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7 Days 

with Jesus 

A Spiritual Journey 

by Jacqueline Dugas


7 Days with Jesus is provided by Every Home for Christ 

International/Canada for the outreach initiative known as Finding 

the Hope. 

Every Home for Christ (EHC) is a Christian mission that presents 

the message of life and hope in Christ to people on every continent, 

home by home. Since its beginning in 1946, EHC has received 

requests for resources like 7 Days with Jesus from more than 230 

million people who were introduced to Jesus through a printed 

gospel message. 

In Canada and in many other nations a booklet titled Finding the 

Hope is helping many hear about Jesus. To find out more about 

EHC and to order resources visit us at ehc.ca and 

findingthehope.com or contact us at: 

Every Home for Christ International/Canada 

PO Box 3636 

Guelph ON N1H 7S2 

7 Days With Jesus 

An HPI publication 

© 2008, HPI 

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living 

Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission of Tyndale 

House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. 

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL 

VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible 

Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission 

of International Bible Society.


7 D a y s w i t h J e s u s 

INTRODUCTION 

7 Days With Jesus 

God loves people. His commitment to humanity has never 

wavered. The incarnation of Jesus Christ—God entering the 

world in human form—is a powerful expression of that love and 

commitment. In him you will come face to face with all the good 

that God intends for you. 

When the birth of Jesus was first predicted—hundreds of 

years before he arrived in that Bethlehem stable—the prophecy 

came with a promise: that Jesus would literally be God with us. 

Every day over the 2,000 years since Jesus came, the evidence 

has been building that he was—and is—God with us. People 

from all cultures and all eras testify to the transforming presence 

of God in their lives through a personal, spiritual relationship with 

Jesus. 

To listen to the words of Jesus in the Bible is to listen to the 

voice of God. It is to listen to the One who knows and understands 

our strengths and limitations. It is to listen to the One who 

is able to relieve us from the burdens we carry in our hearts and 

souls. It is to listen to words of healing, renewal, guidance, encouragement 

and hope—words that help us find our way and 

discover who we really are. 

This little book was written to help you listen to the words of 

Jesus and to think about them with your mind and with your 

heart. Each chapter focuses on one memorable statement of 

Jesus. These seven statements h ave a direct tie to our lives— 

past, present and future. 

3


i n t r o D u c t i o n 

The title, 7 Days With Jesus, is an invitation to a week of reflection. 

It has the potential to become a landmark week, a week 

that could change your life forever. But it isn’t necessary to read 

7 Days With Jesus in a sequence of exactly 7 days in order to 

experience the impact of Jesus’ words on your life. Whether you 

take one week or one month, the impact can be life changing. 

Jesus said that he came to give us life in all its fullness. This 

life begins when we ask him to forgive our sins and deliver us 

from the burden of guilt. Our new 

life in him is then nurtured by his 

word, the Bible. 

In the pages of 7 Days With 

Jesus you will hear him calling you 

to a revolution of the heart. This 

revolution does not come about 

by human force but by the 

strength of his Holy Spirit who illuminates 

the word of God and 

makes it light in us. Just as natural 

light awakens life in nature, the 

light of eternal and divine truth in 

Jesus gives us spiritual life. It renews 

us and leads us to eternal 

life after we die. 

In Jesus you will find the way 

that leads to God, the truth that never changes, the life that never 

ends and the full expression of supernatural, enduring love. In 

Jesus you will find the HOPE given to the people of the world. 

You may have heard many things about Jesus. This book is 

an invitation to think about what he says and to receive his great 

gift of love, peace and lasting hope. 

4



DAY ONE 

A New Beginning 

“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of 

God unless he is born again.” 

— Jesus 

It was the conversation of a lifetime, one that revealed a remarkable 

fact that would change everything—not only for the 

man who first heard it, but also for every sincere seeker of truth. 

The conversation happened one night between Jesus and 

Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. A teacher of 

the Jewish law, Nicodemus dealt daily with the larger questions 

of life—questions like, How can a person be blameless before 

God? How righteous or good does 

one have to be to enter the kingdom of 

God? How can someone satisfy the 

requirements of God’s law? But someone 

had come on the scene who 

made these questions weigh more 

heavily on Nicodemus’ mind. He was 

unsettled by this man Jesus, whose 

signs and miracles were astonishing 

yet deeply troubling. Clearly, no man 

could do these things unless God was 

with him. The possibility that Jesus 

might be the long-promised Messiah— 

the saviour of humankind—had made him the most watched 

person in all Israel. Nicodemus had been watching closely, too. 

One night he could wait no longer. 

5


on that particular 

evening, he stood 

face to face with the 

man who might hold 

the answers he had 

been searching for 

his entire life.



On that particular evening, he stood face to face with the 

man who might hold the answers he had been searching for his 

entire life. The story of their encounter is recorded in the third 

chapter of John’s Gospel, one account of the life of Jesus. 

A NEW BIRTH 

Perhaps it was because Jesus knew the questions that were 

on Nicodemus’ mind that he quickly made this extraordinary 

statement: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of 

God unless he is born again.” 1 

Surprised? Nicodemus certainly was. “How can a man be 

born when he is old?” he asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second 

time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 2 

He was right. No one can do that. It’s an impossible feat. 

So why would Jesus make such a statement? Jesus’ words to 

Nicodemus do not lay down an impossible challenge; in reality, 

they offer an extraordinary hope. 

The fact of the matter is that we cannot remake ourselves. 

Every one of us carries the marks of sin. We have all suffered 

some form of injustice, meanness, betrayal, abuse or abandonment. 

Our individual hearts bear the painful scars of a broken 

world. These wounds have often led us to treat ourselves and 

others in ways we can only regret, causing even greater wreckage 

in our lives and relationships. How do we erase it all? How 

do we cleanse ourselves from the sins we have committed, for 

whatever reason? Where do we find healing for our broken 

hearts and wounded minds? Is there any hope for a new beginning, 

a chance to make a fresh start? 

Jesus’ statement to Nicodemus is the answer to this monumental 

predicament: We must be born again. 

Later in the conversation Jesus explained, “Flesh gives birth 

to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” 3 Or, stated differently, 

7


the new birth that 

Jesus speaks about 

is nothing less than 

the re-birth of the 

spirit, the coming to 

life of that part of our 

being that has been 

dead, unaware of and 

unresponsive to God.



“Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives 

birth to spiritual life.” 4 

If our life were limited to the physical realm, the words of 

Jesus would be meaningless. But the reality is that we are not 

just flesh and blood but spiritual beings needing spiritual life and 

nurture. The new birth that Jesus speaks about is nothing less 

than the re-birth of the spirit, the coming to life of that part of our 

being that has been dead, unaware of and unresponsive to God. 

This new birth is the most significant event that can happen 

in a person’s life. It is significant because through its process 

God cleanses the stains and wounds of the soul and renews our 

spirit with his very own Holy Spirit. The New Testament says that, 

“anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The 

old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is the gift of 

God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.” 5 

Implied in the need for this kind of new birth is the fact that 

there is no human deed good enough to cleanse or cancel out 

the wrongs we have done. Nothing we can do or say can atone 

for our past or present. But Jesus places before us a way to turn 

the page once and for all—the grace of a new beginning. And 

this is God’s doing! In John’s Gospel we read that, “to all who believed 

him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children 

of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting 

from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” 6 

Our part in this extraordinary event is to acknowledge God, to 

confess our sins and failures and to ask for His forgiveness so 

that our innermost being can receive His spiritual cleansing and 

healing. This is the new birth. 

It is through this new birth, as we are cleansed, renewed 

and made children of God that we are saved from eternal death. 

This is the salvation that God prepared in Christ for all people. 

9


A NEW KINGDOM 

a n e w B e G i n n i n G 

It is interesting to note that Jesus connected the new birth 

with the kingdom of God. Why is this significant? Do we really 

need to be concerned about the kingdom of God? Does this 

kingdom have any real relevance for our lives today? 

Simply stated, the kingdom of God 

means the rule of God. This is a spiritual 

rule. In the New Testament, it 

specifically refers to the authority and 

rule given by God to Jesus the Son. 

This rule given to Jesus does not manifest 

itself like a human kingdom; rather 

it accomplishes God’s divine purpose 

of salvation. This is the purpose of 

God’s great kingdom—to lavish on 

people a love that redeems, that is 

pure and that is always giving and 

never self-serving. The New Testament 

instructs us to seek this kingdom and 

to receive it with childlike simplicity, 

without struggling. 

