Trusting God During Busy Seasons

Editor's note: Advent is right around the corner! Jesus Listens for Advent & Christmas by Sarah Young is the perfect devotional for the holiday season. Place it on your nightstand to read in the evening or in your briefcase, book bag, or travel bag to read on the go. It's a perfect addition to Bible reading for both men and women.

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All-knowing God,

This is a wonderful time of year, but it can also be an exhausting time for me. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who know my way. This is one of the benefits of weakness; it highlights the reality that I cannot find my way without Your guidance. Whenever I’m feeling weary or confused, I can choose to look away from these feelings and turn wholeheartedly toward You. As I pour out my heart to You, I find rest in the Presence of the One who knows my way perfectly — all the way to Heaven.

Help me to continue this practice of gazing at You even during the times when I’m feeling confident and strong. This is when I am most at risk of going in the wrong direction. Instead of assuming that I know the next step of my journey, I’m learning to make my plans in Your Presence — asking You to guide me.

Please remind me often that Your ways and thoughts are higher than mine, as the heavens are higher than the earth. Remembering this great truth draws me into worshiping You, the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity. I rejoice that even though You dwell in the high and holy place, You reach down to show me the way I should go.

In Your exalted Name, Jesus, amen

Trust Me with every fiber of your being! What I can accomplish in and through you is proportional to how much you depend on Me.

When my spirit grows faint within me, it is You who know my way. — Psalm 142:3

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. — Isaiah 55:9

Thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” — Isaiah 57:15 NKJV

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My loving Lord,

In the midst of this busy season, You continually invite me to draw near. I love to hear You whispering in my heart: “Come to Me, beloved. I have loved you with an everlasting Love. I have drawn you with lovingkindness.” I respond to Your beautiful invitation by being still in Your Presence — relaxing and fixing my thoughts on You. And I meditate on the glorious truth that You are continually with me. This rock-solid reality provides a firm foundation for my life.

The world I inhabit is constantly in flux — I can find no solid ground here. So I desperately need to stay aware of You as I go about my day. I know I won’t be able to do this perfectly, but I can return to You time after time, praying: “Jesus, keep me aware of Your loving Presence.” I like to let this prayer continually echo in my heart and mind — drawing me back to You when my thoughts start to wander away.

I’ve found that the more of You I have in my life through living close to You, the more joyful I am. This blesses not only me but others — as Your Joy flows through me to them.

In Your blessed Name, Jesus, amen

A person who is open to My Presence is exceedingly precious to Me.

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” — Jeremiah 31:3 NKJV

Holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. — Hebrews 3:1

I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. — Psalm 73:23 NKJV

Excerpted with permission from Jesus Listens for Advent & Christmas by Sarah Young, copyright Sarah Young.

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Your Turn

We’re never going to find solid ground in this world because it’s constantly changing. In Jesus, though, we can find firm footing. As we enter the busiest season of the year, let’s rely on Him and keep Jesus as the center. ~ Devotionals Daily