Revealing Jesus

Revealing
JESUS
Dear friend,
I thank God that you have found yourself with this devotional in your
hand, and with all my heart I pray it is a great blessing to your life.
Revealing Jesus came about after many conversations with friends and even
more conversations with God... asking about the finished work of Christ
and what victory the Bible declares is available to us in Jesus name. To say
that I am desperate for the power of the cross and the power of the blood of
Jesus to be worked out in greater measure in my life is an understatement.
His presence beckons me....
You will hear that the songs on the companion album of the same name are
filled with declaration of Scripture to ensure that it is truly woven within
the fabric of your heart. This devotional was written to give you food for
thought each day about how Jesus is revealed in our everyday lives, to give
you courage and strength for each day.
So I pray you are fueled for service as you read, and that your hearts yearn
for more of Jesus as you worship Him with every fiber of your being.
Your friend,
Darlene Zschech
Darlene Zschech, Revealing Jesus

Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2013. Used by permission.
(Unpublished manuscriptcopyright protected Baker Publishing Group)
RevealingJESUS_RGB_400pp.indd 1
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January 1
It Begins With Joy
Blessed is the person who does not follow the advice of wicked people,
take the path of sinners, or join the company of mockers.
Psalm 1:1,
g od s word
he first promise we find in the Psalms is one of blessing, of a joy that resides
deep inside the heart. What a marvelous place to start the yearthe
incredible joy found when we truly know Jesus. In fact, all the fruit of the Spiritlove,
joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see
Galatians 5:22)is available to every one of us who makes a decision to walk with
Christ as our Lord and Savior, flourishing under godly counsel and walking away
from ungodly influence.
When we follow God, our hearts and minds become alert and awake, shaken
from our slumber. We experience the joy of Gods ways. We are likewise warned
of the enemys deceptive plans to diminish us and hold us back from Gods best for
us. Is it any wonder he seeks to surround and distract us with ungodly thoughts and
environments that are all too easily accepted as the norm?
Every time I read the Psalms, my thoughts turn to Jesus and my joy is renewed. I
learn again how to pray and how to praise, in any circumstance of my life.
My prayer is that you will experience the truth that life in Christ is above and
greater and more joyful than anything else you might be living for at the moment.
Thank you, God, for the joy of knowing Jesusand for

sending the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us your ways.

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January 2
Gods Way or Your Way?
But my people didnt listen, Israel paid no attention;

so I let go of the reins and told them, Run! Do it your own way!
Psalm 81:1112,
t he me s sag e
f youve ever wondered about the wisdom of doing things Gods way, of the
power and joy found in obedience, then read Psalm 81 over and over until it
settles in your heart.
The lessons on the blessings of obedience, love, and service are rich. We learn
of the magnificent protective hand of our God. His heart toward us is indescribable.
But in the end, He does not force what is continually rejected, for He is the ultimate
gentleman.
When God declares, Do it your own way! there is a palpable sense of divine
frustration and hurt. A recent personal experience, where a ministry team member
lied to many of us who loved and trusted him, gave me a glimpse of Gods sorrow
when we demand to do things our way, in defiance of His good plans for our lives.
What is it about us that still wants to do things our own way? Why do we fight
the hand that created us? The mystery of the great love of God is still so unfathomable, yet this is the journey of faith and trust.
I find tremendous encouragement and comfort in the prayer of Jesus in the
garden of Gethsemane: Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my
will, but yours be done (Luke 22:42, niv).
Even though our sin nature fights us, if we choose to serve God and do things as
He has set out for us, then His covenant protects us not only from our enemies but
from ourselves. Then we experience His plans and purpose for our lives fully.
God, sometimes obedience is hard. But not my will, but yours be done in my life.

