Category Archives: Greg Laurie

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Greg Laurie – Temporary Unknowns   

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We see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. —1 Corinthians 13:12

The Bible tells us that one day, in heaven, we will know as we are known (see 1 Corinthians 13:12).

For the time being, I don’t have a complete knowledge of life beyond this life. The fact of the matter is, there’s so much about the person of God, His ways, and His dwelling place that I don’t know. But one day in a new body, I will see Him face-to-face, and all of my questions will be answered.

The apostle Paul had a remarkable experience in which he died and then was revived (see Acts 14:19-20). This wasn’t a near-death experience; Paul literally died. But he didn’t write a book about it or go on the talk show circuit. He basically said, “I was caught up into the third heaven and heard things that I can’t even describe to you, but it was paradise” (see 2 Corinthians 12:2). That’s all he would say.

It does appear, however, that we will recognize one another in heaven. After all, when Moses and Elijah met with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples recognized them immediately. So you might ask, “How will I know you if I’m looking for you?” Well, look for the guy with the full head of brand-new hair. That will be me.

Yes, someday very soon we will be with the Lord. And though we don’t know a great deal about heaven now, we can be sure its reality will exceed our wildest dreams. We will see the Lord, and we will see one another. And all of the mysteries will be solved.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Life During Life       

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I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. —John 10:10

An interest in life on Mars seems to run in cycles. At this writing, our nation has a new exploration robot prowling around and digging little holes in the dirt near the Martian north pole.

A few years ago, I was even interviewed for an article about life on other planets. I said, “I don’t see anything in the Bible that would indicate there is life on other planets, but if there is, God created it.” They closed the article with another of my statements: “Maybe we shouldn’t be so worried about life on other planets and ask ourselves the question, ‘Is there life on Earth, and are we living it the way God wants us to?’ ”

We often wonder whether there is life after death. But is there life during life? That is a question we all should consider.

When I was seventeen, that was my question. I wasn’t so concerned with what happened beyond the grave at that age because I thought I would live a long, long time. My primary concern at that time was, “What’s life all about? What’s the purpose of life?” I knew in my heart there had to be more than what I’d experienced to that point. I was desperately searching for some kind of meaning in life. I just had to know.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to look very far because there was a group of very outspoken Christians on my high school campus. They practiced what they preached, and I was intrigued by them. So I began to watch them. I saw that they were experiencing a dimension of life that I had never known. Not long after that, I gave my life to Jesus and discovered the truth of Jesus’ great statement from John 10:10: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” That’s what I had been searching for: life during life.

Ask the Lord to point you toward someone today who may be searching for that very thing.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Dare to be a Daniel

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Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank. —Daniel 1:8

We serve a living God. And if we serve a living God, then it means we will take Him everywhere we go. It will affect everything we do. It will affect our relationships. It will affect our ethics. It will affect our work. It will affect our play. It will affect the way we think. It will affect the way we live. It will affect the way we vote. It will affect everything we do. Because if Jesus is not Lord of all, then He is not Lord at all.

The Bible tells us about a man who had this kind of faith in God in the midst of tremendous peer pressure. His name was Daniel, and the Bible also gives us an indication as to how he did it: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself . . .” (Daniel 1:8, emphasis added). The word to underline in your Bible is purposed. He purposed in his heart.

That is what we need a lot more of today. How we need men and women of conviction. We need men and women of purpose, people who will say, “This is right. I don’t care if it is popular. I have to do what is right.”

Be a man, be a woman, of purpose. Be a man, be a woman, of conviction. As Philip P. Bliss wrote in his classic hymn, “Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known.” Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. What have you purposed in your heart today?

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – With the End in Mind   

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You, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. —1 Timothy 6:11

Many of us will put ourselves into situations we don’t need to be in. We hang around with people that we don’t need to be hanging around with. We watch movies that we don’t need to be watching. We listen to music that we don’t need to be listening to. And it will affect us.

