Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

“So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” (Luke 12:32 NLT)   In this week’s devotions, we’re looking at words believers can use to encourage one another. Today we’re going to talk about this amazing sentence: God loves to bless His children. One Greek word translated “blessed” in the New Testament is makarios, which means “blessed,” “happy,” or “fortunate.” It describes a kind of blessedness that isn’t dependent on favorable circumstances. A prominent use of the word appears in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3–11. Sometimes in our lives, our happiness is not self-contained. Rather, it’s contingent on good things happening. We think that if we could just get that raise at work, we would be happy. When something fun or exciting is happening, then we’re happy. But when we don’t get that raise at work or when we get some bad news, we’re not happy. In those circumstances, our happiness depends on good things happening. But blessed is a different kind of word. Regardless of what is taking place circumstantially, you are blessed. That’s the idea of makarios. 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). If you’re a parent, this type of generosity probably resonates with you. You know the feeling of happiness that comes from giving your kids something special. The difference is that, as imperfect human parents, we can get caught up in the gift-giving and lose sight of the big picture. Sometimes we go overboard and spoil our children. Sometimes we give them things that are less than healthy. That doesn’t happen with our perfect heavenly Father. He created us, so He knows our innermost workings. Jesus said that “your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him” (Matthew 6:8 NLT). God blesses us with resources. He blesses us with spiritual gifts. He blesses us with an eternal future. He blesses us with friends and family members. He blesses us with opportunities. He blesses us with challenges. He blesses us with the tools to overcome those challenges. He blesses us with a sense of peace in the midst of those challenges. And that’s only the tip of the blessings iceberg! Acknowledging the Lord’s amazing generosity creates a healthy spiritual cycle. The more we recognize how profoundly blessed we are, the more thankful we become. The more we recognize how generous God is, the more sincere our worship will be. And as we recognize His goodness, our hearts are drawn closer to Him. The psalmist wrote, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 107:1 NLT). The New Testament author James wrote, “Come close to God, and God will come close to you” (James 4:8 NLT). If you’re a child of God, then know this: God loves to bless His children. And here’s something else to remember: God wants to bless you even more than you want to be blessed. Isn’t that great to know?   Reflection question: How can you celebrate God’s blessings 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 PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name.” (Malachi 3:16 NKJV)   In 1 Thessalonians 4:18, the apostle Paul offers a simple instruction to believers: “Encourage each other with these words” (nlt). In this week’s devotions, we’re going to look at some words—some truths from Scripture—that believers can draw on to offer encouragement to one another. In today’s devotion, we’re going to focus on a truth from the Old Testament book of Malachi: God hears when we talk about Him—and that has powerful implications on our fellowship with other believers. Have you ever heard someone call or mention your name in a public setting? If so, you no doubt turned your attention to the person speaking. When my grandchildren speak the word Papa, I turn to look. What’s more, when I hear any little child in any setting use the word Papa, I turn around instinctively. I am attuned to that word. In the same way, God listens and hears when we talk about Him. We are told in Malachi 3:16, “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, And the Lord listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the Lord And who meditate on His name” (NKJV). That phrase listened and heard carries the idea of inclining the ear or paying close attention. The Lord likes to listen to our conversations. He likes it when we gather for fellowship because it sets the stage for robust discussions about Him and His blessings in our lives. In the book of Acts, we read that the early church “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42 NKJV). The word translated as “fellowship” in this passage comes from the Greek word koinonia. The word also can be translated as “partnership,” “communion,” or “participation.” The idea is that the first-century believers loved to gather together. Good things happen in our relationship with God when we’re in fellowship with others who stand awed by Him. It stands to reason, then, that when you’re walking with God, you’ll want to be with God’s people, too. And when you’re not walking with God, you may find yourself pulling away from God’s people as well. Our attitude toward fellowship can be a good gauge of where we are spiritually. If you find yourself out of fellowship with God, you’ll often find yourself out of fellowship with other believers as well.   Reflection question: How can you spend more time in fellowship with other believers? 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 PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.” (Psalm 37:23 NLT)   In the aftermath of a natural disaster, national or local tragedy, or personal dark night of the soul, these questions often arise: Where was God when this happened? Why does He seem absent? The problem lies not with God Himself. He is, after all, omnipresent—He exists everywhere, all the time. Nothing will ever change that. The problem lies with our perception of Him—or, more specifically, our expectations of Him. When the Lord isn’t as predictable or as obvious as we want Him to be, we assume the worst. The Gospel of Luke gives us a snapshot of this phenomenon. After Jesus’ crucifixion, two of His followers were walking the road to Emmaus. Both were devastated because the One to whom they had given their lives was gone, from all earthly appearances. God in human form was absent. Until He joined them on their journey. The two followers