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

by Sarah Young

YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH. Listen more to Me and less to your doubts.

I am leading you along the way I designed just for you. Therefore, it is a lonely way, humanly speaking. But I go before you as well as alongside you, so you are never alone. Do not expect anyone to understand fully My ways with you, any more than you can comprehend My dealings with others. I am revealing to you the path of Life, day by day and moment by moment.

As I said to My disciple Peter, so I repeat to...

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my pat...

You must follow me.

WHEN SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE OR THOUGHTS makes you anxious, come to Me and talk about it. Bring Me your prayer and petition with thanksgiving, saying, “Thank You, Jesus, for this opportunity to trust You more.” Though the lessons of trust that I send to you come wrapped in difficulties, the benefits far outweigh the cost.

Well-developed trust will bring you many blessings, not the least of which is My Peace. I have promised to keep you in perfect Peace to the extent that you trust in Me.

My Peace, however, is such an all-encompassing gift that it is independent of all circumstances. Though you lose everything else, if you gain My Peace you are rich indeed.

be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. —PHILIPPIANS 4:6

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because

“

I LOVE YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE, not for what you do. Many voices vie for control of your mind, especially when you sit in silence. You must learn to discern what is My voice and what is not. Ask My Spirit to give you this discernment.

Many of My children run around in circles, trying to obey the various voices directing their lives. This results in fragmented, frustrating patterns of living.

Do not fall into this trap. Walk closely with Me each moment, listening for My directives and enjoying My Companionship. Refuse to let other voices tie you up in knots. My sh...

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and on...

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” —JOHN 10:4

REFUSE TO WORRY!

Things are not as they should be. So the temptation to be anxious is constantly with you, trying to worm its way into your mind. The best defense is continual communication with Me, richly seasoned with thanksgiving. Awareness of My Presence fills your mind with Light and Peace, leaving no room for fear. This awareness lifts you up above your circumstances, enabling you to see problems from My perspective.

Live close to Me! Together we can keep the wolves of worry at bay.

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you wor...

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. —1 THESSALONIANS 5:16–18

MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE PROBLEMS IN YOUR LIFE.

Every problem can teach you something, transforming you little by little into the masterpiece I created you to be. The very same problem can become a stumbling block over which you fall if you react with distrust and defiance. The choice is up to you, and you will have to choose many times each day whether to trust Me or defy Me.

The best way to befriend your problems is to thank Me for them.

This simple act opens your mind to the possibility of benefits flowing from your difficulties. You can even give persistent problems nickn...

familiarity rather than w...

The next step is to introduce them to Me, enabling Me to embrace them ...

I will not necessarily remove your problems, but My wisdom is sufficient to bring good...

“Come! Follow Me.” The One who goes ahead of you, opening up the way, is the same One who stays close and never lets go of your hand.

I am not subject to limitations of time or space. I am everywhere at every time, ceaselessly working on your behalf. That is why your best efforts are trusting Me and living close to Me.

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. —HEBREWS 7:25

Delight yourself in the LORD and

LET ME HELP YOU through this day. The challenges you face are far too great for you to handle alone. You are keenly aware of your helplessness in the scheme of events you face. This awareness opens up a choice: to doggedly go it alone or to walk with Me in humble steps of dependence. Actually, this choice is continually before you,

but difficulties highlight the decision-making process. So consider it all joy whenever you are enveloped in various trials. These are gifts from Me, reminding you to rely on Me alone.

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. —PSALM 63:7–8

Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. —JAMES 1:2–3 AMP

Anything that you desire more than Me becomes an idol. When you are determined to get your own way, you blot Me out of your consciousness. Instead of single-mindedly pursuing some goal, talk with Me about it.

If the goal fits into My plans for you, I will help you reach it. If it is contrary to My will for you, I will gradually change the desire of your heart.

Seek Me first and foremost; then the rest of your life will fall into ...

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. ...

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” —MATTHEW 6:33

33

Return to this soothing Center as often as you can, for this is where you are energized: filled with My Love, Joy, and Peace.

The world is a needy place; do not go there for sustenance. Instead, come to Me. Learn to depend on Me alone, and your weakness will become saturated with My Power.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. —GALATIANS 5:22 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. —2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. —1 JOHN 4:12

YOU ARE MINE FOR ALL TIME—and beyond time, into eternity. No power can deny you your inheritance in heaven. I want you to realize how utterly secure you are! Even if you falter as you journey through life, I will never let go of your hand.

Instead of approaching the day as a blank page that you need to fill up, try living it in a responsive mode, being on the lookout for all that I am doing. This sounds easy, but it requires a deep level of trust, based on the knowledge that My way is perfect. Praise

If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. —PSALM 37:23–24

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. —PSALM 18:30

WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT. As you take steps of faith, depending on Me, I will show you how much I can do for you.