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

Dr. Michael Youssef shares a powerful picture of spiritual inheritance: hearing his grandfather pour out midnight prayers for the next generation. It’s a sobering reminder that we can pursue bigger houses, fuller schedules, and greater worldly success while our spiritual homes quietly crumble . In this episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , you’ll hear why the future of our families depends on pra...

Dr. Michael Youssef shares a vivid picture of spiritual inheritance: hearing his grandfather pray through the night for the next generation. It’s a reminder that we can build impressive lives on the outside while our spiritual homes quietly crumble on the inside—unless we return to the only foundation that holds: prayerful dependence on God . In this episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Yous...

God invites you to come to Him with every need—big or small. But in today’s MY Devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef challenges believers to move beyond “small” prayers that stay centered on comfort and into big prayers that seek God’s renown, praise, and honor among the nations (Jeremiah 33:9). Dr. Youssef clarifies what makes these prayers powerful: they rise from hearts truly devoted to God—hearts th...

Have you ever noticed that the moment you decide to pray, interruptions multiply—phone calls, doorbells, to-do lists, daydreams, even sleepiness? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef explains why that’s not an accident. Prayer is sacred fellowship with your heavenly Father, and Satan will do whatever he can to disrupt it—because he knows prayer is a vital source of...

Do you ever find yourself praying like a sailor using a pump—only when the ship is leaking? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef challenges the habit of “need-driven prayer,” where we pray furiously in crisis but neglect prayer when life feels stable. Dr. Youssef offers simple, actionable guidance on how to take prayer seriously: Give prayer adequate time: Relation...

Do you have someone in your life who only reaches out when they want something? That kind of one-sided relationship feels transactional—and it’s a powerful mirror for how many believers approach God. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef challenges us to move beyond “laundry-list” praying—requests without worship, needs without thanksgiving, future-focused anxiety w...

Have you noticed how quickly disappointment follows when expectations are placed on the wrong things—people, circumstances, plans, even your own strength? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that only God’s promises can carry the full weight of our expectations. Dr. Youssef takes us to Luke 2:25–35 , where we meet Simeon—an ordinary man with extraordina...

Why do we pray—really? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that the ultimate purpose of prayer is not self-fulfillment but the glory of God . Jesus Himself said He answers prayer “so that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). And even when God meets our needs, the goal remains the same: His Name honored and His goodness displayed. Dr. Yo...

Imagine being there as a young Mary—likely no older than fourteen—walked into the hills of Judea to embrace her cousin Elizabeth. In that moment, Mary’s heart overflowed with the Magnificat , a prayer that would echo through generations as a testimony of God’s faithfulness. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef highlights why Mary’s prayer matters so deeply for your...

Habakkuk ministered in a tense moment in Israel’s history—when Babylon was rising and judgment was approaching—yet the heart of his book is deeply personal: moving from impatience and confusion to steadfast trust in God’s timing. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef walks through Habakkuk’s prayer in chapter 3 and points to three features that can reshape your own...

Jonah didn’t run toward God’s calling—he ran the other way. Sent to Nineveh, he fled to Joppa, boarded a ship for Tarshish, and ended up in the last place he expected: the belly of a great fish . Yet in that dark, desperate place, Jonah did one thing right—he prayed with everything he had. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef invites you into Jonah 2:1–6 , a prayer...

As we conclude this series on Daniel’s effective prayers, Dr. Michael Youssef brings the focus to two essentials many believers overlook: knowing God’s Word and responding in obedience . How can you be confident you’re praying God’s will—and not simply your own desires? Jesus gives the priority: seek first God’s Kingdom, and trust Him to provide what you need (Matthew 6:25–33). Dr. Youssef explain...

As we continue learning from Daniel’s prayers, Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that we are completely reliant on God’s love and forgiveness—and that Daniel’s approach is a blueprint for praying with spiritual power. First, appeal for mercy . Daniel doesn’t present God with reasons he deserves an answer. Instead, he pleads on the basis of God’s covenant character: “We do not make requests… because w...

