I am preparing you

This afternoon I will be sharing a devotional from the Jesus Calling devotional book. I assume that many of you have heard of this book before. My mom just got one for me for Christmas and it's a great little devotional book. It's perfect if you have 5 minutes of free time and want to be encouraged.

December 27

I am preparing you for what is on the road ahead, just around the bend. Take time to be still in My presence so that I can strengthen you. The busier you become, the more you need this time apart with Me. So many people think that time spend with Me is a luxury that they cannot afford. As a result, they live and work in their own strength-until that becomes depleted. Then they either cry out to Me for help or turn away in bitterness. 

How much better is it to walk close with Me, depending on My strength and trusting Me in every situation. If you live in this way, you will do less but accomplish far more. Your unhurried pace of living will stand out in this rush-crazed age. Some people may deem you lazy, but many more will be blessed by your peacefulness. Walk in the Light with Me, and you will reflect Me to the watching world.

Isaiah 64:4 - John15:5 - Psalm 36:9

I absolutely love this devotional. This one specifically. Life is so busy. I don't really know of anyone who is not busy. Even people who don't play sports are busy because they're involved in other things as well. Business is just part of life. It's such a easy thing to get caught up in. It's the way our culture works. Everything is time oriented. You get put in a daily routine, and go through your days doing the same thing over and over again. When you get in that routine you can't live life using your own strength. You might thing that you can and you can probably make it a decent amount of time, but how much better is life when you depend on God's strength and trust Him in every situation. That is where your life will change. Take some time apart from your busy life and rest in his embrace. I see people in the coffee shop where I like to read and write every day who say, "I feel like you're in here everyday, how do you have time." Believe it or not, I rely on God's strength and trust in him to provide me with the extra energy to use it on Him. When you spend that extra time with Him, sure some people might think you are lazy and that you don't care about school or whatever the case may be but that is just deception. Many people will be blessed by your peacefulness. How eye opening and encouraging is that? Before I became disciplined with reading my Bible, I would see people who were reading their Bible's in public and I would always be encouraged. Even with being better at it now, I am still encouraged when I see people reading their Bible's, it makes me so happy. 

I hope that today's post was just as encouraging for you as it was for me. 

~ you are loved ~