The object of the kingdom of God 

is the salvation of people and their deliverance from all dark spiritual 

powers. Jesus has received from the Father the authority to 

do this! To be born again into the kingdom of God does make a 

remarkable difference. The New Testament is absolutely clear, 

“The Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those 

who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of 

sinning, because God’s life is in them.” 7 In other words, their relationship 

with the sins that ruled over them is broken. This is 

the greatest deliverance of all, to be delivered from the managing 

10



power of sin and the sway of evil in our lives. Day by day, as we 

grow in the knowledge of God through prayer and the thoughtful 

reading of Scripture, God’s very nature is being built into us. 

Here is one last thought to ponder. The kingdom of God is 

not an abstract principle. The kingdom of God comes. This is 

why Jesus taught His followers to pray, “Your kingdom come, 

your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” 8 This short line of 

prayer can have a powerful impact on our lives if we pray it with 

sincerity. Every time we do, we lay out the welcome mat for God. 

It is like saying, “Lord, come into my life, my circumstance, my 

world, and fill it with your love. Deliver me from any and all spiritual 

oppression. Mend the broken pieces of my life and make all 

things new!” 

While the kingdom of God is a present reality, it also has a 

future fulfillment. The Bible tells us that one day God will answer 

the future dimension of the prayer 

“your kingdom come, your will be done 

on earth as it is in heaven.” At that time 

all creation will be remade, sin and 

death will be destroyed once and for 

all, and the rule of God’s kingdom of 

love and peace will fill the earth. Everything 

in creation will be under the loving 

lordship of the God of the universe. 

This is the kingdom that we enter 

by the new birth. No one will coerce 

you or me to accept God’s great love 

and great gift of new birth. It is a personal 

decision. It is the decision of a lifetime. It makes a difference 

for now and for eternity. The offer is there. God’s love and 

grace are extended to every person. 

11


A PLACE TO START 

a n e w B e G i n n i n G 

If this is all new to you, you may want to reread these few 

pages. Find a quiet place where you are least likely to be interrupted. 

Use a pen or pencil to underline every word or 

phrase that is meaningful to you and reflect on each one. If 

something is not clear, ask the Lord to make it clear to you 

and trust that he will help you understand. 

Then ask him to help you recognize your deep need of him. 

This realization may come over you like a flood or it may unfold 

over several days. Be open and trust God to be with you. 

You may want to write down the things for which you want 

to receive God’s forgiveness. As you do, remember that there 

is no shame in confession, and there is no embarrassment 

for tears that lead us to God. You may also want to write 

down the things from which you want Jesus to deliver you 

and set you free. They may be very private things that no one 

else knows about. You can trust him with those things. 

Then ask him to forgive you, to cleanse your soul, to come 

into your heart, and to make you a child of God. Through this 

new birth you will enter into a personal, spiritual relationship 

with God. It will be the beginning of a new life and the experience 

of God’s kingdom of peace, joy, love, and living HOPE. 

12



DAY TWO 

Changing Course 

“The time has come,” he said. “The Kingdom of God is 

near. Repent and believe the good news.” 

– Jesus 

At the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus said, “The time 

has come…. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe 

the good news.” 1 Right from the start he was letting everyone 

know that an historic opportunity had arrived and that an amazing 

invitation was being issued. 

You know that something out of 

the ordinary is about to happen 

when you hear the words, “the time 

has come.” How many husbands 

have heard their expectant wives 

say, “Honey, it’s time.” A man knows 

what that means! And he knows that 

from that “time” forward, life will be 

different. 

The first century audience who 

heard Jesus say “the time has 

come” knew at once that his announcement was monumental. 

In one bold statement he was enfolding the promises they had 

heard for generations—promises of a Messiah who would come 

and set them free. In essence, Jesus was saying... 

“The wait is over.” 

13


“Believe the 

good news that 

the son of God 

has come to 

deliver you 

from bondage 

and to bring 

you fullness 

of life!”



“I am here with the spiritual and supernatural kingdom of 

God.” 

“I am here to rescue you and to help you!” 

“Come to me in faith and repent of your sins.” 

“Believe the good news that the Son of God has come to 

deliver you from bondage and to bring you fullness of life!” 

THE HINGE OF HISTORY 

The coming of Jesus was the hinge of history—the dividing 

point for time itself. All history before him forms one era (B.C.) 

and all history since his coming forms another (A.D.). B.C. means 

“before Christ” and A.D. symbolizes “anno domini”—a Latin 

phrase meaning “the year of our Lord.” Perhaps you’ve seen official 

documents that carry this wording, such as the diploma in 

your physician’s office indicating that the honor was conferred “in 

the year of our Lord...” This is not merely a bit of trivia; it is extraordinarily 

important—a direct reference to the fact that the 

coming of Jesus was the dividing line. 

The Jewish people had long cherished the hope that God 

communicated to them through the prophet Isaiah: “In the time 

of my favour I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will 

help you.” 2 Jesus was the fulfillment of that promise, and that’s 

why he announced that the time had come—the time of God’s 

direct entry into the human race. The prophet Isaiah had said 

that Jesus would also be known by the name Immanuel, which 

means “God with us.” 

Everything changed with the arrival of Jesus Christ 2,000 

years ago. In him, God became a human being. He left the glories 

of heaven to spend 33 years on earth, all for the purpose of 

rescuing lost men and women from the death penalty of sin. 

God’s law demanded that a price be paid, that the debt of sin be 

cancelled. But only one person could do it. Only God himself in 

15


c h a n G i n G c o u r s e 

the person of Jesus Christ could pay the ransom at the cost of 

his own life. So he lived a perfect life and died a cruel death, taking 

our place. He, the one who was sinless, became sin for us. 

If Jesus had not died on that rugged cross, we would have no 

hope. We would be lost for eternity. But because Jesus died in 

our place and because he came back to life again, we have 

hope—but only if we believe and receive the gift of his salvation. 

THE REIGN OF GOD IN HUMAN HEARTS 

Jesus also announced that “the kingdom of God is near.” 

The kingdom of God is the reign of God in human hearts that are 

trusting in him alone. It is a spiritual and supernatural kingdom. 

The Jewish people of the first century, however, were expecting 

the Messiah to usher in a visible 

kingdom, an actual replacement 

for the Roman rule under which 

they lived. Many clamored to 

crown Jesus and install him as 

king; but that was not his plan. 

His kingdom—the kingdom of 

God—would bring a spiritual deliverance; 

and it was not just for 

the first century, but for all centuries. 

We, too, can live under the 

blessings and benefits of the 

kingdom of God. 

Jesus demonstrated his 

kingly authority by performing miracles of healing among the sick 

and by delivering the demon-possessed from their oppression. 

He proved his power over nature—calming a troubled sea, ordering 

the winds to cease, walking on water. He showed himself 

to be the servant/king, seeking not to be served but to serve. 

And he did more to help humanity than could be recorded in a 

single book. John’s Gospel says that “Jesus did many other 

16



things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose 

that even the whole world would not have room for the 

books that would be written.” 3 

Jesus came to undo and destroy the works of the devil 

against us. He came to offer us forgiveness for our sins and 

peace with God. He came to heal and restore the brokenness in 

our lives. He came to renew our souls with love, joy, hope and 

peace. He came to give us abundant life now and eternal life 

after we die. The record of the Gospels and the personal stories 

of millions upon millions of people show plainly that the promise 

is fulfilled. 

EXPERIENCING THE BLESSINGS AND BENEFITS 

OF THE KINGDOM 

How do we connect with this new kingdom? How do we 

experience its blessings and benefits? Jesus gives the answer by 

emphasizing two essential elements: “Repent and believe the 

good news.” Let’s take a closer look at both of these elements. 

First, Jesus calls us to repent. Repentance is a change of 

mind, convictions and affections that leads to sincere confession. 

There is sorrow in repentance. But this sorrow is not the 

sorrow of regrets when nothing can be done to change a situation. 

The New Testament tells us that, “Godly sorrow brings repentance 

that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.” 4 

Repentance is a decision that comes from the heart and is settled 

by a person’s own will. It cannot be coerced; God does not 

force it on us. 

In one sense, to repent is to reset our internal compass to 

point towards the True North of God’s being. God and his kingdom 

become the magnetic pole that gives clear direction to our 

lives. Keeping that course, like a well-guided ship, we move forward 

with God’s enablement. Whether life takes us through 

stormy weather or through blissful and peaceful days, God is 

17


Living by his 

standard renews 

life in our 

innermost part, 

at the very core 

of our being.



with us. He is our companion; he gives us purpose, he guides us 

to ultimate joy and fulfillment. 

