I Have Prepared This Day With The ...

I HAVE PREPARED THIS DAY WITH THE Most Tender Concern And Attention To Detail.  Instead of approaching the day as a blank page you need to fill up, try living it in a responsive mode:  being on the lookout for all that I am doing.  This will enable you to discover and respond to the opportunities I place before you today.

Many people think they can live independently of Me, but that is an illusion.  I sustain everything by My powerful word!  Not only that, I am your Creator - the Initiator of your very life.   Your first cry as an infant was a response to the life I provided.  When I cease sustaining someone's life, that person dies.  So, living responsively is a matter of aligning yourself with ultimate reality:  My sovereignty over every aspect of your life.  This can increase your sense of security if you really trust Me.  Thus, the art of living well rests upon a foundation of trust - in My absolute goodness, My infinite wisdom, My unfailing Love.

To build on this foundation, you need to be perceptive - seeing things from My perspective as well as yours.  Search for what I am doing in the big picture as well as in the details of your day.  Conducting your life in this way requires concentration, because the world is rigged to distract your from Me.  However, when you do succeed in living responsively, you will feel fully alive and richly connected with Me. This is a foretaste of what awaits you in heaven, where you will respond to Me perfectly - throughout eternity!

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 10:29-31 and Psalm 13:5

I Long For You To ...

I LONG FOR YOU TO Trust Me Enough to Be Fully Yourself With Me.  When you are real with Me, I am able to bring out the best in you:  the very gifts I planted in your soul.

Granted, being real with Me can be quite painful, because first you have to be real with yourself.  When you're feeling bad about yourself, you would rather numb or ignore your feelings than bring them to Me.  But do not be afraid:  I will give you the courage to face yourself honestly.

The best way to face yourself is to remember you are constantly clothed in My robe of righteousness.  I have no illusions about what lies beneath that pristine garment of salvation.  Nonetheless, I take great delight in you; I even rejoice over you with singing.

Open yourself up to My unfailing Love.  Talk with Me about whatever is bothering you; experience your pain in the Light of My loving Presence.  In this brilliant Light you can consider your woeful condition without despair, for the assurance of My Love provides hope.  You'll also find that what you most feared to expose is no match for the Power of My radiant Presence.  Entrust yourself into My capable care, asking Me to transform you according to My plans for you.  Collaborate with Me as I work on growing the gifts I seeded within your soul.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Isaiah 54:4-5; Isaiah 61:10; Zephaniah 3:17 and
Psalm 13:5-6

Your Steps Are Directed By ...

YOUR STEPS ARE DIRECTED BY Me, Even Though Your Journey Often Feels Haphazard.  The path that lies before you now is veiled in uncertainty:  You have choices to make but too little information to see the way you should go.  Taking the next step feels risky - like leaping into the unknown.  The best thing you can do at such times is cling to Me. Imagine a young girl walking along busy city streets with a trustworthy adult.  She may feel overwhelmed by all the sensory stimulation, all the possible ways to get lost.  However, if she keeps holding on to the adult's hand, she will get safely to her destination.  Similarly, as you cling to My hand for help and guidance, you are ultimately safe.

Though you may not know the way you should go, you do know the One who is the Way.  Stay near Me, and you will not go astray.  Because I am sovereign over your life, I actually direct your steps and make them sure even when they feel random to you.  Talk with Me about your uncertainty, your fear of making wrong choices.  Remember that the most important choice you make moment by moment is to stay in communication with Me.  This is how you cling to My hand.  This is how you trust My guiding  Presence as you go - step by step - along the path you cannot see.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Proverbs 20:24; John 14:6; Proverbs 16:9 and
2 Corinthians 5:7

Be Joyful Always ...

BE JOYFUL ALWAYS; Pray Continuously; Give Thanks In All Circumstances.  The only way to be joyful consistently is to take pleasure in your invincible relationship with Me - the One who rules the universe.  This relationship is full of hope, so it is possible to be joyful in hope even in the midst of ongoing affliction.

The simplest way to find Joy in Me is to give in all circumstances.  There is immense Power in praying simply, "Thank You, Jesus."  This brief prayer is appropriate for all times and all situations because of My great sacrifice for you.  I encourage you to thank Me for every good thing as soon as you become aware of it.  This practice adds sparkle to your blessings, increasing your Joy; it also helps you pray continuously - persistently, perseveringly.

When you are feeling dull or downhearted, it is still a good time to thank Me.  This tiny act of gratitude can brighten your perspective immediately.  To deepen your thankfulness, ponder specific things about Me that delight you - for instance:  My lavish grace, My unfailing Love, My continual Presence.  Giving thanks in all circumstances is a joyous discipline; it empowers you to lift up your soul and live close to Me.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Romans 12:12;
Ephesians 1:7-8 and Psalm 143:8

A Life Lived Close To Me Will ...

