Devotional Archives for Encouragement for Today
Glenna Marshall's new book, "Known and Loved," offers a powerful exploration of God's love for the deeply known and imperfectly loved. Through her personal journey and biblical insights, Marshall reveals that God's love is not based on our good traits or charming personalities, but rather on His character to keep His promise to love and save us with delight.
As a Christian, have you ever felt overwhelmed by life's worries and anxieties? A recent article from Proverbs 31 Ministries shares how author Alice Matagora found freedom in trusting God's provision, leading to a more carefree and joyful life.
Dr. Juli Slattery invites readers to confront their sexual struggles and surrender them to God, recognizing that this can be a monumental spiritual battle that keeps us from intimacy with Jesus. By acknowledging the presence of Satan in our thoughts, opinions, and actions, and inviting God's power into our lives, we can experience redemption, freedom, and peace.
Alicia Bruxvoort reflects on Psalm 136:23, where the psalmist writes that God remembers us in our weakness, and how this promise of love and action can bring hope to those feeling forgotten or alone. By exploring the Hebrew word for "remember" and its implications for God's response to His people, Bruxvoort encourages readers to recognize the ways God is responding to their deep needs with His deep love.
Lysa TerKeurst shares her personal struggle with trusting God in difficult circumstances, and how she's learning to focus on His character, timing, and love rather than seeking answers to why hard things happen. By declaring God's trustworthiness through three key attributes - changelessness, wisdom, and peace - readers can begin to experience the fruit of trust and find comfort in their doubts and fears.
A desperate and scared Hagar, an Egyptian slave, finds comfort in a divine encounter with God, who gives her the name "El Roi" meaning "God who sees me," offering assurance that He understands and cares for her. This personal story of faith and hope is mirrored in the lives of many today, reminding readers that they are not alone and that God sees and understands them.
Glynnis Whitwer shares a personal journey of discovering that God's power knows no limits, and that our tendency to limit ourselves can prevent us from asking for the big prayers we need. By embracing God's incomparable power and letting go of human limitations, we can invite Him into every situation and experience life-changing results.
Carlos Whittaker explores the spiritual discipline of beholding, a practice that involves slowing down to truly notice and absorb the wonder of life's moments, rather than just seeing them. By putting away distractions and focusing on the present, we can begin to fall back in love with the life God gave us and deepen our connection to His presence.
As Jesus teaches in Luke 11:11-12, God often responds to our requests with blessings rather than harm, but what if we unknowingly ask for something that would bring us danger? By examining our prayers and reflecting on the ways God has protected us from harm, we can come to trust that He always has our best interests at heart.
When you feel like God has failed you, it's easy to lose confidence in His ability to hear and answer your prayers. However, Jesus' conversation with Lazarus' sisters reveals that He knew God was always listening, even when we don't understand the timing or outcome of our prayers.