Granted, we cannot control every circumstance we will face in life. I would acknowledge that all of us end up in situations in which we think, I wish I hadn’t seen that. . . . I wish I hadn’t been exposed to that. But if we live in the real world, then we will see and hear things that we don’t want to. Unfortunately, it is part of life.

Some may say, “Oh, it doesn’t affect me. I can handle it.” But it does. As the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.” We will reap what we sow. It may not be dramatic. It may not be overt, initially. But it will have its effect.

It is a lot like sowing seeds. You don’t sow a few seeds today and have a forest tomorrow. You sow a few seeds today, and then down the road, you have some sprouts. A little bit later, you have plants. And in time, you will have your forest.

The seeds we are sowing today will be reaped eventually. And if we are sowing seeds of corruption, then we will reap the tragic results later. If we are sowing spiritual seeds by doing the right thing, then we will reap the blessed results of that as well. The seeds we are sowing today will be reaped in the years to come.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – The Man in Satan’s Grip  

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When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. —Isaiah 59:19

In Mark 5, the Bible tells us of a man who was possessed by demons, had superhuman strength, and was able to break chains with his bare hands. This dangerous and frightening man lived among the tombs and on the mountains.

But underneath this horrendous exterior was a tortured soul. It’s a picture of Satan’s ultimate goal. This is really what the Devil wants to do. He wants to destroy your life. Although it’s true that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life, it’s also true that Satan hates you and has a horrible plan for your life. The Devil knows his judgment is certain. He knows that Jesus is indeed coming again. For that reason, he’s pulling out all the stops, redoubling his efforts.

The good news is that although the Devil may be feverishly at work 24/7, God isn’t sleeping, either!

This story had a very happy ending. Jesus came into this poor, tormented man’s life and made him into an altogether different kind of a person. Jesus cast out the legion of demons, which went into a herd of pigs . . . and over a cliff into the sea. It was a dramatic transformation for this man.

Jesus can transform your life, too. Let Him lift up a standard against the Enemy in your life today.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – In Spite of Sickness   

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God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. —Revelation 21:4

God can work in spite of sickness. He still answers prayer and heals people today, and He still does miracles. In sickness and in hardships, He can work in a person’s life. Even if a person still has the sickness or problem, God can work in spite of it and give them a special strength. And no matter what happens to our physical bodies here on earth, we have the promise of heaven and ultimate healing in heaven. At that time, God says He will wipe away all our tears. There will be no more death, sorrows, crying, or pain (see Revelation 21:4).

What a glorious promise! There is more—so much more!—beyond this life on earth. Whatever our limitations, whatever our problems, God promises us that we will one day receive a new body that won’t have the shortcomings we experience today.

And God can also use sickness to bring a person to Himself, can’t He? I know of many people who have come to the Lord in the hospital or when facing death. Suddenly they reevaluate their lives. They wonder, What am I living for? What’s really important in my life? What’s going to happen to me when I die? And they begin to think about eternity.

As the psalmist said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word” (Psalm 119:67). God can work in spite of sickness, and He can work through sickness. Nothing is impossible for Him.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Worth Quoting  

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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

I have always felt that when I preach, especially at Harvest Crusades, I should generously quote Scripture because I believe there is authority in the Bible. There isn’t authority in the words of Greg Laurie, unless Greg Laurie is quoting the Bible. My authority comes from God’s Word. So I quote it.

People may not like what I’m saying. It may really bother them. But I have heard story after story of people who made a decision for Christ a week, even a month, after a crusade’s conclusion. I have even heard a few stories of those who were converted in the parking lot following a crusade. A seed was planted. Then it germinated and eventually became fruitful . . . even though it was a little later than we expected. God’s Word won’t return without accomplishing its purpose, so don’t be afraid to quote it.

As young Stephen was about to lose his life, the Devil could have whispered in his ear, “Look at you. You gave up your life up for nothing.” But a little seed had been planted. And unknown to Saul of Tarsus, it was about to bear fruit.