A LIFE LIVED CLOSE TO ME WILL Never Be Dull Or Predictable.  Expect each day to contain some surprises!  I know you greet that prospect with mixed emotions because of your love-hate relationship with surprises.  You enjoy the adrenaline rush that accompanies new, unexpected experiences; this wakes you up and takes you beyond your ordinary routine.  Yet there is also a part of you that longs for your life to be predictable.  In fact, you usually try to arrange things so as to minimize the possibility of being taken by surprise.

I will never limit Myself to doing only what you can anticipate and understand.  My ways and thoughts are too high above yours for that to be possible.  To do so would be to cease being God!  So, expect your life to become increasingly surprising as you grow closer to Me.  Still, I want to help you become more joyful about your unpredictable journey with Me.

There is actually much merit in expecting surprises.  This helps you view an unforeseen event not as something wrong but as something from Me.  With this mind-set you are more likely to turn to Me immediately rather than getting upset.  You can ask Me to help you find all the good I have infused into the event so you can respond appropriately.  If you feel unsteady, simply draw nearer to Me.

As you learn to expect surprises each day , your life will become more exciting.  You will discover traces of My vibrant Presence in unusual places.  Increasingly, you will find your days bright with Joy - the pleasure of knowing Me more intimately.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Isaiah 55:9; Psalm 18:29 and 1 Peter 1:8

I Wrap You In ...

I WRAP YOU IN GOODNESS AND RENEW YOUR YOUTH.  I delight in giving you these marvelous gifts because I take pleasure in you.  Let My delight in you sink into the depths of your being.  This satisfies your soul as nothing else can.  Although I see your sins and flaws, my perfect Love for you never wavers.  I see you first and foremost as My redeemed one - wearing a paradise crown and wrapped in beauty eternal.

I want your identity as My beloved to be front and center in your mind.  However, your thoughts often get stuck on trivial matters, especially when your mind is in neutral.  This is why I urge you to be alert and always keep on praying.  In fact, praying is one of the most effective ways to keep your mind well-focused.  As you face your circumstances here and now, invite Me to enter into them.  Bring Me whatever you are doing, thinking, feeling:  stay in conversation with Me.  This will help you focus not on trivial matters but on glorious realities.  While you commune with Me, I will renew your strength.  No matter how old you are in years, you're always young in My Presence!

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Psalm 103:4-5; Psalm 149:4; Ephesians 6:18 and
Isaiah 40:31

I Am Faithful: I Will Not Let You Be ...

I AM FAITHFUL:  I WILL NOT LET YOU BE Tempted Beyond What You Can Bear.  Find comfort and hope in the powerful promise.  I know you sometimes feel as if you're at the outer limits of your endurance.  Nonetheless, I am present in the midst of your struggles - available to help you.

Every trial that comes into your life can either strengthen you (if you keep on trusting in My care) or become a temptation to sin (if you choose instead to doubt Me and go on your own way).  Thus, any difficulty you face becomes a test of your faith.  This faith of yours is much more precious than gold, and it grows deeper through the testing process.  So your trials contain meaning and purpose.

When you feel as if your faith is being stretched to the breaking point, it's helpful to remember that what you are experiencing is common to man.  You have not been uniquely singled out to endure adversity; suffering is inevitable in a fallen world.  The most important thing to remember is that I am faithful - totally worthy of your trust in all situations.   I know exactly how much you can bear, and I set limits to your suffering.  Do not multiply your trouble by projecting it into the future as if it were endless, for I can relieve or  remove it at any moment.  Your job is to continue trusting Me in the present, waiting for Me to provide a way out - in My way and timing!  As you wait in My Presence, be of good courage.  I will strengthen your heart.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  1 Corinthians 10:13; 1 Peter 1:7 and Psalm 27:14

Listen To Me!

LISTEN TO ME!  You can live in peace and safety, unafraid.  Listening to Me is the way of wisdom.  I make wisdom available to everyone who is willing to hear Me.  Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares - proclaiming the truth openly.  Those who ignore her message will cry out for mercy on the day of judgment, but it will be too late.  Now is the time to listen!

It is vital for you to hear Me accurately and consistently.  If you hear Me inaccurately, you may find yourself worshiping a false god:  practicing idolatry.  The best safeguard against this deadly deception is studying My Word and meditating on it.  As you do so, Scripture takes root and flourishes within you - changing the way you think.  My Word is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword - able to accomplish great things in you.

