Podcasts about Devotional

Job 28:1-30:31, 2 Cor 2:12-17, Ps 42:1-11, Pr 22:7

The CEO was hurting employees with his sharp tongue. No one dared confront him. Everyone was afraid of him, including Gene. But one day the CEO berated a new employee, reducing her to tears. When Gene saw how everyone in the room stayed silent, he spoke up. “I told him the way he was treating people was wrong,” Gene recalls. “He was astonished; it was the first time someone stood up to him. He didn’t change, but I’m glad I spoke up.” Scripture tells us of another man who stood up to a challenge many were afraid of. Shammah, a military warrior of David, came from difficult circumstances (see 1 Samuel 22:1-2), but God used him to defeat the Philistines, a formidable enemy of the Israelites. “When the Philistines banded together at . . . a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them” (2 Samuel 23:11). Only Shammah had the courage to defend Israel’s food supply. Being the lone man against the Philistine army meant death, but Shammah “took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it” (v. 12). God helped Shammah defeat the Philistines (v. 12). He may have been the only Israelite in the field, but he wasn’t alone－God was with him, giving him great victory that day. There may be times when we’re called to stand up to a challenge that everyone else is avoiding. Like Shammah, let’s take our stand, relying on God’s presence and help.

Ezekiel 5-8

Job 23:1-27:23, 2 Cor 1:12-2:11, Ps 41:1-13, Pr 22:5-6

In 2018, a man checked into a room at New York hotel for a one-night stay. Remarkably, he used the room for five years without paying another cent—exploiting obscure rent laws to hold on to it. His refusal to leave, however, eventually led to potential prison time for him. Like an unwelcome tenant who overstays, James warns us that the devil lingers in our lives when left unchecked. “Resist the devil,” James writes, “and he will flee from you” (4:7). The apostle emphasizes that our struggles often come from impure “desires” and “wrong motives” (vv. 1, 3)—things like pride, divided loyalties, and impure thoughts residing in our hearts. To counter such temptation, James offers two commands: “submit . . . to God” and “resist the devil” (v. 7). To submit means surrendering every part of our lives to God. Resisting the devil is equally active, requiring prayer, vigilance, and the wisdom of Scripture. Like a landlord evicting an unlawful tenant, in God’s strength we can refuse to let the temptation of the devil overtake us. As we resist him, God promises victory as James asserts: “He will flee from you” (v. 7). When we evict sin and the devil’s influence and “come near to God” (v. 8), we allow His peace, joy, and purpose to dwell more fully in us. The enemy can’t stay where God reigns!

Ezekiel 1-4

https://cdn.enduringword.com/audio/devotional/Devotional08272026.mp3 The post Chosen Vessel – Acts 9:13-15 – August 27, 2026 appeared first on Enduring Word.

It's almost become a gag line; it expresses the attitude of an employee who just wants to meet the bare minimums of their job. You ask them a question, ask them to do some small task; kind of shrugs his shoulders, puts his hands in the air and says, "Not my job!" Well, that can be a lazy response or maybe a wise one in some cases. For example, if you ask me to repair your car, I probably should say, "It's not my job." Or if you ask the local mechanic to take care of your toothache, it would be good if he said, "It's not my job." Or if you ask your dentist to program your computer, it would probably be good for him to say, "It's not my job." See, you really shouldn't be working out of what really isn't your job and you don't know how to do it anyway. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Trying to Do God's Job." Our word for today from the Word of God is Psalm 84:11, "For the Lord God is a sun and a shield. The Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from them whose walk is blameless." Wow, that's a great promise, isn't it? No good thing... Any good thing; anything that's really good for you, He will never withhold if your walk is blameless. And, of course, He's the one who defines what's good for us, because He knows best. What's interesting about this verse is that it tells you three responsibilities that are not your job. "It's not my job!" Number one it's not your job to provide. It says here, "The Lord bestows favor." God gives you what you need. Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount, "Don't go chasing after food and clothing like the rest of the world does, because your Father knows what you have need of. You seek the kingdom of God and all the things will be taken care of." You lose a lot of peace worrying about where the dollars are going to come from, the transportation, the resources. Three times in that passage Jesus told us, "Don't worry! Don't worry!" They're going to come from your Jehovah Jireh - the Lord who provides. He will take care of it. Although He expects us to work, ultimately the provision of your needs is not your job, but your God. Secondly, protecting is not your job. It says, "The Lord is your shield." We waste a lot of effort defending our position, trying to look good, answering criticism from people, trying to protect our spot, fearing injury, fearing disappointment. What are you doing to just try to protect yourself? The Lord is your shield. It's not your job. Then it's also not your job to promote. It says, "The Lord gives honor to people." Quit trying to get the spotlight for yourself; God exalts people. What are you doing trying to promote yourself? So, what is your job? Well, it says, "He does this for those whose walk is blameless." Your job is your walk. You're supposed to concentrate on cleaning up your walk with God, getting rid of those traits that displease Him and that bring criticism from others. Your job is to focus on spending time with your Lord - treating people as your Lord does, eliminating those stubborn sins that you tolerate rather than eliminate. God's job is to provide your needs, to protect you from hurt, and to promote you to positions that He chooses. I wonder, have you been trying to do one of His jobs? Why don't you concentrate on your own? Concentrate on the purity of your walk, and God will keep His promise, "No good thing will He withhold from those whose walk is blameless."

