Greg Laurie Podcasts

Years ago, I had a close encounter with a giant. My friends and I went out in a small inflatable boat to do some whale watching. We saw a whale breach the surface some distance away, so we went in for a closer look, while still keeping a respectful distance. Suddenly, a young whale swam right under our boat. A few moments later, its submarine-sized mother glided under our little craft as well. She was so close that we could see the barnacles on her body. And as fast as she and her calf had appeared, they disappeared.

Those giants could have caused us real problems, if they had chosen to. But they didn’t. They simply made themselves known, giving a glimpse of their enormity, without using their size against us. Unfortunately, not all giants in this life are as benign.

And not all giants appear in physical form. Some giants are difficult situations. Some giants are hurdles in life that seem insurmountable. Some giants are temptations that refuse to go away. Some giants are challenges that seem beyond our ability to solve. Some giants are personal sins that impact the way we see ourselves. Some giants are addictions that threaten to overwhelm us. Some giants are toxic relationships that leave us bitter, hurt, confused, or lonely... Listen to the rest of today's devotion at youtube.com/@GregLaurieDailyDevotional/podcasts

6 days ago | [YT] | 21

Greg Laurie Podcasts

“Heaven on earth” is a well-worn cliché in popular culture. You can find the phrase or idea in countless songs, books, TV shows, movies, and online content. Of course, God’s people understand that there’s a sharp distinction between Heaven and earth. Heaven is the real deal, the eternal dwelling place. Earth is the temporary dwelling place. There is no comparison. Think of the best things you’ve ever experienced on this earth: your wedding day, the birth of a child, or a special moment with someone you love. Even the most impactful, the most unforgettable, and the most life-changing incidents were merely glimpses of glory, tastes of what’s to come in Heaven... Listen to the rest of today's devotion at youtube.com/@GregLaurieDailyDevotional/podcasts

1 week ago | [YT] | 63

Greg Laurie Podcasts

Reflecting on the passing of human life, ethicist Michael Josephson wrote, “Ready or not, someday it will all come to an end. There will be no more sunrises, no minutes, hours or days. . . . So what will matter? How will the value of your days be measured? . . . Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance but of choice.”

The author of Ecclesiastes wrote, “For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest” (Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 NLT). The psalmist wrote, “My future is in your hands” (Psalm 31:15 NLT). And Job said to God, “You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer” (Job 14:5 NLT).

Contemplating how short life is and how powerless we are to change that can trigger anxiety in some people. It magnifies the importance of being proactive in the choices you make, not to mention the importance of starting to make those choices as early as possible. To put it another way: The evening of your life is determined by the morning of your life... Listen to the rest of today's devotion at youtube.com/@GregLaurieDailyDevotional/podcasts

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 62

Greg Laurie Podcasts

I have a problem when I walk with my wife. I always walk a little faster than she does. Every time we go out together, I find myself walking ahead of her. I have to stop and wait for her to catch up. I make a conscious effort to walk more slowly—at least for a while. But the next thing I know, I’m walking fast again.

Many believers face a similar challenge when it comes to walking with God. Some people want to run ahead of Him. They grow impatient waiting for Him to answer a prayer or reveal His will, so they take matters into their own hands. Other people lag behind Him. They’re reluctant to act when He prompts them. They’re hesitant to step outside their comfort zone without two weeks’ advance notice.

Our goal should be to move in harmony with the Lord... Listen to the rest of today's devotion at youtube.com/@GregLaurieDailyDevotional/podcasts

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 54

Greg Laurie Podcasts

Joseph’s words to his brothers in Genesis 50:19–21 underscore a hard truth for God’s people. We are called to forgive everyone who wrongs us. Keep in mind that Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery. He spent the better part of his life separated from his beloved father. He became a servant. He spent years in an Egyptian prison for a crime he didn’t commit. All because his brothers couldn’t control their jealousy.

Yet, years later, when he was finally reunited with them—when he was perfectly positioned to exact revenge on the siblings who had taken so much from him—this is what he said: “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children” (Genesis 50:19–21 NLT).

Some people get to the end of this story and say, “I could never forgive someone who did that to me.” But the spiritual reality is that they can—and must... Listen to the rest of today's devotion at youtube.com/@GregLaurieDailyDevotional/podcasts

1 month ago | [YT] | 56

Greg Laurie Podcasts

Dissatisfaction is the last of life’s headwinds that we’ll be talking about this week. It’s also one of the most common. Even those of us who like to think of ourselves as low-maintenance and unassuming harbor certain hopes and expectations for this life. We want meaning and purpose, among other things. When life fails to deliver, we’re left feeling disappointed, dissatisfied, and maybe even a little cheated.

Only humans have a longing for meaning in life. I can assure you that my dog doesn’t sit around pondering the reason for his existence. He won’t be looking back on his life and saying, “You know, I tried it all as a dog. I chased cats. I drank toilet water. I tried bones. But deep inside of me, there was a void.” Dogs don’t think that way. They mainly think, “Food . . . sleep.”

Dogs, you see, aren’t made in the image of God. You and I are. We are living souls, designed to know God and to experience something more than a mundane, directionless existence... Listen to the rest of today's devotion at youtube.com/@GregLaurieDailyDevotional/podcasts

1 month ago | [YT] | 51

Greg Laurie Podcasts

Because Jesus lives, all who believe in Him have hope that extends beyond this life. So, we must set our sights on the things that lie beyond this world.

A Christian is someone who lives in two dimensions. The apostle Paul explained it this way: “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory” (Colossians 3:1–4 NLT).

On the one hand, believers live in a spiritual dimension, one in which we walk in the Spirit and know God in the Spirit. On the other hand, as human beings, we also live and move in physical bodies here on earth. Our challenge as Christians, then, is to transfer what we have in the spiritual realm into the day-to-day ebb and flow of events in the earthly realm. Listen to the rest of today's devotion at youtube.com/@GregLaurieDailyDevotional/podcasts

1 month ago | [YT] | 61

Greg Laurie Podcasts

Jesus’ retreat to the Garden of Gethsemane began a bad stretch of time for the apostle Peter. First, he fell asleep on his watch after Jesus asked him to stay alert. Second, according to John 18:10, when Jesus’ enemies came to arrest Him, “Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave” (NLT). And then, later that same night, when he was recognized as one of Jesus’ followers, Peter denied even knowing Jesus—not once, not twice, but three times.

Can you identify with a guy like that? I know that it’s sometimes hard to imagine what God is up to in your life. You see a blank canvas, but God sees a finished painting. You see a piece of coal, but God sees a refined diamond. You see an untalented person, but God sees a mighty man or woman of God.

This is also true of those we see in Scripture. We see an impetuous, impulsive Simon, but God sees a strong, decisive apostle named Peter. We see a conniving, manipulative Jacob, but God sees a godly, trusting man named Israel... Listen to the rest of today's devotion at youtube.com/@GregLaurieDailyDevotional/podcasts

1 month ago | [YT] | 48

Greg Laurie Podcasts

A Christian father who was terminally ill called his three sons to his bedside. To his two sons who were believers, he said, “Goodbye, my sons. I will see you in the morning.” Turning to his third son, he simply and sadly said, “Goodbye, my son.”

The young man was deeply disturbed. He said, “Father, why is it you said to my brothers, ‘I will see you in the morning,’ and you only said to me, ‘Goodbye, my son’? Why didn’t you say you would see me in the morning, too?”

His father replied, “Son, you have never asked Jesus Christ into your heart to be your Savior and Lord. And that is what breaks my heart the most. I will never see you again.” That son began to ask his father how he could be saved, how he could see his father again. His father told him how. The son prayed and received Christ into his life. Then his father said, “Now our family will be together in eternity.”

That can happen for everyone who has put their faith in Christ. It will be a great reunion one day in the future. But what does the unbeliever have to look forward to? Judgment after death and a miserable, empty life on earth. There might be some fun in sin—for a while. But payday comes. The hard truth about eternal life is found in the apostle Paul’s words in Romans 6:23... Listen to the rest of today's devotion at youtube.com/@GregLaurieDailyDevotional/podcasts

2 months ago | [YT] | 52

Greg Laurie Podcasts

Psalm 91 is one of the most uplifting passages in all of Scripture, filled with promises like the one found in its first verse. “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty” (NLT).

But it’s worth noting that the blessings promised in Psalm 91 aren’t for just anyone. They are specifically given to believers, and not just to believers in general. These benefits are targeted toward believers who specifically meet the requirements found within the psalm. Psalm 91 is full of what we call conditional promises. In other words, God promises to do certain things for us, hinging on our doing certain things that are required... Listen to the rest of today's devotion at youtube.com/@GregLaurieDailyDevotional/podcasts

2 months ago | [YT] | 65