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“Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world.” (Romans 1:8 NLT)   In this week’s devotions, we’re going to talk about more hot-button issues. Today, we’re going to focus on the responsibility believers have to be known for their faith. It’s a hot-button issue today due in large part to social media. Online opponents of the Christian faith have become especially vocal and confrontational in their opposition. Of course, opposition is nothing new for followers of Christ. Contending for the Christian faith has been a hot-button issue for more than two thousand years. It was certainly an issue for the earliest followers of Christ. After all, it wasn’t easy being a Christian in Rome. As the capital of the Roman Empire, the city had a population of around one million. Yet the church in Rome was already becoming known for its faith. The apostle Paul told the believers in Rome, “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world” (Romans 1:8 NLT). Years later, during the reign of Caesar, Christians in Rome faced historic persecution. Nero sent Christians covered in animal skins into the arena to be torn apart by dogs. He had other Christians covered with pitch and lit them on fire, using them to light his garden as he rode around in his chariot. Despite such horrific opposition and oppression, the church in Rome not only survived but flourished. And not only did it flourish, but it also impacted the Roman Empire. In fact, it impacted the entire world. It did so because it pushed back. It didn’t yield to critics, haters, or even persecutors. The gospel message was too powerful to be restrained. Christ’s followers endured whatever was necessary to spread the Good News. Do people know you for your faith? If someone polled your coworkers and neighbors, the people who know you only as an acquaintance, and asked them if you were a Christian, would they say yes? Would there be no question about it? It’s a good reputation to have. If someone arrested you for being a Christian, would they find enough evidence to convict you? If you want to be a believer like those of the first century, then others should know you for your faith. Jesus did not say, “Go into all the world and be a good example.” Rather, He said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone” (Mark 16:15 NLT). Walking with Christ isn’t always a passive, personal experience. Being a good example alone will not bring people to Christ. But it can open the door for you to share your faith and share the gospel with others.   Reflection question: Where in your life can you be a good example to others by 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.

“But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way.” (1 Corinthians 11:31 NLT)   In today’s devotion, we’re going to talk about the hot-button issue of self-image. Our culture today places tremendous importance on loving oneself and celebrating one’s accomplishments. There’s certainly nothing wrong with positivity. But as believers, there’s a fine line we must walk. The apostle Paul wrote, “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us” (Romans 12:3 NLT). The apostle Peter wrote, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor” (1 Peter 5:6 NLT). Humility is essential in our relationship with God. It’s also essential to our spiritual growth. It’s been said that self-satisfaction is the death of progress. Any Christian who knows what it means to follow Jesus understands that there’s always a long way to go. But that reality should not discourage us. Instead, it should motivate us to keep moving forward spiritually. We must keep growing and learning. To widen our perspective a bit, we should consider that humility is also key to spiritual revival. If we want to see a revival—the kind that transforms entire regions—then we need to humble ourselves. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God says, “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). Of the twelve Hebrew words used in Scripture to express the verb pray, the one used here in 2 Chronicles 7:14 means “to judge self habitually.” For many of us, that requires a 180-degree change of direction. We have no problem judging and criticizing others habitually. But turning the focus on ourselves doesn’t come quite as naturally. To judge ourselves means to recognize that we have a long way to go, spiritually speaking. Are you satisfied with where you are spiritually? After years of walking with the Lord, the apostle Paul said this: “I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 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 3:12–14 NLT). Paul wasn’t regretful or ashamed or disgusted with himself for not having already reached spiritual perfection. Instead, he was laser-focused on growing in spiritual maturity. He wanted only to press on, day after day, moving ever closer to God’s ideal and becoming more like Christ. That’s the essence of a healthy spiritual self-image.   Reflection question: How can you develop a healthier spiritual self-image? 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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT)   In our last devotion, we talked about how God keeps us—that is, He protects us in times of doubt and fear. But don’t mistake the wording of Psalm 121:3. God will keep us, but that doesn’t mean that He will always keep us from trouble. You need only to look at the life of—well, practically any Bible character—to know that. After the Israelites left Egypt, God could have kept the pursuing Egyptian army from catching up with them. Instead, He allowed Pharaoh and his forces to close in on the Israelites on the shore of the Red Sea. He allowed trouble to get close enough to threaten His people’s well-being. And He did it for their benefit. He wanted them to pray to Him so that they could see His power on display. He never left them. He positioned Himself between the Israelites and the trouble-making Egyptians. And He answered His people’s prayers by opening the Red Sea so that they could walk through on dry ground. God accompanied them through their difficulties. God could have kept Daniel from the lion’s den. Instead, God kept Daniel in the lion’s den. God could have kept Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. Instead, God walked with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace. Jesus could have kept His disciples from storms on the Sea of Galilee. Instead, He accompanied them through the storms. Maybe you’re in trouble right now. Maybe you’re frightened or unsure about your future. You don’t know what’s going to happen next. You need to understand that you’re not alone. God may not make your troubles disappear, but He will accompany you through them. Sometimes we get lulled into thinking that we have the right to live easy, tranquil lives and then one day die peacefully in our sleep. We convince ourselves that the norm should be a nice, cozy, comfortable existence. But the Bible doesn’t promise that. Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33 NLT). You won’t find a passage in Scripture in which God promises to help His people find the easy way out. But you will find these words of Moses, directed to God’s people as they prepared to conquer the Promised Land: “The Lord will hand over to you the people who live there, and you must deal with them as I have commanded you. So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:5–6 NLT). If you commit yourself to the Lord, you can expect trouble. More importantly, however, you can expect God to go through it with you.   Reflection question: When have you experienced God’s presence in the midst of trouble 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.

