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

Jesus Listens December 26

Wonderful Jesus,
Your Word teaches that I am in You, and You are in me. This is such a profound mystery! You are the infinite Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and I am a finite, fallen human being.
Yet You and I live not only with each other but in each other. I am filled with Your fullness – flooded with You Yourself! This is a deeper, richer union than I can find in any human relation- ship. You know everything about me, from my deepest thoughts and feelings to the events I will encounter throughout my life.
Because I belong to You, feelings of aloneness are really just an illusion. The whole earth is full of Your glorious Presence!

In You I live and move and have my being. Every step I take, every word I speak, every breath I breathe–all is done in Your watchful, embracing Presence. I’m immersed in Your invisible yet ever-so-real Being! The more aware of You I am, the more alive and complete I feel. Please strengthen my awareness of Your loving Presence as I go step by step through this day.
In Your watchful, loving Name, Amen.

“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” John 14:20
Colossians 1:27

“and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬

“for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭28‬

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens December 25

Precious Lord Jesus,
When an angel announced Your birth to shepherds living out in the fields near Bethlehem, he told them: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good tidings of great Joy.” This command to not be afraid is repeated frequently throughout the Bible. Thank You for providing this tender, merciful directive. You know how prone to fear I am, yet You do not condemn me for it. However, I do want to break free from my inclination to be fearful.

I’ve discovered that Joy is a powerful antidote to fear. And the greater the Joy, the more effective an antidote it is. The angel’s announcement to the shepherds was one of great Joy! Help me never to lose sight of what amazingly good news the gospel is!

The moment I trusted You as my Savior, You forgave all my sins-past, present, and future. This glorious gift of grace ensures that my ultimate destination is heaven. Moreover, You gave me Yourself the greatest treasure of all! You lavished Your Love on me and promised me Your Presence forever. As I ponder the angel’s wondrous proclamation to the shepherds, I rejoice in You, my beloved Savior.
In Your magnificent Name, Amen.

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Luke 2:8-10

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
Ephesians 2:8

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.”
Philippians 4:4

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens December 24

King Jesus,
You are King of kings and Lord of lords; You dwell in unapproachable Light! I’m grateful that You are also my Shepherd, Companion, and Friend–the One who never lets go of my hand. I worship You in Your holy Majesty. And I draw near You to rest in Your loving Presence. I need You both as God and as Man. Only Your birth on that first, long-ago Christmas could meet all my needs.

Instead of trying to comprehend Your incarnation intellectually, I want to learn from the example of the wise men. They followed the leading of a spectacular star, then fell down in humble worship in Your Presence. Inspired by the magi, I long to respond to the wonder of Your holy birth with ardent adoration.

Please help me grow in my capacity to worship You as my Savior, Lord, and King. You held back nothing in Your amazing provision for me, and I rejoice in all that You are- all You have done!
You are the Light from on high that dawns upon us, to direct and guide our feet into the way of Peace.
In Your majestic Name, Amen.

“which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.”
1 Timothy 6:15-16

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”
Matthew 2:10-11

“because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1‬:‭78‬-‭79‬

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens December 23

Immanuel,
You are God with us at all times. This promise from Your Word provides a solid foundation for my Joy. Sometimes I try to pin my pleasure to temporary things, but Your Presence with me is an eternal blessing. I rejoice that You, my Savior, have promised You will never leave me.

The nature of time can make it difficult for me to fully enjoy my life. On those days when everything is going well, my awareness that the ideal conditions are fleeting can dampen my enjoyment. Even the most delightful vacation must eventually come to an end. Seasons of life also come and go, despite my longing at times to stop the clock and keep things as they are.

I don’t want to look down on the temporary pleasures You provide, but I do need to accept their limitations- their inability to quench the thirst of my soul. Please help me remember that my search for lasting Joy will fail unless I make You the ultimate goal of my quest. In Your Presence there is fullness of Joy.
In Your joyful Name, Jesus, Amen.

““Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).”
Matthew 1:23

“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.””
Hebrews 13:5

“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

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens December 22

Compassionate Jesus,
You came into the world as a Light so that no one who believes in You would stay in darkness. You didn’t just bring Light into the world; You are the Light that shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it. Nothing can extinguish this illumination because You are infinite and all-powerful!

When I believed in You, I became a child of Light. Your brightness entered into my inner being, enabling me to see from Your perspective -things in the world and things in my heart.
When Your Spirit illumines the contents of my heart and shows me things that are displeasing to You, help me to repent and walk in Your ways. This is the road to freedom.

Lord, I rejoice in my brightened perspective. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the Light of the gospel of Your Glory. But because I belong to You, I have the Light of the knowledge of Your Glory shining in my heart! Thank You, Jesus! In Your bright, illuminating Name, Amen.

“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. “
John 12:46

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:5

“For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”
1 Thessalonians 5:5

“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:4, 6

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens December 21

Glorious Jesus,
As I wait attentively in Your Presence, the Light of the knowledge of Your Glory shines upon me. This radiant knowledge utterly transcends my understanding. Moreover, it transforms my entire being-renewing my mind, cleansing my heart, invigorating my body. Help me to open myself fully to Your glorious Presence!

I cannot imagine what You gave up when You came into our world as a baby. You set aside Your Glory so that You could identify with mankind-with me. You accepted the limitations of infancy under appalling conditions: born in a stable, with a feeding trough for Your crib. There was nothing glorious about the setting of Your birth, even though angels lit up the sky proclaiming “Glory!” to awestruck shepherds.
Sitting quietly with You, I experience the reverse of what You went through. You became poor so that I might become rich.

As I draw nearer to You, heaven’s vistas open up before me-granting me glimpses of Your Glory. O Lord, I sing hallelujahs to Your holy Name!
In Your sacred Name, Amen.

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6

“Who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
Philippians 2:6-7

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying. “
Luke 2:13-14

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
2 Corinthians 8:9

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young

Jesus Listens December 8

Brilliant Jesus,

You are the Light of the world! One way I like to celebrate Advent is by illuminating my home with candles and a lit-up tree. This is a way of symbolizing Your coming into our world-eternal Light breaking through the darkness and opening up the way to heaven. I’m grateful that nothing can reverse Your glorious plan of salvation. You’ve promised that all who trust You as Savior are adopted into Your royal family, to live with You forever!

Your Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it. No matter how much evil and unbelief I see in this dark world, You continue to shine brightly. So it’s crucial for me to look toward the Light as much as possible-fixing my eyes on You. By making good thought-choices, I can “see” You as I journey through my days. Please help me to persevere in this delightful discipline of keeping my eyes on You. I find hope in these wonderful words that You spoke: “Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of Life.” In Your bright, radiant Name, Amen.

“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
John 8:12

“He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”
Ephesians 1:5

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” 5
John 1:5

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrew 12:2

Jesus Listens December 7

Beloved Jesus,

When my mind and heart are quiet, I can hear You inviting me to draw near. I delight in Your glorious invitation, proclaimed in holy whispers: “Come to Me. Come to Me. Come to Me.” Drawing near to You requires no great effort on my part; it’s more like surrendering to You and ceasing to resist the magnetic pull of Your Love.

Help me, through Your Spirit, to open myself more fully to Your loving Presence so that I may be filled to the measure of all Your fullness. I yearn to have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is Your Love for me–and to know this Love that surpasses knowledge. This vast ocean of Love cannot be measured or explained, but it can be experienced.
In Your amazing Name,Amen.

“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
James 4:8

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”
John 6:37

“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, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:16-19

Excerpt from Jesus Listens by SarahYoung