Jesus Listens November 21

Glorious God,

I offer You the sacrifice of thanksgiving I don’t want to take any of Your good gifts for granted- not even the rising of the sun. Thankfulness does not come naturally to me, but You’ve been training me to respond supernaturally.

Your Word teaches me how important it is to have a grateful attitude. Before the serpent tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, thankfulness was a natural response. But the evil one’s temptation pointed her to the one thing that was forbidden. Though the garden was full of delicious fruits that were freely available, Eve focused on the one fruit that was off-limits. This negative focus darkened her mind, and she succumbed to temptation.

When I focus on things that I want, but can’t have, or on situations that displease me, my mind also becomes darkened. I take for granted life, salvation, sunshine, loved ones, and countless other gifts from You. I look for what is wrong and refuse to enjoy life until that situation is fixed. But when I approach You with thanksgiving, the Light of Your Presence pours into me transforming me in the depths of my being. Help me to walk in the Light with You, Lord-delighting in You and practicing the discipline of thanksgiving.

In Jesus’ wondrous Name, Amen

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

Psalm 116:17

but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’”

Genesis 3:6

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:7

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens November 12

Delightful God,

You’ve been showing me that I can find Joy in Your Presence no matter what my circumstances may be. On some days, Joy is generously strewn along my life-path, glistening in the sunshine.

During these bright, cheerful days, being content is as easy for me as breathing the next breath. But other days are overcast and gloomy, and I feel the strain of the journey- which seems end. less. Dull, gray rocks greet my gaze and cause my feet to ache.

On gray days, I must search for Joy as for hidden treasure.

Help me remember that You have created this day; it is not a chance occurrence. Please remind me throughout my day that You are present with me whether I sense Your Presence or not.

I’m thankful I can talk with You about whatever is on my mind. I rejoice in the truth that You understand me perfectly and You know exactly what I’m experiencing. I’ve found that if stay in communication with You, my mood gradually lightens.

Awareness of Your marvelous Companionship can infuse Joy into the grayest day!

In Your glad Name, Jesus, Amen.

“For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭21‬:‭6‬

“1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭5

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens November 6

Dear Jesus,

“Help me to lead a victorious life by living in deep depend-once on You. I used to associate victory with success- not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes. But being successful in my own strength made me vulnerable to going my own way, forgetting about You. It is through problems and failure, weakness and need, that I’m learning to rely on You.

I realize that true dependence is not simply asking You to bless what I have decided to do. It involves coming to You with an open mind and heart inviting You to plant Your desires within me.

Sometimes You instill a dream in me that seems far beyond my reach. I know that my own resources are inadequate for attaining such a goal. Thus begins my journey of profound dependence on You. It’s a faith-walk, taken one step at a time, leaning on You for strength and guidance. This is not a path of continual success but a way of multiple failures. However, each failure is followed by a growth spurt nourished by increasing reliance on You. I want to enjoy the blessedness of a victorious life by deepening my dependence on You.

In Your victorious Name, Amen.

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭34‬:‭17‬-‭18‬

“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭6‬-‭7

“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬-‭13

Jesus Listens November 5

Almighty God,

Thelp me not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil win. good. Sometimes I feel bombarded by all the bad things hap. pening in the world. News reports are alarming, and people are calling evil good and good evil. All of this can be overwhelming unless I stay in communication with You. It’s so comforting to know that You are not stunned by the horrors of this world that appall me. You have perfect understanding of the deceitful, desperately wicked condition of human hearts. Nothing takes

You by surprise!

Instead of being disheartened by the condition of this world, I long to be a light shining in the darkness. When evil appears to be winning, I need to be more determined than ever to accomplish something good! Sometimes this involves working directly against the bad things that are troubling me. At other times, just try to do whatever I can to promote true goodness according to my abilities and opportunities. Either way, I want to focus less on bemoaning evil circumstances and more on doing the good works that You prepared in advance for me to do.

In Your sovereign Name, Jesus, Amen.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭21‬

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.””
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭9‬-‭10‬

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