The first step in repentance is to recognize that we have 

sinned against God and to confess our sin to him. In the Bible, 

God gives humanity a code to live by. First recorded in a list of 

10 essential commandments, this code touches every aspect 

of our lives—every relationship, every desire, every intention of 

our hearts. It deals with our spiritual nature as well as with our 

physical experience of life. Do not worship other gods, do not 

steal, do not murder, do not lie… 

Repentance begins by recognizing that we have failed to live 

by God’s standard. As we look at our world, filled as it is with 

competing religions and a parade of demanding deities, it is easy 

to imagine that God’s standard is just a list of rules. However, it 

is far different from that, for the God who created us in his own 

image is extravagantly loving. The Bible tells us plainly that, “He 

is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone 

to come to repentance.” 5 

LIVING BY GOD’S STANDARD 

God’s standard is actually meant to preserve our lives and to 

make our existence meaningful and peaceful. Living by his standard 

renews life in our innermost part, at the very core of our 

being. It makes us who we are created to be. 

Also included in the act of repentance is the choice to no 

longer trust in ourselves or in the principles of this world to guide 

our lives. Rather, we are to trust the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s divine 

Son. To repent is to commit ourselves with all our hearts to 

believe in Jesus and to trust him fully with our lives. 

The second element of Jesus statement cannot be separated 

from the first. Jesus calls us to repent and also to believe 

the good news. This good news is the announcement that he 

who gave his life for us, now offers to forgive our sins and make 

19


c h a n G i n G c o u r s e 

us his very own spiritual children. This good news is found only 

in Jesus. It is good news about a God who acts in love and with 

generosity on behalf of those who trust him! 

Repentance and forgiveness go hand in hand in God’s kingdom. 

John the Apostle wrote, “But if we confess our sins to him, 

he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from 

all wickedness.” 6 The good news is that we don’t have to earn 

God’s forgiveness. We need only to repent of our sins, to repent 

of having disregarded the Lord (even 

if it was in ignorance) and to believe 

the good news. 

Shortly before Jesus came, God 

sent a messenger ahead of Him to 

prepare people for his arrival. That 

messenger’s name was John the 

Baptist. He called people to prepare 

the way for the Lord and to make 

straight paths for him. To repent of 

our sins and to believe the good 

news of Jesus is the only way to prepare 

a straight path for Jesus to come into our lives. And as he 

comes, he brings the kingdom of God and plants it in our hearts. 


If you haven’t already prepared a straight path for Jesus 

to come into your life and plant the kingdom of God in your 

heart, I encourage you to take that important step. Ask him to 

search your heart and to bring to your mind the ways in which 

you have missed God’s standard. Confess these things to him 

without fear and without doubt. Ask him for his forgiveness. 

Turn to him with faith and determine to trust him with your life. 

20



DAY THREE 

Food for the Soul 

“Man does not live by bread alone.” 

21 

– Jesus 

Jesus spent three and half years travelling throughout Palestine, 

preaching the good news of the kingdom of God and healing 

people. But before he began those years of remarkable 

ministry, Jesus retreated to a remote wilderness for 40 days. In 

that desolate place, he fasted and prayed and encountered the 

devil. Matthew’s gospel tells the story: “Jesus was led by the 

Spirit into the desert to be tempted 

by the devil. After fasting forty days 

and forty nights, he was hungry. 

The tempter came to Him and 

said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell 

these stones to become bread.’ 

Jesus answered, “It is written: 

‘Man does not live by bread alone 

but on every word that comes 

from the mouth of God.’” 1 

To get some sense of the 

deeper meaning in Jesus’ words, 

let’s go back all the way to the beginning 

⎯ the creation itself. The first book of the Old Testament, 

the first major division of the Bible, tells us that the first human 

beings were created by God and put in a place of beauty and 

plenty. But in that place they were tempted to doubt God who 

gave them life and promised to care for them. Satan had come 

to them with a powerful seduction, the suggestion that they 

could have even more if only they rid themselves of God and followed 

their own path.


we are also 

spiritual beings 

with a soul and a 

spirit desperately 

needing to be 

nurtured.



In the first book of the New Testament, the second major 

division of the Bible, we read a contrasting story about Jesus. 

The first person of God’s new creation, of God’s new kingdom, 

is now being tempted in a barren wilderness. Just as the first 

image illustrates the fruitfulness of a life nurtured by God’s word 

and presence, this second image gives a graphic depiction of 

the condition of our soul when life is nurtured along solely by the 

words of this fallen and broken world. 

In the wilderness temptation Jesus is presented with a lie 

that has been peddled to humanity for thousands of years. It is 

the powerful suggestion that we are only physical beings and 

that we can live without considering God. In essence the tempter 

is saying, “Exercise your right to gratify yourself and to satisfy 

your appetites!” 

MORE THAN FLESH AND BLOOD 

Jesus’ immediate and forceful reply to Satan is that as 

human beings we cannot live by bread alone (by satisfying our 

physical needs and impulses) but by every word that comes 

from God. Don’t miss the significance of Jesus’ reply. He draws 

attention to the fact that we are not only natural beings in need 

of bread and water to sustain life. We are also spiritual beings 

with a soul and a spirit desperately needing to be nurtured. This 

is why it is vital that we make every effort to receive the word of 

God in our lives. 

The underlying message in Satan’s lies is that a person’s 

highest good comes from satisfying one’s appetites. But in fact, 

this is the surest way to empty our hearts of contentment and it 

reduces our existence to experiences that eventually end and 

leave us in a desperate search for meaning. No generation before 

us has ever had as much “stuff” as we have. No generation 

before us has ever had more freedom to reach out for individual 

satisfaction without regard for the consequences to self or to 

others. Yet we hear and read that never has there been a generation 

more plagued by depression, fear and loneliness. 

23


F o o D F o r t h e s o u L 

Could it be that we need more than what satisfies the cravings 

of our human nature? 

NEITHER FROM HERE NOR THERE 

The phrase “Word of God” refers both to Jesus and to the 

Bible. Jesus is the living Word of God, the absolute expression 

of God’s love when he came to earth in human form. The Bible 

is the written Word of God, the perfect record of God’s life-giving 

truth expressed in timeless writings. But the Bible is not 

merely words printed on paper. Jesus himself said that it is alive 

and that it has the power to penetrate 

deeply into hearts and 

minds. And the apostle Paul, in a 

letter he wrote to Christians of 

the first century, said, “And we 

thank God continually because, 

when you received the word of 

God, which you heard from us, 

you accepted it not as the word 

of men, but as it actually is, the 

word of God, which is at work in 

you who believe.” 2 

Note a couple of significant 

points. First, the sacred texts that 

make up the Bible are not the words of men but the words of 

God. Although penned by 40 different writers the Bible has only 

one Author. All Scripture is inspired by God, breathed out by 

God. In a world obsessed with the pursuit of autonomy and independence 

it is perhaps difficult to imagine that the best thing 

we can do is to reach for a word that is not born from our human 

wisdom and experience but from God himself. 

Through the technological advances of the past few 

decades and a new social consciousness, we have become a 

global community. This new togetherness strongly suggests that 

24



our wisdom is now greater than ever because it is a “collective” 

wisdom. But the fact is that no matter how many voices are 

added to the chorus of humanity, we are still exchanging human 

thoughts and perspectives with all the limitations of flawed 

human beings. We are inadequate without the pure, proven, 

flawless, enduring, life-giving and life-sustaining word of God. 

Only with that sourcebook can 

we find our way. Only with that 

truth will our souls and spirits be 

nurtured with eternal life. Only 

then will we walk in light. Only 

then will we receive a wisdom 

that is truly reliable. 

The Bible is a central way by 

which God makes himself 

known. As we read the stories in 

this great book, its poems, its 

prophetic declarations and its 

historical information, we come 

face to face with the living God. 

We discover a God who is lovingly 

and creatively involved with 

humanity. Nowhere else can we find more accurate and truthful 

information about the God who made us. No where else can we 

seek for truth and be satisfied. 

SEEDS OF ETERNAL LIFE 

There’s a second point in that letter from the apostle Paul 

quoted previously, and it is every bit as significant as the first. He 

tells us that the word of God is “at work” in people who believe. 

And how exactly is it at work? It gives spiritual light and understanding 

as we allow it to enter into our hearts. It heals our broken 

and fractured lives. It brings peace. 

25


how do we sow 

the seed of this 

transforming word 

in our lives?



In one of his parables, Jesus illustrated the potential of God’s 

word by comparing it to a seed that is sown in soil. When received 

humbly and with faith, he promises that it will produce an 

abundant harvest. So, a key question is this: How do we sow the 

seed of this transforming word in our lives? The answer is clear: 

By taking time to read it with attentive minds and open hearts, 

prayerfully meditating on its message with the guidance of the 

Holy Spirit of God. This simple practice can have an indisputably 

transformational impact in our lives if we keep at it faithfully and 

with reliance on the Lord’s promise. 

