Jesus Listens September 30

My Refuge,

You are worthy of all my confidence, all my trust! There are people and things that deserve some of my confidence and trust, but only You deserve all of it. In a world that seems increasingly unsafe and unpredictable, You are the Rock that provides a firm foundation for my life -my Rock in whom I take refuge.

Because You are my Refuge, my sense of security doesn’t rest in my circumstances. My natural inclination is to strive to be in control of my life, but You’re training me to relax in Your sovereign control. You are a well-proved help in trouble, and You’re always present with me. Please help me to face unwelcome changes and unnerving circumstances without fear.

Instead of letting anxious thoughts roam freely in my mind, I need to lasso them- -voicing my trust in You. When I bring those captive thoughts into Your Presence, You subdue them and give me Your Peace. As Your Word assures me, whoever trusts in You is kept safe.

In Your strong Name, Jesus, Amen.

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭18‬:‭2‬

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭46‬:‭1‬-‭2

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭5

“The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭29‬:‭25

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens September 29

Generous Lord Jesus,

I come to You with a thankful heart, aware that my cup is overflowing with blessings. Gratitude enables me to perceive You more clearly and to rejoice in our Love-relationship. I’m so grateful that nothing can separate me from Your loving Presence!

This assurance of Your continual Presence with me is the basis of my security. Whenever I start to feel anxious, please remind me that my security rests in You alone and You are totally trustworthy.

I realize I will never be in control of my life circumstances, but I’m learning to relax and trust in Your control. You are teaching me to seek You and know You in greater depth and breadth -rather than striving for a predictable, safe lifestyle.

Help me, Lord, to cling to You instead of clinging to my old ways. I want to live my life as a glorious adventure shared with You, my forever-Friend and constant Companion. You are always doing something new in me, and You’re at work in all my circumstances. So I need to stay alert and be on the lookout for everything You have prepared for me.

In Your marvelous Name, Amen.

“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭38‬-‭39‬

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭56‬:‭3‬-‭4‬

“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭1

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens September 28

Mighty God,

Your sovereign hand-_ -Your control over my life-has placed me in humbling circumstances. I feel held down, held back, and powerless to change things. Because this feels so uncomfortable, part of me longs to break free and regain some control. Yet I know that this humbling position is actually a good place for me to be. My discomfort awakens me from the slumber of routine and reminds me that You are in charge of my life.

The difficulties I face present me with a crucial choice. I can grumble about my troubles- resenting Your ways with me-or I can come closer to You. When I’m suffering, my need for closeness with You is greater than ever. The more I choose to draw near You, affirming my trust in You, the more I can find hope in Your unfailing Love. You are teaching me to be joyful in hope while waiting in Your Presence- -where Joy abounds!

Help me to persevere in trusting You, Lord, believing that You will lift me up in due time. Meanwhile, I’ll keep casting all my anxiety on You, knowing that You care for me affectionately and are watching over me continually.

In Your powerful Name, Jesus, Amen.

“Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭33‬:‭22‬

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭12

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭7‬

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens September 27

Loving Savior,

Help me to stop overthinking things obsessing about unimportant matters. When my mind is idle, I tend to go into planning mode, attempting to figure things out and make decisions before I really need to. I realize this is an ineffective way of trying to be in control; it’s also a waste of precious time. I often end up changing my mind anyway, or even forgetting what I decided. I know there is a time for planning, but it’s definitely not all the time- or even most of it.

I really want to live in the present, where Your beautiful Presence awaits me continually. As I refresh myself in Your nearness, Your Love soaks into my innermost being. I delight in relaxing with You–putting aside problems so I can be attentive to You and receptive to Your Love. My soul thirsts for You, but so often I don’t realize what I’m really longing for: awareness of Your Presence with me.

Lord, please lead me beside quiet waters and restore my soul.

Just as lovers can communicate deeply with very few words, so it is in my relationship with You- the Lover of my soul.

In Your tender Name, Jesus, Amen.

“that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭18‬

“O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭63‬:‭1‬

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭2‬-‭3‬

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens September 26

Victorious Jesus,

Help me to welcome problems as perspective lifters. When things are going smoothly in my life, it’s easy for me to sleepwalk through my days–just following my routines. But if I bump into an obstacle that blocks my way, I suddenly wake up and become more attentive.

I’ve discovered that when I encounter a problem with no immediate solution, my response to that situation takes me either up or down. I can lash out at the difficulty-resenting it and feeling sorry for myself. But experience has taught me that this negative attitude will take me down into a pit of self-pity.

Instead of this hurtful response, I can view the problem as a ladder- enabling me to climb up and see my life from Your perspective. Looking down at the problem from this elevation, I’m able to see that the obstacle that stymied me is only a light and momentary trouble.

Once my perspective has been heightened, I’m free to look away from the difficulty and turn wholeheartedly to You. As I focus my attention on You, the Light of Your Presence shines upon me- blessing and refreshing me.

In Your radiant, refreshing Name, Amen.

