Daily Devotional

Strengthening Our Faith with God’s Love

06/12/22 – 06/30/22

Overcoming Unhealthy Fears

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/13/22

Some fears are natural and protect us from harm, while other fears originate from confusion and a lack of faith. These unhealthy fears paralyze us and keep us from walking in obedience to God. But God loves us and wants us to live a life free of these seizing fears. “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7).

When people lack confidence in God, they become fearful and confused. Such confusion leads to self-doubt, and we can begin to question what God’s Word says is right and wrong in a bid to be accepted by the world. When we become confused over our identity in Christ, fear of rejection and criticism overwhelm our desire to obey God. When we doubt the love and power of God, we begin to lose discernment in choosing the right path. When we are filled with self-doubt, fear of the future, and a desire to please people instead of God, we become vulnerable to spiritual attack and temptation. Fear and a wavering faith will surely cause us to fail, but obedience to God will help us pass the test.

God graciously reveals His love and character to us as we seek Him. As we grow in the knowledge of His unfailing love, our faith is strengthened, and we become bold to speak His Truth. Faith is an expression of our confidence in God and who we are in Christ.

Prayer: Father, I recognize some unhealthy fears in my life. I pray that You would help me to live a life free of these fears. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge” (Proverbs 14:26).

Strengthening Our Faith with God’s Love

06/12/22 – 06/30/22

No Other Sacrifice

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/12/22

At the core of most world religions is the desire to appease a god or gods to attain favor in the afterlife. Followers live in fear of upsetting their gods, so day after day they labor to earn their salvation through good works and religious practice.

While these religions are focused on pursuing and appeasing a deity; Christianity is founded on God’s pursuit of man. In Christianity, salvation cannot be earned. Rather, it is received as a gracious and merciful gift. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Salvation is received by faith in the sacrificial death and triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through faith in the perfect shed blood of Christ, we are fully covered for eternity. No other sacrifice is necessary for the remission of sins. The idea that our God sacrifices for us reverses the pattern followed by other religions.

Prayer: Father, thank You for grace. Thank You for making the ultimate sacrifice, not sparing Your own Son, to save me from my sins. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

Exercising Our Faith

06/05/22 – 06/11/22

Hard Work Is Not Optional

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/11/22

While we may wish the rules were different, there are a few time-tested Truths about growing and maturing. They take work. And they also involve patience, persistence, and sacrifice.

No Olympic champion ever won gold by eating a diet of candy bars and taking naps every day. To attain a high level of achievement, hard work is not optional.

Our walk with God is no different. In order to be the type of Christians who truly personify the hands and feet of Christ in every aspect of our lives, we must work hard.

The apostle Paul explained why he insisted on being a disciplined Christian:

Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:26-27).

When we are not stretching ourselves, when we are not growing, we are stagnating spiritually. We miss out on God’s best for us at that moment. To obey God at every turn is to honor Him to the fullest. But, it’s not easy.

Making the conscious decision to disobey God shows how prideful we really are. Conversely, deciding to obey God exemplifies a spirit of true humility.

Even though we may think God’s plan looks impossible, through faith and trust in Him, we will arrive at the conclusion that He indeed knows best. And when we are walking with God, certain His every move is for our best, we will grow to heights only God knew we could reach.

Prayer: Lord, help me resist the temptation to do what looks easiest and instead always obey Your voice. Strengthen me that I may fulfill Your work. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38).

Exercising Our Faith

06/05/22 – 06/11/22

The Rope of Life

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/10/22

An ancient monastery sits on top of a cliff in the beautiful countryside of Portugal. Visitors to this lofty retreat are rewarded with a magnificent view. However, the only way to reach the monastery is by being hoisted up a cliff in a wicker basket by an aged monk.

One day, as a visitor prepared to leave, he turned to his guide and asked nervously, “How often do you replace this rope?” The gray-haired monk chimed, “Each time the old rope breaks.”

Many times, this is exactly how we live. We push and shove our way through each day, worrying when the rope of life will break. Fear, doubt, and worry can paralyze us. We may mistakenly think only non-believers live this way. However, many Christians are living the same way.

Here is the wondrous Truth of God: He holds the rope of our lives within His infinite, loving grasp. Nothing is strong enough to remove His shelter of protection from our lives. He knows our every move, and He is constantly aware of our deepest needs.

Jesus reminds us that not even one sparrow falls to the ground apart from God’s knowledge and will. “[E]ven the very hairs of your head are all numbered,” says Jesus. “So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:30-31).

The next time you sense your anxiety level rising, stop and remember that God is aware of you. He loves you, and nothing can change this. You can trust Him fully. He holds the rope of your earthly life in His infinite hands, and nothing can break it.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You have a wonderful plan for all my days. I lay my fear and anxiety down before You and receive Your peace today. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[D]o not worry about your life, . . . Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26).