As the Word embraced in this way produces a harvest, we 

begin to experience true renewal of mind and heart and spirit. A 

revolution begins within us and goes on night and day until we 

reap all the good that God intends for our lives. 

A WORD FULL OF PROMISE 

Speaking through the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, the 

Lord said, “The rain and snow come down from the heavens 

and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain 

to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces 

fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere 

I send it.” 3 

Not only does the word of God renew our lives, it also 

teaches us how to live in this difficult, chaotic world. Paul wrote 

about the Bible: “For everything that was written in the past was 

written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement 

of the Scriptures we might have hope.” 4 If you are serious 

about your relationship with Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, 

you must take his word seriously. When Jesus said, “Man does 

not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the 

mouth of God,” he expressed the essential truth that life comes 

from God and it must be nurtured and guided by God. 

27


F o o D F o r t h e s o u L 

As you search the Scriptures daily, taking time to reflect on 

God’s eternal word, something good and strong and lasting will 

be built in your very core. His word is his healing and moulding 

hand upon our lives. If we allow it, it will restore the broken pieces 

of our lives and give us a future and a hope. 

NOT BY BREAD ALONE 

As God by his Holy Spirit stirs your heart and illuminates his 

Word, he will renew your life. You will know that he is with you 

and will experience the joy, peace, fulfillment and hope that come 

from living on every word of God. Every time you open the Bible 

you open much more than a book. You are opening the lifetransforming 

Word of God. 


Develop the good habit of spending time in the word 

every day. Take even just a few minutes to be silent in God’s 

presence. Determine to be attentive to the moment. Find a 

quiet place and begin by asking the Lord to guide you. Then 

read a passage of Scripture slowly and thoughtfully, opening 

your heart to its message. Listen attentively to the words. As 

you reflect on those words, allow them to descend from your 

mind into your heart. As these words become clearer and 

more personal to you, pray a simple prayer in response to 

what the word is saying to you. If you keep a journal, write 

down these thoughts and prayers. It will help you later to 

look back at what the Lord is doing in your life and heart as 

you prayerfully read his word. 

If you do not have a Bible, you can request one using the 

order form at www.findingthehope.com. You may also visit a 

Christian bookstore in your community or purchase one online 

at www.amazon.ca. You can also read Scripture on-line 

at www.biblegateway.com. A church in your community may 

also be able to provide you with a Bible. 

28



“It is finished.” 

DAY FOUR 

Paid in Full! 

29 

– Jesus 

Images of Christ dying on a cross blanket the history of the 

last two thousand years. Historians of all centuries have written 

about it. Songs, hymns and great choral masterpieces have 

been composed to express its horror 

and magnificent mystery. Writers 

and poets have awakened in their 

readers the most profound emotions 

with depictions of the man on a 

cross whose passion for God and 

broken humanity led to an agonizing 

death. 

Paintings of the death and resurrection 

of Christ by some of the 

world’s most celebrated artists appear 

in art galleries and chapels all 

over the world. The vivid frescoes of 16th century Italian Renaissance 

man, Michelangelo, the dramatic paintings of 20th century 

Spanish surrealist, Salvador Dali, and innumerable other 

works of art all replay this universal drama. 

The symbol of the cross itself is one of the best-known religious 

symbols in the world. Have you ever worn a little cross on 

a chain or know someone who does? Have you ever noticed 

profiles of the cross towering over the city or community where 

you live? Actually, there was a time when a cross on a steeple 

served as a marker in the landscape of many communities.


For hundreds of millions, 

the one we remember as 

the crucified son of God 

is not a myth and not a 

fable. he is saviour and 

Friend, and his presence 

in their lives makes a 

world of difference.



Regardless of faith and religious beliefs, there is no escaping 

the lasting reminders of Jesus’ death on the cross. This story 

keeps sweeping over us, whether we are devout followers of 

Christ or the least convinced of men and women. The death of 

Jesus was a momentous event and people all over the world 

continue to remember it, write, sing and talk about it. 

Each year hundreds of millions of people around the world 

participate in a week of religious services of prayer and remembrance 

to reflect on the meaning of Christ’s death as they prepare 

to celebrate His resurrection on Easter Sunday. For some, 

the symbol of the cross and the devotion of millions remain a 

mystery. Many honestly and sincerely wonder if this great story 

is simply a religious fable or myth symbolically represented in 

icons, paintings, music and in the most popular piece of jewelry 

sold worldwide. 

However, research on world religions tells us that over one 

third of people around the world today believe they have had a 

personal, spiritual encounter with the resurrected Jesus. For these 

hundreds of millions, the one we remember as the crucified Son 

of God is not a myth and not a fable. He is Saviour and Friend, and 

his presence in their lives makes a world of difference. 

EARLY ACCOUNTS 

The story of Jesus’ death on the cross appears first in the 

four Gospel accounts of the New Testament. John, writer of the 

fourth account, tells us that as He was dying, Jesus spoke these 

final words: “It is finished.” 1 These were not words of relief at the 

end of an excruciating agony but extraordinary words of completion! 

Something of eternal significance was completed 

through the death of Jesus Christ. 

Commonly written at the bottom of tax documents in Jesus’ 

day, the little phrase “it is finished” simply meant, “Nothing more 

is owed, nothing more needs to be done, the account is paid in 

full.” Imagine having such a message delivered to you personally, 

31


P a i D i n F u L L ! 

“You owe nothing more!” To understand the significance of this 

statement, we need to first know something about who we are 

as human beings, where we’ve been and what has happened to 

our lives. 

THE CONFLICT AND THE BREAKDOWN 

The first conflict ever recorded in the Bible is not a conflict 

between people but between humans and a spiritual power. This 

confrontation, set in a place called the Garden of Eden, changed 

life forever. It began with a crafty seduction, the suggestion that 

we could have so much more if only we could rid ourselves of 

God and achieve independence 

and autonomy. 

When God formed the first 

humans, Adam and Eve, male 

and female, he filled them with 

his breath, his own Spirit. They 

became living beings, made in 

the image of God, having great 

potential, great inner beauty and 

great capacity for life and for 

love. They were formed with intellect, 

emotions and a free will. 

The right to choose is fundamentally 

a gift from God. In 

fact, as some have clearly pointed out, to be authentically human 

we must be given the right to choose. We are not things to be 

manipulated but persons with the freedom to choose whose 

voice we will listen to, whose guidance we will accept and to 

whom we will give our hearts and loyalty. At the very beginning, 

humans were given this right to choose. But they chose to trust 

the words of the tempter who came to them seductively promising 

a better life, rather than trust the words of the Creator who 

offered to care for them in a covenant relationship. 

32



The picture given in the Bible is that of a serpent who comes 

to the man and the woman as a deceiver to entice them to break 

the only command that God has given, “You are free to eat from 

any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the 

knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely 

die.” 2 They were tempted to believe a powerful lie—that God 

was withholding something good from them and that ignoring 

God’s command and counsel would cost nothing. 

There is a spiritual dynamic at work in the life of every human 

being. And depending on our choices it will produce life or death, 

peace or turmoil, hope or despair, love or hatred. This was the 

reason for God’s command. It is like a good parent warning his 

child not to play in the middle of a busy street, or not to touch a 

hot stove or climb to the highest limb of a tree just to see what 

the view is like from up there. Choices can have terribly damaging 

consequences; but God’s command was meant to preserve 

life, not to restrict its enjoyment. 

THE CROSS OF CHRIST 

What happened in the Garden of Eden is not a myth. It was 

a moment that fractured the relationship that existed between 

God and people. When the first man and the first woman chose 

to trust the words of the tempter rather than the words of the 

Creator, they handed the human race over to a spiritual slave 

master that would rule over us for millennia. Something profoundly 

destructive was sown into the human heart and human 

spirit. And we have been dealing with it ever since. 

Choosing what we want is an expression of free will but it 

does not necessarily lead to freedom. Ask the alcoholic or the 

drug addict. Ask those who are enslaved by sex and pornography. 

Ask any addict if they feel freedom of heart and mind. Ask the 

man or woman who struggles with destructive anger or hatred. 

Ask any violator of other human beings if they feel free. Ask the 

victims of abuse who have suffered the anger and manipulative 

33



control of others. Ask those who have been victims of sexual 

violence and molestation. Choosing without restrictions does not 

always result in freedom. 

The Bible speaks of sin not only as an act of external wrongdoing 

but as a power at work within us, keeping us in a state of 

separation from God and in the grip of the powerful influence of 

our own corrupted desires. This is why Jesus came—to heal the 

fracture in our relationship with God and to deliver us from the 

enslaving power of sin in our lives. This is exactly what he did 

when he died on the cross. 