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January 3
He Is Present
They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession

of my God, my King, into the sanctuary.
Psalm 68:24,
nk j v
hen we come to the sanctuary of God, when we gather as His church,

what is our posture and attitude?
The psalmist doesnt just see a ragtag army returning from a victory God delivered; he sees God in front, leading the procession.
I love meeting with Gods peoplecoming together to celebrate, give, and be
fueled for servicebut if there is one thing that I truly treasure whenever I enter the
house of God, it is His presence. Not a symbolic presence, but the knowledge that
God himself is with us. What a constant source of strength and hope for you and me,
for all His people. In Psalm 68 we are reminded that Yahweh is not an aloof, austere
King who stands afar and is unconcerned for the needs of His people. Rather, He
daily bears our burdens, providing us a way of escape from enemies and troubles.
Is it any wonder Jesus was called Immanuel, which literally means God is with
us?
Do you feel defeated, overwhelmed by troubles on every side? Do you feel there
is no way of escape? Does victory seem beyond your grasp? The good news is God is
beside you, and even if you arent strong enough to prevail, He will do for you what
you dont have the human power to do yourself.
As you enter Gods sanctuary, never forget He himself marches in ahead of you.
He is present! Our very present help in times of need.
God, renew my spiritual eyes to see you walk before me and beside me as I turn to you
in every situation of life. Thank you for being truly present in my worship of you!
2/14/13 4:29 PM
January 4
An Angry Love
Scatter the peoples who delight in war.

Psalm 68:30,
esv
ead through Psalm 68:2335, and you will quickly discover that Gods love
for the world is not always gentle. Just as Jesus fashioned a whip and drove
out those who made mockery of Gods temple (see John 2:15), so Gods plans and
mercies are revealed in His anger.
When we get angry, it often shows a lack of discipline or is based on selfinterest. But God loves the world so much that He will rise up and scatter the people
who delight in war.
I love the picture painted here of nations that were once in rebellion, witnessing
the glory of God and unable thereafter to resist joining in with the multitudes of those
who worship and praise God.
We are seeing this before our very eyes even today. On a recent trip to Rwanda,
a nation that has been ravaged by war and genocide, what joy I felt to discover that
in recent days hundreds of thousands of people have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord. I
genuinely pray daily that we will see this and other nations come alive from the inside
out through the power and kindness of God.
When does anger show love? When it is godly anger that fulfills His plans to
redeem the world: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and
on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should acknowledge that Jesus Christ
is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:910, niv).
I pray today for the salvation of individuals and entire nations

that have previously lived in strife and war.
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January 5
Through the Fire
My lips will praise you because your mercy is better than life itself.
Psalm 63:3,
g od s word
uffering is a reality. Read through Hebrews 11 and you will discover that
Gods chosen and beloved at times walk through the fire. I cant read
through the Psalms without feeling the emotional distress and pain that David suffered at the hands of his enemies.
But pain is never the last word. Then I will make music to praise your name
forever (61:8). I will lift up my hands to pray in your name (63:4). The [uncompromisingly] righteous shall be glad in the Lord and shall trust and take refuge in
Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory and offer praise (64:10, amp).
In Psalm 64 we hear the jubilant reminder that despite present sufferings, all
mankind will fear, proclaim, ponder, rejoice in, and ultimately praise the one true
God.
How powerful, how beautiful is the praise that erupts from a life that has gone
through the fire and comes out with a truthful, courageous new understanding of the
faithfulness of God himself.
That kind of faithfulness must be fed by the Word of God, not just as casual
reading, but where we bring our inner pursuits in line with Scripture; not just a source
of comfort, but the priority of your heart.
Father, thank you for the gift of your Son. Jesus experienced
the ultimate suffering to ultimately deliver us from any suffering
we experience in this world. I embrace that reality today.
2/14/13 4:29 PM
January 6
From the Depths
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Matthew 27:46,
g od s word
n the anguish of the cross, Jesus called to His Father with the prayer recorded
in Psalm 22:1: My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
How wonderful, how astonishing it is to discover that the Psalms not only uniquely
express the depths of the human soul, but they also convey the heart and soul of Jesus
Christ.
Ive always been grateful that the Psalms have helped shape my response to God
in the joys and trials of life. But to then learn that I can know more of the inner depths
of Jesus heart in response to His Father brings me to tears. Is it any wonder I turn to
the Psalms to know Jesus better and worship Him at a deeper level?
The rest of Psalm 22:1 reads, Why are you so far away from helping me, so far
away from the words of my groaning?
For me to pray like that might have once given me pangs of guilt that I was
not being faithful and giving honor to my redeemer God. But knowing Jesus felt
and prayed this way has taught me that God wants me to come to Him in complete
honesty, not holding anything back but expressing even my raw pain to Him.
Thank you, Jesus, for giving me a glimpse into the depths of your soul.
Thank you, heavenly Father, for allowing me to cry out to you
from the depths of my heart.