Episode Summary: When you are crushed and broken hearted, where do you go to find hope? Jesus said that in this life we will have pain, heartbreak, and trials. So how do we deal with our pain? What does it look like to walk with God in our grief. Our guest today has experienced her share of pain including a traumatic brain injury as well as cancer diagnoses for two of her daughters. In her suffering, Linda boldly asked God tough questions like How do I keep going? God, where are you? And How do I keep trusting. In honor of Grief Awareness Day, today we’re going to be talking about Daring to Hope When Your Heart Is Shattered: Trusting God Through Pain and Loss. Quotables from the episode: I'm going to dare to hope anyway. I am going to dare to hope. God, I can't give up. I have to keep trusting you. I will not give up. I will not give up. I will not give up. Hope does not come from a change in your circumstances, but from a change in your thinking. I had to look up, I had to look at him, and I had to say ‘I won't give up.’ You are my hope, God, and my hope will be in you. If I got on my knees and opened my hands and surrendered to him, I got my perspective right because my eyes were lifted up to him. The greatest way to pour hope into your hurting heart is to sink deep into the love of God. Because being with you, my beloved, is the most important thing in my life. Peace can't be in our circumstances. It has to be in him. Scripture References: Lamentations 3:21-24 “Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my inheritance;’ therefore, I will hope in him!” Habakkuk 2:4 “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Recommended Resources: Hope for My Hurting Heart: 8 Heart Skills to Help You Cling to God and Not Give Up by Linda Dillow Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow Free Stress-Response Personality Assessment Sacred Scars: Resting in God’s Promise That Your Past Is Not Wasted by Dr. Michelle Bengtson The Hem of His Garment: Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner AWSA 2024 Golden Scroll Christian Living Book of the Year and the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Christian Living and Non-Fiction categories YouVersion 5-Day Devotional Reaching Out To God When Pain Overwhelms Today is Going to be a Good Day: 90 Promises from God to Start Your Day Off Right by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, AWSA Member of the Year, winner of the AWSA 2023 Inspirational Gift Book of the Year Award, the 2024 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in the Devotional category, the 2023 Christian Literary Awards Reader’s Choice Award in four categories, and the Christian Literary Awards Henri Award for Devotionals YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 1 YouVersion Devotional, Today is Going to be a Good Day version 2 Revive & Thrive Women’s Online Conference Revive & Thrive Summit 2 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 1 Trusting God through Cancer Summit 2 Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the AWSA 2020 Best Christian Living Book First Place, the first place winner for the Best Christian Living Book, the 2020 Carolina Christian Writer’s Conference Contest winner for nonfiction, and winner of the 2021 Christian Literary Award’s Reader’s Choice Award in all four categories for which it was nominated (Non-Fiction Victorious Living, Christian Living Day By Day, Inspirational Breaking Free and Testimonial Justified by Grace categories.) YouVersion Bible Reading Plan for Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Breaking Anxiety’s Grip Free Study Guide Free PDF Resource: How to Fight Fearful/Anxious Thoughts and Win Hope Prevails: Insights from a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Henri and Reader’s Choice Award Hope Prevails Bible Study by Dr. Michelle Bengtson, winner of the Christian Literary Award Reader’s Choice Award Free Webinar: Help for When You’re Feeling Blue Social Media Links for Host: For more hope, stay connected with Dr. Bengtson at: Order Book Sacred Scars / Order Book The Hem of His Garment / Order Book Today is Going to be a Good Day / Order Book Breaking Anxiety’s Grip / Order Book Hope Prevails / Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter (@DrMBengtson) / LinkedIn / Instagram / Pinterest / YouTube / Podcast on Apple About Linda Dillow: Linda Dillow is a bestselling author and a respected Bible teacher and conference speaker. She is the author of Calm My Anxious Heart and her new book Hope for My Hurting Heart. Linda is the mother of four children including one who is now with Jesus, and the grandmother of ten. She and her husband Jody make their home in Monument, Colorado. Hosted By: Dr. Michelle Bengtson Audio Technical Support: Ashton Bengtson Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

