Jesus Calling, with Scripture References: Enjoying Peace in His Presence (A 365-Day Devotional) (Jesus Calling®)

by Sarah Young

THERE IS NO PLACE so desolate that you cannot find Me there. When Hagar fled from her mistress, Sarah, into the wilderness, she thought she was utterly alone and forsaken. But Hagar encountered Me in that desolate place. There she addressed Me as the Living One who sees me. Through that encounter with My Presence, she gained courage to return to her mistress. No set of circumstances could ever isolate you from My loving Presence. Not only do I see you always, I see you as a redeemed saint, gloriously radiant in My righteousness. That is why I take great delight in you and rejoice over you with singing!

GROW STRONG IN YOUR WEAKNESS. Some of My children I’ve gifted with abundant strength and stamina. Others, like you, have received the humble gift of frailty. Your fragility is not a punishment, nor does it indicate lack of faith. On the contrary, weak ones like you must live by faith, depending on Me to get you through the day. I am developing your

ability to trust Me, to lean on Me rather than on your understanding. Your natural preference is to plan out your day, knowing what will happen when. My preference is for you to depend on Me continually, trusting Me to guide you and strengthen you as needed. This is how you grow strong in your weakness.

Now

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the

power of the weak. Even

SEEK ME with your whole being. I desire to be found by you, and I orchestrate the events of your life with that purpose in mind. When things go well and you are blessed, you can feel Me smiling on you. When you encounter rough patches along your life-journey, trust that My Light is still shining upon you. My reasons for allowing these adversities may be shrouded in mystery, but My continual Presence with you is an absolute promise. Seek Me in good times; seek Me in hard times. You will find Me watching over you all the time.

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. —DEUTERONOMY 4:29

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. —HEBREWS 10:23

The LORD watches over all who love him, but

The world has changed enormously since I first gave the command to be still, and know that I am God. However, this timeless truth is essential for the well-being of your soul. As dew refreshes grass and flowers during the stillness of the night, so My Presence revitalizes you as you sit quietly with Me.

A refreshed, revitalized mind is able to sort out what is important and what is not. In its natural condition, your mind easily gets stuck on trivial matters. Like the spinning wheels of a car trapped in mud, the cogs of your brain spin impotently when you focus on a trivial thing. As soon as you start communicating with Me about the matter, your thoughts gain traction and you can move on to more important things. Communicate with Me continually, and I will put My thoughts into your mind.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted ...

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. —1 C

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD,

who has compassion on you. —ISAIAH 54:10

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” —MATTHEW 28:19–20

At your request, I will remove the heavy load from you and bury it at the foot of the cross. When I unburden you, you are undeniably free! Stand up straight and tall in My Presence so that no one can place more burdens on your back.

It is this unconditional Love that frees you from both fears and sins.

My Peace will permeate your words and demeanor.

You will be active in the world, yet one step removed from it. You will not be easily shaken because My enveloping Presence buffers the blow of problems.

This is the path I have set before you. As you follow it wholeheartedly, you experienc...

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

—PSALM 16:8

Baby steps of trust are simple for you; you can take them with almost unconscious ease. Giant steps are another matter altogether: leaping across chasms in semidarkness, scaling cliffs of uncertainty, trudging through the valley of the shadow of death. These feats require sheer concentration, as well as utter commitment to Me.

If each of My children would seek to please Me above all else, fear of others’ judgments would vanish, as would attempts to impress others.

Focus your attention on the path just ahead of you and on the One who never leaves your side.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod ...

—PSAL...

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Though I am King of the universe, I am totally accessible to you. I am with you wherever you are. Nothing can separate you from My Presence!

I, the King of kings, am your constant Companion.

RELAX IN MY EVERLASTING ARMS.

When your energy fails you, do not look inward and lament the lack you find there. Look to Me and My sufficiency;

Thank Me for your neediness, which is building trust-bonds between us.

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemy before you, saying,

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

—PSALM 27:13

This is essentially an act of faith: believing that I love you with boundless, everlasting Love.

training your mind to trust Me, coming close to Me with confidence.

Resist the devil in My Name, and he will slink away from you. Draw near to Me, and My Presence will envelop you in Love.

of

“You belong

desire.

Not one of your thoughts escapes My notice.

I created your brain with capacity to know Me as Friend and Lord simultaneously.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.

This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.

“Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.