"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." —Psalm 139:23–24 

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"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." —Psalm 139:23–24 
—
<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. 

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 <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.

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

Daily Devotions From Greg Laurie

PSALM 139:23–24: Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

God’s Recipe for Revival | Psalm 139:23–24

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘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?’ Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:25–27 NLT)

Did Jesus exist before the nativity in Bethlehem? Was there a Christ before Christmas?

The answer is yes.

Jesus’ arrival in Bethlehem is when the incarnation took place. The incarnation is when God became a man. But that’s not when Jesus came into being. Jesus, being God, has always been and He always will be. He is eternal because He is God. Understanding that opens up Scripture to us in a whole new way.

The Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament covers events that occurred before Jesus’ birth. The New Testament covers events surrounding His birth and after. It’s similar to the way we divide history. The Old Testament is BC (before Christ); the New Testament is AD (anno Domini), which is Latin for “in the year of the Lord.”

Casual readers of the Bible may assume that Jesus is a New Testament figure, an AD man. But that’s not the case. Remember, He’s eternal, so there’s no such period as BC because nothing existed before Christ.

John 1:1–2 says, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God” (NLT). And in Colossians 1:17, the apostle Paul writes of Christ, “He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together” (NLT).

Not only has Christ existed forever, He is also the central figure of Scripture. Not just the New Testament, but the Old Testament as well. That’s the theme for our devotions this month: Jesus in the Old Testament. You can’t fully appreciate God’s amazing plan of salvation until you connect the dots between the Old Testament passages that anticipate Christ’s coming and the New Testament passages that detail His saving work.

Luke 24 tells the story of two followers of Christ who were walking to the village of Emmaus three days after Jesus’ crucifixion, just as news of His resurrection was starting to spread. They were sad and confused. Jesus appeared to them, but God kept them from recognizing Him at first.

Jesus’ words to them—“You foolish people!”—may seem harsh. But Jesus wanted them to understand that it wasn’t the time for mourning or confusion. The Messiah was alive! God’s plan of salvation had been accomplished! Death had been conquered! Centuries of prophecy and promises had been fulfilled!

Verse 27 says, “Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (NLT). These men likely were no strangers to Old Testament Scripture. But they had failed to make some very important connections. Not only were Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection all part of God’s prophetic plan, but so was just about everything else He did. The evidence was there, in the words of Scripture, for anyone who searched for it. Jesus helped His followers recognize the clues they had missed.

We are never alone in life. That’s the message we see from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus has always been there. He appeared to Abraham and Jacob, among others. He was never far from the minds of the Old Testament prophets. And to those who are His disciples, He says, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT).

Reflection question: What does the Old Testament reveal about God and His plan of salvation?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

&ldquo;Then Jesus said to them, &lsquo;You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn&rsquo;t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?&rsquo; Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.&rdquo; (Luke 24:25&ndash;27 NLT)
Did Jesus exist before the nativity in Bethlehem? Was there a Christ before Christmas?
The answer is yes.
Jesus&rsquo; arrival in Bethlehem is when the incarnation took place. The incarnation is when God became a man. But that&rsquo;s not when Jesus came into being. Jesus, being God, has always been and He always will be. He is eternal because He is God. Understanding that opens up Scripture to us in a whole new way.
The Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament covers events that occurred before Jesus&rsquo; birth. The New Testament covers events surrounding His birth and after. It&rsquo;s similar to the way we divide history. The Old Testament is BC (before Christ); the New Testament is AD (anno Domini), which is Latin for &ldquo;in the year of the Lord.&rdquo;
Casual readers of the Bible may assume that Jesus is a New Testament figure, an AD man. But that&rsquo;s not the case. Remember, He&rsquo;s eternal, so there&rsquo;s no such period as BC because nothing existed before Christ.
John 1:1&ndash;2 says, &ldquo;In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God&rdquo; (NLT). And in Colossians 1:17, the apostle Paul writes of Christ, &ldquo;He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together&rdquo; (NLT).
Not only has Christ existed forever, He is also the central figure of Scripture. Not just the New Testament, but the Old Testament as well. That&rsquo;s the theme for our devotions this month: Jesus in the Old Testament. You can&rsquo;t fully appreciate God&rsquo;s amazing plan of salvation until you connect the dots between the Old Testament passages that anticipate Christ&rsquo;s coming and the New Testament passages that detail His saving work.
Luke 24 tells the story of two followers of Christ who were walking to the village of Emmaus three days after Jesus&rsquo; crucifixion, just as news of His resurrection was starting to spread. They were sad and confused. Jesus appeared to them, but God kept them from recognizing Him at first.
Jesus&rsquo; words to them&mdash;&ldquo;You foolish people!&rdquo;&mdash;may seem harsh. But Jesus wanted them to understand that it wasn&rsquo;t the time for mourning or confusion. The Messiah was alive! God&rsquo;s plan of salvation had been accomplished! Death had been conquered! Centuries of prophecy and promises had been fulfilled!
Verse 27 says, &ldquo;Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself&rdquo; (NLT). These men likely were no strangers to Old Testament Scripture. But they had failed to make some very important connections. Not only were Jesus&rsquo; suffering, death, and resurrection all part of God&rsquo;s prophetic plan, but so was just about everything else He did. The evidence was there, in the words of Scripture, for anyone who searched for it. Jesus helped His followers recognize the clues they had missed.
We are never alone in life. That&rsquo;s the message we see from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus has always been there. He appeared to Abraham and Jacob, among others. He was never far from the minds of the Old Testament prophets. And to those who are His disciples, He says, &ldquo;I am with you always, even to the end of the age&rdquo; (Matthew 28:20 NLT).
Reflection question: What does the Old Testament reveal about God and His plan of salvation?
<a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/landing?from=https%3A%2F%2Fdisciple.harvest.org%2Fspaces%2F17592429%2Ffeed%3Futm_source%3DDD%26utm_medium%3Dpodcast%26utm_campaign%3DHarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
&mdash;
<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>

