If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. (Psalm 139:8 NLT)

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If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. (Psalm 139:8 NLT)
—
<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/A1PWfZ8W">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God’s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from Pastor Greg Laurie, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you. 

*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God&rsquo;s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from&nbsp;<a href="https://harvest.org/about-greg-laurie/">Pastor Greg Laurie</a>, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you.&nbsp;
*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;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.

Greg Laurie provides commentary on the day's Bible verse.

Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. (Psalm 139:8 NLT)

Even There | Psalm 139:8

“Then the Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.’” (1 Kings 17:2–4 NLT)

 

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were among the most wicked rulers in Israel’s history. Not only did they promote the worship of Baal, but they also tried to wipe out the prophets of God. It fell to Elijah to confront the king and warn him of God’s judgment. In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah informed Ahab that Israel would experience a drought that would last for years.

Then God did something unexpected. Instead of building on that significant moment and initiating the inevitable showdown with the prophets of Baal, God chose a different path for Elijah. According to verses 2–4, “Then the Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food’” (NLT).

In other words, “I have a different plan in mind for you, Elijah. I want you to disappear from the scene for a while. In fact, I want you to go to this little brook called Kerith and just hang out there.”

And that’s what Elijah did. He may have been a man of action, but first and foremost he was a man of faith and obedience. So, he went to a place of total obscurity. He took a time-out from his normal prophetic duties.

The reality is that sometimes God will use us and then say, “Now I’m going to work on you for a while. You’re not ready for what I have for you next. I’ve got to whip you into shape a little more.” That’s what He was doing with Elijah.

It wasn’t a time for action; it was a time for stillness and reflection. It wasn’t a time for striving; it was a time for prayer and study. It wasn’t a time for proving; it was a time for growing.

Maybe you’ve experienced a similar unexpected sidelining. Maybe there were cutbacks at work, and you were let go. Maybe you had a ministry that was flourishing but suddenly is now floundering. Perhaps sickness has altered your plans. You’ve had to make changes, and it seems like the end. But maybe it isn’t the end at all. Maybe it’s a new beginning.

The natural reaction to such circumstances is to become anxious or impatient. We may begin to question God, His methods, or His timing. Or we may try to force His hand by taking matters into our own hands. The apostle Paul recommended a different strategy: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT).

God may have closed a door for you because He has another door ready to open at any time. Here’s what you need to do: Wait on the Lord and be faithful to Him. Often the things we go through in life are preparation for something else. Know that God is preparing you for something in your future.

 

Reflection question: What might God be preparing you for? 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

&ldquo;Then the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;said to Elijah,&nbsp;&lsquo;Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.&nbsp;Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.&rsquo;&rdquo; (1 Kings 17:2&ndash;4 NLT)
&nbsp;
King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were among the most wicked rulers in Israel&rsquo;s history. Not only did they promote the worship of Baal, but they also tried to wipe out the prophets of God. It fell to Elijah to confront the king and warn him of God&rsquo;s judgment. In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah informed Ahab that Israel would experience a drought that would last for years.
Then God did something unexpected. Instead of building on that significant moment and initiating the inevitable showdown with the prophets of Baal, God chose a different path for Elijah. According to verses 2&ndash;4, &ldquo;Then the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;said to Elijah,&nbsp;&lsquo;Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.&nbsp;Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food&rsquo;&rdquo; (NLT).
In other words, &ldquo;I have a different plan in mind for you, Elijah. I want you to disappear from the scene for a while. In fact, I want you to go to this little brook called Kerith and just hang out there.&rdquo;
And that&rsquo;s what Elijah did. He may have been a man of action, but first and foremost he was a man of faith and obedience. So, he went to a place of total obscurity. He took a time-out from his normal prophetic duties.
The reality is that sometimes God will use us and then say, &ldquo;Now I&rsquo;m going to work on you for a while. You&rsquo;re not ready for what I have for you next. I&rsquo;ve got to whip you into shape a little more.&rdquo; That&rsquo;s what He was doing with Elijah.
It wasn&rsquo;t a time for action; it was a time for stillness and reflection. It wasn&rsquo;t a time for striving; it was a time for prayer and study. It wasn&rsquo;t a time for proving; it was a time for growing.
Maybe you&rsquo;ve experienced a similar unexpected sidelining. Maybe there were cutbacks at work, and you were let go. Maybe you had a ministry that was flourishing but suddenly is now floundering. Perhaps sickness has altered your plans. You&rsquo;ve had to make changes, and it seems like the end. But maybe it isn&rsquo;t the end at all. Maybe it&rsquo;s a new beginning.
The natural reaction to such circumstances is to become anxious or impatient. We may begin to question God, His methods, or His timing. Or we may try to force His hand by taking matters into our own hands. The apostle Paul recommended a different strategy: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God&rsquo;s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus&rdquo; (Philippians 4:6&ndash;7 NLT).
God may have closed a door for you because He has another door ready to open at any time. Here&rsquo;s what you need to do: Wait on the Lord and be faithful to Him. Often the things we go through in life are preparation for something else. Know that God is preparing you for something in your future.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What might God be preparing you for?&nbsp;<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
&mdash;
The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."
&nbsp;
All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