didn’t recognize Jesus at first. Here’s a loose paraphrase of the encounter. Jesus asked, “Guys, why the long faces? What’s the problem?” The two men were stunned by the question. “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days,” they replied. “What things?” They explained, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened” (Luke 24:19–21 NKJV). Jesus said, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” (Luke 24:25–26 NLT). He led the followers “through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27 NLT). Shortly thereafter, the two followers recognized Jesus (see Luke 24:30–31). The reality for believers is that there are times when we sense the presence of the Lord. Then there are times when we don’t feel God’s presence and don’t see Him at work. We wonder whether God has abandoned us. The answer is: Absolutely not. He never has and never will. He said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5 NLT). The Bible says, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (Psalm 37:23 NLT). There are times in life when God seems absent, but He never is. God is always at work in the life of the believer, every hour of every day.   Reflection question: What can you do when God feels absent 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 PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24–25 NLT)   In today’s devotion, we’re going to talk about the hot-button issue of confronting, motivating, and encouraging our fellow believers. The apostle Paul wrote, “Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18 NLT). And while his words carry practical implications for our daily interactions with people, we need to keep in mind that peace—that is, the absence of conflict—isn’t necessarily the goal for believers. Our goal is to obey God and accomplish His will in this world. And sometimes that goal will take us not only out of our comfort zone but also out of our peaceful zone. As believers, we’re part of God’s church. We’re part of the body of believers. As with the human body, the spiritual body of Christ works best when the parts work together. But with so many moving pieces, that’s not always the case. Conflict—believers getting out of sync with one another—is inevitable. But the need for fellowship never changes. When you’re walking with God, you’ll want to be with God’s people. And often, when you find yourself out of fellowship with God, you’ll also find yourself out of fellowship with other believers. You’ll find yourself saying things like, “I don’t really know if I want to go to church today. Besides, there are so many hypocrites. When I go, I feel judged.” People often quote Matthew 7:1, which says, “Judge not, that you be not judged” (NKJV). However, the passage also could be translated as, “Condemn not, that you be not condemned.” We are not to condemn other people. But evaluation is something we should do for one another, helping one another, encouraging one another, and, if necessary, correcting one another. Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (NLT). Sparks may fly occasionally, but the result is two people with keen spiritual edges. That’s why I reserve the right to confront, if necessary, a fellow Christian who is on the wrong track. As Hebrews 10 says, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (verses 24–25 NLT). God wants us to be holy people—not holier-than-thou in the way someone looks down at another with condescension. Rather, being a holy person means living a life that is honoring to God and wanting to become more like Jesus every day. The people who are willing to risk confrontation to help fellow believers accomplish that should be welcomed and celebrated. They are doing a mighty work for God’s kingdom.   Reflection question: What would it look like in your life to motivate and encourage a fellow believer in their 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 PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.” (Nehemiah 2:10 NLT)   In today’s devotion, we’re going to look at the hot-button issue of the need for leaders who take initiative. Obviously, the need for political leaders who fit that description is great. But today we’re going to focus on Christian leaders—more specifically, Christian leaders who face opposition. And we’re going to look at one of the many examples in Scripture in which God raised just such a leader when His people needed one most. The people of Jerusalem were discouraged because the protective walls of their city lay in ruin. That meant those who had returned to Jerusalem following the exile were vulnerable to their enemies. They needed a leader who understood what was at stake. They needed a leader who was willing to take initiative for such a project, one who was willing to take great risks for the glory of God. They needed someone who could rally the people behind a common vision. They needed Nehemiah. He went to the Jewish leaders and said, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” (Nehemiah 2:17 NLT). He had a vision and a plan, and the people’s hearts were energized. Yet whenever God’s people say, “Let’s rise and build,” the devil and his people will say, “Let’s rise and oppose.” Nehemiah wrote, “But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel” (Nehemiah 2:10 NLT). Whenever you do something in the will of God, you will face opposition. Sometimes it’s opposition by outright nonbelievers. And sometimes it’s criticism from fellow Christians. But there will be pushback in some form when you’re doing God’s will. The great British preacher Alan Redpath said, “There is no winning without warfare; there is no opportunity without opposition; there is no victory without vigilance.” If you never face opposition as a Christian, if you never get tempted or get tested, that tells me the devil isn’t wasting his time on you. But if you get pushback, harassment, and even persecution at times, that indicates to me that you might be on the right path. You’ll face opposition when you’re doing the will of God. That’s essential to remember because it doesn’t matter what people say about you. It doesn’t matter what people say about your work. It doesn’t matter what challenges lie in the way. What matters is God’s will. If you stay close to God through prayer, quiet listening, and Bible study, He will make His will known to you. And if you pursue His will, if you make it your top priority, you can trust Him to accomplish His purposes despite the opposition you face.   