Podcasts about daily devotion

“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! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:19–20 NLT) One of the great blessings of being a Christian is that God gives us second chances. He knows that we’re not perfect. He knows that we’re prone to giving in to temptation, allowing our emotions to get the better of us, and acting in ways that cause people to question our commitment to Christ. Even so, He gives us the opportunity to put our sin behind us—even when we’ve failed miserably. God allows us to turn things around dramatically and start anew. But when it comes to second chances, we have a choice in the matter as well. God stands willing to forgive, but we must approach Him. So when we sin, we have two ways to address it. We can confess it to God, ask His forgiveness, turn away from it, and experience the joy of His forgiveness. Or we can try to conceal our sin, refuse to admit guilt, and experience the consequences and repercussions of our wrongdoing. In the book of Deuteronomy, God posed a challenge to His people. He said, “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! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life” (30:19–20 NLT). It’s amazing that some of those people, after hearing God’s challenge, consciously chose death. And it’s even more amazing that people today still choose death. You see, choosing death is essentially what we do when we choose to go against God and His Word. Jesus said of His followers, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). That’s the life you chose when you received Jesus as Savior and Lord. But the key to enjoying a rich and satisfying life is obedience. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 28:13, “People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy” (NLT). You can’t cover your sin. You can’t run from it. There is only one way to get rid of your sin and obtain true life. It’s at the cross of Jesus Christ. The choice is yours. Choose life. Reflection question: What would turning from a specific sin 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.

Today's devotion is written by Susanna Spencer.

“O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 NLT) A Sunday school teacher gave the kids in her class an assignment to write down any questions they had for God. Here are some of the questions, comments, and suggestions they came up with: Dear God, did You mean for the giraffe to look like that, or was it an accident? Dear God, I like the Lord’s Prayer best of all. Did You have to write it a lot, or did You get it right the first time? I have to write everything over and over again. Dear God, thank You for my baby brother You gave to us, but what I prayed for was a puppy. Dear God, how come You haven’t invented any new animals lately? We still have just the old ones. Dear God, I bet it is very hard for You to love everybody in the whole world. There are only four people in my family, and I just can’t do it. Dear God, in school we read that Thomas Edison made light, but in Sunday school, they said that You made it. I bet he stole Your idea. If you’re new to the Christian faith, you may have your own questions, comments, or suggestions for God. (And if you’ve been a Christian for most of your life, you probably still have questions, comments, or suggestions for God.) The questions may be tough. They may seem impolite. They may suggest a lack of faith on your part. Ask them anyway. That’s what the psalmists did. Look at Psalm 10:1 above. Those pointed questions are heartfelt cries. And God responds to our heartfelt cries—not with anger or punishment for questioning Him, but with compassion and understanding. He gives us wisdom and peace. He opens our eyes to spiritual truths we can’t see on our own. Few people in Scripture were closer to God than David, the shepherd who killed Goliath and later became king of Israel. First Samuel 13:14 describes David as “a man after God’s own heart.” Yet look what he wrote in Psalm 13:1–2: “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?” (NLT). He poured out his soul to God because he knew God would see his questions for what they were: genuine attempts to understand God and His will. The apostle James offered this advice: “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5–6 NLT). God welcomes your questions because the more answers you receive, the stronger your faith will grow. Reflection question: What questions would you like to ask God? 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's devotion is written by Blythe Fike.

“Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.” (Ephesians 1:11 NLT) When I was growing up, I moved a lot because my mom was married and divorced seven times. We lived all over the country. Because I was always switching schools, more people knew me by the title “new kid” than by my name. I can’t remember how many times I had to stand in front of a class of kids who all knew each other while the teacher introduced me. Few things are as humiliating and lonely as being put on display for everyone to inspect and judge. In high school, because I wasn’t the most athletically inclined kid, I was often the last person chosen for a team. “Who wants Laurie?” “I don’t want him; you take him.” I would get picked for first base—not to play first base, but to be first base, you see. I’m not telling you this so that you’ll feel sorry for me. I’m just pointing out that I know what it’s like to be isolated from others. I’ve felt the sting of not belonging or not being wanted. Maybe you’ve felt it, too. If you’ve recently made a decision to follow Christ, you may be feeling isolated and alone now. The apostle Paul wrote, “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). That’s an amazing promise, but if the old life is all you know, you may be feeling like a new kid in front of the class. If so, there are a few things you need to know. First, you are very much wanted. As Paul makes clear in Ephesians 1:11 above, God has chosen you. He wants you on His team. Second, not only has God chosen you, but He also cares about your well-being. Psalm 33:18 says, “But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love” (NLT). Third, God will bring spiritual allies, friends, and mentors into your orbit. Hebrews 10:24–25 says, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (NLT). This is fellowship, one of God’s awesome gifts. Fellowship is much more than superficial conversations on Sunday mornings. God intends for believers to live in community with one another. That means investing yourself in the lives of others and allowing others to invest themselves in your life. Fellowship involves serving together, worshiping together, encouraging one another, challenging one another, holding one another accountable, and embracing your responsibilities to one another. Whether you’re celebrating, mourning, or simply enduring, you need never face a season of life alone. God makes sure of that. Reflection question: How can you become a spiritual ally to a fellow believer? 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's devotion is written by Mary Peach.

Welcome to the Podcast! Please make SURE to SHARE this podcast with your friends and family! Also, please sign up for the Daily Devotion with Joe to get tips, clips, and more tools to help you build a strong marriage, family, and life using God's Word. Click to JOIN THE FAMILY.

“But the Lord said to her, ‘My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.’” (Luke 10:41–42 NLT) If your aim is to experience genuine revival in your spiritual life, in addition to being an ambassador for Christ and a neighbor like Christ, you must also be a worshiper of Christ. That’s the third ministry role found in Luke 10. Some believers make the mistake of allowing their work for God to overshadow their worship of God. They convince themselves that what they say or do is indispensable to God’s kingdom. That their ministry is vital to the success of the Christian faith. That God needs them. Newsflash: God doesn’t need us. Another newsflash: Everything that believers do must emanate from our worship of God. Worship is the source of our power and effectiveness, so it must be our top priority. If it isn’t, we will not burn bright for Christ. We won’t feel a sense of revival. Instead, we’ll find ourselves burning out. We can’t give out what we don’t possess. We can’t take people any further than we’ve gone ourselves. We see this principle played out in the story of Jesus’ visit to the house of his friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Luke 10. Storm clouds were looming large in the life of the Lord. In fact, He was on His way to Jerusalem to be crucified. Before that happened, He wanted to talk about the coming changes with His friends. This was an important evening. Martha’s instinct was to prepare a good meal for Jesus—to stay busy doing things for Him. Mary, on the other hand, “sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught” (Luke 10:39 NLT). Martha saw obligation; Mary saw opportunity. The Creator of the universe, in human form, was sitting in her house, revealing life-changing spiritual truths. As far as Mary was concerned, washing dishes and setting the table could wait. Her priority was to spend as much time as possible in Jesus’ presence. Martha grew annoyed with Mary for not joining her in her busy work. She took her complaint to Jesus. “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me” (verse 40 NLT). Jesus helped her see where her priorities were out of order. “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her” (verses 41–42 NLT). There’s a time for work and a time for worship. Martha’s mistake was offering activity instead of adoration, perspiration instead of inspiration, and work instead of worship. She didn’t realize that Jesus preferred her company over her service in that situation. He wanted her fellowship and companionship more than He wanted a meal. There are countless ways to serve Jesus, but our worship must come first. That’s where our spiritual power and energy come from. That’s where revival begins. What we do with Christ is far more important than what we do for Christ. Reflection question: What can you do to revitalize your Christian worship? 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.

Welcome to the real beauty blueprint: less filler, less Botox, more nourishment, more mitochondria, more bioenergetics, more cellular energy (and even glucose!). If your skin is dull, your face feels puffy, your energy is low, and your beauty routine isn't working — this episode will blow your mind. Holistic nutritionists Sarah Murphy and Nelly Labovitz join Louise for the ultimate girl talk on how your skin, face, and glow are actually a direct reflection of your nervous system, hormones, and energy production — and how mitochondria, minerals, blood sugar, fascia, and food are all at the root of your radiance. They dive into why carbs are not the enemy, how to eat morning, noon, and night for an internal glow, the top foods for collagen, energy, and true beauty — and why stress, trauma, and hormonal imbalance show up on your face (and exactly what to do about it) - plus so much more. This is the bioenergetics of beauty and skin from within.  Did you enjoy this episode? DM me!

“‘Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?’ Jesus asked. The man replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same.’” (Luke 10:36–37 NLT) *Enjoying Pastor Greg's devotional podcast? Let us know what you think with this quick survey!* In our last devotion, we looked at one role of ministry that’s key to personal revival: being an ambassador for Christ. Today, we’re going to look at a second role of ministry, also from Luke 10: being a neighbor like Jesus. The great evangelist D. L. Moody once attended a conference on reaching the lost world. Soon, however, he grew frustrated with the proceedings because nothing was being accomplished. None of the attendees had come up with any viable strategies for reaching the lost. Moody, a man of action, decided to make a point. He instructed his song leader, Ira Sankey, to meet him at a certain street corner at 6 PM. At the appointed time, Moody placed a little box on the sidewalk and said to Sankey, “Get up there and start singing.” Sankey had an incredible voice, and soon a crowd gathered to listen to him. When he finished, Moody preached for a few moments. Then he said to the crowd, “I want you to go with me down to the civic auditorium, and I am going to tell you more.” The civic auditorium was where the conference was being held. The conference attendees had left for dinner. Moody led the crowd into the auditorium and started preaching. The place was full. When the attendees returned, Moody stopped preaching and said, “We have to close our meeting because our brothers are here at the conference to talk about how to reach the masses. So let’s all go.” He made his point. You guys can talk about it all day long, but this is how you do it. Moody’s emphasis on “doing” echoed Jesus’ message in the parable of the good Samaritan in Luke 10. In the parable, a Jewish man is robbed, beaten, and left for dead beside a road. Three travelers encounter the severely injured man. The first is a priest, probably coming from the temple. The second is a temple assistant. Both are well-respected in the religious community. Neither lift a finger to help. The third man is a Samaritan. In Jesus’ day, Jewish people hated Samaritans. They considered Samaritans to be a racially impure and inferior people. Yet it’s the Samaritan who stops to help the man. Not just to offer his thoughts and prayers, but to tend to his wounds, transport him to a nearby inn, and pay for weeks of care. Jesus concluded the parable with a pointed question: “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” (Luke 10:36 NLT). The answer is obvious, of course, but the lesson is lost on many people today. Being a neighbor like Jesus has nothing to do with geographic or social common ground. It has everything to do with getting involved in the lives of other people, meeting their needs, and showing them grace and mercy. Being a neighbor like Jesus means sacrificing our time, energy, and financial resources for the sake of others. Your neighborhood is as large as you choose to make it. Reflection question: What would being a neighbor like Jesus 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.

Today's devotion is written by Liz Kelly Stanchina.

-Texas tragedy -Trump signs his big bill -Mixed messages on migrant farm workers -Trump is sending more weapons to Ukraine - Guest:Greg Clugston Why and How to Begin Scripture Writing Guest: Rebekah Matt … GUEST Kathy Keller ... formerly served as assistant director of communications for Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC ... She is the author of "Jesus, Justice, & Gender Roles: A Case for Gender Roles in Ministry" and co-author with her husband, Tim, of "The Meaning of Marriage: Facing the Complexities of Commitment with the Wisdom of God," "God's Wisdom for Navigating Life: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs," "The Songs of Jesus: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Psalms"See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. These were his instructions to them: ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’” (Luke 10:1–2 NLT) *Enjoying Pastor Greg's devotional podcast? Let us know what you think with this quick survey!* A spiritual revival often begins with a sense of dissatisfaction, a realization that something is missing in your life. Have you experienced that? Maybe you’ve wondered what to do with your life. Maybe you’re middle-aged or getting on a little bit in years. You’re looking at the course that your life is taking and asking, “Is this really where I want to go?” Maybe you’ve reached some of the goals you set for yourself. You’ve had a certain level of success, but still feel like your life is lacking some meaning and purpose. Maybe you’re a young person asking, “What am I going to do? What should I be spending my life on?” None of us wants to squander our lives in pursuit of nothing. We want to find purpose and meaning. We want to pursue something noble. But what does that mean? And how should that pursuit impact the way we live our lives? In terms of revival, we might ask how we can tap into something deeper, more vibrant in our Christian faith. The answers to these questions are found in Luke 10, which highlights three roles that every follower of Jesus Christ should fill. In today’s devotion, we’ll look at the first role: ambassador. Believers must be ambassadors for Christ. We must represent Him and His message to the world. We must live in a way that reflects Him so that when people look at us, they see Him. In Luke 10, we find Jesus at a crucial point in His life and ministry. His time in Galilee had come to an end, and He was beginning the slow journey to Jerusalem that would culminate in His crucifixion. To prepare the way, He selected 72 disciples to go ahead of Him to the areas He would be visiting. This was a critical opportunity, and He wanted His disciples to make the most of it. If you’ve made the decision to follow Jesus, you have critical opportunities, too. Opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus. Opportunities to talk about your own journey to faith. Opportunities to introduce others to the life-changing wisdom of God’s Word. You have no way of knowing where and when you’ll find “open doors”— people who are especially receptive to your message because of the circumstances of their lives. But you need to understand that open doors may not stay that way for long. You must be prepared to seize every opportunity. That’s what it means to be an ambassador for Christ. Look at Luke 10:2 again. Jesus didn’t say He needed spectators or critics; He said He needed workers, people willing to step out of their comfort zones and risk rejection for something infinitely more important than comfort and acceptance. Your work as an ambassador won’t go unnoticed. Proverbs 11:25 says, “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed” (NLT). That’s how personal revival works. Reflection question: What would being an ambassador for Christ 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.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “All Over Me” from the recording, "Giant Killer: A Heart Like David." That mp3 is available at https://www.dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=24&p=501 You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up!

Today's devotion is written by Christy Isinger.

We are pressing pause on "Little Things" this month to give our staff a much-needed rest. In the meantime, we're introducing you to "Taboo Talk," a monthly podcast conversation from Amber and Pastor Mike from his podcast "Taboo Questions With Pastor Mike Novotny." They talk about topics many Christians don't want to talk about. We hope you enjoy these conversations. Pastor Mike and Amber tackle the sometimes uncomfortable dynamics between Christians and non-Christians. They discuss the balance of engaging with the world while remaining true to your faith. Through personal stories (Who were some of Amber's favorit 90s bands? Why did Pastor Mike smash his CD collection?) and biblical insights, they discuss the importance of being in the world and not of it, understanding how influences shape beliefs, and fostering authentic relationships without judgment. The conversation encourages you to be present in the world, embodying Christ's love and truth, while grappling with the complexities of faith in everyday life.Want to hear more taboo topics? Search for "Taboo Questions With Pastor Mike Novotny" wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.Amber wants to hear from you! If you have feedback or ideas, drop her a line at amber@timeofgrace.org

Send us a textJoin us each week as Dawn shares uplifting messages of faith, hope, and encouragement straight from God's Word. Whether you're new to the Bible or looking to deepen your walk with Christ, this faith-based podcast offers a peaceful space to grow spiritually and reflect on God's truth.Each episode features scripture-based devotionals, heartfelt prayers, and honest conversations designed to inspire and strengthen your daily life.

“Then he told John’s disciples, ‘Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.’ And he added, ‘God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.’” (Luke 7:22–23 NLT) *Enjoying Pastor Greg's devotional podcast? Let us know what you think with this quick survey!* John the Baptist was a forerunner of Jesus. He prepared people for Jesus’ arrival. He also confronted Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for his immorality. That landed John in prison, where he began to struggle with his faith. Specifically, John began to doubt who Jesus was. Like many people of that time, John probably thought Jesus, the Messiah, was going to overthrow the Roman government and establish His kingdom immediately. When no such thing happened, John’s doubt got the better of him. He sent a message to Jesus, asking, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (Luke 7:20 NLT). John’s faith didn’t falter because God had failed him. He doubted because he failed to understand God’s purpose and plan. Many believers today struggle for the same reason. Our faith falters not because God has been inconsistent or unfaithful, or because God has broken His promises. We experience lapses of faith because we have a false perception of what God is supposed to accomplish. Our expectations of Him are built on misconceptions and misguided thinking. We offer our prayers to Him and expect Him to answer with exact precision. And when God doesn’t come through like we asked Him to, we—like John—may start to doubt who God is. This is especially true if you’re experiencing—or want to experience—a rejuvenation in your relationship with Christ. If the devil starts to see spiritual embers catching fire in your life, he will do his best to extinguish them. One of his most effective strategies is to throw the cold water of doubt on them. John the Baptist made a spiritual mistake by not fully recognizing or understanding God’s will. But even in the depths of his doubt, he did something very, very wise: He looked to Jesus for an answer. He didn’t try to sugarcoat his struggle. He asked Jesus point-blank, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (Luke 7:20 NLT). Look closely at Jesus’ reply in Luke 7:22–23 above. He wasn’t offended by John’s question. He didn’t condemn John for his lapse in faith. And He didn’t say, “Just believe—or else!” Instead, He pointed to verifiable evidence: “The blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life” (Luke 7:22 NLT). Jesus didn’t give John a reprimand for his doubt; He gave him the hope and assurance he needed. If you struggle with a lapse of faith as John the Baptist did, don’t despair. Rethink your expectations. Take your doubts straight to Jesus. Ask Him to help you understand His purpose and His plan. When you open your heart to His truth, you’ll find that it far exceeds your greatest hopes and dreams. Reflection question: In what areas and in what situations are you most vulnerable to spiritual doubts? 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's devotion is written by Susanna Spencer.

