When a difficult situation hits, where do you turn first—your own problem-solving, other people, or the Lord? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef challenges a common habit: trusting our minds to carry us through life, then “withdrawing” our surrender the moment God’s way feels inconvenient.

God gave us minds to use, but He calls us to humble ourselves before the One who created them. There will be moments when only God’s wisdom can lead to the right solution—and no problem is too great for Him, even when you feel trapped by circumstances.

Dr. Youssef offers a memorable picture: just as an investment account can’t mature with constant withdrawals, your faith struggles to grow when you repeatedly take back control after “depositing” your life into God’s hands. Surrender is not passive resignation—it is trusting God enough to let Him do His deepest work in you: transforming your heart and mind into the likeness of Christ.

If you’re wrestling with control, uncertainty, or the need to “fix it,” this devotional will help you rest in the most trustworthy truth of all: there is no one you can trust more than the Son of God.

Prayer: Lord, I want You to be in control of my life today, leading me through Your Holy Spirit. Help me to submit to You daily. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Seven Awesome Statements from the Cross, Part 6: 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.

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George Bernard Shaw captured the ache of abandonment through Joan of Arc’s cry: “It is better to be alone with God!” In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef turns to a more personal kind of loneliness—the sorrow that comes when people you love or labor with lose courage, drift away, or choose another road.

The apostle Paul knew this pain. Near the end of his life, he wrote with grief about a former ministry companion: “Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me” (2 Timothy 4:10). That single sentence carries the weight of countless modern situations: a child walking away from the Lord, a spouse resisting God, a friend turning cold, a trusted partner stepping back when you needed them most.

Dr. Youssef reminds you that ministry and faithful living often bring “deeper depths of sorrow and higher heights of joy”—sometimes at the same time. The question is: what will you do with the rejection? Paul did not quit. He did not lose faith. He trusted God, leaned on His strength, and continued the work the Lord had given him.

If you’re carrying the heartbreak of a “Demas” in your life, this devotional will help you persevere—remaining faithful regardless of personal disappointment, and discovering that God’s presence is steady even when people are not.

Prayer: Lord, thank You that You will never leave me nor forsake me. May I draw near to You in sorrow and find new heights of joy. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Never Give Up, Don’t Ever Give Up on the Truth: 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 Teams
Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
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Doesn’t it seem like the hardest resistance shows up precisely when you’re trying to do something meaningful for God? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef reassures believers that discouragement, hindrances, and difficulties are not proof you’re off track—they’re often the pressure that comes with pursuing God’s vision.

God’s purpose for Paul’s life was crystal clear: he was Christ’s “chosen instrument” to proclaim the Gospel to Gentiles, kings, and Israel (Acts 9:15). But the fulfillment of that vision wasn’t immediate. Paul didn’t go straight from Damascus to royal courts—years passed before he stood before King Agrippa in Acts 26. In between were beatings, imprisonment, hunger, insults, and relentless hardship (2 Corinthians 11:22–28).

What kept Paul moving forward when everything seemed against him? The power of a God-given vision—and the certainty that God equips what He calls. Dr. Youssef reminds you that the same principle applies today: your life has Kingdom purpose. You are God’s people, His holy nation, His temple, and the aroma of Christ to a dying world (1 Peter 2:9–10; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 2:15). Even if you never stand before kings, God has a vision for your life. When you feel insignificant, remember: you are a child of the King.

Prayer: God, help me not to be discouraged when I am faced with obstacles to the vision You have given me. Help me to remember that it is Your vision and that You will give me everything I need to fulfill it. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Vision for Life, Obedience to the Vision: 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.

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Spiritual growth often comes with pain—which is why many of us instinctively avoid it. Yet James gives a surprising command: consider trials “pure joy” because God uses them to test faith, produce perseverance, and form maturity that lacks nothing (James 1:2–4). In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explains that biblical joy is different from worldly happiness: it can exist inside suffering, not just after it.

You’ll also hear how the apostle Paul learned the secret of joy under pressure. Paul endured criticism, imprisonment, and life-threatening danger—but he kept his eyes fixed on Christ rather than his circumstances. When Paul’s situation in Jerusalem became so volatile the Romans had to shelter him in the barracks, the Lord personally strengthened him with a direct word: “Take courage!” (Acts 23:11). Dr. Youssef reminds you that God’s encouragement to Paul is meant for believers today as well—especially when you’re tempted to assume God is silent or has forgotten you.

Even when you can’t see what God is doing, He is still working—masterfully weaving His purposes through every valley and victory. As you trust His sovereign hand, Christ-centered focus will produce the same fruit in you that it produced in Paul: contentment in every season, courage for every assignment, and joy that remains steady even when life is hard.

