Devotional Archives for Encouragement for Today
A passionate and personal exploration of the secret to powerful prayer, revealing how a genuine passion for people to know Christ can ignite a fervent prayer life, and encouraging readers to seek God's guidance in cultivating this heart-centered approach to prayer.
During quarantine, a mother and daughter formed an unbreakable bond as they spent quality time together, discovering creative outlets and strengthening their relationship. By embracing this unique opportunity, the author reflects on the importance of not neglecting in-person meetings with others, especially during challenging times, to cultivate meaningful connections and deepen faith.
A young mother's desperate longing for God's voice is answered in a surprising way when a stranger brings her a head of cabbage, reminding her that He knows and cares for her even in the smallest details. Through this unexpected encounter, Gloria Hsu reflects on how we can learn to recognize God's voice by recognizing His knowledge and love for us first.
Arlene Pellicane reflects on a biblical passage from Ezra, where Shekaniah takes responsibility for his family's sin and confesses their unfaithfulness to God, demonstrating the importance of personal accountability in maintaining a strong faith. By examining this story, Arlene encourages readers to rekindle their own passion for God's presence and to take ownership of their spiritual lives.
A military spouse's experience of being left behind while her husband was deployed to Iraq highlights that what others consider "hard" may not be comparable to our own struggles, and it's up to us to love and encourage one another through difficult times. By adopting a Christ-like attitude of grace, love, and understanding, we can provide support and comfort to those around us who are facing their own unique challenges.
As a parent, teaching your children to pray can be a daunting task, but modeling authentic prayer in your own life is key. By praying regularly and genuinely with God, you'll create an environment where your children feel comfortable talking to Him, and the gospel will become beautiful to them.
Corrie Gerbatz shares her personal struggle with navigating difficult circumstances, including financial hardship and relationship trials, and finds hope in Philippians 4:6-7, which reminds believers to pray "with thanksgiving" in every situation. By shifting her focus from changing her circumstances to cultivating a heart of thanks for God's daily provisions, Gerbatz discovers the peace of God that transcends all understanding can guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Lisa Whittle shares her personal experience of healing from hurtful church experiences and offers practical advice on shifting focus from "what if" to "what is" and from "what was" to "what now" in order to find hope and positivity again.
A young girl's disappearance from a carpool line prompts the author to reflect on trust and faith, leading her to realize that true trust doesn't grow in uncertainty but in intimacy with God; she encourages readers to pursue God instead of chasing away their doubts. By understanding God's character and developing daily intimacy with Him, readers can cultivate bold faith and put their confidence in His Word.
Karen Ehman shares a personal experience of using flattery to gain favor, and how it can lead to harm, both to the person being flattered and to ourselves. In this devotional, she explores the dangers of flattery, its consequences, and offers practical advice on how to break the pattern of people-pleasing and live authentically.