Daily Devotions From Greg Laurie

“Jesus replied, ‘The most important commandment is this: “Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.” The second is equally important: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” No other commandment is greater than these.’” (Mark 12:29–31 NLT) In this month’s devotions, we’re going to look at the Gospel of Mark. And we’re going to start with one of the key passages of the New Testament. According to Mark 12:28, “One of the teachers of religious law” asked Jesus, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” (NLT). He was testing Jesus. At that time, Jewish religious leaders recognized over 600 different laws. And they spent a lot of time ranking them according to importance. The questioner wanted Jesus to say something controversial so that Jesus’ enemies could use it against Him. Instead, Jesus gave him the wisdom of the ages. “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these” (Mark 12:29–31 NLT). With those words, Jesus highlighted the connection between loving God and living in a way that pleases Him. He established the template of the Christian life. If you really love God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, then you will not want to break the other commandments. If you really love God as you ought to, then you will not take His name in vain, have other gods before Him, or make images that you bow down before. And if you really love your neighbor as yourself, you will not steal from him. You will not covet what belongs to him. And certainly, you will not kill him. So, if we master the basics of loving God and loving others as we ought to, then obeying other commandments will come naturally. In daily life, this looks like resisting temptation instead of choosing what feels good in the moment. In fact, it looks like making daily choices that keep you away from tempting situations. It looks like studying God’s Word purposefully to become acquainted with what pleases Him. It looks like keeping open a line of communication with Him—a daily prayer routine through which you receive guidance, direction, and encouragement. Augustine said, “Love, and do what you will.” It’s a provocative statement, but it makes sense. If you really love God as you ought to—with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength—then you will naturally do what He wants you to do. Reflection question: How do you know when you’re loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? 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.

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14 NLT) New Year’s resolutions are funny things. We dream up grand lifestyle changes and tell ourselves “Ok, everything will be different on January 1st!” But the truth is, many of us adjust our New Year’s resolutions as time passes because we’re unable to keep them. Year after year, we get frustrated and discouraged by our lack of willpower, discipline, and commitment. But there’s a lesson in there that we must not miss. We don’t need a New Year’s resolution. We need a spiritual solution. The spiritual solution we need is found in Philippians 3:14: “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us” (NLT). In this passage, the apostle Paul helps us understand what our priorities should be. On more than one occasion, Paul used athletic metaphors to describe the Christian life. In this passage, he compares it to running a race. But we need to understand that the race is not a one-hundred-meter sprint. It’s a long-distance run. That’s why we must pace ourselves. In a long-distance race, there’s little significance in leading the field for, say, nine out of ten laps. What matters is the tenth lap. Whoever crosses the finish line first is the winner. Spiritually speaking, finishing strong involves being consistent. There are times in our relationship with Christ when everything seems to click—when our prayer life, Bible study, evangelism, and personal discipline are firing on all cylinders. With the wind at our back, we start to feel unbeatable. So, we alter our pace. We let pride dictate our strategy. And then we hit the wall, metaphorically speaking. We struggle to maintain any kind of pace. On top of that, we have a spiritual enemy who delights in turning our race into a hurdles event by throwing obstacles in our way. The good news is that the headwind, like the wind at our back, is temporary. We don’t have to face it long. The obstacles our enemy throws in our path need not affect us because we’re powered by the Holy Spirit. He gives us the stamina we need to stay the course. Our job is to stay focused on the race—to keep our eyes on the prize. We need to strive for spiritual consistency. If we want to win in the race of life, then we need to learn to pace ourselves. Reflection question: How can you pace yourself in your walk with Christ? 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.

“In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.” (2 Peter 1:5–9 NLT) Many people make resolutions this time of the year. Some are going to swear off alcohol or smoking or social media or unhealthy eating. Others are going to try to change destructive habits like gossip or worry or losing their temper. Many people will try to start new habits like exercising. Health clubs love the beginning of the year because people love to commit to going to the gym and working out three to five times a week. The problem is, most people never follow through on their resolutions because they weren’t serious in the first place. There are other, more important, resolutions for you to focus on as we begin 2026. There are godly habits to develop and ungodly habits to break. Horace Mann once said, “Habit is a cable; we weave a thread each day, and at last we cannot break it.” That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the habit. This New Year, make a concerted effort to develop godly habits—habits that cannot be broken and that will build others up in their love for the Lord. The words of the apostle Peter in 2 Peter 1:5–9 offer a good starting point. “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins” (NLT). Peter emphasizes that difference-making spiritual growth is a process. It doesn’t involve reaching certain plateaus according to a specific timetable. The important thing is that we prioritize spiritual growth in our life, that we make consistent progress as we grow in our relationship with Christ. That’s the kind of habit we should pursue. That’s the kind of resolution we should strive for. Reflection question: How can you apply the words of 2 Peter 1:5–9 as you work to develop godly habits—or break ungodly habits—in 2026? 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.

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT) We don’t know what the new year will bring. We don’t know what problems we will encounter or what changes will come our way. We don’t even know what blessings the Lord has in store for us. God knows, of course. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT). Wherever His plans take us, one thing is guaranteed. We have no reason to be afraid. No matter what the new year brings our way, Jesus Christ will be with us and for us. Corrie ten Boom, a wonderful woman of God, said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” She was speaking from experience. As a Holocaust survivor, she faced uncertainties about her future that few of us will ever experience. Yet she refused to give in to fear or despair because she knew God. She had read about how He provided for His people in Scripture. She was aware of His potential to work miracles. She had experienced His love and protection in some of the most horrific conditions imaginable. The psalmist wrote, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him” (Psalm 24:1 NLT). Nothing is beyond the Creator’s power. Proverbs 19:21 says, “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail” (NLT). The apostle Paul wrote, “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 in Isaiah 41:10, God Himself says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (NLT). There’s a sense of relief in acknowledging that God is in control of our future. We don’t have to take on the burden of control ourselves. Instead, we can focus on following His direction, obeying His instructions, and prioritizing His will. God stands ready to bless us in this coming year. But we must be ready to walk with Him, worship Him, and obey Him. We can’t expect the Lord to bless someone who is in opposition to His law and His love. As we wrap up the year, it’s only natural that we do a little reflection. As you look back on 2025, was it a year in which you progressed spiritually? Was it a year in which you found yourself becoming more like Jesus Christ? Or was there some kind of spiritual breakdown? If so, now is a good time to make a change. Now is the time to resolve to grow closer to Jesus Christ. Reflection question: What would trusting God with your future look like in 2026? 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.

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. . . . If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43–48 NLT) Who was on your Christmas gift list this year? Usually, we give gifts to family and friends. We want to buy gifts for people we love and people we care about. We tend to give gifts to those who treat us well, people who are kind and considerate to us. And often we will give gifts in return for gifts that we have received. Some of us will even buy gifts for our pets. However, we generally don’t buy gifts for our enemies, do we? We don’t give a gift to the person who has slandered us in the past year. We don’t give a gift to the irate neighbor who never has a kind word to say. We don’t give a gift to someone who has tried to run us out of business. Nor do we send a gift to the thief who broke into our car last month. Yet that’s the standard to which the Lord calls us. In Matthew 5:43–48, Jesus said, “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. . . . If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (NLT). How can the Lord hold us to such high expectations? “We love each other because he loved us first” (1 John 4:19 NLT). When God sent Jesus Christ, His Son, and gave us the ultimate gift, He gave it to us while we were still His enemies. The Bible tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8 NKJV). We did nothing whatsoever to merit or deserve this gift. In fact, what we really deserve is judgment, because we all have sinned against God. We all have deliberately crossed that line. The amazing truth of Christmas is that, despite our sins, God sent His Son to save us. In that tiny manger in Bethlehem, He gave us a gift that we don’t deserve—but that we can be thankful for every day of our lives. Reflection question: This Christmas season, how can you show love to someone you don’t get along with? 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.

“Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!” (Luke 12:51 NLT) This may come as a shock to you, but the real Christmas story is not about love, peace, harmony, and gathering with family around a crackling fire. The real Christmas story is about conflict. It always has been, and it always will be. In Luke 12:51, Jesus said, “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!” (NLT). One of the most surprising passages in Scripture that deals with the subject of Christmas is Revelation 12. There we find the apostle John’s account of a woman being pursued by a powerful dragon who seeks her death. As she is preparing to give birth to a child, the dragon hovers over her, wanting to destroy the baby. The woman is a picture of Israel, the child is a picture of Jesus Christ, and the dragon is a picture of the devil. That’s Christmas from a heavenly perspective. John’s imagery in Revelation 12 gives us the big picture of what was really happening when God sent His Son into the world. The devil opposed God’s plan and wanted to stop Jesus’ birth. It’s not hard to see how that story is still playing out today, especially at this time of year. The season of giving often turns into a season of giving those who celebrate Christmas a hard time. Hostility toward Christmas seems to escalate a little more every year. More nativity scenes are being removed from public places. Christmas carols are being prohibited in more places. Podcasters and influencers who attack the Christian faith are becoming more and more popular. Many people still object to the use of the word Christmas. All these things are individual battles in the great spiritual conflict of Christmas. We can rejoice in that. Jesus said, “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way” (Matthew 5:11–12 NLT). Jesus did not come to bring an empty, feel-good peace on earth devoid of truth. Look again at the angel’s message to the shepherds on the night Christ was born. “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14 NLT). The peace that Jesus offers is conditional. It’s hard-earned. It requires sacrifice and purposeful choices on our part. It encourages us to live as He lived, to prioritize God’s will, and to spread His message to others. We will have peace on earth only when we’re pleasing to God. Reflection question: What do you think God is pleased with 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.

“And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.” (Revelation 13:8 NLT) We celebrate Christmas to rejoice over God’s most precious gift to us. The birth of Jesus Christ is a gift from God that came in simple wrapping, as well as a gift that we don’t deserve. But the gift of Christ also explains God’s purpose for humankind. The gift of Christ was no afterthought. Long before there was a stable in Bethlehem, before Adam and Eve ever set eyes on each other, and even before there existed a garden called Eden, God decided to send His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross for our sins. From the beginning, God knew humankind would fall short of His glory. That’s why the apostle John wrote, “They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made” (Revelation 13:8 NLT). God decided from the very beginning that Christ would come to this earth to live and die and rise again from the dead. God’s gift to us proves His purpose to redeem us. To fully appreciate that, we must understand what God did for us. He created humankind. He placed us in a literal paradise. He walked with us in the garden. We enjoyed face-to-face fellowship with Him. He gave us responsibilities that fulfilled us and brought us joy. He set one restriction—just one. But that proved to be too much for us. So, we rejected Him and His perfect plan. We destroyed paradise. We drifted far from Him. God sent prophets and judgments to warn us of the penalties for rejecting Him, of the eternal suffering that was to come. He urged us to repent and turn back to Him. Still, we refused. So, He sent His Son to do what we could not. To live a sinless life and destroy the power of sin. To die in our place as the perfect sacrifice. To take the punishment we deserve. To rise from the grave and destroy the power of death. To make eternal life possible. The gift of Jesus Christ is what Christmas is all about. Jesus came near to us so that we could come near to Him. Christmas is not about tinsel or shopping or gifts under a tree. Christmas is about the gift God gave on the tree where Christ died for our sins. Christmas is about the gift of eternal life. That’s what Jesus accomplished. That’s the gift He extends. And if you receive it, you’ll experience the merriest Christmas of all. That’s the message God wants us to carry to the world this Christmas season. Reflection question: How can you show your gratitude to God for the gift of His Son? 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.

“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” (Romans 5:8 NLT) When you’re a child, Christmas is all about receiving gifts. In December, your head is swimming with nothing but images of your favorite toys. But the true message of Christmas is not the presents we give to one another. The true meaning is the gift that God gave to us, His Son Jesus Christ. One of the most remarkable aspects of God’s perfect gift to us is that it came in simple wrapping. Some people will go to great lengths to wrap presents beautifully. But God’s gift came to us not in beautiful, ornate wrapping, but in a dirty manger found in a cold cave in a little-known town called Bethlehem. That’s the beauty of the Christmas event. Jesus took His place in a manger so that we might have a home in Heaven. The Savior was not wrapped in satin sheets, but in common rags. There in a manger rested the greatest gift in the plainest of wrapping. Isaiah 53:2–3 says, “My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care” (NLT). The New Testament reveals much about Jesus. But the one thing it doesn’t tell us is what He looked like. Luke 2:52 says, “Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people” (nlt). But that’s about all we know. All indications suggest that Jesus’ appearance was plain and unremarkable. His words and actions, on the other hand, changed the world. An even more remarkable aspect of God’s gift to us is that we don’t deserve it. Consider this: God gave us the ultimate gift of His Son Jesus Christ while we were still sinning against Him. The apostle Paul put it this way: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT). We did nothing whatsoever to merit or deserve His gift. That’s the amazing truth of Christmas. Despite who we are and what we’ve done, God sent His Son so “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 NKJV). Christmas is one day away. Prepare your heart for the celebration of the birth of our Savior. He came in an unremarkable form. And He came even though we don’t deserve Him. So, today let’s meditate on the fact that Jesus was born to die so that we might live. Reflection question: How can you show God your gratitude for a gift you don’t deserve? 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.

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” (Matthew 1:23 NLT) As Christmas approaches, we have the opportunity to carefully consider the wonder of the Incarnation—that mysterious moment when God became a man. Of course, there’s no way for us to fully appreciate the sacrifice involved. But that shouldn’t stop us from trying. Jesus Christ—God the Son—set aside His glory, power, and majesty. He stepped out of eternity and into our temporal world. He submitted Himself to the restrictions, pain, and suffering of physical existence. He took His place on the lowest rungs of the socioeconomic ladder. He was born in a manger. He left the throne of Heaven for a feeding trough. He left the presence of angels to enter a cave filled with animals. He who is larger than the universe became an embryo. He who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young virgin. And that’s a key aspect of the Incarnation. Some people have a hard time believing in the Virgin Birth. If you believe the Bible, you need to believe in the Virgin Birth. The Bible teaches that God Almighty was supernaturally conceived in the womb of a virgin. Matthew 1:23 says, “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us’” (NLT). This makes sense if you think about it. If God had chosen to, He could have sent Jesus to earth as a fully grown, yet sinless human being. Jesus could have descended from Heaven in a shaft of light. But if He had come to us in that way, He would have been more like an alien visitor than like one of us. How would it be possible for us to relate to Him as a person, as a part of humanity? God also could have had Jesus come into the world through the natural reproductive process of two ordinary human beings—but still given Jesus a divine nature. But then most of us would have doubted His divinity. That’s why the Incarnation makes sense. The Incarnation is the reason for the Christmas season. Christmas is the opportunity to worship God, to bow down and pay homage to Him for humbling Himself and appearing in human form. The apostle Paul wrote of Jesus, “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6–8 NLT). That stands as the true mystery of the Incarnation—and the reason we celebrate Christmas. Reflection question: How does Jesus’ Virgin Birth underscore God’s perfect plan of salvation? 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.