The Old Testament reveals the prophecies and promises that Jesus fulfilled.

Jesus BC | Luke 24:25–27

“Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” (James 1:27 NLT)

In football, there are players who excel at their position on offense and players who excel at their position on defense. And then there are the exceedingly rare athletes who excel on both sides of the ball. They’re called two-way players. They have the skills to contribute both offensively and defensively.

In James 1:27, James calls for Christians to be “two-way players” in putting our faith into action. On the offensive side, he calls us to involve ourselves in the lives of people in need. On the defensive side, he warns us to guard against being corrupted by the world.

Unlike the athletic marvels in football, you don’t need to be extremely gifted to excel in both areas as a believer. You just need to align your priorities with God and follow the game plan in His Word.

In this case, the game plan begins with choosing a side. Here’s a hint: Always team up with people in need, those who fall through the cracks of our society. God loves underdogs—and the people who side with them. Proverbs 19:17 says, “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—and he will repay you!” (NLT). And Jesus Himself, quoting Isaiah 61:1–2, said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come” (Luke 4:18–19 NLT).

Your first instinct may be to pray for the poor and needy in your community. And that’s an instinct you should certainly follow. But if you do, and you stay alert to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, you’ll probably discover that you’re the answer to your own prayer. Or at least part of the answer. There’s a very good chance that He’ll call you to get actively involved in the lives of the people you pray for.

What that might look like is hard to say. What matters is that you can make a difference. You can bring hope to people who desperately need it. You can use your skills and resources to give them assistance. You can connect them to your community. You can let them know that you care in tangible ways. You can show them what Jesus’ love looks like.

But as you concern yourself with other people’s well-being, don’t neglect your own. Especially your spiritual well-being. The world’s influence is a constant threat. What makes it so dangerous is that often you don’t even know you’re being influenced or corrupted.

You need accountability partners—people who can recognize signs of corruption, or even just worldly influence, in you. People who aren’t afraid to lovingly challenge you when necessary. The ideal accountability partner is a Christian spouse or loved one, someone who knows you well and has a deep concern and a vested interest in your spiritual well-being.

Reflection question: What are some subtle ways in which a person can be corrupted or negatively influenced by the world?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

&ldquo;Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.&rdquo; (James 1:27 NLT)
In football, there are players who excel at their position on offense and players who excel at their position on defense. And then there are the exceedingly rare athletes who excel on both sides of the ball. They&rsquo;re called two-way players. They have the skills to contribute both offensively and defensively.
In James 1:27, James calls for Christians to be &ldquo;two-way players&rdquo; in putting our faith into action. On the offensive side, he calls us to involve ourselves in the lives of people in need. On the defensive side, he warns us to guard against being corrupted by the world.
Unlike the athletic marvels in football, you don&rsquo;t need to be extremely gifted to excel in both areas as a believer. You just need to align your priorities with God and follow the game plan in His Word.
In this case, the game plan begins with choosing a side. Here&rsquo;s a hint: Always team up with people in need, those who fall through the cracks of our society. God loves underdogs&mdash;and the people who side with them. Proverbs 19:17 says, &ldquo;If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord&mdash;and he will repay you!&rdquo; (NLT). And Jesus Himself, quoting Isaiah 61:1&ndash;2, said, &ldquo;The Spirit of the&nbsp;Lord&nbsp;is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,&nbsp;that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the&nbsp;Lord&rsquo;s favor has come&rdquo; (Luke 4:18&ndash;19 NLT).
Your first instinct may be to pray for the poor and needy in your community. And that&rsquo;s an instinct you should certainly follow. But if you do, and you stay alert to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, you&rsquo;ll probably discover that you&rsquo;re the answer to your own prayer. Or at least part of the answer. There&rsquo;s a very good chance that He&rsquo;ll call you to get actively involved in the lives of the people you pray for.
What that might look like is hard to say. What matters is that you can make a difference. You can bring hope to people who desperately need it. You can use your skills and resources to give them assistance. You can connect them to your community. You can let them know that you care in tangible ways. You can show them what Jesus&rsquo; love looks like.
But as you concern yourself with other people&rsquo;s well-being, don&rsquo;t neglect your own. Especially your spiritual well-being. The world&rsquo;s influence is a constant threat. What makes it so dangerous is that often you don&rsquo;t even know you&rsquo;re being influenced or corrupted.
You need accountability partners&mdash;people who can recognize signs of corruption, or even just worldly influence, in you. People who aren&rsquo;t afraid to lovingly challenge you when necessary. The ideal accountability partner is a Christian spouse or loved one, someone who knows you well and has a deep concern and a vested interest in your spiritual well-being.
Reflection question: What are some subtle ways in which a person can be corrupted or negatively influenced by the world?
<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;
<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>

Make a difference in the lives of people in need, but guard against being corrupted by the world.