Listening to Me consistently is both a discipline and a matter of the heart.  The more convinced you are of My Love for you, the more motivated you are to listen.  I have deep, unfailing Love for all who know Me as Savior - God.  Look up to Me through eyes of faith, and see My Face shining on you with loving approval.  Listen to Me, for this is the way of Peace.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Proverbs 1:33; Proverbs 1:20-22; Hebrews 4:12 and
Psalm 31:16

I Want You To Be ...

I WANT YOU TO BE All Mine.  Your security rests in Me alone:  not in other people, not in circumstances.  However, you are not yet weaned from the dependencies:  You want to depend on helpful people and favorable circumstances, as well as Me.

I am not asking you to become a hermit or otherwise isolate yourself from other people.  On the contrary, I want My children to help and love one another.  One of the main ways I bless people is through the loving acts of others.  However, you need to remember that every good and perfect gift is ultimately from Me, even if it comes to you through human hands.

The main danger of misplaced dependence is that it can border on idolatry.  If you let your basic well-being depend on another person's behavior, you elevate that person to a position that only I should occupy.  This is not only displeasing to Me, it is destructive.  Because people are imperfect and unpredictable, your life may come to resemble roller-coaster ride:  subject to the whims and moods of another.  Even worse, your intimacy with Me will be hindered by your preoccupation with someone else.  I deserve first place in your heart!

I want you to rejoice in Me always, in all kinds of circumstances.  You may ask freely for whatever you desire, bringing Me your petitions with thanksgiving.  Regardless of how I answer your requests, this prayer transaction comes with a promise:  My Peace will guard your heart and your mind, keeping you close to Me.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  James 1:17; Revelation 2:4 and Philippians 4:4-7

There Is No Veil Between Your ...

THERE IS NO VEIL BETWEEN YOUR Face And Mine.  As you gaze upon My radiant perfection, you are being transformed into My likeness.  Focusing on Me sounds like an easy assignment, but - as you know - it is not.  The world, the flesh (fallen nature), and the devil all conspire to distract you from Me:  Godless people seek to delete any reminders of Me from public places, from schools - even from Christmas!  Your mind, already in a fallen condition, is relentlessly exposed to unbiblical media messages.  At the root of all this opposition is your enemy, the devil.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith.

I understand your weakness and the fierceness of the battles you face.  I rejoice in your desire to contemplate Me and reflect My Glory.  Having planted that longing in your heart, I want to see it flourish.  Take time, take time with Me.  Refuse to be discouraged by distractions and the fickleness of your mind.  Simply return your focus to Me whenever you realize it has wandered.  As you wait persistently in My Presence, ask the Spirit to help you.  Little by little, He will conform you to My likeness.  You may be unaware of these changes, because self-forgetfulness grows through focusing on Me.  Increasingly, though, My Glory will reflect from you - pointing others toward Me.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Peter 5:9, Lamentations 3:25-26 and
Romans 8:29

Receive My Glory - Strength ...

RECEIVE MY GLORY - STRENGTH.  When ongoing problems require you to stick it out over the long haul, your faith sometimes falters.  That's when you resort to grimly gritting your teeth - simply passing time in a negative frame of mind.  This is not the way I want you to deal with difficulties.  I am sovereign over the circumstances of your life, so there are always opportunities to be found in them.  Sometimes those opportunities are so obvious you can't miss seeing them.  At other times - especially when the journey is hard and seems endless - you have to search for hidden treasure.  Do not be like the man who hid his master's talent in the ground because he was disgruntled with his circumstances.  He gave up and took the easy way out: blaming his hard situation rather than making the most of his opportunity.  The truth is, the more difficult your situation, the more treasure there is for you to discover in it.

I gladly give you Glory-strength; it is limitless and freely available to each of My followers.  It is exceedingly potent, because the Spirit Himself empowers you - strengthening you with Power in your inner being.  Moreover, Glory-strength enables you to keep on enduring the unendurable.  Since this strength has no limits, there is more than enough of it to spill over into Joy!

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Colossians 1:11; Isaiah 40:10; Matthew 25:25 and
Ephesians 3:16

I Offer You Inexpressible And Glorious ...

I OFFER YOU INEXPRESSIBLE AND GLORIOUS Joy - Straight From Heaven Itself.  This triumphant, heavenly Joy can be found only in Me.  It is easy for you to slide, ever so gradually, from exulting in Me to living for the next spiritual "high."  Though I do grant you some heavenly pleasure while you still live on earth, this is mainly to whet your appetite for the next life.  Do not underestimate the brokenness of the world where you live now.  Your exuberant enjoyment of My Presence will always intermingle with the sorrows of living in this fallen world - until I take you into Glory.

Someday you will see Me face to Face, but for now you love Me without having seen Me.  You believe in Me even though you do not see Me.  This is a most blessed way to live, and it demonstrates your membership in My royal family.  Your love for Me - My unseen Person - is not irrational or whimsical.  It is a response to My boundless Love for you - dramatically displayed on the cross and verified by My resurrection.  You worship a risen, living Savior!  Blessed are those who have not seen Me and yet have believed.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  1 Peter 1:8; Psalm 73:23-24; 1 John 4:19 and
John 20:29

Look To Me And My ...

LOOK TO ME AND MY Strength; Seek My Face Always.  While you are seeking Me, I want you to let your heart rejoice.  This will strengthen our Love-relationship. Imagine an engaged couple who are passionately in love.  When the man goes to visit his betrothed, she doesn't open the door and say blandly, "Oh, it's you."  Nor does he look past her as if she were invisible and say, "What do you have to eat?"  Rather, their hearts rejoice because they are together.  You are My betrothed, and I am the forever-Lover of your soul.  When you seek My Face, take time to remember who I am - King of the universe - and rejoice in the astonishing Love I have for you.  This will bring Power to your prayers as well as Joy to your heart.

I also want you to glory in My holy Name.  My Name is holy because it represents Me and I am holy - perfect in all My ways.  My Name is above every name, yet you may use it freely to commune with Me and worship Me joyously.  You are indeed privileged to have such easy access to Me. Some people glory in their wealth, achievements, beauty, fame; but I invite you to glory in Me - your Savior, Lord, and intimate Friend.  Glorifying Me will strengthen and delight you.  Look to Me and My strength.  Enjoy My loving Presence more and more.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  1 Chronicles 16:10-11; 2 Corinthians 11:2;
John 15:13 and Philippians 2:9-10

You Are My ...

YOU ARE MY Beloved.  Although you experience many difficulties in your life, I shield you all day long.  You cannot imagine what your life would be like if I were not protecting you continually.  The adversity I do allow you to experience is ultimately for your good and My Glory.  You can rest secure by trusting that My protective Presence is with you always, no matter what trials you may be enduring.

You must be clear about one thing above all else:  You are most assuredly the one the Lord loves!  In fact, I love you so much that I carry you through your toughest times.  Beloved, you can even rest between My shoulders like a lamb being tenderly carried by its shepherd.

In addition to being your Shepherd, I am also like an eagle caring for its young while they are learning to fly.  Though I stir up the nest - getting you out of your comfort zone - I watch over you constantly.  When your strength fails as you are "flying" and you start to plummet, I spread My wings and catch you on them.  I continue to carry you until you are ready to fly again.  The better you understand My constant, nurturing watch-care, the more you can rest secure in Me.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Deuteronomy 33:12; John 10: 14-15 and
Deuteronomy 32:11

I Give You ...

I GIVE YOU Hope - Hope That The Best Part Of Your Life Is Not Behind You.  Rather, it stretches out before you gloriously:  into an eternity of experiences that will get better and better and better.  For now, though, you inhabit a world of death, sorrow, crying, and pain.  Let the hope of heaven empower you to live well in this broken world that is passing away.  In heaven I will wipe away every tear from your eyes - permanently!

If this world were all there is, it would be tragic beyond description.  When the day of the Lord comes, I will destroy the entire universe as you know it.  And I will replace it with a new universe where My followers will live forever in ceaseless ecstasy.  Let this hope give you courage to keep holding your head up high as you endure suffering and sorrow.

The best part of your life lies ahead - stored up for you in heaven, awaiting your arrival.  This is true for all Christians, both young and old.  As you grow older and deal with infirmities, you may feel as if your life is closing in on you.  Physically, your limitations do increase with age and illness.  However, your spiritual life can open up ever wider as your soul grows strong in the nourishing Light of My Presence.  When you "graduate" to heaven,, your soul-Joy will instantly expand - exponentially!  Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Revelation 21:4 and Joel 1:15

I Take Great Delight in ...

I TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN You, I Rejoice Over You With Singing.  Sometimes you feel unworthy of this amazing Love.  No one could ever be good enough or work hard enough to deserve My Love, but I have chosen to relate to you mercifully.  My death on the cross completely satisfied justice, opening the way for Me to show you mercy.  As your resurrected Savior, I am free to bestow eternal Life and Love on all who believe in Me.  I beautify the humble with salvation, and I unashamedly take pleasure in My people.

