Faith for Everyday
Faith for Everyday is a daily podcast dedicated to guiding youth through modern challenges with timeless Biblical wisdom. Each approximately 10-minute episode offers scriptural insights and practical encouragement to strengthen faith in everyday life. New episodes are released daily.
Spending time in God’s Word is essential for spiritual growth, yet many people struggle with where to start. Some feel intimidated by the Bible’s depth, while others become discouraged or overwhelmed by life’s challenges. If you’ve ever felt that way, this devotional is for you.
"Faith for Every Day" is designed as a simple yet powerful guide to help you engage with Scripture daily. You don’t have to start on January 1st—this podcast is meant to be picked up at any time of the year. Each daily devotion stands on its own, addressing real-life struggles while pointing you back to God’s truth.
Throughout this journey, we will explore topics such as anxiety, depression, rejection, and uncertainty—struggles that are all too common today. But you’re not alone. The Bible is filled with stories of people who faced similar challenges and found strength in God. By looking at their experiences, we can find encouragement, hope, and guidance for our own lives.
Whether you’re a new believer seeking direction or a seasoned Christian looking for fresh inspiration, this podcast will meet you where you are. My prayer is that as you go through these devotionals, you will be encouraged to dig deeper into God’s Word, grow in faith, and draw closer to Him daily.
Let’s embark on this journey together—one day at a time, one step closer to God.
Faith for Everyday
Healing Your Enemies With Kindness
What if the most powerful response to hostility isn't revenge but radical kindness? Day 181 of Faith for Every Day tackles one of Scripture's most challenging commands from Romans 12:20 – showing kindness to our enemies.
We all know the natural response when someone hurts or betrays us: fight back, avoid them, or wish them harm. But God's way turns this instinct on its head. The puzzling phrase "heap coals of fire on his head" isn't about punishment at all – it's about awakening conscience through unexpected compassion. When we respond to hatred with love, we're not showing weakness; we're demonstrating spiritual strength that breaks cycles of hostility.
This devotional unpacks practical ways to live out this counter-cultural command: praying for those who've wronged us, finding tangible ways to show kindness, releasing our need for vengeance, and guarding our hearts against the poison of bitterness. Walking this path means following in Jesus' footsteps, who modeled the ultimate example by praying for his executioners. Your kindness toward an enemy might become the very seed that leads them to grace – a profound testimony to the transformative power of Christ-like love. Join us in discovering how mercy can triumph over judgment in our daily relationships and conflicts.
Romans 12, verse 20. For in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Romans, chapter 12, verse 20. Hello and welcome to day 181 of Faith for Every Day. Today we are looking at one of the most challenging commands in scripture showing kindness to our enemies. Romans, chapter 12, verse 20 tells us Therefore give thine enemy hunger, feed him If he thirst, give him drink, for in so doing, thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Speaker 1:That is not our natural instinct, is it? When someone hurts us, betrays us or stands against us, the human tendency is to fight back, avoid them or wish them harm. But God's way is different. When Paul wrote these words, he was echoing Jesus' teachings to live, to love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you. This kind of love is not about ignoring wrong or pretending nothing happened. It is about choosing to respond in a way that reflects God's mercy instead of human revenge.
Speaker 1:Kindness to an enemy does not mean you agree with them or excuse their actions. It means you refuse to let bitterness rule your heart. You choose to act in a way that honors God, even when the other person does not deserve it. The phrase keep coals of fire on his head is often misunderstood. It is not about harming someone. It is a picture of awakening their conscience. Your unexpected kindness may cause them to reflect on your own actions, leading them to repentance. Think about it. When you respond to hatred with love, to cruelty with compassion, you are breaking the circle of hostility. You are showing a better way, a way of Christ. How can we live this out? Pray for your enemies. It is hard to hate someone when you are bringing them before God in prayer.
Speaker 1:Look for practical ways to show kindness. Meet a need, if you can, even if it is something small. Let go of the need to get even. Let go of the need to get even. Trust God to deal with the situation in His justice and timing. Guard your heart from bitterness. Bitterness poisons you more than it punishes your enemy.
Speaker 1:Kindness to an enemy is not weakness. It is strength under control of the Holy Spirit. It takes far more courage to love when it is not returned than it does to strike back. And in doing so, you are walking in the footsteps of Jesus, who prayed for his executioners and forgave those who mocked him and forgave those who mocked him. So today, ask God to help you. See your enemies the way he sees them as people in need of grace. You may never know how your kindness could be the seed that leads them to him. Thank you very much for joining me for day 181 of Faith. For Every Day, as you go about your day today, look for ways to be an encouragement to someone. Look for ways to keep coals of fire, awaken the conscience of the ones who hate you and know that your work will be rewarded in the end. Thank you very much for listening.