Devotional Archives for Encouragement for Today

Growing up, author Kristi Gaultiere struggled to manage her emotions, feeling shame and inadequacy as she compared herself to her emotionally controlled parents and sisters. Through her journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth, Gaultiere found healing and transformation by embracing the Enneagram personality model and learning to trust Jesus' love and guidance.

Finding balance in life can be a daunting task, but Jesus' example of spending time alone with God on a mountain to pray offers a powerful model for embracing rest and clarity. By choosing to pause and prioritize our relationship with God, we can discover the courage to say "no" to overcommitting and find true balance in our lives.

Lysa TerKeurst shares her personal experience of heartbreak and how she has come to understand that forgiveness is not something we do, but rather something we participate in through cooperation with God's work of forgiveness. By leaning into Jesus' grace and letting go of our efforts to control the process, we can find freedom from unhealed pain and extend forgiveness to others.

As a Christian mother, you are more than just an overcomer - you are empowered to overcome through the love of Christ. Discover your true superpower and learn how to shift from "victim motherhood" to a mindset of gratitude and trust in God's goodness, even on the toughest days.

Ruth Chou Simons invites readers to re-examine their trust in God, acknowledging that true trust is often harder to achieve than love. By exploring the character of God and His faithfulness throughout Scripture, Simons encourages readers to shift from relying on feelings or empty promises to placing their confidence in the Lord's unwavering trustworthiness.

When hard seasons shake our lives, we can find stability and refuge in God, our Rock, who has been a shelter for us and a strong tower from the enemy. By remembering what God has done, opening ourselves to His teaching, crying out to Him with honesty, keeping the faith, and running to Him for refuge, we can plant ourselves on Jesus and find the security we desperately crave.

When life's constant concerns grip our hearts, it can be difficult to release them into God's care. By trusting in Him and letting go of our need for control, we can find the quiet relief and freedom that comes from placing our hope and confidence in His mighty hand.

When years of prayer seem to yield little progress, it's easy to feel discouraged and wonder if God is working behind the scenes. However, Jesus reminds us that "My Father has been working until now [He has never ceased working], and I too am working" (John 5:17), urging us to have faith that He is always at work in our lives.

Lauren McAfee shares her personal journey of discovering a false sense of control over her life and learning to trust God as the firm foundation for peace and comfort. By examining Matthew 7:24-27, she reveals how clinging to a warped understanding of God's sovereignty can lead to anxiety and panic attacks, but surrendering wholly to Him brings freedom from fear and reliance on one's own efforts.

Wendy Blight invites readers to take a "sacred pause" with God, setting aside time for solitude and meditation on Scripture to settle their unsettled souls. By embracing the holy habit of solitude and engaging with God's Word, individuals can find hope, peace, and calm in the midst of life's challenges.