I love you passionately, but I don't want you to feel overwhelmed by the force of My Love.  Be assured that I restrain Myself  from "crushing" anyone with My mighty ardor.  I know precisely what each of My children can handle.  However, it is possible to increase your capacity for Me.  One of the best ways is to delight yourself in Me - taking pleasure in Me above all else.  Ask My Spirit to help you in this endeavor.  Your growing enjoyment of Me will strengthen your spiritually, empowering you to receive ever greater portions of My Love.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Zephaniah 3:17; John 3:16; Psalm 149:4 and
Psalm 37:4

I Am the High And Exalted One Whose Name Is ...

I AM THE HIGH AND EXALTED ONE WHOSE NAME IS Holy.  Yet I choose to dwell with people who are contrite and lowly of spirit.  I know how prone to pride My people are, so I provide a variety of circumstances to humble them.  You don't need to look for ways to become more humble.  If you try with all your might to be lowly of spirit, you are more likely to become proud - or even ridiculous.  Instead, you need to be on the lookout for what I am doing in your life and yield yourself to My ways.  Your focus should not be on how humble you are but on how you can please Me in the present moment.

Being contrite - repentant for your sins - is another matter altogether.   You do need to examine yourself and become aware of your sins, so you can confess them to Me and enjoy the freedom of forgiveness.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see what is truly sinful, while protecting you from the trap of false guilt.  As you face your flaws, open your heart to My loving Presence.  I am near to those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit.  Moreover, I revive the spirit of the lowly and the heart of the contrite.  So this way of humility and repentance is actually a path of intimacy with Me - leading to bountiful Joy.  As you walk trustingly along this path with Me, My unfailing Love surrounds you.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Isaiah 57:15; 1 Peter 5:6; Psalm 34:18 and
Psalm 32:10

Your Relationship With Me Is ...

YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ME IS Saturated In Grace.  Therefore, nothing you do or don't do can separate you from My Presence.  When you are keenly aware of having failed Me, feelings of guilt and fear will conspire to convince you that you have lost My Love.  Your sense of unworthiness will tempt you to punish yourself for your sins.  But remember:  I have clothed you with garments of salvation - arrayed you in My own righteousness.  Your salvation is all about Me and what I have done to rescue you.  Let me help you feel more secure in My Love.

At times of deep regret, you need to grasp onto grace for dear life.  It is utterly impossible for Me to stop loving you.  Your relationship with Me is so saturated in grace that the two are forever inseparable.  Consider the following:  Meat that has been marinated cannot become unmarinated.  The longer it soaks, the deeper the marinade penetrates, flavoring and tenderizing the meat.  You have been soaking in grace ever since you trusted Me as Savior.  The longer you "marinate," the more fully My grace permeates our relationship.  It is impossible for you to become un-graced!

I want you  to rest in the perfection of your salvation.  My glorious grace makes you holy and blameless in My sight.  So, nothing you do or fail to do could ever separate you from My Love.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Ephesians 2:8-9; Isaiah 61:10; Ephesians 4:1-6 and
Romans 8:39

The Ultimate Protection Against Sinking During Life's Storms Is ...

THE ULTIMATE PROTECTION AGAINST SINKING DURING LIFE'S STORMS IS Developing Your Friendship With Me.  You waste a lot of time, however, worrying about storms you can see forming along the horizons of your life.  In the past many of the storms you had anticipated veered off in another direction, never reaching you.  Although some of them did actually hit, usually they had lost much of their power by the time they got to you.  I urge you to switch your focus from difficulties that may come your way to My Presence, which is always with you.

You will never find security by trying to anticipate all the storms that may reach you someday.  Remember that I control the atmosphere of your life.  Trust Me by relaxing and releasing your concerns into My capable care.  It saddens Me to see you obsessing about possible problems rather than bringing these matters to Me.  When you find yourself anxiously scanning the horizon of your life, use that as a reminder to seek My Face.  You will not find Me off in the distance.  I am here beside you, nearer than you dare believe.

Instead of wasting time worrying, devote that time to building close friendship with Me.  Talk with Me about everything that concerns you - your pleasures as well as your problems.  I am interested in everything that matters to you because I am your perpetual Lover.  Remember that I am holding you by your right hand.  I guide you with My own counsel, based on eternal wisdom; so there's no need to worry about the future.  When the time comes, I will personally take you into Glory.  For now just live near Me.  My friendship is your best refuge in the storms of life.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  1 Corinthians 16:11; Jeremiah 31:3 and
Psalm 73:23-24, 28

You Are A Child Of God, And You Are ...

YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD, AND YOU ARE MINE FOREVER.  Someday you will see Me as I am - face to Face in Glory.  You have been a member of My royal family since the moment you trusted Me as Savior.  I am training you in the ways of My kingdom:  to be made new in the attitude of your mind; to put on the new self, created to be like Me.  Although your new self is being conformed to My image, this process does not erase the essence of who you are.  On the contrary, the more you become like Me, the more you develop into the unique person I designed you to be.