The fruit of all the sins experienced in humanity had to be 

destroyed where it began, in a human life. God in his eternal love 

for all humankind chose to spare each of us, if we choose, by 

gathering up all sins past, present and future and laying them on 

his one and only Son, God in the flesh, Jesus. 

This life-transforming event had long been predicted. Hundreds 

of years before the birth of Jesus, prophets had spoken of 

his coming, laying a foundation of promise and hope for humanity. 

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Yet it was our weaknesses 

he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we 

thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment 

for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for 

our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped 

so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. 

We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on 

him the sins of us all.” 3 

Jesus willingly took our place and experienced the final consequence 

of sin so that we would not have to. The New Testament 

states, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so 

that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 4 It also 

says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down 

His life for us.” 5 On the cross, Jesus destroyed the power of sin 

and now we can be free from its energy that works in us and be 

34



delivered from its destructive power in our lives and its eternal 

consequences. This miracle happens when by faith, we accept 

what Jesus did for us. 

The death of Jesus on the cross was a work of deliverance 

for each of us personally. When he spoke his final words, “It is 

finished,” he clearly stated that nothing more needed to be done 

to give us back the spiritual life 

and freedom for which we were 

created! Jesus came to break 

the deep spiritual oppression that 

hung over our hearts and souls. 

His sacrifice on the cross made 

a way for each of us to be reconciled 

to God our maker, to be 

healed from the devastation of 

sin in our lives, to be renewed internally 

in the radiant image of 

God, to be delivered from the 

power of sin. 

Accepting that what he did is 

sufficient for our freedom marks 

a new beginning. It is a change 

of allegiance. It is willfully accepting 

God’s leadership in our lives. 

Amazingly, this is true freedom. In a fundamental sense, a person’s 

freedom does not lie in the ability to direct his or her own 

life. It lies in life with God as it was originally intended to be. 

The death and resurrection of Christ enables us to come to 

God by faith, knowing that our moral debt is completely paid for. 

All sins can be forgiven, if we believe and accept that the death 

of Christ on the cross was far more than a torturous agony; it 

was a deep work of grace and love. 

As we trust Him, he works deeply in our lives, restoring broken 

35



things and making all things new. It is not a work that is done 

overnight but a process that continually produces fruit, vibrant 

hope, deepening peace and healing love. And as he promised, 

he gives us the incomparable gift of eternal life. The New Testament 

gives this extraordinary 

promise: 

“For the wages of sin 

is death, but the gift of 

God is eternal life in 

Christ Jesus our 

Lord.” 6 

The freedom that 

Jesus gives is more 

precious than any 

worldly possession. It 

is a freedom that no 

one can take from us 

because it is freedom in the mind, heart and soul. It gives peace 

and hope now and leads to eternal life. 


If you have never considered what relationship you could 

possibly have with Jesus Christ, consider this. He is willing to 

extend to you right now all the benefits of his complete sacrifice 

on the cross, if you will trust him. You can give him all the 

wrong you have ever done or said and all the pain you have 

ever reaped in this broken world. Speak to him from your 

heart and ask him to save you and deliver you from the power 

of sin and to reconcile you to God your maker. 

36



DAY FIVE 

Everlasting Life 

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone 

who believes in me will live, even after dying. 

Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never 

ever die. Do you believe this...?” 

—Jesus 

Imagine actually dying and then coming back to life again. 

That’s the meaning of resurrection. It’s a word full of promise— 

a term that speaks of the joy of a new beginning and the confidence 

of a profound hope. What could be more amazing? After 

all, it’s no secret that we want to live—to keep on feeling, discovering, 

exploring and experiencing 

the fullness of life. And to do that 

again after death itself? What could 

be greater? 

For centuries the idea of eternal 

youth and longevity has captivated 

poets, writers and musicians. Undoubtedly 

you have heard of the legendary 

“Fountain of Youth” that is 

said to restore youthfulness to anyone 

who drinks of its waters. Entirely 

imaginary, it appears in the legends 

and literature of all cultures. There is of course no Fountain of 

Youth; but there is certainly a battle to stay young and live long. 

In fact, that battle is more aggressive today than it has ever been. 

Multi-national industries, massive ad campaigns and endless 

magazine covers are devoted to the war against aging. But for 

37


to all who put 

their trust in him, 

he gave the 

guarantee of an 

unending life 

beyond this life.



each one of us, ultimately the battle is lost. As the Bible says, our 

days are numbered, and sooner or later our number comes up. 

At that point, no rejuvenating spa treatment or mega-dose of vitamins 

will help. 

THE THIRST FOR LIFE 

Jesus understood the thirst for life. He experienced every 

human emotion, every human longing. And knowing that this 

earthly, physical life comes to an end for every person, Jesus 

made an extraordinary promise. To all who put their trust in Him, 

He gave the guarantee of an unending life beyond this life. He 

said, “I am the resurrection and the life.” 1 He spoke those words 

to Martha, a heart-broken woman whose brother had just died. 

Jesus had a close friendship with 

Martha, her sister Mary, and their 

brother, Lazarus. 

Lazarus became desperately 

sick and word was sent to Jesus 

to let him know of his friend’s 

condition. Wanting to show 

God’s glory through the greatest 

of all miracles, he waited two 

days before going to his friends. 

By the time that Jesus arrived in 

Bethany, the village where his 

friends lived, Lazarus was dead. In fact, he had already been in 

the grave for four days. “Lord, if you had been here, my brother 

would not have died,” 2 Martha blurted out mournfully to Jesus. 

Then Jesus replied, “Your brother will rise again.” 3 Martha answered, 

“I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last 

day.” 4 And to that Jesus responded with an astounding statement: 

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me 

will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in 

me will never die.” To that great declaration Jesus added, “Do 

you believe this?” 5 

39


POWER OVER DEATH 

e v e r L a s t i n G L i F e 

We, too, must answer Jesus’ question. We, too, must either 

accept or reject what Jesus said about himself. There is no 

middle ground. Believing this truth is central to Christianity itself 

because it is a key element of the gospel—the message of 

Jesus’ life, death, burial and 

resurrection. 

After his brief interchange 

with Martha, Jesus saw her 

sister Mary. And just like 

Martha, Mary said tearfully, 

“Lord, if you had been here, 

my brother would not have 

died.” 6 Jesus was moved 

with deep compassion for 

his grief-stricken friends. He 

went to the tomb of Lazarus 

and ordered the grave-keepers, 

“Take away the stone.” 7 

Martha began to protest, arguing 

that there would be a 

stench because a dead body had been in there for four days. 

Jesus then reminded her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed 

you would see the glory of God?” 8 The stone was taken away as 

the crowd watched and waited. Looking heavenward, Jesus 

prayed to the Father and then cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, 

come out!” 9 Lazarus came out of the tomb like a walking 

mummy, still wrapped in cloth from head to toe. He was alive! 

This extraordinary miracle confirmed Jesus’ identity as the 

Messiah, the long-promised Son of God. In several passages of 

the Gospels Jesus says that everything that belongs to the Father 

has been given to the Son. His first century Jewish audience 

understood what this meant. Like the Father, he had authority to 

40



rule over life and death. Now they had clear evidence. 

The miracles that Jesus performed were not magic tricks or 

wonders like those performed by sorcerers. There was no manipulation, 

no fakery. The supernatural works of Jesus were of an 

entirely different order. They were the fulfillment of ancient 

prophecies about the Messiah, predictions of miracles that 

would point to the power of God to restore all of creation to its 

original beauty and order, to restore the full image of God in people 

to its fullest expression and to destroy death once and for all. 

In this astounding resurrection of Lazarus we are brought face to 

face with the demonstration of Jesus’ supreme authority and his 

power to bring the dead back to life. 

THE PROMISE OF THE RESURRECTION 

The promise of the resurrection is stated several times in the 

New Testament. Jesus guarantees that at the end of time, he 

will raise the dead. Those who have accepted his offer of salvation 

in this earthly physical life will enter into an eternal spiritual 

life. He said categorically, “For I have come down from heaven 

not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this 

is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he 

has given me, but raise them at the last day. For my Father’s will 

is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall 

have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” 10 

What an extraordinary promise! What great hope! 

This promise also carries a sober warning, however. As 

surely as believing leads to hope, failing to believe leads to catastrophe. 

In life we make countless choices. Some are of little 

consequence and really don’t have a right or wrong outcome. 

They are purely dependent on personal preference. Shall I eat 

an apple or an orange? It doesn’t really matter. But other decisions 

have more significant consequences. Will I marry or remain 

single? Indeed, some choices determine the course of our lives. 

41


Jesus has done all that is 

needed to ensure that 

every person can receive 

his transformational life 

now and eternal life at the 

end of our days on earth.



And the most determinative of all decisions is one’s response to 

Jesus’ invitation to believe and receive him and be his follower. 