Here were two young men, both standing up for their convictions. One was very religious. One was genuinely spiritual. Stephen was humble, saved by the grace of God. Saul was self-righteous, proud of his works and deeds. Stephen was defending the gospel, while Saul was persecuting it. But Saul ultimately carried out Stephen’s task. He ended up taking his place and carrying the torch that Stephen once did.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Ready and Willing        

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Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” —Acts 8:30

Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?

That was the question the Ethiopian dignitary had for Philip (see Acts 8:34, NLT). It’s a good thing Philip knew the Bible because if he didn’t, he would have had to say, “I don’t know. Can I get back to you?” But this was an opportunity that had to be seized.

That is why the Bible reminds us time and time again to prepare ourselves for such opportunities. Paul wrote to Timothy, “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” (2 Timothy 2:15, NLT).

Philip had prepared himself for the opportunity that was waiting for him. And you must prepare yourself for the opportunity that might be waiting for you today, tomorrow, or the next day.

I have found that when I am sharing the gospel—whether it’s preaching or one on one—the most powerful tool I have is the Word of God. In speaking of His Word, God said,

The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 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

55:10-11, NLT)

I know that Greg Laurie’s word can accomplish zero sometimes. But God’s Word “always produces fruit” (verse 11). Let’s hide it in our hearts and minds. Then, like Philip, we’ll be ready for the opportunities God sends our way.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Without Question   

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An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” —Acts 8:26

Philip was used to leading others to Jesus because he was obedient. How easily Philip could have argued with the angel who gave him these instructions from the Lord: “Arise and go toward the south.” But why? Philip had been preaching in the city of Samaria, and revival was breaking out. And now God was sending him alone into the desert?

It helps to know a little about the geography, the lay of the land. The angel was telling him to travel about eighty miles from where he was. If you were to make the trip today, you would hop in your car and be there in a little over an hour. But Philip had to walk. And let me clue you in: eighty miles is quite a hike. It would have taken days for him to reach his destination—with no 7-Elevens or McDonald’s along the way.

Note that the Lord didn’t say, “There are people waiting to hear the gospel.” He simply said, “Go to the desert.”

How easily Philip could have said, “Excuse me, but the apostles and the other believers in Jerusalem are at least thirty miles closer. Couldn’t You call one of them? I’m busy here. I’m not the only Christian around. Couldn’t You call on someone else?” Yet we don’t read of Philip saying anything like that.

Sometimes God will tell us to do things that may not make sense at the moment. But who are we to question the wisdom of God? That is why Philip was a man whom God could call on. Philip recognized that God knew exactly what He was doing.

Do you recognize that too?

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Just Throw the Net              

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He brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” —Acts 16:30

Many of us are afraid, for one simple reason, to ask someone if they would like to give their life to Jesus Christ. We’re afraid the answer will be no. And it just may be. But there are those wonderful times when someone will surprise you and say, “Tell me more” or maybe even, “I want to give my life to Jesus Christ.”

Many years ago, I had the opportunity to be reunited with my father, Oscar Laurie, the man who adopted me. My mother had divorced him when I was a young boy, and that was the last time I had seen him. Years later, when I had an opportunity to preach on the East Coast, he invited our family to stay at his house for the weekend.

After dinner one night, his wife said, “Greg, tell me about how you came to put your faith in Jesus Christ.” As I shared my testimony and what Christ had done for me, my dad sat there listening with his hands folded. I thought, He’s not buying this at all. But later that night, he asked me to go walking with him the next morning.

As we walked out into the cold morning air, he said, “I was listening to what you said last night. I want to know what I need to do to give my life to Jesus Christ.” He made a commitment to Christ that day, and he faithfully served the Lord for the remaining fifteen years of his life.