“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭17‬-‭18‬

“Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭89‬:‭15

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭6‬:‭24‬-‭25‬

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens September 25

Gentle Jesus,

I come wearily into Your Presence- feeling weighed down by yesterday’s failures. I wish I could undo my decisions that I now regret. However, I know that the past is beyond the realm of change and cannot be undone. Even You, though You live in timelessness, respect the boundaries of time that exist in this world. So I don’t want to waste energy bemoaning bad choices I have made. Instead, I ask You to forgive me and help me learn from my mistakes.

When I’m feeling weighed down by things I regret, it’s as if I’m dragging my failures around like heavy chains clamped to my ankles. At such times, I find it beneficial to picture You coming to my rescue and cutting off those chains. You came to set Your followers free, and I want to walk in the truth that I am free indeed!

Lord, I rejoice that You redeem my failures forgiving me and leading me along paths of newness. As I talk with You about my mistakes, I need to learn from You. Please show me the changes You want me to make and guide me along right paths.

In Your redeeming Name, Amen.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭28‬-‭29‬

‬“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭36

“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭3‬

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens September 24

Beloved Lord Jesus,

Please infuse Your Peace into my innermost being. As I sit quietly in the Light of Your Presence, I long to sense Your Peace growing within me. This isn’t something I can accomplish through self-discipline and willpower; it’s a matter of opening up myself to receive Your blessing.

In this age of independence, it’s countercultural as well as counterintuitive to acknowledge my neediness. However, You have taken me along a path that has highlighted my need for You placing me in situations where my strengths were irrelevant and my weaknesses were glaringly evident. Through the aridity of those desert marches, You drew me closer and closer to Yourself. Moreover, You provided lovely surprises in that sun-scorched land. I discovered plants of Peace blossoming in the most desolate places!

You’ve been teaching me to thank You for hard times and difficult journeys trusting that, through them, You accomplish Your best work. And I’m learning that needing You is the key to knowing You intimately, which is the gift above all gifts!

In Your incomparable Name, Amen.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27

“And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭58‬:‭11

“giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭20

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens September 23

My great God,

I’m grateful that Your compassions never fail, they are new every morning. So I can begin each day confidently, knowing that Your vast reservoir of blessings is full to the brim! This knowledge helps me wait for You, entrusting my long-unanswered prayers into Your care and keeping. I trust that not even one of my petitions has slipped past You unnoticed. As I wait in Your Presence, help me to drink deeply from Your fountain of limitless Love and unfailing compassion. These divine provisions are freely available to me -and essential for my spiritual health.

Although many of my prayers are not yet answered, I find hope in Your great faithfulness. You keep all Your promises–in Your perfect way and Your perfect timing. You have promised to give me Peace that can displace the trouble and fear in my heart. If I become weary of waiting, please remind me that You also wait so that You may be gracious to me and have mercy on me. You hold back until I am ready to receive the things You have lovingly prepared for me. As I spend time in Your Presence, I rejoice in the promise that all those who wait for You are blessed.

In Your gracious Name, Jesus, Amen.

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.””
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭24‬

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬

“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭30‬:‭18

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens September 22

My ardent Lord,

Your Love chases after me every day of my life! So I’ll look for signs of Your loving Presence as I go through this day. You disclose Yourself to me in a variety of ways- words of Scripture just when I need them, helpful words spoken through other people, “coincidences” orchestrated by Your Spirit, nature’s beauty, and so on. Your Love for me is not passive. It actively chases after me and leaps into my life! Please open the eyes of my heart so I can “see” You blessing me in myriad ways- both small and great.

I want to not only receive Your bountiful blessings but also take careful note of them-treasuring them and pondering them in my heart. I’m thankful for the countless ways You show up in my life. I like to write down some of these blessings so I can enjoy them again and again. These signs of Your Presence strengthen me and prepare me for whatever difficulties I’ll encounter on the road ahead. Help me to remember that nothing in all creation can separate me from Your Love!

In Your conquering Name, Jesus, Amen.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23‬:‭6‬

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119‬:‭11‬

“But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬

“nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭39‬

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens September 21

Precious Lord Jesus,

You are Immanuel, God with us -and You are enough!

When things in my life are flowing smoothly, it’s easy for me to trust in Your sufficiency. But when I encounter rough patches-one after another after another- I sometimes feel as if Your provision is inadequate. At times like this, my mind tends to go into high gear, obsessing about ways to make things better. I’ve come to realize that problem solving can turn into an addiction.

There are times when my mind spins with so many plans and possibilities that I become confused and exhausted.

Instead of being overly focused on problems, I need to remember that You are with me always, taking care of me. Help me to rejoice in You and proclaim Your sufficiency even during my most difficult times. This is a supernatural response, and I must rely on Your Spirit to empower me. I also have to discipline myself to make wise choices day by day and moment by moment. Lord, I choose to be joyful in You, my Savior, for You are indeed enough!

In Your all-sufficient Name, Amen.

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬-‭23‬

“teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭20‬

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”
‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young