Customer Reviews

Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence

5 star:		(568)
4 star:		(34)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

"Jesus Calling" is a relatively unique devotional book in that Sarah Young has written her devotions from the point of view of Jesus Christ. Using this technique gives the book a sense of immediacy and intimacy with the Lord, and this is the great strength of the book.

Many of these short sayings that Young puts in the mouth of Jesus are things the Lord would say and has said to me during a life of listening to Him, reading the Scriptures, and keeping a journal. How often have I heard Him remind me to worship Him alone, to trust in Him at all times, and that He is always with me. To hear these words as if they are Jesus' own can be beneficial to the soul.

However, there are 4 reasons I can give "Jesus Calling" only 3 stars and not 4 or 5 stars, (even though I'm vastly outnumbered in the reviews on Amazon).

1. Young has Jesus say only a limited range of things compared to what God actually teaches in the entirety of the Bible. I love to hear Jesus say things like, "Relax; Trust Me; Listen to Me; I am with you; I am calling you; and Wait for Me." But this seems to be all that Young's Jesus ever says. Where are the specific commandments of Jesus, and not just "affirmations"? Where does this Jesus ever talk about the practical ways we should love our neighbor, and not just love God? And why is it always a solitary call to be alone with Him, when we're called to be the Church?

2. "Jesus Calling" shows Young's bias and doesn't have Jesus say the hard things He must often say. Where are His reminders and commandments to seek forgiveness and to forgive, to love regardless of the cost, etc? This Jesus doesn't seem ask us to do anything difficult or to sacrifice very much. It's all "You are on the right path." Where are the times when Jesus has to chastise, correct, and discipline us? Where are the times when He says things like, "Repent!" or "You're being too selfish and must take up your cross for Me today."?

3. "Jesus Calling" doesn't give any hint that sometimes God may withdraw His sweet fruit from our lives so we will depend only on Him, and not on His gifts. The saints have often experienced the "dark night of the soul" when we can't always feel God's blessed Presence? What then? Young's devotional doesn't account for this.

4. The devotionals are not directly scriptural. Thankfully, these devotionals aren't heretical or unsound: they're just incomplete. It's true that there are some Scripture references tacked on at the end of each devotional, but I don't sense that the whole counsel of God comes through in these devotionals. I like what God has told Young, but sometimes it's all too easy to interpret your own voice as being that of the Lord's. Occasionally, the words presented as Jesus' are jarring and don't sound like Jesus, such as: "This is a paradigm shift that will revolutionize your life" (devotional for March 22).

"Jesus Calling" has undoubtedly blessed many lives and will continue to do so. However, it gives a narrow view of the entirety of what Jesus Christ has to say to us.

A few months ago I joined the Thomas Nelson Publishers blog book review team. What a novel idea. I signed up, agreed to write a review and publish it on my blog as well as one other commercial site. In exchange, I received the book I chose to review in the mail.

I chose "Jesus Calling," a devotional by Sarah Young.

I was drawn to the content based on a few tweets from others reading the devotional. I grew up in my faith with the Oswald Chambers classic "My Utmost for His Highest." I love my online devotional time on the Jesuit site [..]--one of my favourite experiences on the web. I also love Henri Nouwen's "Bread for the Journey."

Now "Jesus Calling" is fast becoming another classic in my life. Sarah Young writes what she hears Jesus speaking to her in her spirit. She has honed her listening through years and years of writing in her journal and being attentive to what the Spirit wants to say to her.

As I have spent time in "Jesus Calling, "I have heard Jesus speaking to me many times in beautiful, fresh ways. Sometimes I hear Sarah's personal filter--she is the pen, the messenger, after all--but I also recognize this as the voice of my Shepherd.

Here are a few of my favourite calls:

* "Rest in My Presence, allowing Me to take charge of this day. Do not bolt into the day like a racehorse suddenly released. Instead, walk purposefully with Me, letting Me direct your course one step at a time."

* "You are on the right path. Listen more to Me, and less to your doubts. I am leading you along the way designed just for you."

* "You must discipline yourself to live within the boundaries of today. It is in the present moment that I walk close to you, helping you carry your burdens. Keep your focus on My Presence in the present."

I definitely recommend "Jesus Calling." My only caveat comes with the actual design. Here's what I suggest: Please don't judge this book by its cover. I was surprised when I opened the parcel I received in the mail. I was actually somewhat taken aback. My heart sank somewhat, because this book came dressed as a very dated, and forgive me for this, missionary. You get the picture. I had to force myself to pass through the visual barrier. The size and design also visually placed it in the gift book category, which surprised me. I am in my thirties and I have never bought a Christian gift book. That's just me.

