Prevail: 365 Days of Enduring Strength from God's Word

By Susie Larson

Scripture is God's love letter to us. Everything he asks of us is for our good and his glory. But that doesn't mean life is easy, and sometimes we need to be reminded of God's power over all that we face. We need something or someone to shake us up and teach us the truth about God and ourselves!

Susie Larson's newest devotional, Prevail, guides us through the arc of the Scriptures while encouraging us to feel and trust in his presence in our everyday lives. Using practical Scripture passages, thought-provoking questions, and her very own Bible-margin notes, Susie offers 365 days' worth of opportunities for us to strengthen our walk in faith while finding a new level of freedom and redemption.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Sep 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781493427963

Susie Larson

Susie Larson is a bestselling author, national speaker, and host of the popular radio show Susie Larson Live. Whether behind a desk or behind a mic, Susie lives out her passion to see people everywhere awakened to the depth of God's love, the value of their soul, and the height of their calling in Christ Jesus. A two-time finalist for the prestigious John C. Maxwell Transformational Leadership Award, Susie is the author of over 20 books and devotionals, and her Daily Blessings reach over half a million people each week on social media. Her radio show is heard daily on the Faith Radio Network, as well as around the world through her podcast, which has more than 3.5 million downloads. A popular media guest and guest host, Susie has frequently appeared on shows like Focus on the Family, Life Today, and Family Life Today. In addition to her work and ministry, Susie loves to laugh and relax with her family. She and her husband, Kevin, have been married since 1985. Together they have three wonderful (and hilarious) sons, three beautiful daughters-in-law, a growing bunch of delightful grandchildren, and one adorable pit bull named Memphis.

Book preview

© 2020 by Susie Larson

Published by Bethany House Publishers

11400 Hampshire Avenue South

Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

www.bethanyhouse.com

Bethany House Publishers is a division of

Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

Ebook edition created 2020

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

ISBN 978-1-4934-2796-3

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016

Scripture quotations identified MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Scripture quotations labeled NIV are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations identified NKJV are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations identified VOICE are from The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

Cover design by Kathleen Lynch/Black Kat Design

Cover art and interior art on pages 13, 42–3, 72–3, 102–3, 132–3, 162–3, 192–3, 222–3, 252–3, 282–3, 312-3, 342–3, and 372–3 by Joyce Klassen; Acrylic Pour. Remaining interior art by Paul Higdon.

Interior design by William Overbeeke

Author represented by The Steve Laube Agency

To Jesus . . .

The more I know You, the more I love You;

I cannot wait to see You face to face

To my husband, Kev . . .

Your patient persistence and humble strength

make God’s love absolutely tangible to me

And to you, my dear reader . . .

I pray that each day’s reading for you is divinely timed.

I pray God’s Word comes alive and fans the flame

within you. And I pray Jesus grants you a fresh revelation

of His love, His power, and His divine purpose for you

Contents

Cover

Half Title Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Table of Contents by Subject

Introduction

DAY 1: Build an Altar

DAY 2: Release and Trust

DAY 3: Deal with the Disconnect

DAY 4: When Our Unbelief Speaks

DAY 5: God’s Wisdom and Revelation

DAY 6: How to Lose Your Credibility

DAY 7: Your Birthright for a Bowl of Soup

DAY 8: No Hindrance, No Harm

DAY 9: Perspective before the Breakthrough

DAY 10: May God Remind Them, and You

DAY 11: You Sold Me; God Sent Me

DAY 12: It’s About Who He Is

DAY 13: Not the Shortest Route, the Best Route

DAY 14: What’s Better?

DAY 15: He’s the Way-Maker

DAY 16: Finding Fault, Finding Favor

DAY 17: Your Part in the Epic Story

DAY 18: Face to Face, As with a Friend

DAY 19: The Power of Intercession

DAY 20: Rest as a Gift

DAY 21: Honor Your Elders

DAY 22: Pay Attention

DAY 23: Humility and the Lord’s Favor

DAY 24: Humility and the Fear of the Lord

DAY 25: Obstacles and Opposition

DAY 26: Look above It

DAY 27: Rebellious Fears

DAY 28: Faith Possesses Its Share

DAY 29: How to Deal with Criticism

DAY 30: Embrace and Own Your Territory

DAY 31: Is It Time to Move On?

DAY 32: Here’s Where You Trust Him

DAY 33: Faith for Your Children

DAY 34: Pay for It

DAY 35: Remember Not to Forget

DAY 36: The First Thing

DAY 37: Find Strength and Courage

DAY 38: The Living God Is with You

DAY 39: On the Lord’s Side

DAY 40: Humility Precedes Honor

DAY 41: Put the Enemy to Flight

DAY 42: All In

DAY 43: Rise Up and Take Your Place!

