Daily Devotional

Believe and Be Saved

“They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’” - Acts 16:31 (ESV)

It started with an earthquake—walls shaking, chains rattling, the very ground beneath a jailer’s feet giving way. In a single instant, everything he relied on was shaken, and his security turned to dust. Surrounded by fallen stones and rising panic, the jailer was left exposed, vulnerable, and terrified. Moments earlier, he had heard two prisoners—Paul and Silas—singing hymns in the dark, never imagining their faith would soon become his lifeline. In that moment of utter desperation, with his world collapsing, he asked the question that echoes through every human soul: “What must I do to be saved?” His cry pierced not just the thick prison air, but the darkness within his own heart.

For centuries, human religion had tangled salvation in a web of complexities—endless rules, rituals, and striving for perfection that always seemed just out of reach. The world taught him, and us, that acceptance must be earned and worthiness proven. Yet that night, in the most unlikely setting—a dingy prison filled with broken men—heaven’s answer came clear and pure, cutting through the chaos with breathtaking simplicity: “Believe in the Lord Jesus.”

Not “clean yourself up first” or “prove your worth.” Not “try harder,” “earn more,” or “be perfect.” Just believe. Trust. Receive. In that holy moment, the cold stone cell became a sanctuary, transformed by faith. The jailer discovered what countless hearts have found across the ages: when we finally surrender our efforts and reach out empty-handed, we encounter the Savior who has already done everything necessary. Freedom is not earned, but given.

That same invitation reaches into every shadowed corner of our lives today: believe in Jesus. When anxiety shakes our foundations, or guilt and shame close in like prison walls, His grace still breaks through. Let grace accomplish what our striving never could—bringing hope, healing, and new beginnings where we least expect them. You don’t have to have it all figured out—just take Jesus at His word.

Let us Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You just as I am—no pretending, no performing, no trying to prove my worth. I believe You are the Savior who has already done what I never could. When my life feels shaken and my heart feels overwhelmed, remind me that Your grace is enough.

Help me stop striving and start trusting. Teach me to release control and rest in Your promises. When fear, guilt, or shame try to close in like prison walls, let Your light break through and set my heart free again.

I place my faith in You today, not in my own strength, but in Your finished work on the cross. Thank You for the gift of salvation, for new beginnings, and for the hope that never fails. I trust You with my life, my future, and my family.

In Jesus' name I pray,

Amen.

Is there an area of your life where you’ve been striving instead of trusting?

Take a moment today to release it to Jesus and rest in His grace.

If this devotion encouraged you, please consider sharing it with someone who may need a reminder that salvation—and freedom—are gifts, not rewards.

 
Walk in faith, rest in grace, and trust the One who walks beside you.

In His love and grace,

ray mileur

“Helping believers walk closer to Jesus, one day at a time.”
www.raymileurministries.com