Sometimes when you share your faith, you don’t think you’re getting through. But you never know. That is why we need to simply throw out the net, so to speak. We need to give people the opportunity.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Hearing His Voice

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To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. —John 10:3

As you get to know your Shepherd, you will come to realize that when He calls you, it is always worth obeying. When He says something, it is for your benefit. If He says, “Go this way,” it’s because He has green pastures and still waters for you. If He says, “Stop! Don’t do that,” it’s because He is trying to protect you from potential danger, possibly something that is even life-threatening.

The fact that God speaks to us is clear throughout the pages of Scripture. To some, like Moses, God spoke audibly. To others, like the prophet Elijah, He spoke quietly on at least one occasion.

Often we look for the big events, the earth-shaking circumstances in which God speaks. And many times He is speaking to us, but it is in a still, small voice. We should try turning off the television, the radio, and the telephone and just listen. With all the noise in our world, with all the information that bombards us, we can hear all those voices but miss the most important voice of all. Maybe one reason we don’t hear Him is because we never stop and listen. We should heed the words of Psalm 46:10, which says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Once we have heard the voice of God, we need to follow. Jesus said, “The sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:4). The word follow means to deliberately decide to comply with instruction. It is a deliberate choice for sheep to follow the shepherd. We need to deliberately decide to follow our Shepherd, to do what He tells us to do.

When God Almighty speaks to you in that still, small voice, will you listen? Will you follow Him?

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Our Source of Strength    

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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. —Philippians 4:13

Sheep are timid, fearful creatures. Because of their very makeup, it’s almost impossible for them to lie down unless they are free from all fear. An entire flock can go stampeding off into nowhere because a rabbit jumped out of a bush.

Yet how like sheep we are! We can be afraid of so many things: afraid of losing our health . . . afraid of losing our wealth . . . afraid of losing our loved ones. In fact, sometimes it seems we can be afraid of life itself.

Certainly there are a lot of frightening things out there in the world today. Violent crime is at epidemic levels. We wonder, Will I get on a plane and have it blown up by terrorists? Will I keep my job? Will I be robbed walking down the street? Will I contract a terminal disease?

Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, will protect you and stands as your representative before the throne of God. Jesus Christ, who paid the price for your salvation, stands as your righteousness, giving you access into the presence of God. As the Scripture says, Jesus is the One “in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him” (Ephesians 3:12).

As believers, we can have boldness and authority, not because of who we are, but because of whose we are. Jesus is our strength. He is the one who gives us boldness. That’s one more reason why we never want to stray from His side! Instead, we want to stay as close to Him as possible.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Falling into Heaven  

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He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. —Acts 7:60

It’s a funny thing how we find sleep more and more appealing as we get older. When I was a kid, I hated to go to sleep. I still remember kindergarten, with the lukewarm milk in little cartons and having to lie down and take naps in the middle of the day. Sleep is usually the last thing kids want to do, but as we start getting older, the idea of sleep becomes more attractive.

Interestingly, the Bible describes death for a believer as sleep. You close your eyes to the only life you’ve ever known—life on earth—and in the next instant, you open your eyes and find yourself in the very presence of the Lord. Scripture teaches there is no delay at all between life here on earth and life in heaven.

Stephen’s statement in today’s Bible passage indicates that he expected to enter the Lord’s presence as soon as he died.

Again, in 2 Corinthians 5:8, we’re told that following death, a believer will enter immediately into the presence of God: “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

John Bunyan said, “Death is but a passage out of a prison and into a palace.” You see, when death strikes a Christian down, he or she falls into heaven.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – The Person God Uses

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Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

—Colossians 3:23

When I was eighteen and a new believer, I quickly came to understand where the phrase starving artist came from. All I knew how to do was draw cartoons, so I was doing that as well as some freelance graphics on the side. I was trying to make ends meet, but most of all, I longed to be used by God. So I would hang around Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, waiting for an opportunity just to do something.