DAY 44: Mighty Hero, the Lord Is with You!

DAY 45: Glimpses of Glory

DAY 46: Focused, Grateful, Humble

DAY 47: When Pain Speaks

DAY 48: When Conviction Speaks

DAY 49: As It Happened

DAY 50: Refuge and Reward

DAY 51: From Famine to Flourishing

DAY 52: Total Redemption

DAY 53: Rightly Placed Honor

DAY 54: Pain Filters and Passionate Prayers

DAY 55: The Lord Has Made Me Strong!

DAY 56: Up or Down?

DAY 57: Holy Reinforcement

DAY 58: Insecurity Is Not Humility

DAY 59: Are You Not?

DAY 60: Don’t Miss Your Assignment

DAY 61: The Lord Looks at the Heart

DAY 62: Promoted Gradually

DAY 63: What Emerges from Us

DAY 64: A Right Perspective in Battle

DAY 65: When Jealousy Arises

DAY 66: A Mantle that Fits You

DAY 67: The Test Before the Triumph

DAY 68: Keep Your Heart in It

DAY 69: He Will Come for You

DAY 70: Ask for Wisdom

DAY 71: Stunned by His Presence

DAY 72: Finish Strong

DAY 73: Discerning God’s Voice

DAY 74: Something Out of Practically Nothing

DAY 75: Answer Me, So That They Will Know

DAY 76: A Fist-Sized Cloud

DAY 77: Remedy for Discouragement

DAY 78: When the Subtle Is Most Sacred

DAY 79: The Danger of Self-Pity

DAY 80: This Is Easy for the Lord!

DAY 81: Prepare for Provision

DAY 82: Let Hope Arise!

DAY 83: Detoxifying the Poison

DAY 84: Healing the Powerful

DAY 85: Spiritual Eyes to See

DAY 86: Always Bracing for Impact

DAY 87: Break Free and Believe

DAY 88: Do More in and through Me!

DAY 89: The Importance of the Impossible

DAY 90: Miracles and Rulings

DAY 91: Counting Your Followers

DAY 92: Everything Comes from You

DAY 93: If We, Then He

DAY 94: Rest from Your Enemies

DAY 95: The Lord Will Fight for You

DAY 96: When the Wicked Prosper

DAY 97: Don’t Go Through with It

DAY 98: He’ll Work It Out

DAY 99: Remember Your Inheritance

DAY 100: Both Sorrow and Joy

DAY 101: Predictable Enemy Tactics

DAY 102: The Prophet in All of Us

DAY 103: Holy Vindication

DAY 104: More Than a Moment of Grace

DAY 105: Rebuilding Your Wall

DAY 106: Guard the Low Places

DAY 107: Don’t Fear the Enemy; Remember God

DAY 108: Give Generously; God Remembers

DAY 109: Discern Distraction

DAY 110: Celebrate along the Way

DAY 111: Provision and Decision

DAY 112: A Gracious Woman Retains Honor

DAY 113: When a Leader Abdicates Responsibility

DAY 114: When a Facade Won’t Do

DAY 115: For Such a Time As This

DAY 116: He Uses the Night Hours

DAY 117: When God Turns the Tables

DAY 118: Power for a Purpose

DAY 119: Fear God, Shun Evil

DAY 120: A Wall of Protection

DAY 121: Grounded in the Things of God

DAY 122: When Silence Is Best

DAY 123: When the Numbness Wears Off

DAY 124: Bible Snobs and Christian Bullies

DAY 125: Dangerous Assumptions

DAY 126: My Redeemer Lives!