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2 NLT) Christmas is a time of giving, and I’ve found it to be true that it’s more blessed to give than to receive. If you’re like me, you can’t wait to give your gifts. When you get something for someone, you want to see the joy they have in receiving it. Matthew 2:11 tells us that the wise men “entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (NLT). Gold, frankincense, and myrrh—what kind of gifts were those for a child? Myrrh, after all, is an embalming element. Why give an embalming element to a baby? I believe that these wise men had insight into who Jesus was. They gave Him gold because they recognized it was a proper gift for a King. They gave him frankincense because that’s what a high priest used when he went into the temple to represent the people before God. They gave Him myrrh because they recognized that this King would die for the world. That begs the question, what can we give God during this holiday season? What can we give to God, who has everything? What does He want from us? The answer is our lives. He wants our lives. The apostle Paul wrote, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 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 12:1–2 NLT). Paul also wrote, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 NLT). These passages make it clear that God is pleased when we turn over to Him that which is most personal to us. The greatest gift you can give God this year is yourself. The most meaningful thing you can do is enter into a brand-new year of opportunities and say, “Lord, I give You my life. I give You my talents. I give You my abilities. I give You my dreams. I give You my future. I give You my weaknesses. I offer myself to You. Here is my gift to You.” Be like the wise men who worshipped the Lord and give Him something meaningful. You’ll be glad you did because you can never outgive God. Reflection question: What would it look like for you to give your life to God in the coming year? 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.

“As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. ‘Joseph, son of David,’ the angel said, ‘do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’” (Matthew 1:20–21 NLT) When an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream in Matthew 1, he brought astonishing news. Mary had not been unfaithful, as Joseph had suspected. Instead, she was the virgin spoken of by the prophet Isaiah 750 years earlier. Joseph certainly would have been familiar with Isaiah’s prophecy. “All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)” (Isaiah 7:14 NLT). The idea that Isaiah’s well-known prophecy would be fulfilled by Mary surely would have met with some skepticism by Joseph if it hadn’t been for the awe-inspiring angelic being delivering the news. The child Mary was carrying was Immanuel: God with us. What a staggering thought that must have been for Joseph. And what a staggering thought it is for us. In fact, it is the essence of Christianity. If you compared the Christian faith to all other religious worldviews, this would be the clear distinction: Christianity is “God with us.” Christianity does not require that we try to somehow earn God’s approval. The Christian faith teaches that it is God with us, living inside of us, helping us to be the men and women He has called us to be. Christianity says that we are never alone. Jesus echoed this thought when He said, “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT). And in Hebrews 13:5, God said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (NLT). We may not always sense God’s presence, but that’s because of the work of our spiritual enemy. When life’s horizons turn dark and circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, the devil whispers in our ear that God has abandoned us. When we give in to temptation, the devil berates us and tries to convince us that God would never stand beside such a flawed person. But we need to see through the strategies of our enemy. We need to cling to the rock-solid promises of our heavenly Father. Maybe you need to be reminded of God’s presence in your life right now. Maybe you’re feeling alone. God is with you. Maybe someone close to you has let you down or disappointed you. God is with you. The great message of Christmas that we must always remember is this: “Immanuel: God with us.” Reflection question: How do you recognize 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.

“She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.” (Luke 2:7 NLT) Imagine for a moment that it’s your birthday and your friends and family have decided to throw you a party. It isn’t just any party. It’s a mega party. Everyone that you know is there. There are gifts galore and the largest cake you’ve ever seen. Your name is strung in lights outside the house. Pictures of you are on display. Songs with your name in them are playing in the background. But there’s just one small problem with your birthday party. Someone forgot to invite you. At first, you think it’s an oversight. You’re sure that your friends and loved ones want you to be there. But when you arrive at the party, the music is so loud and everyone is so preoccupied that no one opens the door, even though you’re pounding on it. Then you notice that some of the celebrants are looking in your direction. They discreetly whisper to others, who also look in your direction. But they go back to their celebration without stopping to let you in. What you don’t realize is that they’ve decided just to ignore you, hoping that you’ll eventually get tired of knocking and go away. They want to celebrate your birthday without making you the center of attention. They have their own thoughts about how to commemorate your big day, and they don’t want to make things awkward by trying to fit in the things you prefer. I think Christmas has become like this for many people today. They string their lights. They decorate their trees. They listen to Christmas carols. They run around buying things for everyone they know. But they forget to make room in their schedules for Jesus. You could argue that Jesus was an outcast from birth. Luke 2:7 says of Mary, “She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them” (NLT). The innkeeper decided who would enjoy the relative comfort and security of his lodging. Jesus and His parents did not get the invitation. Jesus had a heart for outcasts because He, too, was an outcast. Luke 15:1–2 says, “Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them!” (NLT). Jesus welcomed people whom others shunned. He made room for everyone in His ministry. This Christmas, will you make room for Him? Unfortunately, even Christians can become so busy that we forget about Jesus. Let’s not make that mistake this year. Is there room in your Christmas celebration for Christ? Reflection question: How can you put Christ at the center of your Christmas celebration? 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.

“In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!’” (Luke 1:26–28 NLT) It’s difficult for us to understand, two thousand years after the events of Luke 1, the significance of the angel Gabriel’s appearance to Mary in Nazareth. After all, the Lord could have found the future mother of the Messiah in Rome, the capital of the greatest power on earth at the time. He could have found her in Athens, the cultural center of the world. He could have found her in Jerusalem, the spiritual center of the world. But God chose Nazareth, an obscure city that was notorious for its sin. Years later, when Jesus’ future disciple Nathaniel heard that Jesus was from there, he said, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” (John 1:46 NLT). If Nathaniel had been present during the events recorded in Judges 6, he might have asked, “Can anything good come from the least important member of the least important clan of the tribe of Manasseh?” And he would have been stunned at what God accomplished through Gideon. If Nathaniel had been present when Samuel was anointing the king of Israel, he might have asked, “Can anything good come from the eighth son of Jesse, a shepherd who writes and sings psalms?” And he would have been stunned by what God accomplished through David. If it seems to us that God chooses unlikely people—or people from unlikely places—to accomplish His work on earth, it’s only because we have such a limited perspective on people’s potential. In 1 Samuel 16:7, God said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (NIV). God obviously saw something extraordinary in Mary’s heart. What’s amazing about Mary is that she lived a godly life in a godless place—and that she did so as a very young teenager. Many Bible scholars believe she may have been as young as twelve, but not much older than fourteen, when God chose her. Here she was, a nobody living in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere—precisely the kind of person that God goes out of His way to call. He chose an unknown girl in a relatively unknown city to bring about the most well-known event in human history, an event so significant that we divide human time by it. Maybe you’re trying to live out your faith in a godless place today, maybe at work or school or among unbelieving family members. You’re wondering if it can be done. It can. Mary stands as an example for us, proving that it is possible to live a godly life in an ungodly world. Reflection question: What challenges do you face in trying to live a godly life in an ungodly world? 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.

