"Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused." Romans 1:21

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"Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused." Romans 1:21
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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

ROMANS 1:21: Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

In Our Own Image | Romans 1:21

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NIV)

 

The sword of the Spirit that the apostle Paul talks about in Ephesians 6 is not only for deflecting a blow from the enemy; it’s also for inflicting one. This is something the devil doesn’t want you to know. He doesn’t want you to start attacking, because if you’re always defending, then he’s in the superior position. But if you’re attacking, then you’re in the superior position.

If you have a hard time picturing your Bible as a weapon, look at Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 above. As believers, our battles are spiritual. Standard military weaponry and tactics don’t apply. The battles take place in our hearts and minds. They’re played out in our thoughts, philosophies, priorities, and beliefs. And because the Bible is God’s truth—the ultimate and most powerful source of truth—nothing else can match its impact. It has the power to demolish the excuses, philosophies, reasoning, and arguments that cause people to oppose and reject the Christian faith.

As spiritual warriors for Christ, we must confront the lies of this world with the truth of God’s Word. That’s how we wield the sword of the Spirit.

We also use it to set the devil’s spiritual captives free. We do that by sharing the gospel with unbelievers using the words of Scripture. In Acts 8, we see this scenario play out in the life of Philip, an early Christian evangelist. Philip ministered in the city of Samaria, where he “told the people there about the Messiah” (verse 5 NLT). As a result, “people believed Philip’s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (verse 12 NLT).

What looks like evangelism to us is actually spiritual battle. Philip used the Good News to attack the devil’s stronghold in Samaria. In verse 26, an angel of the Lord gave Philip marching orders: “Go south” (NLT). Like a good soldier, Philip obeyed. He found an Ethiopian official who was trying to understand a Bible passage. Philip used the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to help the man understand the truth about Jesus. Armed only with the words of Scripture, he took the battle to the devil.

Make no mistake about it: There is authority and power in the Word of God. My words will fall to the ground, but God’s Word sticks. God’s Word breaks through. We could spend all day trying to defend and explain the Bible, but I have a better idea: Use the sword of the Spirit. That’s what Philip did, and that’s what we need to do as well.

 

Reflection question: In your circle of acquaintances, what are some faulty philosophies, reasoning, and arguments that need to be confronted with the truth of God’s Word? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" 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;For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.&rdquo; (2 Corinthians 10:3&ndash;5 NIV)
&nbsp;
The sword of the Spirit that the apostle Paul talks about in Ephesians 6 is not only for deflecting a blow from the enemy; it&rsquo;s also for inflicting one. This is something the devil doesn&rsquo;t want you to know. He doesn&rsquo;t want you to start attacking, because if you&rsquo;re always defending, then he&rsquo;s in the superior position. But if you&rsquo;re attacking, then you&rsquo;re in the superior position.
If you have a hard time picturing your Bible as a weapon, look at Paul&rsquo;s words in 2 Corinthians 10:3&ndash;5 above. As believers, our battles are spiritual. Standard military weaponry and tactics don&rsquo;t apply. The battles take place in our hearts and minds. They&rsquo;re played out in our thoughts, philosophies, priorities, and beliefs. And because the Bible is God&rsquo;s truth&mdash;the ultimate and most powerful source of truth&mdash;nothing else can match its impact. It has the power to demolish the excuses, philosophies, reasoning, and arguments that cause people to oppose and reject the Christian faith.
As spiritual warriors for Christ, we must confront the lies of this world with the truth of God&rsquo;s Word. That&rsquo;s how we wield the sword of the Spirit.
We also use it to set the devil&rsquo;s spiritual captives free. We do that by sharing the gospel with unbelievers using the words of Scripture. In Acts 8, we see this scenario play out in the life of Philip, an early Christian evangelist. Philip ministered in the city of Samaria, where he &ldquo;told the people there about the Messiah&rdquo; (verse 5 NLT). As a result, &ldquo;people believed Philip&rsquo;s message of Good News concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ&rdquo; (verse 12 NLT).
What looks like evangelism to us is actually spiritual battle. Philip used the Good News to attack the devil&rsquo;s stronghold in Samaria. In verse 26, an angel of the Lord gave Philip marching orders: &ldquo;Go south&rdquo; (NLT). Like a good soldier, Philip obeyed. He found an Ethiopian official who was trying to understand a Bible passage. Philip used the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, to help the man understand the truth about Jesus. Armed only with the words of Scripture, he took the battle to the devil.
Make no mistake about it: There is authority and power in the Word of God. My words will fall to the ground, but God&rsquo;s Word sticks. God&rsquo;s Word breaks through. We could spend all day trying to defend and explain the Bible, but I have a better idea: Use the sword of the Spirit. That&rsquo;s what Philip did, and that&rsquo;s what we need to do as well.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: In your circle of acquaintances, what are some faulty philosophies, reasoning, and arguments that need to be confronted with the truth of 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 "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" 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.
<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>

God’s Word has the power to demolish the excuses, philosophies, reasoning, and arguments that cause people to oppose and reject the Christian faith.