“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.” (Psalm 121:1–3 NKJV)   Doubt is often at the root of many fears we face as believers. The reality is that we live in an unpredictable world. It’s hard to maintain a sense of assuredness when we’re surrounded by potential threats to our safety and security. Add to that the uncertainties of daily existence—concerns about job security, financial security, the health of aging family members, and the well-being of our kids. Add to that the cracks in our spiritual resolve that threaten to give way when life’s pressures start to mount—the circumstances that cause us to question whether the Bible is trustworthy, whether God truly cares for us, or whether we are actually saved. It might make you feel better to know that the most mature Christians in your life—the people you look up to as spiritual mentors—struggle with similar doubts and the fears that arise from them. But that doesn’t tell the whole story. You see, even the greatest men and women of God who ever lived had moments of doubt and fear. The prophet Elijah once faced down 450 prophets of Baal in a life-or-death contest by himself. He trusted God to perform an unprecedented miracle to give him victory. Yet as soon as the contest was over, when he learned that Queen Jezebel wanted him dead, he got scared and ran. Even John the Baptist had moments of doubt. According to Jesus, John was the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. Yet after Jesus started His public ministry, John sent a message to Him asking, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (Luke 7:19 nlt). But Jesus didn’t rebuke John for his doubt; instead, He reassured him. If you’re struggling with doubt or fear, here’s what you need to know: God is going to keep you. The psalmist understood that—and celebrated it. “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber” (Psalm 121:1–3 NKJV). The Hebrew word translated as keeps means “watches,” “guards,” or “places a hedge around.” The idea is that God places a wall around you that is impenetrable. The devil cannot scale or penetrate that wall unless God allows it for His purposes. The apostle Paul wrote, “But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3 NLT). And the apostle Peter wrote that “through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see” (1 Peter 1:5 NLT). Were it not for this protection from God, we would have every reason to doubt and fear. But we are kept by His power—and nothing is greater than that.   Reflection question: How have you seen God watch over and protect you 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.

“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” (Luke 14:28 NLT)   In this week’s devotions, we’re going to talk about facing and managing your fears. And we’re going to start by talking about how to anticipate fearful situations. As a Christian, it’s not a matter of if you’ll face circumstances that unsettle or even frighten you; it’s a matter of when. The apostle Paul wrote, “You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:11–12 NLT). Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ will suffer persecution. There’s no avoiding that reality. So, as believers, we can either live in fear of the inevitable persecution we’ll face, or we can prepare for it. We can prepare for it by rethinking our response to persecution. Instead of giving in to our fears and doing everything we can to avoid or end persecution, we can embrace it for what it is. That’s not to say we need to welcome it or seek it out—or to pretend that it doesn’t hurt and frighten us. But we mustn’t ignore the fact that persecution identifies us with Christ. Jesus explained to His disciples, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you” (John 15:18–19 NLT). Living in a place where you’re hated is a scary proposition. Being able to turn to Jesus—who knows exactly what it’s like to live in such a place—makes it less scary. And that’s what these warnings of inevitable persecution are intended to do: make us turn to the Lord. The good news is that we don’t have to wait for fear to get a foothold in our life before we do something about it. We can be proactive in dealing with it. We can pour out our hearts to God in prayer. We can tell Him what makes us uneasy. We can ask for His comfort and courage. We can come to grips with what to expect as followers of Jesus. Jesus Himself warned His disciples, “Don’t begin until you count the cost” (Luke 14:28 NLT). The cost of following Jesus includes facing some frightening experiences. Acknowledging that reality is a key step in preparing for it. We can arm ourselves with comforting and encouraging truths from Scripture. For example, God promises in Hebrews 13:5, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (NLT). You can’t eliminate fear from your life, but you can anticipate and manage it with God’s help.   Reflection question: How can you be proactive in dealing with your fears? 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.