The Bible is clear in stating that to reject Jesus will not only 

affect one’s life here on earth; it will determine one’s ultimate destiny. 

Jesus warned: “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming 

when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come 

out—those who have done good will rise to live, and those who 

have done evil will rise to be condemned.” 11 

Please do not be offended or diminish the weight of these 

words. Jesus has done all that is needed to ensure that without 

exception, every person can receive his transformational life now 

and eternal life at the end of our days on earth. 

RESURRECTION LIFE HERE AND NOW 

Resurrection and life are both mysteriously present in Jesus 

and are far more than events reserved for the end of time. They 

are life-giving realities found only in His person. In a fundamental 

sense, when Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life,” 

he is telling us that to be in relationship with him is to live in the 

power and reality of resurrection. 

Jesus supernaturally infuses his life in our spirit when we 

turn to him in faith. He gives us new life, and this new life comes 

with the constant certainty of our destiny beyond this present 

world. In Jesus we find a new quality of life that radiates in our 

innermost being. One writer called it “vigor of soul.” This life is 

marked by the immediate presence of God who lives in the believer 

through his Holy Spirit. It is by the presence of God’s Spirit 

in our lives that Jesus gives us peace, joy, hope and the full experience 

of God’s great love. 

As we live in Jesus—the resurrection and the life—we discover 

more and more of our loving God. He is strong, reliable, 

merciful, constantly loving and continually forgiving; He is patient 

and kind, powerful and compassionate, gracious and generous; 

43


e v e r L a s t i n G L i F e 

He gives, heals, cleanses, delivers, defends and protects. We 

experience the presence of the One who has the ability to deliver 

into our lives the miracles and blessings that bring progress and 

growth, that create opportunities and move us forward into our 

destiny! 

Truly it is newness of life as 

we have never known before. 

The life of the resurrected Jesus 

becomes our very life. In him our 

deepest thirsts for life are satisfied. 

Through him we are delivered 

from the finality of death. 

Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, 

whoever hears my word and believes 

him who sent me has eternal 

life and will not be 

condemned; he has crossed 

over from death to life.” 12 

With this remarkable resurrected 

life in Christ comes the 

God-given strength to no longer obey the appeal of sinful desires. 

To be freed from that pull of sin is indeed to pass from 

death to life. Never forget the words of Jesus: “Anyone who believes 

in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me 

and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this”? 13 


Take a moment now to reflect on the words of Jesus “I 

am the resurrection and the life.” Then ask him to lead in you 

in the path of everlasting life and to refresh your soul with the 

same life-giving Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. 

44



DAY SIX 

Encouraged to Pray 

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek 

and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to 

you.” 

— Jesus 

The impulse to pray is universal. This very moment, in countless 

lives and countless places around the world, people are 

praying. Whenever you feel prompted to raise your voice or your 

thoughts toward heaven, you are not alone! And perhaps you’ve 

noticed that when people are in a desperate situation or they 

have just witnessed something drastic, they exclaim, “Oh, my 

God!” Even self-professed atheists 

have been caught saying these words! 

REACHING BEYOND OURSELVES 

Prayer is an instinctive human response. 

It doesn’t come from culture 

or tradition nor is it specific to any particular 

society. Sincere prayer causes 

us to reach beyond ourselves, beyond 

the human sphere and our natural capabilities. 

It asks for supernatural intervention. 

Prayer can be prompted by a 

broken heart or a wounded spirit, or 

simply a recognition of personal inability 

to meet a need or face a challenge. 

45


God has granted 

us access to him 

through prayer, 

and when we 

enter his presence 

we encounter the 

one who makes 

everything 

possible.



Prayer also takes the form of heartfelt appreciation. Like the 

person in a moment of sublime gratitude who tilts back the head 

and exclaims to the heavens, “Thank God!” Perhaps you have 

done that very thing yourself. 

True prayer is an amazing and mysterious thing. It opens the 

door to another realm. One author describes Christian prayer as 

“the cry wrung from the human spirit that brings us into the presence 

of the Holy One.” God has granted us access to him 

through prayer, and when we enter his presence we encounter 

the one who makes everything possible. 

WE PRAY, HE HEARS. WE ASK, HE ANSWERS. 

It is striking to note that whenever the New Testament 

speaks of prayers addressed to God, it repeatedly emphasizes 

the fact that these prayers are heard. In chapter after chapter, 

prayer is presented with the language of hope, trust and assurance. 

Instructions on prayer are not heavy with methods or patterns. 

Primarily, they are a strong encouragement to pray. And 

why shouldn’t we be encouraged in knowing that God hears and 

answers? What would be the point of praying if no one was there 

to receive our pleas for help, our confessions of sinfulness, our 

joyful words of gratitude? What would be accomplished if the 

one to whom we pray could not respond? Why would Jesus invite 

and urge people to pray if God were not able to hear and answer? 

God is not a concept; he is a living being. He—the one 

whose very word created the universe—is ready and willing to 

step into our lives, to break into our circumstances, and to provide 

what we need most but cannot produce in spite of our best 

efforts. God is moved with compassion by our need of him. His 

heart is filled with love for us, and that truth is at the core of 

Jesus’ teaching on prayer. He tells us, in fact, to be persistent: 

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will 

find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” 1 

47


e n c o u r a G e D t o P r a y 

NOT A MANAGEABLE POWER, BUT A WILLING PROVIDER 

Jesus is not saying that God is a manageable power but 

that he is a willing provider. We can’t coerce or manipulate him, 

but we can and must call out to him. The clear message of the 

Gospel, so succinctly captured in Jesus’ statement, is that God 

is real and that he will answer the one who prays to him in faith. 

As soon as we turn to God in faith, something good begins to 

happen in our lives. God begins to respond. Jesus is saying, in 

effect... 

Don’t give up! 

Don’t hesitate in asking! 

Your prayers to the Father will be heard! 

Ask with confidence! 

Have faith in God, whatever the circumstances! 

Prayer has to move from our hearts to our lips with strong 

hope. And hope is strong only when it is resting solidly on the 

certainty that God is a living being, that he listens to our prayers 

and that his goodness, compassion, love and mercy are unchangeable. 

This is one of the primary lessons that Jesus gives 

on prayer. He is nailing down the constant about prayer. Circumstances 

vary, moods go up and down, needs and desires 

change constantly. But one thing that will never change is the 

goodness of God. 

GOD IS GOOD 

On one occasion while teaching about prayer, Jesus said, 

“You fathers, if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a 

snake instead?” 2 We look at Jesus’ question and think such a 

thing is ludicrous. What kind of father would ever act in such a 

way? Only one who is brutally evil and abusive. And that is 

Jesus’ point precisely. He continued, “So if you sinful people 

know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more 

will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask 

him.” 3 

48



The fact is unmistakably clear: God is good and desires to 

give good gifts to those who come to him in faith. Typically, when 

we ask anything of anyone we have the expectation of being 

heard. Jesus assures us, it is no different with the Father. This is 

so important because the certainty of being heard keeps prayer 

alive. Begin to doubt and prayer 

begins to die along with hope. 

And when we begin to doubt 

God we begin to restrict his involvement 

in our lives. 

In light of these facts, press 

on! Ask! Seek the Lord! Knock at 

the door of heaven! Believe that 

God will listen to you and respond 

to your prayer, somehow, 

someway. Take the encouragement 

of Jesus to heart and don’t 

ever stop asking and trusting. 

PRAYER—BOTH SPONTANEOUS AND INTENTIONAL 

Throughout life we experience countless moments when 

prayer is as spontaneous and natural as breathing. Let these 

prayers flow in sincerity because you will never catch God at a 

bad time. He is always there, waiting and listening whenever you 

turn to him. 

As you grow in your faith relationship with Jesus Christ, you 

will learn more about prayer. In the process, you’ll become aware 

of the value of specific times devoted to prayer. Think of these as 

“appointments with God”—intimate opportunities to pour out 

your heart to him. These are times to express your deepest needs 

and desires, to confess where you’ve gone wrong, to ask God for 

his provision, to thank him for his limitless blessings. The benefits 

of these “appointments” will be numerous. You’ll receive encouragement, 

guidance, help, healing, wisdom and more. 

49


Find a place where 

you will not be 

easily disturbed, 

distracted or 

interrupted.



Good communication is key to any strong relationship. It’s 

true in friendship and in marriage, and it’s certainly the case in 

your relationship to God. Prayer is the two-way street where that 

communication occurs, and to keep it vibrant there are some 

factors to keep in mind. Among the most important are solitude, 

silence, time away from other activities, and the words of Scripture. 

GETTING AWAY FROM DISTRACTIONS 

Jesus said: “When you pray, go into your room, close the 

door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, 

who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” 4 Jesus’ illustration 

of the room with the closed door is an example, not a requirement. 