Demolishing Strongholds | 2 Corinthians 10:3–5

“Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17 NLT)

 

The pieces of the armor of God that the apostle Paul lists in Ephesians 6 are almost all defensive in nature. They are designed to protect. Only one—the sword of the Spirit, the word of God—is intended as a weapon. Unfortunately, many believers never use it as one. They have the rest of their armor in place, but they keep their sword in its sheath.

They talk about it. They study it. They compare swords with others. But they never use it in spiritual battle. That pacifist approach plays right into the devil’s hands. He knows all too well the power and authority of the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s Word.

The author of Hebrews wrote, “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12 NLT). God Himself said, “It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it” (Isaiah 55:11 NLT). The devil has no defense against the Word of God. That’s why he doesn’t want you to use this incredible weapon God has given you.

Remember how effectively Jesus used the sword of God’s Word to defend Himself when He faced spiritual attack in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1–11? Jesus was God. He didn’t have to stand around and deal with the devil. He could have gotten out of the situation very easily. Instead, He engaged the enemy and modeled for us the right way to fight temptation: with the Word of God.

When the devil tries to attack you with temptation, fear, or doubt, or when he brings up past sins you’ve already confessed and been forgiven of, remember the sword of the Spirit. Pull God’s Word out of its sheath and use it aggressively to defend yourself.

The more time you spend in God’s Word, the more formidable you’ll be in battle. You can hone your swordsmanship by studying God’s promises and committing them to memory. You might start with Hebrews 13:5: “For God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you’” (NLT).

You can hone your skills further by studying your enemy’s battle tendencies throughout Scripture. Look at the way he approached Eve, the way he tried to devastate Job, and the way he tempted Jesus. The more you know about your enemy’s movements on the battlefield, the better you can prepare to defend against them.

Look at Paul’s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth” (NLT). The person who can wield God’s Word with accuracy, understanding, authority, and humility is thoroughly equipped to do spiritual battle.

 

Reflection question: How would you use God’s Word to protect yourself if the devil tried to attack you with doubt? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" 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;Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.&rdquo; (Ephesians 6:17 NLT)
&nbsp;
The pieces of the armor of God that the apostle Paul lists in Ephesians 6 are almost all defensive in nature. They are designed to protect. Only one&mdash;the sword of the Spirit, the word of God&mdash;is intended as a weapon. Unfortunately, many believers never use it as one. They have the rest of their armor in place, but they keep their sword in its sheath.
They talk about it. They study it. They compare swords with others. But they never use it in spiritual battle. That pacifist approach plays right into the devil&rsquo;s hands. He knows all too well the power and authority of the sword of the Spirit, which is God&rsquo;s Word.
The author of Hebrews wrote, &ldquo;For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires&rdquo; (Hebrews 4:12 NLT). God Himself said, &ldquo;It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it&rdquo; (Isaiah 55:11 NLT). The devil has no defense against the Word of God. That&rsquo;s why he doesn&rsquo;t want you to use this incredible weapon God has given you.
Remember how effectively Jesus used the sword of God&rsquo;s Word to defend Himself when He faced spiritual attack in the wilderness in Matthew 4:1&ndash;11? Jesus was God. He didn&rsquo;t have to stand around and deal with the devil. He could have gotten out of the situation very easily. Instead, He engaged the enemy and modeled for us the right way to fight temptation: with the Word of God.
When the devil tries to attack you with temptation, fear, or doubt, or when he brings up past sins you&rsquo;ve already confessed and been forgiven of, remember the sword of the Spirit. Pull God&rsquo;s Word out of its sheath and use it aggressively to defend yourself.
The more time you spend in God&rsquo;s Word, the more formidable you&rsquo;ll be in battle. You can hone your swordsmanship by studying God&rsquo;s promises and committing them to memory. You might start with Hebrews 13:5: &ldquo;For God has said, &lsquo;I will never fail you. I will never abandon you&rsquo;&rdquo; (NLT).
You can hone your skills further by studying your enemy&rsquo;s battle tendencies throughout Scripture. Look at the way he approached Eve, the way he tried to devastate Job, and the way he tempted Jesus. The more you know about your enemy&rsquo;s movements on the battlefield, the better you can prepare to defend against them.
Look at Paul&rsquo;s words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15: &ldquo;Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth&rdquo; (NLT). The person who can wield God&rsquo;s Word with accuracy, understanding, authority, and humility is thoroughly equipped to do spiritual battle.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: How would you use God&rsquo;s Word to protect yourself if the devil tried to attack you with doubt?&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 "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" 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.
<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>

God’s Word has power and authority, which makes it the ideal weapon to use against the devil.

