Lord Jesus,

When You are present with me, all is good and nothing seems difficult; but when I forget You, all is hard and empty.

Jesus, Your voice to me is the most precious sound in existence. If I don’t hear You speaking inside my soul, all other comfort is worth nothing, but if You speak but one word to me I am greatly comforted. I recall that Mary rose immediately from the place where she wept, when Martha said to her: “The Master is come, and He calls for you” (John 11:28). Yes! What a happy moment it is – no matter how difficult my situation is – when You call for me!

Oh, how foolish I am when I go into any situation without having You on my mind Jesus. What vanity for me to desire anything outside of You. The world without You profits me nothing. To be without You is grievous hell; and to be with You Jesus is sweet Paradise. When You’re with me no enemy can hurt me. To find You is to find the real treasure – the Good above all good – and to become the richest person on earth. But to lose You is to lose more than the whole world and to be left in abject poverty.

Oh, Jesus it is the greatest skill to know how to hold familiar conversation with You! Lord, teach me this skill! Oh, to know how to keep You in my consciousness at all times – this is the greatest wisdom! Please, dear Lord, tune my heart to Your presence at all times.

Lord Jesus Christ, when Your grace comes to me I am made strong and able for all things. But without Your grace I am poor and weak. When I do need to be disciplined by You please help me not to be discouraged, but to stand with my thoughts fixed on You, enduring whatever hardship comes upon me for Your glory.

Jesus, You know that I want always to be in the springtime of enjoying Your love, but sometimes I need the winter season.

Sovereign Lord, You have ordained the seasons, including those that don’t feel good, and I love You for this too! Help me to remember that after winter comes spring, after night comes day, after the storm comes a great calm. More than that, help me to trust that all seasons are good when I live them with You.

Lord, only,

Give me the love that leads the way,

The faith that nothing can dismay,

The hope no disappointments tire,

The passion that will burn like fire,

Permit not that I sink to be a clod:

Make me Thy fuel, flame of God

I love you Jesus! You are the best Friend I could have!

Love,

Agnes

(Extracts from Amy Carmichael’s writings and “A Love letter to Jesus” written by Bill Gaultiere’s paraphrase of “Familiar Converse with Jesus” by Thomas a Kempis from page 75 in his classic devotional book, The Imitation of Christ, written in 1486.)

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