Everything you go through in life is preparation for something else.

Necessary Preparation | 1 Kings 17:2–4

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105 NLT)

 

“God is love; He doesn’t punish people.” “God wants us to be our authentic selves and not listen to people who judge us.” “God doesn’t care about rules; He cares about what’s best for each person.” How many variations of these statements and others like them have you heard or read recently?

There are a lot of people today who claim to hear the voice of God telling them to do this or that. Some even claim God is telling them to disregard biblical teachings in favor of a more inclusive approach to Christianity. No matter how convincing these arguments may seem, however, we must remember that God never contradicts His Word. His truth never fades, changes, or evolves. It is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He always will lead us according to what His Word says.

That’s a hard pill for some people to swallow, especially when they see God’s Word as keeping them from pursuing their own desires. As a result, some come up with some lame concepts, such as, “We’re not married, but God has told us it’s okay to have sex.” I can assure them that God didn’t say that because in His Word says, "God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin" (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NLT). God won’t contradict His Word.

We also need to realize that God’s Word isn’t an obstacle; it’s an opportunity. Think back to the time when people used to send letters by mail. If you were expecting a letter from someone, you’d stand at the window, waiting for what seemed like an eternity for the postal worker to come by. Then you’d bolt to the mailbox to look for your letter. Maybe it was from someone you were in love with. Maybe it was an answer to a job application. Maybe it was something you ordered in the mail. Maybe it was important news you’ve been waiting for.

But what if you had a handwritten note sent to you from God Himself? Would you carry it around in your pocket for a couple of weeks and open it when you got around to it? I doubt it. You probably would tear it open as you’re thinking, “Wow, God spoke to me! What does He have to say?”

The Bible is a written letter from God. Many people carry it around. They have it in different colors and sizes. They have it in different translations. They even have it on their phones and devices. But they never open it. A letter from God Himself goes unread.

What a missed opportunity! The psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT). God stands ready to illuminate every area of our lives. If you want Him to speak to you, then open His Word.

In the noise and busyness of social media, you’ll find countless people who will tell you what God wants and doesn’t want, what He loves and hates, what He rewards and punishes, and what He cares about and what He’s indifferent to.

But only in the quiet stillness of reading His Word for yourself will you find the truth about our heavenly Father.

 

Reflection question: How do you make the most of your time in God’s Word? 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

&ldquo;Your word is a lamp to guide my feet&nbsp;and a light for my path.&rdquo; (Psalm 119:105 NLT)
&nbsp;
&ldquo;God is love; He doesn&rsquo;t punish people.&rdquo; &ldquo;God wants us to be our authentic selves and not listen to people who judge us.&rdquo; &ldquo;God doesn&rsquo;t care about rules; He cares about what&rsquo;s best for each person.&rdquo; How many variations of these statements and others like them have you heard or read recently?
There are a lot of people today who claim to hear the voice of God telling them to do this or that. Some even claim God is telling them to disregard biblical teachings in favor of a more inclusive approach to Christianity. No matter how convincing these arguments may seem, however, we must remember that God never contradicts His Word. His truth never fades, changes, or evolves. It is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He always will lead us according to what His Word says.
That&rsquo;s a hard pill for some people to swallow, especially when they see God&rsquo;s Word as keeping them from pursuing their own desires. As a result, some come up with some lame concepts, such as, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re not married, but God has told us it&rsquo;s okay to have sex.&rdquo; I can assure them that God didn&rsquo;t say that because in His Word says, "God&rsquo;s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin" (1 Thessalonians 4:3 NLT). God won&rsquo;t contradict His Word.
We also need to realize that God&rsquo;s Word isn&rsquo;t an obstacle; it&rsquo;s an opportunity. Think back to the time when people used to send letters by mail. If you were expecting a letter from someone, you&rsquo;d stand at the window, waiting for what seemed like an eternity for the postal worker to come by. Then you&rsquo;d bolt to the mailbox to look for your letter. Maybe it was from someone you were in love with. Maybe it was an answer to a job application. Maybe it was something you ordered in the mail. Maybe it was important news you&rsquo;ve been waiting for.
But what if you had a handwritten note sent to you from God Himself? Would you carry it around in your pocket for a couple of weeks and open it when you got around to it? I doubt it. You probably would tear it open as you&rsquo;re thinking, &ldquo;Wow, God spoke to me! What does He have to say?&rdquo;
The Bible is a written letter from God. Many people carry it around. They have it in different colors and sizes. They have it in different translations. They even have it on their phones and devices. But they never open it. A letter from God Himself goes unread.
What a missed opportunity! The psalmist wrote, &ldquo;Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path&rdquo; (Psalm 119:105 NLT). God stands ready to illuminate every area of our lives. If you want Him to speak to you, then open His Word.
In the noise and busyness of social media, you&rsquo;ll find countless people who will tell you what God wants and doesn&rsquo;t want, what He loves and hates, what He rewards and punishes, and what He cares about and what He&rsquo;s indifferent to.
But only in the quiet stillness of reading His Word for yourself will you find the truth about our heavenly Father.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: How do you make the most of your time in God&rsquo;s Word?&nbsp;<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
&mdash;
The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."
&nbsp;
All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

In the quiet stillness of reading God’s Word, you will find His truth.

Hearing God’s Voice in His Word | Psalm 119:105

“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24–26 NLT)

 

Attention is becoming a scarce commodity in our modern culture. Attention spans have become alarmingly short. Algorithms are constantly being tweaked and perfected to keep people’s focus on their screens. As a result, many people have little attention to spare for others.

How often do you find yourself talking to someone who isn’t listening—or who’s giving you considerably less than their full attention? And when you call them on it, the conversation usually goes something like this:

“Did you hear what I just said?”

“Yes.”

“What did I say?”

“Uh, something about something that happened.”

We may be tempted to wonder if we face the same challenge with God. He is the Sustainer of the universe, after all. Given the infinite number of things that concern Him, we may question whether we have His full attention. And when things aren’t going well for us, we may start to doubt that He’s even aware of our struggles.

Maybe Joseph felt that way at times. After all, he was only human. He had done all the right things, even after his brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. He had resisted the advances of Potiphar’s wife. And what did he get for being a person of integrity? He was falsely accused of sexual assault and thrown into an Egyptian prison.

How easily Joseph could have thought, “This is just great. You serve the Lord, you do what God wants, and this is where it gets you. If I had given in to Mrs. Potiphar, I wouldn’t be here right now. I would be living in the lap of luxury. But here I am, suffering!”

