Category Archives: Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie – All for His Glory

July 1, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. —1 Corinthians 10:31

One of my all-time favorite movies is Chariots of Fire, the story of Eric Liddell, a heroic, committed Christian from Scotland who competed in the 1924 Paris Olympiad, winning a gold and bronze medal in the 400-meter and 200-meter races, respectively.

During one scene in the movie, Eric’s sister Jenny, also a committed Christian, was upset that her brother was competing. She thought he was wasting his time and reminded Eric that God made him for Himself.

Eric told her, “Jenny, you’ve got to understand. I believe that God made me for a purpose — for China. But He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” As the story unfolds, he glorifies God because of the stand that he makes at the Olympics.

Whatever we do, we should seek to glorify God, whether it is academics, sports, business, or something else. We should do it in such a way as to bring glory to the God who made us. As 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reminds us, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

You can serve God and glorify Him in whatever He has called you to do. Everyone has abilities that have been given to him or her by God. So you can glorify Him as a construction worker. You can glorify Him in the medical field. You can glorify Him in professional sports. You can glorify Him in graphic design. Whatever it is that you do, you can bring glory to Him.

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

Greg Laurie – Our Great Physician

June 30, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” —Mark 2:17

It’s worth noting that every person Jesus had conversations or contact with was in a different situation, and He dealt with each one differently. This is because He recognized that even though we all share many of the same problems and basic needs, every man, woman, and child is a unique individual, with unique needs.

In His encounters with people, Jesus was like a physician. He basically said, “I want to let you know that I didn’t come to bring the righteous to repentance, but I came to bring sinners because those who are whole don’t need a physician.”

I think the hard thing about being a doctor must be seeing people, for the most part, only when they are sick! They usually don’t have their patients stop by and say, “Hey, Doc, I’m feeling good, and I just wanted to tell you that. Want to go to lunch?” You don’t usually call your doctor when you’re feeling at the top of your game. You call when you are feeling sick, and your doctor will have you come in to his or her office, examine you, and apply the specific remedy to the area of need.

Jesus is the Great Physician. He came to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, give sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed. He already has determined your precise areas of need, whatever they may be, and He will minister to you as an individual.

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

Greg Laurie – Free from Fear

June 28, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. —Psalm 91:5–6

History tells of a courageous Christian who was standing before one of the Roman emperors who was persecuting the church. The emperor was demanding that Christians abandon their faith, deny the Lord, and declare Caesar as Lord. But this Christian refused. So the emperor threatened, “Give up Christ, or I will banish you.”

The Christian said, “You can’t banish me from Christ, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ ”

The emperor said, “I will confiscate all your property.”

The believer replied, “My treasures are laid up in heaven. You can’t touch them.” The emperor said, “I will kill you.”

The Christian said, “I have been dead to the world in Christ for forty years. My life is hid with Christ in God. You can’t touch it.”

The emperor then turned to the rest of his court and said, “What can you do with such a fanatic?”

That so-called fanatic knew something about God’s protection. And that is something we all should know about in these frightening times in which we are living. There are so many things we can be afraid of, from getting on a plane to becoming a victim of violent crime to being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.

It is great to know that God promises, “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you” (Psalm 91:7). It isn’t over until it’s over. Until that time, we can go out with boldness, knowing that God is in control of our lives.

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

Greg Laurie – The Secret Place

June 27, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. —Psalm 91:1

When you were a child, did you ever have a hiding place — a place you would run to when you were afraid or wanted to be alone? God wants to be your hiding place. The good news is that you can retreat to this hiding place wherever you are. When you are tied up in bumper-to-bumper traffic, you can retreat there. When you are having a conflict at work and don’t know what to say or how to deal with it, you can immediately retreat into that secret place of the Most High as you live in fellowship and communion with God.

It is not only dwelling there, but it is living under the shadow of the Almighty. Have you ever tried to walk in someone’s shadow? It can be done, but you have to stay really close. That is exactly the picture here in Psalm 91:1. God is saying, “I want you to be so close that you are actually in My very shadow.” If you do that, it will give you the courage to face life.

Remember the story of the great prophet Elijah, who boldly stormed into the court of wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and declared that it would not rain, except at his word? Where did he get the courage to pull off something like that? Though Elijah was in the court of powerful monarchs, he recognized that at the same time, he was in the presence of an even more powerful Monarch. He was dwelling in the secret place of the Most High.

