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

What gives a Christian courage when circumstances are frightening, costly, or painful? It begins with how we see God.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explains that courageous faith rests on the character of God. He is sovereign, holy, loving, faithful, all-knowing, all-powerful, and always present. Because God cannot be wrong or defeated, those who fully trust Him can face an uncertain world with confidence and peace.

Our view of God determines whether we walk by faith or by sight. Jesus promised that believers would experience trouble in this world, yet Scripture is filled with men and women who endured persecution, suffering, rejection, and even death because they believed God’s eternal promises were worth more than temporary comfort.

Hebrews 11 remembers saints who refused to abandon their faith even when obedience carried an enormous cost. They did not receive everything God had promised during their earthly lives, yet they persevered because they were looking toward something better—an eternal inheritance secured by God Himself.

Following Jesus will cost us something. But courageous faith knows that knowing Christ is infinitely more valuable than anything we could lose. Trust the God who never fails, and follow Him with confidence, whatever the cost.

Prayer: Lord, forgive me for the times when I have put my desires before Your will and purpose for me. Help me to follow wherever You lead, no matter the cost. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“[Moses] regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward” (Hebrews 11:26). 

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon They Were Just like Us, The Warring Faith: 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.
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Have you ever skimmed instructions simply to confirm what you already believed? We can do the same thing with Scripture—approaching the Bible with predetermined ideas and searching only for verses that support them.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef warns against reading our own assumptions into God’s Word. When we force a favorite theme, opinion, or belief onto every passage, we risk missing what God is actually saying. Pride in our knowledge can blind us to fresh truths about His character, His love, and our continuing need for Him.

Faithful Bible study begins by asking what the text actually says. That means considering its original setting, reading passages in context, using sound study tools, and resisting the temptation to make Scripture say what we want it to say.

Dr. Youssef also reminds us that meaningful Bible study cannot be rushed. The treasures of God’s Truth reward those who seek Him diligently. Growth requires time, attention, humility, and a willingness to listen.

Come to Scripture not merely looking for confirmation, but for transformation. Slow down, seek the Lord earnestly, and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into the Truth God wants you to see.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, open my eyes so that I may see wonderful Truth from Your Word. Illuminate my mind so that I can learn what You want me to learn. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character . . . for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon series Defending a Lion: LISTEN NOW | WATCH 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

Many of us have a habit of skipping the instructions and trying to figure things out on our own. But when it comes to Scripture, that approach can lead to serious misunderstanding. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explains why learning to read the Bible properly is essential for Christian growth.

Dr. Youssef identifies several common pitfalls, including proof-texting, ignoring context, confusing literal and figurative language, overlooking historical and cultural background, and trying to understand Scripture apart from the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:29 provide an important example. When He speaks of gouging out an eye that causes someone to stumble, He is using vivid hyperbole to communicate the seriousness of removing anything that interferes with wholehearted devotion to God. Understanding genre, context, and intent helps us hear Scripture as it was meant to be heard.

Bible study must also lead to application. It is not enough simply to accumulate information—we must allow God’s Word to confront, instruct, and change us. Dr. Youssef encourages believers to study carefully, compare reliable translations, pray for the Holy Spirit’s illumination, and resist the temptation to force our own ideas into the text.

Approach the Bible prayerfully, carefully, and humbly. As your understanding grows, so will your ability to recognize, obey, and live in the Truth that sets you free.

Prayer: God, help me to read Your Word with diligence and integrity. May I see more of who You are as I study, and may I be uplifted by Your wonder and beauty. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon series Defending a Lion: LISTEN NOW | WATCH 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

Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. Scripture is far more than ink on a page—it carries God’s authority, power, will, and Truth, producing fruit and transforming the lives of those who receive it.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef compares the penetrating power of Scripture to a surgeon’s scalpel. In unskilled hands, a blade can wound. But in the hands of a gifted surgeon, that same blade becomes an instrument of healing.

When we approach the Bible with humble, open hearts, we place ourselves in the hands of the Master Surgeon. God’s Word reaches into the deepest recesses of our souls, exposing hidden attitudes, motives, and sins that need to be confronted. Nothing remains concealed from the One who knows us completely.

But God does not expose our sin simply to leave us wounded. Like the Great Physician, He removes what is destructive and restores what is broken. Even when the Truth cuts deeply, His purpose is our good—bringing repentance, freedom, and greater Christlikeness.

Come to Scripture ready for God to work. Trust the Surgeon who knows precisely where healing is needed, and allow His living Word to transform you from the inside out.

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

If the Bible were truly just another book, why would so many people resist what it has to say? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explains why Scripture provokes such a strong response: God’s Word is living Truth, sent with divine authority to accomplish His will.

Isaiah declares that God’s Word will not return empty. It carries His power, authority, and purpose—and that is precisely why the enemy works so hard to keep believers from reading, trusting, and obeying it.

Satan’s strategy has not changed since the Garden of Eden. His deception begins with doubt: Did God really say? He tempts us to place our own opinions, desires, and judgment above the final authority of Scripture. Yet Proverbs warns that a way can appear right to us while ultimately leading to destruction.

Dr. Youssef reminds Christians that the Bible is not junk mail to be ignored. It is God’s gracious message to His people. If we love the Lord, we should hunger to hear His voice through His Word—opening Scripture with excitement, humility, and anticipation.

Don’t leave God’s letter unopened. Read it. Believe it. Obey it. And allow the Truth of His Word to change your life.

Prayer: Lord, help me fight Satan by reading and by resting and rejoicing in Your Truth. May I be a light in this culture as I immerse myself in Scripture. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. 

“ . . . so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon series Defending a Lion: LISTEN NOW | WATCH 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