Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

Greg Laurie
  • 4.9 (228)
  • Christianity
  • Daily

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. 6h ago

    Meeting Your Deepest Need | Matthew 6:31–33

    “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:31–33 NLT)   In today’s devotion, we’re going to talk about the hot-button issue of materialism. One of the noteworthy—or alarming, depending on your perspective—trends of social media in the twenty-first century is the proliferation of influencers. Influencers are people whose stated purpose is to influence or impact the way you think and act. Not surprisingly, the goal of many of these influencers is to get you to buy something, often clothes or food. As Scripture would have it, Jesus addressed both topics in His Sermon on the Mount. “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:31–33 NLT). Notice that His emphasis is on the word worry. He didn’t say, “Don’t think about what you will eat, drink, and wear.” Nor did He imply that we were not to work or plan for our needs. In fact, the Bible criticizes the lazy person who refuses to work for a living. The Bible says that if you don’t work, you shouldn’t eat (see 2 Thessalonians 3:10). People are expected to work and provide for themselves. The Bible also encourages us to plan for the future and points to the example of ants, which are always planning ahead (see Proverbs 6:6–8). So, to be clear, the Bible does not advocate laziness or being irresponsible. Jesus simply makes it clear that we are not to worry. To put it another way, Jesus is saying, “Don’t be obsessed with these things. That’s how unbelievers are.” You don’t have to look hard on social media to find people whose entire lives seem to revolve around materialistic goals. Jesus was pointing out that those goals are empty. Chasing them won’t satisfy the deepest need of your life. The apostle Paul wrote, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT). He also wrote, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NLT). So, let’s not make possessions or material things our primary purpose in life. Rather, let’s seek God first and foremost in our lives. That way, everything that we need will be provided for us. God will take care of you. He cares about you. He will supply all your needs.   Reflection question: How can you focus on God first and foremost 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.

  2. 1d ago

    Only One Way | John 14:6

    “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6 NLT)   In today’s devotion, we’re going to talk about the hot-button issue of inclusivity, one of the most difficult spiritual challenges facing believers today. During World War II, an American pilot was shot down over the jungles of Burma. He was able to bail out safely from his plane. As he landed in the deep, dense brush, he was met by a friendly Burmese man. The man gestured for him to follow. The American soldier followed the man through the jungle. There was no obvious path. All the pilot could see ahead of him was the Burmese man, slicing away with his machete. It didn’t seem like they were going in any particular direction. The American became frantic and yelled out to the man, “Where is the way?” In broken English, the man replied, “I am the way. Follow me.” This is what Jesus says to us in the maze of life: “I am the way. Follow Me. I will get you to where you’re supposed to go.” The actual quote is “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT). The entire meaning of the Christian faith can be condensed into four words: “I am the way.” That’s a controversial concept in our inclusive culture, where people are encouraged to affirm that all spiritual paths eventually lead to God. But that kind of inclusivity isn’t an option for Christians. The cost was too high. Jesus is the only way to God because He was the only One who could satisfy God’s demand for a perfect sacrifice. He lived a sinless life. He bore the entirety of God’s wrath that was intended for us. He rose from the grave to conquer death once and for all. Thus, He alone is the way to God. You might be wondering, “How do I find my way to God?” First, you need to understand that the path to Heaven is a toll road. It will cost, but you can’t pay the toll. Jesus paid it for you. You must realize that you can’t make it to Heaven on your own. You must admit that you’re a sinner. The Bible says, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23 NLT). You must ask God to forgive your sins. You must receive Jesus as Savior and Lord. Which road are you on today? Which way are you going to choose? There’s only one way to find a life that’s full and rich on this earth and then to know for certain that you’ll spend eternity in God’s presence. It’s the highway to Heaven. And you can pull onto the on-ramp today.   Reflection question: How can you share the truth of Jesus’ being the only way to the Father with someone who objects to the idea of one spiritual faith being better than another? 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. 2d ago

    Risk Versus Reward | Acts 4:31

    “After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31 NLT)   In today’s devotion, we’re going to talk about the hot-button issue of risk versus reward—knowing when to be bold and when to exercise caution in the decisions that mark our lives. We’re going to focus specifically on risk versus reward as it relates to our Christian faith. And we’re going to start in the book of Acts. As we saw in several earlier devotions, the Christians in the book of Acts set a high bar when it came to boldness. They understood the risks of sharing the gospel. The apostles Peter, John, and Paul, along with Silas and countless others, were thrown in prison for carrying out God’s work. Stephen and James, among countless others, were killed for their bold faith. The reason is that these first-century Christians also understood the rewards of fulfilling the Great Commission. They considered the risks but decided that the rewards were too great to pass up. So, what about Christians today? Many believers are perfectly willing to take a step of faith—if there’s a backup plan. They prefer to have a safety net. And when it comes to making spiritual decisions, there’s certainly a place for caution, a place for prudence, and a place for seeking the counsel of those who have lived longer than we have. Having said that, there is also a place for faith. There is also a place for taking chances and deciding that the risks are worth it. Generally speaking, the older we get, the less willing we are to take risks. We prefer to have everything laid out for us. We want to know what will happen after this and after that. But sometimes God will say, “I’m not going to tell you. I want you to just obey Me.” That’s why I would rather try something and fail than never try at all. And if you do try and ultimately fail, then learn something from your failure. I would venture to say that any person who has been successful in ministry, in business, or in any other enterprise has had more than his or her share of failures and has learned something from every one of them. It’s been said that the doorway of success is often entered through the hallway of failure. So, if at first you don’t succeed, relax. You are just like the rest of us. I’m urging you to take a risk and do something for God. If you’ve been thinking about starting a Bible study at work and are unsure whether anyone will show up, go for it. If you’re thinking of sharing the gospel with someone, but you don’t know how they will respond, go for it. Try it. Pray about it. Ask the Lord for direction. But take a risk. Take a chance here and there and watch what God will do.   Reflection question: What would taking a spiritual risk 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.

  4. 3d ago

    Twenty-First-Century Idol Worship | Psalm 115:4, 8

    “Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. . . . And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.” (Psalm 115:4, 8 NLT)   In today’s devotion, we’re going to talk about the hot-button issue of the cult of personality—that is, the temptation to place people on pedestals and give them too much influence or power over us. To frame the discussion properly, we need to go back to Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Sinai. God gave Moses the Ten Commandments for His people to obey. Those commandments still play a large role in the lives of God’s people, although some may seem to play a larger role than others. At first glance, the Second Commandment might seem like the least necessary of the ten today. You’ll find the second Commandment in Exodus 20:4–5: “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me” (NLT). Some people might argue that golden calves and other graven images aren’t twenty-first-century problems. And while it’s true that most believers today aren’t tempted to smelt gold to create pagan tchotchkes, the second Commandment is still extremely relevant. The reality is that idols come in all shapes and sizes because people come in all shapes and sizes. Many well-meaning believers fall into the trap of making idols out of people they admire. Have you ever heard of a sports hero? How about American Idol? We use the phrases somewhat jokingly: “That person is a sports god” or “I idolize that person. He’s a guitar god.” But the way some people look at certain individuals, it could be that they have made a person their god. We can make idols out of people in the church, too. We can make an idol out of a man or woman of God, someone whom the Lord has used to bless us. We can start to admire them too much. But here’s what we need to remind ourselves: Those people are human just like us. They will be wrong. They will fail us. They will disappoint us. They will give in to temptation. They will struggle in certain areas of their lives. The problem is that people become like the gods they worship. Psalm 115 warns, “Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. . . . And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them” (verses 4, 8 NLT). The only person who deserves that position in our lives is the Lord. He alone is deserving of our worship.   Reflection question: How can you keep from elevating people too much 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.

  5. 4d ago

    The Pursuit of Happiness | Luke 12:32

    “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” (Luke 12:32 NLT)   Over the next couple of weeks, we’re going to be talking about hot-button issues—things that play a large role in people’s lives today. And we’re going to start with finding happiness. The pursuit of happiness seems to be part of the DNA of our culture. It’s so embedded in our consciousness that the Founding Fathers listed it as a fundamental right in the Declaration of Independence. The irony is that for many people the pursuit of happiness is an empty, frustrating, and ultimately unfulfilling experience. The harder they pursue, the less happy they find themselves. A better option can be found in God’s Word. The word blessed comes from the Greek word makarios, which refers to the kind of happiness that is self-contained. When we see the word blessed used in the New Testament, that is the happiness it’s referring to. Too often in our lives, our happiness is not self-contained. Rather, it’s contingent on good things happening. We convince ourselves that if we could just get that raise at work or if we could just meet the right person or if we could just own the object of our desires, then we would be happy. Until those things happen, our happiness is on hold. If something fun or exciting happens, we may experience happiness for a brief time. But when the fun or excitement ends, so does the happiness. In other words, our happiness depends on certain things occurring. But being blessed is a different concept altogether. Blessings depend on God. They don’t ebb and flow based on circumstances or moods. You can experience God’s blessings regardless of what’s happening in your life. You can be blessed in even the worst circumstances. That’s the idea of makarios. The amazing news is that God wants to bless you. Jesus said, “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom” (Luke 12:32 NLT). When I was raising my two sons, I spoiled them. I would randomly buy toys for them. I would say, “Let’s go to the toy store.” It wasn’t a birthday or Christmas. We would look around, and then we would end up buying a big toy. That’s how I spoiled my children. I suppose that’s the privilege of a parent. If you’re a child of God, then know this: God loves to bless His children. In fact, God wants to bless you even more than you want to be blessed. Draw close to Him. Spend time in His Word, getting to know Him and His will for your life. Pour your heart out to Him in prayer. Tell others about the difference He’s made in your life. And then watch what He does in your life. Stop pursuing happiness. Start pursuing God.   Reflection question: What would pursuing God 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.

  6. 6d ago

    As Bold and as Fearful as Elijah | 1 Corinthians 1:26–27

    “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–27 NLT)   We touched on the experiences of the prophet Elijah in an earlier devotion. But I want to revisit his life to illustrate the kind of people God uses to accomplish His work. A quick glance at Elijah’s prophetic résumé would tell us that he raised a widow’s son from the dead. He parted the Jordan River. He stopped rain from falling in Israel for three and a half years. He called down fire from Heaven. A deeper dive would reveal that Elijah was a Tishbite from Gilead. That may mean very little to us today, but it’s important to know that Gilead lay east of the Jordan River. The people who lived there were roughhewn, tanned from the sun, and tough. As a Tishbite, Elijah would have dressed in animal skins. This was not a man to take lightly. So, what does that have to do with us? According to the New Testament book of James, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours” (5:17 NKJV). The New Living Translation says, “Elijah was as human as we are.” There are parts of Elijah’s story that make him seem superhuman. But he was not. He was just as fallible, just as flawed—and occasionally, just as frightened as we are. In fact, at one point he grew so despondent that he wanted to give up and die. Have you ever struggled with similar feelings? Have you ever let fear get the best of you? Have you ever allowed your weaknesses to keep you from fully using your strengths? If so, I have some good news for you. God can and does use flawed people. He can and does use imperfect people. He can and does use fearful people. In fact, it seems as though God goes out of His way to find people like that. Why? Because if God used only super-talented, beautiful, and bold people, we would say, “That means nothing for people like us.” But when God uses people who are very much like us, we can find hope for ourselves. The apostle Paul wrote, “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful” (1 Corinthians 1:26–27 NLT). Your fears, insecurities, and weaknesses don’t disqualify you from God’s service. Instead, they make you the kind of person through whom God can accomplish amazing things.   Reflection question: How might God work through your fears to accomplish something amazing? 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. Oct 23