If you kneel before God, you can stand before any man. Are you walking in this fellowship with Him?

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

Greg Laurie – While We Wait

June 26, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. —John 9:4

As we look at how dark our culture is today, we wonder if we can ever really make a difference. It seems so overwhelming. It seems as though darkness is spreading and light is receding. It is like the time Isaiah described when he said, “What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter” (Isaiah 5:20).

To illustrate that very point, I could cite movies that are popular right now. We celebrate that which the Bible says is wrong and offensive to God, and we laugh at that which the Bible holds forth as standards we should live by. The good news is that the same Holy Spirit who set the early church in motion can use us if we are willing.

It’s interesting to note that in the first century, the question on the disciples’ minds was, “Is the end of the world near?” That same question is on the minds of many today. What Jesus essentially said to His disciples was, “This isn’t the time for that. My purpose is to rule and reign in the hearts of people. Don’t be so concerned about when I am going to do that. Rather, be concerned about what you should be doing while you wait.”

The same principle holds true for us. Don’t worry about when. He will return when the time is right. What we should be committing ourselves to, what we should be interested in, is what we are supposed to be doing as we await the Lord’s return.

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

Greg Laurie – All Things

June 25, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. —Psalm 119:71

Did you know that everything you have experienced up to this point in your life can be used for good? That isn’t to say you haven’t experienced hardship. That isn’t to say bad things haven’t happened to you. But it is to say that God can work them out for good.

That includes the experiences of your childhood, whether good or bad. That includes your parents, whoever they may be. That includes your education, your present employment, or your lack of it. He will work all things together for good.

I went through hardship as a kid. I came from a home that was broken many, many times over, a home of alcoholism. I wouldn’t wish my childhood on anyone. But God used it to make me the person that I am.

In the same way, God has used what you have gone through to make you the person that you are. So let it be worked together for good, and accept God’s promise to you: “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). The phrase work together also could be translated “working together.” In other words, it isn’t over yet!

Maybe you are going through a process right now in which God is working things together for good. You don’t see it yet. But you are a work in progress. Be patient. You have God’s word on it: He will work all things together for good to those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose. God is ultimately working all things for good — not just the good things, but all things.

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

Greg Laurie – God’s Word on It

June 24, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. —Romans 8:28

Without a doubt, Romans 8:28 is one of the greatest verses in the Bible. It is one that is claimed quite often by believers, especially during times of hardship. And so it should be.

But let’s make sure we meet the criteria of the text: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (emphasis added). Do you love God? Are you the called according to His purpose? Romans 8:28 does not apply to you if this isn’t true of you.

There are times in our lives when things seem to be falling apart, when they don’t make any sense. Some people will say, “It is the fickle finger of fate.” Or, “Que sera, sera. Whatever will be will be. The future’s not ours to see.”

True, the future is not ours to see. But the Christian can be confident that God is in control and has a master plan for his or her life. We can know that we serve a sovereign God who is good. As I have often said, we may not know what the future holds, but we know who holds the future.

The word used here for good does not necessarily mean that the event in and of itself is good, but that its long-term effect will be useful and helpful. It is hard for us to imagine certain things working for good. The Bible isn’t saying tragedy is good. Rather, it is saying that God can take a horrible thing and make good come as a result of it.

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

Greg Laurie – God’s Safety Net

June 23, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.—Romans 3:23

Visitors to San Francisco can’t help but be amazed at that architectural wonder called the Golden Gate Bridge. During its initial phases of construction, a number of workers lost their grip and fell to their deaths in the San Francisco Bay. Needless to say, this slowed down the construction process quite dramatically. The builders were trying to think of a way to remedy this, so they did something that had never been done before. A giant net was installed under the construction area. The workers knew that if they did fall, the net would catch them. It wouldn’t be a pleasant experience, but they would live to tell about it. The result was they could work without the fear of dying. They were able to move quickly and finish the project.

Did you know that God has put a safety net under you? By that I mean, when you slip, when you fall, when you make a mistake, it doesn’t mean that your name has been blotted out of the Book of Life and that you are now persona non grata with God. Because He came into your heart, forgave you, and committed Himself to you, He now protects you, sealed you, and justified you as a result of that commitment.

