Daily Devotional

Salt & Light

Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount

05/01/22 – 05/04/22

The Perils of Anger

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/04/22

Read Matthew 5:21-26.

Though it may not seem like it at first, the Torah or Law, which is comprised of the first five books of the Bible, was a precious gift to the people of Israel. God’s law teaches us how to live in a manner pleasing to God—a manner that is also for our good. It also points us to our need for a Savior since none of us can keep His commands perfectly. But the law also reveals something else: the very heart of God.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus brought the Truth home, clarifying the heart of God. Beginning with the commandment not to murder, Jesus shocked His listeners by declaring that the sin of selfish anger is tantamount to murder. How can that be? Because that’s where murder starts—in a person’s heart.

Murder starts with a selfish, prideful motive. And so, Jesus was saying to the self-righteous Pharisees in the crowd, “Righteousness is not only a matter of external things. Righteousness does not exist only on the surface. Righteousness is not true righteousness if it only comes out when other people are watching.” That is why He could say, “Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:22).

I think most of us know that anger takes many forms, ranging from slight irritation to full-blown, uncontrollable rage, but all unrighteous anger stems from pride and self-righteousness. It creeps up when we don’t get our way, when someone criticizes us, or when we’re overlooked.

Smoldering anger, if left unchecked, will destroy a person from the inside out. It will also destroy a person’s relationship with God, for no one can know Jesus as Savior and Lord and still nurse hatred toward another (see 1 John 4:20). That is why Jesus’ message to us is this: Repair whatever breach you may have with a brother or sister in Christ so that you can truly settle the breach between yourself and God.

Brothers and sisters, if there’s a conflict in your life, deal with it as soon as you can. Resolve here and now to dig up these roots of bitterness. When you forgive others and make peace with those you’ve hurt, you will be amazed at what the Holy Spirit will do—and you’ll also bear witness to the transforming power of God to redeem and renew His children.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for being quick to anger. Help me to humble myself as You have humbled Yourself, that I might live in peace with all as far as it depends on me (Romans 12:18). I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment” (Matthew 5:22).

Salt & Light

Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount

05/01/22 – 05/04/22

The Goodness of the Law

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/03/22

Read Matthew 5:17-20.

Many people today want to believe that morality can be democratized, that if enough people believe some perverse action is acceptable that it will no longer be immoral. But that is not how the universe works. In the end, there is only one opinion that matters. There is only one Judge. His name is the Lord God Almighty. And He requires nothing short of perfect obedience to His laws and commandments.

Friends, this is why Jesus came. He came to authenticate, to fulfill, and to complete the Commandments (see Matthew 5:17). Jesus is the only man who was able to keep all of the Ten Commandments all of the time. He came to show us that the Law actually points to Him. In fact, the entire Old Testament directs our gaze to Him. From Genesis all the way to the book of Malachi, everything that has been written points us to Jesus.

You may be thinking, But if Jesus came to fulfill the law, then why do we still need it? You wouldn’t be alone. There are many people today who would like to do away with the Ten Commandments. They want to focus, instead, on the love of God.

That sort of thinking breaks my heart. It is an incomplete picture of the Gospel. You see, all of God’s law is a mirror that tells us we are sinners whose eternal destiny is separation from God in hell. It tells us we are in desperate need of the only true Savior, who obeyed God the Father perfectly and who, because of His great love, died a horrifying, gruesome, lonely, and shameful death on the cross to atone for our sins. He is the only way we can make it to heaven—by His blood shed for our forgiveness.

Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” (v. 20). At first, this is a terrifying statement, for we all know the Pharisees were meticulous about the commandments of God—so exacting that they even tithed from their spice rack (see Matthew 23:23). Thankfully, righteousness before God is not a matter of legalism. Instead, it’s a gift flowing from the grace of God. It’s a righteousness that can only be imparted to us by God’s perfect Son, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for fulfilling the law for me—for giving me Your righteousness. I know it is only by pleading Your blood over me that I am made new and can enter the eternal presence of God in hope and joy. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).

Salt & Light

Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount

05/01/22 – 05/04/22

The Power of Light

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/02/22

Read Matthew 5:14-16.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told His disciples, “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). What did He mean by that? He meant: Your light should shatter the darkness. Your light should lead others to Christ. Your light should expose error and lead people to the Truth.

Someone may say, “My faith is very private,” but that is not Biblical faith. True faith in Jesus is visible. It’s meant to be a light—and it’s meant to be a light for the world. Your light must shine in the marketplace, on the factory floor, in the boardroom, at the office, on your school campus. Wherever you go, there goes the light—because you are the light.

When people see someone who is loving and forgiving, joyful and generous, they take notice. When they see someone who is not short-tempered or angry but peaceful and content, they ask questions. And that is your greatest opportunity to tell them who changed you. Whether you know it or not, these people are wondering, ‘Can I, too, stop being so angry and selfish and fretful? Can I, too, have that peace no matter what comes my way?’ Jesus said when people see your light shining, they are going to glorify your Father in heaven (see Matthew 5:16).

Of course, not everyone loves the light. You see, every person you have ever met is either a child of light or a child of darkness. The whole world is divided that way. Every nation, every tribe, every tongue is divided between the children of light and the children of darkness. There are those who sit in darkness and have grown quite comfortable. They will not welcome your light because they know that by it their deeds will be exposed and reproved—and they don’t like the thought of that. They will feel threatened when they see your light, and their desire will be to push it far away or to put it out entirely. Don’t be surprised by this. Some people will ask questions, and we must be ready to give an answer, but some will not.

Today, make sure to do all you can to keep your light burning bright and strong. The way to do this is by walking closely with Jesus Christ, “The true light that gives light to everyone” (John 1:9).

Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times I have hidden the light of Christ in me. May I use every opportunity You bring to lead people to the Light of the World. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).

Salt & Light

Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount

05/01/22 – 05/04/22

The Value of Salt

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  05/01/22

Read Matthew 5:13.  When Jesus declared to the gathered crowds, “You are the salt of the earth,” it was a shocking statement. He was telling His followers—common people like fishermen and day laborers—that they were of supreme value. You see, Jesus had just finished delivering the beatitudes—eight steps to spiritual blessing (see Matthew 5:3-12). And so, when he started talking about salt, He was talking about people who embodied the beatitudes.

Though the world could not see it, these people were incredibly valuable. Their greatest asset was their spiritual bankruptcy. Their greatest passion was mourning over their sin. Their greatest accomplishment was their meekness. Their best response to evil was to be merciful and make peace. Their appetite was for righteousness. Their greatest weapon was to come clean with God on a regular basis and remain pure in heart. Their greatest privilege was to be insulted for Jesus’ sake. Those who were living out the beatitudes had discovered how to appropriate happiness, no matter the situation, so Jesus called them precious—the salt of the earth. In Jesus’ day, salt was traded in much the same way that gold was—it was that valuable!

One of the reasons salt was so highly valued in the ancient world is because it could be used as a powerful preservative. Without it, rot and decay would quickly grow and spread, much like what is happening in our culture. Not enough has been done to preserve goodness and Truth. And that is why today we have a culture that’s rotting from the inside. We desperately need men and women who will go out and be salt in every sphere of society.

Another powerful property of salt is that it causes thirst. As the salt of the earth, God has placed you where you are to make those around you thirsty for more of Him. When they see your joy, the way you walk in faith when times get tough, and how you celebrate the blessings the Lord has given you, you’ll make them thirst for that same kind of joy, peace, and contentment. So they’ll reach out to the one thing that will quench their thirst: the Living Water, the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are following Jesus Christ, then He has an incredible calling on your life. I urge you to take seriously your responsibility to be the salt of the earth. May you therefore add divine flavor wherever you go!

Prayer: Lord, help me to be salt for You. May I draw others to You as I seek to preserve goodness and Truth in the world around me for Your glory. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot” (Matthew 5:13).

Conviction and Forgiveness

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/29/22

God’s Word makes it clear that all humanity is born with a sin nature. Indeed, all mankind wants to live independently of God.

It is our nature to elevate self over God’s authority and rule. To address these tendencies, the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to recognize specific personal sins. For, just as we cannot forgive ourselves, neither can we convict ourselves of the things we need to change. So when the Holy Spirit does this convicting work, there is only one acceptable response: to admit our sin, agree with God’s assessment that what we have done is wrong, and ask for God’s forgiveness.

Forgiveness sets into motion a regenerative work in our hearts. When God forgives us, He bestows His mercy, an amazing peace, an assurance of His love and acceptance, and tremendous joy at having our relationship with Him restored. It is the Holy Spirit who conveys this wonderful presence of God.

With forgiveness also comes a new desire for God. The Holy Spirit opens our spiritual eyes to understand the Scriptures, opens our minds to increasingly comprehend the depth of God’s love, and transforms us into Christ’s likeness. The Holy Spirit empowers us to see God’s plan and purpose, to say no to sinful habits and yes to the attitudes and behaviors that reflect the character of Christ Jesus.

Prayer: God, help me to be quick to respond to Your Spirit, confessing my sins, that I might receive Your forgiveness and deepen my relationship with You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:8).

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/21/22 – 04/29/22

The Tree

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/29/22

Why did God plant the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden? Why was that tree planted in that perfect place, where Satan might use it as an object of temptation?

The tree was there to remind Adam and Eve that they were not their own. It was there to remind them that they were God’s own possession. The tree was there to remind them that they were accountable to God and that they could not escape judgment for the moral choices they made.

The tree was not placed there by accident. God deliberately placed that tree in the Garden of Eden. And there in that garden, the first man, Adam, met temptation—and he was defeated by sin.

But thousands of years later, there was another garden—the Garden of Gethsemane. In the Garden of Eden, Adam fell, and we all fell with him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was victorious, and all who belong to Him are victorious as well. In the Garden of Eden, the disobedience of one man caused sin to infect all of humanity. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, the obedience of the Son of Man produced the antidote for sin.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam experienced death as a consequence of his rebellion. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, we all experience life—eternal life—by grace through faith. One tree in Eden defeated Adam, and another tree, the cross of Christ, defeated sin and Satan. One tree brought the knowledge of evil, but the other tree gave us power over evil, power over temptation, power over death, the power of salvation.

So the question is: Which tree do you look to? The tree by which humanity was tempted and fell or the tree by which God gave us eternal life?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your incredible love for us. Thank You that You have made a way for us, though fallen, to be with You forever through the cross of Christ. May I always look to the precious gift of eternal life through Jesus so that I can live my life in submission to You with thanksgiving. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” (Romans 5:17).