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (Romans 5:1–2 NLT) *Enjoying Pastor Greg's devotional podcast? Let us know what you think with this quick survey!* When we come to Christ, He not only forgives us of our sin, but He also justifies us. The apostle Paul explained justification in his letter to the Romans: “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us” (Romans 5:1 NLT). Salvation has to do with what takes place in believers’ hearts, but justification has to do with our standing before God. In salvation, God gives us new life, but justification goes beyond that. When God justifies us, He declares us righteous in His sight. “Just-as-if-I’d never sinned” is one way the word justified has been explained. God not only forgives us, but He sees us as if we had never sinned. He removes our sin, and in its position, He places the perfect righteousness of Christ. That’s a difficult concept for a lot of people to grasp. Our human instinct is to remember those who wronged us. We elevate holding grudges to an art form. We like to throw around phrases like, “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” The Bible makes it clear, though, that God has a different way of looking at things. As far as He’s concerned, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross—the blood He shed there—covers our sins. The apostle John put it this way: “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7 NLT). The author of Hebrews wrote, “For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness” (Hebrews 9:22 NLT). And the apostle Paul wrote, “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them” (Romans 4:7–8 NIV). When God looks at believers, He doesn’t see people who have failed Him time and time again. Instead, He sees His Son. And He made His feelings about His Son quite clear in Matthew 3:17: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (NIV). Sometimes we allow our sins to linger in our consciousness long after they’ve been forgiven. They live rent-free in our heads, messing with our self-esteem. In extreme cases, they can play havoc with our spiritual and emotional health. That’s why it’s important to see ourselves as God sees us. Imagine that your checking account is overdrawn, and you owe your bank thousands of dollars. Not knowing what else to do, you go to the ATM, enter your PIN, and discover that you have a balance of five million dollars. Best of all, it’s a legitimate transaction! You did nothing to earn it, but the windfall is yours. God has done something much more meaningful for those who believe in Christ. He has given us righteousness. He has made us justified. Reflection question: How would you explain justification to someone who’s struggling with guilt? 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's devotion is written by Claire Dwyer.

Tranquility In Turbulent Waters | തിരമാലകൾക്കിടയിലും ശാന്തത | Malayalam Daily Devotion | Br. Damien Antony | Morning Glory Podcast - 1649 | 04 July 2025

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5 NIV) *Enjoying Pastor Greg's devotional podcast? Let us know what you think with this quick survey!* From the day that we commit our lives to Jesus Christ, everything changes for us. Gone is that ever-present guilt that used to nag us day and night. There is no longer an empty hole deep inside of our soul. In the place of those things, God gives us what the apostle Paul referred to as His “peace, which exceeds anything we can understand” (Philippians 4:7 NLT). God places a new joy in our hearts and gives us the hope of Heaven when we die. But when we commit our lives to Christ, we also gain enemies. That’s what David was talking about when he wrote, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5 NIV). These enemies want to weaken our commitment to Christ and throw up obstacles to our spiritual growth. The three primary enemies Christians face are the world, the flesh, and the devil. The world is the external enemy. It entices us with temptations, diversions, and false teachings. It points us down paths where God doesn’t want us to go. The flesh is the internal enemy. It plays on our weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and appetites. It tries to convince us that satisfying our own needs and wants should be our highest priority. The devil, who works in and through the world and the flesh, is the infernal enemy. The apostle Peter warned, “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). Jesus said the devil “was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44 NLT). This unholy trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devil creates a powerful opposition, especially for new believers. The best strategy to combat it is to nurture an intimate relationship with the Lord, whom David describes as a shepherd in Psalm 23, as we sit at His table. We do that by studying God’s Word, where we find His promises, His wisdom, His will for our lives, and His guidance. And we do it by talking and listening to Him in prayer, keeping the lines of communication open at all times. When we sit at the table of the Lord, we’re satisfied because we know that everything we need is there. We don’t hunger for anything else. I’m not saying that we’ll become temptation-proof. What I am saying is that we won’t be as drawn to temptation as we once were. We’ll see the diversions of the world, the appetites of the flesh, and the schemes of the devil for what they really are: dead ends, worthless enticements, and cheap imitations of the truth. The Lord has set a table before us. We have no reason to fear our enemies. Reflection question: What would sitting at the Lord’s table 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.