Since you are part of My royal family, you're a fellow heir with Me - sharing My inheritance.  However, you must share My suffering if you are to share My Glory.  You don't need to search for ways to suffer.  Living in this broken world provides ample opportunity to experience pain of many kinds.  When adversity comes your way, search for Me in the midst of your struggles.  Ask Me to help you suffer well, in a manner worthy of royalty.  Everything you endure can help you become more like Me.  Remember the ultimate goal:  You will see My Face in righteousness - and be satisfied!

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  1 John 3:2; Ephesians 4:22-24; Romans 8:17 and
Psalm 17:15

Real, Eternal Wisdom Is All About ...

REAL, ETERNAL WISDOM IS ALL ABOUT Knowing Me.  There is not only wisdom but also great pleasure to be found in heart-knowledge of Me.  This pleasure far surpasses anything the world has to offer.  Moreover, those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens.  So you will be wonderfully rewarded for your wise practice of enjoying My Presence - an incredible privilege in itself.  The perceptive ones in My kingdom are those who have true understanding of Me that is grounded in My Word.  The more you absorb Scripture - allowing it to penetrate your heart, mind, and spirit - the better you can know.  All those who know Me as Savior will shine in heaven forever. Let this sparkling promise fill you with bright hope.

Another awesome privilege I offer you is to lead many to righteousness.  Your life and your words can influence others for righteousness in various ways:  If anyone among you wanders from the truth, I can use you to help that straying one turn from the error of his way.  Also, as you seek to live near Me, enjoying My Presence, your light shines before men - helping them find Me.  Influencing others for righteousness increases your ability to shine like the stars for ever and ever.  Thus, living close to Me not only blesses you now but also enlarges your capacity to reflect My Glory through all eternity!

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Daniel 12:3; Psalm 119:105; James 5:19-20 and
Matthew 5:16

Come To Me Just As You ...

COME TO ME JUST AS YOU ARE.  Let Me enfold you in My compassionate embrace.  I know the depth and breadth of your weariness.  I see you from the inside out, as well as from the outside in.  Nothing about you escapes My attention -  or My tender concern.   I offer you rest, My child, but in order to receive it you must stop for a time and simply wait with Me.  When you are physically tired, your mind easily succumbs to anxious thoughts.  Then, although your body needs rest, the anxiety drives you harder than ever.  This is hurtful and counterproductive.

Discipline yourself to stop whatever you are doing, and take time to fix your thoughts on Me.  I provide rest not only for your mind and body but also for your soul.  However, your body and soul cannot rest until your mind settles down.  Take quiet, slow breaths while you focus your attention on Me.  It can be helpful to say a simple prayer such as:  "Jesus, fill me with Your Peace."  Since My Peace surpasses all understanding, your mind will eventually relax in My Presence.  You can unburden yourself by making your requests known to Me.  This transfers your burdens to My strong shoulders.  Remember to bring Me your requests with thanksgiving, for I delight in responding to thankful prayers.  Moreover, your grateful attitude will bless you immeasurably - opening wide your heart to receive more and more of Me.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Matthew 11:28-29; Hebrews 3:1 and Philippians 4:6-7

I Approach You With Tenderness, Because You Are ...

I APPROACH YOU WITH TENDERNESS, BECAUSE YOU ARE Precious To Me And I Know How Fragile You Are.  I draw you with gentle cords, with hands of Love.  These Love-cords keep you connected to Me; they also help you discern the way you should go.  Though My bands of Love are unbreakable, they do no curtain your freedom.  These highly elastic bands allow you to go your own way for a while.  However, even if they are stretched out for a long time - as you seek to live independently of Me - they retain their drawing power.  Eventually, when you grow weary of worldly ways, the cords draw you gently back to Me.  No matter how far you have roamed, I welcome you with unfailing Love.

I stoop down both to nourish you and to liberate you:  take the yoke from your neck.  This yoke is a symbol of slavery, and you have been a slave to sin. My death on the cross for your sins provided a way to free you from this slavery.  I have broken the bands of your yoke and replaced them with bands of Love.  Now you can walk upright - with your head held high - rejoicing in Me, your Savior.  When the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Hosea 11:4; Psalm 143:8; John 8:34-36 and
Leviticus 26:13

Do Not Fear, For I - Your God - Am With ...

DO NOT FEAR, FOR I - YOUR GOD - AM WITH You!  I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  Let these words enfold you like a warm blanket, sheltering you from the coldness of fear and dismay.  When trouble seems to be stalking you, grip My hand tightly and stay in communication with Me.  You can trust and not be afraid, for I am your Strength and Song.  My powerful Presence is with you at all times; you face nothing alone.  Moreover, I have promised to strengthen you and help you.  Awareness of these truths can fill you with Joy and Peace.

