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

It’s easy for married life to become a nonstop routine—work, kids, responsibilities, and exhaustion—until one day you realize you’ve stopped truly talking. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explains that when couples lose conversational intimacy (and become content with it), they quietly forfeit one of God’s greatest gifts in marriage: deep companionship and Christ-centered closeness. Dr. Youssef identifies three common weak points where the enemy applies pressure to sabotage conversation and connection: Calendars: Even “good” activities can crowd out what’s essential. If you don’t schedule time to talk, it likely won’t happen. Children: Children are a blessing—but they should not replace the husband-and-wife priority. A secure family is built on parents who love each other well. Conflicts: A healthy marriage isn’t conflict-free. In fact, avoiding conflict often means avoiding conversation. But when handled wisely, conflict can become an ally that strengthens intimacy and growth. Before implementing practical changes, Dr. Youssef gives a simple, powerful next step for couples: pray together—asking God to reveal weaknesses, renew love, and breathe new life into your marriage. Prayer: Father, help me to prioritize with my spouse our calendars, children, and conversation according to what will strengthen our relationship and glorify Your name. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.  Today’s MY Devotional has been provided by Leading The Way. 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Every marriage faces moments of hurt—some small, some storm-level. What determines whether those moments become distance or deeper unity? Forgiveness. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef teaches from Jesus’ words in Matthew 18:21–22, where Christ calls believers to forgive “seventy-seven times”—not as a number to track, but as a lifestyle of grace. Dr. Youssef explains why the world may talk about forgiveness, but only those who know they’ve been forgiven much can extend forgiveness freely—especially in the most personal relationship of all. You’ll learn three practical, biblical ways to cultivate forgiveness in marriage: Attack the insignificant: train your heart to forgive small offenses so you’re prepared for bigger trials, Arrest the incompatible: after choosing forgiveness, take lingering grudges captive before they gain a foothold, Hold fast to your true identity: remember how Christ forgives you again and again—and let that mercy shape how you respond to your spouse. If bitterness has been building, if old wounds keep resurfacing, or if you’re trying to rebuild trust, this devotional will point you back to the only source of lasting freedom: forgiving as the Lord forgave you. Today’s MY Devotional has been provided by Leading The Way. 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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 if the biggest threat to your marriage isn’t communication styles, personality differences, or stress—but selfishness? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef begins with the Garden of Eden, where Adam and Eve experienced complete openness—physically and spiritually—until self-centeredness invited sin and broke what God designed to be beautiful and whole. Dr. Youssef warns that selfishness remains one of Satan’s most effective tools to dismantle marriages, because it turns every disagreement into a battle for comfort, control, or pride. But there is real hope. Through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, believers can grow into spouses who live out God’s command to value others above themselves—not as a slogan, but as daily obedience. In this devotional, you’ll learn what selflessness looks like in real marriage moments through three Christlike qualities: Mature: asking, “How can I sacrifice for my spouse?” instead of demanding comfort, Magnanimous: practicing generous love that seeks to understand, Malleable: choosing flexibility and mutual submission out of reverence for Christ. As husband and wife “die to self,” marriage becomes a living picture of Christ and His Church—and a testimony to resurrection power that brings new life and abundant joy. Today’s MY Devotional has been provided by Leading The Way. 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

From the first wedding in Genesis to the wedding feast of the Lamb in Revelation, Scripture reveals something stunning: God delights in marriage—and He designed it for our good and His glory. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that a wedding is only the beginning; marriage is a lifelong covenant instituted by God before sin entered the world. Dr. Youssef explores why marriage is far more than a personal relationship—it’s a creative force that forms families, homes, and entire cultures. Want to know where a society is headed? Look at how it treats marriage: commitment versus convenience, covenant versus redefinition, faithfulness versus fracture. And yet, every marriage faces strain—pressure, suffering, and the daily reality of human sinfulness. That’s why Dr. Youssef introduces three foundational stones that hold healthy relationships together: Selflessness Forgiveness Conversation Over the coming days, he’ll unpack each one to help you pursue a marriage crafted according to God’s original design—one that becomes a masterpiece of beauty, strength, and Gospel reflection. Today’s MY Devotional has been provided by Leading The Way. 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

