Jesus Calling Devotional Bible

God the Help of Those Who Seek Him

A Song of Ascents.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

When I see the condition I’m in—the shape my body is in, God—I am overwhelmed with despair. Everything in my life seems more difficult than it used to be. My world feels out of control, and that’s something I’m not accustomed to.

Exercise and sports once gave me great satisfaction, but I am no longer strong. My efforts at conditioning did not prevent this journey through the valley of discouragement. Neither did my diligence about my diet or my care in living a healthy lifestyle. Was it all for nothing? My body has turned on me, and I feel hopeless. Rather than persevering in the right choices, as I did in the past, now I binge on the junk that nourishes my anxiety. And every day I lose more self-confidence.

Is there any hope for me or my future? My pastor says there is if I turn to You. But are You willing to let me lean on You in this dark hour?

You made me and created me for Your purposes. And though I’m not clear about what You’ve got planned, I’m asking You to come alongside me and equip me for it.

—Wade

Heaven

LIFT UP YOUR EYES TO ME, AND SEE ME SHINING BRIGHTLY ON YOUR FUTURE. Your body—especially when it is weak and weary—can exert a strong downward pull on your thinking. This is very natural, but you are not limited to natural abilities. When your thoughts are on a downhill path, you need to access supernatural resources. Ask Me to help you think My thoughts. Refuse to entertain a gloomy view of the future. Reject such imagery as unreal, because that is what it is. Any future-view that does not include Me is simply false! I am the most important ingredient in the mix of your life. The more of Me you include, the better your outlook will be.

Do not be overly focused on the condition of your body, since it is temporary. Instead, rejoice that your inner being—the eternal part of you—is being renewed day by day. You can even glean some good from the progressive wasting away of your outer self. As your natural strengths and abilities wane, you become more aware of your need to rely on Me. This can create a relaxed intimacy between us as you include Me in more and more of your moments. Not only does this increase your Joy in the present, it also prepares you for an eternal future face to Face with Me. This is the true view of your future, and it is glorious! So, fix your eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

(From Jesus Lives by Sarah Young)

FOR MORE ON THIS TOPIC, SEE PAGE 1677.

From whence comes my help?

²My help comes from the LORD,

Who made heaven and earth.

³He will not allow your foot to ^abe moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

⁴Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵The LORD is your ^bkeeper;

The LORD is your shade at your right hand.

⁶The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

⁷The LORD shall ^cpreserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

⁸The LORD shall preserve^d your going out and your coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore.