All posts by mjharvell

Welcome, friend—I’m glad you’ve pulled up a chair on the front porch of my little corner of the internet. My name is Michael Joe Harvell, and I live my life with one simple mission: to glorify God, encourage people, and leave this world a little better than I found it. I’m a husband, father, pastor, writer, Jeep enthusiast, and front-porch thinker who believes that life is best lived on purpose. I serve as pastor of Eureka Baptist Church in Anderson, South Carolina, where I get the joy of preaching, teaching, and walking with people through the ups and downs of everyday life. Over the years, I’ve discovered that faith isn’t just about Sunday mornings—it’s about living every single day in the presence and power of God. I’m also an author. My books—including The Grace Exchange: How Forgiven People Forgive People and The Word Works—grow out of the sermons, stories, and lessons I’ve learned on this journey. I write in a style that’s conversational, a little front-porch-rocking-chair, and full of stories, quotes, and Scripture that point us back to the goodness of God’s Word. When I’m not writing or preaching, you might find me sitting outside with my Bible and journal, cruising the backroads in my Jeep Gladiator, or sharing a meal and some laughs with the good folks God has put in my life. I love helping people find peace in their spirit, strength in their body, and encouragement in their soul. This blog is simply an extension of that mission. Here you’ll find devotions, encouragement, reflections, and practical insights for living a life of purpose, peace, and joy. So grab a cup of coffee, pull up a rocking chair, and stay awhile—I’d be honored to walk this road of faith with you.

What You’re Chasing!

Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Now think about that for just a moment.

Most of us live like we are being chased by our past… chased by mistakes… chased by worry… chased by what might happen next. But David said, “That’s not what’s following me.”

He said goodness is following me… and mercy is right behind it.

Every step you take today, you are not walking alone. You may not always feel it, you may not always see it, but God’s goodness is working ahead of you, and His mercy is covering behind you.

When you didn’t even realize it, His goodness opened a door.

When you thought you had gone too far, His mercy stepped in and said, “Not today.”

And here is what blesses me… it says all the days of my life.

Not just the good days.

Not just the easy days.

Not just the days when everything makes sense.

But all the days.

The days when you are tired.

The days when you are discouraged.

The days when you feel like you are just trying to hold it together.

Goodness is still following.

Mercy is still following.

And then David lifts our eyes even higher…

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

This world is not the end of your story. You are headed somewhere better. There is a home being prepared, a place where peace is complete and joy never runs out.

So today, lift your head.

You are not being chased by fear…

You are being followed by goodness and mercy.

And that is a promise you can walk in… all day long.

Supernatural Strength!

There are days when it feels like the world is pressing in from every side.

Voices get loud. Problems feel big. Battles, some public and some private, start to weigh heavy on your heart. And if you are not careful, you will begin to wonder, “Do I have what it takes to make it through this?”

But then the Word of God speaks, clear, steady, and full of strength:

“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Did you catch that? You are of God.

That means you do not fight your battles alone. You do not stand in your own strength. You do not rely on your own power.

There is something, Someone, living inside of you who is greater than anything you are facing.

Greater than fear.

Greater than doubt.

Greater than temptation.

Greater than that situation that has been keeping you up at night.

The enemy may be loud, but he is not greater.

The storm may be strong, but it is not stronger.

Because the same God who spoke the world into existence, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.

So today, lift your head.

You are not trying to overcome. You already have.

You are not fighting for victory. You are walking in victory.

Whatever you are facing right now, do not measure it against your strength. Measure it against the greatness of the One who lives inside you.

And when you do, you will be reminded:

Greater is He that is in you, than anything that stands against you.

Trust Him!

There’s something about life that will test where your trust really is.

It’s easy to say we trust God when everything is going smooth… when the bills are paid, the health is good, and the road ahead looks clear. But Proverbs 3:5–6 wasn’t written for the easy days—it was written for the moments when life doesn’t make sense.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

That means when you don’t understand it… trust Him.

When you can’t see the outcome… trust Him.

When the road takes a turn you didn’t plan… trust Him.

Because the truth is, our understanding is limited. We see the moment, but God sees the whole picture. We see the problem, but God already knows the provision.

Trusting God isn’t just a feeling—it’s a decision. It’s waking up every day and saying, “Lord, even if I don’t understand what You’re doing, I believe You know what You’re doing.”

And here’s the promise—He will direct your paths. Not might. Not maybe. He will.

He’ll open doors you couldn’t open.

He’ll close doors that would have hurt you.

He’ll guide your steps exactly where they need to be.

So today, take your hands off trying to figure everything out… and put your faith back where it belongs.

Trust Him with all your heart.

Because when you trust God fully… you’ll never be led wrong.