The essential point is to find a place where you will 

not be easily disturbed, distracted or interrupted. In Bible stories 

about Jesus we often read of him retreating to pray in remote 

places, late at night or early in the morning. What matters is not 

the place itself but the minimizing of anything that would interfere 

with focused, intentional prayer. 

Whenever you have an “appointment with God,” go with 

your cares, concerns, fears, worries, dreams and desires. And 

don’t forget to take a Bible. It is God’s lifebook, filled with the 

promises, guidance and encouragement you need to grow in 

faith. Times of prayer are always enriched by reading God’s 

Word and meditating on his truths. The words of Scripture are 

like the voice of God’s Spirit, speaking to us in a way that is filled 

with renewing and refreshing power. 

There are two kinds of silence in times that you dedicate to 

prayer. One is external silence, the absence of noise and distractions. 

The other is internal, a silence of the heart characterized 

by humility and a contrite spirit. More than not speaking, it 

is an attitude of utter trust, turning to God in faith and abandoning 

all feelings of self-sufficiency. 

51


PLANNING TO PRAY 

e n c o u r a G e D t o P r a y 

It’s wise to actually plan times for dedicated prayer. The time 

may vary from day to day, just as the place may differ. The important 

thing is to act. The more 

you do, the deeper the habit will 

form in your life. Spend enough 

time to sense that you have truly 

communicated with God, expressing 

all that is in your heart 

and hearing from him through his 

eternal Word. Silence your heart, 

quiet your thoughts and hush 

your emotions. Let the words that 

you read in the Bible penetrate 

your life. And when you speak to 

God, think of him as your loving 

Father, listening to his dearly loved 

child. No language is too simple, 

for God listens to the one who prays sincerely. 

Take Jesus' encouragement to heart: Ask. Seek. Knock. If 

you ask, he will answer. If you seek, you will find. If you knock, 

the door of blessing will be opened to you. 


Take a moment now to speak to Jesus. Tell him as simply 

and honestly as you can what is on your heart or what 

weighs on your mind. If making a list is helpful to you, take 

time to do that. Then ask him for his help. Trust that he will respond 

somehow, in some way. As you go on with your day, 

hold on to the promise of Jesus: God the Father is good and 

desires to give good things to those who turn to him in faith. 

52



DAY SEVEN 

Come to Me 

“Come to me. . . and you will find rest for your souls.” 

– Jesus 

Find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. Sit down, 

take a deep breath and slowly let it out. Then read the following 

words calmly with your voice in a whisper. As you sound the 

words one by one, think of them as the words of Jesus spoken 

directly to you... 

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy 

burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. 

Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at 

heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is 

easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” 

— Matthew 11:28-30 

These are words of invitation—intimate, 

compelling words spoken by 

Jesus Christ. Unlike all other religious 

leaders, Jesus did not call his listeners 

to observe long lists of do’s and don’ts. 

Instead, Jesus called people to come 

to him. Today, over 2,000 years later, 

he is still calling people to himself. And 

his call is just as personal to you as it 

was to those who first heard his words 

centuries ago. He is not inviting you to 

embrace a religious system or a life of 

endless rituals; he is inviting you to a 

deep relationship. 

53


he is always 

there…always 

ready to calm 

the storms of 

your heart



RELATIONSHIP ABOVE RELIGION 

This is one of the distinguishing marks of Christianity. We 

are invited to enter into a personal and spiritual relationship with 

the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a relationship lived from the heart, in 

truth and sincerity. This relationship begins the moment we accept 

his free gift of salvation and place our trust in him alone. 

To be in relationship with Jesus is to have a faithful friend, a 

wise teacher and a reliable guide. It is to have God himself on 

your side and at your side. He is always there, always caring, always 

ready to listen and to help, always ready to calm the 

storms of your heart and able to repair the damage inflicted by 

the blows of life. 

Jesus is the heart of Christianity. 

He is the promised Messiah, the Savior 

of the world. He came to earth two 

millennia ago as God in human flesh, 

sent by God the Father to bring good 

news, to proclaim spiritual freedom, to 

be our sacrifice. He, the very Son of 

God, paid the price for our sin by giving 

his own life. He died a violent 

death, was buried in a borrowed tomb, 

and then came back to life again on the third day. For 40 days 

after his resurrection he met with his disciples and gave indisputable 

proof that he had defeated death. Then, in plain sight 

before scores of witnesses, he was swept up into the sky and returned 

to his glory in heaven. But he has not left us alone: by his 

Spirit he is still with all who put their faith in him. He is the one 

and only hope of the world. 

When you hear his call in your heart, run to him. Let go of 

your sense of failure and guilt, let go of your feelings of worthlessness 

and insufficiency, let go of your fears and anger and 

trust that he will receive you. He gives you a personal invitation. 

55


c o m e t o m e 

If you are weary and carry heavy burdens, Jesus promises 

to give you rest. But the rest that he gives is not the physical relief 

that comes from a much-needed vacation. It is a rest that 

reaches deep into the mind and heart and soul. How do we 

enter into this healing and renewing rest? Listen again to his 

words of invitation: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and 

carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon 

you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at 

heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” 1 

THE MEANING OF THE YOKE 

Notice especially that 

phrase, “take my yoke upon 

you...” The yoke had several 

meanings in Jesus’ day. Most 

obvious was the literal yoke 

used to bind two oxen together 

as they worked in the fields. 

But the yoke that Jesus refers to in this instance has to do with 

something entirely different. In the literature of the Old Testament 

the idea of yoke was also used to speak of the relationship between 

God’s word and God’s people. It was used to speak of the 

law of God and of the connection of people to this law. The idea 

of attaching one thing to another is still there, but in this case it 

is about tying teaching to the heart. Jesus is picking up on one 

of the most fundamental teachings of the Bible. In the Scriptures 

God calls people to keep his word and to live by it. He adds, so 

that it may go well with you, so that you may enjoy long life. 2 The 

fact is that God and his word are so inseparably linked that to live 

by his word is to live with him and under his personal care. 

Jesus frequently spoke about the “yoke of the law” and how 

it had become a heavy burden on people. The religious establishment 

had so distorted God’s word that it no longer served to 

give them life, peace and guidance. Instead it had become a 

56



harsh master that ruled over them without mercy. It no longer 

revealed God’s heart to them. The teachings of the religious 

leaders had led people far from the loving nature and pure character 

of God. 

In stark contrast, Jesus constantly called people to believe 

in God’s mercy and compassion, to believe that God places a 

higher value on the human person than on religious forms and 

traditions. He spoke powerfully about 

the love of God and said in many ways 

that his love is greater than the worst of 

our sins and failures. 

Here we see another distinguishing 

mark of Christianity: the full payment 

for the debt of our sin. Jesus 

paid that debt. He became the complete 

fulfillment of God’s law by taking 

upon himself the punishment prescribed 

by the law for our sins. In other 

words, by his death on the cross he absorbed the punishment 

that should have been ours. Now we can choose to accept his 

sacrifice for us and be free or we can continue to carry the 

weight of our guilt now and face an eternity separated from God. 

Jesus says, “Come to me…” 

This world has no shortage of experiences and disappointments 

that wear on us. But the greatest burden we will ever carry 

is the weight that sin and guilt places on our conscience and its 

tragic consequences in our lives and relationships. Jesus promises 

to give our souls rest by relieving us from this heavy load. 

He doesn’t coerce us. He doesn’t say, “let me harness you 

into my yoke” but rather “take my yoke upon you.” You can hear 

in these words the call of a rescuer who pleads with a drowning 

person, “take my hand!” In the end it comes down to personal 

choice. 

57


his teaching 

produces peace 

and hope. 

it gives light to 

the mind and 

stability to the 

emotions.


LETTING JESUS TEACH YOU 


“Let me teach you,” says Jesus, “because I am humble and 

gentle at heart.” 3 Unlike those who harshly demand and dictate, 

Jesus teaches with gentleness of heart. He does not instruct 

with a demanding tone but with all the humility of a love that 

came to serve. 

His teaching produces peace and hope. It gives light to the 

mind and stability to the emotions. His word heals the sorrows 

we experience in the depth of our souls. And as we learn from 

him he develops in us a new confidence towards life, one that is 

rooted in his strength. 

His teaching develops patience and endurance and equips 

for life and all its twists and turns. It frees us from the sense of 

powerlessness that can overwhelm us at times and fills our 

hearts with courage. We learn from him that we are not alone 

and that when we come face to face with our limitations, his 

strength and wisdom empower us. 

Jesus says that his yoke will bring rest to our souls because 

it frees us from the burden of trying to gain our salvation. For the 

Christian, life is based on grace and promise, not on rules and 

regulations, not on sacrifices and rituals. 