Today's devotion is written by Brittany Calavitta.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.” (1 John 1:9–10 NLT) *Enjoying Pastor Greg's devotional podcast? Let us know what you think with this quick survey!* One of the most important aspects of the Christian life is to know what it means to confess our sin. In fact, our very forgiveness hinges on our understanding of the term. The Hebrew word for confess means to acknowledge. In the New Testament, confess could be translated as “to agree with someone” or “to say the same thing as another.” The apostle John used this word in 1 John 1:9 when he said, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (NLT, emphasis mine). That word confess is essentially saying that if you’ll agree with God about your sin, if you’ll acknowledge it for what it is and not make excuses for it, and if you’ll turn from it, God will forgive you. The problem is that people think they’ve confessed their sin when they haven’t. New believers, people who aren’t used to confessing their sins, may struggle at first. In addition, far too many people believe that to confess their sin is merely to acknowledge their sin. Therefore, when they sin and get caught, they say something to the effect of, “I acknowledge what I did. I confess that sin. That was a bad thing.” And they go out and do it again. And when they get caught again, they say, “I did it again. I confess.” That’s not a true confession. They’re simply recognizing what is obviously sin. Genuine confession means understanding that sin puts distance between you and your heavenly Father. Isaiah 59:2 says, “It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore” (NLT). Sin interferes with your ability to recognize God’s will for your life and enjoy the blessings that come with it. Sin also undermines your Christian witness. It gives people a distorted view of Christ and the difference He makes in a person’s life. God wants people to see His Son in you. Your sin keeps them from doing that. The more we understand about the seriousness of sin, the more genuine our confession will be. The Holy Spirit helps us in this regard. Everyone who receives Christ as Savior and Lord has the Holy Spirit inside them. Jesus said the Holy Spirit “will convict the world of its sin” (John 16:8 NLT). He calls out our sin from deep within us and convicts us to confess it. Confession means to see sin for what it is, to be sorry for it, and to turn from it. You must recognize that it’s offensive to the one and only true God and respond accordingly. Are you willing to do that? If so, then God will forgive you and cleanse you from all your wickedness. Reflection question: What’s your biggest obstacle when it comes to confessing sin? 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's devotion is written by Bobbi Rol.

“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.” (John 3:16 NLT) *Enjoying Pastor Greg's devotional podcast? Let us know what you think with this quick survey!* The Bible’s greatest example of communicating the gospel is none other than Jesus Christ. Not only is He God, not only is He our Savior, but He also offers the perfect example of communication. He modeled how to communicate. You can read story after story in the Gospels of how Jesus approached people and how He spoke with them. It’s worth noting that some of the most profound statements that Jesus ever made took place in one-on-one conversations. The words of John 3:16, which may be the most famous verse in the Bible, were spoken during Jesus’ one-on-one conversation with a religious man named Nicodemus. One thing you’ll notice about Jesus is that He adapted His message to the people He spoke to. He adjusted how He communicated depending on the person’s needs, background, and situation in life. He was equally comfortable with—and effective in—talking to everyone from Israel’s leading religious leaders to the outcasts of society. Often when believers share their faith, they behave as though they’re preprogrammed computers. They get a glazed-over look in their eyes and repeat the same words to every person. It’s no wonder that the people they speak to tend to dismiss them as religious nuts and keep their distance. This one-size-fits-all approach to sharing God’s truth is certainly not the example that Jesus gave us. He took time with people. He made an effort to understand them. Jesus also possessed something that is unknown to many Christians today. It’s called tact; it’s the intuitive knowledge of saying the right thing at the right time. Though it involves intuition, tact can be learned and sharpened with experience. Every time you interact with someone, you can come away with a better understanding of what you did right and what you could do better. All it takes is a little awareness. In order to follow Jesus’ example, we need to treat each faith-sharing interaction as a unique opportunity. Instead of falling back on the “same old same old,” we need to stay in the moment. We need to listen carefully and compassionately to the things people share. We need to ask thoughtful follow-up questions to draw them out more, without getting too personal or setting off red flags. We need to be vulnerable and open about our own struggles, questions, and doubts. We need to build a rapport. We need to look for natural openings to talk about our faith, rather than awkwardly trying to inject a gospel presentation in the middle of a conversation about something else. Most of all, however, we need to pray. We need to ask God to guide our words, to give us the wisdom to know what to say and when to say it. God’s desire is for us to be like His Son. If we pray for the ability to talk to others as Jesus did—to share God’s life-giving message as He did—God will answer our prayers in powerful and life-changing ways. Reflection question: How can you be more like Jesus in the way you share your faith? 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's devotion is written by Sister Maria Fatima.

