Cease Striving

I, the Lover of your soul, understand you perfectly and love you eternally.

Dear Jesus,

I’m thankful it is my soul You love, rather than my appearance or performance. So often, I’m dissatisfied with both of these, especially when I make them my focus. I’m grateful for Your perfect understanding, since I sometimes feel misunderstood or simply overlooked.

Help me experience more fully Your compassionate, unfailing Love.

Beloved,

Relax in My loving Presence. Let the Light of My Love soak into your entire being. Rest deeply while I massage your thoughts and feelings, helping you change your focus from yourself to Me.

Cease striving and know that I am God. I created you to know Me: to enjoy Me and center your life in Me.

The world abounds with idols – things you turn to when you want to feel better about yourself: eating, entertainment, exercise, mastery of something or someone. However, none of these things can slake the thirst of your soul, which yearns for Me alone.

Idolatrous substitutes may suppress your appetite for Me, mainly by distracting you, but they provide no satisfaction. When you get that gnawing sensation around the edges of your soul, return to Me. Your soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods.

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. – Isaiah 54:10

Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. – Psalm 46:10

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you. – Psalm 63:2-5

Excerpted with permission from Dear Jesus by Sarah Young, copyright Thomas Nelson, 2007.

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Your Turn

We all have a penchant for idol-seeking when our souls are thirsty, hurting, feeling want. Let’s stop to realign our hearts toward the only One who satisfies. Come join the conversation on our blog! We would love to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily