Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

Greg Laurie

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God’s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from Pastor Greg Laurie, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you.  *The audio production of this podcast 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.

  1. 8 uur geleden

    Standing Strong Against Opposition | Acts 27:25

    “So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.” (Acts 27:25 NLT)   Many Christians are tempted to believe the lie that when we’re in the will of God, everything will be smooth sailing. But often just the opposite is true. Doors slam in our faces. Obstacles appear in our paths. Storms arise that threaten to drive us off course. That’s why we need to remember that we have a spiritual enemy who wants to stop us from doing what God wants us to do. And he will use any means at his disposal to accomplish his work, including causing us to doubt God’s goodness and protection. Acts 27 tells the story of the apostle Paul’s voyage to Rome. Though he was a prisoner facing trial, he recognized that his circumstances would give him a momentous opportunity to share the gospel with several highly placed Roman officials. He reasonably could have expected smooth sailing all the way to his destination. After all, he was doing the Lord’s will even as his life hung in the balance. But that’s not how this story goes. An incredible storm arose that caused the people on his ship to despair of their lives—but not Paul. It seems there was no obstacle big enough to stop the apostle. He always seemed to rise above his circumstances. His words to his sailing companions in Acts 27:25 summarize his mindset: “So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said” (NLT). As he went through the storm, he knew God had shown him what to do, and he would let nothing deter him from that course. When a hard time hits, when a crisis hits, when a tragedy hits, often our first instinct is to look for a way out. We ask God for an airlift out of our problems. But God wants us to learn in the midst of them. Romans 8:35 and 37 say, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (NIV). Notice the phrase “in all these things.” It isn’t saying we won’t face some of these things. But it says that in them we are more than conquerors. If you’re seeking to obey the Lord, expect opposition. Expect obstacles. Expect difficulties. But also expect God to see you through. That applies on a national level as well. Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th president, once gave a speech in which he talked about “the man in the arena”—that is, a person, such as a national leader, who is heavily involved in doing what he believes is right, all the while enduring the attacks, criticism, and second-guessing of those who sit on the sidelines. In an earlier devotion we talked about how electing believers into office facilitates revival in our nation. But we also need to stand by those leaders because our spiritual enemy will do his best to wear them down or neutralize them through continuous attacks. They need our support.   Reflection question: How can you show real support for the Christian leaders of our nation? 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 Partner Support the show: https://harvest.org/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. 1 dag geleden

    Adding to the Fellowship | Acts 2:44–47

    “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:44–47 NLT)   I love new believers. They are the lifeblood of the church. When I have the privilege of speaking to other pastors, I tell them that if they don’t have a constant flow of new believers coming into their congregations, they will become spiritually dead. We can either evangelize or fossilize. Show me a church where new believers are not coming in, and I’ll show you a church that is stagnating. Show me a church that has new believers coming in on a regular basis, and I’ll show you a church that has vibrancy and life. That said, new believers need older believers to stabilize them. New believers’ hearts are full of zeal, but they don’t understand the ground rules yet. They need older believers to teach them. Older believers also need new believers. They need their zeal. They need their passion. They need their excitement to remind them of what they’ve forgotten. Sadly, it’s usually the new believers who want to do the most when they know the least. When we ask people to help out with something at Harvest Christian Fellowship, we often have new believers who come and say they want to help: “I’ll do whatever you need. I would like to sign up for six ministries.” While we’re very appreciative of their willingness to serve, we want them to have a good foundation first so they can be properly trained and equipped to do what God has called them to do. On the other hand, there are older believers who have known the Lord for years, maybe even decades, who don’t give a passing thought to helping out at church. It should be just the opposite. But as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, I want to point out that what’s true for the church is also true for our country. New believers are the lifeblood of our country. Our nation was forged in the flames of revival. And we pray for a new revival to sweep across this country. The description of the church in Acts 2:44–47 serves as a model: “And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved” (NLT). In the meantime, every new believer, every decision made for Christ, represents a mini revival. As these new believers commit themselves to the biblical truths and principles on which our nation is built, our nation becomes incrementally stronger, more vibrant, and more attuned to God’s leading. When we share our faith, we’re not only changing lives, but we’re also changing our country.   Reflection question: What would it look like in your life to prioritize sharing your faith? 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 Partner Support the show: https://harvest.org/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. 3 dgn geleden

    The Secret of Success | Ecclesiastes 12:13

    “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT)   It is my belief that one of the reasons for the great success of the United States of America over our 250-year history can be found in our origins, the fact that our nation’s founding was deeply shaped by a belief that liberty depends on moral virtue, and many of the founders saw biblical faith as essential to that virtue. Now that certainly is a far cry from where we are today. But we desperately need a biblical worldview today, and we desperately need to follow God’s commandments. We can either accept the truths of Scripture or fight against them as a nation and as individuals. And, I might add, we will reap the inevitable results. As Vance Havner, a preacher and revivalist, once said, “We speak of ‘breaking the laws of God’ but actually we cannot break them. If you jump from the Empire State Building you don't break the law of gravitation—you just break your neck! The Ten Commandments stand today, unchanged and unchangeable. When we violate them, we suffer. What we sow, we reap. God is not mocked. When we crash into the pillars of God's eternal principles, we are smashed but the pillars remain standing.” He’s right. You can’t break the laws of God, but you will break yourself against them. You can buck against these truths and say, “These don’t apply to me, and I will live the way I want to live.” Or you can see the wisdom God has in giving these commandments to us. The author of Ecclesiastes could not be any clearer on the matter. “That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty” (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NLT). But obeying God’s commands is more than a duty; it’s also an opportunity. Remember, God created us. He knows exactly how we’re wired and what’s best for us. His commands are one of the means He uses to help us discover what’s best for us. His commands are intended not to restrict us but rather to allow us to enjoy life to the fullest, as He intends. They show us the way to experience soul-deep joy—the kind of joy that doesn’t depend on circumstances or moods. His commands also point the way toward genuine fulfillment and the peace that comes from knowing that we’re doing what we were created to do. God’s commands keep us in spiritual balance. Obedience is essential to our relationship with our heavenly Father. When we prioritize His instructions and live according to His principles, we enjoy His blessings. Likewise, our country was created to honor God’s commandments. Until we begin to prioritize them again, we will not fulfill the destiny He has for us. It’s our choice. We can do it the easy way, or we can do it the hard way.   Reflection question: What helped you recognize the wisdom in obeying God’s commands? 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 Partner Support the show: https://harvest.org/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. 4 dgn geleden

    Bringing Good from Bad | 2 Corinthians 4:17

    “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!” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT)   When adversity rears its head, the first reaction of many believers is to pray it away—to ask God to spare us from it or, barring that, to help us get through it as quickly and as painlessly as possible. The ideal for many people is a life free from adversity. But that misses the point entirely. Adversity is, in fact, one of God’s greatest teaching tools. Adversity prepares us for what God has ahead. God’s people will be better off eternally because they suffered temporarily. The trade-off in eternity will bear this out. Our troubles won’t last forever. As the apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “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!” (NLT). This argument for the greater good may be the strongest biblical case for the whys of human suffering. But it requires great trust on our part. This means we need to look at our suffering and say, “It will all make sense in eternity, and it will produce something that would not have been there otherwise. So, in faith I am going to accept this truth and wait to see the outcome.” We also need to keep in mind that even in the worst tragedy, God can bring good out of bad. That doesn’t mean He makes bad things good. But it does mean that despite bad things, He can bring good. This is an important distinction because often people are looking for cause and effect. They try to connect the dots: “This bad thing happened so this good thing would happen. And this even better thing happened. Now I get it.” Sometimes life works that way. It did for Joseph. After being betrayed by his brothers, he was able to tell them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people” (Genesis 50:20 NLT). Of course, sometimes we can’t see the outcome. Even so, as Paul wrote, “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). Ultimately, all things work together for good. In the case of our country, the adversity we’re facing now may be a forerunner of revival. That may be God’s plan for bringing good from bad. It’s happened before. In fact, our country was founded in the wake of a great revival. In the meantime, believers must continue to pray, continue to immerse themselves in God’s Word, and continue to share their faith with others so they can see the hand of God at work in our nation, bringing good from bad.   Reflection question: When have you seen God bring good from bad? 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 Partner Support the show: https://harvest.org/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  5. 5 dgn geleden

