Sometimes an old favorite comes back in a new form, and you’re blessed by it all over again. Jesus Calling: Seeking Peace in His Presence by Sarah Young is a devotional that I first learned about in March of this year, and I simply love it. So when I heard that the Jesus Calling Devotional Bible (NKJV) was being released I was excited to get some more information about it.
About Jesus Calling Devotional Bible (NKJV)
Jesus Calling is a devotional filled with uniquely inspired treasures from heaven for every day of the year. After many years of writing in her prayer journal, missionary Sarah Young decided to listen to God with pen in hand, writing down whatever she believed He was saying to her. It was awkward at first, but gradually her journaling changed from monologue to dialogue. She knew her writings were not inspired as Scripture is, but journaling helped her grow closer to God. Others were blessed as she shared her writings, until people all over the world were using her messages. They are written from Jesus’ point of view, thus the title Jesus Calling. It is Sarah’s fervent prayer that our Savior may bless readers with His presence and His peace in ever deeper measure.
Although the devotional released back in 2004, the Jesus Calling Devotional Bible, NKJV has just been released.
In this Bible, 260 scenarios pose life struggles to which Sarah Young gives answers from her Savior—words that Jesus has lovingly laid on her heart—words that have comforted and inspired Sarah and many others around the world.
Features include:
- 260 scenarios with devotions by Sarah Young
- Hundreds of inspiring scriptures highlighted throughout the text
- New King James Version® (NKJV) in paragraph format
- Index to devotions
- Two-color text
- Presentation page
- Ribbon marker
My Review
As I said, I LOVE the Jesus Calling Devotional. I have it as an app on my iPhone and I find myself opening it up many times a day nearly every day. There are daily devotions, and it really does feel like it’s JESUS who is talking to you through the text, always backed up with scriptures, always in a tone that seems consistent with what The Saviour might be saying. I found this devotional especially helpful as I was going through a few rough months in March and April of this year – EVERY day’s message seemed to say exactly what I needed to hear. It was lifesaving!
Intertwine those kinds of awesome devotional messages within the words of the Bible, and a very powerful combination is created. Like many devotional Bibles, the Jesus Calling Devotional Bible is first and foremost God’s Word, and includes devotional readings right alongside the text of the Scriptures. Taken from Sarah Young’s other writings, these devotionals are sprinkled throughout the Bible in just the right places. There are also prayers from others, as responses to Jesus, included along the way. Couple the prayer responses with the devotional readings, and a very intimate message from Jesus is revealed.
Sarah shares in the introduction, “Since my writings are rooted in the infallible, unchanging Word of God, having them appear alongside of the Biblical text would seem to be a natural place for them. … May my written words, along with those of the writers who contributed the personalized prayers, draw you closer to the Word, the One who is calling out to you even now: Jesus, Immanuel – God with us.”
I’m enjoying the pairings of these devotions with the applicable Biblical texts, and the personalized prayers do make the messages very special and intimate. The New King James Version of the Bible has sold more than 60 million copies in 30 years, and is a trusted translation. It isn’t my favorite, but in this form, it’s well-used, and serves the purpose of the devotional format very well. I look forward to the possibility of combining these devotions with other Bible translations, especially the NIV, in the future.
If you believe that the Lord still speaks to us in very real ways, and you’re looking for a more intimate Bible reading or devotional experience, I would highly recommend both Jesus Calling and the Jesus Calling Devotional Bible.
Thanks to my mom-in-love for introducing me to Jesus Calling. [Jesus Calling Devotional Bible, NKJV] Book has been provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Thomas Nelson.