“But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.” (Galatians 4:4–5 NLT) When we think of Christmas, we think of the arrival of Jesus: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NLT). In reality, it was also a departure. For us, a Child was born. But for God the Father, a Son was given. Twice in Galatians 4:4–5, God talks about sending Jesus to us (NLT). In Heaven, the time had come for the departure of God’s Son. We even have a record in Hebrews 10 of Jesus’ farewell words to the Father. He said, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—as is written about me in the Scriptures’” (Hebrews 10:5–7 NLT). It’s impossible for us to comprehend the sacrifice, the break in intimacy, involved in God’s sending of His Son. We see that intimacy between Father and Son throughout Jesus’ public ministry. Luke 6:12 says, “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God” (NIV). Jesus prioritized His relationship with His Father above all else. We see that intimacy in Matthew 26:39. As the time of His sacrifice approached, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will” (NIV). Jesus knew what was coming. And in Mark 15:34, we see the unimaginable agony of Jesus’ sacrifice as He cried out in a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (NIV). God placed the sins of the world on His Son. And in that moment, Jesus was banished from His Father’s presence because sin cannot coexist with God. Jesus suffered the separation from God that we deserve. Jesus also made an unimaginable sacrifice at His birth. He went from the throne of Heaven to a feeding trough. He went from the presence of angels to a stable of animals. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. The apostle Paul summed it up well: “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT). No one who has ever lived has even remotely affected human history the way Jesus Christ has. He has been opposed, censored, banned, and criticized by every generation since His birth. Yet His influence continues unabated. There has never been anyone like Jesus because Jesus was not just a good man. He was the God-Man who came and walked this earth because of the sacrifice of His Father. And that’s what we celebrate at Christmas. Reflection question: Where do you see evidence of Jesus’ impact on our culture today? 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.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.” (James 1:17 NLT) You’ve probably heard the saying, “All that glitters is not gold.” But it’s equally important to remember that all that’s gold doesn’t necessarily glitter. That is, not all valuable things appear to be valuable at first glance. Some of the most precious gifts tend not to attract our attention at first. We take a hurried glance and see nothing of significance. But if we go back and take another look, we begin to discover the glory and wonder of that gift. Think of Christmases past when you set aside a present that didn’t have that “wow” factor to move on to other shinier gifts with more bells and whistles, only to come back later to the less showy but more useful gift. So it was with the helpless baby in the manger in Bethlehem on the first Christmas. At first glance, He probably didn’t appear to be much of a gift. Another child born into humble circumstances. What value could He have? Why would He even merit a second look? The Bible practically bursts at the seams to answer that question. God dispatched angels to keep people from looking past His gift. That baby was the only begotten Son of God. Words cannot describe His value. As Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:15, “Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (NLT). Even God couldn’t give a greater gift. He sent His dearly beloved Son into the world as a baby so that, ultimately, we could be saved. God gave us that which was most precious to Him so that His Son would be most precious to us. Our Lord Himself spoke of such a sacrificial act in Matthew 21:33–46 in His parable about the vineyard owner. The owner, who had unworthy servants looking after his property, sent his representatives and servants to the vineyard. One after another was maltreated and even killed. Then the owner thought, “If I send my son, they won’t do this to him. Surely, they will respect my son. There is nothing beyond this. It is the last act.” Hebrews 1:1–2 says, “Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe” (nlt). God sent many servants into the world and to the nation of Israel. He dispatched countless outstanding men and women to accomplish His work. But He surpassed them all with the gift of His Son. This is what should fill our minds and hearts with astonishment at Christmas: God has done something that even He Himself cannot exceed. He gave His only Son, His eternal Son, so that we might have eternal life. Reflection question: What impact has God’s surpassing gift had on 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.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16–17 NLT) When people give Christmas gifts to each other, they usually put a lot of thought into their selections before buying them. For better or worse, a gift tells us quite a bit about the giver. You can estimate, fairly accurately, what people think of you by the gifts they give you. On the other hand, we all can probably remember Christmases from childhood when we failed to fully appreciate what we had been given. It seems to me that presenting gifts to one another on Christmas is a very right and very good thing for us to do. I believe that in doing so, humanity is subconsciously helping to underscore the greatest and most important thing for us to realize about this day. At Christmas, we must never forget that God the Father is the Giver. Of course, it is natural and right that we should think about the child in Bethlehem, our blessed Lord, lying as a helpless baby in a manger. We should always be thankful for His sacrifice. But let’s never forget this: God is the Giver. It was the Father who sent His Son into the world. The Son accomplished the Father’s purpose. And we can get a pretty accurate sense of what God thinks of us based on the gift He gave. Jesus said, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16–17 NLT). The apostle Paul wrote, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (Galatians 4:4–5 NLT). He also wrote, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8 NLT). That brings up an essential point about God’s gift: We did nothing to deserve it. “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it” (Ephesians 2:8–9 NLT). In this season of giving, as we celebrate the greatest gift ever given, let’s not lose sight of the One whose generosity makes the celebration possible. Let’s bring praise and worship to the Father, the great and eternal Giver. Reflection question: What does God’s gift of His Son reveal about God the giver? 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.

“For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.” (1 Timothy 2:5–6 NLT) One way to prepare for Christmas is to consider the long-reaching implications of the Incarnation. There’s a reason that human history is split into two eras: before Christ’s birth and after. Nothing was ever the same again. One implication of Jesus’ coming that rarely gets mentioned at Christmastime is found in John 14:6. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (NLT). The apostle Paul put it this way: “For, there is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time” (1 Timothy 2:5–6 NLT). When God sent His Son into the world to fulfill His plan of salvation, He eliminated the possibility that there is any other path to Him. Jesus alone can bridge the gulf that sin created between us and God. Jesus alone can give us eternal life. One of the most frequently asked questions regarding the Christian faith goes something like this: “What about the person who has never heard that Jesus is the only way to God? What about the person in the middle of the jungle who has never heard the gospel?” (The person in question is almost always in a jungle for some reason.) The teaching that Jesus Christ is the only way to God has never been popular. But it’s never been more controversial than it is today. If you want to get someone’s blood boiling, quote John 14:6 or 1 Timothy 2:5–6. The “Coexist” bumper sticker on their car will catch fire. To say that Jesus is the only way to God is, in effect, to have the audacity to say that other religions are not true. That’s the way the spiritual equation works itself out, and people don’t like it. It’s acceptable to say that Jesus is a way to God. But when you dare to say that He is the only way, then you can be certain that you’ll have some pushback. But here’s what it comes down to. As believers, we have to say what the Bible says, whether it’s popular or not. It’s not for us to edit the message of the Bible. Our responsibility is simply to deliver the message. Otherwise, it would be like a doctor who discovers a very serious problem with a patient’s health but then is unwilling to say what the problem is, out of concern that it might make the patient uncomfortable. We must tell people the truth about their real condition, which happens to be sinful, and then seek to save them, which is to point them to Jesus Christ as the only solution. Reflection question: How can you share the Good News about Jesus this Christmas season? 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.

“Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!” (2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT) In all your preparations for the holiday season, make sure you don’t miss the point of celebrating Christmas. Missing the profound meaning and implications of Jesus’ coming is surprisingly easy to do. The innkeeper in Bethlehem could have been an eyewitness to God’s arrival on earth. He could have been immortalized in nativity scenes, along with the shepherds and wise men. But Luke 2:7 says, “She [Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them” (NLT). The innkeeper missed Jesus because he gave priority to others. King Herod could have accompanied the wise men in their search for the One born King of the Jews. He could have offered his own crown as a gift to Jesus, as a sign of humility, obedience, and worship. But Herod missed Jesus because he couldn’t accept the idea of someone supplanting him as ruler. Matthew 2:16 tells us how far he went to keep it from happening: “Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance” (NLT). Most of the Jewish people who were alive when the Incarnation occurred missed Jesus because they ignored the truth of God’s Word. They interpreted Old Testament prophecy to fit their own agenda instead of trying to understand God’s agenda. Citizens of the Roman Empire missed Jesus because they were too busy worshipping other gods. They opted for false idols instead of God Himself. Let’s not make the same mistake. Let’s keep our priorities straight. This is the season of busyness. There are a lot of things vying for our attention—many of them important. But none is nearly as important as the gift of God’s only Son. Let’s approach the Lord with a sense of humility and obedience. The genocidal cruelty of Herod sets him apart from most people. But his refusal to hand the reins of power to anyone else is all too familiar. Giving our lives to Christ and submitting to His will can be a challenge. There are times when we want to pursue our own preferences and pleasures. But if we give in to those urges, we miss what the Lord has in store for us. Let’s prioritize God’s Word. In it, we find the secrets of wisdom, trail markers for discovering God’s will, instructions for living in a Christlike way, and glimpses into our future. The Bible is the gift that keeps giving. Let’s remove the false idols—the distractions that keep us from worshipping God wholeheartedly—from our lives. Let’s resolve not to miss Jesus this Christmas. Reflection question: What steps can you take to keep your focus on Jesus this Christmas? 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.

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” (Isaiah 9:6–7 NLT) As we look at our world today, it becomes apparent that part of the promise of Isaiah 9:6–7 has not yet been fulfilled. The Child has been born. The Son has been given. But He has not yet taken the government upon His shoulders. We do not yet have peace with fairness and justice. The good news is that the day is coming. Christ will return. He will establish His kingdom on this earth. And it will be the righteous rule of God Himself. Before Jesus could take the government upon His shoulder, He had to take the cross upon His shoulder. Before He could wear the crown of glory as King of kings, He had to wear the shameful crown of thorns and give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. The first time He came, a star marked His arrival. The next time He comes, the heavens will roll back like a scroll, stars will fall from the sky, and He Himself will light the universe. This season, we celebrate the Incarnation and what it means to us. God came near to us so that we can come near to Him. He came to give our lives purpose and meaning, to forgive us of our sins, and to give us the hope of Heaven beyond the grave. Christmas is not about tinsel or shopping or even spending time with family. Christmas is not about the gifts under the tree. Rather, Christmas is about the gift that was given on the tree—when Christ died on a wooden cross for our sins and gave us the gift of eternal life. He also gave us the hope of His return. In Luke 21:25–28, Jesus said, “And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” (NLT). So, as we celebrate Christmas this year, let’s do so with an eye toward the Lord’s return. Let’s remember that one day our hope will be fulfilled, and our joy will be complete. Reflection question: How does Jesus give your life meaning and purpose as you await His return? 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.

“They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11 NLT) One of the best ways to prepare for Christmas is to prepare for worship. Embracing a spirit of worship and praise opens our hearts to the true joy and meaning of Christmas. Worship has been central to Christmas since the wise men first encountered the child they sought. After a long and arduous journey, the wise men, who were followers of the stars, met the Lord Jesus Christ, who created the stars. They were occultists, yet God reached into their dark world with a star to bring them to their Creator. Matthew’s Gospel tells us, “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (2:11 NLT). Their response is almost instinctive. They recognized that they were in the presence of a deity. Their natural reaction was to humble themselves before God, even though God in this instance was a human baby. They acknowledged His majesty and greatness by bowing before Him and presenting offerings to Him. Everyone worships at Christmas. There are no exceptions to this rule. Christians worship. Atheists worship. Skeptics worship. Republicans worship. Democrats worship. Independents worship. Everyone worships at Christmas, but not everyone worships God at Christmas. Some worship material things, which they never seem to have enough of. Others worship their bodies. Others worship their families. But everyone worships something or someone. The wise men worshipped Jesus. What does it mean to worship? Our modern word worship comes from the Old English word worth-ship. We worship the One who is worthy. A god of our own making isn’t worthy of our worship, but the true God is worthy of our praise. Two words are often used in Scripture to define worship. One word means “to bow down and pay homage,” which speaks of reverence and respect. The other means to “kiss toward,” which speaks of intimacy and friendship. So, when we put these two words together, we get an idea of what worship is. To worship is to bow down and have reverence, and it is also to have tender intimacy. We see this reverent intimacy in passages such as Isaiah 25:1: “O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them” (NLT). This Christmas, let’s remember that Jesus was born, He died, and He rose from the dead so that we could come into a relationship with Him and become God’s adopted children. Simply put, we should worship the Lord because He deserves it—every day of the year. Reflection question: How will you worship God this Christmas season? 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.

“King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, ‘Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?’” (Matthew 2:3–4 NLT) Imagine for a moment that you’re living in first-century Jerusalem. You hear mysterious visitors from the east speak of a star that has been leading them to “the newborn king of the Jews.” These wise men are indicating that the long-awaited Messiah has come! You know from prophecy that the Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem, which is only five miles away. Wouldn’t you be inclined to make the short journey to check out their story? Wouldn’t you want to know if the Savior had come? Herod was right to expect answers from the leading priests and teachers of religious law as to where the Messiah would be born. And while they interpreted the writings of Micah properly, they should have been more invested in the matter. These men were the theological scholars of their day. They knew Scripture inside and out. It was their job to study its words and number its letters and lines to ensure careful copying of scrolls. They knew the details of God’s Word so well, but they cared so little. They knew where the Messiah would be born, but they didn’t care about a baby king as much as they cared about an adult monarch who could line their pockets with gold. They were too preoccupied to bother with Jesus. Nothing stunts spiritual growth like spiritual pride. It was true in the first century, and it’s true in the twenty-first century. When you approach the countless truths of God’s Word with an attitude of “I already know that,” or “I’ve already heard that,” or “That doesn’t apply to me,” you limit their impact on your life. You dull your senses to the wonders of Scripture. One of the devil’s masterstrokes is to use frequent exposure to Scripture to foster a sense of spiritual pride. Sometimes when you hear the Word of God again and again, you can enter a place of complacency, a place of apathy. You might even find yourself asleep, spiritually speaking. I find it interesting that many of the Bible’s warnings to “wake up” are addressed to believers. The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica, “So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded” (1 Thessalonians 5:6 NLT). The religious scholars of the first century missed Jesus’ birth because they were in a spiritual slumber. If we’re not careful, we can miss the celebration of Jesus’ birth for the same reason. Approaching the Christmas season—and the Christian life—with an attitude of prideful familiarity keeps us from experiencing the life-changing blessings that Christ offers. It’s important that we stay humble and recognize that there is always more to learn, more to apply, and more to change. Reflection question: How can you stay humble, eager, and curious in your walk with Christ? 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 Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.” (Matthew 2:7 NLT) We can prepare our hearts for Christmas not just by reading God’s Word, but also by reflecting on it. We can celebrate the fact that Jesus’ coming fulfilled prophecies that had been announced centuries earlier. We can lean into the trustworthiness of its promises. We can anticipate the coming glory of God’s kingdom. If King Herod had reflected more on God’s Word, his story would have had a much different ending. Instead, he’s known today as the man who tried to stop the first Christmas. His efforts resulted in a spectacular failure and fall. With all his wealth and power, he came to complete ruin. Historical writings tell us that in the final year of his life, his body was infected with disease. Ironically, Herod pretended to be a worshipper. He said to the wise men, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” (Matthew 2:8 NLT). Yet Herod was a false worshipper. There are people like him today. They say they believe in God, but they live a life that contradicts what the Scriptures teach. Herod wanted to be the king of his own life, but he really was a slave. He ended up being not the King of the Jews but the king of fools. Herod ended up on the ash heap of history like dictators before and after him, reminding us that those who live wicked lives eventually will reap what they sow. Adolf Hitler went into his bunker and shot himself as his nation crumbled around him. Saddam Hussein was found hiding in a hole and was eventually executed by his own people. Muammar Gaddafi was hunted down by his own people, beaten, and shot to death. All those who blaspheme God, fight with God, or try to stop the work of God eventually will fail. Yet God’s Word and His plan ultimately will prevail. Philippians 2:9–10 says, “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (NLT). The glorification of Jesus is as inevitable as His birth. God gives us a choice. We can humble ourselves, submit to Christ, and enjoy His blessings. James endorsed this option. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor” (James 4:10 NLT). So did Peter. “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6 NLT). Or we can be humbled. One day, everyone—every man, every woman, every believer, and every nonbeliever—will bow before Jesus Christ. It’s inevitable. Reflection question: How can you elevate Christ in the way you live, the choices you make, and the things you prioritize? 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.