Prayer: Lord, may I find comfort in You and Your sovereignty as You place me in situations that test and grow my faith. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:12-13).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Looking Up When Life’s Got You Down, The Hand of Providence: 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:
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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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Some days feel like one long interruption: missed buses, forgotten lunchboxes, nonstop meetings, long lines, and traffic that won’t move. In moments like these, frustration rises fast—and patience can disappear even faster. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that we cannot generate long-suffering patience through sheer willpower. Only the Holy Spirit can pour that patience into our hearts until it becomes a defining trait—not a forced performance.

Dr. Youssef also reframes how the fruit of the Spirit becomes visible. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control aren’t proven when life is easy—they’re revealed when the heat is on. Joy shows up in joyless situations. Peace shines when circumstances don’t make sense. Patience appears when someone (or something) is actively trying your patience. As you abide in Christ and yield moment by moment to the Spirit’s leadership, He produces real fruit—consistently.

At the core of Christian patience is an unshakeable conviction: God is sovereign, and He is at work in the lives of His children. You are not forgotten or forsaken, no matter how chaotic your day becomes. This episode will encourage you to trust God’s hand in the small pressures of daily life—and let the Spirit grow patience that reflects Jesus.

Prayer: God, thank You that no matter what comes my way, You have not forgotten nor forsaken me. Help my life to exhibit Christian patience even in the most trying circumstances. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon Spirituality That Heals, Patience: 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.

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Our trained prayer partners and pastoral care team are available to pray with you and offer Biblical support.
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In 1970, Dr. Michael Youssef was newly arrived in Sydney with almost nothing—just one hundred borrowed dollars and a humble job at the telephone company. His supervisor noticed something surprising: despite poverty and uncertainty, Dr. Youssef was consistently calm, content, and unshaken.

When asked why, Dr. Youssef answered plainly: peace came when he surrendered everything to Christ—plans, goals, finances, circumstances, and even anxiety. But his boss’s response reveals the real barrier many face: “I couldn’t do that… I could never surrender my will to anyone.” He knew the Gospel and even went to church at times, yet he refused to place God in charge.

This devotional confronts a timeless truth: peace is free—you can’t earn it or buy it—but it will cost you surrender. You can’t clutch control and experience Christ’s peace at the same time. The invitation is clear: lay down your weapons, release your grip, and let Jesus lead your life. What He gives in return is the security and calm your heart has been searching for.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know the only way to divine peace is to surrender to You, the God of peace. Help me to never resist Your call to give everything to You. Thank You for the free gift of Your peace. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon A Heart for God, Peace Beyond Reason: 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.
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💬 Receive personal answers to your faith questions—anytime, day or night—at:
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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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How do you respond to fear—do you withdraw, distract yourself, or try to regain control? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds believers that the right response to fear is neither surrender nor avoidance, but overcoming fear through faith and obedience to God’s Word.

Scripture paints the picture of a life anchored in trust: the one who puts confidence in the Lord is like a tree planted by water—steady in heat, resilient in drought, and fruitful no matter the season (Jeremiah 17:7–8). Dr. Youssef exposes one of fear’s most common roots: the loss of control. Whether it’s finances, relationships, health, or the future, we often try to fix fear by tightening our grip—only to discover that control never produces peace.

But Jesus offers a different kind of security: “My peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). And God promises a sure foundation for those who rely on Him—one that silences panic when everything else shakes (Isaiah 28:16). This devotional will help you trade anxiety for assurance by surrendering your circumstances to the God who is truly in control.

Prayer: God, help me to respond to fear with faith in You and obedience to Your Word. Help me to remember that I can rest in You because You are in control. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon series Freedom from Fear: 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.
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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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We may wish maturity came instantly, but the truth is simple: growth takes work—and it requires patience, persistence, and sacrifice. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef compares spiritual formation to athletic training: no champion wins by coasting, and no believer grows into Christlikeness without intentional discipline.

Paul described his own commitment clearly—he refused to run aimlessly or fight without purpose. Instead, he practiced self-control so he would not be disqualified from the prize (1 Corinthians 9:26–27). Dr. Youssef warns that when we stop stretching, we don’t stay neutral—we stagnate. And when we choose deliberate disobedience, it reveals pride. But choosing obedience is the mark of humility, and God promises real fruit from that posture—riches, honor, and life (Proverbs 22:4).

This devotional also reassures you that submission is not weakness. When you humble yourself under God’s mighty hand, He will lift you up in His timing—and you can cast every anxiety on Him because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6–7). As you trust His plan, even when it seems impossible, God will grow you to heights only He knew you could reach.

Prayer: Lord, help me resist the temptation to do what looks easiest and instead always obey Your voice. Strengthen me that I may fulfill Your work. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon series Joseph: Portrait of a Winner: 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