Prayer: Author and Finisher of My Faith

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; 

Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; 

Do not forsake the works of Your hands.  

Psalm 138:8

Daily I walk along the path of choosing. Decisions of life and death constantly before me. My choices will either draw me to you or lead me away. Each day I will declare that you are my God and nothing, not even my own selfish desires, will rule my life.

I fall into your arms. Not because I'm weary or defeated, but because I know you are my only hope. You don't want me to strive and take control. You only ask that I rest in you and release every care.

Without you, I'm nothing. Though my mind seeks to know the outcome of every situation, I will trust you. Your love has never failed me. I don't need to understand all of your plans, I only need to believe that they are good. You are the Author and Finisher of my faith. Every one of your faithful promises will come to pass. You will finish the work you've started in me.

Excerpt from "Prayers on Fire: Praying the Psalms" by Brian Simmons

The Weight That Holds Us Steady

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, ”

Hebrews 6:19a (NKJV)

Recently, my husband and I went on a cruise for our 25th anniversary. As we rested on the balcony, watching the waves go by, I caught myself imagining what would happen if the ocean decided to get unruly.

The ship would have no choice but to drop anchor. Then the waves may not stop, but they would lose their power to push us off course. We would be held steady by something heavy, strong, and unseen.

That image immediately reminded me of Hebrews 6:19a: “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

If you think about it, anchors don’t get much credit. They’re covered beneath the waterline, doing the quiet work of keeping everything grounded. By definition, an anchor is a heavy object attached to a cable or chain and used to moor a ship, fixing it firmly and securely in one place. Without that secure attachment, a ship does not stay put. It drifts.

We tend to drift in our own way, don't we? With a few hard hits, disappointments we didn’t see coming, or unanswered prayers … our souls loosen their grip on God. It’s not that we stop believing in Him, but the waves of life wear us out.

Drifting never announces itself; it just happens quietly and slowly. On the ship’s deck that day, it was like I heard a whisper in my heart: Are you drifting?

God invited me to pause long enough to reflect on what my soul had attached itself to for stability and whether that mooring point was actually strong enough to hold me during life’s storms. I had to admit that after facing a series of personal setbacks, my faith was wavering. I felt disconnected and was drifting without direction.

As I searched the Scriptures, I also came across Psalm 62:5, and it hit me like holy correction: “Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from him” (CSB). This truth recentered me and made me thankful for the hope I have in Christ, knowing my faith is secure in the God who is always faithful.

He is the One who holds us steady when circumstances feel unfair, unfinished, or overwhelming. Friend, when life is storm-tossed, when emotions get out of control, when fear or doubt shows up, when insecurity starts rearing its head, this is your reminder and mine: Hope in Christ.

We don’t get to escape the waves, but we do get to choose where we anchor. Christ is steady, trustworthy, and unshaken. Rest your weight there. He is strong enough to hold you.

Lord, when life feels unsteady, teach us to anchor our souls in You. Remind us that hope in Christ is stronger than any storm. Strengthen our faith, settle our fears, and keep us close. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Dr. Avril Occilien-Similien
Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

When Negative Thoughts Run Your Life

Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

I knew they were there, but I tried to ignore them and deny their existence.

They controlled how I felt in the morning and when I went to sleep. They often caused my emotions to feel out of control, making me feel out of control too.

They dictated how I reacted to situations or conversations. They often made me feel offended, angry, or hurt, whether or not it was truly justified. They never ceased to remind me of my shortcomings and flaws, making me feel inferior and without value, and they constantly tried to pull me down with discouragement or hopelessness, stealing my peace and joy.

What are “they,” you ask?

My thoughts.

Life had been tough for many months due to a painful situation in my marriage, and as a result, negative thoughts were running my life.

I didn’t want to feel sad or unhappy, but my thoughts stayed consumed with all the things that made me sad and unhappy. I didn’t want to feel discouraged or fearful, but my heart was heavy.

My negative thoughts were weighing down not only my emotions but my outlook on life. I felt as if I were sinking mentally, emotionally, and at times spiritually.

Todays key verse gives us wise advice on dealing with our thoughts: “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23).

This passage was written by King Solomon for the benefit of his own sons. As I read Proverbs 4, I notice that although Solomon was the king of Israel, he didn’t just advise his sons about royal matters like how to handle money, job responsibilities, or leading the kingdom. Instead he spoke here of the value of controlling their thoughts, which would determine how his sons felt and lived.

The quality of our thoughts will always determine the quality of our lives.