Of course, this would have been a shortsighted reaction. The truth is that God’s full attention was on Joseph, not just on his immediate circumstances, but on his long-term potential. God’s plan wasn’t for Joseph to be comfortable every day of his life and fully informed of what the future held. His plan was for Joseph to save countless people from famine and to set into motion the events that eventually would lead the people of Israel to the Promised Land.

Joseph was the ideal person for the job because he was willing to be still in even the worst circumstances. To look for the opportunities that presented themselves in prison. To use his God-given skills in surprising ways.

Even in the quietness of prison, Joseph was not outside God’s attention. He certainly didn’t understand everything that was happening to him. But he recognized that his circumstances were part of his preparation. He trusted that God was equipping him for something greater.

We too can have that confidence. Numbers 6:24–26 says, “May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace” (NLT). The idea is that the Lord gives us His full attention.

Be still and let that amazing truth give you comfort in both good times and bad.

 

Reflection question: What does it mean to you to have God’s full attention? 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

&ldquo;May the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;bless you and protect you.&nbsp;May the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;smile on you and be gracious to you.&nbsp;May the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;show you his favor and give you his peace.&rdquo; (Numbers 6:24&ndash;26 NLT)
&nbsp;
Attention is becoming a scarce commodity in our modern culture. Attention spans have become alarmingly short. Algorithms are constantly being tweaked and perfected to keep people&rsquo;s focus on their screens. As a result, many people have little attention to spare for others.
How often do you find yourself talking to someone who isn&rsquo;t listening&mdash;or who&rsquo;s giving you considerably less than their full attention? And when you call them on it, the conversation usually goes something like this:
&ldquo;Did you hear what I just said?&rdquo;
&ldquo;Yes.&rdquo;
&ldquo;What did I say?&rdquo;
&ldquo;Uh, something about something that happened.&rdquo;
We may be tempted to wonder if we face the same challenge with God. He is the Sustainer of the universe, after all. Given the infinite number of things that concern Him, we may question whether we have His full attention. And when things aren&rsquo;t going well for us, we may start to doubt that He&rsquo;s even aware of our struggles.
Maybe Joseph felt that way at times. After all, he was only human. He had done all the right things, even after his brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. He had resisted the advances of Potiphar&rsquo;s wife. And what did he get for being a person of integrity? He was falsely accused of sexual assault and thrown into an Egyptian prison.
How easily Joseph could have thought, &ldquo;This is just great. You serve the Lord, you do what God wants, and this is where it gets you. If I had given in to Mrs. Potiphar, I wouldn&rsquo;t be here right now. I would be living in the lap of luxury. But here I am, suffering!&rdquo;
Of course, this would have been a shortsighted reaction. The truth is that God&rsquo;s full attention was on Joseph, not just on his immediate circumstances, but on his long-term potential. God&rsquo;s plan wasn&rsquo;t for Joseph to be comfortable every day of his life and fully informed of what the future held. His plan was for Joseph to save countless people from famine and to set into motion the events that eventually would lead the people of Israel to the Promised Land.
Joseph was the ideal person for the job because he was willing to be still in even the worst circumstances. To look for the opportunities that presented themselves in prison. To use his God-given skills in surprising ways.
Even in the quietness of prison, Joseph was not outside God&rsquo;s attention. He certainly didn&rsquo;t understand everything that was happening to him. But he recognized that his circumstances were part of his preparation. He trusted that God was equipping him for something greater.
We too can have that confidence. Numbers 6:24&ndash;26 says, &ldquo;May the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;bless you and protect you.&nbsp;May the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;smile on you and be gracious to you.&nbsp;May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace&rdquo; (NLT). The idea is that the Lord gives us His full attention.
Be still and let that amazing truth give you comfort in both good times and bad.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What does it mean to you to have God&rsquo;s full attention?&nbsp;<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
&mdash;
The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."
&nbsp;
All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

Even There | Psalm 139:8

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