My righteous right hand holds you up in both good times and bad.  When things are flowing smoothly in your life, you may be unaware of My sustaining Presence.  Should I case to support you, though, you would quickly fall.  When you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death - keenly aware of your neediness - you gratefully cling to My strong hand.  My right hand sustains you during these times of affliction, enabling you to keep putting one foot in front of the other.  As you endure your trials in trusting dependence on Me, I bless you in the midst of hardship.  I even stoop down to make you great:  I reach down - into the valley of affliction - and lift you up into sacred pleasures shared with Me.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 12:2; Psalm 23:4 and
Psalm 18:35

My Compassions Never Fail; They Are ...

MY COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL; THEY ARE New Every Morning.  You can begin each day confidently, knowing that My vast reservoir of blessings is full - to the brim.  This knowledge helps you wait for Me, entrusting your long-unanswered prayers into My care and keeping.  I assure you that not one of your prayers has slipped past Me, unnoticed.  I want you to drink deeply from My fountain of limitless Love and unfailing compassion.  As you wait in My Presence, these divine nutrients are freely available.  You may drink without cost from the spring of the water of Life.

Although many of your prayers remain unanswered, you can trust in My great faithfulness:  I keep all My promises in My perfect way and timing.  Among other things, I have promised to give you Peace that displaces the trouble and fear in your heart.

If you become weary of waiting for answers to your prayers, remember that I also wait:  so that I may be gracious to you and have mercy on you.  I wait till you are ready to receive the things I have lovingly prepared for you.  Blessed are all those who wait for Me - expectantly, longingly, trustingly.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Lamentations 3:22-24; Revelation 21:6; John 14:27
and Isaiah 30:18

Lift Up Your Eyes To Me, And See ...

LIFT UP YOUR EYES TO ME, AND SEE Me Shining Brightly On Your Future.  Your body, especially when it is weak and weary, can exert a strong downward pull on your thinking.  This is very natural, but you are not limited to natural abilities.  When your thoughts are on a downhill path, you need to access supernatural resources.  Ask Me to help you think My thoughts.  Refuse to entertain a gloomy view of the future.  Reject such imagery as unreal, because that is what it is.  Any future-view that does not include Me is simply false!  I am the most important ingredient in the mix of your life.  The more of Me you include, the better your outlook will be.

Do not be overly focused on the condition of your body, since it is temporary.  Instead, rejoice that your inner being - the eternal part of you - is being renewed day by day.  You can even glean some good from the progressive wasting away of your outer self.  As your natural strengths and abilities wane, you become more aware of your need to rely on Me.  This can create a relaxed intimacy between us as you include Me in more and more of your moments.  Not only does this increase your Joy in the present, it also prepares you for an eternal face to Face with Me.  This is the true view of your future, and it is glorious! So, fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Psalm 121:1-2; 2 Corinthians 10:5 and
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

I Am Nearer Than You Dare ...

I AM NEARER THAN YOU DARE Believe, Closer Than The Air You Breathe.  Usually, you're not conscious of being enveloped in air because it is invisible and constantly available to you.  Similarly, My unseen Presence is a constant in your life, but you often fail to recognize Me.  This leaves you vulnerable to loneliness.  If you could always recognize My Presence, you would never feel lonely again.

I deeply desire for you to experience My nearness - and the peaceful contentment it brings - more consistently.  There is a close connection between feeling lonely and being unaware of My Presence.  This is a age-old  problem:  When the patriarch Jacob was in a barren place - far from his family - he was quite conscious of his isolation.  However, I poured out My Presence upon him in the form of a glorious dream.  When Jacob awoke, he responded, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it."

Awareness of My abiding Presence will protect you from loneliness.  Not only am I constantly with you, but I am also within you:  in the inner recesses of your heart and mind.  My knowledge of you is picture-perfect, and it is framed in unconditional Love.

Let feelings of loneliness remind you of your need to seek My Face.  Come to Me with your ever-so-human emptiness, and My divine Presence will fill you with Life to the full!

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Psalm 41:12; Genesis 28:16; Psalm 139:1-2 and
John 10:10

I Am The Perfect Savior - 100 Percent God And ...

I AM THE PERFECT SAVIOR - 100 PERCENT SAVIOR And 100 Percent Man.  I came to earth in a physical body so I could bear all the punishment for your sins.  Because you are Mine, you are indeed holy in My sight, without blemish and free from accusation.  I know you sometimes feel blemished and accused, but this is not your true identity.  Now that you're My redeemed follower, a good word to describe you is "blameless."  Since I paid the penalty through death for all your sins, you are utterly free from blame.  There is no condemnation for those who are united with Me through faith!