Whatever our minds focus on will shape what plays out in our lives and who we become. Our thoughts and feelings have more power than we may realize, gradually steering us - and possibly our faith - in a direction we may not want to go. King Solomon knew it’s often our thoughts, not just our circumstances, that cause us to sink, and his scriptures counsel us to be careful about what we think and feel.

When I realized my thoughts were running my life, I admitted to Jesus how I had allowed emotionally fueled thoughts to sink my joy, hope, and faith. I asked Him to remind me of His Truth that says I can be positive even if my circumstances aren’t.

As He helped me intentionally change my thoughts, my life changed as well. And so can yours.

Dear Lord, at times I feel as if I’m sinking in my attitude, my thought patterns, and even my faith. Forgive me for letting negativity have power over how I feel, think, and live. Fill me with hope today. Give me wisdom to control my attitude, and help me learn to transform my thoughts, heart, and life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Tracie Miles

Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Hope In God's Goodness

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed

That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13 (NKJV)

There was a time when someone spoke Psalm 27:13 over me, praying “that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.” Not just someday in heaven. Not just once I was free from the pain of this world. Here. In the middle of the brokenness I was drowning in.

At the time, I couldn’t receive it. I couldn’t even imagine it. I believed in God’s goodness … for other people. For the ones whose prayers seemed to get answers, whose lives looked stitched together. But not for me. The absence of joy felt like a final verdict in my life, and all I could see was sorrow. Hopelessness kept me stuck, rooted in despair.

Hannah knew that kind of sorrow too. We see in 1 Samuel 1 how she longed for a child, but year after year, her womb remained closed. In her anguish, she poured out her soul before the Lord - weeping bitterly, praying silently. But Hannah kept showing up. She believed, even in her pain, that she would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. And in time, she did. She gave birth to Samuel, who would become one of Israel’s greatest prophets.

In fact, Samuel anointed King David, whose words in Psalm 27 echo Hannah’s story. She could have let the silence of unanswered prayers convince her that God had forgotten her. But instead she clung to hope. And she witnessed God’s goodness.

Hope can feel fragile when life is loud with pain. Sometimes it seems safer to brace ourselves for disappointment than to believe God’s goodness might actually break through in our lifetime, in our story, in our ache.

Maybe, like me, you’ve found yourself in that gray space where it feels like hope has packed its bags and moved on without you. You still whisper prayers, or maybe even shout, but heaven seems to hold its breath. You hear others testifying to answered prayers and overflowing blessings, and you quietly wonder, What about me?

Psalm 27:13 offers a lifeline: “I would have despaired had I not believed …”

What did David believe? That goodness was coming. Not just in eternity but here. On this side of heaven. God is not done. This chapter isn’t the whole story.

It’s not easy to cling to hope sometimes. But even if you’re in a season of silence or sorrow, may this be a sacred moment of trust, an act of gentle defiance against despair. May you dare to believe, even with trembling hands, that goodness is still chasing you down. Even now. Especially now.

Lord, when my heart feels thin and hope feels far away, steady me again with the promise of Your goodness. Remind me, like You reminded Hannah, that You see every silent prayer and every hidden ache. Help me cling to You with quiet courage, believing I will see Your goodness. Lift my eyes, strengthen my spirit, and let hope rise again. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

- Tabitha Yates

Provided by "Proverbs 31 Ministries"

Prayer: God Knows...

You Are Not Failing

There comes a moment when you realize that what you are calling failure is actually just life unfolding in a way you did not expect. You have been holding your breath trying to make everything make sense, trying to fix what slipped through your fingers, trying to rewind what cannot be rewound. And somewhere in all of that pressure you began to label yourself with words God never spoke over you.

You are not failing. You are living. You are learning. You are moving through a season that feels heavier than you wanted, but it is still shaping you in ways you cannot see yet.

Sometimes the most freeing thing you can do is stop naming your situation something it is not. Instead of calling it failure, call it what it is. A moment. A season. A point in your story where you get to choose what happens next. Acceptance is not giving up. Acceptance is choosing to stop fighting what already happened so you can finally focus on what God is inviting you into now.

When you stop trying to force what is gone, you create space for what God is still growing in you. This is the shift where strength begins. You look at what is and you say, I accept this. I release the shame. I refuse to drag the past into the present. And now I choose to move. I choose to do something. I choose to show up again.

God meets you in that choice. God breathes hope into the small steps. God honors the decision to stop spiraling and start building. You are not behind. You are not weak. You are simply standing at a doorway that requires courage instead of perfection.

Choose courage. Choose movement. Choose the next right thing, even if it is small. That is not failure. That is faith.

- Ellie Mont

Meme: Hope In Christ