Reflection question: How can you become or support a much-needed Christian leader? 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 PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NLT)   In today’s devotion, we’re going to talk about the hot-button issue of delayed gratification—that is, the value of waiting. Waiting has become a lost art in our modern culture. For example, there was a time when, if you wanted to access a movie, you went to a video store and rented something called a videotape. That videotape came with a reminder to “be kind and rewind.” Then DVD technology arrived, so you didn’t have to rewind anymore. Then Netflix came along, and your rental DVDs were delivered by mail. Now you can just stream the movies you want to watch. We don’t have to wait for much of anything today. We just click it and stream it. Everything comes fast. The idea of waiting is an alien concept in a culture accustomed to immediate gratification. And something is getting lost along the way. The Bible tells us, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 NLT). After Nehemiah heard that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, four months passed. He waited before he posed his question to the king: “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried” (Nehemiah 2:5 NLT). Nehemiah spent more time praying than he did building. Sometimes the Lord will give you an idea. But timing is everything. You must wait for the right moment to go to the next place. Most of us don’t like to wait, however. We like everything now. Some of the best-known people in the Bible understood—or learned—the value of waiting. Abraham waited decades for God to fulfill His promise to give him a son. Joseph waited for years in an Egyptian prison for a crime he didn’t commit. David waited years after being anointed king of Israel to assume the throne. These people realized what we need to realize: Waiting involves much more than pressing “pause” on life. Good things happen to those who wait patiently and faithfully for God to work. They grow closer to God by staying in constant contact with Him, pouring out their feelings and listening to His voice. They grow to understand the Lord and His ways more clearly. They mature. They inspire others along the way. And eventually, they make a difference. Sure, there will be struggles along the way. Impatience is part of the human experience. But know this: Waiting time is never wasted time. We need a plan, and then we need to pray that God will help us with that plan—if it is the plan He has given to us. There is a time to pray, and there is a time to move. Know the season you’re in and embrace it with everything you have.   Reflection question: In what area of your life do you feel as though you’re waiting on God? 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 PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Peter swore, ‘A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!’ And immediately the rooster crowed.” (Matthew 26:74 NLT)   Spiritually speaking, it’s hard to beat the apostle Peter’s résumé. He was part of Jesus’ inner circle. He witnessed the Transfiguration. He walked on water with Jesus. He rushed into Jesus’ empty tomb. He heard these words from the Lord Himself: “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matthew 16:18 NLT). According to church tradition, Peter was crucified upside down because he didn’t believe he was worthy to be executed as Jesus was. Yet Peter is also remembered for his lowest moment, for failing Jesus on an epic level. After Peter boldly promised that he would remain faithful to Jesus, he denied even knowing the Lord—not once, not twice, but three times. Just as Jesus had said he would. Peter’s humbling experience reveals the danger of compromising our standards as believers, which is the hot-button issue we’re going to talk about today. Peter’s denial of Jesus did not happen over a period of seconds or minutes, but over at least an hour (see Luke 22:59). An hour had passed from the time the first person said, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean” (Matthew 26:69 NLT), to the time Peter made his third denial. He had ample opportunity to hightail it out of there, but he remained in the situation. He sealed his failure in Matthew 26:74: “Peter swore, ‘A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!’ And immediately the rooster crowed” (NLT). This heartbreaking story reminds us that no person is safe from temptation except the one who flees from it. Peter, having been warned by Jesus Himself, should have avoided any place where he might have been weakened. He certainly should have steered clear of all roosters. I would have said, “Are there any roosters here? Because I’m leaving if there are. The Lord mentioned a rooster.” Peter was hardly alone in his failure. Countless great men and women of God have been compromised by lowering their standards and allowing themselves to be drawn into sin. People like Solomon, Samson, and David all found out the hard way. Are we better than they were? Are we more spiritual than they were? I don’t think so. So, if someone like Peter could fall, then surely we can. 1 Corinthians 15:33 tells us, “Bad company corrupts good character” (NLT). Peter was around people who were dragging him down spiritually. Are you in a similar situation today? Have you entered into relationships in which people are dragging you down? Maybe it’s a romance. Maybe it’s a close friendship. Are you finding yourself compromising your principles to fit in and not offend anyone? Perhaps you need to reconsider who your friends are. Perhaps you need to make some immediate changes. Is bad company corrupting you?   Reflection question: What changes do you need to make in your life to keep from being corrupted by bad company? 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 PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“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 PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee 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 PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee 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 PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.