Exercising Our Faith

06/05/22 – 06/11/22

A Prisoner, Yet Free

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/09/22

During the Second World War, Corrie ten Boom and her family realized the risks associated with hiding and protecting Jewish citizens. However, in a small, hidden room in the ten Boom home above the father’s watch shop, men and women found temporary refuge from Hitler’s wicked pursuit. Once they secured safe passage out of the country, they would leave, but there was always a steady flow of others coming to find a place of safety.

In her book The Hiding Place, Corrie tells how most of her family were captured and sent to a concentration camp. The conditions in the camp were deplorable and beyond anything she thought she could bear.

Watching her beloved sister waste away and then die seemed like the final blow to her heart. Had God forgotten her? She was a believer and only had done what she and her family felt He was leading them to do. How did she end up a prisoner?

From our perspective, most of life’s tragedies do not make sense as we suffer in this fallen world. And so Corrie struggled to make sense of her imprisonment until one day she realized God’s grace truly was her strength and salvation.

“It was dark in my cell,” Corrie wrote. “I talked with my Savior. Never before had fellowship with Him been so close. It was a joy that I hoped would continue unchanged. I was a prisoner—and yet . . . how free!”

A day before her scheduled execution, Corrie was set free. Remember, no matter the outcome, God has not abandoned you. He is right beside you.

Prayer: Lord, I know Your love for me drives the darkness of this world away. I know that You will never leave me! Thank You. Help me to find comfort in this Truth, no matter how dark the situation may be. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[E]ven the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you” (Psalm 139:12).

Exercising Our Faith

06/05/22 – 06/11/22

The Gift of Faith

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/08/22

All believers receive and actively use faith every day. Faith is like a muscle; as we exercise it, it grows stronger. On the flip side, walking in our own strength rather than by faith causes our faith muscle to atrophy. All Christians must possess and exercise faith to grow into fullness and maturity in Christ.

There are, however, some people who have been given the Holy Spirit gift of faith. These people see God’s will as if it is already an accomplished fact. Examples of people gifted with this type of faith abound in the Bible:

Joseph was given a dream from God that probably seemed impossible when he was thrown into a pit, sold into slavery, falsely accused by an immoral woman, and abandoned for years in an Egyptian dungeon. His dream survived because it was God-given and not his own plan for himself. He never doubted God’s ability to fulfill the dream given to him as a young man.

Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, so when Moses spoke God’s command to let His people go, Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites again and again. Though it seemed impossible that Pharaoh would give way, Moses endured because he had faith in God’s sovereign will—faith that God would carry His people safely out of the land of slavery and into the Promised Land.

When God told Nehemiah to build a wall, everyone was against him. Though Nehemiah’s enemies tried to trick him and his own people doubted him, he continued to build the wall because he had faith in God.

Though not everyone lives the extraordinary lives of these gifted believers, Christians today are still given the Holy Spirit gift of faith. What an encouragement their faith is to the body of Christ to press forward and triumph despite opposition and obstacles.

Prayer: God, help me to discern Your will for my life and to walk by faith every day. May I grow in faith as I trust Your Word, leaning not on my own understanding. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[I]f you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20).

Exercising Our Faith

06/05/22 – 06/11/22

Standing at the Crossroads

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/07/22

Exodus 3:7 tells us God heard the cries of His people. He knew they were suffering in exile. Yet their promised deliverance lingered, and because days stretched into weeks and weeks into months and months into years, they began to wonder if God had forgotten them.

Have you ever caught yourself wondering the same thing? Maybe you have obeyed Him and followed Him faithfully, but now you are standing at a crossroads of hope and doubt.

Choose to hope in the Lord. He has not forgotten you. He has heard your cry, and He is working behind the scenes to deliver you. Timing is everything with God. He knows when you are in the right position to move on to the next step. You can be sure of this: He won’t be late; He will be right on time!

Moses had almost forgotten what it was like to hear the distressing cries of God’s people. He had been banished to the wilderness, but not to be punished. Instead, he was being trained for a greater purpose.

In the beginning, Moses thought he had to take matters into his own hands. He ended up killing an Egyptian, which was not a part of God’s plan. After this incident, the Lord drew him aside for 40 years—silencing his heart and tempering Moses so he would be willing to humbly obey and trust His leading.

