Jesus Calling: December 20
When I joined the ranks of humanity, born into the humblest conditions, My Glory was hidden from all but few people. Occasionally, streaks of Glory shone out of Me, especially when I began to do miracles. Toward the end of My life, I was taunted and tempted to display more of My awesome Power than My Father's plan permitted. I could have called down legions of angels to rescue Me at any point. Imagine the self-control required of a martyr who could free Himself at will! All of this was necessary to provide the relationship with Me that you now enjoy. Let your life become a praise song to Me by proclaiming My glorious Presence in the world.RELATED SCRIPTURE:
John 2:11 (NLT)
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Luke 23:35-36 (NLT)
35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine.
Psalm 92:1-5 (NLT)
Psalm 92
A psalm. A song to be sung on the Sabbath Day.
1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to the Most High.
2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening,
3 accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp,
and the melody of a lyre.
4 You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!
I sing for joy because of what you have done.
5 O Lord, what great works you do!
And how deep are your thoughts.
I was incarcerated for 73 days recently it was the longest time I’ve ever served in jail. While in jail I got closer to God and befriending other men inside that were seeking the Lords face as I was trying to do. While I was incarcerated I did not know people that I knew as friends and people that we’re family were robbing me of my personal properties and my money in my accounts that I entrusted them with on my own behalf. Little did I know what was going on outside the jail and in my own home and business. I was released from jail on September 4th 2023 only to realize I was robbed of over 18 thousand dollars worth or more of personal property and actually money straight out of my own personal and business bank accounts. A friend, my two youngest daughters, and my x-girlfriend had stolen from my home, from my business, and my personal and business bank accounts. I could have never imagined this happening by the people I knew and entrusted with all of my worldly things in my life. Needless to say I found out I was not only broke, and in debt with 9k in past due bills and on top of all that there were so many things that were missing from my home and from my business. I was torn apart from within and did not know really how to take all this in. I struggled given all this to God and walking the high side to give everyone everything that they had stolen and taken. All I know is that people I knew and loved stole from
ReplyDeleteMe and I was broken from it! Like I said I struggled but turning to the Lord and reading His word, and praying about things giving everything to God was what made me feel better inside and more humbled to realize the power of Gods plan for me was going to be ok. Not just ok but miraculously far better than I’d ever dreamed it could be. Needless to say today I’m almost out of debt paying all my bills again. I’ve not yet replaced all the furniture that was sold from my home.,And my business is starting to pick back up and money is being made and saved. I’m still in touch with some of the men I befriended in jail and have helped them financially, physically, and spiritually, and will continue to do things through the good Lord praying, believing, reading, and having faith in God. It is through my obedience and my faith that has not only helped me to get through all of this hardship in my life that I’ve experienced throughout this journey. but I can say that it has brought me so much closer to God our Heavenly Father. His plan was not how I ever imagined it could be or how things worked out. But through patience in God and His work in me I was able to become stronger and better spiritually. One of the hardest things I endured throughout this entire hardship was to find the patience to wait for Gods plan to come through. It is through my most humbled self that I am transformed in Him and to reading His word, praying and believing that my Heavenly Father was working in me through the Holy Spirit that dwells in as all. If we would just believe and have faith in Him. Putting God first and foremost in everything we do and say our lives would not only be better, it would’ve give you peace and joy. My devotion to Him now is full time to God and part time everything and everyone else. Faith and honor to the good works through God Himself. The powers of God are available to us all if you humble yourself to have faith, obedience, and believe He is working in your life and know each and every day He is present before you. God only knows what you been through and He will not forsake you Amen🙏🏽
It sure is different on the other side of things. Opportunities galore to praise God. And … to feel what it’s like when you are the one having things stolen from!! Not nice!
DeleteAmen! He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing...I really needed this this morning. God bless you!
DeleteI don't know if you will ever see this response, but I want to thank you for your testimony. You remind me of the story of Job. May God bless you in abundance, keep you safe and bring you much joy. I pray this for you in the holy name of Jesus. Amen 🙏
DeleteYour testimony is an encouragement. God is blessing you!
