three ...
IN ADDITION TO THE THREE Dimensions of space and the one of time, there is the dimension of openness to My Presence. This one transcends the other four, giving you glimpses of heaven while you still reside on earth.
Dear Jesus, We are trying to wrap our minds around the concept of this fifth dimension - openness to Your Presence. It seems quite reasonable because we know You transcend both space and time. However, we are a time-bound creature. We can exist only in the present. Also, the world we see around us is decidedly three-dimensional. So, understanding the fifth dimension is a "stretch" for us - a stretch of faith.
Beloved, you are right on target. Openness to My Presence is all about faith: believing that though I am invisible, I am both Real and really with you. This is foundational to knowing Me. However, there is also an art to knowing Me. It is very personal, because each of My followers has a unique relationship with Me: comprised of all your communication with Me, your love for Me, your receptivity and responsiveness to Me.
Sometimes when you are seeking My Face, My Presence becomes more real to you than the space-time moment you occupy. The reality of My glorious Being outshines your current circumstances and lifts you above them. You feel free, and your spirit soars with Me. You rejoice in Me and are strengthened by that divine Joy. Thus, you enjoy glimpses of heaven while continuing to dwell on earth.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 11:1; John 11:40; Ephesians 2:6 and Nehemiah 8:10
Dear Jesus, We are trying to wrap our minds around the concept of this fifth dimension - openness to Your Presence. It seems quite reasonable because we know You transcend both space and time. However, we are a time-bound creature. We can exist only in the present. Also, the world we see around us is decidedly three-dimensional. So, understanding the fifth dimension is a "stretch" for us - a stretch of faith.
Beloved, you are right on target. Openness to My Presence is all about faith: believing that though I am invisible, I am both Real and really with you. This is foundational to knowing Me. However, there is also an art to knowing Me. It is very personal, because each of My followers has a unique relationship with Me: comprised of all your communication with Me, your love for Me, your receptivity and responsiveness to Me.
Sometimes when you are seeking My Face, My Presence becomes more real to you than the space-time moment you occupy. The reality of My glorious Being outshines your current circumstances and lifts you above them. You feel free, and your spirit soars with Me. You rejoice in Me and are strengthened by that divine Joy. Thus, you enjoy glimpses of heaven while continuing to dwell on earth.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 11:1; John 11:40; Ephesians 2:6 and Nehemiah 8:10
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Come To Me, Come To ...
COME TO ME. COME TO Me. Come to Me. This is My continual invitation to you, proclaimed in holy whispers.
Dear Jesus,
Your invitation makes our hearts leap! How we long to hear Your holy whispers and respond with our whole being. So often, though, we are distracted by the noise of our worries and the clamor of the world. Help us remember your inviting Presence even when we are too hassled to hear Your Love whispers.
Beloved, you do well to ask for help in remembering. My chosen children have consistently forgotten Me and the great works I've done on their behalf. I made a dry path through the Red Sea for the Israelites, saving them from the pursuing Egyptians. Yet many of those former slaves remembered the tasty food they had eaten in Egypt better than they recalled My miraculous deeds to set them free. You also tend to "major on minors," letting trivial matters distract you from Me. You forget that My sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection shed Light on each moment of your life. I want you to live vibrantly in this Light, increasingly aware of My nearness.
To help in your endeavor to remember, think of Me as the Lover of your soul, the One who delights in you now and forevermore. View yourself first and foremost as My beloved, since that is your ultimate identity. Fill your mind with Bible verses that convince you of My perfect Love for you.
Come to Me at all times, My loved one. Pour out your heart to Me, for I am your Refuge.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Matthew 11:28; Exodus 14:21-22 and Psalm 62:8
Dear Jesus,
Your invitation makes our hearts leap! How we long to hear Your holy whispers and respond with our whole being. So often, though, we are distracted by the noise of our worries and the clamor of the world. Help us remember your inviting Presence even when we are too hassled to hear Your Love whispers.
Beloved, you do well to ask for help in remembering. My chosen children have consistently forgotten Me and the great works I've done on their behalf. I made a dry path through the Red Sea for the Israelites, saving them from the pursuing Egyptians. Yet many of those former slaves remembered the tasty food they had eaten in Egypt better than they recalled My miraculous deeds to set them free. You also tend to "major on minors," letting trivial matters distract you from Me. You forget that My sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection shed Light on each moment of your life. I want you to live vibrantly in this Light, increasingly aware of My nearness.
To help in your endeavor to remember, think of Me as the Lover of your soul, the One who delights in you now and forevermore. View yourself first and foremost as My beloved, since that is your ultimate identity. Fill your mind with Bible verses that convince you of My perfect Love for you.
