Proverbs 31 Ministries

It is very early in the morning. Though my body begs me to go back to sleep, my soul stirs to get up and talk with Jesus.And though I can't physically see Him, I know He is present.

Click below to read today's devotion.

God Wants To Prepare You for Today "Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name" (Psalm 86:11, NIV).

Every single person is navigating some type of problem or issue that feels overwhelming or debilitating.

We all have worries and fears that keep us up at night. We are all tempted to let anxiety take the lead and keep us stuck in fear.

But the truth is God’s promises have the power to override our problems and ease our pain.

He bears our burdens and gives us rest in exchange for our weariness. He lightens the load of our everyday lives and helps us keep going when we want to quit.

Nothing we face can take away the victory we have in Jesus. Nothing can separate us from His love.

What problem are you praying for Him to meet you in today?

Friend, we get it. Life can sometimes feel overwhelming, and it's easy to get caught up in self-doubt.

Especially when our minds constantly want to keep a tally of every mistake we’ve ever made and hyperfocus on the things we feel are wrong with us. Whether it’s after a harsh performance report at work, a tough parent-teacher conference, or a missed appointment, it can be hard to extend grace to ourselves when we place an enormous weight of perfection on our shoulders.

Maybe you find yourself thinking:

"I just keep messing everything up."
"No matter what I do, it feels like I fail."
"I can't seem to get anything right."
"I feel like I disappoint everyone."

Oh friend, you are none of these things, and you are not defined by your mistakes or missteps.

2 Corinthians 12:9 reminds us that God’s grace is sufficient for you, and His power is made perfect in weakness. Our imperfections do not diminish our worth; rather, they remind us of our need for grace.

So tonight if you’re feeling the weight of negative self-talk, allow it to point you to a God who loves you and sees you as so much more than your mistakes. Cling to the truth that He’s not expecting perfection from you. You can call on Him to give you strength to see yourself the way He sees you, and you can trust that your path is secured.

Leave an “amen” if you needed this encouragement tonight!

You don't have to fear what you don't understand.

Questions about spiritual warfare, angels, demons, heaven, and the unseen world can feel intimidating, especially when you don’t know where to get trustworthy answers.

Maybe you've wondered why certain struggles seem to keep showing up…

Or why fear your can feel so loud and debilitating sometimes….

Maybe you wonder whether there's more going on than what you can see.

When answers feel hard to find, it's easy to feel uncertain, overwhelmed, or even afraid. But friend, you don't have to live in fear of what you can't see. God has given you His Word so you can walk forward with confidence, knowing that Jesus reigns over every battle and every unanswered question.

That's the heartbeat behind our new study, “Between Heaven and Here: Biblical Answers About the Spiritual Battle You’re Facing.”

Through this study, you'll explore what Scripture really says about the unseen realities around us and discover how biblical Truth brings confidence, clarity, and peace in the middle of life's battles.

Because the battle is real. But so is the victory.

When you give a gift to Proverbs 31 Ministries today, we will send you a copy of this study as a special thank-you. ❤️

Give here today: https://proverbs31.io/4rUQsrG

My mother could not provide for me and protect me at the same time.

As a single mom in Cambodia, she worked hard and often had to leave me home alone. When I was 4 years old, her sister-in-law kidnapped me. I was terrified and cried so hard. Thankfully, a Christian couple soon found me and rescued me, returning me to my mother.

Shortly after, my absent father gambled away our house, leaving my mother and me homeless. I felt unlovable, and I hated my father for the pain he caused.

Unable to provide for both of us and feeling she had no other choice, my mother sent me to live with my uncle and his Christian family when I was 5 years old. My uncle became like a true father to me. He modeled Christian values and took care of me even though I felt like an outsider.

But it wasn’t until I was 12 years old that a simple gift opened my heart to Jesus. Our church held a special outreach event with worship, games, and a gospel presentation. At the end, every child received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift!

This was my first gift ever. When I asked where the shoebox came from, I was told that it came from people who love God. I was amazed that someone from the other side of the world, who did not know me, cared enough to pack a gift just for me. It made me feel cherished, and it opened my heart to what God was teaching me.

God has used faithful people to rescue me throughout my life and point me to the true Savior I needed most. The Bible is clear that even if the very people who are supposed to care for me forget me, God never will: “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15). There is nothing that can separate you or me from God’s love.

After experiencing the Father’s love for me, I learned to forgive those who hurt me, just as Christ forgives us. Forgiving other people who wrong or hurt us isn’t easy. Sometimes it even seems impossible. But that’s exactly what God did for us, and it’s what He asks us to do for others (Colossians 3:13).

Even today, I find myself experiencing brokenness that requires grace and forgiveness. When I'm overwhelmed and unable to grant mercy, I ask the Lord for the strength to forgive so that I can live freely and glorify Him.

-Lysa Giedd

What next steps can you take to allow the Lord to be your refuge and give you strength to fill a void for those around you who might feel forgotten?

My mother could not provide for me and protect me at the same time.As a single mom in Cambodia, she worked hard and often had to leave me home alone. When I was 4 years old, her sister-in-law kidnapped me.

Click below to read today's devotion.

God of Redemption “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15, NIV).

Joy and trials appear diametrically opposed to one another. How can something that produces such pain be counted as joy?

In his New Testament letter, James directs us to a knowing deeper than our circumstances — a well of truth in the midst of scorched seasons.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

His words don’t imply or encourage an absence of grief, but they point us to a confidence in our understanding. When we experience trials, we grieve, yet we grieve with hope. We’re given eyes that see beyond the earthly realm into spiritual realities. God is always at work. No pain that touches our lives enters without His greater purpose in view. In our weakest, most heart-wrenching moments, God is somehow making us stronger, producing steadfastness of soul.

Trials often leave us feeling empty, lacking, incomplete. Somehow, in His divine providence, the Lord takes our emptiness and creates a fullness: He makes us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4). We may not be given the details of how or why He is at work, but we are promised the outcome. The various trials that may appear to steal, kill, and destroy will be worked, in some miraculous way, for our good.

In view of His promises and His character, we can count it joy when we endure various trials. Not because of how we feel but because of who we know. Our tender Father sent His Son to rescue us from our greatest trial — separation from God because of sin. We can trust that in all things, He is working to bring us safely home. And, on that day, all tears will end, pain will cease, and death will be no more . There will be no need to count it all joy, because sighing and sorrow will flee and everlasting joy will be ours.

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What hardships are you facing today? In what ways can you pray without ceasing as you go about your day? What are you thankful for today?

Joy. We find it meets us in a variety of ways. A beautiful sunset after a long day on the beach. A fresh-picked strawberry at the beginning of summer. A “welcome home” embrace after a long absence.

Click below to read today's devotion.

Count It All Joy “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3, ESV).

The One who knows every purpose of your heart can give you the insight and courage to gently draw out the heart of the person you love. | Kevin A. Thompson