Welcome to Daily Devotion with Pastor Balla for July 1, 2025. Today's devotion from Ecclesiastes 12:9–11, titled “The Preacher's Careful Words,” explores Solomon's reflection on teaching, wisdom, and the divine authority of Scripture. Solomon shows that true wisdom is deeply considered, beautifully spoken, and anchored in truth—like goads that prod us and nails that secure us. These words, ultimately given by the Good Shepherd, guide, correct, and comfort us as God's living voice. Whether you seek deeper Lutheran biblical teaching, encouragement for faithful living, or inspiration to treasure God's Word, this devotion will strengthen your understanding of Scripture as God's gracious gift.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT) Have you ever had one of those seemingly perfect moments in life when everything just came together? That stunning sunset. Or that beautiful star-filled night. That special moment with someone you love, when you thought to yourself, I always want it to be this way. Of course, it isn’t always that way. Those seemingly perfect moments pass just as quickly as they occur, leaving you wanting more. Along those same lines, maybe you believed that when you reached certain goals in your life, you’d be happy. Maybe when you were single you thought, If only I had a boyfriend or a girlfriend, I’d be happy. So you got yourself a boyfriend or a girlfriend. And then you thought, If only we were engaged, I’d be happy. So you got engaged. And then you thought, If only we were married, I’d be happy. So you got married. And then you thought, If only we had kids, I’d be happy. So you had kids. While there can be happiness in every phase of life, no matter what our circumstances are, fulfillment—genuine, lasting fulfillment—always seems to be a little beyond our reach. Why is that? Because from the day each of us was born, we’ve been on a quest. We were created in the image of God, so we’re aware that there’s more to life than mere existence. There’s purpose. There’s meaning. But they’re not always apparent, so we search for them in moments big and small. The apostle Paul gives us valuable insight into these ideas of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in Ephesians 2:10. “We are God’s masterpiece” (NLT). We have a very high ceiling—the potential to accomplish some amazing things and experience soul-deep fulfillment. Finding our meaning and purpose begins with the decision to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. When we do that, God creates “us anew in Christ Jesus” (NLT). He unlocks our potential to “do the good things he planned for us long ago” (NLT). He unleashes us to be change agents in a world desperate for them. Some people try to find purpose in doing good deeds to earn God’s favor. But that’s a dead end. In the two verses that precede Ephesians 2:10, Paul says, “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” (NLT). It’s only when we acknowledge that we can never do enough to earn God’s favor that we start to find purpose. The Holy Spirit is our guide. He opens our eyes to the opportunities we have to do good things in gratitude for the matchless gift of salvation that God has given us. The more closely we align our daily lives with what God created us to be, the more we’ll experience the sense of adventure, purpose, fulfillment, and joy that comes from our walk with Christ. Reflection Question: What gives you a sense of purpose and meaning? 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.

In this week's episode, Dennis Jernigan shares the story behind his song,  “Amazed” from the recording, Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 1." That mp3 is available at https://www.dennisjernigan.com/store/product.php?c=24&p=2353 The lyrics can be found below. You can join Dennis and the people of All In All Church for live-stream worship on the first Wednesday evening of each month. Just go to https://www.facebook.com/therealdennisjernigan at 7 PM CST. Mark it in your calendar. Worship with All in All Church - First Wednesday of each month. Daily Devotions for Kingdom Seekers, Vol. 3 is available at https://www.amazon.com/Daily-Devotions-Kingdom-Seekers-Vol-ebook/dp/B081K8TZLX Check out my Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/DennisJernigan and read through the various tiers of support and discover the myriad of benefits you will receive based on the level of support you choose. If you're willing, go ahead and sign up! You will find the show notes and lyrics below: Hello and welcome to another episode of The Dennis Jernigan Podcast. I'm your host, Dennis Jernigan, and I am so grateful you have joined me for this week's podcast. I'll try to get right to the heart of the matter today. The story behind this song is amazing to me. You'll find out why shortly.  We live in a day and age when amazing things are taking place on a daily basis. Everyday citizens, if they have the time and money, can literally fly into outer space. A person's identity, their image, and their voice and mannerisms can be manipulated in such a way as to make them appear to say and do things they would never do. Even though it gives me chills, this ability of AI, called deep fake, is kind of amazing. And speaking of AI, entire books are being written using artificial intelligence and new uses for AI are seemingly popping up every single day. And I think it is amazing that we live in a world where everyone is connected via the internet and smartphones to such a degree that we can talk with and see anyone we would like to communicate with instantly. The world is indeed amazing. The word ‘amazing' literally means ‘causing great surprise or wonder; astonishing; startlingly impressive.' That is a good thing to experience, yet even good things can be viewed through the filter of the lies of the enemy. Here's an example of what I mean taken from my now life experiences: For far too many years I allowed the lies of the enemy to define me and dictate to me what was amazing. I could see the way others treated me as amazing in a very perverted way. What I mean by that is this: I thought that someone mocking me or physically harming me meant that at least someone was acknowledging me, even if they were insulting me and belittling me. I longed to be known and to know others and that expectation of being put down by others at least made me feel acknowledged. That, my friends, is the depth of depravity my mind had fallen to which is, well, astonishingly sad. That all changed the day I was overwhelmed with the Truth that Jesus Christ had died for me. I was instantly set free from my past but had to walk out the wonderful but difficult journey toward wholeness. In fact, I'm still on that journey. I invite you to join me for today's brief leg of that adventure as I share the story behind my song, “Amazed”. Way back in 2010, I embarked on an adventure