STOP STRIVING 

One of the tragic and exhausting pursuits of people, generation 

after generation, is the striving for salvation apart from 

Jesus Christ. But there is simply nothing we can do on our own 

that will ever be sufficient to redeem our souls and give us that 

inner rest. The good news is that Jesus did the only thing that 

could be sufficient. And now if we trust in him our struggle is 

over and we find rest for our souls. 

As we contemplate the teachings of Jesus and the truths of 

the Bible, it is a liberating experience, not a burdensome exercise. 

59


c o m e t o m e 

It produces rest, peace, joy and enduring hope. When we spend 

time in God’s word, learning from him, he begins to write his law 

in our hearts. The spiritual change that we experience is not one 

that we struggle to produce. Rather it 

is a new inner desire and impulse that 

comes straight from our hearts as we 

are transformed day by day. Jesus produces 

this inner transformation in us as 

we continue to come to him in prayer 

and reflective meditation on his word. 

For a relationship with God that 

brings peace and rest to our souls we 

must take his yoke upon us. The Bible 

says, “Today, if you hear his voice, do 

not harden your hearts.” 4 The yoke of 

Jesus is not one of submission to a 

code but one of dedication to a Person, 

a Person that we learn to love with all our heart, soul and 

mind. 

There is a rest that is found only in Jesus. This rest is for you. 

Don’t miss it. 


Nothing will make a greater difference in your life than to 

respond to the invitation of Jesus, “Come to me.” As you do, 

come as you are and with all that you are, trusting in his unconditional 

love. 

If you haven’t already done so, come to Jesus in repentance. 

By faith, rest in him for all that he is and all that he has 

promised. As you do, you will experience the impartation of 

New Life! Don’t miss it! 

60



CONCLUSION 

Where do I go from here? 

Jesus is the central figure of history. There is simply no one 

else like him. He has held the attention and affection of countless 

people for 2000 years. Over two billion people in the world 

today are experiencing the life transforming love of Jesus. And 

week after week thousands more from all cultures and places in 

the world turn to him and discover the lasting peace and hope 

only he can give. 

If you have decided to place your 

trust in Jesus, be encouraged; he will 

never disappoint you. His gift of salvation 

is complete. The peace and hope 

that he brings are solid and lasting. 

In the Gospels, Jesus says that to 

trust in him is like building a house on 

a rock. When the storms of life come, 

beating with all their might against our 

lives, he enables us to stand until they 

pass away. Even when the worst hits, he is there comforting, 

helping, guiding, and healing. Building your life on the words of 

Jesus is like building a solid house on a solid rock. And it is 

something you can do little by little, day by day. 

Try to take time everyday to be alone just thinking about 

Jesus. Get away from everything that crowds your day, even if it 

is just for a few minutes. Shut out the noise, the distractions, the 

demands. Take a deep breath and whisper a prayer, inviting the 

Lord to be with you and to speak to you. 

Open the Bible and read a short passage slowly and atten- 

61


c o n c L u s i o n 

tively. Whenever you sense God’s Word speaking to you, stop. 

Meditate on those words and ask the Lord to illuminate their 

meaning for you. Trust that the word of God will become Light 

and New Life in you. 

If you are not familiar with the Bible, begin by reading the 

four gospel accounts. Through them you will be able to take a 

closer look at Jesus as you watch him live among people and listen 

to him teach. When you read stories of his involvement in 

people’s lives, remember that he 

wants to participate just as much in 

your own life. 

Another great book to read if you 

are just becoming familiar with the 

Scriptures is the poetic book of 

Psalms. This is actually the prayer 

book of the Bible. In it you will find a 

collection of human emotions and 

experiences so familiar to our modern 

life. Reading the Psalms you will 

learn to turn your cares, sorrows, 

hopes and joys into prayers of trust 

and faith. The prayers of the Psalms 

help us pour our hearts out to the 

Lord and fill our thoughts with his 

great words of comfort and promise. 

Make prayer a part of your life. Plan times to be alone with 

God in prayer but also learn to turn to him in prayer throughout 

the day. He wants to hear from you. He waits for you to come to 

him with the big and small things. He promised that he would listen 

and respond to all sincere prayer. Pray with absolute confidence 

in him. He is there and he is willing to be a part of your life. 

So pray in faith, without hesitation. Don’t search for perfect 

words; speak to him as you would to your best and closest 

friend. 

62



Being a part of a faith community is important for spiritual 

growth and integration into the Body of Christ. It is in the local 

church community that we receive guidance and support and 

develop friendships with other followers of Christ. 

Take time to prayerfully consider finding a fellowship of 

Christians near you where you can worship, pray and study the 

Scriptures with others who walk with Jesus. Many local congregations 

offer series of Bible studies and courses that address life 

issues. These can greatly enrich your spiritual development. In 

these groups you can also connect with a new circle of friends, 

people who can stand with you and be an encouragement to 

you as you continue in your journey. 

You can find additional resources to help you in your exploration 

of the Christian faith by visiting www.findingthehope.com. 

This site will be updated regularly with new resources, articles 

and more. Everything on that site is designed to be of help to 

anyone who wants to learn more about Jesus and grow as a 

disciple. On that site you will also be able to read the little booklet, 

Finding the Hope. Now that you have read 7 Days With 

Jesus, I encourage you to read and re-read the Finding the Hope 

booklet and to allow its profound message of hope to settle in 

your heart. 

If you would like to order additional copies of either 7 Days 

With Jesus or the small booklet Finding the Hope, please visit 

www.findingthehope.com and complete the order form. 

May your life be filled with many “7 Days With Jesus.” Then 

you will know the overwhelming, lasting love of God for you; you 

will experience new life, peace, joy and hope. This is the great gift 

that God has prepared for you! 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you 

trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the 

power of the Holy Spirit.” [Romans 15:13 NIV] 

63



NOTES 

DAY ONE 

1 John 3:3 NIV 



4 John 3:6 NLT 

5 2 Corinthians 5:17-18b NLT 

6 John 1:12-13 NLT 

7 1 John 3:8b-9a NLT 

8 Matthew 6:10 NIV 

DAY TWO 

1 Mark 1:15 NIV 

2 Isaiah 49:8a NIV 


4 2 Corinthians 7:10a NIV 

5 2 Peter 3:9b NIV 

6 1 John 1:9 NLT 

DAY THREE 

1 Matthew 4:1-4 NIV 

2 1 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV 

3 Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT 

4 Romans 15:4 NIV 

DAY FOUR 


2 Genesis 2:16-17 NIV 

3 Isaiah 53:4-6 NLT 

4 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV 

5 1 John 3:16a NIV 

6 Romans 6:23 NIV 

64 

DAY FIVE 





5 John 11:25-26 NIV 





10 John 6:38-40 NIV 

11 John 5:28-29 NIV 


13 John 11:25-26 NLT 

DAY SIX 

1 Luke 11:9 NIV 

2 Luke 11:11 NLT 

3 Luke 11:13 NLT 

4 Matthew 6:6 NIV 

DAY SEVEN 

1 Matthew 11:28-30 NLT 

2 Deuteronomy 4:40 NIV 

3 Matthew 11:29 NLT 

4 Hebrews 4:47 NIV 

NOTE: 

“NIV” is an acronym for the Holy Bible, 

New International Version ® 

“NLT” is an acronym for the Holy Bible, 

New Living Translation


dgvSADGs


7 Days 

with Jesus 

A Spiritual Journey 

ABOUT THE BOOK 

7 Days With Jesus is an invitation to reflect on 7 statements of 

Jesus as recorded in the Bible. Jesus says that to trust in him is like 

building a house on a rock. Building our lives on the words of Jesus is 

like building a solid house on a solid rock. When the storms of life 

come, beating with all their might against our lives, he enables us to 

stand until they pass away. 

You may have heard many things about Jesus. This book is an 

invitation to think about what he says. His message could change your 

life. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Jacqueline Dugas is one person among millions of others who 

has experienced the life-giving impact of the words of Jesus. For more 

than 25 years she has proven in her own life that the word of God is 

reliable and renewing. Jacqueline came to faith in Jesus in the early 

80’s while a university student. Although she grew up in a religious 

home she came to doubt the very existence of God. As a young adult 

she deeply felt the loss of hope that comes from the loss of faith. Her 

life was powerfully transformed as she met Jesus Christ in the pages 

of Scripture. 

Finding the Hope 

Box 42 

Guelph, ON N1H 6J6 

www.findingthehope.com 

ISBN 978-0-9811231-0-3 Can $ 6.95 

6 0 6 9 5 

9 7 8 0 9 8 1 1 2 3 1 0 3

EHC_7Days_book Eng

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