It’s easy to curate an image—successful, spiritual, “together.” But the charade ends where it matters most: before God, who sees the heart. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef points to Paul’s sobering reminder in 1 Corinthians: every believer will one day stand before the Lord and have their works tested. This isn’t about salvation—Christ settled that at the cross, purchasing our righteousness by His blood. This is about eternal rewards and the reality that motives matter. Dr. Youssef explains the difference between building with: gold, silver, and precious stones—faithful obedience offered to Jesus with pure motives, and straw—doing the right things for the wrong reasons, seeking self-glory instead of Christ’s glory. As you listen, ask yourself: Am I building for the glory of Jesus—or for something else? This devotional calls you to surrender your time, talents, and resources fully to the One who is worthy—so your life brings extravagant honor to Christ. Today’s MY Devotional has been provided by Leading The Way. 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Most of us don’t think about foundations—until something shakes the building. In today’s MY Devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef takes you to Paul’s message to the Corinthians: the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only sure, invulnerable foundation—settling your eternal destiny the moment you trust in Christ. But then comes the sobering question: What are you building on that foundation? Dr. Youssef reminds believers that every decision—every priority, pursuit, and act of obedience—adds to what we’re constructing for eternity. The world constantly offers “straw” to build with: false religions, empty philosophies, and fleeting pursuits. Yet Scripture calls us to build with lasting materials—gold, silver, and costly stones—so that when God tests our work, what remains will bring reward and glory to His name. If you’ve ever wondered whether your life is making an eternal difference, this episode will help you: distinguish between what is temporary and what lasts, resist the distractions that burn up in the end, and invest in Gospel-centered obedience that stores up treasure in heaven. Today’s MY Devotional has been provided by Leading The Way. 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Why do human philosophies keep promising freedom—yet leave people more anxious, confused, and broken? In today’s MY Devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef traces the root of our modern spiritual crisis back to the first temptation in the garden: Adam and Eve believed Satan’s lie and chose rebellion over God’s perfect wisdom. That same pattern still drives every ideology that elevates human desire above God—and it’s why man-made “solutions” always fail. But there is real hope: only God’s wisdom can repair what sin has destroyed. And God hasn’t left us guessing. Through the Holy Spirit, believers have access to the mind of God—yet Dr. Youssef reminds us that the Spirit’s guidance isn’t experienced through information alone, but through surrender. You’ll hear why: daily yielding to the Holy Spirit is essential for clarity and spiritual strength, ignoring the Spirit grieves Him—and persistent disobedience can quench His voice, many can read the Bible and still miss its meaning without the Spirit’s illumination, and it’s never too late to invite the Spirit back into the “driver’s seat” of your life. Today’s MY Devotional has been provided by Leading The Way. 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Today’s culture is filled with tempting philosophies and persuasive “truths” that can quietly pull your heart off course. So how do you find the right path in a depraved world—and stay there? In this episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that while God’s Word reveals God’s will, it can only be spiritually discerned and understood. The only way to truly know the mind of God is through the Spirit of God—the Holy Spirit who inspired Scripture and now stands ready to illuminate it for you. You’ll learn why: discernment isn’t automatic—it must be trained, the Bible is “God-breathed,” authored by the Holy Spirit through human writers, many people read Scripture without asking the Spirit for understanding and obedience, and the Holy Spirit acts like a flashlight—exposing dark places in our hearts and leading us into maturity. If you’ve ever felt stuck, confused, or unsure how to apply the Bible to real life, this devotional will help you approach Scripture with fresh dependence—asking the Holy Spirit to open your eyes so you can understand, submit, and be transformed. Today’s MY Devotional is provided by Leading The Way. 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Why is it so hard to live faithfully in a fallen world—even when you want to obey God? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef exposes a sobering reality: every believer has an enemy on the inside—the flesh—that instinctively leans toward rebellion. When temptation knocks, it’s the flesh that wants to open the door. But you are not helpless. Dr. Youssef explains that God has equipped every Christian with three weapons for victory—tools strong enough to overcome the world’s pressure, the devil’s lies, and the flesh’s cravings: A renewed nature to battle the old sinful nature The living, active Word of God—sharper than a double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12) The Holy Spirit—God’s presence within you to convict, remind, strengthen, and empower obedience Using the Corinthian church as a warning, Dr. Youssef shows how many struggles trace back to one root issue: letting the flesh run wild. This devotional will help you recognize the real battlefield and reclaim the victory Christ has already secured—by learning to hold fast to God’s Word, walk in step with the Spirit, and fight with the tools heaven has provided. Key Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2:12Go deeper: Healthy Living in a Sick World: Growing Beyond Spiritual Infancy (Watch Now | 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Why does the message of Jesus feel “unreasonable” to so many people—even in highly educated, modern cultures? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef unpacks a core reality from 1 Corinthians 1: the cross confronts human pride. To the natural mind, the Gospel seems impossible—God becoming man, living in humility, dying on a cross, rising again, and offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe. Yet when the Holy Spirit opens our ears of faith, what once sounded like nonsense becomes the clearest Truth we’ve ever known. Dr. Youssef also exposes the limits of today’s information-saturated world: more wealth, more leisure, and more knowledge have not made us wise or moral—because human wisdom can’t redeem, change, or give peace. At best, it covers symptoms. Only God’s wisdom—revealed through Christ and His cross—has the power to save, transform, and one day make all things new (Revelation 21:5). If you’ve been tempted to trust cultural “wisdom,” discouraged by spiritual apathy, or hesitant to share the Gospel because others call it foolish, this devotional will re-center your heart on the only wisdom that lasts: Jesus Christ—God’s power and God’s wisdom. Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 1:18Go deeper: Dr. Youssef’s sermon Healthy Living in a Sick World: The Folly of Human Wisdom (Watch Now | 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Who are you really following—your favorite pastor, preacher, or platform? Or the Word of God? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef takes us to the spiritually troubled church in Corinth, where believers were dividing into camps: “I follow Paul… I follow Apollos… I follow Cephas…” (1 Corinthians 1:12). These were godly leaders—yet the “cult of personality” was producing division instead of unity. Dr. Youssef offers a simple heart-check that still applies today: If your confidence starts with “My pastor says…” you may be leaning on a human leader. If your confidence starts with “The Word of God says…” you’re anchored to the infallible source of Truth. You’ll be reminded that: No human leader is flawless—only Scripture is fully trustworthy. Cults don’t make converts to Christ; they make converts to a personality. A church submitted to the authority and inerrancy of the Bible is a church positioned for humility, unity, and spiritual health. Placing yourself under God’s Word is the first step toward living holy in a desperately sick culture. If you’ve felt pulled by competing voices—even Christian ones—this devotional will help you reset your confidence where it belongs: on Jesus Christ and His unchanging Word. Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 1:10, 1 Corinthians 1:12Key Truth: One Savior. One Way. One Truth—Jesus Christ. Go deeper: Dr. Youssef’s sermon Healthy Living in a Sick World, Saints in a Sinful Culture (Watch Now | 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Every day brings new pressure to blend in, bow down, or stay quiet. But Scripture calls believers to live in the world without being polluted by it (James 1:27)—not by isolating ourselves, but by living differently as a witness to Jesus. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef takes us to Corinth—one of the most spiritually sick cities of the ancient world—and shows how Paul addressed a church tempted to straddle two worlds. Some wanted one foot in the church and one foot in the culture, but Paul makes it clear: wholeness in Christ requires wholehearted allegiance. Here’s the breakthrough: Paul calls these messy, struggling believers “saints”—not because they were perfect, but because they were sanctified in Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:2). Dr. Youssef explains why every deliberate sin and compromise often comes down to one root issue: we forget whose we are. When you remember you belong to the eternal King—made righteous by the blood of Christ—you’re empowered to pursue holiness with confidence, knowing God remains faithful even when you’ve fallen short. If you’ve been drifting, rationalizing, or feeling spiritually dulled by the culture, this devotional is a reset: You are a saint. Now live like it. Scripture Focus: 1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV) Go deeper: Dr. Youssef’s sermon Healthy Living in a Sick World, Saints in a Sinful Culture (Watch Now | 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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 look like to live as a citizen of heaven while serving on assignment in a world that resists God’s Truth? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explains why speaking Truth is part of the Christian’s calling—especially when leaders or systems pressure people to violate God’s Word. Yet this boldness is never rooted in self-righteousness. Believers stand with humility, praying for leaders and lovingly pointing others to Christ—the only One who can truly set anyone free. To illustrate what faithful living looks like in the “City of Man,” Dr. Youssef takes us to Daniel 1:1–16, where Daniel and his friends—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—model courageous obedience in a hostile environment. Sometimes their tests seemed small (even what was placed in front of them at the king’s table). Other times, obedience carried deadly cost—lions’ dens and fiery furnaces. Yet their stance remained the same: no compromise, full trust in God’s outcome. This devotional will challenge you to: stand firm when pressured to conform, speak Truth with grace and conviction, trust God with the results of obedience, and lift high the cross of Christ as His ambassador—no matter the cost. Scripture Focus: Daniel 1:1–16 Go deeper: Dr. Youssef’s sermon series Unholy Alliance of the Antichrist (Watch Now | 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Why do so many Christians start strong—only to slowly settle into comfort, distraction, and spiritual compromise? In today’s MY Devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that believers are citizens of the City of God, living temporarily in the City of Man with a mission: to urge the lost to turn from sin and receive eternal life in Jesus Christ. Yet many who once lived with heaven in view end up falling in love with the very world they were sent to reach. Dr. Youssef unpacks five reasons this spiritual drift happens—and how to guard your heart: A false view of heaven that makes eternity seem dull instead of glorious, Worldly pressures (pain, loss, responsibilities) that steal your focus, Living by sight, where the visible crowds out what’s eternal, Muddled teaching that confuses self-sacrifice with self-satisfaction, False doctrine that blurs the Truth about salvation, heaven, and hell—draining urgency from the Christian race. This episode will help you regain eternal perspective, recognize subtle distractions, and live with a clear-eyed passion for Christ—serving faithfully now while remembering the better City that is to come. Scripture Focus: Hebrews 13:14 Go deeper: Dr. Youssef’s sermon series Unholy Alliance of the Antichrist (Watch Now | 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Why does life feel heavier as a society becomes more “advanced”? The Bible answers with startling clarity. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef opens Genesis 11:1–9 and the Tower of Babel—where humanity tried to build a future without God, chasing self-glory instead of surrender. That ancient defiance isn’t just history; it mirrors what we see across the modern West: a culture bowing to materialism, moral relativism, and political correctness—then reaping confusion, anxiety, and loneliness. But God didn’t leave humanity without a light. Dr. Youssef points to Abraham, a man living in the “City of Man” while longing for the City of God—“a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Abraham’s faith didn’t ignore darkness; it overcame it. And God’s promise to Abraham didn’t end with him—through his line came Jesus Christ, the Savior who purchased our eternal home by His blood (Genesis 12:3). If you’re weary from the headlines or discouraged by cultural decline, this devotional will help you lift your eyes and live with steady hope—setting your mind where Christ is and where history is headed. Scripture Focus: Genesis 11:1–9Go deeper: Dr. Youssef’s sermon series Unholy Alliance of the Antichrist (Watch Now | 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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 should Christians do when society celebrates what God calls sin—and then blames believers for the fallout? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef turns to Habakkuk 1:6–7, where God raises up the Babylonians as judgment—revealing a sobering pattern repeated throughout history: when a people who once honored God abandon Him, darkness advances quickly. But Dr. Youssef’s message isn’t despair—it’s direction. Rather than hiding away or writing off humanity, believers are called to live with Kingdom purpose in the “City of Man”: Love without fear and pray for persecutors (Matthew 5:44–45), Engage with conviction instead of retreating into silence, Reason with the lost the way God reasons with sinners—inviting them to grace (Isaiah 1:18), Shine as light and live as salt that creates thirst for Christ. This devotional will challenge you to reject passivity, resist intimidation, and speak Gospel Truth with compassion—trusting God to resurrect dead hearts into living testimonies of His grace. Scripture Focus: Habakkuk 1:6–7 Go deeper: Dr. Youssef’s sermon series Unholy Alliance of the Antichrist (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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Have you been stuck expecting the worst—even in your walk with