DAY 127: He’s Just and He Knows Me

DAY 128: Playing the Performance Card

DAY 129: Encountering the Living God

DAY 130: Walk, Stand, Sit

DAY 131: But You, O Lord

DAY 132: He Trains You for Battle

DAY 133: He Speaks

DAY 134: Honor, Anointing, and a Cup That Overflows

DAY 135: Strength and Resilience

DAY 136: The Eyes of the Lord

DAY 137: Delivered from All My Fears

DAY 138: Your Heart’s Desire

DAY 139: Wait Joyfully, Expectantly

DAY 140: Be Still and Know

DAY 141: Your Great Unearthing Is the Devil’s Undoing

DAY 142: When God Seems Silent

DAY 143: Your Pilgrimage

DAY 144: Divine Protection

DAY 145: Strong As an Ox; Anointed Too

DAY 146: Never Forget His Benefits

DAY 147: Wonderfully Made

DAY 148: In All Your Ways, Know Him

DAY 149: What God Loves

DAY 150: Search for Good; Find Favor

DAY 151: Fill Your Space; Run Your Race

DAY 152: A Reliable Messenger Brings Healing

DAY 153: The Miracle in the Mess

DAY 154: Make Your Plans, Stay Flexible

DAY 155: A Time for Everything

DAY 156: Strong in Battle

DAY 157: Laboring from Envy

DAY 158: Better a Funeral Than a Party

DAY 159: It’s Better to Fear God

DAY 160: I Recommend Having Fun

DAY 161: Dark, Yet Lovely

DAY 162: The Season of Singing Birds

DAY 163: Let Me See Your Face

DAY 164: Catch the Foxes

DAY 165: Sober Reflection

DAY 166: Don’t Fear What They Fear

DAY 167: A Son, Given to Us

DAY 168: Perfect Peace

DAY 169: New Strength, New Heights

DAY 170: A Pathway Through the Wilderness

DAY 171: Jesus Paid It All

DAY 172: Beauty for Ashes

DAY 173: The Heavens Gasp

DAY 174: Take the Ancient Path

DAY 175: Boast in This

DAY 176: You Will Speak for Me

DAY 177: When You’ve Been Scattered

DAY 178: A Future and a Hope

DAY 179: God-Revealed Secrets

DAY 180: Oh, the Mercies of God!

DAY 181: He’s Made You Equal to the Task

DAY 182: Listen for Yourself First

DAY 183: A Time Is Coming

DAY 184: Sodom’s Sins

DAY 185: The Ones Who’ve Strayed

DAY 186: From Ruins to Redemption

DAY 187: A Tender, Responsive Heart

DAY 188: Dry Bones, Hear the Word of the Lord!

DAY 189: Fasting in Times of Trial

DAY 190: Unbound and Unharmed

DAY 191: Becoming Accusation-Proof

DAY 192: Anyone Who Prays Will Be . . .

DAY 193: O Lord, Hear, Forgive, and Act!

DAY 194: Shine Like the Stars

DAY 195: Settling for God

DAY 196: Led to the Desert

DAY 197: Prepare for His Blessings

DAY 198: After Repentance Comes Refreshment

DAY 199: Your Sons and Daughters Will Prophesy

DAY 200: Thousands Are Waiting in the Valley of Decision

DAY 201: God’s Surprising Prophet

DAY 202: Gloating Is Never Godly

DAY 203: An Impossible Mission

DAY 204: What the Storms Reveal

DAY 205: The Lord Spoke a Second Time

DAY 206: Is It Right for You to Be Angry?

DAY 207: A Beautiful Day Is Coming . . .

DAY 208: Do Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly

DAY 209: After Discipline Comes Deliverance!

DAY 210: God Promises Peace

DAY 211: Look Around and Be Amazed

DAY 212: Habakkuk’s Priorities

DAY 213: Yet I Will Rejoice

DAY 214: The Danger of Complacency

DAY 215: God Delights in You with Gladness

DAY 216: When You Can’t Seem to Get Ahead

DAY 217: Be Strong, Get to Work

DAY 218: Not by Might, but By His Spirit

DAY 219: Seeds of Peace and Prosperity

DAY 220: We Have Heard, God Is With You

DAY 221: Righteous and Victorious, Yet Humble

DAY 222: Testing God

DAY 223: The Lord Listened and Remembered

DAY 224: The Sun of Righteousness Will Rise

DAY 225: He Will Save His People from Their Sins

DAY 226: Provision, Protection, and Promotion

DAY 227: Congratulations, the Kingdom Is Yours!

DAY 228: Send It On Ahead

DAY 229: The Power of Persistence

DAY 230: Rest for the Weary, and a Burden That’s Light

DAY 231: A Great Separation Awaits Us

DAY 232: True Story

DAY 233: The Wonder of Good Soil

DAY 234: Peace and Authority

DAY 235: Optimistic Resilience

DAY 236: Practicing the Art of Remembering

DAY 237: People Just Like Us

DAY 238: Let God Direct the Conversation

DAY 239: People Used to Say . . .

