“The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” (John 15:19 NLT) God is faithful. As with some of His other attributes, His faithfulness isn’t always apparent to us. Sometimes His ways seem harsh, but if we trust in Him, eventually, we will recognize the unshakable faithfulness behind them. “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8–9 NLT). We can’t always trust our feelings when it comes to God’s faithfulness. What seems like callousness may in fact be evidence of God’s commitment to us and to our spiritual well-being. God doesn’t promise to make our lives free from pain and struggle. He promises to make our lives spiritually fruitful if we remain faithful to Him. I heard a story about some fish suppliers who were having problems shipping cod from the East Coast. By the time it reached the West, it was spoiled. They froze it, but by the time it arrived, it was mushy. So, they decided to send it alive, but it arrived dead. They tried sending it alive again, but with one difference: They included a catfish in each tank. You see, catfish are the natural enemies of cod. By the time the cod arrived, they were alive and well because they had spent their trip fleeing the catfish. Maybe God has put a catfish in your tank to keep you alive and well spiritually. He’s faithful that way. Maybe there’s a person at work who always has eight hard questions for you every morning regarding spiritual things. Maybe it’s that neighbor who is giving you a hard time for your faith in Jesus. Maybe it’s a spouse or a family member who doesn’t believe. You are wondering why this is happening. It’s like that catfish. That person is keeping you alert. Shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus told the disciples, “The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you” (John 15:19 NLT). God will allow persecution in the life of a believer. If you’re experiencing persecution, here are two things to remember: First, persecution confirms that you are a child of God. Second, persecution causes you to cling more tightly to Jesus. That’s God’s faithfulness at work. Embrace it. Give thanks for it. And when you’re suffering persecution for your faith, remember, this world isn’t your real home anyway. If you persevere with a steady, peaceful spirit, trusting in Jesus to help you, your welcome into Heaven will be more glorious than you can imagine. You can depend on it because God is faithful. Reflection question: When have you experienced God’s faithfulness in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Then the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:9 NLT) God is always present, everywhere, all the time. David celebrated—and explored the implications of—God’s constant presence in Psalm 139:7–12: “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you” (NLT). He personalized God’s presence just as the prophet Amos did. “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3 NLT). God said to Amos’ fellow prophet Zephaniah, “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT). The point is that God is present with His people, and He wants His people to be present with Him. He wants us to keep appointments with Him, to meet with Him on a regular basis. He wants us to prioritize our relationship with Him. He wants us to make the necessary sacrifices to keep that relationship active and growing. I wonder how many times each day God wants to speak to us but can’t get a word in edgewise. I wonder if He might say, “I’ve wanted to talk to you for a long time, but you’re too busy. This morning I wanted to talk to you, but you didn’t have any time for Me. Instead, you read the newspaper, watched TV, and talked on the phone. You never opened My Word. You never prayed. At lunch I tried to say something, but your prayer was too fast. You have an appointment with Me. Why don’t you keep it?” The book of Genesis tells us that Adam had an appointment with God every day in the Garden of Eden. Adam would hear the voice of the Lord in the Garden in the cool of the evening. One day Adam missed that appointment because of sin. Genesis 3:9 says, “Then the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (NLT). I wonder if the Lord would say that to some of us each day: “Where are you? I’ve been looking for you. I want to speak to you. I want you to walk with Me, and I want to walk with you.” Just imagine, the Creator of the universe wants to spend time with you! Is there any appointment that’s worth keeping more than this one? Reflection question: How do you experience God’s presence in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3 NLT) God is holy, which means not only that He is sinless and perfect, but also that He is distinct and set apart from all other beings. His holiness dictates our relationship with Him. He will not bend His rules or change His character to get closer to us. He demands that we pursue holiness so that we can get closer to Him. And for that, we can praise Him. Because the pursuit of holiness is what brings genuine joy and fulfillment to our lives. When we lose sight of that pursuit, things tend to go awry. I had a German shepherd that was a former guide dog for the blind. Because he had slight hip dysplasia, he was put up for adoption. When we got him, he was perfectly trained. We could take him anywhere. He was happy to sit next to us. Another dog would walk by, and he couldn’t have cared less. Then I got ahold of him. I would unleash him and let him run around in the park. Day by day his behavior started getting worse. The next thing you know, he was lunging at dogs and taking off after cats and rabbits and squirrels. I called the people we got him from and asked what went wrong. They told me I couldn’t let him do all that “dog stuff.” I couldn’t let him stop and sniff where he wanted to sniff. I couldn’t let him chase rabbits. They gave me a little muzzle-like device to put on him. Gaining control of his muzzle meant that he would obey because it would hurt to pull away. When I finally took the device off him, he was in sync with me again. My dog’s actions were reminiscent of our behavior with our holy God. If we see an opportunity to run around, go crazy, and do what we want to do, we often take it. We chase sin and selfish pleasure. The Lord has to pull us back in line because He wants us to walk with Him. To walk with our holy God means that we must get into harmony with Him. We must go the direction that He wants us to go. As the prophet Amos asked, “Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?” (Amos 3:3 NLT). The apostle Peter made clear how that agreement is reached: “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy” (1 Peter 1:15 NLT). We can be thankful that God is holy—that He is set apart from everything that is imperfect, tenuous, and unreliable. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (NIV). God’s holiness never wavers. His promises can always be trusted. Are you walking with God today? Are you pursuing holiness? Or are you pulling against Him, trying to do things your own way? If so, then it’s time to stop, ask God’s forgiveness, and get in sync with Him once again. Reflection question: What does pursuing holiness look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” (Revelation 5:8 NLT) God is omniscient, which means He knows all things. Nothing can surprise Him. There is no unexpected occurrence with Him. That’s important to keep in mind, especially when we pray. In fact, a great way to begin any prayer is to give praise and thanks to God for His omniscience. Celebrating the fact that He knows everything puts us in the proper frame of mind to bring our requests to Him. Otherwise, we may start to doubt when our prayer requests seem to go unanswered. The reality is that God answers every prayer—in His way, for His glory, in His time. Revelation 5:8 gives us an interesting detail about Heaven: “And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people” (NLT). When we’re in Heaven, standing before God’s throne, and those golden bowls, full of prayers, are brought before us, we’ll realize that God heard every little prayer that we prayed. And I think we also will understand that His answer to each one was far better than what we asked for in the moment. We will realize that God overruled something we asked for because it wasn’t the best prayer. What we don’t realize today is that this hardship, or this tragedy, or this inexplicable event will ultimately lead to a chain reaction of events that touches the lives of so many others and changes the course of the future in ways we could never imagine. It is a butterfly effect that leads to glorify God’s plan for us. When we pray, we can see only one part of that chain reaction—the one that immediately affects us. We need to trust God to accomplish the bigger picture. We need to accept that the thing we want to go away, or the circumstance that looms so large in our life, is there to give God glory. We may not be able to see how, so we must trust the Lord, knowing that it all will be revealed in Heaven when we stand before Him. Some prayers are answered right away. And we can be thankful for that. On the other hand, some prayers are answered long after they’re prayed. And we can thank God for that, too. Because He knows everything. He sees every possible contingency. He sees every possible outcome. He knows precisely when to act in order to bring about ultimate good. His timing is always perfect. So, instead of praying for God to work according to our imperfect understanding of things, according to our imperfect timetable, we can leave our requests with Him and trust Him to answer them in His perfect knowledge and in His perfect time. Reflection question: What difference does it make in your life that God knows all things? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves your plans.” (Psalm 119:91 NLT) In our next set of devotions, we’re going to look at God’s perfections. Our goal is not only to get to know Him better but also to prepare our hearts for Thanksgiving. The more we understand about who God is, the more our gratitude will grow. We’re going to start by looking at God’s sovereignty. The fact that God is sovereign means that He has the power and authority to do anything He chooses with His creation. He answers to no one. Luke’s Gospel tells the story of ten men with leprosy who needed Jesus’ touch. Leprosy was an incurable disease. Without Jesus’ intervention, the men had no hope. They asked Jesus for healing, and He extended it to them. But out of the ten, only one returned to give Him thanks. We read, “One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, ‘Praise God!’ He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan” (Luke 17:15–16 NLT). Earlier, he had prayed loudly for a healing, and then he was loud with his praise. I love the fact that the original language uses two words from which we get our English word megaphone. The man was loud in thanking Jesus for what He had done for him. As Christians, we should give thanks to God because we recognize that He is in control of all circumstances surrounding our lives. As Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” (NLT). Because God is sovereign, He is able to do what He pleases with whomever He chooses whenever He wishes. Some people bristle at that truth. Control—or even the idea of control—is a difficult thing to surrender. They prefer to operate under the illusion that they control their own destiny. The Bible writers held no such illusions. In fact, they saw God’s sovereignty as something to celebrate—something to be thankful for. The prophet Jeremiah said, “I know, Lord, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course” (Jeremiah 10:23 NLT). And we read in Proverbs 20:24, “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (NLT). That’s the sovereignty of God. But what about when bad things happen? Is God still in control? Yes. And the Bible tells us that despite the bad things that happen, which many times are inexplicable, God can work all things together for good for those who love Him (see Romans 8:28). As the psalmist wrote, “Everything serves plans” (Psalm 119:91 NLT). That’s cause for thanksgiving because God’s plans put us exactly where we need to