God?Over the last few days, we’ve been confronting pessimism through the life of Thomas, the disciple forever nicknamed “doubting Thomas.” But Dr. Michael Youssef reveals the deeper issue beneath Thomas’ doubt—and ours: a distorted understanding of who Jesus truly is. With patient love, Christ led Thomas from skepticism to victory, and that same resurrection power can transform you too.In this episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, you’ll discover:why doubt often grows from an incomplete view of Christ,how Jesus personally frees us from pessimism, andwhat genuine transformation looks like after we encounter the living Savior.Thomas’ change wasn’t merely intellectual—it reshaped his entire life. After meeting the risen Christ, he became bold and mission-minded, taking the Gospel into difficult regions such as Nineveh and India. Dr. Youssef reminds us that when we truly grasp God’s calling and His unconditional love, pessimism gives way to Spirit-empowered hope—pessimistic to visionary, uncertain to confident, and hopeless to joyful.If you’re tired of negative “what ifs,” chronic doubt, or spiritual hesitation, this devotional will point you back to the One who has the final word over every fear:“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).Scripture Focus: John 8:36 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Do you ever feel your faith shrink after a setback—like hope is slipping through your fingers?In this episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef continues the journey of overcoming pessimism by revealing the next steps toward steady confidence in Christ. While yesterday’s foundation was knowing who you are in Jesus, today tackles what happens when fear, opposition, or disappointment hits your “hot buttons” and you start expecting the worst.Through the life of Thomas, Dr. Youssef highlights how Jesus overpowers pessimism in real time:How to handle setbacks without losing confidence (John 11): Thomas assumed following Jesus to Bethany would end in death—but Jesus shattered that fear by raising Lazarus, proving His authority even over the grave.How Christ’s resurrection defeats chronic doubt (John 20:25–28): Thomas demanded proof—until the risen Jesus stood before him. Encountering the living Christ transformed him from skeptic to worshiper: “My Lord and my God!”Why your hope is never tied to circumstances: Jesus is alive, reigning at the right hand of the Father, and still redeeming situations that look beyond repair.If you’ve been bracing for disappointment, stuck in “realistic” negativity, or quietly wondering if God will come through—this devotional will help you remember what Thomas learned firsthand: the resurrected Christ changes what’s possible.Scripture Focus: Psalm 66:5 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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

Pessimism is one of the quietest threats to a growing faith—because it often sounds like wisdom. We rename it “discernment,” “caution,” or “being realistic,” but Scripture exposes what it truly is: a lack of faith in God’s power or His promises.In this episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef takes you to Mark 9, where a desperate father says to Jesus, “If you can…”—revealing the real issue wasn’t Jesus’ ability, but the father’s unbelief. Christ’s reply still challenges us today: faith changes what we believe is possible.Dr. Youssef also points to Thomas, famously labeled “doubting Thomas,” to show that pessimism doesn’t have to be permanent. Jesus overcame Thomas’ unbelief by anchoring him in a life-altering truth: you are chosen, called, and unconditionally loved by God’s grace.If you’ve been battling negativity, doubt, or a constant expectation of the worst, this devotional will help you:identify pessimism for what it is,bring your unbelief honestly to Jesus, andrest in the security of God’s steadfast love and calling.Scripture Focus: 1 John 3:1 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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 are you drawing on for strength—your circumstances, your abilities, or the power of Christ?In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that only Christ’s resurrection power can truly satisfy the empty heart, defeat temptation, and exchange our weakness for His strength. Earthly assets and “wins” may look impressive, but they’re nothing compared to the transforming power of Jesus.This devotional also sounds a loving warning: when life is going well, it’s easy to drift back into independence and forget the Source of real joy. That’s why we must stay alert to spiritual stagnation and choose growth—even when growth stretches us.You’ll be encouraged by Scripture’s call to keep pressing forward:Run with perseverance, throwing off sin and fixing your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1–2).Press on toward the goal, forgetting what’s behind and straining toward what’s ahead (Philippians 3:13–14).If you’ve been tempted to coast, quit, or rely on comfort instead of Christ, this episode will re-center your heart on the One whose power never runs out—and whose grace meets you in the struggle.Scripture Focus: Psalm 147:5 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 TeamsOur 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.comIf 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