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/21/22 – 04/29/22

God of Grace

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/28/22

Today we are going to consider the God of grace and see how He dealt with Adam and Eve’s sin and rebellion.

First, Adam and Eve did not immediately die when they sinned in the Garden of Eden. Justice said they must die. God’s grace came and said, “Yes, spiritually they will die, but physically I’m going to spare them.” That’s what the grace of God does. God said, “The day you eat from the tree, that day you will die.” That’s justice. If you break the law, you go to prison; that’s justice. But grace comes in and says, “I will give you time to repent. Let grace work one more time.”

Second, the God of grace promised Adam and Eve a redeemer. Why? To undo Satan’s deception. Genesis 3:15 says, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Here is the first announcement of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thousands of years passed before the promise of Genesis 3:15 was fulfilled: The angel said to Joseph, “[Y]ou are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). But God always fulfills His promises, no matter how long it takes.

Third, the God of grace saved our first parents and demonstrated for us the cost of sin. Genesis 3:21 says, “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Notice the sequence here. After they believed in God, the Lord made garments of skin, and He clothed them with those garments. To do that, Adam and Eve had to witness the first slaying of an innocent animal, and the first shedding of blood in the history of creation, a foreshadowing of the sacrificial system to come and the ultimate sacrifice that would be paid by the divine, spotless Lamb—our Redeemer.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for being a God of grace. Thank You that the grace that You showed to Adam and Eve is the same grace that You show to us today. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” (Galatians 2:21).

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/21/22 – 04/29/22

Temptation Brings a Choice

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/27/22

Just as pollution despoils the environment today, sin devastated the Garden of Eden. Through man’s disobedience, sin gained a foothold in God’s garden and turned it into a spiritual garbage dump.

While Adam and Eve had always enjoyed complete protection in the garden, they fell for the serpent’s deception and exposed themselves to danger. In the middle of the garden, God had placed a special tree called the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and He had instructed Adam and Eve not to eat the fruit of this tree (see Genesis 2:16-17).

Temptation always brings a choice. It is an opportunity either to come under God’s authority and have victory or to go our own way and suffer defeat. Alone we are helpless victims, but with the Lord we are conquerors.

When Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, their disobedience infected all of humanity with the virus of sin. But Jesus’ perfect obedience led Him to the cross, making it possible for His followers to receive forgiveness of sin.

In the Garden of Eden, the first man rebelled against God. But in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus, the perfect God-man, obeyed the Father fully. Satan got the upper hand in the first garden. But in the second garden, Jesus submitted to His Father’s will, guaranteeing Satan’s defeat and giving us victory over sin.

If you are not walking in the power of the one who defeated sin, then sin is defeating you. But just as one tree of temptation held sway over Adam, through the tree of Calvary, Jesus defeated death and gave all who call on His name the hope of heaven.

Prayer: Father God, help me recognize and resist the enemy’s schemes. Give me strength to emerge victorious from times of temptation. Teach me to resist the devil so that he may flee from me (James 4:7). I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[T]he Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9).

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/21/22 – 04/29/22

Living in Opposition to God

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/26/22

Throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, Babylon is a symbol for what it means to live at enmity with God. This dubious reputation was born when the inhabitants of Babylon said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens” (Genesis 11:4). With that statement, a well-organized human opposition to God began.

The implication of the Babylonians’ figure of speech, “reaches to the heavens,” is that the top of their tower would be dedicated to the worship of the heavenly bodies. It was from Babylon that astrology, the belief that the stars and planets influence human affairs and events on Earth, was passed on to the entire world.

After four hundred years of slavery in Egypt, even the Hebrews had begun to practice astrology. When the Lord brought them out of Egypt, He warned them against worshiping the stars (see Deuteronomy 18:9-13). In reality, those who look to the stars for the key to their destinies are worshiping Satan and his demonic forces.

Notice Satan’s modus operandi. After he was thrown out of heaven, Satan deceived Adam and Eve into doubting God and managed to get them thrown out of the Garden of Eden. Then Satan deceived Cain into worshiping in his own way rather than God’s way, which led to Abel’s murder and ultimately to the massive destruction of life by the flood. Then Satan deceived Ham’s descendants into worshiping the zodiac—actually the worship of demons—thereby causing their destruction.

Satan always sows deception and confusion. He convinces people to take a gift and turn it into an idol. When people don’t worship God, they embrace false gods, intentionally or not.

Prayer: Lord, You have warned us against worshiping false gods. Help me to avoid the temptation of looking to the world’s deceptive practices for advice and counsel. Instead, turn my heart toward the Truth of Your Word. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven” (Deuteronomy 4:19).

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/21/22 – 04/29/22

A Tale of Two Cities

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/25/22

The Bible is a tale of two cities: the City of Man and the City of God. We can trace these two cities from the opening pages of Genesis to the closing paragraphs of the book of Revelation.

The City of Man is symbolized by Babylon, Rome, and even today by Western civilization. In contrast, the City of God is symbolized by the elect of God from every nation, tribe, and generation. For believers currently living their earthly lives in the City of Man, it may appear to be the worst of times. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ promises that one day all believers will experience the best of times.

Read Genesis 4:1-16. Here we see these two opposing cities begin to take shape in the lives of the children of Adam and Eve. In Abel, we see the City of God. Abel loved God and was obedient to Him, bringing his Creator a sacrifice of blood. In his brother Cain, however, we see the City of Man with all its disobedience and an attitude that says, “I know what God said, but I want to come to God my way.”

After Cain killed his brother Abel and lied about it, he fled home and eventually built the first city—a place to escape from God—filled with fear, anxiety, and restlessness. In Cain’s city, it was easy to pretend that God did not exist and therefore to revolt against Him. To this day, so it remains within the City of Man.

As believers, you and I represent the City of God. Because we follow Jesus, our lives run counter to the culture that surrounds us. The Bible tells us that the godless culture of Cain runs down through generations, sinking deeper into sin, idolatry, and rebellion over time.

But there is good news: God has placed you in your neighborhood, school, campus, or workplace in order to serve Him as a light in this present darkness. God does not call us to run away from the City of Man, but instead to invite others to come to the City of God before it’s too late. Will you stand up and be counted for Christ today in your areas of influence?

Prayer: Father, may I be burdened for the lost in the City of Man. Use me to call people to Your Truth boldly with the love and compassion of Your Holy Spirit at work in my heart. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/21/22 – 04/29/22

The Only Remedy for Guilt

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/24/22

Adam and Eve owned up to their sin, and they regretted the break in their relationship with God. However, this was not true for their son Cain.

The story of Cain and Abel is familiar to us, as is the defiant question Cain asked God: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).

Cain’s anger led him to murder his own brother. He was angry that God accepted Abel’s offering while rejecting his own. Cain had brought an offering to the Lord from his harvest, and Abel had also brought an offering, the firstborn from his flock. The brothers’ offerings were consistent with their occupations: Cain tilled the ground, and Abel raised sheep. Outwardly, both brothers seemed to be performing a righteous act. But Cain wanted to approach God on his own terms.

The Bible doesn’t specify how either brother knew whether God accepted or rejected his offering, but it is clear that they understood the outcome: “The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast” (Genesis 4:4-5). God issued a stern warning, telling Cain that sin was lying in wait for him. But God also offered mercy, making it clear that if Cain did what was right, he would be accepted. Cain refused to heed God’s warning. Instead, he enticed his younger brother into a field where he beat him to death.

Cain denied his sin. When God confronted him, Cain said he knew nothing about his brother’s murder. As punishment, Cain had to leave the land of Eden and became “a restless wanderer on the earth” (Genesis 4:12).

Like Cain, many people today are running from God, but running from God will never alleviate the guilt of sin. Only one remedy exists, and that is found in facing up to our shortcomings. The way to deal with sin and guilt is through confession and repentance.

Prayer: Lord, there have been times when I have run from You. I have hidden from You because of my sin and guilt. I am tired of living apart from Your love and protection. Today, I choose to receive Your grace and live in Your love. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions” (Psalm 51:1).

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/21/22 – 04/29/22

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/23/22

Your Enemy’s Camouflage

One day, a famous English art critic took his daughter to the ocean. No matter how hard he tried, he could not persuade her to join him in the chilly waters of the Atlantic. He built a fire, heated a teakettle of water, and, with a great flourish, poured the steaming water into the ocean. At that point and without further hesitation, the child ran gleefully into the icy waters.

This was a father’s harmless trick. However, this is exactly what the enemy does with us. He mixes small amounts of Truth into an ocean of falsehood, and people wade into the icy pool, not realizing that they have been deceived.

When Satan first came to Eve, he didn’t come on a whim. He carefully planned his attack. Also, understand that before the fall of man, the serpent was not a frightening creature. In fact, it was known for being wise and prudent.

In the Garden of Eden, Satan took on the form of prudence, wisdom, logic, common sense, social acceptability, and conformity. He uses this method with us today. When Eve stepped aside to listen to the enemy’s lies, she made a horrifying mistake. She fell for the tempter’s plan and took the first step toward repudiating God’s authority.

Today still, Satan tempts us to question God’s plan and design for our lives. However, you do not have to be trapped by the snare of the enemy. Through Christ, who lives in you through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, you can turn away from the tempter.

God’s Word provides the perfect outline for dealing with the ambushes of the enemy. Apply its principles to your life, and you will walk in true freedom.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for the power of Your Holy Spirit to defeat Satan. I pray I will listen to His voice so I will not fall prey to the tempter’s plans. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“When [Satan] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/21/22 – 04/29/22

The Greatest Lie

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/22/22

In Genesis 2:16-17, God told Adam, “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, . . .” But later when the serpent asked Eve to confirm what God had commanded Adam, she added something that the Creator had not said. She added “. . . and you must not touch it” (Genesis 3:3).

Perhaps she had already begun to question God’s command. Every tree in the garden was hers to enjoy except one—yet it seems her attention was focused on that one forbidden tree. Eve was fascinated by the tree, and Satan knew her area of weakness and how best to attack it.

So, Satan hit her with a lie contradicting God’s words; he said, “You will certainly not die, . . . For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:4-5). This lie stems from the ultimate lie that God cannot be trusted—that He is not loving and just in His sovereign will but rather deceives. It is the greatest lie, and it ruins lives by saying that God’s way is not the only way to live. Nothing could be further from the Truth, which becomes clear when Satan’s deception is revealed.

Satan promised Eve that she would not die. Instead, she would have knowledge of good and evil. This lie had an element of Truth—by disobeying God, Eve did come to know the difference between good and evil—but in the most horrific way possible as she and Adam took part in sin itself.

Satan had told Eve that this experiential knowledge of sin would make her like God, with a divine understanding of good and evil. That was a complete lie. The moment Eve made her choice, she stopped believing in God as her all-wise Creator and friend.

Instead, she convinced herself that God was preventing her from experiencing the goodness of the tree and the godlike knowledge of good and evil. She doubted that her Creator truly wanted the best for her. In fact, she actually believed Satan’s suggestion that God had lied to her. Have you fallen for Satan’s greatest lie?

Prayer: God, I know that Your every word is true. Help me to always remember that anything that contradicts Your Word is a lie. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?'” (Genesis 3:1).

From the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane

04/21/22 – 04/29/22

Lessons from the Garden

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/21/22

When God created humanity, there was perfect contentment. Adam and Eve lived in paradise, a place of complete peace and protection. When we consider the nature of the Garden of Eden, we gain three insights into the contentment that God desires for His people.

Exquisite beauty. As God created every part of the universe, He pronounced it “good.” But He unleashed the full extent of His creative power when He designed a garden home for Adam and Eve. For their enjoyment, He poured out beauty beyond comprehension.

Abundant provision. The beauty of the Garden of Eden was also functional. The trees were pleasing to the eye but also good for food. As part of God’s plan of provision, He assigned Adam the job of maintaining the garden.

Before the Fall, Adam and Eve didn’t just lounge around all day. “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15). They had important work to do, but they were working inside the garden, in God’s presence, and that made all the difference. They found fulfillment in the satisfying work that God gave them.

Complete protection. The garden’s ability to protect its occupants demonstrates a third element of contentment. God sheltered Adam and Eve, guarding them from all danger. Within the garden’s walls, Adam and Eve lived in an atmosphere of sweet harmony with each other and with God.

This same God longs to provide for you, protect you, and fellowship with you today. When you take time to talk with God, He will talk with you. You can know God’s heart by reading His Word. And when you fellowship with Him, you have His divine protection.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your everlasting love and protection. I know that You want me to rest in You, to develop an ever-deepening relationship with You. Show me how I can draw closer to You through Your Word. I long for Your fellowship, and I ask for Your protection. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings” (Psalm 17:8)

From Misery to Mission

04/1/22 – 04/20/22

Exchanging Our Misery for His Mission

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/20/22

Read Luke 24:30-35. When they got to their destination in the town of Emmaus, the two disciples invited their new friend to come inside and share a meal with them. “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight” (Luke 24:30-31).

Did you catch that? When they invited Jesus in, everything changed. The same is true today. When you invite the resurrected Jesus into your life as your only Savior and Lord, He does not merely come in and take a seat; He takes over. When He came to this house, He was not a guest; He was the host. Notice that it was Jesus who took the bread, gave thanks, and broke it. That’s the job of the host of the home. Likewise, when He comes into your life, He does not come as a guest. He comes as your Savior and Lord. He transforms you. He brings His joy into your joyless circumstances. He brings His victory to your defeated life. He brings His power to the places you feel powerless. He will deliver you from whatever is holding you back from living in the light of His victorious resurrection and yours to come.

Once these two disciples recognized the resurrected Jesus, they moved from fear to courage, from pain to joy, from despair to hope. Their misery was transformed into mission. They got up, even though it was nighttime, and headed all the way back to Jerusalem. Though it was a very dangerous road, they couldn’t be stopped. They had an important mission. They had Good News to deliver. They knew they must tell others what had happened. They had seen the risen Lord with their own eyes. They had walked with Him and talked with Him, and He had ministered to their hearts.

When you discover true hope in the plans and promises of God, you will be moved from a place of sorrow to a place of service. Pray that your life, from now until He calls you home, will be a life of purpose and joy—no matter what challenges may come.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son and the tremendous calling to go and proclaim His salvation for the furthering of Your Kingdom. Thank You for transforming me and giving me confidence and courage with Your lovingkindness. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together” (Luke 24:33).

From Misery to Mission

04/1/22 – 04/20/22

Grasping the Whole Truth

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/19/22

Read Luke 24:25-29. Down through history, the most dangerous leaders have been the ones with only partial information. In the pulpit, the most reckless preachers are the ones who preach half-truths. Partial information leads to wrong conclusions. In order to walk in the Truth, we need all of the Truth.

When Jesus began walking with the downcast disciples on the road to Emmaus and heard the sorrow in their voices, He did not hesitate to correct their understanding of the Messiah’s mission. They weren’t wrong to place their hope in Jesus as Savior, but they were missing important information from the Scriptures. Jesus asked them, “Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (v. 26). And so, while they still did not recognize Him, Jesus filled in the gaps using the Old Testament. He did it to restore their joy.

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (v. 27). If these two disciples had embraced the whole Truth, they would have known that the tomb could not hold Jesus, that He would conquer death by rising again. They would have realized that the very events that brought them despair were part of God’s plan.

Our joy is robbed whenever we believe anything less than the whole Truth. When false teachers say the Bible is a smorgasbord—that you’re supposed to pick up what you like and reject what you don’t—you are being led astray, and despair will soon follow. If they try to tell you Christ is so loving that He’s not going to judge anybody, you’re being lied to. If they can get you to believe God does not care about your moral behavior, you will soon be walking far from the Lord—and you will be robbed of the peace He wants you to experience.

Today, you can have an encounter with the resurrected Jesus. He will give you the whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth. Not half-truths. Not partial information. Jesus once said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). That was true for the people listening in Jesus’ day, and it’s still true for us today.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your Word that gives me the whole Truth, the glorious Good News of salvation. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. I am a new creation by the power of Your cleansing blood. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“He said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!'” (Luke 24:25).

From Misery to Mission

04/1/22 – 04/20/22

Challenging the Cause of Our Sorrow

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/18/22

Read Luke 24:22-24. When sadness overtakes you, it seems like the whole world comes to a grinding halt. It’s hard to eat, hard to sleep. Oftentimes, you don’t feel like doing much of anything.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus knew the feeling. They had lost everything when Jesus died on Good Friday. Then, they had to sit in their sadness. They couldn’t travel the distance home because of the Sabbath. So they stayed in town, mourning their tremendous loss with the other disciples—descending more deeply into despair.

On Sunday morning, they heard the reports that the tomb was empty, that Jesus’ body was gone. So, they began their seven-mile journey home. Then Jesus showed up on the road as a fellow traveler. They didn’t recognize Him at first, but He was there to challenge the reason for their despair.

How many times have you placed your hope in a dream, only to see it shatter before your eyes? Whatever the cause of your discouragement, I’ve got good news for you. It’s a promise backed by the Word of God and confirmed by the testimonies of millions of people around the world: The resurrected Jesus will challenge the cause of your despair.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus did not realize the cross that had shattered their dreams was the very instrument of their redemption. They did not realize Jesus’ death would pave the way for the power of the resurrection, that the old, rugged cross was God’s instrument for bringing eternal life to everyone who believes. They did not realize the very tomb that held Jesus for three days is the permanent burial ground for sin, guilt, pain, suffering, and death for everyone who receives Him as Savior.

You see, the disciples were only looking at their circumstances from their limited perspective. But when Jesus showed up, He opened their eyes to see things from heaven’s point of view. They saw the cross as a dead end, but it was a critical step on the path of redemption. Jesus’ death was not a loss but a victory, not an end but the beginning, not a setback but the biggest breakthrough the world has ever seen. In this light, the clouds of discouragement dissipate. They cannot survive in the midst of so much hope.

Prayer: Father, thank You for a hope that does not disappoint. I know You are at work on my behalf because You love me. May I honor You by living joyfully even in the darkest of days with my eyes set on Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus” (Luke 24:24).

From Misery to Mission

04/1/22 – 04/20/22

Remembering the Promises of Jesus

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/17/22

Read Luke 24:13-21. For the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the cross hadn’t just put an end to the life of Jesus; it had put an end to their hope as well. “[W]e had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel,” they lamented (Luke 24:21). They saw their dreams dashed on the cross.

In the days that followed Jesus’ crucifixion, these disciples were overwhelmed by a sense of utter hopelessness. You see, they loved Jesus. They had walked with Him. They had followed Him. They had placed their trust completely in Him. But the death of Jesus ended it all, and they didn’t know what to do.

In the fog of despair, they’d forgotten that Jesus had to die. This was the reason that Jesus came to earth in the first place. This was the reason He left the glories of heaven to be born of a virgin, and this was the reason He lived a perfect life. Every moment was lived in obedience to God the Father even unto death by crucifixion for the joy of taking away the sins of all who believe in Him!

But these disciples had forgotten Jesus’ promise. During His public ministry, Jesus—God’s only begotten Son in human flesh—said again and again that He would die to save everyone who repents of their sins and believes in Him. And then He told them, “I’m going to rise on the third day” (see Matthew 16:21; Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22). In the darkness of disappointment, the disciples were so consumed by sorrow that they forgot this part of the story. They forgot that God had a plan.

Perhaps you’ve felt the weight of overwhelming grief and despair, too. Perhaps you’re there right now. If so, you are not alone. Bouts of discouragement and anxiety plague people from every walk of life. Especially in our culture today, the struggle is all too common. But there is Good News: Jesus can cure every wounded heart. He alone can come alongside you and give you true peace. He alone can take away your misery and give you a mission.

And there’s more. Jesus did not come from heaven just to cure our discouragement; He came from heaven to redeem us and give us eternal life with Him. He came to permanently forgive our sins. So let us turn from our sin and put our trust in Him!

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times that I forget the big picture, the incredible promise of eternity with You in a redeemed new heaven and new earth. Help me hold fast to this wonderful Truth every day. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him” (Luke 24:15-16).

Resurrection Power

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/16/22

The supernatural events of that first Easter morning declare to us the power of God.

The Grave Clothes Remained

“Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed” (John 20:6-8). They didn’t find evidence of a hasty retreat or disturbance by humans, but the linens lying neatly and in order revealing the miracle of the resurrection.

The Power of the Resurrection

The miracles that occurred during the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ were not random. These miracles declare the supernatural significance of that first Easter and work together to make it clear that the death of Christ was not ordinary, but a sacrifice of immeasurable, eternal consequence. These miracles demonstrate that the crucifixion and the resurrection are two sides of the same coin. That the death and resurrection must go together.

Why is that? Because, by His crucifixion, holy, sinless Jesus ransomed sinners—all who will come to Him—from the just wrath of God toward sin and evil. And by His resurrection, He has freed believers from the bondage of sin and the sting of death. Through His death, Jesus redeemed all those who would believe in Him from hell and eternal judgment. But through His resurrection, He assured them of their own eternal resurrection.

At the cross Jesus became the victim of sin, but three days later, He became the victor over death and the grave. The crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ are inseparable. You cannot have one without the other. As you celebrate the resurrection this Easter, remember that God’s greatest miracle was not a one-time event. Christ is still alive; He walks with us daily. And His resurrection is the prelude of our own to come.

Prayer: Thank You, God, for the sacrifice of Your Son and for the power of the resurrection! I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10).

A Torn Curtain, Split Rocks, and Open Graves

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/15/22

Today we continue our look at the supernatural events that took place from the death of Jesus through the days following His resurrection.

The Curtain Tore

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:50-51).

Upon Jesus’ death, the curtain in the tabernacle that separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple was torn in half. The sacrifice of Jesus destroyed the barrier that separated the people from God. No longer do we need an earthly priest to approach God for us—we go straight to the Father through the Son, our great high priest (see Hebrews 4:14-16).

The Earth Shook

Another miraculous occurrence that happened during the death of Jesus was an earthquake. Matthew 27:51 tells us that, “The earth shook, the rocks split . . .” This was no small tremor, but a quake strong enough to tear open rock.

The Graves Opened and the Saints Arose
After the earthquake, some of the graves located at Calvary were opened: “. . . and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people” (Matthew 27:52-53). It wasn’t until after Christ’s resurrection that the saints arose as well. What a testimony to the resurrection power!

Prayer: God, thank You for the signs that displayed the significance of what was taking place in the death and resurrection of Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[His incomparably great power for us who believe] is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 1:19-20).

Supernatural Events

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/14/22

Through the years, people have refused to believe the miracles of Calvary. They’ve developed theories to explain away the events surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus.

And the one thing these people and their theories have in common is that they refuse to accept the supernatural and continue to search for a natural reason. But there are no natural, coincidental occurrences surrounding the resurrection of the Christ. God’s hand was evident through it all. God’s miracles do not begin and end with the resurrection itself.

There are several more supernatural events that happened from the death of Jesus through the days following His resurrection. Over the next couple days, we will look at what the Bible says happened during that time.

The Darkness Fell
Just before Jesus’ death on the cross, darkness fell upon the land during the middle of the day. The Bible tells us that, “It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining” (Luke 23:44-45). While no one knows for sure if this darkness covered the earth or if it was localized to Judea, we do know it was a supernatural darkness. This was not a coincidental occurrence of a natural eclipse. This three-hour darkness was caused by God’s hand, symbolizing the significance and intense suffering of the death of Jesus.

Prayer: Father, I am grateful that the events that took place around the death and resurrection of Christ can’t be explained apart from Your hand at work. Thank You for showing Your power even in the darkness that fell the day of the crucifixion. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also” (1 Corinthians 6:14).

Because He Died, We Truly Live

04/02/22 – 04/13/22

Surprised by the Only

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/13/22

Many people today buy into the false belief that all religions are the same. In their ignorance, they proclaim that all religions teach similar things, lead to the same God, and have equally venerable founders. But did Buddha rise from the dead? Is Muhammad’s tomb empty? Has Krishna walked out of his grave?

The answer is a resounding no. Only Jesus has surprised the world when He rose from the dead, in great power and glory, so that all may come to know that He is the only one who guarantees our resurrection unto eternal life.

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-8. In this passage, we read that hundreds of people witnessed Christ’s resurrection. But despite their collective testimony, many people throughout history have still denied the physical resurrection of Jesus. They are dead set on refuting this historical fact—in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Some of the most fervent objectors of the resurrection were the very people that Jesus had come to save: the Jews. In Acts 18 alone, we see the Jews opposing the apostles’ proclamation of the Gospel on three separate occasions, even to the point of violence (see Acts 18:6, 12).

Today’s culture is no different. Though evidence of Christ’s resurrection is overwhelming, we know that Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the glory of Christ and the Truth of the Gospel. When Jesus returns to judge the world, they will certainly be surprised.

Christ’s resurrection established Him as the only one who is qualified to judge every human being who has ever lived. He is the only one who can save us from our sins and give us eternity. We must ask ourselves, “When I stand before the courts of heaven, will I be able to say that I placed my whole faith in Jesus Christ, the only crucified and risen Lord?”

When Christ returns, all who believe in Him will have the great joy of being surprised by His love rather than His judgment. For now, we know Him only in part—but when completeness comes, we shall know fully, even as we are fully known (see 1 Corinthians 13:9-12)

Prayer: Jesus, Your love is astounding. Thank You for Your love displayed on the cross. Thank You for opening my eyes to the Truth of Your resurrection. Help me to point others to You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Because He Died, We Truly Live

04/02/22 – 04/13/22

Surprised by Purpose

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/12/22

Of the three women from Mark 16, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus are more familiar to us because of their presence in other Biblical accounts. In comparison, Salome is a seemingly unknown character. But we know her story, for she is the mother of two of Jesus’ disciples, the sons of Zebedee.