    Intervention | Psalm 85:6–7

    “Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation.” (Psalm 85:6–7 NLT)   July 2026 is an ideal time for reflection, for looking back at the 250-year history of our nation, and for celebrating God’s work in bringing us to this point. But it’s also a time to look forward and ask some sobering questions. So, here goes. What is the future of the United States of America? Are we doomed to go the way that so many other once-great nations have gone? Is America headed to the ash heap of history? Are our greatest days behind us, or could they still be ahead? Is there any hope for America? None of us can answer these questions with any certainty, but we know this much: America is not the superpower of the last days. The greatest nation on earth is conspicuous in its absence from the world stage in the end-times scenario given to us in the Bible. America is not the first, nor will it be the last, nation to rise and fall. Every nation’s days are numbered; America is no exception. The Bible introduces us to several formidable empires, countries, and cities. Egypt reigned supreme in the book of Exodus. Assyria played a key role in the history of Israel and Judah. Babylon led the people of Judah into captivity. Persia allowed them to return. Greece left an indelible mark on the world. Yet all these empires eventually learned the same lesson: There is no such thing as too big to fail. Perhaps the biggest cautionary tale from history is the Roman Empire, which provides the backdrop for the Gospels. Rome was once the mightiest empire on the face of the earth. But it collapsed internally before it was conquered externally. Historian Will Durant, in his book on Rome’s history, Caesar and Christ, said, “A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself within. The essential causes of Rome’s decline lay in her people, her morals….” That’s where the alarm bells start to sound for the United States. We as a country are diligent in guarding against our enemies on the outside, but we should be just as diligent in guarding ourselves from within. One stark difference between Rome and the United States is that our country was founded on Judeo-Christian values. Unfortunately, we’ve strayed from the original vision of our founding fathers, the vision that produced our nation. What was once “freedom of religion” has now become “freedom from religion.” We’ve succeeded in removing God from our schools, sporting events, public venues, and workplaces. And now we need God’s intervention. We saw many turn to the Lord after 9/11. Remember those packed churches and prayer vigils on street corners? Remember the members of Congress spontaneously singing “God Bless America”? These memories give me hope that there could be at least one more great revival in America’s future. The psalmist wrote, “Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and grant us your salvation” (Psalm 85:6–7 NLT). If we don’t have revival, I believe that judgment is inevitable. Peter Marshall, former chaplain to the U.S. Senate, once said, “The choice before us is plain: Christ or chaos, conviction or compromise, discipline or disintegration.” Let’s pray that our nation chooses wisely.   Reflection question: What is your prayer for our nation? 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 Partner Support the show: https://harvest.org/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  6. 6 dgn geleden

    United We Stand | Matthew 18:19–20

    “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:19–20 NLT)   During World War II, a group of pilots known as the Flying Tigers became legendary. Under their commander, Claire Lee Chennault, they managed to down nearly three hundred Japanese aircraft over a period of six months, from December 1941 to July 1942. What was their secret? Chennault said it was cooperation. Although they were usually outnumbered, they always attacked in teams. They completed their missions together. Roman soldiers also knew the value of working together. When they marched into battle and were barraged with flaming arrows, they put their shields up, linked them together, and hunkered down, effectively forming a protective wall around themselves. They understood that there was safety—and success—in numbers. It’s a lesson many believers need to learn. When we experience temptation, hardship, despair, or doubt, sometimes our first instinct is to isolate ourselves. We think, “I don’t want to share this with anyone. They might think I’m not a strong Christian. I don’t want to tell anyone that I’m being tempted by this.” A better option is to go to our Christian friends and say truthfully, “Will you pray for me right now? I’m under attack.” Jesus said, “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:19–20 NLT). He wants us to understand that there is power in unity—in this case, in united prayer. We read in the 12th chapter of Acts that James was put to death and Peter was arrested. These were devastating blows to the early Christian movement. So, what did the members of the church do in response? They got together to pray for Peter. Verse 5 says that “constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (NKJV). This was a unified effort. The people of the first-century church put their spiritual shields together. God answered their prayers by miraculously freeing Peter from prison. What worked for the church two thousand years ago still works today. There is power in unity among believers, in working together and praying together. None of us is alone in this spiritual battle. We have Christian brothers and sisters who are marching with us. Throughout this month, we’ve talked about the need for revival in our country. And we’ve used the imagery of fire to convey the power of revival to sweep across a wide area. But that potential can’t be realized by thousands or even millions of tiny individual flames burning independently of one another. Revival requires unity among believers. It requires Christians to coordinate and cooperate with one another. It requires God’s people to support, encourage, challenge, confront, and inspire one another as we work to accomplish God’s will for our nation.   Reflection question: What would unity with other believers 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 Partner Support the show: https://harvest.org/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  7. 21 jul