David Small never set out to be a missionary. He started out his career as a hockey coach. In his late 20s, God kept pursuing David in ways he couldn't ignore and couldn't deny. Relenting, he went to serve with a missions organization called Free Burma Rangers for what he thought would be 6 months. He's now been serving there for over a decade, and has since founded his own school in the heart of the jungle, the Jungle Discipleship School.God's plans for us are so much loftier than our wildest dreams.Learn more about the Jungle Discipleship School at the website here.SUPPORT His Heartbeat through Crown of Beauty Internationalhttps://www.crownofbeautyinternational.com/donateCONNECT with His Heartbeat and Crown of Beauty InternationalWebsite// Facebook//InstagramEmail: crownofbeautyinternational@gmail.comConnect with Sue Corl's Instagram//Facebook// WebsitePurchase Sue's Transformational Bible Studies and Devotionals on Amazon!Sue Corl's best-selling books: Crown of Beauty Bible Study, Broken But UndefeatedCrown of Beauty International: EMPOWERING WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD WITH GOD'S TRUTH!

Job 20:1-22:30, 2 Cor 1:1-11, Ps 40:11-17, Pr 22:2-4

In this episode of Pray the Word on 1 Kings 16:33, David Platt encourages us to be salt and light in a world of decay and darkness.Explore more content from Radical.

Can we expect extraordinary miracles today? In this episode, Associate Pastor, David Penuel, joins Emma Dotter to unpack the extraordinary miracles in Acts 19:11-20. They explore the significance of these miracles, along with whether we can expect them to happen today. // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY: // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  “S4:263 – Introduction to the book of Acts” (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...)    “S4:270 – Acts 18-20" (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-270-acts-18-20/id1600151923?i=1000736247835)  // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY? Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we're studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week's passage. Then, for the next six days, we'll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we'll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God's Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights. Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...  // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:  Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years' print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org 

Speaking to a group of young actors, Academy-Award-winning actor Denzel Washington encouraged them to begin each day with prayer, suggesting they “put your shoes way under the bed at night” to ensure they "gotta get on your knees in the morning.” Developing a regular habit of prayer might take some thoughtful and even creative planning, but it’s a practice that has sustained God’s people throughout history—especially in difficult times. We see this in the life of Daniel, who was served in King Darius’ administration. He quickly distinguished himself as the top government advisor, which angered local officials. Out of jealously they plotted to oust the prophet, but they quickly realized the only charge that would stick was related to Daniel’s well-known habit of prayer. Even after the officials tricked the king into making it illegal for Daniel to pray, Daniel still “got down on his knees, and prayed . . . just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10). A consistent prayer life was essential for Daniel to experience God’s sustaining strength and peace (Psalm 29:11). It helped him to triumph over the forces seeking to destroy him. In the same way, establishing a regular time to meet with God in prayer and making it a daily priority can help cultivate our relationship with Him. During each difficulty we face, it’s His strength that will sustain us.

God's Word Still Works—Pray and Open Your Bible (EXPECT RESULTS) | Blessed Morning Prayer For Today SUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast! For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit: https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org © Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebookTikTok Daily Effective Prayer™

Lamentations 3:37-5:22

https://cdn.enduringword.com/audio/devotional/Devotional08262026.mp3 The post A Certain Disciple – Acts 9:10-12 – August 26, 2026 appeared first on Enduring Word.

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn - The Gospel According to Matthew: Chapters 5 (2026) by Shawn Ozbun

My friend Bobby served as a Marine in Vietnam, and he told me something about his experience there that really got my attention. He said his assignment was doing electrical work on airplanes - which is not necessarily a front lines assignment. But there was a war going on all around them. So, when there was enemy activity, every soldier was trained to grab their weapon and be prepared to fight. Their bottom line assignment was summed up in four words, "every Marine - a rifle." I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "No Spectators In This Battle." Nobody is just support troops. Everybody's needed on the front lines. That's the strategy for the most important battle of all time - the battle for the souls of lost men and women that rages in every generation. God puts flesh-and-blood on that principle in a story in Numbers 32, beginning with vs. 1. It's our word for today from the Word of God. Here's the story. God has delivered the Jews from slavery in Egypt, led them through the wilderness, and now He's brought them to the banks of the Jordan River, the threshold of their Promised Land. Soon the battle for the land will begin. Even before entering, each of Israel's twelve tribes has been allotted a certain area of the land as their inheritance. That's on the west side of Jordan. On the east side of the Jordan, the Reubenites and Gadites "who had very large herds and flocks saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead" - that's the lands right there where they are on the east side of the Jordan - "were suitable for livestock." Okay, so these guys who already have their land kind of. They come to Moses with an idea - a dumb idea. They said the land they were on was "suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock...let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan." Moses' answer cuts like steel: "Shall your countrymen go to war while you sit here?" They said, "How about we just settle down here, skip the battle, and root for you guys out there on the front lines? How does that sound?" Moses basically says: "No way, man. Every Marine a rifle. No watchers here; only warriors." These folks got the message. They said, "We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children." In other words, we'd like to stay here in our comfort zone - "but we are ready to arm ourselves and go ahead...every man armed for battle, will cross over to fight before the Lord." Good choice. Now, about that battle for a lost and dying world from God's perspective, no one can just watch this battle. Every child of God is supposed to be a warrior in it...including you. You can't just support others who are fighting for lives Jesus died to save. You've got to be fighting for some yourself. You can't delegate Christ's world-reaching Great Commission to a few spiritual daredevils called missionaries or full-time workers. This call is for all of us, wherever we live, whatever we do. You may say, "Well, I don't have the gift to tell others." If you belong to Jesus, you have the assignment! Remember, "we are Christ's ambassadors" (2 Corinthians 5:20). The truth is you're somebody's best chance of ever going to heaven, because you're the one with Jesus in their heart who is closest to that person at work, in your family, your neighborhood. If you don't tell them, chances are they'll never hear what Jesus did for them. And your silence will be, in essence, an eternal death sentence for them. You say, "Well, I can't possibly care about or support all the mission needs out there." That's right. But you know what you can do? You can say, "God, go ahead and place a piece of your broken heart for this world in my heart. Help me care about some need that You care about, and let me focus on that one." He'll do that, and you can begin to pray and give and help His soldiers who are fighting for those particular people. No watchers in the battle for lost hearts, only warriors. Because everyone who belongs to Him, has a place on the front lines.

Usually, when we're looking for some kind of emotional lifeline to get us through the day, we only want to know what God can do for us.How do we get that peace of mind we desperately need?One component is obedience. At first, this sounds like a test that's too hard. We need relief right now!Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”Wow, that sounds like real peace of mind. It requires that we concentrate on ejecting all the junk in our heads and replacing it with God's Word. Learning obedience is key, because it reveals the Father's perfect will for our lives.In this way, we almost back-into the peace we were already looking for. This brings us into harmony with our Creator.A renewed, fresh, and clean mind is also a mind that is at rest.Let's pray.Lord, teach us your ways. Help us uncover the peace of mind that those without God don't have. Then help us show them the way. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

College football positional group rankings NCAA eligibility and transfer rules Top college football teams and prospects Mock draft strategy and picks Impact of NCAA chaos on team rosters Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the College Football Positional Draft 02:11 Discussion on NCAA Eligibility and Transfer Chaos 08:56 Mock Draft Setup and Draft Order Explanation 11:48 Ohio State Wide Receivers and Top Talent 14:03 Texas Quarterback Room and Future Potential 20:13 Oregon Running Backs and Freshman Impact 24:06 Iowa Tight Ends and Draft Strategy 27:05 Georgia Tight Ends and Unproven Talent 32:04 Quarterback Room Deep Dive: Michigan and Others 36:01 Louisville and Michigan Running Backs 40:10 Texas Wide Receivers and Future Stars 45:08 Georgia Tight Ends and Upside Potential 49:59 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up of the Draft Subscribe to The Devy Devotional on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Leave a 5-star review and help more dynasty managers find the show.Follow us on X: @DevyDevotional Hosts: John Arrington (@DynastyCoachA), Aaron Wilcox (@AaronWilcox86), Andy Starr (@AstarrFF) Watch live episodes on the Gridiron Ratings YouTube channel. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Job 16:1-19:29, 1 Cor 16:1-24, Ps 40:1-10, Pr 22:1

Should modern day followers of Jesus exorcise demons? In this episode, Executive Director of The Porch, Kylen Perry, joins Emma Dotter to discuss the role of demons and exorcism in Acts 19:11-20. They discuss what demons and exorcisms are, including methods of deliverance. Kylen answers the question, “What if talk of demons and exorcism scares me?” // ADDITIONAL VERSES MENTIONED: // RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY: Who were the seven sons of Sceva? https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-sons-of-Sceva.html Do demons exist? https://www.gotquestions.org/do-demons-exist.html // RELATED JOIN THE JOURNEY EPISODES:  “S4:263 – Introduction to the book of Acts” (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...)    “S4:270 – Acts 18-20" (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s4-270-acts-18-20/id1600151923?i=1000736247835)  // WHAT IS JOIN THE JOURNEY? Join The Journey is a realistic daily Bible reading plan that helps followers of Jesus at Watermark Community Church and beyond enjoy abiding in Jesus together. Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents guide their kids in Bible reading through interactive and age-specific lessons. In 2026, we're studying the book of Acts—one passage per week. For another year, teaching on Sunday will align with each week's passage. Then, for the next six days, we'll return to the same passage with fresh focus, exploring insights about who God is and how we can enjoy him more deeply. Monday through Saturday, we'll approach the same passage from a different perspective each day—whether observation, interpretation, prayer, or another spiritual practice—to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for God's Word. Then, watch or listen to the video podcast to tackle the week's toughest verses and discover key historical, theological, and practical insights. Daily Bible lessons for adults: https://jointhejourney.com Daily Bible lessons for parents and families: https://jointhejourney.com/jr Weekly Bible podcast for kids: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...  // MORE RESOURCES FROM JOIN THE JOURNEY:  Digital Bible study resources: https://jointhejourney.com/resources Previous years' print curriculum: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Waterma... Contact the Join The Journey team: jointhejourney@watermark.org 

Michael couldn’t help laughing as Grace hid behind a menu. They were playing a game of hide-and-seek at the table in a café while waiting for the food. The five-year-old thought that if she couldn’t see her father, then he couldn’t see her. It seemed silly at the time, but as Michael reflected on the incident later, he realized it contained an important lesson: Do we believe we can hide our sins from God? Do we think that if we can’t see Him, then He can’t see us? In Amos 9, this same point is made when God, speaking through the prophet, warns Israel not to think they can escape judgment for their sins. “Though they hide themselves . . . I will hunt them down.” He said, “I will keep my eye on them” (vv. 3-4). Nothing escapes the eyes of the all-seeing, all-knowing God. But the warning also came with a message of hope. In verses 11-15, God promises restoration: “I will restore David’s fallen shelter—I will repair its broken walls” (v. 11). After suffering the consequences of their sin, God’s people would be restored and given bountiful blessings (vv. 13-15). Just as God sees our failings, He also sees our repentance, and He is ready to forgive and restore. As we draw comfort from this truth, let’s hold on tightly to the holy and righteous God who is full of mercy and grace.

Do you find yourself in a season of waiting, wondering when your prayers will be answered?In today's episode, Gabby invites us to reflect on the beauty of "Faithful Waiting." Together, we'll explore how our faith can grow during times of delay, what it means to hope in the Lord as we wait, and how God uses these moments to prepare us for the blessings ahead. Let's uncover the strength found in steadfast hope and the reassurance that a delay is never a denial from God.Come join our community as we unite in prayer and devotion, trusting that God is at work in us while we wait for what's next.Tap HERE to send us a text! Our podcast family is growing - introducing Men's Morning Devotional! Our dad, Steve Alessi, and all of our husbands are now hosting their own 5 minute devotionals every weekday - for men who want to become better husbands, fathers, and leaders! Listen, follow and subscribe here - MensMorningDevotional.comSupport the showNEW VIDEO EPISODES! You can watch our new video episodes on YouTube! Watch Our Video DevotionalsNEW TO MY MORNING DEVOTIONAL? Welcome! We're four sisters - Stephanie, Lauren, Gaby, and Richelle - and our family works together at Metro Life Church in Miami, FL. We're so blessed to produce this daily devotional podcast for you and continue the great work done by the show's founder, Alison Delamota.We pray these devotions will help you to grow in your faith, and that you'll join us every weekday for a morning prayer and some time in God's Word! JOIN THE MMD COMMUNITYSubscribe to the showShare with a friendJoin our newsletter Follow Us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠⁠Leave a reviewMORE PODCASTS YOU'LL ENJOYEnjoy more podcasts from Metro Life Studios, including:The Family Business with The AlessisMen's Morning DevotionalThe Mary and Martha Show Available on our Metro Life Studios app!Get The Metro Life Studios app 

Lamentations 1:1-3:36

https://cdn.enduringword.com/audio/devotional/Devotional08252026.mp3 The post Two Important Questions – Acts 9:5-6 – August 25, 2026 appeared first on Enduring Word.