If you feel as though you have been set aside by the Lord, know that you are not being punished. You are being readied for the next step. Make sure your obedience is unconditional and your willingness to follow the Lord is sincere.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to follow only You. Reveal Yourself to me in this season and deepen my trust in You in the midst of the unknown. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

Exercising Our Faith

06/05/22 – 06/11/22

Praying for God’s Will

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/06/22

Joseph spent years confined to an Egyptian dungeon. While he had done nothing to deserve imprisonment, God knew that Joseph’s faith needed to be tested. God would fulfill His promises, but first He wanted to grow Joseph’s faith—strengthening Him with His presence in every circumstance. Joseph did not avoid personal surrender. He knew that if he did, he would risk missing God’s will and purpose for his life—so he called upon the Lord.

If God has allowed you to settle in a difficult place—pray. But don’t just pray for a way of escape. Instead, pray for the Lord to work His good pleasure into your life. If there is a need for discipline, be willing to receive it so that you will experience the blessings of God.

Trying to manipulate the Lord’s will through prayer never works. Instead of solving the problem, this can lead to frustration. Therefore, we need to be willing to trust God and wait for His answer.

There will be times when we think we cannot face another trial or another minute of persecution. Jesus understands our weaknesses. The night of His arrest He prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done” (Matthew 26:42). Earlier, He had taught His disciples to pray, “[Y]our will be done,” so they would know how to submit their wills to God just as He had submitted His (6:10).

God knows the hurts, disappointments, and frustrations you are facing, but He longs to hear you pray what Christ prayed in the garden the night of His arrest: “Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). Is this the prayer of your heart?

Prayer: God, I come to You in a difficult place. I pray that Your will would be accomplished in this season of my life. Help me to trust You and wait on You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him” (Genesis 39:20-21).

The Way of Jesus

06/01/22 – 06/04/22

The Plank in Your Eye

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/04/22

Read Matthew 7:1-21. Many today point to the words of Jesus to defend an “anything goes” way of living. They remind us that Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1). But is Jesus really saying that we should turn a blind eye toward sin?

Our Lord is not telling us to accept perversion—shrugging our shoulders and saying, “Who am I to judge?” As we’ve seen throughout this study, the entire Sermon on the Mount presents a contrast between the righteousness we receive from Christ and self-righteousness; between internal faith and external rituals; between God’s way and man’s way.

My friend, when Jesus says, “Do not judge,” He means that we should avoid judging the unseen motives of other people. Only God can see the heart; only He knows what is happening inside a person’s mind. As human beings, our judgments tend to be merciless. But God, who sees all things and knows all things, is perfect in judgment and mercy.

Judging motives can distort our view of other people because we judge what we cannot see. Judging in this way also distorts our view of God because we presume that He judges by the same standard we do. Moreover, this type of judging distorts the view we have of ourselves. That’s why Jesus rightly says, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3).

In this specific passage, Jesus is talking particularly about our relationships with other believers. He’s not saying we should turn a blind eye on our brother’s sin. Not at all. Rather, we’d better do some self-examination, confession, and repentance to deal with our own sin before we try to help somebody else with theirs.

Once you’re able to mourn over your sin—once you’re able to repent of your sin—then you’ll be better prepared to help your brother or sister. Any confrontation of sin in another person’s life must be done in meekness. It must be done in humility, not in pride, for we have nothing to brag about except the blood of Jesus Christ.

The way of Jesus, described perfectly in the Sermon on the Mount, is not something we can hope to master on our own. The only righteousness we have comes from Him. If we can keep this at the forefront of our minds, we will experience the abundant life Jesus promised.

Prayer: Father, help me to see my own sin and to confess it readily in repentance. I pray that, as I do, I would be an encouragement to my brothers and sisters in Christ, showing them that Your grace is sufficient always. May we together seek to follow You all our days. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3).

The Way of Jesus

06/01/22 – 06/04/22

The Way of Wisdom

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/03/22

Read Matthew 6:19-34. In the Christian life, we face endless decisions every day. We need heavenly wisdom to choose wisely. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers us four choices that have the power to shape our life here on earth. How we handle them today will echo throughout eternity.

First, He gives us a choice between two investment banks. We can either store up treasure on earth, “where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal,” or store our treasures in heaven (see Matthew 6:19-20). Where will you ultimately invest—in the local bank, where they give a fraction of a percent interest, or in the bank of heaven, where you’ll earn a hundred-fold harvest?

Second, Jesus gives us a choice between stumbling around in the darkness or walking in the light. He says, “If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light” (v. 22). But what Jesus is saying has nothing to do with our physical eyes. Rather, He’s warning us that hoarding our earthly blessings will plunge us into darkness. However, investing in the Kingdom of God will give us a vision for life. If you want to be able to see where you are going, take hold of the eternal vision Jesus offers.

Third, Jesus tells us we have a choice about whom we will serve. “No one can serve two masters” (v. 24). Either we will serve our money and possessions, or we will serve the Lord our God. To split our loyalty between God and anyone or anything else is idolatry. God wants our undivided and unfettered devotion.

To me, the choice is very clear. I choose the one who died for me, the one who loved me when I reviled Him, the one who knew me by name before the foundation of the world, the one who loved me when there was nothing lovely in me, the one who redeemed me and gave me everlasting hope.

Fourth, Jesus says we have a choice about whether or not we will worry. In reality, if we have chosen well in the first three decisions, we will not have to worry. For consider this: When you choose to invest in heavenly things, when you choose God’s vision for your life, when you choose a loving God as your master, what is there to worry about?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You that You have revealed Your way of wisdom in Your Word. May I choose to follow You and find shelter and peace in the shadow of Your wings. Help me to seek to live righteously in service to You for my good and for the blessing of those You put in my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

The Way of Jesus

06/01/22 – 06/04/22

The Secret of a Blessed Marriage

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/02/22

Read Matthew 5:31-32. At this point in Jewish history, there was a debate raging between Pharisees and other teachers of the law. It concerned a foundational issue from God’s Law: marriage and divorce. You see, Deuteronomy 24:1 describes a certain situation in which a man divorces his wife because she becomes “displeasing to him” because “he finds something indecent about her.”

One group of rabbis said that this “something indecent” was adultery and only adultery. Another group said that it could be anything that offended the husband—from burning the dinner to embarrassing him in public. In other words, this more liberal school of thought believed that a husband could divorce his wife for any reason at all. That sounds a lot like our culture today, doesn’t it?

Jesus, knowing that this discussion was in their minds, spoke with absolute authority on the subject. He said, “I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery” (Matthew 5:32).

On another occasion, Jesus described God’s design for marriage this way: “Haven’t you read . . . that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4-5). One flesh is not easily broken. Marriage was intended to last a lifetime, but our self-centeredness makes this incredibly challenging. But there is a way to affair-proof your marriage.

The most important thing is to get over your narcissism. We are all narcissists to varying degrees. But if you want to overcome this dangerous form of self-centeredness, Jesus can show you the way. Discover your spouse’s real needs and seek by God’s grace to meet those needs. Make no mistake, you will need His supernatural help. You need God’s power, strength, mercy, and grace to meet your spouse’s needs. But it will be worth it.

This is what God intended when He created marriage—that selfless love would be put on display for all the world to see. It’s a picture of God’s love for sinners, of Christ’s love for His church (see Ephesians 5:31-32). When both husband and wife are seeking God’s best for one another, when each partner is more concerned with the other person’s needs above his or her own, marriage is one of the most beautiful things to behold in our world.

Prayer: Lord, I ask that You would work in my heart to humble me so that I can love and serve my spouse sacrificially. May I follow Your example. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (Matthew 5:32).

The Way of Jesus

06/01/22 – 06/04/22

The Gift of Sex Within Marriage

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  06/01/22

Read Matthew 5:27-30. Though sin is at the root of the problems in our world today, God is most concerned with the source of that sin—for He knows that true holiness means stopping sin at its source: within the heart. Take, for example, sexual sin. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “[A]nyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). As Bible-believing Christians, we are not against sex. Rather, we believe that sexuality is a gift from God. We believe that God created sex as a beautiful gift to be shared by a husband and wife within the bounds of marriage. And yet, man perverted the good gift of sex, just as he perverts all the gifts of God.

The reason our culture is so obsessed with sex is because people want God’s good gifts without God Himself. But when we disregard all of the necessary boundaries God has placed around sex, there are consequences. It’s a dangerous situation to find ourselves in, which is why Jesus said, “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away” (Matthew 5:29). Now, of course, Jesus wasn’t instructing His followers to practice a form of self-mutilation. Instead, He was using Hebrew hyperbole to emphasize an important point: If there is an area where temptation comes through the eye, look away. Pretend you are blind.

Why is sexual purity so important? Because, one day, “each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (Romans 14:12). This judgment will determine our eternal rewards. Heavenly rewards are far more important than any temporary gratification—and they last infinitely longer. It is better to accept alienation in this world, to deny immediate gratification, than to risk losing your heavenly reward.

Just as anger has to be controlled by God’s power alone, so must sexual desire be controlled by the power of God at work within us. Give yourself to Him completely. Train your eye to look away from anything that will cause you to stumble. Ask for help from those in your life and from your church community. And look each day to the promises of Jesus—for He is better than anything this world has to offer.

Prayer: Father, thank You that Your power is at work within me to make me holy as You are holy. May I use Your good gifts to me as You intended and thus bear witness to Your infinite worth and wisdom as I trust You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27-28).

Persevering with a Heavenly Perspective

05/22/22 – 05/31/22

Finishing Well

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/31/22

If you visit Rome, you can see the dungeon that once housed the apostle Paul. You can stand within the same four solid walls that once formed his cell. There are no windows, no doors, no way of escape; and yet, for Paul, it was not a place of defeat or fear. It was a place of both victory and hope. Although Paul was confined physically, he was free spiritually.

When Paul got to Rome, the first thing he did was share with his fellow Jews the Truth about Jesus. The Bible says they objected. But Paul knew that objections and objectors could not halt the work of God. He knew that what Satan employs as obstacles, God uses as instruments to sanctify His servants and fulfill His purpose.

Paul’s obedience led him to three years in a Caesarean prison and two years under house arrest in Rome. But in these seemingly inconvenient situations, Paul was able to preach to kings and governors. Under house arrest in Rome, Paul wrote some of the most joyful, peaceful, and exciting epistles that we read, learn from, and rejoice in today: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and 2 Timothy.

We know that from his Roman dungeon Paul was led to his execution. Yet, even in death, Paul did not face defeat. The moment after he drew his last earthly breath, he was embraced by the Lord. Note that Luke, the author of Acts, didn’t end the book with more information about Paul’s life or his execution. From God’s perspective, the details of Paul’s death were not important. What is important is that he finished well.

Today, the worldwide growth of the church testifies to God’s foundational work through those who remained faithful to God’s call even when their faith was tested. The disciples’ attitude in difficult times should not only challenge us but also encourage us that we can have the same perspective in our own trials, sufferings, and even persecution.

Just days before he met Jesus face to face, Paul was able to say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). Are you ready to say the same? May the example of Paul and others inspire you in the strength of the Holy Spirit to run the race set before you so that you may finish well and get the prize.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the example of so many faithful brothers and sisters who have come before me proclaiming the Truth of the Gospel without regard for their own comfort. May I likewise trust in You for my every need and finish the race You have given me for Your glory and my good. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” (Acts 28:31).

Persevering with a Heavenly Perspective

05/22/22 – 05/31/22

Crossing the Finish Line

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/30/22

Demas is mentioned three times in the New Testament. In Colossians and Philemon, Paul refers to him as a fellow worker in the Gospel. However, in 2 Timothy, we witness a heartbreaking turn of events in Demas’ race of faith when Paul says, “. . . Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me” (2 Timothy 4:10).

Demas began right, but he ended wrong. As Paul’s fellow worker in the Gospel, we can probably assume that he began his race with great spiritual fervor, diligence, and determination. However, near the end of Paul’s life, Demas decided to pursue worldly success rather than serve the living Christ. He chose the world’s passing pleasures over the glory of God, the seen for the unseen. Paul was anxious to exhort Timothy to avoid falling into the same trap.

Throughout his life, Paul saw many abandon the call of Christ for lesser things. Many times, he stood alone in his devotion to God’s work. Yet throughout imprisonments, beatings, and outright desertion—things we may never experience for our faith in Christ—Paul was able to say, “But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed” (2 Timothy 4:17). Although Paul stood alone, God provided for him in his moments of deepest need. Paul—an imperfect person like us—was able to finish well because he relied on God’s moment-by-moment faithfulness.

The apostle Paul’s final encouragement to Timothy can be summarized in this: Be strong, Timothy. Don’t ever give up. Even if you stand alone, keep fighting for the Truth. Don’t stop running the race. Keep fixing your eyes on Christ.

Knowing his time was drawing near, Paul was able to say with confidence, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). As we trust in Christ and run the race until the end, let our response be the same.

Prayer: Lord, I want to serve You faithfully until the end. Help me to stand strong even if I stand alone. Help me rely on Your power when I am tempted to slow down. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Persevering with a Heavenly Perspective

05/22/22 – 05/31/22

Joy Amid Sorrow

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/29/22

For the child of God, joy does not mean the absence of sadness, trials, or disappointment. In fact, many times it is just the opposite. Joy dwells right there next to sorrow. This was true of the apostle Paul’s life. He faced beatings, stoning, and imprisonment, yet he had a tremendous sense of joy.

During moments of great difficulty, we can experience the joy of the Lord in a far greater way than at any other time. For some, this may be hard to believe. Many times, when difficulty comes, we immediately look for a way out. A sudden trial leaves us feeling hopeless and wondering if we have done something wrong. But we must remember that adversity is a part of the Christian life.

When he wrote about joy, Paul was in prison. He knew how it felt to be discouraged and abandoned, but he also experienced a tremendous joy—one the Lord had given him. It is the same joy we can experience today.

Paul wrote, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12).

Contentment for Paul was reflective of the deep sense of joy he felt within his heart. He had a promise from God—and we do, too. One day, like Paul, we will see our Savior face to face. Therefore, no matter what this world tosses at us, we can experience a true sense of joy right now.

