Do you have money trouble? Biblical counselor Jim Newheiser reorients your heart to worship God rather than wealth and presents the wisdom of Scripture on financial and work-related topics. Alasdair Groves, Executive Director, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) New England; Director, CCEF School of Biblical Counseling I love this devotional! In our day of incredibly high levels of anxiety and stress, this book is timely, wise, Christ-honoring, and powerfully life-giving. . . . We all need this, not just teenagers.” While it is certainly true that people often need more than the Word and prayer, they will never need less than the Word and prayer. While our needs include healthy relationships within the church and (at times) medical intervention and other forms of treatment, those means can never supplant our need to draw near to our Father, by his Spirit, through his Son in Word and prayer (Heb. 4:16). These devotionals help to instill in our hearts that this is the first thing we do for help. God is—above all others—our “very present help in times of trouble” (Ps. 46:1).

Writing with such honesty and warmth . . . Liz Edrington shows her anxious readers that the Jesus we meet in Scripture is not an abstract idea but a practical, reliable, and helpful Person. ”God Has Not Forgotten You is a 31-day devotional with inspirational readings that contain life application steps to draw you closer to God and to encourage you to rely on Him to bring you safely through this present “storm” in your life. The following 7-day devotional is a portion of the full version; if you find this free sample encouraging, we recommend you work through the entire resource, which you can find by visiting our online store and searching for: God Has Not Forgotten You. As you think about your own circumstances, you may feel completely discouraged. The reality of what you are facing can seem so overwhelming that you might feel like giving up. But don’t give up. The circumstances may be too difficult in human terms, but in Christ there is always hope. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope'” (Jeremiah 29:11, TLB). Grief can become suffocating. You long for a friend to help you connect God’s Word with your overwhelming feelings of loss. Bob Kellemen is that friend, skillfully helping readers to rise above their anguish in his remarkable new book. . . . As one who understands loss, I highly recommend it!” My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:26)

This devotional points to solid biblical wisdom that will ground readers who feel tossed about by waves of financial woe.” Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” What hope does this Scripture give you in the midst of tragedy, loss, and uncertainty? If this 7-day sample devotional has been an encouragement to you, you can get the full, 31-day version here.

In addition to needing God’s presence in our lives, we also need each other. Talk with your family or friends about the way you are feeling, so that you can share one another’s burdens, and not feel so alone in your suffering. There is no shortage of counseling resources available to pastors in Western contexts. There are book-length treatments and mini-booklets on an assortment of subjects, as well as training videos, curriculum, and counseling manuals. However, many of these resources are more informative than formative. That is, they exist more to educate and equip the mind than to shape and serve the soul. Don’t get me wrong—both are necessary. We need good counseling resources that help us think biblically about counseling. But we need more good counseling resources that actually help the person engage devotionally with the Lord, bringing their hearts to the Chief Shepherd through the Word and prayer. Tim Chester, Pastor, Grace Church, Boroughbridge, UK; author, Closing the Window: Steps to Living Porn Free

This devotional heavily emphasizes practical ways we can reflect on, and in many cases act on, the insights Tautges unearths in the passages he chooses.” Written so that the person swirling in guilt, shame, and . . . family-altering decisions can know that God will meet them right where they are.”

Day 2: He Sees and Understands Your Pain

God knows in great detail the devastation caused by tragedy. He understands the pain and sorrow acquainted with grief and loss. He understands because He is all knowing. Furthermore, Jesus endured suffering (see Isaiah 53) and experienced pain—even the pain of feeling abandoned (see Matthew 27:46). And because God is with you always, He knows that you are hurting. He sees your pain, and hears the cries of your heart. You are not alone in your suffering; He is there for you. Pray with someone else who shares your sorrow. Take turns praying for one another that God will encourage your hearts and give you hope. In the 31-Day Devotionals for Life series, biblical counselors and Bible teachers guide you through Scripture passages that speak to specific situations or struggles, helping you to apply God’s Word to your life in practical ways day after day. Endorsements Oftentimes, members never needed the meeting, although some did, and he was always eager to meet at that point. When I asked him why he did this, his simple answer was: “Always send your people to God first.” Commit Luke 1:37 to memory, and every time your situation seems too difficult or impossible, speak it to yourself, as a reminder that God can handle whatever is troubling you. As opportunities arise, you can encourage others using this verse as well.