Sarah Young is a missionary who wrote a small daily devotional based on her own personal prayer journal. Basically, she spent a lot of time listening in prayer. Then, she wrote her thoughts down as if spoken to by Jesus Himself. The style may not be for everyone, but to me her words have a powerful impact.
Today’s reading is so incredibly relevant to yesterday’s thoughts, to the concept of unwrapping our days as well as to some of the comments you made that I simply had to include it. I hope you are able to receive these words with the same relief I did when I read them this morning.
I want you to live this day abundantly, seeing all there is to see, doing all there is to do. Don’t be distracted by future concerns. Leave them to Me! Each day of life is a glorious gift, but so few people know how to live within the confines of today. Much of their energy for abundant living spills over the time line into tomorrow’s worries or past regrets. Their remaining energy is sufficient only for limping through the day, not for living it to the full. I am training you to keep your focus on My Presence in the present. This is how to receive abundant Life, which flows freely from My throne of grace.
Sarah Young, Jesus Calling
I love this post and the message. I will approach my day differently now. Thank you!
Today is an important anniversary for my family–10 years since my little boy went to heaven. God has truly healed my heart…He is so faithful. Yet, today holds significance. How do I honor this day? That’s what I find myself asking today. It’s a regular day…school, work, piano lessons, dinner with a friend. Your post has given me my answer…honor God’s faithfulness and my son’s memory by living TODAY abundantly. Thanks for sharing, Emily. I love your blog.
Thanks for introducing us to her and more importantly to HIM through her. Beautiful message.
I L-O-V-E her devotional. It ministered to me last year (during a very difficult time)in such a big way that I passed it along to a dear friend in the midst of her own struggle. She told me that she has also been very blessed by it. I think I need another copy.
What a morning I have had Emily, this reading was a blessing to me…thank you.
how cool!
praise God … what a beautiful & timely reminder!
and to dawn {the first commenter}, my heart is full for you and i’m saying prayers of peace for you today …
Wow! I may have to print this out and tape it to my wrist.
my mom gave me “Jesus Calling” a while back and i have been reading it daily. i too, am so encouraged by her writings and have loved reading it daily. what a great reminder today’s reading was! p.s. i love your blog, so beautiful and inspiring.
I love your blog! It is always inspiring, and today is no different. Thank you for this post! It’s something I needed to read. Have a wonderful afternoon!
Love this book! Everytime I read it, I am hit with some powerful Truth!
I have and love this book, too! My bookmark has been stuck at September 22, which starts, “Trust me and refuse to worry…” I have been reading it over and over along with the current day’s devotional. Good words. Great reminders. Blessings!
I think I’ll have to look that book up. Thank you for the glimpse inside of it!
Each day is a blessing and it’s easy to get so caught up in what was or what will be that we forget. I try so hard not to. I am married to he who lives in the past or lives for tomorrow and I just last night was saying this very thing – be in today. I am not perfect at it. But I know how important it is, how I don’t want to regret. How I want to look back and know I did the best I could to truly be present for these big years.
Thanks for always saying so well what rings true for so many of us.
Oh, my. Touche’.
Several people have recommended this book to me. After reading this bit, I think I need to get it for myself. What a way to start the day!
all I can say is that : THOSE WORDS WERE FOR ME!
thx for letting God use you this way
Thank you for posting this. I really needed it today.
Hi there,
I saw these little egg salt and pepper shakers on etsy and thought of you and the old post about the cute set your sister has. These aren’t quite as darling as hers, but I thought you might like a look.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31076421
That is very poignant. I am so glad I read it this morning. Thank you!
Hmmm. This reminded me of something in a book I just finished (When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd). She writes: “Time isn’t a straight line along which we travel. It’s a deep dot in which we dwell.”
So poignant right now for me. What a blessing to find encouragement and guidance through sisters in Christ. Through ladies I haven’t even met but we have that common thread. Thank you for that!
Good stuff.
That’s beautiful. This is my first visit to your blog, through The Nester -beautiful layout and you’re definitely going to be added to my reader! Have a beautiful day!
That is absolutely beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing!
I think I need to post this post on my forehead and my heart. Thanks for sharing these wise words.
That’s beautiful and very true. A much more elequent way to say “Stop and smell the roses” : )
I am just sitting here going through the motions, trying to remind myself to breathe, and I decided to catch up on some blogs that I have missed when I came to this. I know it is God telling me that I need to get up and get on with this thing called LIFE. I have just returned from two funerals, my brothers were both killed in a tragic car accident last Thursday, just one year ago I said goodbye to another brother who took his life. I know I must be in a daze, but, this brought just comfort to me. Just wanted ya to know.
DJ