Love in Action Worldwide Ministries

03/28/2026

"Our Shield and Warrior" (YouVersion)

One of the primary images of God in the Old Testament is that of God as Warrior. All throughout Scripture, God is frequently going to battle for His people or standing with them in the midst of difficulty—protecting them from harm.

Scripture tells us that God does not idly stand aside and watch His children fight alone. He's a warrior—our Warrior—who's actively protecting His people.

This is why the writer of Psalm 3 calls God a Shield that surrounds him. God is not distant—He is present and active in our lives. Even though we may experience pain and suffering, we can go to God for help and safety. He knows how to protect us, and fight for us.

The writer of this Psalm also says that God is the One who lifts our heads in the midst of difficulty. It can be easy to become discouraged or tired in the middle of hard times. But even in those moments, God supports us.

When we come to God as our Shield, He not only protects us, but He also gives us hope and peace. He restores the parts of us that are tired and burned out. God gives us a reason to continue to fight with hope.

If you’re in a season where you feel like you've lost hope, or you’re simply discouraged and tired, spend some time praying. Ask God to be your Shield in this difficult time. Pray for Him to restore your joy and hope, and to lift your head, as you continue to follow Him.

03/27/2026

03/26/2026

"Seeking and Finding God" by YouVersion

In the Old Testament, God’s presence and His relationship with His people was mediated through priests and the temple system. The people of God worshiped God and prayed to Him, but it was the priests who would enter a sacred space and speak with God on their behalf.

They revered God, but they were still separated from Him.

However, the prophet Jeremiah wrote about a time when God’s people would be able to experience a direct relationship with Him. God’s Spirit would dwell in them, and they could find Him anywhere at any time.

Through Jesus, Jeremiah's prophecy was fulfilled. Jesus sent the Spirit of God to dwell within us, to have access to God’s presence at any time.

This means that God is never far from you—just like it says in Jeremiah 29:13, He can be found when we seek Him. He is present and ready for a relationship with you.

Jeremiah also says that we must seek God with all of our heart. We don't just seek God, He seeks us as well. When you pursue a relationship with God, He wants access to every part of you. The way you think, the way you act, and even the way you feel.

He wants to transform your entire life.

At first, it may seem hard to give God access to our past, or the things we’re ashamed of. But God is full of grace and mercy, and He wants us to be free from those things. Seeking God with all of your heart may feel risky at times, but we can trust He knows best and will love us regardless of what we’ve done.

Ask God to reveal within you any part of your life that you haven’t surrendered to God. Pray for the strength and courage to give all of your life to God. Continue to seek Him and follow Him each and every day.

03/25/2026

"Finding Satisfaction for Your Soul" (YouVersion)

Imagine you’re one of the Israelites traveling through the wilderness with Moses. You’ve been wandering ever since God rescued you from slavery in Egypt. You’re thirsty, but water is nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, Moses raises his staff and strikes a rock—and water begins to flow from it. In that moment, you thank God for providing your greatest need.

Thousands of years later, the Jews in Jerusalem were celebrating God’s provision for them when they wandered in the wilderness. For seven days, they would fill a golden pitcher with water and pour it onto an altar to remember how God provided water for their ancestors. On the eighth day, no water was poured, but they would pray and reflect on God fulfilling His promises for His people. As they were praying in the temple, Jesus stood up and cried out:

Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.
John 7:37-38 NIV

Nothing was poured onto the altar that day, but Jesus offered something greater. By comparing Himself to the water that God provided for the Israelites, He was offering to provide for their deepest needs—a relationship with Him.

Just as water satisfies our thirst, Jesus promises to satisfy us. Meaning that when we accept Him wholeheartedly, we have the opportunity to experience the fullness of His love, peace, and goodness in every circumstance we face.

And not only does He promise to satisfy us, but He promises to overflow within us by blessing us so much that we have an opportunity to share our blessings with others. This can look like serving others with the time God has given us, or maybe forgiving someone who has hurt you because Jesus has forgiven you.

There’s so many ways to bless others. Take some time today to think about how you can share your blessings with those around you.

03/23/2026

"Desiring God’s Presence" (YouVersion)

Take a moment to think about your desires in life. Make a mental list of all of the things you want to accomplish. Think about your top priorities and where you think you should spend your time.

Now, go back over your list and consider how many of your desires included spending time with God. Did any of your accomplishments require being in God’s presence?

The writer of Psalm 42 compares himself to a deer that is longing for water. The deer is weary and parched without it, and so all it wants is to find a stream to drink from.

In a similar way, the Psalmist is weary and exhausted from life. He is under pressure and growing tired. And yet, his innermost desire is for God.

Just like the deer desires water, the psalmist’s soul desires the presence of God. He knows that the solution to his problems is not more accomplishments and praise—it’s spending time in the presence of God.

It’s not wrong to have desires and goals in life. But our foremost desire should be for God, because true satisfaction is only found in His presence.

Because God is not limited to a building or a location, we can be with Him any time we want. God is Spirit and He exists everywhere at any time. He is present right now with you.

All it takes is your desire and commitment to spend time with Him by reading His Word, talking to Him through prayer, or reflecting on His faithful character. As you draw close to Him, He is ready and willing to be close to you, and to restore your soul.

Spending time with God is a basic spiritual need of ours, but it is a powerful time that can change the course of our life and the center of who we are. Take time to be with Him now, but also come up with a plan that helps you continue to seek God every day.

03/22/2026

Today's YouVersion Devotional:
"True Repentance"

Sometimes life can feel like one big performance. We can get caught up in pleasing people, becoming successful, and attaining our greatest dreams. While those things are all good, what happens when we fail?