DAY 240: The Power of the Good News

DAY 241: When Increase Comes

DAY 242: Judging Others

DAY 243: Today Might Be the Day

DAY 244: Authority and Awe

DAY 245: He Rewards Those Who Are Ready

DAY 246: Communion

DAY 247: The Prayer of Salvation

DAY 248: Light Always Wins over Darkness

DAY 249: You Will See the Kingdom

DAY 250: Saving Face or Saving Grace

DAY 251: Jesus’ Tough Love

DAY 252: Making God in Our Image

DAY 253: A More-Than-Enough Life

DAY 254: Remain in His Love

DAY 255: Make Us One, Lord

DAY 256: Harnessed Power

DAY 257: Power, Not Preference

DAY 258: Death Could Not Hold Him

DAY 259: Embrace Expectancy

DAY 260: Unschooled and Ordinary

DAY 261: The Danger of Facade

DAY 262: If God Has Made It Clean

DAY 263: When Prison Walls Shake

DAY 264: Face the Facts, Yet Still Believe

DAY 265: A Place of Undeserved Privilege

DAY 266: Shut the Door, Live Fully Alive

DAY 267: Life to Your Body

DAY 268: A Foretaste of Glory

DAY 269: Everything

DAY 270: Surrender and Be Revived

DAY 271: An Accumulative Spiritual Wealth

DAY 272: God Chooses the Weak

DAY 273: What God Has Freely Given You

DAY 274: What You Think of Me

DAY 275: Purpose in Every Step

DAY 276: The Four I-Sins

DAY 277: Love Heals and Redeems

DAY 278: Strong and Steadfast

DAY 279: Comforted Comforters

DAY 280: Where the Spirit of the Lord Is

DAY 281: We Carry This Treasure

DAY 282: Live by Believing, Not by Seeing

DAY 283: We Serve God No Matter What

DAY 284: Waves of Increase

DAY 285: God’s Mighty Weapons

DAY 286: Where Power Is Perfected

DAY 287: Setting Aside God’s Unmerited Favor

DAY 288: Do We Earn Our Miracles?

DAY 289: How You Fall from Grace

DAY 290: Don’t Grow Weary, the Harvest Will Come

DAY 291: Every Spiritual Blessing

DAY 292: God’s Work of Art

DAY 293: Above and Beyond

DAY 294: Live a Life Worthy of Your Calling

DAY 295: Make the Most of Every Opportunity

DAY 296: Spiritual Warfare, Explosive Power

DAY 297: He’ll Finish What He Started

DAY 298: Leveraging Your Power

DAY 299: Eyes Upward, Press On

DAY 300: Fix Your Thoughts

DAY 301: Rescued from a Kingdom

DAY 302: Continue the Way You Started

DAY 303: Let Peace Decide

DAY 304: Mature and Fully Assured

DAY 305: A Holy Momentum

DAY 306: Your Proud Reward

DAY 307: Filling in the Gaps of Your Faith

DAY 308: A Quiet Life

DAY 309: We’ll Meet Him in the Air

DAY 310: What Faith Prompts You to Do

DAY 311: Your Life Prevents Evil

DAY 312: What’s a False Teacher?

DAY 313: Pray for Everyone, Leaders Too

DAY 314: Do Not Neglect Your Spiritual Gift

DAY 315: Godliness with Contentment

DAY 316: Enough with the Fear!

DAY 317: A Soldier, a Farmer, and an Athlete

DAY 318: A Form of Religion Yet Without Power

DAY 319: Pure Heart, Pure Perspective

DAY 320: Minister from Mercy

DAY 321: How to Energize Your Faith

DAY 322: When God Calls You to Return

DAY 323: He Cleansed Us, Then Sat Down

DAY 324: Be Careful Not to Drift

DAY 325: Think Carefully About This Jesus

DAY 326: Rest Is an Act of Faith

DAY 327: God’s Word, Alive and Powerful

DAY 328: Obedience through Suffering

DAY 329: An Anchor for Your Soul

DAY 330: Don’t Throw Away Your Confidence

DAY 331: Faith Is Your Substance

DAY 332: When the Lord Disciplines

DAY 333: The Best-Kept Secret in the Bible

DAY 334: Favor, Not Favoritism

DAY 335: Gateway Sins That Destroy

DAY 336: Battle-Ready

DAY 337: Confession, Healing, and Freedom

DAY 338: Trials Prove Your Faith

DAY 339: Be Tenderhearted and Humble

DAY 340: Use Your Gifts!

DAY 341: Humble Yourself

DAY 342: Power to Change

DAY 343: You Just Never Know

DAY 344: A Thousand Years

DAY 345: Walking in the Light

DAY 346: Christians and Shame

DAY 347: We Shall Be Like Him

DAY 348: He Loved You First

DAY 349: Confident Prayer

DAY 350: Your Full Reward

DAY 351: Healthy in Body, Strong in Spirit

DAY 352: To the One Who Will Keep You

DAY 353: Don’t Be Afraid!

