Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

I've been reading Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence daily for over a month now in order to review it for Thomas Nelson. It's written by Sarah Young, a missionary who turned her prayer journal into a daily devotional filled with messages from Jesus. Her goal was to help others grow in spiritual intimacy with the Savior. The unique format accomplishes this because it is written in the first person, as though Jesus is talking directly to the reader. I have read many daily devotionals for years, everything from Women of Faith to D. James Kennedy to James and Shirley Dobson. This is the first one that has been written as though Jesus Himself is sharing a few moments of His powerful presence with the reader.

Many of the daily entries focus on listening for His voice and the directive to "be still and know." I think in our fast-paced society, a daily reminder to do just that is a good idea. The devotions offer peace, comfort, and an invitation into His presence to trust Him for all your needs and guidance. I have enjoyed this aspect of my day (usually first thing in the morning before the girls wake up) as encouragement and spiritual strengthening. So much of the "noise" and busyness of the day can interfere with finding a quiet time just to meditate on the Scripture, but this book gently reminds me that He is always available and waiting for me to just ask Him. Each entry also includes several Scripture references for further Bible study.

The book itself is a lovely padded hardcover with glossy pages. A ribbon bookmark is included, too. It's small enough to fit in my purse, the nightstand, or the glove compartment of the car, yet elegant and substantial enough to give as a gift. I think it would make a great gift for recent graduates as they make decisions that will affect their future.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to spend some quiet time with Jesus in these personal, peaceful daily devotionals.

Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence—Devotions for Every Day of the Year By Sarah Young / Thomas Nelson