Pure, Genuine, and Uncorrupted | James 1:27

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:22 NLT)

The Bible is the source of some of the most famous quotes in all of literature. “A fool and his money are soon parted” comes from Proverbs 21:20. “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” which was quoted by Abraham Lincoln in a speech on the eve of the Civil War, comes from Matthew 12:25. “Go the extra mile” comes from Matthew 5:41. And “You reap what you sow” comes from Galatians 6:7.

God’s Word also contains some of the most familiar stories ever written. Even people who have never cracked the spine of a Bible can tell you about Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den, or Hezekiah’s purification of the temple (okay, maybe not that one).

There’s a lot to admire in the Bible. But God doesn’t want us to be admirers of His Word. He doesn’t want us to be appreciators or bystanders. He wants us to be active participants. He wants us to apply those famous quotes to the decisions we make every day. He wants us to find common ground with people who were faithful to God in those familiar stories. He wants us to take steps to avoid the fate of the people who weren’t faithful.

The Bible contains wisdom that can be applied to practically any area of your life. The key is knowing how to make the connection. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7, the apostle Paul writes, “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (NLT).

The way you connect these words to your life will depend on your relationship. You might resolve to learn to tolerate—or maybe even appreciate—certain quirks or habits of your spouse that try your patience. You might take steps to deal with your feelings of jealousy. You might apologize for times when you demanded your own way or brought up things your spouse did in the past.

Maybe you’re struggling in your relationship. Maybe you and your spouse have even talked about ending it. If you turn the words of 1 Corinthians 13 into a plan of action, you might choose instead not to give up. You might ask God to strengthen your faith—in Him and in one another. You might look for signs of hope that you can build on. You might talk to a Christian counselor to find ways to endure together.

If you study God’s Word for the purpose of doing what it says, you can change your relationship—and every other area of your life—in ways you can’t imagine.

Reflection question: How will you apply a specific passage of Scripture to your life this week?

Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast

Become a Harvest Partner

&ldquo;But don&rsquo;t just listen to God&rsquo;s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.&rdquo; (James 1:22 NLT)
The Bible is the source of some of the most famous quotes in all of literature. &ldquo;A fool and his money are soon parted&rdquo; comes from Proverbs 21:20. &ldquo;A house divided against itself cannot stand,&rdquo; which was quoted by Abraham Lincoln in a speech on the eve of the Civil War, comes from Matthew 12:25. &ldquo;Go the extra mile&rdquo; comes from Matthew 5:41. And &ldquo;You reap what you sow&rdquo; comes from Galatians 6:7.
God&rsquo;s Word also contains some of the most familiar stories ever written. Even people who have never cracked the spine of a Bible can tell you about Noah&rsquo;s Ark, David and Goliath, Daniel in the lion&rsquo;s den, or Hezekiah&rsquo;s purification of the temple (okay, maybe not that one).
There&rsquo;s a lot to admire in the Bible. But God doesn&rsquo;t want us to be admirers of His Word. He doesn&rsquo;t want us to be appreciators or bystanders. He wants us to be active participants. He wants us to apply those famous quotes to the decisions we make every day. He wants us to find common ground with people who were faithful to God in those familiar stories. He wants us to take steps to avoid the fate of the people who weren&rsquo;t faithful.
The Bible contains wisdom that can be applied to practically any area of your life. The key is knowing how to make the connection. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 13:4&ndash;7, the apostle Paul writes, &ldquo;Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud&nbsp;or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.&nbsp;It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.&nbsp;Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance&rdquo; (NLT).
The way you connect these words to your life will depend on your relationship. You might resolve to learn to tolerate&mdash;or maybe even appreciate&mdash;certain quirks or habits of your spouse that try your patience. You might take steps to deal with your feelings of jealousy. You might apologize for times when you demanded your own way or brought up things your spouse did in the past.
Maybe you&rsquo;re struggling in your relationship. Maybe you and your spouse have even talked about ending it. If you turn the words of 1 Corinthians 13 into a plan of action, you might choose instead not to give up. You might ask God to strengthen your faith&mdash;in Him and in one another. You might look for signs of hope that you can build on. You might talk to a Christian counselor to find ways to endure together.
If you study God&rsquo;s Word for the purpose of doing what it says, you can change your relationship&mdash;and every other area of your life&mdash;in ways you can&rsquo;t imagine.
Reflection question: How will you apply a specific passage of Scripture to your life this week?
<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;
<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>

Don’t just read God’s Word—do what it says.

God’s Recipe for Revival | Psalm 139:23–24

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