Do you feel as though you have lost your joy? Are you longing to experience it again? The joy of the Lord is one of God’s greatest gifts. Take a moment to be silent before Him. Worship Him and praise Him for His faithfulness to you. When we dwell on the precious gift of the Gospel, we can’t help but be lifted up in joy. The more fully we experience and grasp the grace of God, the greater will be our joy.

Prayer: Father, restore my joy to overflowing, that it may bubble up and infuse my life. May this overflowing joy testify to others of Your love. As I sit before You now in silence, speak to me. I am listening. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: . . . sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:4, 10).

Persevering with a Heavenly Perspective

05/22/22 – 05/31/22

Look Up to God

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/28/22

In Acts 16, Paul had “one of those days.” On the way to the house of prayer, a young slave woman began following him and Silas. Her shouts were meant to draw unwanted attention to the apostle. In reality, the enemy was seeking to run Paul and his evangelistic team out of town. But Paul commanded the harassing spirit to leave this young woman (see Acts 16:18).

Her owners, who made money through her fortune-telling, were not happy. Frustrations grew until the entire city of Philippi erupted.

The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, . . . (Acts 16:22-23).

If anyone had a reason to be depressed, it was Paul and Silas. Yet, they did not allow their circumstances to cause them to question the providence of God. Instead, they turned a bad situation into one of praise to the Lord (see Acts 16:25).

God had a plan for their imprisonment. At midnight the door to their jail cell opened, and they were free men—but they did not leave because they knew it would mean death for the jailer who had been given the charge to watch over them. He was amazed by their commitment to God and accepted Christ as his Savior, but the story did not end there. The jailer’s entire family was saved, and the next morning Paul and Silas were freed.

The next time you are tempted to be downcast, look up to God. Ask Him to use you as an instrument of Truth, hope, and encouragement to others. Pass His love on, and you will be set free from every thought of depression.

Prayer: Though my world seems unstable and ever-changing, I will praise You, Lord. Open my eyes to opportunities where You are calling me to be bold. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them” (Acts 16:40).

Persevering with a Heavenly Perspective

05/22/22 – 05/31/22

Keeping Your Integrity Intact

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/27/22

The longer we walk down the road with Christ, the more we understand what it means to put our trust in Him. Despite our best intentions, it does not take long to realize we simply cannot determine in our hearts to live righteous lives. Our best striving and efforts fall short of God’s glory.

Fortunately, there is hope. In the magnificence of creation, we see one detail that cannot escape us: God created us for relationship. Verse after verse, chapter after chapter, we read about the relationships of people bent on following God. We see their triumphs as well as their failures, and we learn some valuable lessons.

One such valuable lesson is that we need people who will hold us accountable. No matter how determined we are to make the right decision in every case, we are bound to falter at some point. And when we know that we do not have to answer to anyone in person, it becomes more comfortable to ease into what is convenient for us, even if it means we are compromising our integrity.

If we truly desire to live with integrity, honoring God in everything we say and do, we must find trusted friends who are willing to walk alongside us and hold us accountable for our actions. These people will be instrumental in our growth as believers. They will help us move to new depths in our faith with Jesus Christ, and they will love us regardless of the flaws in our lives.

Prayer: Lord, show me people in my life who can help me be accountable for my actions as I seek to honor You with all that I am. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

Persevering with a Heavenly Perspective

05/22/22 – 05/31/22

Possessing Godly Integrity

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/26/22

Finding people with integrity in this day and age is a daunting task. While many people may desire to live with integrity, they fall short when they are put to the test. They may reason away certain actions, justifying them with a twisted worldview. But what is our integrity worth? Is our integrity worth an hour’s pay if we lie on our timecard? Is our integrity worth the office supplies we slip into our pockets on the way home? Is our integrity worth the damage of spreading a bit of juicy gossip?

Possessing godly integrity is rare in today’s world because people are determined to live for themselves. They compromise their integrity because they are looking out for themselves instead of living for someone other than themselves. This outlook on life infiltrates behavior, which results in dishonest action.

As we look at the life of Paul, one thing is crystal clear: He lived for no one but God. Everything Paul did was for the glory of God. Paul was scorned by men. In fact, there was a period shortly after his conversion during which he was eyed cynically by everyone. The Christians did not trust him, and the Pharisees wanted to put him in prison. Yet over time, Paul proved he was not after fame and certainly not fortune.

Paul’s aim in life was to live for the glory of God. When that becomes our primary purpose in life, integrity will be a natural by-product. If we are living for and thinking about God first and foremost before we act, then what follows will be activity that intentionally honors Him. Integrity will not be contrived but overflowing.

Prayer: Lord, give me the right perspective on my life because living for You is far better than living for myself. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right” (Proverbs 16:13).

Persevering with a Heavenly Perspective

05/22/22 – 05/31/22

Praise from the Prison of Affliction

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/25/22

Regardless of how many times we have experienced the fulfillment of God’s promises, we seem to have short memories.

Life suddenly veers down an unexpected path, and we begin wondering if we are going to make it. We try to find a way out of our misery and realize the situation is impossible apart from God. Instead of praising the Lord and trusting Him for a way of escape, we resort to worrying and grumbling.

If there was one man who had a right to grumble and complain in the New Testament, it was Paul. After his conversion, his life seemed to be composed of one life-threatening conflict after another. He was imprisoned, shipwrecked, tortured, and threatened. Paul’s suffering was so great that many of his letters were written from prison.

Yet, when we find Paul in his darkest hour, he was not griping about his circumstances—he was praising God. For Paul, praising God had become a habit, a way of life. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus:

[B]e filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-20).

As believers determined to honor Christ with every portion of our lives, our lips should come into harmony with our actions as we praise God at every opportunity. This is how we live with a heavenly perspective—one that is set on the one who can transform our darkest situation into one of hope and light.

Prayer: Lord, remind me of Your goodness and greatness today when I get discouraged, and teach me how to praise You at all times. Let me not forget Your faithfulness. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Be exalted in your strength, LORD; we will sing and praise your might” (Psalm 21:13).

Persevering with a Heavenly Perspective

05/22/22 – 05/31/22

Forgive and Forget

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/24/22

Some people understand God’s redemptive plan for their lives, and yet they fail to see how He can use them for His Kingdom work. They feel as though their lives have been stained too deeply by sin, disqualifying them from service. This is not true.

God’s plan for our lives is one of hope. He never looks back and reminds us of our past transgressions. He never says, “If only you had not done this or that, then I could use you.” These are words the enemy uses to discourage us and keep us from being all that we can be for the Lord.

God’s purpose in saving us was not just to save us from eternal death and torment. His purpose was to save us so that we could learn to love Him the way that He loves us. Once He forgives our sins, He forgets them. What a glorious reminder of God’s unconditional love.

However, just like Paul, we were not saved merely to enjoy God’s love. We were saved with a purpose in mind: to tell others about His saving grace. This is what Paul did. Once Christ saved him, once Christ returned his earthly sight, and once Christ prepared him, Paul began to do some serious Kingdom work. And you can, too.

Maybe you have struggled with an emotional problem and have received God’s deliverance. Won’t you be available for God to use you in someone else’s life? You may think, “No one could possibly struggle with the sin that I have fought.” Many have—and many need to know there is a way through the darkness through Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Lord, it is hard to understand how You could possibly use me for Your glory, but I know this is exactly what You want to do. I give my life to You and ask that You would use me so that others will experience Your wondrous grace. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Persevering with a Heavenly Perspective

05/22/22 – 05/31/22

He Will Set You Free

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/23/22

More than likely, when Paul was a young man, he had a dream to know God fully. His quest for knowledge led him to study under one of the greatest rabbis of his day.

As he grew in knowledge, he became a Pharisee and then was elected to the Sanhedrin. Only the most noted of Jewish scholars held these positions. Paul was one of them. His heart, though charged with the wrong motivation, longed to worship God. Then one day, God revealed Himself to Paul through the life of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is only one way to interpret what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus, and that is to say it was life-changing (see Acts 9:1-9). Christ did not just appear to Paul; He embraced him. Only the Lord knows what rested deep in Paul’s heart, but like Moses, once Paul turned aside to study the things of God, it was enough to move God into action.

Maybe you are feeling the weight of your circumstances closing in on you. You have longed to be free, but you have remained shackled to this world in ways that only God knows and understands. If you seek Him, He will set you free from the sin of worry, doubt, fear, hopelessness, lustful feelings, and more. When you pray with a sincere heart, the Lord will reveal Himself to you. Then your witness and testimony will become a way to glorify God and lead others into His throne room of mercy and grace.

Prayer: Lord, I confess that I need Your purifying touch on my life. There are things I have done and said that do not honor You. Forgive me as I mention each one to You and receive Your forgiveness and eternal love. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'” (John 14:6).

Persevering with a Heavenly Perspective

05/22/22 – 05/31/22

Priorities

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/22/22

When was the last time you evaluated your priorities? Have you recently looked at your commitments, goals, and checkbook to list your assets and liabilities?

When we do not discipline ourselves to stay focused on our eternal priorities, we can easily become bogged down by earthly concerns that are unimportant.

When the apostle Paul was in prison, he took the time to evaluate his own life. Before Paul became a Christian, he was a Pharisee with prestige, power, and wealth. After he began his ministry for Christ, Paul endured frequent attacks, imprisonments, and hunger as he traveled from town to town.