be. We never have to wonder whether we’re doing the right thing when we submit to God. Because He is sovereign, we can trust Him as our ultimate authority. Reflection question: What difference does God’s sovereignty make in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NLT) A flock of wild geese was flying south for the winter. One goose looked down and noticed a group of domestic geese by a little pond near a farm. He noticed that the domestic geese had plenty of grain to eat. Life seemed relatively easy for them. So, he flew down and hung out with the geese until spring. He enjoyed their food, their company, and their leisurely pace. His plan was to rejoin his flock of geese when they flew north again. When spring came, he heard his flock overhead and flew up to join them. But he had grown a bit fat from all the seed he had eaten. Flying was difficult for him. So, he decided to spend one more season on the farm and then rejoin his flock on its next winter migration. When the geese flew south the following fall, the goose flapped his wings a little, but he just kept eating his grain. He had simply lost interest. This is an ideal illustration of how the world influences believers. Usually, there’s no single dramatic event that transforms us. The process doesn’t happen overnight. Instead, it occurs gradually. Like the goose, we may be going about our business, doing what we’re supposed to do, when something catches our eye. Something that looks more appealing. Something that requires less effort. We get distracted. We temporarily suspend what we’re supposed to be doing to investigate. And we like what we see—often because it appeals to our old nature. And if we start to feel guilty about abandoning what we’re supposed to be doing, we rationalize. We tell ourselves that the sidetrack is only temporary—that we’ll soon return to what we’re supposed to be doing. Unfortunately, our best intentions get lost in the convenience or excitement of the sidetrack. Soon, the things of God—the things we’re supposed to be doing—become less appealing to us, and the things of this world become more appealing. After a while, we lose all interest in the things of God. The apostle Paul understood this process all too well. He saw it happen to one of his trusted Christian companions. In his last letter to Timothy, he wrote, “Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life” (2 Timothy 4:10 NLT). That’s why Paul warned the believers in Rome, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2 NLT). We have a choice: Either we will be conformed to this world, or we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds. It’s one or the other. The question is, which way will you go? Reflection question: Which worldly influences present the biggest challenge for you? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (Deuteronomy 30:19 NLT) When I first became a Christian, I decided that I would somehow find a way to live in two different worlds. I was planning to hang out with my old friends and still be a Christian. For a time, I felt as though I were in a state of suspended animation. I wasn’t comfortable with my old buddies, but I wasn’t quite comfortable with the Christians, either. So, I decided to be Mr. Solo Christian. I even said to my friends, “Don’t worry about me. You’re thinking that I’ll become a fanatic and carry a Bible and say, ‘Praise the Lord.’ It will never happen. I’m going to be cool about this. I won’t embarrass you, but I’m going to believe in God now.” However, as God became more real to me and I began to follow Him more closely, He changed my life and my outlook. As a result, my priorities began to change. On your Christian journey, you’ll find that there are people who will discourage you from growing spiritually. They’ll say things like, “I think it’s good that you’re a Christian. I go to church too—at Christmas and Easter and for weddings. But you’re getting a little too fanatical. You brought a Bible to work the other day. That’s going a little too far. We were so embarrassed. You’re no fun anymore. We’re glad you’ve made changes in your life, but we’re afraid that you’re going to become too extreme.” When you’re faced with people like this, you have the choice either to do what God wants you to do or to go with the flow. You’ll find that there are consequences for each option. Deuteronomy 30:19 says, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (NLT). Choosing life includes choosing people who encourage you to live the life God offers. The apostle Paul’s instructions in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 are clear: “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (NLT). The believers who take those instructions to heart are the ones we should be surrounding ourselves with. The Christian life is a challenge. The people who recognize that and offer words of comfort, wisdom, and encouragement along the way are extremely valuable resources. They counteract the negativity and discouragement that others throw our way. Are you going to let people hold you back? Are you going to let people discourage you from wholehearted commitment to Jesus Christ? Reflection question: Where can you find encouragement and support in your walk with Christ? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.” (1 Kings 17:6 NLT) When the Bible says that ravens brought Elijah food each morning and evening, it doesn’t mean that they took his order, flew through the local fast-food restaurant, and then delivered his meal. Ravens are scavengers. They brought little bits of meat and bread to Elijah. What’s more, the water in the brook from which he drank would have been somewhat polluted. So, Elijah didn’t enjoy an idyllic situation by any stretch of the imagination. How easily Elijah could have said, “Well, Lord, I don’t really want to be in this crummy little place, drinking river water. I kind of like being in front of people. I like the limelight.” But the Lord was preparing Elijah for something beyond his wildest dreams. Not long after his sojourn by the brook, Elijah found himself standing on Mount Carmel, engaged in a great showdown with the false prophets of Baal (see 1 Kings 18:20–40). Sometimes we don’t like where God has put us. We say, “Lord, I don’t like this situation. I don’t like where I am. I want to do something great for You. I want to make a difference in my world.” Maybe the Lord wants you to be effective right where you are. Maybe He wants you to take advantage of the opportunities in front of you and be faithful in the little things. Who knows what God has in store for you? One theme that works its way through Scripture is that God’s people are blessed when they trust in His timing and plan. The author of Proverbs advised, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5–6 NLT). God Himself said, “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:28–31 NLT). The apostle Paul offered this reminder: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT). And the author of Ecclesiastes wrote, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT). If God has you by some muddy little brook, so to speak, just hang in there. Make the most of the season you’re in. Be faithful, do what He has already told you, and wait on Him and His timing. God will do something wonderful for you or with you. Just be available and open to do what He would have you do. Reflection question: How can you thrive in the place you are right now? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.” (James 1:13–14 NLT) We all know what it’s like to be tempted. But where does temptation come from? It does not come from God. James 1:13–14 says, “And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, ‘God is tempting me.’ God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away” (NLT). We play a key role in our own temptation. It’s like the scorpion who wanted to cross a pond. Scorpions can’t swim, of course, so he needed a ride. He walked up to a rather unsuspecting turtle and said, “I was wondering if you might give me a lift across this little pond.” The turtle said, “Are you joking? You will sting me, and we’ll both drown.” The scorpion said, “My dear turtle, if I were to sting you, I would go down with you. Where would the logic be in that?” As they made their way across the little pond, however, the scorpion pulled out his stinger and gave the turtle a mighty sting. As they both sank to the bottom, the turtle turned to the scorpion and said, “There was no logic in stinging me. Why in the world did you do it?” The scorpion replied, “It has nothing to do with logic. It’s just my nature.” This is a good point for Christians to remember. When we give in to temptation, it has nothing to do with logic. It’s just our nature. We like to say, “The devil made me do it,” or “Circumstances overwhelmed me,” or “I couldn’t control myself.” But in reality, it’s just our sinful nature. Let’s be clear here. We don’t have to give in to our old nature. The only power it has over us is the power we give it. The apostle Paul wrote, “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin” (Romans 6:6–7 NLT). We have everything we need to resist our old nature. We can turn to God for help. We can find comfort, strength, wisdom, and encouragement in His Word. We can talk to other believers. If we ignore these resources, we give our old nature a foothold in our lives. God’s Word urges us to be strong and steadfast. To opt for something better when our old nature rears its head. As Paul wrote, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh” (Romans 13:14 NIV). Reflection question: How do you resist the pull of your old nature? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.” (Galatians 6:7–10 NLT) A successful building contractor called in one of his employees, a skilled carpenter, and told him that he was putting him in charge of the next house the company was building. He instructed the carpenter to order all the materials and oversee the entire process from the ground up. The carpenter excitedly accepted his assignment. It was his first opportunity to oversee an entire building project. He studied the blueprints and checked every measurement. Then he thought, “If I’m really in charge, why can’t I cut a few corners, use less expensive materials, and put the extra money in my pocket? Who would know the difference? After we paint the place, no one would be able to tell.” The carpenter set about with his scheme. He used second-grade lumber and ordered inexpensive concrete for the foundation. He put in cheap wiring. He cut every corner he possibly could but reported the use of higher-quality building materials. When the home was completed, he asked his boss to come and see it. His boss looked it over and said, “This is incredible. You did a fantastic job. You have been such a good and faithful worker and have been so honest all these years that I am showing my gratitude by giving you this house.” We will reap what we sow. Just as we can’t plant weeds and reap flowers, we can’t sin and reap righteousness. There are reactions to our actions. The apostle warned, “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith” (Galatians 6:7–10 NLT). Every day, we either live to please the Spirit or live to satisfy our sinful nature. The seeds we plant determine the results we get. What kind of seeds will you sow today? Reflection question: What does living to please the Spirit look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“I will maintain my innocence without wavering. My conscience is clear for as long as I live.” (Job 27:6 NLT) If your relationship with Christ is strong, it will be evident in the way you live. Your life will be marked by integrity—in the choices you make, the things you prioritize, the way you interact with others, and in your daily routine. I heard the story of a pastor who boarded a bus one morning, paid his fare, and took his seat. A few minutes later, he realized that the driver had given him too much change. Some people might have put it in their pocket and said, “Lord, thank You for Your provision.” But this pastor knew that would be wrong. At the next stop, he walked to the front of the bus with the extra change and said to the driver, “Excuse me, sir, you