I remember the time that my son got in real late. And I remember because that really wasn't his usual style. And, of course, I was waiting calmly and patiently for him to get home and, you know, waiting to hear his explanation; except for the hand cuffs and the bright light that I greeted him with. Now, he had good reasons. There were car problems, and there were people who really did have to be dropped off before he was, and, oh yeah, they got lost. It all checked out, but I was still an unhappy father for one important thing that he missed. Can you guess what it is? Uh-huh, "You didn't call!" Every parent knows, and most teenagers learn that you're making a big mistake when you don't call home. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Neglecting to Call Home." I'm going to read our word for today from the Word of God from 1 Chronicles 14. David is in his unstoppable years; everything he does works, and there are secrets here to being unstoppable. Verse 10 says, "David inquired of God, 'Shall I go and attack the Philistines?' And the Lord answered him, 'Go and I will hand them over to you.'" In verse 14, it says, "David inquired of God again." And in this case he happens to be asking Him about a strategy for defeating the Philistines. You see, David checked with the Lord apparently on everything...well, almost everything. One day he did a great thing. He had the ark of the covenant moved from the suburbs so to speak, the outer country, to where it would be in the center of things. But it was only to be handled by the Levites. That's the law of God! And they didn't do it God's way and a man died while transporting that ark. Now we read in chapter 15 of 1 Chronicles, "You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your fellow Levites are to consecrate yourselves and bring up the ark of the Lord to the place I have prepared for it. It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us." Now listen to this. "We did not inquire of Him about how to do it in the prescribed way." In other words, David is saying, "We messed up because we didn't call our Father; we didn't check to see how God wanted this done." Our tendency is to pray about something, and then check in, same time, same station maybe tomorrow. Or pray when we're losing the battle. Can we learn a lesson from David when he was in his unstoppable years? Pray first about which battles to fight. Not every battle is one God wants you to be involved in. Get His orders before you get involved. Then ask the Lord about how to fight the battle. Pray until you start to feel His plan for that battle unfolding. The ark incident teaches us that you can do a good thing in a way God doesn't want it done. Good thing, wrong way, and it won't work. Too often, this guy's got to confess to you, I will pray about something in the morning, and then I'll put myself on cruise control and just kind of go ahead and not check in again until I hit a crisis. I'm a victim of my own momentum. Our Father expects us to check with Him frequently, regularly, all through the day, before a call, before an email, before a text, before a signature, before we drive, before we park, before we make a decision about where we're going to go next. "What do You want me to do, Lord?" "How do You want me to do it?" You can be unstoppable if you move through all your day's choices in consultation with your Heavenly Father. Like earthly kids, we tend to get in a mess, and then come into the Father's presence with our head hanging. And our Father says, "You didn't call."

The NFL season is almost here, and quarterback battles are heating up across the league! Join Bryce Johnson and Pastor Trip Smith on this week's UNPACKIN' it podcast as they dive into the fascinating dynamics of NFL quarterback rooms - from the Browns' situation to the Atlanta Falcons' battle between Tua Tagovailoa, Michael Penix Jr., and underdog Jack Strand.More importantly, how do these competitive environments parallel our daily lives as followers of Jesus? Bryce and Tripp break down:How to escape the "snare to compare" and focus on your own lane.The three D's of comparison: Distraction, Discouragement, and Diminishment.Matthew Stafford's powerful example of mentoring rookie Ty Simpson with the Rams.How biblical discipleship helps us outdo one another in showing honor.

Have you ever been downright stuck in a difficult situation? Maybe you've held a job with a colleague or supervisor you didn't see eye to eye with, and other career opportunities were scarce. Maybe you've been halfway through the semester and realized you're headed for a poor grade, but it's too late to drop the class. Maybe you've struggled in a relationship with a spouse or close family member, and you are wading through heartbreak with every interaction. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the people at Philippi, he was in a tough spot. He wrote this letter from prison in Rome—an uncomfortable place to be sure. He was in prison not for what we would consider a crime, but for his faith in Jesus Christ. But Paul had a secret.  Philippians 4:11 says, “I have learned, in whatever circumstances I am, to be content.”From the moment Paul received the Lord as his Savior, he began to love and experience Christ in a meaningful way. Chapter after chapter, the book of Philippians reveals that experiencing Christ was Paul's secret to contentment. Paul preached contentment through faith in Jesus from behind bars and reached out to his brothers and sisters in Christ to encourage them to choose contentment in the Lord. Paul's example inspired his friends at Philippi and continues to inspire believers today. Let's pray. Lord Jesus, we won't achieve perfection this side of heaven, but we know your plan for us is for peace in our hearts, and contentment in our lives. Let us live by the Apostle Paul's example, choosing contentment in all circumstances in your name.  In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

We center our hearts on praise as adoration of God for who He is, and we ask God to quiet our spirit and anchor us in the truth that we are deeply loved and securely held. We walk through why Scripture emphasizes praise so strongly and how worship becomes a strategic weapon that lifts heaviness, stirs faith, and helps us stand in Christ's finished victory. To donate, click on the Donate tab on our website at www.thefathersbusiness.com.

Paul tells Timothy what scripture is useful for, then he tells him how to use it. So how should we use scripture? Let's find out together as we read 2 Timothy 3:10-4:8 and Isaiah 56:6-11.

Job 12:1-15:35, 1 Cor 15:29-58, Ps 39:1-13, Pr 21:30-31

Professional boxer Jim Braddock was known as someone who fought not for riches and fame, but to put food on the table for his family. The movie Cinderella Man chronicles his fairytale-like comeback from a past-his-prime boxer to the world heavyweight champion. While facing extreme poverty during the Great Depression, Jim repeatedly sacrifices his own resources, health, and pride to provide for his children. He’s never intimidated by an opponent and courageously endures pummeling in the ring to keep his family safe. Jim’s legacy is one of passionate defense of his family. We too, have a passionate defender who has promised to take our place in the ring. When the Israelites faced Pharaoh’s mighty army after their escape from slavery in Egypt, they were terrified and cried out to God. “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than die in the desert!” they foolishly said (Exodus 14:12). But Moses replied in faith: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (v. 14). And without any action from the Israelites, their enemies were literally swept away by the sea as God supernaturally ended the battle before it even began. Sometimes it feels like we’re facing the trials of life or arrows from the enemy, Satan, on our own. But God has promised never to leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). He fights for us; we need only to be still.

PSALM 23 Is Your Battle Cry—FEAR NOTHING TODAY | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day With God SUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast! For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit: https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org © Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  SUPPORT THE MINISTRY: (We are listener-supported)https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/donate/ DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/ CONNECT WITH US:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/connectYouTube (1M+ SUBSCRIBERS)X / TwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebookTikTok Daily Effective Prayer™

Jeremiah 51-52

https://cdn.enduringword.com/audio/devotional/Devotional08242026.mp3 The post Kicking Against the Goads – Acts 9:5 – August 24, 2026 appeared first on Enduring Word.