Read Matthew 20:20-28. Salome loved her sons with a passion. In her mind, her boys were the greatest leaders that Jesus would ever have. So she said to Him, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom” (v. 21). Like many Jews, Salome probably thought Jesus had come to establish a physical kingdom on earth.

Like all loving mothers, Salome had great hopes and dreams for her boys. She believed that their reigning with Jesus on earth was the fulfillment of these dreams. But on Good Friday, as she stood at the foot of the cross, those dreams were shattered. She saw all her ambitions for her sons dying with Jesus.

Salome had not yet grasped the purposes of God—the mystery hidden for ages but now disclosed to the Lord’s people (see Colossians 1:26). Her hope was still in her own plans. But God’s plan was exceedingly more wonderful than her own. For on the cross, Jesus was guaranteeing that not only her sons but every believing son and daughter would reign with Him for eternity.

On that first Easter morning, the purpose of God was fulfilled. His wonderful plan came to fruition the moment Jesus shed His own blood, died as a substitute for us, and was raised to life. He took our death, our judgment, our hell, and now He is redeeming all who put their faith in Him. These are the glorious riches of the mystery, the very purpose of God—Christ given for us, the hope of glory.

God loves us more intensely than we could ever know. He loves us with an indescribable, inexplicable love, and out of an overflow of His love, He chose to pay for our sins. According to His great purpose, we now stand righteous in Christ rather than condemned by our sin. So when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances or when things do not go as planned, we can trust the God whose plans and purposes are always better than our own.

Prayer: Lord, I long for Your purposes to be fulfilled in my life. I praise You for Your redeeming love. May it transform my life and, as I share it, the lives of those around me for Your glory. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[H]e made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment” (Ephesians 1:9-10).

Because He Died, We Truly Live

04/02/22 – 04/13/22

Surprised by Hope

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/11/22

Have you ever been in a situation where you believed there was no way out? Have you ever been so overwhelmed by your circumstances that you thought there was no possibility of breakthrough? In a far greater way than we could ever imagine, such was the condition of three women on the very first Easter morning.

Read Mark 16:1-7. On the morning of the third day following Christ’s crucifixion, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were in a deep state of mourning and utter hopelessness.

Throughout the years of Christ’s ministry, these women had demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Jesus. Each of them believed with all their heart that He was the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament, and they knew that they had been called by God to serve Him. They were certain that He had come to establish His Kingdom on earth.

So when they found themselves standing at the foot of the cross, it was all the more heartbreaking. As they huddled together with the apostle John, they watched Jesus die. And as they watched His death, they were watching their hopes and dreams die along with Him.

As they approached the tomb that first Easter Sunday, they came with a sense of hopelessness. Jesus was gone, and in the darkest of times, they had made plans for the inevitable. They had come with spices to anoint Christ’s body for burial, as was the Jewish custom.

Little did they know that their plans were needless—for God had already supernaturally intervened. Christ their Lord, who had died before their eyes, had risen from the grave.

Often, we can surrender to worry and anxiety, only to discover later that our thinking was premature. When God intervenes in our lives, despair, which had seemed immovable, can melt away in a moment. Suddenly, light shines in the dark corners of our thoughts and replaces hopelessness with hope, sorrow with joy, and fear with faith.

What plans in your life—plans born out of depression and hopelessness—might God be trying to interrupt today? The God who supernaturally intervened in the lives of these three women can also intervene in your life—and the life of anyone who believes in His name.

Prayer: Father, thank You for the hope You have given us in You. Help me trust You in the darkest of times and allow the hope of the resurrection to light my way in every circumstance. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6).

Because He Died, We Truly Live

04/02/22 – 04/13/22

Surprised by Deliverance

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/10/22

Trials in our lives often get worse before they get better. Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Salome experienced this firsthand in the days following Jesus’ crucifixion. Before they could be surprised by the resurrection, they had to struggle through three torturous days as hopelessness threatened to overwhelm them.

Read James 1:2-12. In this Scripture, the Lord urges us to view our trials through a certain lens—the lens of promise. God promises us that persevering through trials leads to maturity, completeness, and the crown of life (v. 12). This is why He calls us blessed when we persevere under trial.

As Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Salome approached Christ’s tomb, they were in the throes of trial. They also had a seemingly unsolvable problem—a huge boulder likely stood between them and the body of Jesus. While they were on their way to the place where He was laid, they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:3). It seemed that every obstacle stood in their way.

Yet, they persevered in going to the tomb. And to their utter amazement, when they arrived, they discovered that the stone had been rolled away.

The massive stone had been placed there to stop Jesus from returning from the dead, as He had promised. Roman soldiers also stood guard in front of it. But neither the soldiers nor the stone could keep Christ from overcoming death. What was such an immovable obstacle for these three women was like a grain of dust to the resurrected Jesus.

Today, we are all in need of this same resurrection power. As we continue to celebrate the wonder of Resurrection Sunday, God wants to remind you afresh that there is no great stone in your life that He cannot remove. As you walk with Him, He will bring you through the fiery trial and give you the crown of life. So persevere in seeking His face, trusting Him to move the immovable stone—whatever it may be—in His timing.

Prayer: Lord, I praise You for Your resurrection power. Thank You for that same power working in me to give me new life as I submit to Your will. I know that in every trial, I can have peace because You have made a way and moved the stone. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).