DeleteThank you for your wonderful testimony! We are all able to find His light and love, and when we share our experiences with others, this power of witnessing is Him working and moving…
DeleteThankyou for sharing your experience, it is good testimony for all who’ve been robbed by trusted ones. I’ll share this with my husband. Jesus saves us in every sense. When we focus on the unseen, the eternal, what is seen and temporal loses its power over us. Lord help us focus each day on things unseen. And Thankyou for this fabulous Jesus Calling devotional. I’ve read it every day now for 7 years, it is my favourite thing to cosy up to God with and has helps my intimacy with God daily. 🙏
DeleteThank you for sharing your story. You’re inspiring and I pray that God continues to bless you.
DeleteWOW hallelujah amen. God bless you and I hope God healed your heart of what they did to you!
DeleteI Praise you Oh Lord and Thank you for all you do for me and my family.
ReplyDeleteAmen !
ReplyDeleteFATHER GOD, HALLELUJAH!
ReplyDeleteAmen! The Lord is our Constant & Rock, Today, Tomorrow and Always!🙏🙏🙏
ReplyDeleteThank You Jesus for coming to rescue us. Thank You for your Love. You have given us another day, so help us Holy Spirit to give out Your Word. Father God we thank You for lovin!!! Love you all. This is the day You have made and we do rejoice and are glad about it!!! Jesus You are the reason for the season!!! We celebrate YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteThe gift of another day! Praise the Lord!
DeleteThank you, my dearest Lord Jesus, for your unimaginable sacrifice for us! I pray that I will be conscious of your presence in my heart, today and every day and I am so grateful for your eternal love, protection, guidance and comfort! May I be awake to your presence and follow your lead..... JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL!
ReplyDeleteI too have been incarcerated multiple times in my life and the only book I had was this Jesus Calling book my mother in law gave to me the last time I was incarcerated at 31 years old with a wife and 3 little ones left at home. It was one of the most heart wrenching times of my life to know that if I continued down the path I was going, I would not be able to be there for my family as a husband , father, teacher, provider(facilitator of His provisions) and not be able to do His most Good and Perfect Will for the life He has ever so graciously given to me. I ended up giving that Jesus Calling book to one of my cell mates and told him about the amazing Holy Spirit Power of His Word and His Grace(His amazing Grace I never knew existed up until that time and I am still to this very day somewhat bewildered to tears at times of His most amazing Grace), I gave that book to my cell mate before I got out. Thank you for your testimony brother. Thank You Jesus for turning my life around immensely for the better. I was so much into the world and all of its pleasures and You Jesus rescued me from the abyss. Now, He leads me and my lovely loving wife He has given to me and 4 wonderful children He has blessed us with to give these Jesus Calling books to many whom He puts in all of our paths in this new life He has given to me and all of us! Praise be to You Jesus Christ Holy Spirit Father Thou art in Heaven and in our hearts! Thank You, thank You thank You Jesus for giving us our lives and fellow brothers and sisters and more than we could have ever imagined! Thank You for all of these amazing brothers and sisters on this message board as well! Amen.
ReplyDeleteI’d love to hear what God has done in this man’s life since December 20, 2023. His testimony touched my heart as it did for so many. I was/am moved by his faith and trust in God. So glad he found God while incarcerated. God can reach us anywhere, but it’s usually at our lowest point that we seek Him out most. Thank God for your trials, for they draw us to Him. His timing is perfect and He is doing a great work in us. At my lowest point, when I no longer wanted to live, God gave me enough strength to get through each day one day at a time. As I began trusting Him more and more, I could see the purpose for the trials I was going through. I learned some much needed lessons on who truly cared for me and who did not. Although it was heart wrenching, it was eye opening. I had given so much to others (my time and money) for so long, but the favors were not returned when I needed it. And that’s okay. I needed to see it so that I would stop putting myself in horrible financial debt. I needed to stop giving what I couldn’t really afford. Sometimes afraid that if I didn’t give, I wouldn’t be loved. That mindset needed to end for my own good. As I said before, it was a hard, but necessary, lesson to learn. God wants us to give of ourselves and our money to bless those in need, but not to the extent that it seriously hurts us financially. We have to use wisdom and do it for the right reason. I’m so grateful for the tough lessons I’ve learned and that through them I drew closer to my Heavenly Father. He’s so very faithful and His love is so great! God Bless You All.
ReplyDelete