Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Monday, August 17, 2026

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.¹

I once heard about an experience author Max Lucado had on a family outing. Their goal was to visit and reach the top of a snow-capped mountain. They were able to drive most of the way, but for the last mile they had to hike on foot. As soon as they were out of their vehicles and standing in snow, his youngest daughter, about three or four at the time, said to him, “Pick me up. Pick me up.” As the going was tough, other family members took turns carrying the child.

As soon as they reached the top and put the child down, excitedly she exclaimed, “I did it! I did it!”

For those of us who are followers of Jesus, do we regularly consider all that God has done for us? How he has saved some of us from a life of hopelessness and carried us through the storms of life, protected us from evil, and delivered us from many temptations? Or do we, like the little child, pat ourselves on the back for our goodness, take pride in our self-righteousness, and say at least within our heart, I did it! I did it?

This one thing I know, if it were not for the grace of God, I would not be where I am today. His great care has patiently guided me through the toughest storms, and his great love has carried me and given me hope when needed most.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for caring so deeply for me and giving me salvation through Jesus. Help me to live in gratitude for all you have done. In the name of Jesus I pray, amen.

1. 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT).

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