The Problem With Vanity In The Last Days: Psalm 144 & Proverbs 13 by Shawn Ozbun

I was learning to ride a bicycle, and my dad was my teacher. Across the street from our apartment was a schoolyard as big as a city block. Like most city schoolyards, it was all concrete, no grass. In the middle of that big expanse was the only obstacle for a bike-riding rookie - a big old metal flagpole. But how could anyone run into that when he had the whole schoolyard to learn in, right? It can be done. Yeah, there I was, wobbling along, trying to learn to keep my balance on two wheels with my dad just behind me. Suddenly I heard him saying, "Turn, boy." My hands were frozen to the handlebars. I was sure turning either way meant crashing on that hard concrete. Again, "Turn, son!" I was closing in on the flagpole. Now it was a desperate cry from the lips of a disbelieving father, "Turn or you're going to hit the pole!" Bonngggg! I hit the pole. I still have the chipped tooth to prove it. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Missing the Turn that Saves Your Life." I made a painful mistake. I didn't make the turn that could have saved me. You know, there are lots of people like that. There's a turn that God is telling them to make; a turn that could save them from a life without meaning and an eternity without hope. But they just won't turn. You may know a lot about a lot of things, but there's nothing more important in all the world than to understand the turn that will keep you from God's punishment and take you to God's heaven. It's described in many places in the Bible, including Acts 3:19, our word for today from the Word of God. It says, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Here's why this is so life-or-death important. The sin that verse talks about will keep us from ever experiencing God's peace and God's love in this life and from ever entering His heaven when we die. A perfect God cannot have a relationship with an unforgiven sinner. But what we just read from God's Word talks about every sin you've ever committed being erased from God's book forever! Which means the only thing standing between you and God - between you and heaven - could be gone if you make the turn. Obviously, the turn is a turn to God. And the way to Him is through His Son, who died to make that way. In God's own words, Jesus "bore our sins in His own body on the tree, so that we might die to sins" (1 Peter 2:24). The gift of eternal life is in the nail-scarred hands of Jesus, the One who purchased that life by giving up His own life for you. But here's the part that some people miss. When you turn to Jesus, you're turning your back on something else. You're turning your back on the junk that killed Him. You're making a decision that you're going to abandon the sins of the past that were the very sins He died to get rid of. That's what the "repent" part of turning to God is all about - turning your back on your sins to turn to Jesus as your Savior. You won't be instantly perfect, but you're deciding to let Jesus change you. It's His power that will change you, but your decision that you will change. Look, you can't face east and west at the same time. You've got to turn away from one to face the other. So it is with Jesus and the sin He died for. But then, why would you want to continue to defy God and poison your life with the sin that ultimately always kills? We're talking a new you here, from the inside out! A new you that begins the moment you say, "Jesus, I'm Yours!" God's come to you today to offer you complete forgiveness and life forever. Don't miss this opportunity. In fact, that new you is what our website's all about. It's called ANewStory.com. Will you go check that out today? Without Christ in your heart, you're heading for a collision with God and an eternity you don't want. But hey, listen, today there's still time to turn.

Carissa was having one of those days. Instead of hitting the snooze button on her alarm clock, she had turned it off. Now the kids were late for school, she was late for work, and the tone for the day was one mad rush—emphasis on the mad. As the day wore on, she thought about her impatience and frustration with her children as everyone got dressed and grabbed a granola bar on the way out the door. It wasn't their fault the family was running behind, and she regretted sending them to school with tension, instead of hugs and kisses.Ephesians 4:2 says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”Of all the lessons we teach our children, kindness stands out. We have an opportunity to show patience, humility, and God's love to colleagues, classmates, neighbors, and friends—and the people in our lives learn more from watching how we behave, than they do from just being told what to do. We have a choice in how we treat others, and God asks us to approach the people around us with love. When Carissa arrived home from work, the first thing she did was apologize to the kids for the cranky way their day began, and let them know kindness matters morning, noon, and night—even when we're running late.Let's pray.Lord, thank you for the wisdom the Bible teaches us about kindness. Help us to be patient when we're short on time, and to be an example of your love in every situation—even when circumstances fall short of perfect. In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.

"Join Ms. Abby Erchen every other Monday this fall for our Journey Jr. Podcast! Using memory verses, games, and stories, Journey Jr. will dive deeper into the book of Acts, and some other stories in the New Testament. Find weekly lessons for family discipleship at jointhejourney.com/jr! We're so glad to be on this journey, abiding with Jesus together. "

Job 8:1-11:20, 1 Cor 15:1-28, Ps 38:1-22, Pr 21:28-29

A recent photography contest featured images created by artificial intelligence (AI). People from around the world submitted pictures they had fabricated by AI text prompts on computers. Only AI-generated images were allowed. One winner was a surreal depiction: against a sandy landscape, something that looked like a pink flamingo curled into a feathery ball. There was only one problem. The winning image was a real photograph of a real flamingo. The photographer had entered an authentic photo in an AI-contest. His picture, “Flamingone,” was disqualified. That’s right—the authentic photo was rejected for being the real thing. The prophet Isaiah vividly foretells a similar irony about the trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ: “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7). Christ was taken to court for claiming to be the Jewish Messiah. Yet he did not offer a defense: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth” (v. 7). Isaiah points to the ultimate contradiction: “He was despised and rejected by mankind” (v. 3). That’s right—the authentic Messiah, the true Son of God, was rejected as being fake. Today, you and I are judges in that court of decision. Do we accept Jesus as the authentic Son of God? Or do we reject Him as something less? Even if we believe in Him, does our daily living sometimes reject Him as the real deal?

Jeremiah 49-50

Job 4:1-7:21, 1 Cor 14:18-40, Ps 37:30-40, Pr 21:27