    Choosing Not to Fear | 2 Timothy 4:18

    “Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18 NLT)   If anyone ever had reason to feel anxious or afraid, it was the apostle Paul. Here’s just a glimpse of what life was like for him, as told in the apostle’s own words: “Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:24–28 NLT). One of the things that amazes me about Paul is that he always seemed to rise to the top of every situation and seize every opportunity to preach the gospel, no matter how frightening his personal circumstances were. As we talked about in an earlier devotion, when Paul and Silas were thrown in prison, they began to sing praises to God at midnight. Later, an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, the doors flew open, and the prisoners’ chains fell off.  And then the very jailer who had chained them up and whipped them asked, “What must I do to be saved?” When Paul was brought before the dignitaries of Rome, he wasn’t intimidated. When he stood before Felix, he talked about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come. When he stood before Herod Agrippa II, Festus, and other dignitaries he asked, “Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8 NKJV). Later, addressing Agrippa directly, he asked, “Do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe” (Acts 26:27 NKJV). When he was transported as a prisoner on a ship, he didn’t let his fear get the best of him. Instead, he gained the respect of the captain, the crew, the soldiers, and the Roman centurion aboard the vessel. Paul’s boldness was the logical outflow of his faith. He wrote, “Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18 NLT). After his conversion, Paul still experienced fear and discouragement. But he repeatedly chose to trust God rather than allow those emotions to control him. The words he penned to the believers at Philippi seem always to have been true for him: “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11 NKJV). Paul was fully convinced of the faithfulness of God and was sustained by that conviction. He chose to embrace boldness and contentment over fear. Let us do the same, with God’s help.   Reflection question: How can you choose boldness and contentment over fear 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.

  8. Oct 22

    Facing Your Own Jericho | Joshua 6:3, 15

    “You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. . . . On the seventh day the Israelites got up at dawn and marched around the town as they had done before. But this time they went around the town seven times.” (Joshua 6:3, 15 NLT)   Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land after forty years of wandering in the wilderness. The problem was, the Promised Land was already occupied by other nations—big, powerful, intimidating nations. In fact, the Israelites had wandered for forty years because they were too afraid to fight the inhabitants when God first led them there. The first major military test for the Israelites after their forty-year sojourn was Jericho, a city fortified and protected by enormous walls. The battle strategy was unusual, to say the least. God commanded the Israelites to march around the city once a day for six days. The inhabitants of Jericho were likely baffled by the maneuver. Maybe they made fun of the Israelites and planned countermarches around the Israelites’ camp. Maybe they threw garbage at them from atop the walls. All we know for sure is that the Israelites marched once a day for six days in a row. It’s hard to pinpoint God’s reasoning. Perhaps He was giving the inhabitants of Jericho an opportunity to repent. These people were wicked. They were into every kind of idolatry, perversion, and sin. God had patiently endured the evil of the Canaanites from the time of Abraham to Moses, a period of four hundred years. They had plenty of opportunities to repent before Jericho fell. The Canaanites knew the Israelites were coming. The reputation of God’s people preceded them. Whatever God’s full purpose, marching around Jericho would have impressed upon the Israelites what a formidable obstacle it was. They needed to recognize that this was something they couldn’t handle on their own. As believers, we all have our “Jerichos” in life—problems that loom large and things that we can’t handle on our own. Sometimes the Lord will have us figuratively march around them so that we acknowledge that we cannot rely on ourselves to overcome them. He allows us to experience real concern, anxiety, or fear as we come to grips with the fact that even our best isn’t good enough. For some of us, that realization may be a long time coming. It takes us a while to get to the place where we’re willing to say, “I can’t do this on my own.” Do you have a Jericho right now? Maybe it’s an incurable illness. Maybe it’s a hopeless marriage. Maybe it’s an economic downturn. Maybe it’s a prodigal child. Maybe it’s some other unsolvable problem. Now is the time to admit your limitations and give that problem to God. Humbly ask Him to collapse its walls, as He did with Jericho, so that you can see a way forward.   Reflection question: What “Jericho” in your life do you need God’s help with right now? 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.

See All (100)

Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
228 Ratings

About

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.

Information

You Might Also Like