Yet because Paul kept his focus on Christ, he found a joy that gave him a heavenly perspective on life and priorities:

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. (Philippians 3:7-9).

As Paul discovered, the things we consider assets in this life often turn out to be our liabilities because they keep us from depending on God. What is the object of your confidence? Is it your intelligence, your financial security, your social network?

None of these things will bring us indescribable joy—only dependence on Christ’s strength can bring us joy. We must value our relationship with Christ and treasure our gift of joy in order to experience joy at its fullest.

Prayer: God, as I evaluate my life, I realize that my priorities are not always where they should be. Help me to value my relationship with You above all else and to stay focused on You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[L]et us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Developing Fierce Faith

05/08/22 – 05/21/22

Wholehearted Worship

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/21/22

God doesn’t want our half-hearted worship. Joshua told the people, “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15).

We should not just worship God half-heartedly or serve Him out of feelings of obligation. God does not want us to just go through the motions while our hearts are focused on worldly things. God wants us to serve Him alone, regardless of what others are doing or what people will think of us.

Have you been suffering from “spiritual amnesia”? Have you forgotten God’s past mercies as if you had never received them? Have you allowed your present troubles to blot out all memory of God’s past faithfulness and interventions? Have you neglected to praise Him for His past provision and blessings?

Don’t allow your forgetfulness to distract you from God’s present work for you. If you are holding back from sharing about Christ because of spiritual complacency, then seek God’s forgiveness. If you have forgotten how God has given you past victories and are fearful of stepping out in faith, then repent of that today.

Prayer: God, help me to serve and worship You wholeheartedly, regardless of what others think of me. Thank You for all that You have done and are doing in my life. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead” (Psalm 86:12-13).

Developing Fierce Faith

05/08/22 – 05/21/22

Teaching the Next Generation

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/20/22

We must teach our children the art of spiritual warfare because the devil is fighting for their souls. We must allow them to watch how we do spiritual warfare. Don’t just give them a good education and a whole lot of money and pat them on the back. Equip them with the authority of the Word of God. Prepare them for the battle.

Don’t just settle for them to succeed in business and in the world; teach them how to battle the enemy of God. Cry out to God on their behalf. Be a role model so they can watch you and know how to stand in the battle.

Read Joshua 23. When Joshua grew old and knew his time on earth was coming to a close, he gathered the leaders together—the next generation—to exhort them to trust in the Lord. He essentially said, “If you obey the Lord your God, He’s going to fight your battles for you.” Each subsequent generation must learn from the previous generation without becoming dependent on the past; each generation must experience the Lord themselves.

If we do not teach the next generation the art of spiritual warfare, they will develop spiritual amnesia—they will forget the wondrous acts the Lord has worked on our behalf. And when spiritual amnesia sets in, compromise will most surely follow.

Moms and dads, we are the ones who must pass a living testimony of the grace of God to our children. From cover to cover in Scripture, we’re told that it is the parents’ primary responsibility to train their children in spiritual warfare. When Joshua’s generation failed to train their children in the battle, the next generation lost the battle.

But the good news is that if we cry out to God, He will extend grace yet again—not just to us, but to the next generation.

Prayer: Father, help me to be faithful to pass on to the next generation the things You have taught me. Help me to do my part in equipping them for the battle and modeling the art of spiritual warfare. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them” (Deuteronomy 4:9).

Developing Fierce Faith

05/08/22 – 05/21/22

Facing Giants

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/19/22

The person who is faithful with the small territories will be faithful with the larger ones. And that is why we see Caleb being honored by God in Joshua 14. Forty-five years earlier, when the Israelites were still in the wilderness, Moses sent twelve spies into the Promised Land—one from each of the twelve tribes (see Numbers 13). When the group found giants in the land, only two of the spies—Joshua and Caleb—were undaunted. The other ten spies were ready to give up out of fear. Yet Caleb reported, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30).

God loves to see risk-taking faith and optimism in His children. Caleb had that kind of faith. The other ten spies saw obstacles and danger, but Caleb saw victory. Caleb kept his eyes on the God of promise, the God who controls the future. Instead of fearing what he saw with his eyes, Caleb trusted in the God of all hope.

Caleb received his promised inheritance “because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly” (Joshua 14:14). But Caleb wasn’t ready to retire from God’s work. Even though the hill country was still inhabited by the Anakites, Caleb said, “Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. . . . I will drive them out just as he said” (Joshua 14:12). Even at 85 years of age, he was ready to take on the giants. He was ready to take on the tough assignment because he trusted in the power of God.

There are plenty of unoccupied territories around us today. Will you say with Caleb, “Give me this hill country”?

Prayer: God, help me to serve You wholeheartedly, like Caleb did. Give me strength to face the giants. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13)