that lasted 40 days but continues to affect my life to this day. From May 3 through June 11 I went on a 40 day fast. I needed to reboot my system because I had just gone through a series of traumatic events that left me gutted. The Lord called me to a fast and led me to meditate daily on Psalm 40 and Isaiah 40. He spoke to my heart and told me He would give me a song each day of the fast and that I was to record it that same day. Since then, I put together 4 ten song volumes where you can find all 40 songs. The first ten songs are on the collection called Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 1. This week's episode is the story behind the song “Amazed” which came to me on May 8, 2010 which was day 5 of that fast. When the Lord sent me on this fasting journey, He led me to focus and meditate on Psalm 40 and Isaiah 40 each day. He led me to write a song each day and then record it that very same day. What you are hearing is the original version of each song on the day I actually wrote it. On day 5, He led me to meditate specifically on Psalm 40:3a which says, “He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God…” As I began to ponder on what this part of the verse meant to me, I felt led to begin just simply praising God for Who He is. It became very apparent that I was meant to live every area of my life as a conduit of praise to Him. In that moment, I was instantly filled with a sense of wonder and a  very keen awareness that the God of the universe, my Creator, was in the room with me in a very tangible way…and that was amazing! As I began to praise God, I truly was astonished at his presence with me. In that same moment, although I didn't literally see him, I felt the weight of his presence upon my soul. What I was experiencing was the very glory of God in my heart and mind. And that was truly amazing. As I set my mind free to focus on the presence of God there with me, I felt completely surprised at the depth of love He has for me. I stood back in wonder as I thought about the depth of my depravity as opposed to His depth of mercy toward me. I deserved death and hell, but He had mercy on me as demonstrated in Romans 5:8 in the NIV which says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” I a so amazed at the mercy of God. I just am… Even more astonishingly impressive and astonishing was the way He led me to repentance - and continues to do so. He did not belittle me or mock me or reject me as I had experienced as a boy and as a young man. It was His great kindness that led me to repent of my stinkin' thinkin'…and most impressive and astonishing of all? The realization that He has been lovingly pursing me my entire life; That I was the joy set before Him that drove Him to willingly lay down His life on the cross; That His love could reach as far as I could fall, yet that same love would not leave me in the rock bottom depravity my mind had gotten to. If I let my mind go to think about the nature and character of God, I think about things he has created; the beauty of nature; the precision of the universe; the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and it's effect on my life; the fact that when I think about Jesus and fix my eyes on him that I find myself completely transfixed with a childlike wonder at just how amazing our God is…and I cannot help but praise Him. SONG In Luke 9:37-43 in the NIV, we find Jesus coming down from the mountain after His transfiguration. Here's what is says:  37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 A man in the crowd called out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not." 41 "You unbelieving and perverse generation," Jesus replied, "how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here." 42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. The recording of this podcast took place some 15 years after that initial 40 day fast and I still continue to find God's grace…His restorative grace…Completely and utterly amazing as I did all those in years ago. And it is my belief that we are living in a very amazing time in history, but that this amazing time in history is far overshadowed by the astonishing, incredible, massive and amazing love of Jesus Christ surrounding us at all times, through any circumstances. Let's live our lives like we believe that. We really do have an amazing God! Thank you for tuning in to The Dennis Jernigan Podcast! For more about my journey, music, and updates, visit dennisjernigan.com. Stay connected by following me on Facebook, Instagram, and enjoy my music on various streaming platforms. If you'd like to support the podcast's creation, consider joining my team at www.patreon.com/dennisjernigan. If you're looking for the mp3 of the song “Amazed" from the album "Forty Days and Forty Nights - Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy Vol. 1," head over to the store at dennisjernigan.com or find it on your favorite streaming service. Remember this from today's episode: the constant, unwavering, massive love of God is where we must choose to abide and wait on Him. He is a sure Foundation. He is Solid Ground in a shaken and fallen world. Just keep your eyes fixed on Him and keep your feet firmly planted on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ. Now, go forth and embrace the truth of who your heavenly Father says you are. Dennis Jernigan Forty Days and Forty Nights
Songs of Contemplation and Intimacy V1 Vol. I – Song Five – Day Five He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God… Psalm 40:3a NASB   Amazed Words & Music by Dennis Jernigan Received on May 8, 2010 Psalm 40:3 ©2010 Shepherd's Heart Music, Inc./Dennis Jernigan   Verse One I will praise You in all my ways I will praise You. I stand amazed Amazed at Your presence. Amazed at Your glory Amazed at the power of all the love You have for me Amazed at Your mercy. Amazed at Your kindness Amazed at the length you went to rescue to find us   Chorus And I stand amazed. I give You praise and glory And I stand amazed, can't take my gaze off You And I stand amazed and let Your grace restore me And I stand amazed as I praise you   Verse Two I will praise You in all my ways I will praise You. I stand amazed Amazed at Your presence. Amazed at Your glory Amazed at the power of all the love You have for me Amazed at Your mercy. Amazed at Your kindness Amazed at the length you went to rescue to find us Chorus And I stand amazed. I give You praise and glory And I stand amazed, can't take my gaze off You And I stand amazed and let Your grace restore me And I stand amazed as I praise you Chorus And I stand amazed. I give You praise and glory And I stand amazed, can't take my gaze off You And I stand amazed and let Your grace restore me And I stand amazed as I praise you   • 7804 W. Fern Mountain Rd. Muskogee, OK 74401
•www.dennisjernigan.com•1-800-877-0406
Administered by PraiseCharts.com  

Today's devotion is written by Samantha Aguinaldo-Wetterholm.

Today you'll get a chance to meet Christine Doebler. She and her husband, Pastor Matt Doebler, are missionaries in Australia. She'll talk about the journey that took their family from Texas to Hong Kong to Thailand—and now to Australia. We'll talk about clinging to what matters and walking alongside people whatever season they are in. Amber talked about the series she did on marriage. You can view those episodes on this podcast feed by scrolling to early 2024 for the Marriage 101 series.Amber wants to hear from you! If you have feedback or ideas, drop her a line at amber@timeofgrace.orgIf you have questions and want to know more about God, like what does he think of you, what exactly was Jesus all about, how do you get “saved” and just what exactly does it mean to “get saved,” and what you should do next, we want you to download this free resource Pastor Mike Novotny wrote called, The Basics: God. You. Jesus. Faith.

“And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.” (Romans 16:17–18 NLT) For years now, we’ve been living in an era focused on sensationalism. I’ve never seen a culture and society so obsessed with gossip, innuendo, and rumors. Just look to social media, and you’ll find all kinds of posts that probe into the personal lives of others. This mentality has saturated the news media, too, where reporters hunt for any juicy piece of gossip they can find. And if someone is charged with a crime today, we often try them in the media before they can enter a court of law where evidence is presented and where they face their accusers. That same skeptical, rush-to-judgment tendency works its way into our personal interactions, too. How many people are struggling with feelings of bitterness or sadness because they’ve been dealt an unjust reputation? How many people feel misunderstood and helpless to do anything about it because others have chosen to believe the worst about them? How many people have had to learn to live with being known for something they didn’t do? Proverbs 6:16–19 tells us that two of the things the Lord hates are “a false witness who pours out lies” and “a person who sows discord in a family” (NLT). People who gossip, spread rumors and innuendo, and slander others fall into these categories. That is, the categories of things the Lord hates. The apostle Paul warned about such people in the passage from Romans 16 above. It comes down to this: The Lord has a better plan for His people. Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31 NLT). He wasn’t talking about having a general loving attitude toward others. He was talking about performing tangible acts of love for the people around us. Showing care, concern, and generosity to others in ways that make a difference in their lives. One of the ways we can do that is by refusing to believe the worst about others. The apostle Paul wrote, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV). That certainly includes believing the best about other people. One of the most meaningful gifts we can offer another person is the benefit of the doubt. That’s not to say we should be naïve or overlook the obvious. But when we lead with a spirit of kindness and optimism, we open the door to deeper, more meaningful interactions. And consider this: Your willingness to believe the best about someone may inspire that person to live up to your expectations. That’s why the writer of Hebrews said, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24 NLT). Reflection Question: What would believing the best about someone 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.

Today's devotion is written by Susanna Spencer.

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” (Galatians 6:1 NLT) After observing the behavior of some believers, you’d think that they have a verse in their Bibles that says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, go and tell as many people as possible. And then set about trying to drive that person away from the faith.” But that’s not what Scripture tells us to do. Jesus addressed the topic in Matthew 18:15–20. If a fellow believer appears to have fallen into sin, our first responsibility is to approach the person in a spirit of love and say, “I heard that you __________. Is that true?” If the person confesses and repents, the matter is settled. Unfortunately, that’s not what usually happens. Instead of confronting the person directly, people whisper behind the person’s back. They spread rumors. And many times, they end up slandering an innocent person. If you’ve ever had that happen to you, you know how painful and destructive it can be. But that’s not the end of the damage. The apostle Paul warned in Galatians 5:9 that a little yeast spreads through a whole batch of dough. In the context of a person suspected of falling into sin, the point is that the fallout from mishandling the situation doesn’t stay isolated between the two people involved. Instead, it works its way through the entire body of believers as people take sides. So dealing in gossip and slander isn’t just cruel, it’s also self-defeating. In 1 Corinthians 12:12, the apostle Paul wrote, “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ” (NLT). And in verse 26, he reminded believers what this means: “If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad” (NLT). We have a vested interest in the spiritual and emotional well-being of our fellow believers. If one person is damaged by innuendo, gossip, or slander, everyone suffers. If you’re faced with confronting someone suspected of falling into sin, there are a few things to keep in mind. The spirit in which you approach the person is key. In Galatians 6:1, Paul emphasizes the importance of gentleness and humility. “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself” (NLT). And instead of getting caught up in sordid details, keep your eye on what’s really happening. Remember that the devil wants to turn believers against each other. He’ll attack us from the outside, but many times, when that doesn’t work, he’ll try to infiltrate our ranks and divide us. Jesus said, “Love one another” (John 13:34 NIV). With that love comes responsibility. And sometimes that means stepping out of your comfort zone. But if you love someone enough to seek the truth and confront, when necessary, you will strengthen not only the bond between the two of you, but also the entire body of Christ. Reflection Question: What are some important dos and don’ts for helping someone who has stumbled spiritually? 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 if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” (1 Corinthians 8:3 ESV) Did you know that God is vitally aware of what’s happening in the life of every individual? He is interested in every detail of our lives. Proverbs 15:3 says, “The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good” (NLT). It makes sense when you stop to think about it. How could He reward and punish otherwise? God is omniscient. He is always aware of everything that is happening. There is not one single thing that happens on this earth that escapes the attention of God. Proverbs 5:21 says, “For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes” (NLT). Coming to grips with the realization that God knows everything about everyone—including you—can be either frightening or encouraging. It all depends on your relationship with Him. If your life is not right with Him, if you’re living in sin, then God’s complete knowledge could be rather terrifying. It might be unsettling to think that nothing about your life escapes His attention. But if your life is right with God, then knowing that He’s aware of what’s going on in it, every minute of every day, is a comforting thought. It’s comforting because we know God won’t forget us. We know that we’re not just another face in this massive human sea of some eight billion people. If you’re a Christian who’s walking with God, His complete knowledge guarantees that He’s watching over and taking care of you. His awareness of us is much more personal and meaningful than a 24/7 tracking device. He created us. He wired us. He knows what will give us soul-deep joy and fulfillment. And He directs us to the choices and opportunities that will bring us genuine satisfaction. That’s what the apostle Paul was talking about when he wrote, “But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” (1 Corinthians 8:3 ESV). The Old Testament prophet Jonah proved that there’s no hiding from God. Remember him? God instructed him to warn Nineveh that judgment was coming. But Jonah hated the Ninevites and was afraid that they would repent and escape judgment. So he hopped on a ship that was sailing away from Nineveh. He tried to escape God. It didn’t work, of course. A storm battered the ship, so Jonah had himself tossed overboard. But even the depths of the sea couldn’t hide him. A fish swallowed him and then vomited him back onshore three days later. Jonah may have turned his back on God, but at no point was Jonah ever out of God’s sight. The better option for anyone who loves God is to embrace His constant vigilance and awareness. We do that by making decisions and conducting ourselves in ways that please Him. That is, to make sure that, when He watches us, He’s pleased with what He sees. When we make the decision to honor and obey Him in the way we live, we can pray, with all sincerity, “Lord, I know You see me always. Please direct me in the paths You would have me go. Thank You for never letting me out of Your sight and for always wanting what’s best for me.” Reflection Question: What does God know about you that no one else does? 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.