    The Cornerstone of Liberty | Deuteronomy 7:9–11

    “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him. Therefore, you must obey all these commands, decrees, and regulations I am giving you today.” (Deuteronomy 7:9–11 NLT)   Our founding fathers framed a document that Thomas Jefferson drafted for the Second Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia. Congress adopted the document on July 4, 1776. We call it the Declaration of Independence. Among other things it says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Pastor Chuck Smith once said that sometimes we forget that the Declaration of Independence, which declared independence from foreign tyranny, also declared our dependence on an eternal God. We see this in its closing words: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Our forefathers believed that there is a God who guides the affairs of humankind. And they founded our nation on the teachings of the Bible. Thomas Jefferson, our third president, said, “The Bible is the cornerstone of liberty.” Andrew Jackson, our seventh president, called the Bible “the Rock upon which our republic rests.” And Abraham Lincoln, our 16th president, said of the Bible, “All the good the Saviour gave to the world was communicated through this book. But for it we could not know right from wrong. All things most desirable for man’s welfare, here and hereafter, are to be found portrayed in it.” Two hundred and fifty years after the founding of our nation, our need for God’s Word has never been greater. Deuteronomy 7:9–11 says, “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands. But he does not hesitate to punish and destroy those who reject him. Therefore, you must obey all these commands, decrees, and regulations I am giving you today” (NLT). There is much to gain by placing God’s Word once again at the center of American life. And there is even more to lose in rejecting His Word. The wisdom of God’s Word is eternal, timeless. It’s not outdated. It’s not a relic. It doesn’t belong to an earlier, simpler time. The keys to the spiritual revival our nation so desperately needs can be found in its pages. That’s why we as believers must continue praying that our country finds its way back to the Word of God.   Reflection question: How can you make God’s Word a bigger part of your daily 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 Partner Support the show: https://harvest.org/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  8. 20 jul

    Don’t Forget | Psalm 33:12

    “What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12 NLT)   A few decades ago, the 75th anniversary issue of Forbes magazine featured a theme that still resonates today: “Why do we feel so bad when we have it so good?” The magazine noted that most Americans live better than almost any other people on the planet, yet many people in our culture struggle with depression and an unfavorable outlook on life. Editor James Michaels wrote, “Why is this nation that marched so proudly into the 20th century slouching so dejectedly toward the third millennium?” The article went on to cite the alarming loss of values, absolutes, and meaning in contemporary life. What’s gone wrong? The person on the lowest rung of the economic ladder in America still has it better than most other people in the world today. We enjoy things that citizens of other countries can only dream about, yet we still have a sense of emptiness. Why? I think Abraham Lincoln answered that question well when he said, “We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.” President Lincoln was right. We have forgotten God. And it’s even truer today than it was when he made that proclamation in 1863. We’ve tried to push God out of the courtroom, out of the classroom, and, for all practical purposes, out of our culture. As a result, we’ve lost the joy, fulfillment, and sense of purpose that come from remembering, celebrating, and obeying our heavenly Father. The psalmist wrote, “What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance” (Psalm 33:12 NLT). The flip side of that would be, “What misery for the nation whose God is not the Lord, whose people have rejected His inheritance.” And that’s where we find ourselves today. Will good ever prevail over evil? Or are we simply doomed to failure? The answer to America’s problems isn’t political; it’s spiritual. We need to turn back to God. We need to take Him at His Word. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, the Lord said, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (NLT). Therefore, it is my belief that our country has two choices before it. One is judgment. The apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7 NKJV). That goes for nations as well. The other option is the one we’ve been focusing on this month: a spiritual awakening or revival. And that’s what we need to pray for today in the United States of America.   Reflection question: What can you do to remember God more often in your daily 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 Partner Support the show: https://harvest.org/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God’s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from Pastor Greg Laurie, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you.  *The audio production of this podcast 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.

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