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT) If the Christmas story—the well-known narratives of Matthew 2 and Luke 2—is so familiar to you that you can practically recite it from memory, try considering it from a different perspective. Try thinking of it as the successful end to a long search. The arrival of the wise men in Jerusalem likely created quite a stir. These were strange men with a strange question, asking for the King of the Jews. As wise as they were, they were also a little naïve, politically speaking. They didn’t realize that they were triggering an extremely volatile man. In effect, they were saying to King Herod, “We’re looking for the King of the Jews—and clearly you’re not him.” This is why we’re told in Matthew 2:3, “King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem” (NLT). The word disturbed used here could be translated “to shake violently”—like a washing machine in the spin phase. That was Herod. And when Herod was agitated, everyone was agitated. When he was mad, everyone was afraid of what would happen next. So, Herod called in the leading priests and teachers of religious law, men who had committed themselves to studying Scripture. Without missing a beat, they went right to Micah 5:2: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah.Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf” (NLT). These scholars had steeped themselves in the writings of the prophets. They understood how to interpret the words of Micah. They knew that the Messiah, when He came, would be born in Bethlehem. But that information was academic to them. It hadn’t penetrated their hearts and souls to the point that they could recognize the signs of the Messiah’s arrival. So, they weren’t searching for the Savior. God, in His infinite and mysterious wisdom, used wise men from eastern lands to announce the arrival of Jesus the King of the Jews to Herod the king of the Jews and his Jewish experts. The wise men were pagans who were steeped in the occult. Yet God reached them in a way that they understood. He came to them by a star. The end of their search, as recorded in Matthew 2:9–12, has implications for everyone who seeks answers or meaning or purpose or assurance or direction or anything else. The Lord says that those who seek Him will find Him. “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8 NLT). He doesn’t offer details because the discovery process is different for everyone. To educated men and women, He will come in a way they can understand. And to little children, He will appear in a way they can understand. I believe that if people are truly seeking God, He will reveal Himself to them. Reflection question: How can you help people find the Lord? 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.

"For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross." —Colossians 1:19–20 One sobering way to prepare for Christmas is to remember that our spiritual enemy doesn’t take the holidays off. The apostle Peter wrote, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 NLT). Christmas is a season of giving, a season of hope, and a season of joy. But by its very nature, it’s also a season of spiritual battle—and has been ever since the need for Christ’s coming first arose. The war has been won. Jesus defeated sin and death once and for all. He paid the sacrifice for our sin once and for all. Red is the color of Christmas—not because Santa suits are red or because we wrap packages in red. Red is the color of Christmas because of the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed. By the shedding of His blood, He made eternal life possible for everyone who believes in Him. Though the devil has been defeated, he refuses to give up the battle. We see that battle being played out in our culture today. It is the God of the Bible, the true and living God, versus all contenders. This battle goes back to the first Messianic verse in Scripture when, after the serpent tempted Adam and Eve to sin, God said to him, “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15 NLT). The cradle of Christ was pointing to the cross. The Incarnation was necessary for atonement. The purpose behind the birth of Jesus was the death of Jesus. This is New Testament Christianity. It’s the division between light and darkness, between righteousness and unrighteousness, between good and evil, and between right and wrong. Here’s something else to ponder this Christmas season: It’s through conflict that we find real peace. Those who challenge us as believers do so for reasons that have little to do with us. Christ’s arrival in the world changed everything. His light illuminated the darkness. But some people prefer the dark. They don’t want their sins to be known. So, when they see people who live in the light, it creates conflict within them—conflict that spills out in their reaction to us. But we can trust that through this conflict, ultimate unity will come. Our responsibility is to hold our ground and pray. Pray that these people will think about their souls, consider the claims of Christ, and then ultimately turn their lives over to the Lord. What a Christmas gift that would be. — 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.

“But the angel reassured them. ‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.’” (Luke 2:10–12 NLT) As we prepare our hearts for Christmas, we need to recognize that the season inspires different feelings in different people—and that not all those feelings are pleasant. That was certainly true of the very first Christmas. When the angel delivered his heavenly announcement to the shepherds, he started with the words, “Don’t be afraid!” But the shepherds, along with all of Israel, lived in frightening times. They were under the reign of King Herod, who was a murderous tyrant. Their land was under Roman occupation. There was a pervasive dread about the future. Would Rome ever leave? Would the people of Israel ever be free? Would the Messiah ever come? And when the good news finally came, that the long-awaited Messiah had arrived, it was delivered by an angel: first one, and then a vast host of others. The angel’s greeting of “Don’t be afraid!” was easier said than done, even though it was followed by “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people” (Luke 2:10 NLT). Angels are awe-inspiring—and fear-inspiring—beings. Obviously, the shepherds had never seen anything like them. So, their first reaction was fear. But the angels wanted them to focus on their message and not their appearance. Christmas is cause for joy, not fear. Joy not just for a single day, but for a lifetime, for those who trust in the One who came to save us. The apostle Paul wrote, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4 NLT). Many people today find it difficult to have joy because we’re surrounded by such sadness. With all the conflict, tragedies, and problems in the world, how can we have good tidings of great joy? The answer is this: “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:11 NLT). No matter what happens in life, remember this: You have a Savior. As a Christian, you have been saved from death. You have been saved from eternal punishment and Hell. You have the hope that when you die, you’ll go straight to Heaven. That’s the most important thing about the Christian life. There is a Heaven waiting for you. The fear, sadness, and pain of this world are temporary. Three decades after His birth in the manger, Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NLT). Reflection question: How can you find joy when you’re surrounded by sadness, anger, and disillusionment? 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.

“That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified.” (Luke 2:8–9 NLT) One way to prepare for Christmas is to reflect on the news of Jesus’ coming. What did it mean to the people who first received it? What does it mean to us? We can start by considering the first people to receive the Good News—and why God chose them to be the first recipients. If it had been up to me, I would have dispatched an angel to the court of Caesar Augustus with a carefully worded message. “You call yourself the savior of the world, Caesar? Well, now you’ve been exposed as a fraud. The real Savior of the world has just been born! And His kingdom will make your empire pale in comparison!” Another option would have been to send an angel to the Jewish high priest, scribes, and scholars to announce the news that their long-awaited Messiah had come—and that He was nothing like they thought He would be. Instead, God chose to deliver His message to shepherds who were “staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep” (Luke 2:8 nlt). To be a shepherd in that culture was to be at the bottom of the social ladder. Shepherds were despised—so much so that the testimony of a shepherd wasn’t allowed in a court of law. Shepherds basically did the work that no one else wanted to do. They had dirt under their fingernails. They were hardworking. And they probably felt right at home when they learned that this baby was born in lowly circumstances. They would have related to this. God was speaking their language. This became the modus operandi of Christ throughout His ministry. He went to the outcasts, to the hurting, to the ordinary people. He went to people like the woman at the well who had been ostracized because of her multiple marriages and divorces. He went to people like the tax collector Zacchaeus who was perceived by his fellow Jews as a traitor. Our Lord always had time for people like that. Jesus was well aware of His reputation for siding with people whom others rejected. He said, “The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it” (Luke 7:34–35 NLT). The Lord’s compassion for outcasts began with the shepherds and extended to the criminal who was crucified next to Him. But it didn’t stop there. It continues through us. Proverbs 19:17 says, “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!” (NLT). We can prepare for Christmas by reaching out to people in need, by noticing those who slip through the cracks, and by loving those who are hard to love. In other words, by doing what Jesus would do. Reflection question: What would welcoming outcasts and people in need look like 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.