DAY 354: Your First Love

DAY 355: The Dead Church

DAY 356: The Lukewarm Church

DAY 357: The Throne of God

DAY 358: The Lion of Judah

DAY 359: They Overcame

DAY 360: The Great Divide Has Already Begun

DAY 361: No Middle Ground

DAY 362: King of All Kings

DAY 363: The Books Will Open

DAY 364: The New Jerusalem

DAY 365: Jesus Is Coming Soon

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Back Ads

Back Cover

Table of Contents

by Subject

A healthy thought-life

Day 16 • Day 236 • Day 300

Amazing grace

Day 34 • Day 104 • Day 110 • Day 133 • Day 175 • Day 211

Be grateful

Day 13 • Day 92

Be strong and courageous

Day 37 • Day 135 • Day 145

Believe for more

Day 28 • Day 146 • Day 197 • Day 243

Deal with fear

Day 14 • Day 27 • Day 33 • Day 101 • Day 137 • Day 166 • Day 307 • Day 316 • Day 352

Deal with sin

Day 6 • Day 32 • Day 36 • Day 39 • Day 119 • Day 128 • Day 149 • Day 173 • Day 184 • Day 225 • Day 233 • Day 262 • Day 276 • Day 325 • Day 337

Delivered from sin

Day 299

Discernment

Day 31 • Day 124 • Day 148 • Day 155 • Day 249 • Day 252 • Day 312

Faith amidst opposition

Day 25 • Day 26 • Day 44 • Day 113 • Day 191

Forget competition

Day 23 • Day 157 • Day 320 • Day 335

Free from man’s opinion

Day 29 • Day 53 • Day 54 • Day 64 • Day 65 • Day 87 • Day 232 • Day 235 • Day 247 • Day 274 • Day 283

Future glory

Day 45 • Day 207 • Day 309 • Day 347 • Day 358 • Day 362

Future reward

Day 50 • Day 51 • Day 143 • Day 228 • Day 278 • Day 306 • Day 350 • Day 364

God delights in you

Day 18 • Day 59 • Day 136 • Day 147 • Day 177 • Day 215 • Day 254 • Day 287 • Day 292 • Day 348 • Day 357

God is faithful

Day 12 • Day 35 • Day 126 • Day 142 • Day 169 • Day 248 • Day 331

God provides

Day 34 • Day 48 • Day 49 • Day 74 • Day 111 • Day 222 • Day 230 • Day 259 • Day 273 • Day 284

God-given assignment

Day 5 • Day 30 • Day 60 • Day 108 • Day 109 • Day 181 • Day 216 • Day 340

God’s favor and power

Day 41 • Day 150 • Day 176 • Day 217 • Day 257 • Day 289 • Day 310 • Day 318 • Day 323 • Day 334

God’s power to deliver

Day 11 • Day 14 • Day 69 • Day 127 • Day 188 • Day 189 • Day 342 • Day 351

God’s power to heal

Day 83 • Day 152 • Day 161 • Day 267 • Day 277 • Day 288 • Day 328

God’s power to restore

Day 47 • Day 86 • Day 131 • Day 178 • Day 186 • Day 297

God’s untamable power

Day 15 • Day 90 • Day 218 • Day 256 • Day 271 • Day 353 • Day 358

Guard your heart

Day 2 • Day 33 • Day 56 • Day 93 • Day 130 • Day 164 • Day 174 • Day 183 • Day 266 • Day 319 • Day 324 • Day 361

His coming kingdom

Day 98 • Day 227 • Day 301 • Day 362 • Day 363 • Day 365

How God grows us (maturity)

Day 55 • Day 58 • Day 64 •Day 148 • Day 180 • Day 182 • Day 345 • Day 354

Judge your judgments

Day 59 • Day 61 • Day 122 • Day 159 • Day 242 • Day 343 • Day 351

Leadership

Day 43 • Day 91 • Day 114

Let Him lead

Day 1 • Day 97 • Day 105 • Day 123 • Day 154 • Day 176 • Day 295

Love your enemies

Day 8 • Day 268

Powerful prayers

Day 19 • Day 75 • Day 88 • Day 193 • Day 258 • Day 311 • Day 313

Prophetic insight

Day 73 • Day 102 • Day 199 • Day 201 • Day 212

Protection from the enemy

Day 94 • Day 95 • Day 120 • Day 144 • Day 336 • Day 352

Provision and promotion

Day 49 • Day 62 • Day 67 • Day 134 • Day 190 • Day 192 • Day 226

Rest and replenishment

Day 7 • Day 20 • Day 22 • Day 116 • Day 160 • Day 326

Second chances

Day 153 • Day 205

Sharing your faith

Day 10 • Day 34 • Day 115 • Day 200 • Day 231 • Day 290 • Day 321

Shining in the darkness

Day 9 • Day 11 • Day 213 • Day 298 • Day 344

Spiritual practices and priorities

Day 13 • Day 26 • Day 72 • Day 121 • Day 282 • Day 308 • Day 327 • Day 360

Spiritual warfare

Day 25 • Day 57 • Day 132 • Day 296

Stay in awe

Day 38 • Day 52 • Day 71 • Day 78 • Day 138 • Day 208 • Day 263

Stay the course

Day 10 • Day 16 • Day 68 • Day 76 • Day 103 • Day 107 • Day 315 • Day 330 • Day 346