gave me too much change, and I wanted to return it to you because obviously you made a mistake.” The driver said, “Pastor, I didn’t make a mistake. I was at your church last night and heard you preach on honesty. I wanted to see if you practiced what you preached.” Fortunately, he did. People are watching you as a Christian, virtually scrutinizing your every move. You should know that they aren’t hoping that you’ll be a godly witness. They’re hoping that you’ll slip up so that they’ll have something on which to conveniently hang their doubts and unbelief. Humorist Will Rogers said, “So live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.” That’s the idea of integrity: having nothing in our lives to be ashamed of. Personal integrity is something we develop daily with every thought we think and every action we take. We are either building up character or tearing it down. The author of Proverbs had a lot to say on the subject. “People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed” (Proverbs 10:9 NLT). “Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people” (Proverbs 11:3 NLT). “The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them” (Proverbs 20:7 NLT). “Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and rich” (Proverbs 28:6 NLT). Job got to the heart of the matter when he said, “I will maintain my innocence without wavering. My conscience is clear for as long as I live” (Job 27:6 NLT). And the apostle Peter wrote, “Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ” (1 Peter 3:16 NLT). Some people cling to the notion that what a person does in private is no one else’s business because it affects no one else. But that’s just wishful thinking. The person you are in private is the real you. That’s who God sees. And, whether we like it or not, that’s who others see as well. So, as believers, we must act with integrity, honesty, and compassion in everything we do. Reflection question: What does integrity look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward.” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT) My dog used to practice selective listening. When he didn’t like what I was saying, he acted as though he didn’t understand me. If he was in my room at bedtime and I told him to leave, he would look at me as if to say, “What?” It was as though his hearing was gone. On the other hand, he could have been asleep behind closed doors, and if I went downstairs, opened the cupboard, and pulled out his leash, he suddenly had supersonic hearing. He was right there at my side. When he liked what I wanted him to do, he heard and obeyed me. But when he didn’t like what I wanted him to do, he didn’t hear or obey. Sometimes we do the same thing with God. When He tells us to do something we like, we say, “Yes, Lord!” But when He tells us to stop doing something we like, we say, “God, I think You’re cutting out on me. There’s too much static. I’m not hearing You clearly.” Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:14 NLT). He didn’t say, “You are My friends if you do the things that you personally agree with.” God has told us in His Word how we’re to live. It’s not for us to pick and choose sections of the Bible that we like and toss the rest aside. When the urge to practice selective listening hits us, we need to remind ourselves of who’s doing the instructing. After all, God knows everything. He knows what’s ultimately good for us and what’s ultimately destructive to us. He loves us beyond comprehension and wants only what’s best for us. So, obeying Him is never a bad idea. In fact, it’s the best idea in any situation. Obedience brings us closer to God. It strengthens our relationship with Him. It brings us a sense of joy and purpose. And it makes us a valuable resource to others who may be struggling spiritually. The Bible makes it clear that God blesses us when we obey Him. Psalm 128:1 says, “How joyful are those who fear the Lord—all who follow his ways” (nlt). And in Jeremiah 7:23, God Himself says, “Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!” (NLT). The takeaway is that if God tells you to do something, He says it for good reason, and you need to obey Him. If God says not to do something, He also says it for good reason. Even if you don’t understand it, obey Him. You will always be glad that you did. Reflection question: What would complete obedience to God look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.” (Revelation 2:4–5 NLT) One way to keep your Christian faith vibrant and impactful is to maintain and nurture your first love—that is, the passion and excitement for Christ’s work that you felt when you first began your relationship with Him. I once knew a guy who was always in the best shape. I would run into him a couple of times a year, and he always made a point of reminding me that he was in much better shape than I was. He would tell me, “Feel my arm!” “That’s hard,” I would comment. “That’s right!” he would say. But he was a stressed-out and very intense kind of guy. One day, I received the sad news that he had died of a heart attack. This guy had it all together on the outside. He was in great shape. But inside, his heart was in trouble. You may have the greatest physique—bulging biceps and rippling abs. You may have incredible stamina and energy. But what good is all of that if you have heart disease? This story serves as a warning not only about our physical health but also about our spiritual health. You might be able to flex your spiritual muscles in front of other people. You might say, “Look at my schedule! Look at all that I’m doing for God. Look at what I’ve done. Listen to my accomplishments.” That’s good as far as it goes. But it falls short of revealing the whole picture. When Jesus told the believers at Ephesus that they had left their first love, He was getting to the heart of the matter, the root of success or failure in the Christian life. He was saying, “You are leaving this first love. You are neglecting these basic things.” The Ephesians, like many Christians, were emphasizing things other than the essentials of the faith. They were bogging themselves down with human expectations. That’s when the Christian life becomes drudgery. That’s when you start saying, “There are so many rules. There are so many restrictions. I want to live as I please. I want to be free.” When you begin to think like that, you’re leaving your first love—and the joy and fulfillment that come with it. Jesus said of His followers, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). A rich and satisfying life is one that is marked by joyful and humble service, a spirit of gratitude, a hunger for God’s Word, and a passion for the gospel. Jesus died to make such a life possible for those who believe in Him. That’s our first love. That’s what we must never lose. Reflection question: How do you maintain and nurture your first love? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:10 NLT) Pride and self-sufficiency are two big obstacles to spiritual growth. A good way to overcome them is to cry out to God when you need help. The Bible tells the story of Simon Peter, who had the extraordinary experience of walking on water with Jesus. When the impossibility of the situation began to dawn on him, however, his faith faltered. He cried out, “Save me, Lord!” (Matthew 14:30 NLT). How easily Jesus could have said, “Where is your faith, Peter? You made your bed; now lie on it. Try swimming.” But the Bible says, “Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him” (Matthew 14:31 NLT). Immediately. I like that. When you begin to sink and cry out, “Lord, save me!” He will immediately reach out. But you must cry out for His help. And that’s hard for some people to do. As a kid, I spent a lot of time at the beach. When I was out bodysurfing one day, a big set of waves started coming in. So, I did what I was supposed to do: I swam toward the waves and went under them. When I looked up, there was another set. I swam under those, too. One set after another came. In time, I drifted so far out that the people on the beach looked like little ants to me. Suddenly, I felt exhausted—with no strength left and nothing to hold onto. In that moment, I knew I was in trouble. I realized I had two choices. I could cry, “Help!” and the lifeguard would come running with his life preserver. When we got to shore, my friends would laugh, and I would never live it down. Or I could drown with dignity. I cried out! A lot of us don’t want to admit our need. We don’t want to cry out to God. We want to maintain our dignity. To get the proper perspective on what to do in times of need, we need to look to God’s Word. Jonah cried out to God after he was swallowed by a giant fish (see Jonah 2:1–9). Hannah cried out to God for a son. First Samuel 1:10 says she “was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord” (NLT). King David was under tremendous stress when he wrote, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?” (Psalm 22:1 NLT). Jesus quoted the words of Psalm 22 when He cried out to God from the cross (see Matthew 27:46). If Jesus wasn’t too proud to cry out to God, neither should we be. There are only so many things we can do to help ourselves. Crying out to God frees us from our own limitations. It opens a whole world of possibilities. God can bring ultimate good from any situation. All we have to do is cry out to Him for help. Every day of my life, I need the best God has to offer. And you do, too. Reflection question: What do you need to cry out to God about in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed.” (Matthew 26:13 NLT) First Thessalonians 5:11 says, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (NLT). Romans 15:2 says, “We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord” (NLT). As believers, encouragement, praise, and kindness are essential to our relationship with others—and with the Lord. The more we incorporate them into our interactions, the deeper we will grow in our faith. My granddaughter Stella used to love to pick flowers. She would come to me with a smile on her beautiful face and say, “These are for you, Papa!” It always warmed my heart that she brought me flowers so that I could appreciate them. There is a story in the Bible of a woman named Mary who warmed Jesus’ heart at a crucial moment in His life. Mary understood what Jesus meant when He said He was going to die. Though Jesus’ message didn’t seem to penetrate the minds of His own handpicked disciples, who had spent their every waking hour with Him for three years, Mary understood. One night, Jesus and His friends were gathered at the house of Simon in Bethany. Mary listened as the Lord quietly spoke to the audience gathered. But she saw and heard something else. She saw the lines etching His face and read aright the problems reflected in His eyes. An inner sense told her that the disciples were wrong in expecting a kingdom. The Master meant what He said and said what He meant: He literally was going to Jerusalem to be crucified. She couldn’t begin to grasp something so terrible but accepted it because He said it. She had to do something. She would not wait to give some floral tribute at His funeral. She would bring her flowers now! She would give the very best she possibly could. So, Mary took some very expensive perfume that was probably a family heirloom and poured it on the head of Jesus. Some were angry at her and criticized her for such a waste, as the street value of such a perfume was around $25,000. But in Mary’s mind, nothing was too good for Jesus, and she wanted to show her love to Him. Jesus was impressed and even commended her for it. He said, “I tell you the truth, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered and discussed” (Matthew 26:13 NLT). Nothing is ever wasted if it is given with a right heart for God’s glory. That’s a good thing to remember about people you love—people who have impacted you as a Christian. Don’t wait until their funeral to say it. Say it now. Thank them for their influence. Let them know just how much you love and respect them. Bring your flowers now. Reflection question: Who needs to receive encouragement, praise, or kindness from you right now? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them.” (Romans 12:4–6 NKJV) If you’re serious about becoming a strong and mature believer, you need to be plugged into your church in a meaningful way. Sometimes people treat churches like restaurants—with a consumer mentality. “There’s no reason to go to that church. We just went there two weeks ago. Let’s try another one instead.” But the church is not a restaurant. The church is a family, and you need to be a part of the family. You also need to engage. Maybe one of the reasons some people feel as though they aren’t getting enough out of church is that they attend intermittently and don’t commit themselves. But if they would settle in and become a part of what God is doing, it would change for them. If you’ve been attending a church for more than a couple of years, then you ought to be involved in a ministry of some kind. You may not be called to preach, but there are lots of other things to do. There is something for everyone. The Bible tells us, “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them” (Romans 12:4–6 NKJV). It’s fine to come and be served in the church. But there must come a point when you grow up, spiritually speaking, and decide to start serving. To be more active and less passive in your approach to church. If you do, you’ll find that your church experience changes dramatically for the better. And not just for you, but also for your fellow church members. Whether you realize it or not, you have something important to contribute to your local body of Christ. God has blessed you with a unique set of skills. If you don’t use them, it’s not fair to Him. It’s not fair to yourself. And it’s not fair to the people in your church who would be blessed by them. You can make a difference in your church, so you should make a difference. If you want to grow in your relationship with Christ, don’t think of the church as them; think of it as us. Be a part of the family. Take the gifts that God has given you, develop them, and use them for His glory. Church will completely change for you if you stop coming as a spectator and instead join the team. Reflection question: How can you become more engaged and involved in your church? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’ ‘We’ll come, too,’ they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.” (John 21:3 NLT) One way to strengthen your Christian faith is to keep a proper perspective on failure. The Gospels describe two similar encounters between Jesus and His disciples that illustrate the importance of not giving failure the final word. The first is found in Luke 5:1–11. To get some distance from the crowd that clamored to hear Him, Jesus boarded Peter’s boat and spoke to His followers a short distance from the shore. When He was done, He instructed Peter, who was a fisherman by trade, to head for deep waters to catch some fish. Peter explained to Jesus that he and his companions had been fishing all night but had failed to catch anything. Still, he obeyed the Lord’s command. And when he let down his nets, he caught so many fish that he could barely get them on board. The second encounter, found in John 21, takes place after Jesus’ resurrection. The Lord had already appeared to some of the disciples. But He had given them no clear marching orders, so some of them went back to what they knew how to do: fish. They had been fishing all night on the Sea of Galilee and hadn’t caught anything. It was early in the morning, probably still dark, when they saw a figure standing on the shore. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” (verse 5 NLT). Throughout the Bible, God often asked probing questions when He wanted a confession. In the same way, Jesus was asking His disciples, “Did you catch anything? Have you been successful? Have things gone the way you had hoped they would go? Are you satisfied?” Jesus knew the answer, of course. So, why did He want them to admit their failure? So that He could bring them to the place where they needed to be. When they cast the net on the right side of the boat as Jesus told them to, their net became so heavy with fish that they couldn’t pull it in. The Lord was teaching the disciples an important lesson: Failure is often the doorway to real success. It’s a lesson that believers today need to learn as well. We need to come to a point in our lives where we recognize that what we’re doing isn’t working. We need to say, “Lord, I’m not satisfied with the way my life is going. I’m tired of doing things my way. I want to do things Your way.” If you approach God in that way, He will extend His forgiveness to you. Then He will transform your life in ways you can’t imagine. If you want to deepen your relationship with the Lord, admit your failures and hand the reins of your life to Him. Reflection question: What failure or dissatisfaction would you like the Lord to transform in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, ‘The Scriptures declare, “My Temple will be a house of prayer,” but you have turned it into a den of thieves.’” (Luke 19:45–46 NLT) In our next set of devotions, we’re going to look at ways to “tune up” our spiritual lives—ways to strengthen and mature our relationship with the Lord. And we’re going to start with some early spring cleaning. My wife, Cathe, and I are polar opposites when it comes to cleaning. My approach can be summed up by the procrastinator’s motto: Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow. Cathe’s approach is to constantly clean and organize so that over time, little messes don’t become big ones. Obviously, her approach is the better one. In Luke 19 we find the story of Jesus’ cleaning the house of God as He went into the temple and drove out the moneychangers. These temple merchants were taking advantage of people and keeping them from God, and this angered Jesus. This is the second time in Scripture that Jesus cleaned the temple. In John 2:13–17, we read that He used a whip to drive out the moneychangers. Little messes turn into big messes, so Jesus arrived to clean house again. I believe there is a parallel to our own lives. When we come to Christ initially, we ask for His forgiveness, and