As I dove into the content, however, wanting to keep up my end of the agreement, I was drawn in by the fresh writing. This book has taken me new places with Jesus. There's a lot of wisdom here, so much Beauty and great Depth.

"Jesus Calling" is worth laying down all your preconceived ideas about where you might receive and delving deeply into this revelation of Jesus.

So, while the design placed this book for me in a different audience; the content of this book crosses generations for those who want to experience Jesus in a fresh way.

If you can pierce through the visual barrier of the book jacket, the content will grab your heart, because it is Jesus speaking though one of his beloved daughters.

This book has an excerpt to read for every day of the year. So far I have read Jan. 1 through Jan. 28. In addition to those 28 days I have jumped around reading random pages and I have been so encouraged by what I have read. Each reading is a half a page to one page long. The book is small so the reading time is very short. Each page is written as if Jesus is talking directly to you. There are scripture references listed at the bottom of each page as well. So if you are looking for a great devotional book that will help you get closer to the Lord that won't take up a large amount of time this is the book for you.

I absolutely love this devotion book. Sarah Young speaks from the heart and puts into words what I can not form but what I do feel.
It is like "listening in a mirror." Listening, not reading. I can read the book, but listen to God's voice in my soul - where the Holy Spirit reflects (hence, mirror) that from those in whom He lives.I highly recomend this as a must have devotion.

This is a great book, a friend gave it to me when my father was dying with lung cancer. It kept me focused on what was really important in life and how to keep in touch with God through this trying time. A simple reading everyday that was just what I needed to hear.

This is the best gift for a person who likes to have conversations vs a study type of devotion. I personnally like talking to someone and this little book is like having a phone call with Jesus. I highly recommend it. I love the deluxe edition because it is leather bond and for the cost it is well worth it. Great gift.

This is an EXCELLENT daily devotional book! Very straight forward, easy to understand and it seems as if Jesus is speaking directly to you as you read. This new leather large print deluxe edition is beautiful and would make a treasured gift to give to almost anyone who loves our Lord!

As a busy Christian woman, I sometimes find it difficult to sit and enjoy being in the presence of the Lord. I have several devotional books on my shelf, but none seemed to give me the spiritual boost I was looking for. That is, until I started reading "Jesus Calling" by Sarah Young.

"Jesus Calling" is a devotional gift book containing 365 devotions written from Jesus' point of view. Though each daily message is short, they are consistently relevant and personal for people of all ages and from all walks of life. Each page contains the very promises and blessings found Jesus.

From the day I opened Jesus Calling, I was hooked. Every day, I look forward to reading about the blessings God has for me. Sarah Young did an amazing job in writing each devotional; it truly feels as if God is speaking to me through each page. I honestly can't think of anyone this devotional wouldn't be perfect for! The devotions are short enough to be read in just a few spare minutes, but are powerful enough that they stay on your mind throughout the day.

I can't say enough about how much it has blessed me in the short time I have been reading it. If you are looking for a way to make the scriptural promises of the Bible more personal, this book is perfect for you.

Christina
[...]

What a wonderful book and gift this turned out to be. She loved it!

My wife was attending a ladies Bible study and the leader recommended this as a daily devotional that would open their eyes to a different perspective of Jesus. I have read some pretty sad remarks about this book from people that truly are not looking to increase their experience with knowing the Savior. So, I came to Amazon to review the book, read a few pages that got me excited about what she was doing with this daily word experience, and saw this special which I couldn't pass up -- I love to spoil my wife.

Enough said. The book is beautifully made and a lifetime gift that can be passed along to our children and grandchildren. Actually, I have already bought the books for our daughters and will give it to them on their anniversaries. Unless I get too excited about it and give it to them before!

I initially gave Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling" a great review, mostly because I had never encountered a devotional that had Jesus speak directly to the reader. At first, this concept was intriguing to me. As a born again Christian, however, I have become increasingly convicted when I pick up this book. Why? Because the words written on each page are not Jesus' words, but are portrayed that way. Even though the author *may* have felt Jesus saying these things to *her*, how are we to know for sure? The only words that I trust as Jesus spoken words are directly from the Bible. I don't feel comfortable reading this book anymore. It feels like heresy. I feel the same way about the final "Left Behind" books that write in dialogue from Jesus. I don't think anyone should put words into our Savior's mouth. As a Christian, be wary of trusting any words attributed to Christ that aren't in the Bible.