MY Devotional: Daily Biblical Encouragement & Prayer from Leading The Way

How can you find hope when grieving the loss of someone you love? Does trusting God mean you shouldn't feel sorrow?

In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explores Paul's comforting words in 1 Thessalonians 4, reminding believers that we do not grieve like those who have no hope.

The Bible never tells us not to mourn. Separation is painful, and grief is natural. But because Jesus Christ conquered death, believers can face loss with the assurance that the grave is not the end.

Discover how the resurrection of Jesus transforms our understanding of death, brings comfort in times of sorrow, and gives us confidence in the promise of everlasting life.

Prayer: Lord, help me to mourn with those who mourn and to share the hope of Christ with the hurting. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, . . .” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14a).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael A. Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Until Christ Returns, The Glory of Christ’s Return: LISTEN NOW

The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care

💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com

If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.

❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate

Are you walking in the brilliant light of the Holy Spirit or relying on the dim candlelight of your own understanding?

In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explores Paul's powerful warning in 1 Thessalonians 5:19: "Do not quench the Spirit."

The Holy Spirit helps believers understand Scripture, make wise decisions, and resist temptation. Yet pride, unforgiveness, unrepentant sin, and dependence on human wisdom can hinder His work in our lives—and even within entire churches.

Discover what it means to quench the Holy Spirit, how to recognize the warning signs, and why surrendering to God's Word is essential for walking in His light and power.

Prayer: Father, forgive me for the times when I have quenched the Holy Spirit in my life, leaning on my own fallible understanding. Help me to turn away from such pride and to trust and hope in You, obeying Your Word by Your Spirit. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Ephesians 1:17).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael A. Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Until Christ Returns, Do Not Quench the Spirit: LISTEN NOW

The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care

💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com

If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.

❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate

You may have never bowed before a statue, but could something in your life still be taking God's place? Idolatry isn't limited to ancient temples—it can hide in our ambitions, possessions, relationships, and everyday priorities.

In today's episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef examines the remarkable transformation of the Thessalonian believers, who abandoned their idols to serve the one true God.

Drawing from 1 Thessalonians 1, Dr. Youssef identifies three evidences of genuine faith: turning from idols, serving God, and waiting for Jesus' return.

Discover how to recognize modern-day idols, break free from what competes for your devotion, and live wholeheartedly for the risen Christ.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for setting up idols in Your place. Reveal them to me so that I may repent and turn away from them and to You. May I joyfully serve Your Kingdom as I await the return of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“With whom will you compare me or count me equal? . . . Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me” (Isaiah 46:5a, 9).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael A. Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon series Until Christ Returns: LISTEN NOW

The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care

💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com

If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.

❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate

How should Christians respond when they are criticized, misunderstood, or attacked for their faith? Even the apostle Paul experienced the pain of opposition, yet he refused to let criticism distract him from proclaiming God's Truth.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef examines Paul's response to opposition and how he followed the example of Jesus Christ, who endured false accusations while remaining faithful to His Father's will.

Rather than responding with anger or self-defense, Paul focused on protecting the integrity of the Gospel and demonstrating genuine love for the Thessalonian believers.

Discover how to face criticism with courage, respond with Christlike compassion, and remain faithful to God's Word when your beliefs are challenged.

Prayer: God, help me to trust in You when I am criticized and maligned for my faith. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:44-45a).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael A. Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon series Until Christ Returns: LISTEN NOW

The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care

💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com

If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.

❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate

What does it really mean to love someone as Christ loves us? Is love simply accepting everything a person does, or does genuine love sometimes require difficult conversations?

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explores the Biblical meaning of agape love and why forgiveness, grace, and accountability must go hand in hand.

Drawing from Ephesians 4:15, Dr. Youssef reminds believers that speaking the Truth in love isn't about criticizing every mistake. It's about caring enough to humbly encourage those who are wandering from their faith or pursuing destructive choices.

Discover how to practice Christlike love that offers both compassion and correction—and strengthens the body of Christ.

Prayer: Father, help me to internalize this precious concept of Christian love. May I seek to build up my brothers and sisters in Christ by pointing them to You and exhorting them to Christlikeness even as I receive the same counsel. May we all receive and give admonishment with humility and love, remembering the grace we have received. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael A. Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Until Christ Returns, Christ-Centered Church Until the End: LISTEN NOW

The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care

💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com

If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.

❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate

What keeps your faith standing when everything around you feels uncertain? The answer isn't personal strength, human wisdom, or favorable circumstances—it's the unchanging Truth of Jesus Christ.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explores Paul’s powerful instruction in 2 Thessalonians 2:15 to “stand firm and hold fast” to the teachings of the Gospel.

Discover why Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and promised return provide the rock-solid foundation for your faith. No matter what storms you face, God's sovereign love and faithfulness remain your source of lasting security.

Be encouraged to stand firm on God's promises and find renewed strength in His unchanging love.

Prayer: Lord, how firm a foundation is the Gospel! I praise You for the amazing gift of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world—for my sins! May I rest in my unchangeable identity as Your child and pursue righteousness with thanksgiving. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon End of History and You, Stand Firm in Christ: LISTEN NOW

The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care

💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com

If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.

❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate

What keeps a massive aircraft carrier stable in stormy seas? Powerful anchors. But what keeps a Christian standing firm when life becomes overwhelming?

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef draws a powerful parallel between a warship’s stability and the spiritual strength believers need to withstand life’s storms.

Like the Thessalonian church, Christians today face persecution, false teaching, uncertainty, and spiritual opposition. Yet Paul reminds us that our stability comes not from favorable circumstances but from the unshakable Truth of God’s Word.

Discover how to stay anchored in Jesus Christ, stand firm in your faith, and find lasting hope and encouragement—even when the world around you seems to be falling apart.

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the Gospel on which I can stand firm forever. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure” (Hebrews 6:19).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael A. Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon series Until Christ Returns: LISTEN NOW

The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care

💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com

If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.

❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate

What does it mean to be a faithful steward of God's blessings? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explores 1 Thessalonians 2, revealing why integrity, humility, and pure motives are essential to serving Christ.

The apostle Paul understood that the Gospel was a sacred trust—not a means of gaining wealth, popularity, or power. His example challenges believers to reject selfish ambition and serve God with unwavering faithfulness.

Everything we have—our time, finances, talents, and even our lives—belongs to the Lord. Most importantly, we have been entrusted with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

One day, we will give an account for what God has entrusted to us. Are we living as faithful stewards of His Kingdom?

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the high calling of stewardship You have given me. Help me to stay focused on You and submit all aspects of my life to You. May I steward the resources You have given me with integrity so that my witness is not tainted. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael A. Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Until Christ Returns, Faithful amid False Accusation: LISTEN NOW

The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care

💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com

If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.

❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate

Paul prayed that believers would be sanctified “through and through.” In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explains that God desires every part of our lives to come under the control of Christ.

Sanctification begins on the inside. As our thoughts are brought into obedience to Christ, our actions begin to reflect that inward transformation. Scripture does not separate the spiritual life from the physical life—our entire being belongs to God.

But this kind of holiness is not produced by sheer effort. The God who calls us is faithful, and He is the one who works in us. Our role is to surrender fully and live in daily dependence on Him.

Prayer: Lord, help me to decrease so that Christ may increase in me. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael A. Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Until Christ Returns, Do Not Quench the Spirit: LISTEN NOW

The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care

💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com

If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.

❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate

The Bible teaches that Satan is real, personal, intelligent, and actively scheming against believers. But he is not all-powerful, all-knowing, or everywhere at once. Those attributes belong to God alone.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef examines what Scripture reveals about Satan—from Job and the temptation of Jesus to Paul’s warnings about the devil’s schemes.

Satan often works through deception, even twisting Scripture for his purposes. That is why believers must know God’s Word, put on the full armor of God, and remain alert to spiritual attack.

Victory does not come through human willpower. It comes through Truth-power—the Word of God exposing every lie to the light of Scripture.

Prayer: Father, thank You for Your Word that gives me Truth-power to defeat the lies of Satan. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me” (John 14:30-31).

*Excerpt adapted from Fearless Living in Troubled Times by Michael A. Youssef © 2017. Published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR. Used by permission.

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Until Christ Returns, Resisting Satan Until He Falls: LISTEN NOW 

The voice you hear on the MY Devotional podcast is digitally generated with Dr. Youssef's permission. If today’s devotional stirred a question, burden, or need for prayer, you don’t have to walk through it alone.

🙏 Pastoral Care & Prayer Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
https://ltw.org/care

💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
https://myfaithassistant.com

If you’ve been blessed by this podcast, please consider a tax-deductible donation to help extend this ministry—so another person can be encouraged, prayed for, and pointed to Christ.

❤️ Support Leading The Way:
https://www.ltw.org/donate