Carter Conlon | Daily Devotionals

I’ve been deeply burdened for the people of God, especially for the younger generation. Many of you are new in your faith and may not yet fully understand what your journey will entail. You might have formed an impression of what the Christian life looks like, and while it may seem good, it might not be complete or entirely accurate. 

You may find yourself overwhelmed by your own weaknesses, difficult circumstances, and challenges that will come your way. There will be voices that oppose you, battles to fight, and struggles you didn’t anticipate. You may have thought that coming to Christ would rid you of all your problems, and while some of that is true, new challenges still await you. 

Embrace the reality of the challenges ahead, and prepare yourself to face them with the strength that is promised to you from Jesus Christ. Allow Him to be glorified through your life by giving you strength that only He can give. 

Talk to Him about it today, because, my brother and my sister, 

It’s time to pray. 

Psalm 22 begins with these words: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” 

King David felt overwhelmed, asking God, “Why are You so far from helping me?” Have you ever prayed like that? He continued, “I cry out to You in the daytime, but You do not hear me.” (Psalm 22:2) 

David was saying, in a sense, “I’m doing my part—where are You, God?” Have you ever sat in church, hearing others share victories while you struggle? 

When you feel overwhelmed, spend time with God in prayer, trusting that He hears you and that your story is still unfolding. Hold on to Jesus—He hasn’t forsaken you. You are called to be a part of God’s army, and through you, He will bring His name to reputation. 

Believe God for a miracle in your own life. 

It’s time to pray. 

1 Kings 22:29-30 “So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up to Ramoth Gilead. And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, ‘I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you put on your robes.’ So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.” 

Are you someone who disguises your conversation, your actions, and your behavior when you go into the house of God or around other Christians? If you’ve allowed the enemy any portion of your life by pretending to walk in righteousness—pretending to be one of God’s children but unwilling to be real and vulnerable—may I just say, it’s not others who are being fooled, it’s you. 

It’s time to be real and humble before God and others so that we may be healed. The Bible tells us that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 

For you and for me, it’s time to pray. 

In a world filled with darkness and confusion, it’s easy to feel disheartened. However, we can find hope knowing that God has a plan for these last days. He has promised to prosper us, to give us hope and a future. 

As believers, you and I are called to embrace God’s plan and be active participants in His divine purpose. We must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit within us to overcome every obstacle and shine His light into a world that so desperately needs it. 

To fully embrace God’s plan, we need to trust in His wisdom and surrender our limitations to His limitless power. This may not come naturally to all of us, but peace in the storm is available—and it is promised to each one of us. 

Let’s pray for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to walk boldly in faith and make a difference in the world around us. 

It’s time to pray. 

King David didn’t end his journey surrounded by despair, fear, or ungodliness. In Psalm 18:36, he declares, “You enlarged my path under me, so that my feet did not slip.” 

In other words, God provided a way where there seemed to be none. David reminds us that God leads us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 

When facing uncertainty—whether it’s returning to a challenging job, a difficult neighborhood, or even a dark room you call home—David’s words still resonate. He found that God expanded his vision beyond his immediate circumstances. 

Trust that God can enlarge your path, give you clarity in your journey, and help you see beyond your current struggles. 

God, we are trusting You now to be our help. 

It’s time to pray. 

I remember sitting in church 45 years ago, on the edge of my seat, wondering if it could be true. Could it be possible that there’s something greater for my life than what I had planned for myself? Could it be that God had thoughts and plans for me beyond everything else that had ever been said to define me? 

There comes a moment in your life—just as it did in mine—when you simply accept that God’s plan is bigger. And you say, “Lord, I accept that You’ve chosen to do a work through my life, a work that will bring honor to Your name and glory to You. In whatever sphere of influence You place me, my life will start making a difference because You’ll lead me there.” 

So let’s embrace this truth and be ready for the impact our lives will have as we walk in the strength and guidance of God. My brother, my sister, you won’t regret it, and God will never let you down. 

It’s time to pray. 

1 Kings 20:32“So they wore sackcloth around their waists and put ropes around their heads and came to the king of Israel and said, ‘Your servant Ben-Hadad says, “Please let me live.”’ And he said, ’Is he still alive? He is my brother.” 

There are many who are moved but not moved enough to bring a total change of lifestyle to their lives. Deception is going to increase in the coming days, and those who think they can worship God while continuing in sin are sadly mistaken. 

Either we allow the power of Christ to extinguish sin once and for all, or we will find ourselves fighting an ongoing battle that we were never meant to fight—making the cross of Christ of no effect. 

God is calling you and me to higher ground in Christ. We are going to need to be there in the coming flood, and we need to get there now. 

For you and I, it’s time to pray. 

Psalm 6:9-10“The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer. Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled; let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.” 

Walking in victory requires honesty. True and lasting victory comes from a humble heart. The Bible says that God draws near to the contrite and the brokenhearted. God draws near to the man or woman who says, “I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I’m sorry for what I’ve allowed to remain in my life.” 

When you and I ask for forgiveness and accept God’s victory through His Son, Jesus Christ, God will cause the enemy of our souls to turn back suddenly and lose ground in our lives. If we turn to God, humble ourselves, and start to pray, He will receive our prayer and He will deliver us. 

Thank God for this great truth. 

It’s time to pray. 

When the Israelites reached the border of the Promised Land, ten spies brought back what the Bible refers to as an evil report. The people embraced this report because it aligned with their preexisting doubts and fears. These spies simply confirmed the negative beliefs the people had held all along. 

They believed they were not capable, not strong enough, and lacked the necessary skills to conquer. They saw the mountains as too high and the giants as too formidable. Doubt crept in, questioning whether their desired outcome would ever come to fruition. 

However, I want to challenge you to resist embracing such a negative report. You see, it’s not about you or your abilities alone. It’s about the presence of God within you that makes all the difference. 

Let Jesus Christ be your strength. Let Him be your victory. Let Him be your guide. Let Him conquer for you. 

It’s time to pray. 

Just read the news, and you’ll see that godliness is lacking in our generation. Like a snowball rolling downhill, godlessness is growing larger. 

David felt similarly when he said, “The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; in my distress, I called upon the Lord.” (Psalm 18:5-6) I imagine his cry was much like my own. Sometimes I pray, “Jesus, help me.” Sometimes, we can’t even manage that—just a desperate “Ah!” When words fail us, God still understands our hearts. 

Remember, this wasn’t the end of David’s story, and it isn’t the end of yours either. When you feel overwhelmed, reach out to God. Trust that He hears you even when you have no more words left. 

Now, more than ever, we need each other. We need to pray. We need to believe. We need to trust God for our futures. 

It’s time to pray.