Noah faced an assignment that must have seemed impossible: build an enormous ark on dry land, despite having no known experience as a shipbuilder or mariner. Yet year after year, Noah continued working because he trusted the God who had called him.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef explains that God chose Noah not because of his expertise, but because of his faithfulness. Genesis describes Noah as a righteous man who “walked faithfully with God.” God was more interested in an obedient heart than an impressive résumé.

And God did not leave Noah without direction. He gave him specific instructions for building the ark, providing what Noah needed to fulfill the assignment. The same principle applies to believers today: when God genuinely calls us to His work, He is able to equip and empower us for what He asks us to do.

Perhaps God is calling you toward something that feels far beyond your abilities. You may feel inexperienced, underqualified, or unsupported. Noah’s story reminds us that our limitations do not limit God.

If the Lord has directed your steps, trust His plan. Walk faithfully, obey what He has revealed, and depend on Him to provide everything necessary to complete the work for His glory.

Prayer: God, I don’t feel qualified for the work to which You have called me, but I am trusting that You will provide everything I need. Help me to have the heart of a willing servant. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon They Were Just like Us, The Work of 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.

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Abraham understood that God had a greater plan for his life, so he learned to shift his focus from the world he could see to the world that was still to come.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef turns to Hebrews 11 and the faith of Abraham and the other Old Testament saints. They lived as foreigners and strangers on earth, trusting promises they could only see from a distance because they were “longing for a better country—a heavenly one.”

For believers in Jesus Christ, that same eternal perspective changes everything. Through salvation, we have been adopted into God’s family, and our ultimate citizenship is no longer rooted in this passing world. The suffering and disappointments of this life cannot compare with the glory God has prepared for His children.

Abraham’s journey also reminds us that great faith does not mean a failure-free life. He experienced setbacks, detours, and discouragements, but he refused to make those places his permanent home. He kept trusting, growing, and pressing forward because his eyes remained fixed on God’s promises and faithfulness.

God has prepared an enduring city for everyone who belongs to Christ. Until the day we enter it fully, we can experience a taste of heaven on earth as we worship Jesus, walk by faith, and live each day with eternity in view.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your gift of salvation. Teach me all I need to know about You and allow me to serve You today. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, . . .” (Philippians 3:20).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon They Were Just like Us, The Witness of 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.

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Every runner knows that unnecessary weight makes a long race harder. The same is true in the Christian life. Hebrews 12 calls believers to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” so we can run with perseverance the race God has marked out for us.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef identifies some of the spiritual weights that can slow us down: anxiety, worry, bitterness, greed, unconfessed sin, and doubts about God’s power. Left unchecked, these burdens can exhaust us and eventually bring our spiritual progress to a halt.

Another dangerous distraction is comparison. When we become preoccupied with ourselves or constantly look at how others are running, we take our eyes off the path before us. Scripture gives us a better focus: Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Jesus endured opposition, rejection, betrayal, suffering, and the cross because of the joy set before Him. He finished His race faithfully, and He now calls us to follow His example with our eyes fixed on eternity.

If you feel spiritually tired, discouraged, or tempted to quit, look again to Jesus. He is your source of faith, your example of endurance, and your strength for every step. Keep running. Keep persevering. The eternal prize is worth the race.

Prayer: Father, help me to throw off anything that is hindering me in my marathon of faith. Help me to stay focused on You and to follow Your example. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary” (Revelation 2:3).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon They Were Just like Us, We Can Be like Them: 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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What will you do when obedience to God costs you something?

Hebrews 11 describes men and women who endured ridicule, imprisonment, mistreatment, and even death rather than abandon their faith. They could have escaped much of their suffering by conforming to the world around them, but they chose obedience because they trusted God and His promises.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that followers of Christ still face pressure to compromise. It may come through rejection from friends, career consequences for refusing unethical practices, ridicule from coworkers, or hostility toward your Christian convictions. Whatever form it takes, the temptation is the same: conform rather than stand firm.

But believers are not without strength. When opposition comes, we can look to the cross of Jesus Christ as our fortress and our joy. The faithful saints of the Old Testament looked forward to God’s promised redemption, while believers today look back to Christ’s finished work on the cross as the only basis of salvation.

When your faith and complete trust rest in Jesus Christ, you can persevere through rejection, hardship, and trials without surrendering to fear. The world may pressure you to compromise, but God calls you to stand firm—rejoicing in the Kingdom that is already here and awaiting its glorious fulfillment.

Prayer: Father, though I am not faced with the extreme, violent persecution that so many believers in other countries are dealing with today, I do struggle with feelings of rejection and pressure from unbelievers in my life. In these moments, help me remember those who have gone before me and have stood strong in the face of persecution. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

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:
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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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Sometimes God calls us to surrender something precious. Other times He asks us to step beyond what feels comfortable to share the Gospel, serve His Kingdom, or obey a command we do not fully understand. Whatever the assignment, genuine faith eventually comes to the same conclusion: God must be obeyed.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef turns to the story of Noah in Genesis 6 and 7. God gave Noah an extraordinary command—to build an ark in preparation for a flood that had not yet come. The task was enormous and perplexing, yet Scripture records Noah’s remarkable response: “Noah did all that the LORD commanded him.”

Noah did more than build. He trusted God’s Word, persevered in obedience, and proclaimed righteousness to those around him. His life became both an act of faith and a warning to others. In the same way, believers today are called to build their lives on Christ while inviting others to receive the salvation He offers.

Noah was not perfect, but his faith produced action. That is the mark of authentic trust in God. Anyone can claim to believe, but living faith obeys—even when the road is difficult, the assignment feels overwhelming, or the outcome remains unseen.

Where is God calling you to step out in faith today? Trust His Word, obey His voice, and leave the results in His hands.

Prayer: God, help me to have the kind of faith that Noah had—faith that leads to obedience no matter how overwhelming the task. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon They Were Just like Us, The Work of 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.
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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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Courageous faith can lead to extraordinary victories—but sometimes it also leads straight into danger, suffering, and persecution.

In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast, Dr. Michael Youssef turns to Hebrews 11:30–40, where Scripture remembers men and women who trusted God even when obedience cost them dearly. Some conquered kingdoms and defeated enemies. Others endured imprisonment, rejection, torture, and death. Yet both groups were commended for the same thing: faith.

From Rahab and Gideon to Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, these Biblical heroes demonstrate that God works powerfully through people who trust Him. They were not flawless. They failed, sinned, and needed repentance just as we do. But when they turned to Almighty God in faith, He received them and used them for His glory.

Their courage was rooted not in their own strength but in confidence that God would remain faithful to His Word. They trusted that He would ultimately deal with sin, provide righteousness, and fulfill His promises. Looking forward to Christ by faith freed them to obey God even when the cost was great.

Whatever hardship, opposition, or uncertainty you face today, remember: courageous faith is not confidence that nothing painful will happen. It is confidence that God will be faithful through it all. The question is whether we are ready to trust Him enough to say, “Here I am, send me.”

Prayer: Father, help me to have courageous faith. During times of persecution, danger, or hardship, help me to stay committed to You because I know that You have the ultimate victory. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. . . . the world was not worthy of them” (Hebrews 11:36, 38).

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.
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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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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:
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