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January 7
God Speaks
When you were in trouble, you called out to me, and I rescued you.
I was hidden in thunder, but I answered you.
Psalm 81:7,
g od s word
salm 81 begins with the command that we are to sing joyfully and shout
happily to the Lord. The psalmist doesnt stop with us just using our voices.
He was a musician and worship leader. He tells us to sound the tambourine and
drums in our song, to add some sweet sounding strings, and then to blow the horn
boldly. None of this is to be timid. We are to make a joyful noise.
Just as God told Joseph to never forget what He did for him in Egypt, worship in
music is our time to celebrate the marvelous acts of God in our lives.
To take the gift of music and use it for the reason God gave it to us is nothing
short of miraculous, no matter how simple or how elaborate the offering is. As long
as it proclaims truth and comes from a heart of praise, our singing delights the heart
of God.
But what amazes me and causes me to tremble is that when we sing to the Lord,
He speaks back to us. The psalmist tells us he hears Gods voice in the midst of the
sound of thunder. He receives a word of revelation and instruction from the One he
never guessed would speak to him.
Dont let that truth slip by you. Savor the thought that the Maker of heaven and
earth cares enough to bow down and speak with us. To me. To you.
In my words and my music

I will listen for your voice, O God.
2/14/13 4:29 PM
January 8
His Victory Is Ours
With God on our side like this, how can we lose?

Romans 8:31,
t he me s sag e
hroughout Scripture, Gods people called to Him for deliverance and

He saved them. When you think all is lost and suddenly find yourself a
victoragainst all oddshow can you not celebrate our mighty God?
In Psalm 68:19, the psalmist declares, Blessed be the Lordday after day he
carries us along. Hes our Savior, our God, oh yes!
What a tremendous cry of praise. But these words are also a reminder that
God is our Savior and our strength. It is not by our might and cunning that we
are saved; victory is a gift from God. His presence literally imparts power and
strength to His people.
He knew our temptation to exalt ourselves and take credit for what God has
done on our behalf. Have you ever cried to God for deliverance, received it, and then
forgotten to give Him thanks? You are not alone.
After any victory in your life, great or small, always take time to express thanksgiving. Dont just move on as if it is business as usual, lest you lose the blessing of
learning to trust Him more and more, becoming better able to face bigger and greater
things with grace and faith.
My prayer for us today is that we always take time to celebrate the unfathomable
power and the simple kindnesses of God in our lives. We will never truly know this
side of heaven all that He has rescued us from.
I praise you as my Savior and thank you

for delivering me again and again, O God!
2/14/13 4:29 PM
January 9
The Power of Words
If a person thinks that he is religious but cant control his tongue,

he is fooling himself. That persons religion is worthless.
James 1:26,
g od s word
n Psalm 64 David calls to God for deliverance, not from those who would
do him bodily harm but from those conspiring against him and speaking ill
of him. In verse 3 he says, They sharpen their tongues like swords. They aim bitter
words like arrows.
The tongue is a powerful and creative force. Through His words, Jesus forgave
sins, healed the sick, and even raised the dead to life. In the very same moment, we
can use our words to build others up or to bring about their destruction. David speaks
of those who conspired against him as a noisy crowd of evil doers (64:2, niv1984).
It is possible it was only a few people, but I find that when evil words are spoken
against me, even if by only a couple of voices, it feels like a crowd.
One of the reasons words do so much damage is that all of us have the need to
belong, to know we are loved and approved of. I hope you will be surrounded by that
affirmation. But approval addiction can be dangerous too. There will be many times
when the choices we need to make are not going to make us popular.
Maybe you have been damaged to the core by the blade of unjust talk. Or maybe
you have been the one who wielded the sword. The only way to move on in either case
is forgiveness. You might need to offer it or seek it.
Dear God, you created the world with a word.

