Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

Greg Laurie
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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.

  1. 1D AGO

    Cross Purposes | Mark 8:34

    “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.’” (Mark 8:34 NLT)   The cross isn’t something to take lightly, even in casual conversation. Sometimes people say, “We all have our crosses to bear,” or “My cross is my supervisor at work,” or “My cross is this health problem,” or “My cross is this relative.” They mistake the cross and what it represents for a minor annoyance or a pet peeve. And in doing so, they lose the meaning of the cross. If you were living in first-century Jerusalem and saw someone surrounded by Roman guards and carrying a cross through the streets, you would know exactly what was happening. You would know that person was on his way to be crucified. Someone carrying a cross was about to die. So, when Jesus said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34 NLT), His disciples would have understood exactly what He meant. Taking up the cross speaks of dying to ourselves and wanting God’s will more than our own. It does not mean that your life is ruined when you decide to walk with God. Far from it. Jesus said, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10 NLT). But that’s on His terms, not ours. He didn’t mean, “My purpose is to fulfill their every wish.” The reality is that, apart from Jesus, no one knows what a rich and satisfying life is. Those who try to pursue it usually end up following their selfish instincts. And that never results in lasting richness or satisfaction. What Jesus meant was, “My purpose is to help them experience a life they didn’t know was available to them.” And the way to experience that life is to desire God’s will more than you desire your own. Jesus said, “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it” (Mark 8:35 NLT). That means adjusting your expectations. Recognizing your limited perspective on what life can be. Reprioritizing what’s important to you. Embracing the life Jesus offers, even when you don’t know where it will lead or what it will require of you. Taking up your cross means giving up your ideas of what a rich and satisfying life is. Taking up your cross ultimately requires a giant leap out of your comfort zone. Are you taking up your cross and following Jesus? If so, you’ll find that it impacts and influences every aspect of your life. The result will be life as it was meant to be lived: in the perfect will of God.   Reflection question: What would taking up your cross 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.

    3 min

  2. 2D AGO

    An Unexpected Obstacle to Prayer | Mark 11:25

    “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.” (Mark 11:25 NLT)   Every so often in the news cycle, we get stories of huge problems that can be traced back to small, seemingly minor causes. For example, a computer glitch that delays flights at a single airport can lead to a national travel emergency. In Mark 11:25, Jesus traces a significant spiritual issue—unanswered prayer—back to a seemingly unrelated problem. “But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too” (NLT). If you sense that your prayers are not being answered, it may be due to a spirit of unforgiveness in your heart. The Bible makes it clear that unresolved conflict with others can get in the way of our relationship with God. In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God” (Matthew 5:23–24 NLT). Unresolved conflict gets in the way of prayer—and the blessings that come from it— because it reveals a heart that isn’t aligned with God’s. The apostle Paul wrote, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31–32 NLT). God has forgiven Christians an incredible debt. He has wiped all our sins away. For us to harbor unforgiveness toward someone else is an offense against Him. Because we understand just how much forgiveness we’ve received, we should be the most forgiving people on the face of the earth. Instead, many of us actively look for things to be offended by. Things to hold grudges for. We need an “other.” Someone to blame. Someone to look down on. Someone to judge. Someone to hold responsible for our unhappiness. Is there someone you hate right now? Is there someone you’re bitter toward? Is there someone who causes you to seethe every time you see them? Is there someone you can’t stand to be around? Is there someone you’ve been plotting revenge against? Is there someone you gossip about? If so, now is the time to deal with your spirit of unforgiveness. Depending on the circumstances, that might involve apologizing to someone you wronged—or someone who thinks you wronged them. It might mean reaching out to someone you’ve drifted apart from. It might mean starting a difficult but healing conversation with a friend or loved one. The more sincerely you reconcile with the estranged, angry, and hurting people in your life, the more effective your prayers will become.   Reflection question: What would an attitude of forgiveness and reconciliation 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 min

  3. 3D AGO

    First Things First | Mark 12:29–31

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

    4 min

  4. 4D AGO

    Go the Distance | Philippians 3:14

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

    3 min

  5. 5D AGO

    Making Every Effort in 2026 | 2 Peter 1:5–9

    “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.” (2 Peter 1:5–9 NLT)   Many people make resolutions this time of the year. Some are going to swear off alcohol or smoking or social media or unhealthy eating. Others are going to try to change destructive habits like gossip or worry or losing their temper. Many people will try to start new habits like exercising. Health clubs love the beginning of the year because people love to commit to going to the gym and working out three to five times a week. The problem is, most people never follow through on their resolutions because they weren’t serious in the first place. There are other, more important, resolutions for you to focus on as we begin 2026. There are godly habits to develop and ungodly habits to break. Horace Mann once said, “Habit is a cable; we weave a thread each day, and at last we cannot break it.” That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on the habit. This New Year, make a concerted effort to develop godly habits—habits that cannot be broken and that will build others up in their love for the Lord. The words of the apostle Peter in 2 Peter 1:5–9 offer a good starting point. “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins” (NLT). Peter emphasizes that difference-making spiritual growth is a process. It doesn’t involve reaching certain plateaus according to a specific timetable. The important thing is that we prioritize spiritual growth in our life, that we make consistent progress as we grow in our relationship with Christ. That’s the kind of habit we should pursue. That’s the kind of resolution we should strive for.   Reflection question: How can you apply the words of 2 Peter 1:5–9 as you work to develop godly habits—or break ungodly habits—in 2026? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."   All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest Partner Support the show: https://harvest.org/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 min

  6. 6D AGO

    An Unknown Future | Jeremiah 29:11

    “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)   We don’t know what the new year will bring. We don’t know what problems we will encounter or what changes will come our way. We don’t even know what blessings the Lord has in store for us. God knows, of course. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope’” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT). Wherever His plans take us, one thing is guaranteed. We have no reason to be afraid. No matter what the new year brings our way, Jesus Christ will be with us and for us. Corrie ten Boom, a wonderful woman of God, said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” She was speaking from experience. As a Holocaust survivor, she faced uncertainties about her future that few of us will ever experience. Yet she refused to give in to fear or despair because she knew God. She had read about how He provided for His people in Scripture. She was aware of His potential to work miracles. She had experienced His love and protection in some of the most horrific conditions imaginable. The psalmist wrote, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him” (Psalm 24:1 NLT). Nothing is beyond the Creator’s power. Proverbs 19:21 says, “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail” (NLT). The apostle Paul wrote, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT). And in Isaiah 41:10, God Himself says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (NLT). There’s a sense of relief in acknowledging that God is in control of our future. We don’t have to take on the burden of control ourselves. Instead, we can focus on following His direction, obeying His instructions, and prioritizing His will. God stands ready to bless us in this coming year. But we must be ready to walk with Him, worship Him, and obey Him. We can’t expect the Lord to bless someone who is in opposition to His law and His love. As we wrap up the year, it’s only natural that we do a little reflection. As you look back on 2025, was it a year in which you progressed spiritually? Was it a year in which you found yourself becoming more like Jesus Christ? Or was there some kind of spiritual breakdown? If so, now is a good time to make a change. Now is the time to resolve to grow closer to Jesus Christ.   Reflection question: What would trusting God with your future look like in 2026? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."   All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest Partner Support the show: https://harvest.org/support See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    4 min

  7. 12/27/2025

    Merry Christmas to All? | Matthew 5:43–48

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

    3 min

  8. 12/26/2025

    Peace on Earth | Luke 12:51

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

    3 min
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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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