Although you are forever free from accusation, you have a persistent adversary.  Satan is a relentless accuser of Christians; he accuses them day and night.  His demonic underlings, who seek to deceive and destroy My followers, rely heavily on this tactic.  These evil spirits attack your mind with a mixture of lies and truth.  To counteract their attacks, try writing down the accusing thoughts so you can pick out the distortions and outright lies.  Once you have done this, the most effective response is straightforward:  Reject the lies and distortions; repent of any actual sin.  Remember, though, that the bottom line is not what you do but what I have already done - redeemed you fully so you can live with Me eternally.  When the Son makes you free, you are free indeed!

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Colossians 1:22; Romans 8:1; Revelation 12:10 and
John 8:36

You Live By The ...

YOU LIVE BY THE Spirit: He is the very source of your eternal life.  When you were dead in trespasses and sins, it was impossible for you to receive Me as Savior.  The Holy Spirit had to make you alive before you could respond to Me.  So you do quite literally live by the Spirit.

I want you to go forward along your life-path in step with the Spirit.  He will not help you go backward, so beware of seeking refuge in the past.  You need to keep moving forward and also to walk in the direction I choose.  Moreover, it's vital to pace yourself according to My timing: neither dashing ahead nor lagging behind.  The Spirit will help you in all these matters, as you live in reliance on Him. You can engage His help any time, any place - simply by asking.  If you find yourself anxiously rushing, pray, "Slow me down, Holy Spirit."  If you're uncertain about your direction, ask Him to show you the way.  When you don't know how to pray as you should, cry out "Help me, Holy Spirit!"  He will intercede for you with groanings too deep for words. 

The more you seek My Spirit's help and yield to His loving guidance, the better your life will be.  As you keep in step with the Spirit, you find yourself walking close to Me.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 2:1-2; Psalm 25:4-5 and
Romans 8:26

Rest In The Assurance Of My Sheltering ...

REST IN THE ASSURANCE OF MY SHELTERING Presence that keeps you safe.  Let My promises of protection strengthen and comfort you - like huge heavenly bells pealing out ancient, changeless truth.  I want you to take refuge in My Shaddai-shadow more and more, by placing your trust fully in Me.  It is tempting to take shelter in people, money, success, good health. These are blessings from Me, but you must not rely on them.  Any or all of them could vanish instantly.  The unending protection I offer - refuge in the shadow of My wings - is available to both high and low among men.  In addition, I freely give you the priceless gift of My unfailing Love!

Since I offer you so much, it makes sense to put your trust in Me above all else.  Listen to the psalmist's proclamation:  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.  Solomon, the wisest of  all men, wrote He who trusts in his riches will fall.  Whenever you start to feel anxious, let these feelings serve as a warning that you're putting your trust in the wrong place.  You need to stop listening to your worry - thoughts, and instead tell yourself the truth - that I am totally trustworthy.  Then turn your attention to Me, saying, "Lord, You're my refuge.  I trust in You and I'm safe!"

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Psalm 91:1-2; Psalm 36:7; Psalm 118:8-9 and Proverbs 11:28

I Am Your Intimate ...

I AM YOUR INTIMATE Friend, but I am also unfathomable and mysterious; infinitely great and glorious!  I want you to contemplate Me in My Glory so you can worship Me exuberantly.  Sometimes, though, you struggle with My unsearchable decisions and untraceable ways - seeking to control Me rather than abandoning yourself to Me in worship.  You need to recognize "control" for what it is:  an idol.  I created you in My image and endowed you with free will.  I gave you amazing linguistic abilities so you could communicate richly with Me.  Instead, of using these gifts in manipulative ways - trying to control Me - devote them to worshiping Me in spirit and truth.

I encourage you to pray freely:  Ask and it will be given to you.  Nonetheless, when you bring me your petitions, you need to keep in mind the depth of My wisdom and knowledge.  This will protect you from being presumptuous or manipulative.  I never fail to hear your prayers and answer them wisely, but I do not always grant your petitions - no matter how heartfelt they may be and how utterly right they may seem.  If it becomes clear that My will differs from what you have requested, the best response is to say simply, "Yes, Jesus."  This will draw you closer to Me, even in the midst of your disappointment.  Though My ways - My methods, My paths - may be mysterious from your perspective, I assure you they are good.

- Jesus

(Jesus Lives / Sarah Young)

Scripture Insight:  Romans 11:33; John 4:24 and Matthew 7:7