The peace of God

Day 85 • Day 168 • Day 172 • Day 198 • Day 210 • Day 219 • Day 303

The power of humility

Day 23 • Day 24 • Day 29 • Day 40 • Day 125 • Day 339 • Day 341

The power of perseverance

Day 17 • Day 139 • Day 229 • Day 317 • Day 338

The power of prayer

Day 24 • Day 76 • Day 81 • Day 96 • Day 214 • Day 329 • Day 349 • Day 355 • Day 359

The power of the gospel

Day 167 • Day 171 • Day 221 • Day 240 • Day 246 • Day 255 • Day 359

The promises of God

Day 3 • Day 80 • Day 220 • Day 264 • Day 327

There is freedom

Day 42 • Day 63 • Day 162 • Day 162 • Day 224 • Day 247 • Day 250 • Day 253 • Day 280 • Day 293 • Day 337 • Day 346

Time for reflection

Day 4 • Day 100 • Day 129 • Day 158 • Day 165 • Day 275 • Day 314

Unbelief

Day 269

When you’re stuck

Day 15 • Day 77 • Day 81 • Day 106 • Day 270 • Day 304

When your self-life shows (anger, jealousy, competition, apathy)

Day 30 • Day 32 • Day 46 • Day 79 • Day 151 • Day 202 • Day 203 • Day 206 • Day 260 • Day 356

When God corrects

Day 187 • Day 204 • Day 209 • Day 238 • Day 251 • Day 328 • Day 332

Whom God uses

Day 10 • Day 21 • Day 84 • Day 156 • Day 194 • Day 223 • Day 237 • Day 241 • Day 272 • Day 279 • Day 311 • Day 322 • Day 363

Wilderness seasons

Day 14 • Day 82 • Day 170 • Day 185 • Day 196 • Day 269 • Day 331

Wisdom

Day 70 • Day 112 • Day 179 • Day 295 • Day 314 • Day 333

Worry

Day 140 • Day 245

You are called

Day 1 • Day 99 • Day 117 • Day 291 • Day 294 • Day 305 • Day 344

You be you (a work in progress)

Day 66 • Day 141 • Day 195 • Day 239 • Day 261 • Day 265 • Day 281 • Day 286 • Day 302

Your authority in Christ

Day 89 • Day 118 • Day 234 • Day 244 • Day 285 • Day 336 • Day 349

Introduction

God is on a rescue mission. We could never jump high enough or perform well enough to save ourselves, so Love came down to rescue us. He made a way where there was otherwise no way to secure our eternity, no way to begin the miracle work of inner transformation within us. If you are in Christ, Christ is in you!

God is profoundly committed to us. We’re prone to wander. He is utterly faithful to His promises; we tend to forget those promises. His mercies are new every morning and His compassions never fail. We’re the ones who turn on ourselves. God sees the big picture while noticing every nuance of our story. Our gaze either drops to our feet and we forget about faith, or we stare off into an imaginary world where the enemy reigns and God has seemingly forgotten us because we’ve forgotten all about love. Yet in it all, Jesus beckons us to follow Him and, in the process, we become more like Him.

Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil. When we’re perfected in love, fear no longer has the last say in our lives. When we remember who we are, the enemy doesn’t get away with as much as he used to. The whole arc of Scripture is God’s love letter to the ones He created. Everything He does, He does for love. Everything He asks of us is for our good and for His glory. I want everything He has for me. Don’t you?

God wants us to prevail—to prove we’re more powerful than our enemy. He wants us to overcome every battle with increasing courage and strength. I’ve learned that whenever I ask for more from God, He asks for more from me.

As you align your life—every part of it—with His Word and His ways, you will find freedom, wholeness, and redemption you never dreamed possible. Use this book in a way that best suits you. Read chronologically from Genesis to Revelation, or read only by topic. I’m praying for you as you work your way through these pages. I’m so very honored to get to spend this time with you.

Affectionately His,

Susie Larson

DAY 1

Build an Altar

Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, I will give this land to your descendants. And Abram built an altar there and dedicated it to the LORD, who had appeared to him.

Genesis 12:7

We have to let go of the old to lay hold of the new. We have to leave what’s comfortable if we want to experience God as our provider, our defender, and our way-maker. God called Abram away from everything he knew to a land God had not yet revealed. But God’s promise to Abram far outweighed his need to know every detail about the journey ahead. It’s the same for you and me. We are pilgrims, traveling to a most holy city. And God’s promise over us far outweighs our need to control every twist and turn. We’re on a need-to-know basis, and when we need to know, God will let us know! But this we do know: The land ahead is a good land. And our good God will ensure we make it to our new home safely. Will you pause today and build an altar of remembrance? Before you take another step, remember His faithfulness. Remember His goodness. It’ll strengthen you for the road ahead.