This Giving Tuesday, help us meet the spiritual moment! Give now. “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT) One way to prepare our hearts for Christmas and foster a spirit of genuine gratitude is to consider what Jesus laid aside, for our sake, when He came to earth. His is not a rags-to-riches story; it’s a riches-to-rags story. The apostle Paul wrote, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT). We may not be able to wrap our minds around the glory of Heaven. But we can imagine the pure joy of being in God’s presence. We can guess at what it’s like to be worshipped nonstop by adoring angels. Yet Jesus set those things aside to squeeze His infinite presence into a container of flesh and make Himself vulnerable to the people He created. Let’s also consider the existence that Jesus embraced when He came. He could have been born in the most elegant mansion on the ritziest boulevard in Rome. He could have had aristocratic parents who boasted of their pedigree. He could have had the finest clothes from the most exclusive shops. He could have had legions of servants to respond to His every whim. But He chose none of that. Instead, Jesus humbled Himself. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT). God came into our world—not as an all-powerful deity, but as a baby, born to humble parents in a humble setting. The Creator of the universe was born in a stable in Bethlehem. Like many other aspects of the Christmas story, we have romanticized the environment of Jesus’ birth. We decorate our homes with nativity sets that make the scene seem cozy, comfortable, and heartwarming. We see the baby Jesus surrounded not only by His loving parents but also by His shepherd friends, His wise men friends, and His animal friends. But in sanitizing the circumstances of Jesus’ birth, we lose the raw, powerful meaning behind them. The stable or barn (or maybe even cave) where Christ was born was cold and damp. It also would have smelled. God incarnate was born on a dirt floor used by animals. Our Savior came not as a monarch draped in gold and silk, but as a baby wrapped in rags. Jesus went from being a sovereign to a servant. He went from the glory of God to a stable filled with animals. It has been said that history swings on the hinge of the door of a stable in Bethlehem. As you prepare for Christmas, think about what Jesus left behind to dwell among us. Jesus took His place in a manger so that we might have a home in Heaven. Reflection question: How can we, as Jesus’ followers, humble ourselves for His sake? 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.

“The Lord God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden he placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9 NLT) “Let every heart prepare Him room.” These lyrics from “Joy to the World” remind us to embrace the fullness of the Christmas season. To be proactive in getting ourselves ready for the blessings and opportunities that are unique to this time of year. A good way to start preparing our hearts is to widen our focus from the familiar narrative of Luke 2 to the bigger story that starts in Genesis 3. There, we find a tree. Not a Christmas tree with brightly colored lights and ornaments, but the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden. After God created Adam and Eve and placed them in a literal paradise, He gave them one restriction: Don’t eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. You know how the story unfolds after that. The serpent tempted Eve. Eve ate the forbidden fruit. She gave the fruit to Adam. He ate it, too. They disobeyed God and lost their perfect fellowship with Him. In Genesis 3:15, we find the first Christmas verse in the Bible. God said to the serpent, “And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel” (NLT). Sin created a gulf between humankind and God—one that we can do nothing to bridge. Our only hope is a Savior, One sent by God who would live a sinless life, sacrifice Himself to pay the price for our sin, and then conquer death so that we might live forever. This is God’s plan of salvation. Yet just as our enemy interfered with God’s original plan, he also does everything he can to keep people from coming to salvation. That’s where the hostility of Genesis 3:15 comes in. The devil knew that a Messiah would come. He did everything in his power to stop it from taking place. Yet his power was a drop in a bucket compared to that of the Messiah who came. Before there was a world, before there were planets, before there was light and darkness, before there was matter, before there was anything but the Godhead, there was Jesus—coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with the Father and Holy Spirit. He was with God. He was God. Jesus Christ became human without ceasing to be God. He did not become identical to us, but He became identified with us. The birth that we celebrate this season is that of God Himself, who came to this earth to live among us. To conquer sin and death. To show us how to live. To give His life so that we might live forever. Reflection question: What difference does it make, in your life and in your prayers, that Jesus knows what it’s like to be human? 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.

“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT) God loves you. Those words are so simple and so familiar that they might be mistaken for a cliché if they weren’t also so profound. The fact that God loves you gives you immeasurable worth. It also gives you context for your entire life. Nothing in this world, good or bad, can begin to compare to God’s love for you. No grief or trouble can overwhelm you because God loves you too much to let it happen. No difficult circumstance can defeat you because God loves you. No struggles are too difficult for you because God loves you. So, when grief, trouble, difficult circumstances, or struggles come, you can put them in perspective by remembering and being thankful for God’s love for you. The apostle Paul wrote, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18 NLT). God’s love lasts forever. Paul also wrote, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38 NLT). Because God loves you, He is always looking for your eternal benefit. God is wiser than you are. So, if He tells you to do something or not to do something, He does so for good reason. The devil doesn’t want you to believe that. He will whisper in your ear, “God hates you. God wants to ruin your life. All those rules in the Bible are just there to make life miserable. You Christians serve an oppressive God who doesn’t want you to have any fun.” What a bunch of nonsense. I’ve lived apart from Christ. I’ve had the so-called fun this world has to offer, and it wasn’t fun at all. I’ve also found that a life with Christ is a life of fulfillment and purpose. Let us never lose our spirit of thankfulness for the fact that God loves us and is always looking out for our eternal benefit, even if what we’re presently going through is difficult. Reflection question: How can you keep the devil from interfering with your relationship with the Lord? 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.

“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) Of the many beautiful psalms David wrote, one of my favorites is Psalm 63: “Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy” (verses 3–5 NLT). These are obviously the words of someone enjoying the best day of his life, with not a trouble or care in sight. Except they aren’t. David wrote the words of Psalm 63 while he was in exile. He was running for his life from his own son, Absalom. Absalom had led a rebellion against him and was trying to take David’s throne. David’s kingdom and family were crumbling. Not only that, but David was also an elderly man by this time. He was in extreme anguish and personal pain. How, then, was he able to write such sincere words of praise and gratitude to God? David understood that a spirit of thankfulness doesn’t depend on circumstances. We can and should be thankful in all seasons of life. The truth is, we can’t fully understand what good times are and what bad times are—not on this side of Heaven anyway. We may know how certain circumstances make us feel, but our feelings don’t always tell the whole story. For example, when we’re younger, we convince ourselves that success is always good and hardship is always bad. And our feelings react accordingly. As we get older and develop more maturity, however, we realize that success can be bad for some people and hardship can be good for others. We begin to look at things differently. Some of the things we thought were really good turn out to be bad. And some of the things that we thought were bad turn out to be really good. Through it all, we can and should be thankful to God. Because though our circumstances may change, and though our feelings toward those circumstances may change, God never does. He stays committed to His promises to us. According to Romans 8:28, the Lord can take all things, bad or good, and work them “together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (NLT). So there’s always something to be thankful for. What are your circumstances right now? If you’re enjoying God’s obvious blessings or if you’ve received a long-awaited answer to prayer or if you and your loved ones are in a good place, you have reason to give thanks. On the other hand, if you’re struggling or if a prayer hasn’t been answered yet or if you’re concerned about your loved ones’ well-being, you also have reason to give thanks. Because the Lord will work all things together for good. Reflection question: How can you maintain a spirit of praise and thankfulness even when circumstances are less than good? 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.

“Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness.” (Psalm 145:4–7 NLT) It seems as though merchants today don’t really know what to do with this holiday called Thanksgiving. When it comes to other observances, such as the Fourth of July and Halloween, they make a lot of money from their marketing efforts. And, of course, Christmas is a financial windfall. But Thanksgiving? Aside from selling more turkeys and cranberry dressing than they normally do, there’s nothing that makes the holiday especially important from a retailer’s perspective. Merchants have had more than 160 years to get it right. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln designated November 26 as a day of national Thanksgiving. Our nation celebrated it annually on that day until 1942, when President Franklin Roosevelt designated Thanksgiving as the fourth Thursday in November. And that’s just the official government designation. The celebration of Thanksgiving on this continent stretches back at least another 250-plus years to 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia. And just so we aren’t fuzzy about which God we should give thanks to, this is what the pilgrims wrote in the Mayflower Compact in 1620: “We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign lord King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith, and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia. . . .” They were not just coming to our fair shores to simply bring European civilization; they were coming to bring the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s very easy during our feasting to forget about the One whom we are celebrating. Yet His goodness is what makes it possible for us to celebrate. The Bible writers celebrated God’s goodness. First Chronicles 16:34 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever” (NLT). And Psalm 145:4–7 says, “Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness” (NLT). The primary reason we are put on this earth is to glorify God and to give Him thanks. The Bible doesn’t say to give thanks to the Lord because we feel good. Rather, it says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever!” (1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT). We give thanks to God because He is worthy of our praise. God makes it easy for us by giving us so much to be thankful for. Reflection question: What will you praise God for on this Thanksgiving Day? 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.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT) God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Think of the time when a giant Philistine was taunting the armies of Israel. Everyone was paralyzed with fear. So, whom did God select? He chose a shepherd boy who had been sent by his father to take food to his brothers on the front lines. This young shepherd went out to face the heavily armored giant with a few stones and a sling—and more importantly, with faith in God. David was the person God used to turn the tide of battle and give Israel victory. At another time in Israel’s history, when the people were immobilized by fear because of their enemies, God found a man threshing wheat. His name was Gideon, and he was convinced that God had called up the wrong guy. But God selected him because he didn’t trust in his own ability. Gideon had to trust in God. He, too, won an unlikely victory for his people. In 1 Samuel 16:7, we read these words: “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (NLT). It’s a simple yet extremely effective strategy. If God were to choose the people we would expect—the strong, the powerful, the talented, the ones who look like they just walked out of central casting for a spiritual hero role—to accomplish His work, our focus would be on them. Instead, God favors the small, the humble, the unlikely, so that we can more clearly see His hand at work. After God refused to remove a physical affliction from the apostle Paul, Paul wrote, “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10 NLT). If you have faith in God, if you believe that He can use you, and if you’re willing to take a step of faith here and there, then God can do incredible things through you. He is not looking for ability but availability. He can give you ability in time. But God is looking for someone to say, “I would like to make a difference where I am. Lord, I am available.” And in this season of thanksgiving, let’s praise God not only for using ordinary people like us to accomplish extraordinary things but also for making us aware of the potential we possess through Him. Reflection question: What can God accomplish through 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.

“Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.” (Romans 1:21 NLT) A man was nailing down a loose shingle on his roof when he lost his footing and began to slip. Working three stories above ground, he was terrified at the thought of falling to his death. He shouted, “God, help me! I’m falling! Do something!” Just as he came to the edge of the roof, his belt loop caught on a nail and stopped him long enough for him to grab hold of the roof and pull himself to safety. He shouted, “Never mind, God! The nail stopped my fall.” How many times have we been guilty of the same kind of obliviousness in our own prayers? We cry out to God in a moment of distress. He answers our cry by working through the situation to relieve our distress. Then we say, “Never mind, God! Everything worked out by itself.” A better solution is to examine our circumstances to see where God intervened so that we can give Him the praise and gratitude He deserves. The apostle Paul wrote, “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). We can’t always see the work He does, but we can be certain that when things work together for the good, it’s because God orchestrated it. So, we need to put as much zeal into thanking God for what He’s done as we put into pleading with God when we’re in need. I heard about a hospital chaplain who kept a record of some two thousand patients whom he had visited, all of whom were in grave condition and showed signs of repentance. Among those restored to health, he felt that only two showed a marked change in their spiritual lives after their recovery. In other words, when these people thought they were dying, they repented. But when they recovered, they forgot about God. Paul warned what happens when people fall into this trap: “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused” (Romans 1:21 NLT). Is it possible to have a genuine relationship when one person constantly asks something of the other but never offers a word of thanks in return? The more thankful we are toward God, the deeper we can grow in our relationship with Him. So, in this holiday season, let’s cling to the words of Psalm 100:4–5: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation” (NLT). Reflection question: How can you be proactive in giving thanks 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.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV) We have so much to be thankful for, it can be difficult to know where to start offering our praise and gratitude to our heavenly Father. Certainly, we all have stories of how God came through for us during a major crisis in our life. But there are countless “minor” blessings that we enjoy every day that shouldn’t go unnoticed—or unmentioned in our prayers of thankfulness. In her remarkable book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsie were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbrück, where they lived in barracks that were plagued by fleas. Fleas were everywhere—in their beds, in their clothes, in their hair, and on their bodies. One day Betsie told Corrie that they needed to give thanks for the fleas. Corrie thought Betsie had gone too far. She couldn’t imagine thanking God for fleas. But Betsie insisted, reminding her sister that the Bible says, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV). Still, Corrie didn’t want to thank God for the fleas. But as it turned out, Corrie and Betsie were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel. They had been holding Bible studies, which was forbidden in the camp. They found out later that because of the fleas, the guards would not go into their barracks. That allowed the sisters to hold their Bible studies with no fear of being discovered. As a result, they had the freedom to minister to their fellow prisoners. One obvious takeaway from this story is that God can use even fleas to accomplish His work. A less obvious takeaway is that we should do a major expansion of our concept of things to give thanks for. If the Bible said, “In some things give thanks,” I would say, “No problem there!” But it says, “In every thing give thanks.” And that’s not an easy thing to do. We’re conditioned to say thank you for things that obviously benefit us. We treat gratitude as part of a transaction. You do something nice for me, and I say something nice to you. But that’s not what God is looking for. That’s not what the apostle Paul is saying in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. God wants us to maintain a spirit of thankfulness that isn’t dimmed when things don’t go our way. He wants us to recognize the endless supply of things we can and should be grateful for. The verse doesn’t say we should give thanks for every thing; it says we should give thanks in every thing. We don’t have to be glad or thankful that tragedies occur. But we can be thankful that, in spite of the tragedy, God is still on the throne, and He is still in control of all circumstances that surround our lives. Reflection question: What common, daily blessings are you thankful for? 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.

“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.