Most people are hard on themselves when they don't live up to their own expectations, or the expectations others have set for them. Can you remember a time you messed up? Did you feel guilt, shame, or even condemnation?

God’s Word talks about this very thing. That’s because God knows that we are not perfect, and that we will mess up in life. But when Paul talks about sorrow that comes from God, he talks about it very differently.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul says that godly sorrow doesn’t lead to condemnation, shame, or guilt, but rather it leads to repentance and restoration. When we look to Jesus, we are reminded that He took on all of our shame and guilt on the cross. This means we don’t have to carry the shame that Jesus already carried.

When we mess up, our first response should be to go to God and remind ourselves of the truth of the cross. While earthly sorrow pushes us down, godly sorrow brings us to Jesus—where we can know we are forgiven and made new.

So while we may still mess up and fail, we can be confident that we are continually being made new by Jesus. God’s love and forgiveness never change.

Take some time to think about the love of God and His forgiveness in your life. Remind yourself that you are a new creation empowered by the Spirit of God to walk in new life. Write down one or two ways that you can remind yourself of these truths throughout your week.

03/21/2026

"How to Fight Fear" by YouVersion

Think back to a time when you were genuinely scared. Do you remember how you felt?

As much as we’d prefer to never experience fear, fear is a part of the human experience. But when we are afraid, we have options…

We can panic, stress, get overwhelmed with worry, overthink every worst-case scenario, or attempt to numb the anxiety-inducing situations in unhealthy ways. Or, we can echo David’s words:

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” ‭‭
Psalm‬ ‭56:3‬ ‭ESV

These words were penned as David was pursued by his father-in-law, King Saul. Seeking refuge, he fled to Gath, a Philistine city in a foreign land. When the Philistines recognized him as Israel’s warrior, God helped him to escape. He was a fugitive, alone and afraid.

But David refused to settle for scared. He resisted the urge to let fear have the final say. He decided to fight back with Truth.

And so can we.

We never have to fight alone. God has given us something more powerful than ordinary weapons: He’s given us His Word, His Spirit, and His people. Even when we don’t have access to the perfect inspirational sermon or a timely word of encouragement, we can pause and remember the truth—that God fights for us, He is with us, and He’ll never leave us.

When we shift our minds from our overwhelming fear to God’s overwhelming faithfulness, everything changes. So, today, if you’re scared, anxious, terrified, overwhelmed, or uncertain, speak this out loud:

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

03/20/2026

"Rest is a Reality" by YouVersion

In Hebrews 4:9, the author offers a reassurance of hope: "There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God." The author is referring to more than just observing a specific day of the week. It's about an inward peace and wholeness with God, not depending on external circumstances.

Through faith and trust in God, we can find a deep and lasting rest for our souls, reminding us of the eternal rest to come. This Sabbath-rest serves as a precursor—a promise that concludes in a future, perfect rest (Revelation 14:13). The rest we get to experience here is only a shadow, and what we hope for is the reality (Colossians 2:17).

Sabbath-rest isn't earned. It’s a gift God offers to all who seek Him.

As you contemplate Hebrews 4:9, consider: What it would look like for you to fully enter God's rest in your daily life. How can you practice releasing your burdens and anxieties to Him?

The promise of Sabbath-rest is not just a concept. It's a reality for those who walk faithfully with God.

03/19/2026

"The Shepherd’s Promise" (YouVersion)

Psalm 23 is a poem about God as our Shepherd. It’s all about how God knows what's best for us. He knows who we are and the paths we should walk in life. Because He is our Shepherd, He also is our Protector—guarding us from evil.

At the end of Psalm 23, there is a promise for us...

"Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Psalms 23:6 NIV

What does it mean that God’s goodness and love will follow us?

It doesn’t mean that life will go according to our plans. It also doesn’t mean life will be free of pain and problems. Psalm 23:4 tells us that we will still have to walk through dark valleys.

Here’s what it does mean: God will always be with us. God will always be good to us. Life may not always be easy, but God promises to always be good.

It also means that nothing can take God’s love from us. God’s love will always be there, just like Paul says in Romans 8:38-39. We don’t have to fear disappointing God or losing Him. He promises never to take His love and goodness away from us.

Because of these truths, the writer of this Psalm says that his desire is to be with God in God’s house forever. We ought to desire the same thing as well. It’s because of God’s goodness and love that we will one day join Him in heaven to be with Him forever.

Take some time today to consider God as your Shepherd, who cares for you and protects you. Thank Him that His goodness and love will never end but will follow you every day of your life.

03/18/2026

"Someone Greater" by YouVersion

There’s a battle happening all around you—a battle for your heart, your mind, and your soul. A battle that’s not only physical, but also spiritual. A battle with literal enemies who impact the seen and unseen world.

John wrote:

“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yes, we are in a real battle.
Yes, we have a real enemy.
Yes, the kingdom of darkness is constantly fighting against the kingdom of light.

But for those who are trusting in the finished work of Christ, greater is the One living inside of us than the one who is living in this world.

We have a real Savior.
This story isn’t close to over.
The kingdom of darkness will never prevail against the kingdom of light.

Our enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. To pervert, manipulate, and confuse; to distract, divide, and disable.

But God is greater than the doubts that clutter your mind, the enemies that frustrate your plans, the heart-wrenching and even soul-crushing situation that’s currently consuming your thoughts.

You can fight from a place of victory because the battle has already been won.

Jesus has already conquered death. And now, while we wait for others to come to salvation and for God to bring all things to completion under Christ’s authority, we can fight with a confident hope.

There’s a battle happening all around you—a battle for your heart, for your mind, for your soul. But greater is the One living inside of you than the one who is living in this world.