LEARN     Read Genesis 12:1–9.

FLOURISH     As pilgrims, we’re always on our way to a next place of promise. Take some time today and build an altar. Make note of this sacred place where you now stand. God is in this place. How would you describe the holy ground beneath your feet? What treasures will you take with you to your next place?

PRAY

You are here with me. I pause today to remember Your presence in my life. Thank You, Lord.

DAY 2

Release and Trust

The whole countryside is open to you. Take your choice of any section of the land you want, and we will separate. If you want the land to the left, then I’ll take the land on the right. If you prefer the land on the right, then I’ll go to the left.

Genesis 13:9

We can go through life one of two ways: We can posture for position, constantly trying to maintain control, or we can live wholly submitted to God, trusting Him with every step. But did you know that God will never bless faithless posturing? He won’t pour provision into a clenched fist. Both Abram and Lot acquired great wealth. Soon the herdsmen began to bicker, and the two men needed to part ways. Abram gave Lot first choice of the land. Though Lot had benefited greatly from Abram’s constant generosity, he still grabbed for himself the best share of land, even though it meant he’d live among the ungodly. His story didn’t end well. Scarcity and abundance both reveal the condition of our hearts in different ways. If we’ll grab for ourselves in difficult times, we’ll grab for ourselves when there’s more than enough to go around. As Christ-followers, it’s always a good idea to refuse selfishness, to open our hands and receive and release. We can trust God.

LEARN     Read Genesis 13.

FLOURISH     No matter which season you find yourself in at the moment, determine to release your grip on anything you’re holding too tight. Breathe in faith. Exhale fear. And know that God does His best work through His surrendered saints.

PRAY

You come to me with open-handed provision, so I come to You with open-handed trust. You’ve always provided, so I have nothing to fear. I trust You, Lord. Amen.

DAY 3

Deal with the Disconnect

Then Abraham bowed down to the ground, but he laughed to himself in disbelief. How could I become a father at the age of 100? he thought. And how can Sarah have a baby when she is ninety years old?

Genesis 17:17

God promised Abraham that the generations would come through Abraham and Sarah. His response? He bowed low. But he laughed on the inside. How often do we do the same? We sing about God’s faithfulness, but do we really believe He’ll do the impossible in our situation? When the gap widens between what our outward Christian actions reflect and what our inward beliefs reveal, we must make note of it (but without condemnation). We often arrive here because we’re weary in the waiting or tired from battle. But we must not allow the gap to linger within us for very long. Reengage your faith today. Remember, God can do in a moment what takes us a lifetime to accomplish. And when faith awakens your heart and inspires your actions? Well, that’s the stuff of miracles.

LEARN     Read Genesis 17:15–17.

FLOURISH     It’s time to deal with the disconnect. God is better than we know and He’s kinder than we can fathom! Remind your soul today that NOTHING is impossible with Him! Wrestle with God and contend for His promises until you believe them again. Your faith is so very precious to Him.

PRAY

Precious Lord,

     You are a faithful God! Show me the gap that exists between what I do and what I truly believe, and then fill in those empty spaces with more of You. Awaken my heart and I will engage my faith. Do the impossible in my life. In Your name, I pray. Amen.

DAY 4

When Our Unbelief Speaks

So Abraham said to God, May Ishmael live under your special blessing!

Genesis 17:18

Out of the heart, the mouth speaks. When we’ve waited long to see a breakthrough or a fulfillment of a promise, our hearts grow faint. Unless we regularly take the time to strengthen ourselves in the Lord and remind ourselves of His faithfulness, unbelief and even offense will settle into our souls. In due time our own words, which reflect the condition of our hearts, will diminish our own faith. Abraham and Sarah had waited long for their promise. When the time of fulfillment was upon them, they laughed in unbelief and Abram tried to edit God’s promise by telling God where the blessing would land! Pay attention to how you talk about the longings of your heart. What do they reveal? Your faith is precious to Him. There are no time constraints on God’s ability to do what He will do. If He’s making you wait, it’s because He’s making you ready. May God bless you with a fresh and hopeful expectancy today. May your words inspire hope and reflect your actively engaged faith!

LEARN     Read Genesis 18:1–14.

FLOURISH     Has unbelief or offense settled into your soul? Today’s a good day to remember and rehearse the things God has promised you. Talk about them. Sing about them. Remember them.

