Daily Devotionals: Staying The Course

0:00September 17th, staying the course. Have you ever signed up for a challenge just to discover you were woefully unprepared? Maybe you'd never run a day in your life, but when the announcement was made for the half marathon, you eagerly filled out the entrance form. And after the first quarter mile, you realize the error of your decision. We want to believe that as soon as we set our mind to a task, we can achieve it. But it's often a much longer process. The same can be said for our Christian walk. We might fall, time and time again and begin to wonder, was I too weak to set out on this journey? Well, today we'll meet Sherry Dell, a woman who desperately wanted a new life, but a pattern of harmful decisions weighed her down. When Sherry was young, her mother left home for another man, and I'll let her tell you

1:01the rest. She's here to share with us her true story. On this unshackled, daily devotional. Sexual abuse during those years left me unable to sleep at night. I discovered alcohol. Searching for love, I quickly became promiscuous, as I drifted into drugs, marijuana, diabetes, bead, cocaine and heroin, I began selling my body. Depression overwhelmed me and I attempted suicide. At 24, I married a man who asked me to follow his religion, a guru who claimed to be Christ. I couldn't do that, so the marriage ended after five years. Once again, I tried suicide by gas that would have killed my two little girls. Fortunately, I failed, and I went into alcohol rehab and counseling. As counseling uncovered, the shameful things that had been done to me as a child, I kept trying suicide. Over time, Christian friends talked to me about Jesus and the Bible, encouraging me to listen to unshackled stories much like my own. But even after I prayed for salvation, I battled alcohol, depression and drugs.

2:05A persistent pastor encouraged me, prayed for me, and kept reaching out to me with the love and truth that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. And it's true. Once you invite Christ into your heart and life, he will teach you and help you and strengthen you, and he will set you free. Let's look at that verse again. Philippians chapter 1 verse 6 says, being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. And this is the beautiful truth of the gospel. While we strive each day to surrender our heart to the Lord, he is the one who carries out the transforming work. Yes, we are weak and often failing. But God does not send us away disgusted. Instead, he is the one who equips us.

3:08So keep close to him. He will enable you to finish the race. If you will remain on the course, will you receive this truth today? Unshackled, the longest running audio drama in history airs on over 3,000 radio stations worldwide, real people, real life stories, and the hope that changes everything. This award-winning program grips the heart with compelling and relevant stories of transformed lives. Without Jesus Christ, we are all shackled by sin. By our wrong choices, disobedience, and selfish motives. But God is at work. And the power of Christ sets us free of our bondage. Listen to a new devotional every day, and don't forget to tell your friends about unshackled, daily devotional.