What makes “the prayer of a righteous person” so effective? Dr. Michael Youssef points to Daniel’s plea in Daniel 9:4–19 as a clear model for believers today—and then highlights the key components you can practice immediately. First, start with praise . Daniel doesn’t rush into requests; he begins by magnifying God as “great and awesome,” faithful to His covenant of love (Daniel 9:4). Prayer isn’t...

Daniel didn’t become courageous in the lions’ den overnight. Long before he stood firm before kings, he first bent the knee in secret —day after day, seeking the Lord when no one was watching. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef traces Daniel’s life from exile in Babylon to his unwavering refusal to stop praying, reminding us: whenever you see someone standing str...

Deep in the Arabian Desert, a small fortress once served as a place of safety for Lawrence of Arabia. When stronger forces attacked, he would retreat behind its walls—finding protection, provision, and renewed strength. Dr. Michael Youssef uses this vivid picture to remind believers of an even greater refuge: prayer . In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , you’ll hear why prayer is not...

David’s life looked like the definition of success—power, influence, a throne. Yet behind the scenes, his family was unraveling through tragedy and rebellion, and he found himself fleeing his own son Absalom. In exile and grief, David prayed not with polished words, but with a heartfelt plea for mercy and justice —and Psalm 28 captures that cry for every believer who has ever felt overwhelmed, sla...

Hannah had every reason to quit. She carried years of sorrow, emotional wounds, and physical exhaustion—yet her faith remained unshakable and her prayers did not stop. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef continues Hannah’s story and highlights a miracle many overlook: after God answered her cry and gave her a son, Hannah kept her vow and gave Samuel back to the Lo...

In 1 Samuel 1 , we meet Hannah—whose name means “favored,” even though her heart felt anything but favored. Crushed by grief and unable to conceive, Hannah pours out a prayer so raw that Scripture says she prayed “in deep anguish… weeping bitterly” (1 Samuel 1:10). And from this prayer of brokenness, God would raise up a man who would shape history—Samuel, who would anoint the king in the lineage...

“What should I do next?” is one of the most common questions believers bring to God—and in today’s MY Devotional, Dr. Michael Youssef takes you to Genesis 24 , where Scripture records the first prayer offered in the same way we pray today. Abraham’s trusted servant Eliezer is sent on a mission that will shape the covenant line: find a wife for Isaac. Along the journey, he stops and prays a clear,...

If you feel weary, discouraged, or defeated by sin, Scripture doesn’t offer a shortcut—it offers a doorway: prayer . In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef reminds us that there is no lasting power over temptation and no consistent victory over sin without spending time with God in prayer. Dr. Youssef challenges the common habit of treating prayer like a last-ditch e...

When life disappoints, it’s easy to drift into a subtle resignation: Why pray? In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef refuses that mindset and calls believers back to prayer as a matter of the will —not emotion, not mood, not convenience. Rooted in God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:12–13 , Dr. Youssef reminds us that God invites His people into real relationship: call on...

By Michael A. Youssef, Ph. D. Read John 20:15-18. Mary had likely heard Jesus say He would rise on the third day—yet grief blinded her to hope. Then everything changed with one word: “Mary” (John 20:16). In an instant, sorrow became joy, depression turned to delight, and her tears transformed from sadness to gladness as she recognized her living Savior. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podc...

By Michael A. Youssef, Ph. D. Read John 20:11-15. Mary Magdalene had been rescued by Jesus from seven demons—and from the crushing shame of sin—so her devotion ran deep (Luke 8:2). While others fled in fear, Mary stayed near Jesus through His suffering and crucifixion, steadfast and unashamed. She saw enough to know He truly died, so when His body was missing from the tomb, she assumed the only ex...

By Michael A. Youssef, Ph. D. Read John 19:28-30. Just before He died, Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). In English it’s three words, but in Greek it’s a single, triumphant word: Tetelestai —a perfect passive verb meaning the work has been fully accomplished, and its effects continue on and on. In today’s episode of the MY Devotional Podcast , Dr. Michael Youssef unpacks why that matt...