The Sword of the Spirit | Ephesians 6:17

“Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:17 NLT)

 

There are a lot of motorcyclists today who don’t like helmet laws. Rather than donning a helmet, they prefer to feel the wind in their hair and the sun on their face. It feels like freedom. That is, when things are going well. But the moment they lose control, and their bike goes airborne, is when a helmet suddenly seems like a really good idea. In fact, it might be the difference between life and death. Between walking away from an accident and being carried away from it.

The helmet of the Roman soldier was made of leather and covered with metal. It was the last piece of armor the soldier put on. It was essential in battle for the same reason a motorcycle helmet is important: It protected the brain, the command center of the body. The brain processed the input of the soldier’s eyes and ears. It recalled the soldier’s training. It deciphered the enemy’s battlefield strategies. It directed the soldier’s movements. The protection the helmet provided was crucial. If the soldier’s brain was damaged, the rest of the armor was useless.

In spiritual battle, believers must put on the helmet of salvation because our minds, thoughts, and imaginations must be protected. That’s where most temptations start. The devil recognizes the importance of getting a foothold in the realm of our thoughts and imagination, because it prepares the way for that thought to translate into action. Perhaps you’re familiar with the adage, “Sow a thought; reap an act. Sow an act; reap a habit. Sow a habit; reap a character. Sow a character; reap a destiny.” It all starts with a thought.

Putting on the helmet of salvation means embracing the assurance of salvation that God offers. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross saves us from God’s ultimate punishment for our sin and makes eternal life possible. But it does more than that. In the here and now, it saves us from the devil’s attacks. God has equipped us to win the battle for our minds.

We may not be able to control all the things in this world that we’re exposed to, but we can control some things. We can control the social media we choose to explore. We can control the movies and shows we choose to watch. We can control what we choose to read and listen to. 

In his letter to the believers in Philippi, Paul offered some insight into how to do it. “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. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:6–8 NLT).

Be careful what you allow into your mind. Put on the helmet of salvation.

 

Reflection question: What’s your most effective strategy for guarding your mind against the devil’s attacks? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

—

The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" 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;Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.&rdquo; (Ephesians 6:17 NLT)
&nbsp;
There are a lot of motorcyclists today who don&rsquo;t like helmet laws. Rather than donning a helmet, they prefer to feel the wind in their hair and the sun on their face. It feels like freedom. That is, when things are going well. But the moment they lose control, and their bike goes airborne, is when a helmet suddenly seems like a really good idea. In fact, it might be the difference between life and death. Between walking away from an accident and being carried away from it.
The helmet of the Roman soldier was made of leather and covered with metal. It was the last piece of armor the soldier put on. It was essential in battle for the same reason a motorcycle helmet is important: It protected the brain, the command center of the body. The brain processed the input of the soldier&rsquo;s eyes and ears. It recalled the soldier&rsquo;s training. It deciphered the enemy&rsquo;s battlefield strategies. It directed the soldier&rsquo;s movements. The protection the helmet provided was crucial. If the soldier&rsquo;s brain was damaged, the rest of the armor was useless.
In spiritual battle, believers must put on the helmet of salvation because our minds, thoughts, and imaginations must be protected. That&rsquo;s where most temptations start. The devil recognizes the importance of getting a foothold in the realm of our thoughts and imagination, because it prepares the way for that thought to translate into action. Perhaps you&rsquo;re familiar with the adage, &ldquo;Sow a thought; reap an act. Sow an act; reap a habit. Sow a habit; reap a character. Sow a character; reap a destiny.&rdquo; It all starts with a thought.
Putting on the helmet of salvation means embracing the assurance of salvation that God offers. Jesus&rsquo; sacrifice on the cross saves us from God&rsquo;s ultimate punishment for our sin and makes eternal life possible. But it does more than that. In the here and now, it saves us from the devil&rsquo;s attacks. God has equipped us to win the battle for our minds.
We may not be able to control all the things in this world that we&rsquo;re exposed to, but we can control some things. We can control the social media we choose to explore. We can control the movies and shows we choose to watch. We can control what we choose to read and listen to.&nbsp;
In his letter to the believers in Philippi, Paul offered some insight into how to do it. &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. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise&rdquo; (Philippians 4:6&ndash;8 NLT).
Be careful what you allow into your mind. Put on the helmet of salvation.
&nbsp;
Reflection question: What&rsquo;s your most effective strategy for guarding your mind against the devil&rsquo;s attacks?&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 "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" 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.
<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>

God’s peace will guard your heart and mind from the devil’s attacks.

In Our Own Image | Romans 1:21

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