PRAY

Lord, I believe; help my unbelief! Help me remember the promises You’ve made to me. I’ve got to remember in the darkness what You told me in the light. I know Your voice. I know what I heard. I know what Your Word says. Fan the flame of faith within me today. I choose to trust You. Amen.

DAY 5

God’s Wisdom and Revelation

Should I hide my plan from Abraham? the LORD asked. For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him.

Genesis 18:17–18

Was God talking to himself here? Wondering out loud? We know this: God knows the end from the beginning. Our days are established before Him. He knows the plans He has for us and they are good plans. He also knows what troubles lie ahead for us and He intends to be intimately near during such times. In and through His wisdom, God reveals what we need to know. Scripture also tells us that He confides in (tells secrets to) those who fear Him. Eventually God told Abraham about His plan. Interestingly, that occurred just after Abraham radically trusted God with his future. Could there be a connection between our obedient faith steps and God’s revelation in our lives? Absolutely. As we walk intimately with Him, He reveals His heart and His ways to us. Upward and onward we go.

LEARN     Read Genesis 22:1–18.

FLOURISH     God has some great plans and good gifts up His sovereign sleeve, and they’re assigned to you! He wants to give you insight into your story and your future. He wants to fill you with hope. He wants you to persevere. Do you believe Him enough to trust Him? What would reverence and obedience look like for you today? Don’t delay. Trust and obey.

PRAY

Nobody modeled trust, obedience, and faith like You. And Your life was marked by wisdom, power, and revelation. Give me a heart to do Your will. Please reveal Your heart and Your ways to me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

DAY 6

How to Lose Your Credibility

So Lot rushed out to tell his daughters’ fiancés, Quick, get out of the city! The LORD is about to destroy it. But the young men thought he was only joking.

Genesis 19:14

Abraham interceded for the city of Sodom because God was about to destroy it. (His nephew lived there, and Abraham hoped to influence God’s decision.) He begged God to promise not to destroy the city if He could find even a small remnant of righteous people still there—perhaps fifty people, or forty, or even ten. But Sodom’s sins had piled so high, there weren’t even ten individuals who feared God within its borders. Imagine! God sent angels to warn Lot about the coming destruction. But when Lot tried to warn his family, they thought he was joking. They didn’t take him seriously. Lot had camped among the ungodly for so long, he lost his credibility. Lot didn’t live a set-apart life, so his words didn’t carry much weight. Most compromise happens subtly. A fallen pastor once explained it to me this way: I kept changing the rules, a little at a time. We are drifters by nature, and the drift happens subtly. May God recapture your heart today.

LEARN     Read Genesis 19.

FLOURISH     Ask God to show you if you’ve blended with society in a way that’s affected your testimony. Get with God and make things right again. Repent, reset your course, and ask God to fill you afresh with the convicting and assuring work of the Holy Spirit.

PRAY

Show me how my little compromises have affected my relationship with You. Show me how my justifications have diminished Your life-giving power in my life. Call me up higher with You. In Your name, I pray. Amen.

DAY 7

Your Birthright for a Bowl of Soup

Look, I’m dying of starvation! said Esau. What good is my birthright to me now?

Genesis 25:32

When we let ourselves get overtired, overextended, and over-committed, nothing good comes of it. God never asks us to grind our gears to the point of exhaustion. Such a life not only wears us out, it also makes us vulnerable.* We tend to take shortcuts when we’re tired. And worse yet, we lose sight of the life to which our souls are heir. Esau was so wrapped up in his immediate need for comfort that he lost sight of his inheritance. We must not go through life reacting to our immediate cravings at the expense of the greater story God is writing in our lives. Though God graciously gives us all good things to enjoy, not everything is profitable for us. If you’ve overdone it with your indulgences, now would be a great time for a sacred fast, a time to seek God and reset your ways. Whenever we say yes, we say no. And what we say yes and no to today will impact the lives of many tomorrow. Our story matters that much.

LEARN     Read Genesis 25:27–34.

FLOURISH     Maybe it’s time to loosen up your calendar, adjust your task list, and give yourself some time and space to be restored so you can think and see clearly again. Your choices today deeply impact your tomorrows.

PRAY

I’m so quick to forget who I am and Whose I am. Forgive me from digging my own wells and for being surprised when they don’t satisfy.

Reviews for Prevail

[pauljan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I discovered this author earlier this year and fell in love with her down-to-earth writing style. In a short time Susie Larson has become one of my favorite authors. I am so excited about Prevail. I know this is one devotional I will go through multiple times and find something new every time. I really like how the table of contents is arranged by topic instead of chronologically. It is a beautiful book and it has been so encouraging and uplifting, especially for this season we are in right now. Every entry has had something special to take away and I have enjoyed soaking it all in. It felt as if she were writing directly to me. I am already looking forward to her next book.