“And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 13:52 NLT)   Imagine that you bought a new car, drove it around town for a few days, and really liked the way it performed for you. But suddenly it started sputtering and not running as well as it had in the beginning. Finally, it just chugged to a stop and wouldn’t go any further. “What’s the problem here?” you ask. “I just bought this car. I don’t even have a couple of hundred miles on it yet.” You have your stalled-out new car towed back to the dealer, demanding an explanation. “Hmm,” the mechanic says, slipping the key into the ignition and trying to start it a couple of times. “Uh, sir, do you see this little light on your fuel gauge? It means you’re out of gas. You need to fill your car with gas every now and then.” “Oh,” you say. “I never thought of that.” “Yes, sir. You see, you’ve got to keep refilling your car over and over if you want it to keep going.” The same is true in life. You’re cruising along, enjoying life and the scenery, experiencing peace and success in your family, your marriage, your business, and your ministry. Suddenly, however, problem after problem starts cropping up, and life suddenly doesn’t seem to be working very well. Maybe you need a refill. Maybe you need to ask the Lord to give you the power of His Holy Spirit to be a better husband—or a better father, a better grandmother, a better witness, a better student, a better employee, or a better whatever He has called you to be. Sometimes you need refills more often than you expect. You may ask and receive the filling of the Holy Spirit in the morning, but by the time late afternoon comes along, you may find yourself relying on your own strength again and needing His fresh empowerment. The apostle Paul wrote, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NIV). God wants us to come to Him again and again, asking Him to fill and empower us afresh. The fact is, we have a never-ending need, and He has an inexhaustible supply. The Christians featured in the book of Acts certainly understood the importance of being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter led thousands of people to Christ at Pentecost after he was filled by the Holy Spirit. Stephen, the first known Christian martyr, preached one of the most powerful sermons ever recorded because he was filled with the Spirit’s power. The apostle Paul vividly describes being disheartened, discouraged, and lonely before God refueled and restored him. Whenever you start to feel spiritually run-down, ask the Lord to refill you with the power of His Spirit. And then watch what He does.   Reflection question: How do you know when you need a spiritual refill? 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.

“But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.” (Acts 12:5 NLT)   If you watched a lot of old Westerns back in the day, as I did, you know that the outlaws (who usually wore black hats) riding furiously across mountainous terrain with the stolen loot from the stagecoach robbery would frequently get tripped up by geography. At some point, someone in the pursuing posse (who usually wore white hats) would shout, “We have ’em now! They’ve ridden into a box canyon!” And everybody knows there’s only one way out of a box canyon. There are box canyons in life, too—seemingly impossible situations that seem to offer no workable way out and nowhere else to turn. In a box canyon, surrounded by insurmountable obstacles, you find yourself temporarily paralyzed, not knowing what to do. These are the very times when God invites us to pray. In Acts 12, we find the story of how God took a tragic, even hopeless, situation and turned it around. More to the point, the turnaround was initiated by the power of prayer—the kind of prayer that reverberates throughout the throne room of God and gets an answer. James and Peter, two key figures in the early Christian church, had been imprisoned for doing God’s work. Tragically, James was put to death. But Peter was still incarcerated, awaiting his fate. All doors to his freedom were closed, except one: the door of prayer. His fellow church members recognized that “we use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments” (2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT). Prayer was and is the church’s secret weapon. Although the devil struck a blow against the church in the death of James, the church gained victory through prayer as Peter was miraculously released. Chained between two Roman soldiers, Peter was awakened in his cell by an angel of the Lord. The chains on his wrists fell to the floor. The angel led Peter past the guards posted in the jail and through the iron gate that separated it from the outside world. The people of the church prayed for Peter’s release, and Peter literally showed up at their door (see Acts 12:6–19). Prayer still carries the same potential. That’s why it’s essential that Christians learn how to pray effectively. The reality is that all of us will face difficulties, hardships, problems, and more than a few box canyons. We need to discover what God can do through the power of prayer. Prayer for the Christian should be second nature, like breathing. We should automatically lift our needs and requests before the Lord. Jesus said that we should always pray and not lose heart (see Luke 18:1). Prayer is something we should never avoid and never grow tired of. Prayer should be woven through our day like a bright gold thread woven through a piece of fabric. The more we pray, the more we will see the kingdom of God break through the darkness of seemingly impossible situations.   Reflection question: What seemingly impossible situation in your life might be changed by prayer? 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.