Leading The Way - Devotional for August 18
August 18, 2026
The Word of God Is a Cleansing Shower
By Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.
We’ve already talked about mirrors—how they show us what we look like and what needs to change. But imagine that all you had in your bathroom was a mirror—no sink to brush your teeth or wash your face and no shower to clean yourself. It’s just you and the mirror. You’d hate going in there, right? What good would it be to see what you can’t change?
Many people feel this way about the Bible. They read it and see all the things they’re doing wrong, all the ways they’ve failed to live up to the glory of God. So, they close their Bible and put it on the shelf, believing they are powerless to change. In one sense, they’re right. We can’t change on our own. But—praise be to God!—the Bible is not just a mirror; it’s also a shower, like Ephesians describes, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, . . .” (5:25-26). And Peter wrote, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth . . .” (1 Peter 1:22). Did you catch that? The Truth of God’s Word has the power to purify us if we obey it.
Here’s what this means for us: Suppose you take a good look in the mirror and see resentment in your life. What do you do? You allow the water of God’s Word to wash over you, and the Holy Spirit begins to replace that resentment with love for others. As you obey the Word, God changes your heart and purifies your soul. So be encouraged: You don’t need to bear the muck, dirt, and grime of sin any longer. Let His Word wash over you today.
Prayer: God, thank You for the good news that I can change—that I won’t always struggle with sin. I know You have defeated sin at the cross and have empowered me to obey You. What grace and mercy that You are bringing me from one point of glory to the next. Thank you! I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22).
Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon series Defending a Lion: LISTEN NOW | WATCH NOW
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