I am with you
Sarah Young’s daily devotional is written in first-person God voice. That’s probably the biggest problem people have with it. And I get that.
But if we can realize the author is just sharing what she hears Jesus whispering to her, we can all glean much by listening and discerning his voice ourselves through these writings and the scriptures she draws them from.
(As a side note, we’ve probably heard or read many, many more preachers or authors or ordinary folk speak for God with a lot less humility and a lot less scriptural truth than Sarah Young, yes?)
This is the reading for today.
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Excerpt from Jesus Calling
October 30
I AM WITH YOU. I am with you. I am with you.
Heaven’s bells continually peal with that promise of My Presence. Some people never hear those bells because their minds are earthbound and their hearts are closed to Me.
Others hear the bells only once or twice in their lifetimes, in rare moments of seeking Me above all else. My desire is that My “sheep” hear My voice continually, for I am the ever-present Shepherd.
Quietness is the classroom where you learn to hear My voice. Beginners need a quiet place in order to still their minds. As you advance in this discipline, you gradually learn to carry the stillness with you wherever you go. When you step back into the mainstream of life, strain to hear those glorious bells: I am with you. I am with you. I am with you.
Jeremiah 29:12-13; John 10:14, 27-28
– Sarah Young
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To the Wish List we shall go! 😉 xo
There is definitely truth in those words. The more mature we get the more we find His presence is sovereign over every situation in life… Interesting thoughts. Thanks.
This little book is a faithful companion, here at home and at my counseling office, Lisa. I do a reading with my clients at the end of each session. Once again, we gratefully acknowledge that God has been right in the middle of our conversation together. Each passage soothes and reassures and brings hope. Or sometimes sounds a huge wake-up call or much needed powerful nudge.
LOVE this book. LOVE it.
I am into my second year reading “Jesus Calling” each day. It is marked up with my own thoughts back to God as I listen – via Sarah’s writing – to the faithfulness I know God is sharing with me. She totally is in touch with His Word as she writes. Some do not like the use of the 1st person style. I love it. I have my own journal filled with similar sharings as I communicate my heart with the Lord in writing. I am NOT saying I am “Sarah” – but the style and means of conversing in typing with Him, my written words to Him, makes this devotional of hers one my heart and spirit eat up with understanding.
P.S. I gave this book to a friend who read it each day for close to a year as she battled ( and was an overcomer) with ovarian cancer. She has told me often how much that book became her constant companion as God ministered to her heart of His closeness to her going through the intense chemo’ treatments. Now she has passed it along to others who she wants to bless!
I agree with your perspective on this book. The perspective of the nay-sayers has something to it too, but if we regard it as Mrs. Young’s personal interpretation and application of God’s Word to her need, and if we therefore hold it up against the straight-edge of Scripture (which we should anyway, right?), we can learn much from these devotions. My mom gave me a copy for my birthday this year, and several times the day’s words have exactly matched my day’s need, no less than Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening or Nancy Leigh DeMoss’s devotional or. . .
If someone has qualms of conscience about it, by all means let them stay away. If not, there is much good to be had here. (That’s kind of a long way of saying “ditto.”) 🙂
Thank you, I needed to read this today. I need to get in the quiet and listen for God- He is with me and that brings joy to my soul!
What a great idea for a #31days series. I recently received a gift from the Jesus Calling collection. After reading your post, I’m super excited to dive in.