Come to Me at all times, My loved one. Pour out your heart to Me, for I am your Refuge.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Matthew 11:28; Exodus 14:21-22 and Psalm 62:8
Monday, August 17, 2015
I Want You To Be All ...
I WANT YOU TO BE ALL Mine. I am weaning you from other dependencies. Your security rests in Me alone: not in other people, not in circumstances.
Dear Jesus, We are grateful for the security You provide in our lives. The world has become such a frightening, insecure place! If You were not our Savior, we do not know how we would cope with all the uncertainty. However, we are not yet weaned from other dependencies. We want to depend on You plus other people and favorable circumstances. Amen.
Beloved, I am pleased by your candid admission. That gives Me an entrance into your life, so I can work with you on this matter. I'm not asking you to become a hermit or otherwise isolate yourself from other people. On the contrary, I want My children to help and love one another. One of the main ways I bless people is through the loving acts of others. However, you need to remember that every good and perfect gift is ultimately from Me, even if it comes to you through human hands.
The main danger of misplaced dependence is that it can border on idolatry. If you let your basic well-being depend on another person's behavior, you elevate that one to a position that only I should occupy. This is not only displeasing to Me; it is destructive. Because people are imperfect and unpredictable, your life may come to resemble a roller coaster: subject to the whims and moods of other people. Even worse, your intimacy with Me will be hindered by your preoccupation with someone else. I deserve first place in your heart!
I want you to rejoice in Me at all times, in all kinds of circumstances. You may ask freely for whatever you desire, bringing Me your petitions with thanksgiving. Regardless of how I answer your requests, this prayer transaction comes with a promise. My Peace will guard your heart and your mind, keeping you close to Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: James 1:17; Revelation 2:4 and Philippians 4:4-7
Dear Jesus, We are grateful for the security You provide in our lives. The world has become such a frightening, insecure place! If You were not our Savior, we do not know how we would cope with all the uncertainty. However, we are not yet weaned from other dependencies. We want to depend on You plus other people and favorable circumstances. Amen.
Beloved, I am pleased by your candid admission. That gives Me an entrance into your life, so I can work with you on this matter. I'm not asking you to become a hermit or otherwise isolate yourself from other people. On the contrary, I want My children to help and love one another. One of the main ways I bless people is through the loving acts of others. However, you need to remember that every good and perfect gift is ultimately from Me, even if it comes to you through human hands.
The main danger of misplaced dependence is that it can border on idolatry. If you let your basic well-being depend on another person's behavior, you elevate that one to a position that only I should occupy. This is not only displeasing to Me; it is destructive. Because people are imperfect and unpredictable, your life may come to resemble a roller coaster: subject to the whims and moods of other people. Even worse, your intimacy with Me will be hindered by your preoccupation with someone else. I deserve first place in your heart!
I want you to rejoice in Me at all times, in all kinds of circumstances. You may ask freely for whatever you desire, bringing Me your petitions with thanksgiving. Regardless of how I answer your requests, this prayer transaction comes with a promise. My Peace will guard your heart and your mind, keeping you close to Me.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: James 1:17; Revelation 2:4 and Philippians 4:4-7
Sunday, August 16, 2015
I Am Nearer Than You Dare ....
I AM NEARER THAN YOU DARE Believe, closer than the air you breathe. If My children could only imagine My Presence, they would never feel lonely again.
Dear Jesus, We deeply desire to experience Your Presence more consistently. When we are aware of Your nearness, we feel peaceful and content. It is awesome that You are even closer than the air we breathe. Usually, we are not conscious of being enveloped in air, because it is invisible and consistently available to us. Similarly, Your unseen Presence is a constant in our lives, but we often fail to recognize You. That leaves us vulnerable to loneliness.
Beloved, it's good that you are the connection between loneliness and lack of awareness. This is an ago old problem. When the patriarch Jacob was in a barren place - far from his family - he was quite conscious of his isolation. However, I poured out My Presence upon him, in the form of a glorious dream. When Jacob awoke, he responded, "Surely the Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it" (Genesis 28:16).
It is possible to feel isolated even when you are with other people, because of the privacy of your thoughts and unspoken needs. The only thing that can adequately fill the gaps of isolation is awareness of My abiding Presence. Not only am I constantly with you, but I am also within you: in the inner recesses of your heart and mind. My knowledge of you is picture perfect, and it is framed in unconditional Love.