I pray that my words will always be creative and never be destructive.
2/14/13 4:29 PM
T H AN K
YO U. . .
Mark Gilroy for all your help, Danny McGuffey, and my longtime friends
at Bethany/Baker. Thank you to my best friend, Mark Zschech, who as my husband and
my pastor inspires me in my pursuit to follow Christ with all I am. My heart also
belongs to my children and grandchildren. I live to bless them. And thank you to our
Hope UC family. What an honor it is to do life with you all. Greatest days ahead.
2013 by Extravagant Worship, Inc.

Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Printed in the United States of America
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
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prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief
quotations in printed reviews.
ISBN 978-0-7642-1120-1 (hardcover)
ISBN 978-0-7642-1154-6 (trade paper)
All classic hymn lyrics in the public domain. Great Is Thy
Faithfulness by Thomas Obediah Chisholm, 1923. My Hope
Is Built (The Solid Rock) by Edward Mote, 1834. Amazing
Grace by John Newton, 1779. Holy, Holy, Holy! by Reginald
Heber, 1826. To God Be the Glory by Fanny Crosby, 1875.
Blessed Assurance by Fanny Crosby, 1873. Christ the Lord Is
Risen Today by Charles Wesley, 1739. Beneath the Cross of
Jesus by Elizabeth Clephane, 1868. Breathe on Me, Breath of
God by Edwin Hatch, 1878. It Is Well With My Soul by Horatio
Spafford, 1873. What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Joseph
Scriven, 1855. O Holy Night by Placide Cappeau, 1847, tr. by
John Dwight, 1855. Joy to the World by Isaac Watts, 1719.
Victors Crown copyright 2013. International Copyright
Secured. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
Scripture quotations identified amp, and subsequent quotations in the
same devotion unless otherwise indicated, are from the Amplified
Bible, copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The
Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations identified esv, and subsequent quotations in the
same devotion unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible,
English Standard Version (E sv ), copyright 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.
All rights reserved. E sv Text Edition: 2007
Scripture quotations identified god s word , and subsequent
quotations in the same devotion unless otherwise indicated, are from
G od s word . 1995 G od s word to the Nations. Used by
permission of Baker Publishing Group.
Scripture quotations identified hcsb , and subsequent quotations in
the same devotion unless otherwise indicated, are from the Holman
Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by
Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.
by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994,

1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing
Group. All rights reserved.
the message
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in the same devotion unless otherwise indicated, are from the New
American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968,
1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission.
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same devotion unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Century
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a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights
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in the same devotion unless otherwise indicated, are from the Holy
Bible, New International Readers Version. NIrV. Copyright
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2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights
reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
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NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973,
1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights
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James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by
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same devotion unless otherwise indicated, are from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale
House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers,
Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations identified tniv, and subsequent quotations
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Bible, Todays New International Version. tniv . Copyright
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All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations identified kjv, and subsequent quotations in the
same devotion unless otherwise indicated, are from the King James
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Art direction by Paul Higdon & LaVonne Downing
DesignJesus
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Darlene Zschech, Revealing
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Revealing

Darlene Zschech, Revealing Jesus

Darlene Zschech, Revealing Jesus

Darlene Zschech, Revealing Jesus

Darlene Zschech, Revealing Jesus

Darlene Zschech, Revealing Jesus

It Begins With Joy

Thank you, God, for the joy of knowing Jesusand for

Darlene Zschech, Revealing Jesus

Gods Way or Your Way?

But my people didnt listen, Israel paid no attention;

Darlene Zschech, Revealing Jesus

(Unpublished manuscriptcopyright protected Baker Publishing Group)

They have seen Your procession, O God, the procession

hen we come to the sanctuary of God, when we gather as His church,

Scatter the peoples who delight in war.

I pray today for the salvation of individuals and entire nations

Through the Fire

From the Depths

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Darlene Zschech, Revealing Jesus

In my words and my music

His Victory Is Ours

With God on our side like this, how can we lose?

hroughout Scripture, Gods people called to Him for deliverance and

I praise you as my Savior and thank you

The Power of Words

If a person thinks that he is religious but cant control his tongue,

Dear God, you created the world with a word.

2013 by Extravagant Worship, Inc.

by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994,

Scripture quotations identified nasb , and subsequent quotations

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