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Today I would like to introduce you to Marissa from Reading list. She has agreed to do a post for me while I am on my blogation.
A few weeks ago I read a wonderfully put together post that revealed a great vantage point on the popular devotional, Jesus Calling. This devotional has been around a while… so long in fact that there are many spin offs. And still weeks later these words have echoed in my head, partly because I am reading through this devotional this year.
On one side I agree with the writer – we are specifically told that we are not to put words into the mouth of Jesus. And I have no problem knowing this is true… (This is the overall point made in the
above mentioned article- I don’t want anyone to read this as a fight against this particular person, because I respect her decision to stop reading this book.)
And yet, I still read Jesus Calling, and enjoying it… why?
Well, like just about all the devotionals I’ve come across, Sarah Young is sharing her personal experience with Jesus. She spent time in her Bible and these “new” words were her personal experience. She then put them into a devotional with hope that sharing her experience would bring a new desire, or a stronger desire, to many to choose to follow Jesus more closely. In other words, this devotional hopes to be inspirational to many. And it has succeeded.
I have, after much pondering and prayer, decided to continue to read Jesus Calling because my goal this year is to experience more God moments. And those experiences start from time spend reading the Word and praying (sharing and listening). But there are many hours, days even, when I feel like God is silent (He usually isn’t, I just can’t focus right), and in those moments of discouragement it is uplifting to pick up devotionals that remind me of Who God is, How He Acts today (or at least more recently than the dates in the Bible).
It is important for us to continue to read and share our experiences with the Almighty. God has made us for fellowship so that we might strengthen each other in the difficult times. By sharing our experiences with Him to others we are continuing to build fellowship that is God focused.(Not sure on this? The Bible is full of people’s experiences with God: Moses, Elisha, Joshua… just to name a few…)
I do agree that we must be attentive and realize that are many snares (human stories, human-based experiences) that do not share true God-experiences. That is why we must be so diligent in our praying. God will tell us the truth, and that is why I completely respect the writer who inspired this train of thought. She dutifully turned to God with her heart and He guided her. I know that He guides every single one of us as soon as we agree to follow Him – He promised us this (ex verse). I also know that we are all different and we must hear the truth in different ways and at different times – the perfect reasoning that we must all share our experiences, because we never know when God will use our little story to clarify for another person.
So I will continue to read Jesus Calling for now, and other devotionals for that matter, but they are not my focus for finding some God-moments…
What is your favorite devotional? What are your thoughts on devotionals?
Marissa is a work at home mommy photographer, raising two little warriors and one princess for the Lord. She is married to her Prince Charming. She blogs at Rays of Grace & Joy where she shares “Christian” mommy ramblings whenever time allows. Find her also on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Images used with permission: http://www.rgbstock.com/photo/
I would like to invite you to my Facebook group Christian Homemakers in Training where we dive into homemaking, motherhood, marriage and group devotions. After all, we all need a safe place to grow together, right?
I went to answer and the response was so long that I thought I’d better turn it into a post or my own 😉 If I think to when I get around to finishing it, I will share it otherwise, thanks for sharing your thoughts here!