Let feelings of loneliness remind you of your need to seek My Face. Come to Me with your ever-so human emptiness and My divine Presence will fill you with Life to the full.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 41:12; Psalm 145:17-18 and John 10:10
Dear Jesus, We deeply desire to experience Your Presence more consistently. When we are aware of Your nearness, we feel peaceful and content. It is awesome that You are even closer than the air we breathe. Usually, we are not conscious of being enveloped in air, because it is invisible and consistently available to us. Similarly, Your unseen Presence is a constant in our lives, but we often fail to recognize You. That leaves us vulnerable to loneliness.
Beloved, it's good that you are the connection between loneliness and lack of awareness. This is an ago old problem. When the patriarch Jacob was in a barren place - far from his family - he was quite conscious of his isolation. However, I poured out My Presence upon him, in the form of a glorious dream. When Jacob awoke, he responded, "Surely the Lord is in this place and I was not aware of it" (Genesis 28:16).
It is possible to feel isolated even when you are with other people, because of the privacy of your thoughts and unspoken needs. The only thing that can adequately fill the gaps of isolation is awareness of My abiding Presence. Not only am I constantly with you, but I am also within you: in the inner recesses of your heart and mind. My knowledge of you is picture perfect, and it is framed in unconditional Love.
Let feelings of loneliness remind you of your need to seek My Face. Come to Me with your ever-so human emptiness and My divine Presence will fill you with Life to the full.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Psalm 41:12; Psalm 145:17-18 and John 10:10
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Go Gently Through This Day, Leaning On ...
GO GENTLY THROUGH THIS DAY, LEANING ON Me and enjoying My Presence.
Dear Jesus, Gently seems to be the only way we can make it through this day. We are grateful for Your perfect understanding, for commanding us to do precisely what we need most at this moment. Thank You also for inviting us to lean on You. We need to lean on someone, and You are definitely the most reliable Person we could ever find. It amazes us that You - the Lord of the universe - are always available to help us. Amen.
Beloved, My availability is based on My commitment to you, which is deeper and stronger than even the most ardent wedding vows. No matter how passionately in love a bride and groom may be, their vows last only until one of them dies. My commitment, however, is absolutely unlimited. When you asked Me to be your Savior, I wed you for eternity. Neither death nor life, nor anything else in all creation can separate you from My Love!
I want you to go gently through this day, because I Myself am gentle - especially with those who are weak. You are free to lean on Me as much as you like, but I also want you to enjoy Me. When you are weary, you find it easier to lean on Me than to enjoy My company. In an attempt to save energy, you tend to shut down emotionally. But it is possible for you to be joyful in Me - Your Savior - even in desperate circumstances. Remember that I am your strength. Rejoice in Me, and relax while I speak to you in a gentle whisper.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 8:38-39; Habakkuk 3:17-19 and 1 Kings 19:12
Dear Jesus, Gently seems to be the only way we can make it through this day. We are grateful for Your perfect understanding, for commanding us to do precisely what we need most at this moment. Thank You also for inviting us to lean on You. We need to lean on someone, and You are definitely the most reliable Person we could ever find. It amazes us that You - the Lord of the universe - are always available to help us. Amen.
Beloved, My availability is based on My commitment to you, which is deeper and stronger than even the most ardent wedding vows. No matter how passionately in love a bride and groom may be, their vows last only until one of them dies. My commitment, however, is absolutely unlimited. When you asked Me to be your Savior, I wed you for eternity. Neither death nor life, nor anything else in all creation can separate you from My Love!
I want you to go gently through this day, because I Myself am gentle - especially with those who are weak. You are free to lean on Me as much as you like, but I also want you to enjoy Me. When you are weary, you find it easier to lean on Me than to enjoy My company. In an attempt to save energy, you tend to shut down emotionally. But it is possible for you to be joyful in Me - Your Savior - even in desperate circumstances. Remember that I am your strength. Rejoice in Me, and relax while I speak to you in a gentle whisper.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Romans 8:38-39; Habakkuk 3:17-19 and 1 Kings 19:12
Friday, August 14, 2015
Instead of Dreading Difficulties That ...
INSTEAD OF DREADING DIFFICULTIES THAT may or may not occur, view this day as a sacred adventure to be shared with Me.
Dear Jesus, Our hearts delight in Your invitation to live this day as a sacred adventure. You are our King of kings and we long to live in a manner that displays our adoption into Your royal family. You are also our Lord of lords, so anything shared with You is sacred. We admit, though, that our minds are often preoccupied with ordinary matters and concerns. When a new day stands open before us, we scan it for difficulties that may occur, wondering if we'll be able to cope. This is the natural bent of our mind: an earth-bound focus. Keep us focused on you and your abilities to strengthen and encourage us. Amen.
Beloved, it is natural for your mind to be drawn toward mundane matters. But you are capable of so much more than that! I created you in My own image, with incredible abilities given only to mankind. When you become a believer, I infused My Spirit into your innermost being. The combination of My image and My Spirit in you is powerful - making you fit for greatness.
I want you to begin each day viewing yourself as a chosen warrior, ready to go into battle. Of course, there will be difficulties, but they need not be your focus. Put on the full armor I have provided, and you will be ready for whatever battles you have to fight. When you are engaged in combat, keep looking to Me for strength and guidance. Remember that you and I together can handle whatever difficulties come your way. Abandon yourself to the challenges I have chosen for you. Then you will find your days increasingly devoted to sacred adventures shared with Me - your King!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Romans 8:11 and Ephesians 6:13
Dear Jesus, Our hearts delight in Your invitation to live this day as a sacred adventure. You are our King of kings and we long to live in a manner that displays our adoption into Your royal family. You are also our Lord of lords, so anything shared with You is sacred. We admit, though, that our minds are often preoccupied with ordinary matters and concerns. When a new day stands open before us, we scan it for difficulties that may occur, wondering if we'll be able to cope. This is the natural bent of our mind: an earth-bound focus. Keep us focused on you and your abilities to strengthen and encourage us. Amen.
Beloved, it is natural for your mind to be drawn toward mundane matters. But you are capable of so much more than that! I created you in My own image, with incredible abilities given only to mankind. When you become a believer, I infused My Spirit into your innermost being. The combination of My image and My Spirit in you is powerful - making you fit for greatness.
I want you to begin each day viewing yourself as a chosen warrior, ready to go into battle. Of course, there will be difficulties, but they need not be your focus. Put on the full armor I have provided, and you will be ready for whatever battles you have to fight. When you are engaged in combat, keep looking to Me for strength and guidance. Remember that you and I together can handle whatever difficulties come your way. Abandon yourself to the challenges I have chosen for you. Then you will find your days increasingly devoted to sacred adventures shared with Me - your King!
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: 1 Timothy 6:15-16; Romans 8:11 and Ephesians 6:13
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Seek To Please Me Above All ...
SEEK TO PLEASE ME ABOVE ALL Else. Let that goal be your focal point as you go through this day.
Dear Jesus, We definitely need a focal point to guide us through this day. Our mind slips out of focus very easily. When we fix our thoughts on You, the fog lifts and we can see things more clearly. A good way to stay focused on You is seeking to please You moment by moment. We really do want to please You, but we are easily sidetracked by lesser goals. Amen.
Beloved, you will not be able to achieve success through discipline alone. This pursuit requires much more than an act of your will. It is largely powered by what is in your heart. As your Love for Me grows stronger, so does your desire to please Me. When a man and a woman are deeply in love, they take great delight in pleasing one another. They may spend hours pondering ways to surprise their beloved with unexpected pleasures. Simply anticipating the loved one's happiness is exciting to such a lover. Actually, I, Myself am such a Lover. I delight in increasing your Joy, making it complete. The best way to grow in your passion for Me is to increase your awareness of My ardent Love for you.
Whenever you seek to please Me, think about Me as the Lover of your soul, the One who loves you perfectly every nanosecond of your existence. Let your budding desire to please Me flourish in the Light of My unfailing Love.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 3:1; John 15:9-11 and Psalm 52:8
Dear Jesus, We definitely need a focal point to guide us through this day. Our mind slips out of focus very easily. When we fix our thoughts on You, the fog lifts and we can see things more clearly. A good way to stay focused on You is seeking to please You moment by moment. We really do want to please You, but we are easily sidetracked by lesser goals. Amen.
Beloved, you will not be able to achieve success through discipline alone. This pursuit requires much more than an act of your will. It is largely powered by what is in your heart. As your Love for Me grows stronger, so does your desire to please Me. When a man and a woman are deeply in love, they take great delight in pleasing one another. They may spend hours pondering ways to surprise their beloved with unexpected pleasures. Simply anticipating the loved one's happiness is exciting to such a lover. Actually, I, Myself am such a Lover. I delight in increasing your Joy, making it complete. The best way to grow in your passion for Me is to increase your awareness of My ardent Love for you.
Whenever you seek to please Me, think about Me as the Lover of your soul, the One who loves you perfectly every nanosecond of your existence. Let your budding desire to please Me flourish in the Light of My unfailing Love.
- Jesus
(Dear Jesus / Sarah Young)
Scripture Insight: Hebrews 3:1; John 15:9-11 and Psalm 52:8
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