He pardons us of all our wrongdoing. In fact, we are told in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (NLT). What a wonderful thing it is to realize that God has forgiven us of all our sin. We are cleansed. But as time passes, sometimes some of our old sins find their way back into our lives. Maybe they start small. But they don’t stay that way. They begin to grow and take up bigger and bigger parts of our life until they become a serious problem. The longer we wait to address them, the harder the cleanup is. That’s why we must frequently examine our lives and deal with what we find instead of trying to excuse it. We must ask God to make us aware of things we may not see. We must also find accountability partners who will lovingly confront us when they see things in our lives that go against our Christian faith. The apostle Paul wrote, “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT). The psalmist wrote, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23–24 NLT). Does your temple need cleansing? Are there some things in your life that shouldn’t be there? Are there some vices, some bad habits that have found their way back into your life? If so, deal with them now. Don’t let little messes turn into big ones. Reflection question: What are some little messes that you need to clean up in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.” (1 John 3:21–22 NLT) God answers every prayer. That’s important to understand. Some people say, “I’ve been asking God to grant my request for years, but He still hasn’t answered me.” Chances are, He has answered. And His answer is no. No is as much of an answer as yes. It’s just not the answer we want. Here’s something to keep in mind: If the request is wrong, God says, “No.” If the timing is wrong, God says, “Slow.” If we are wrong, God says, “Grow.” But if the request is right, the timing is right, and we are right, God says, “Go.” One of the amazing things you discover as you grow in the Lord is that some of your greatest answered prayers are those to which God said no. With a little spiritual maturity, you realize that what you wanted so desperately was the worst thing that possibly could have happened to you. That raises an obvious question. What can we do to receive yes answers to our prayer requests? Let’s look at what God’s Word says. “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for” (1 John 5:14–15 NLT). “You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:13–14 NLT). Ask for anything that pleases Him. Ask for anything in His name. Those are the quickest ways to get a yes from God. When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He gave them these words: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10 ESV). And when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest and crucifixion, He said, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine!” (Matthew 26:39 NLT). You can never go wrong when you pray for God’s will to be done. That may seem like legal fine print in a too-good-to-be-true offer: “God will give you anything you ask for! (As long as you ask for what He wants to give you.)” But it’s something much deeper than that. It’s God’s way of making sure that our will and our priorities align with His. If they do, the sky’s the limit where our prayer requests are concerned. If they don’t, we need to make some adjustments. So, all our prayers should contain this spoken or unspoken sentiment: “Lord, here’s the way I see things with my limited understanding. I think You should do this. If I’m asking for something outside Your will, I ask You to overrule my request. You know all things, so I ask for Your will to be done.” Reflection question: When has God said no to you? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT) We pray because it’s what Jesus instructed us to do. We pray because it’s God’s appointed way for us to obtain things from Him. And, thirdly, we pray because it’s the way by which God helps us overcome our anxiety and worry. Struggles with anxiety have reached a crisis point in our culture. Our media thrive on bad news and dire predictions. So, if you’re paying attention, you can find something to worry about every day concerning your health, your safety, your family, and your finances. The relentless assault of these troubles and pseudo-troubles can take a toll on our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Someone once said, “If your knees are shaking, kneel on them.” That’s a simplification of the apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6–7: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (NLT). That’s not just good spiritual advice; it’s also good practical advice. Worrying doesn’t help anything. It’s a complete waste of time. In fact, the word worry comes from an old English word that means “to strangle” or “to choke.” That’s what worry does. It chokes you. It cuts the air off. There’s no good in it. Someone once said, “Worry is interest paid on troubles that seldom come due.” One of the things that makes worry and anxiety such formidable foes is that we don’t always know when they’re going to strike. We jolt awake at three in the morning, suddenly panicking over something that had barely registered before. Instead of allowing that panic to build, try saying a quick prayer. “Lord, there’s nothing I can do about this situation right now. So, I’m giving it to you. This is your problem. I’m going back to sleep. I’ll talk to you when I get up.” The apostle Peter wrote, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT). Yes, God is all-knowing and all-powerful. He can see the perfect solution to every problem, and He has the power to implement any strategy, even if it seems impossible. But what makes Him the perfect Ally against worry and anxiety is that He cares about us. And not just in a general “God loves everyone” sense. He knows everything about us and cares about us individually. He wants the very best for us. So, don’t worry about anything; pray about everything. Reflection question: What worries or cares do you need to give to God? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.