Immanuel

Immanuel,

Stillness is increasingly hard to come by in this restless, agitated world. I really have to fight to carve out time for You. Distractions come at me from all sides when I try to sit quietly with You. But having an intimate connection with You is worth fighting for, so I won’t give up!

Please help me in my quest to set aside uninterrupted time to spend with You — focusing on You and Your Word. I’m so grateful that You are Immanuel — God with us. As I relax in Your peaceful Presence, letting my concerns slip away, I can hear You whispering to me:

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

The longer I gaze at You, the more I can rejoice in Your majestic splendors — and trust in Your sovereign control. You are my Refuge, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. There is transcendent stability in Your Presence, Lord. As I ponder the vastness of Your Power and Glory, my perspective changes and my problems look smaller. I know I will have trouble in this world, but I’m encouraged by Your assurance that You have overcome the world.

In Your conquering Name, Jesus, Amen.

Matthew 1:23 NKJV; Psalm 46:10 NKJV; Psalm 46:1-2; John 16:33

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Precious Jesus,

Help me to trust You in the midst of a messy day. I don’t want my inner calm — my Peace in Your Presence — to be shaken by what’s going on around me. Even though I live in a temporal world, I know that my innermost being is rooted and grounded in eternity. When I start to feel stressed, I need to detach myself from the disturbances around me. As I stop striving to maintain control, You enable me to relax in Your sovereign control — and receive Your Peace that transcends understanding.

Your Word instructs me to seek Your Presence continually! Please share Your mind with me and open my eyes to see things from Your perspective more and more. I love to hear You telling me:

“Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid. Take heart! I have overcome the world.” Lord, I rejoice that the Peace You give me is sufficient for all my circumstances!

In Your all-powerful Name, Amen.

Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 105:4 ESV; John 14:27; John 16:33

Excerpted with permission from Jesus Listens by Sarah Young, copyright Sarah Young.

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Your Turn

Be still. Even in the chaos of the day, know that Jesus listens to every whisper. Focus on Him. Share your heart with Him. Don’t be troubled, but trust in Him! Come share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you!