One day one of the pastors said to me, “Greg, I need you to do something for the church.” I said, “What is it?” Preach the gospel to the ends of the earth? Pray for the sick? I’m ready. Here am I, send me!

“We need you to buy a doorknob.”

“A doorknob?”

“Yes,” he said. “We need you to go to Sears and buy a new doorknob for the church door.”

It was a little job, but I was excited for the opportunity. I was on a mission from God to buy a doorknob. I went to Sears. There must have been three hundred kinds of doorknobs in every size, shape, and finish. I finally bought one and took it back to the church. I was so excited. (It turned out to be the wrong size . . . but I tried!)

Are you excited for any opportunity to serve the Lord, even if it’s a little one? The issue really isn’t big jobs or little jobs. It’s that you are doing it for the Lord. Is that fact alone enough for you? Is it enough that God would want to guide you and use you? If so, then you’re the kind of person He is looking for right now.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – God’s Heroes     

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Few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. —1 Corinthians 1:26–27

In many ways, we have lost the meaning of the word hero. We throw it around so casually. If you can put a ball through a hoop, you’re a sports hero. If you can play eight chords on a guitar, you’re a rock and roll hero. If you can pretend to be something you’re not, you’re a Hollywood hero. We have a strange concept as to who our heroes really are.

I remember watching a well-known journalist interview an actor about his recent movie, which featured a politically troubled region of the world. When the journalist asked the celebrity what he thought should be done about the political situation there, the actor responded, “Who cares what I think?” and went on to point out that he was just an actor. All too often, we mistakenly think actors really are the people they portray. We think they are heroes when, in fact, they’re just people like you and me.

A hero is someone who does something sacrificial, something courageous. There are heroes today, of course. We saw many of them in action on 9/11 and in the days that followed. But often, today’s heroes are operating behind the scenes, and we never know about them.

As we look at heroes of the faith, those in Scripture and in contemporary history whom God put His hand on, one thing stands out: it seems that God has always gone out of His way to find individuals who did not necessarily look like heroes. And that is precisely the point. God isn’t looking for a strong man or woman per se. Rather, He’s looking for someone who will walk in His strength.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

 

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Greg Laurie – Seeds and Weeds

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He who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. —Matthew 13:22

When Jesus spoke of the seed that is sown among thorns, He was talking about ground that is embedded with weeds. There were over two thousand types of weeds in ancient Israel, weeds that would hinder the growth of a seed. The little seedlings would be in a constant battle with these life-sapping weeds.

The trouble with a weed is that it doesn’t have an immediate effect; its impact on the plant is more gradual. This is in contrast to seed sown on rocky soil, which shoots up and then falls away. A seed sown among thorns is harder to identify. A person may say, “I am a Christian,” and perhaps you see some changes in his or her life. It will seem like this person is solid.

A few weeks or months go by, and slowly but surely, something happens. As Jesus said, “The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). It doesn’t happen overnight. This person doesn’t abandon his or her faith instantaneously. It’s something that takes place over a period of time.

Gradually, material things become more important to them than spiritual things. After a while, movies become more important than church. Parties become more important than prayer. Things on earth become more important than treasures in heaven. And slowly but surely, the weeds choke them out. These people were never truly converted; it just looked like they were. And after a little time has gone by, they just bail out.

So how can we tell who the true converts are? By time. Time will tell—time and the visible results in their lives called spiritual fruit.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Press On

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I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 3:14

You remember how God fed the Israelites with manna. Every morning they would wake up, step out of their tents, and there would be the manna just waiting for them. But this “bread from heaven” had one limiting characteristic: it wouldn’t keep overnight. God didn’t want His people to live off yesterday’s manna. The Lord wanted them to be dependent on Him on a regular basis and gather it fresh each day.

In the same way, you can’t live off the experiences of last year or twenty years ago. God wants to do something fresh and new in your life today and tomorrow. No, you can’t live off experiences, but you can learn from them.

Saul of Tarsus went out of his way to hunt down Christians. But he came to realize that he was not serving God but the Devil. Then he was transformed and went on to become the apostle Paul. He could say, “Now I press on, now I reach forward.” I wish this would be true in the lives of more believers. What a difference it would make in this world around us if we had that kind of ambition, that kind of drive to serve God as we once served ourselves.

Let’s recommit ourselves to the study of the Word of God, to prayer, and to winning at least one person to Christ in the next twelve months.

As Christians, we have unprecedented opportunities for our lives to make a difference in our world. There is so much to do. There is so much growth that needs to take place in our lives, and so much more to accomplish. It’s time to step into the future, to step into what God is doing today.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – Don’t Look Back   

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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

The end of a year is a time of reflecting and remembering what God has done. But there comes a point where I say, “That was then; this is now.” And I put the past behind me. Paul says he is forgetting the past, the things that are behind. The word forget doesn’t mean to fail to remember. What it means is that Paul no longer will be influenced or affected by what happened before. To forget, then, means that we break the power of the past by living for the future.

Now that’s wonderful when we think of sin. Because when we sin and then come to God and repent of it, and He forgives us, we can trust in God’s promise: “For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:34). God isn’t suggesting that He will experience a lapse in His memory concerning your sins. What He’s saying is that our sins no longer will affect our standing with Him or influence His attitude toward us. So if you have sinned, if you have failed this last year, you can put it behind you. You can forget the things that are behind.

Remember, to be His disciple, Jesus said we must take up the cross daily and follow Him (see Luke 9:23). Let’s not be satisfied with what has happened in the past. Forget about it and move forward.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

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Greg Laurie – My Determined Purpose  

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Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity. —Romans 12:2

With the world the way it is today, with things getting darker and darker and going from bad to worse, it seems to me the only way to live these days is as a completely sold-out Christian—not as a fence-sitter trying to blend in, but as someone who says, “I want to walk with God and live a real Christian life.”

Paul said that his determined purpose in life was to know Christ (see Philippians 3:10-14). What is your determined purpose in life? When you get up in the morning, what do you live for? What are your goals? What are your priorities?

If you don’t have a goal, you’re in serious trouble because, as it has been said, if you aim at nothing, you’re bound to hit it. Can you say with Paul, “My determined purpose in life is to know Him”? I hope so.

Think of the way that God used Paul. He had led countless people to faith, established churches out on the frontiers of his world, and wrote letters that we regard today as the very inspired Word of God. Yet Paul realized he had so much to learn and so far to go.

It’s hard for us to think that someone like Paul would face the struggles and temptations we all face. But indeed he did. How much more should we be saying that we need to change radically in this coming year? We need to become more like Christ in this coming year—and don’t let anyone pull the wool over your eyes . . . all of us have a long, long way to go.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013

Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – Stop Seeking Happiness   

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Many people say, “Who will show us better times?” Let your face smile on us, Lord. You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. —Psalm 4:6–8

Only humanity has 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. But you and I have been created in His image. We are living souls, designed to know God and to live above this mundane existence that we call life. From the time of our birth, we have been on a quest, and the answer to all of our questions is found in a relationship with Him. God can give us pleasure that far surpasses the puny, fleeting pleasures this world offers. And the good news is there is no hangover in the morning. There is no guilt that accompanies it. As Psalm 16:11 says, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” There is pleasure in knowing God, not in chasing after happiness.

I have discovered that I never will find happiness by chasing it. But what we will find is that as we chase God, if we will, as we pursue God and walk with Him, then one day we will realize we became happy people. Happiness doesn’t come through actively seeking it but by getting our lives into proper balance. Happiness and joy are the byproducts of that balance.

It’s like the Lord Jesus said. If you seek God and His plan first, everything else in life—including happiness and peace—will fall into place.

Today’s devotional is an excerpt from Every Day with Jesus by Greg Laurie, 2013