The fact is that we as Christians will sin and fall short. The Scriptures, as well as our own experiences in life, tell us this is true. According to 1 John 1:8, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” This is not an excuse for ungodly living. Nor is it a license for sin. It is a simple acknowledgement of reality.

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

Greg Laurie – The Ultimate Family Reunion

June 21, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. —1 Thessalonians 4:13

Have you ever had a significant reunion with a member of your family? Maybe it was someone you thought you would never see again or someone you had been separated from for many years.

But then again, maybe there is someone who was taken from you quickly and unexpectedly. There are things you wish you had said to that person, regrets that you now have. There is something to learn from that. If there is anyone in your life you need to say something to, say it now while you can. Tell that person you love him or her. Let that person know what he or she means to you. Do something to communicate with them because you never know when their time may come. Then again, you never know when your time may come, either.

The good news is there will be a family reunion for every child of God, a day when we will see those believers who have died and are in heaven.

When his young child died, David said, “I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). That is the hope of every Christian. Our friends and loved ones can’t come to us, but we will go to them someday.

You can join them one day in the great reunion when the Lord comes for His church, as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:17: “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

It will be the ultimate family reunion.

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

Greg Laurie – More Like God

June 20, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.” —Exodus 34:6–7

An unforgiving Christian is a contradiction in terms, an oxymoron. To say you are a follower of Jesus Christ and yet harbor unforgiveness in your heart is simply wrong.

Jesus touched on the issue of forgiveness time after time. It was a theme of so many of His parables, it was part of His prayers, and He hammered on this issue again and again in the private talks He had with His disciples.

You are never more like God than when you forgive. Alexander Pope wrote, “To err is human, to forgive is divine.” We reflect the nature of God in such a dramatic way when we are willing to forgive. If you really want to be like the Lord, then you need to be a forgiving person because He is a forgiving God.

Exodus 34 gives us this description of God, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (verses 6-7). Therefore, if we want to be like Him, we should do the same.

Jesus taught us to pray, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12), but He also taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (verse 10). What is going on in heaven? The worship of God, the exaltation of Christ, and the granting of forgiveness. Therefore, we should be worshiping God. We should be exalting Jesus Christ. And we should be forgiving one another.

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

Greg Laurie – Set a Prisoner Free

June 19, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. —Genesis 50:20

The word oops is not in God’s vocabulary.

Isn’t that great to know? God is in control. We, on the other hand, can’t control everything that happens in our lives, even though we try. But there is one thing we can do, and that is forgive. We can forgive those who have wronged us. We can forgive those who have taken advantage of us. We can for-give those who have slandered us and made fun of us. We can forgive those who have betrayed us.

You may think they don’t deserve it. But remember, you have been forgiven. Therefore, you should be forgiving. Of course, you aren’t going to feel like it at times. You may see him or her and feel your blood begin to boil. That is when you need to say, “As an act of faith, as a step of obedience to Jesus Christ, I forgive this person.”

I has been said, “To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” You should not only forgive to help that person, but you also need to forgive for your own mental and spiritual health. Just let it go. Put it into the hands of God and determine not to be tormented by it one day longer.

Is there someone you need to forgive today? Are you harboring a grudge toward someone? Forgive. Forgive whoever it is that has hurt you. As Ephesians 4:32 tells us, “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

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

Greg Laurie – The Third Conversion

June 18, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

As you abound in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us — see that you abound in this grace also. —2 Corinthians 8:7

The story is told of Sam Houston, hero of Texas history, who gave his life to the Lord in the later years of life and asked to be baptized. He was taken down to a little country stream, and the pastor said, “General Houston, you should take your glasses off because I am going to immerse you in water.” There also were some papers in General Houston’s pocket, so he took those out as well.

Then, just as he was getting ready to go into the water, the pastor noticed that General Houston still had his wallet in his pants. He said, “Well, General, you might want to take that wallet out of your pants. It is going to get wet.”

Houston responded, “If there is any part of me that needs baptizing, it is my wallet.” So Houston was baptized, wallet and all.

Maybe some of us need our wallet or checkbook or credit cards baptized. As Martin Luther said, “There are three conversions necessary: the conversion of the heart, mind, and the purse.”

Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. . . . For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you” (Luke 6:38).

You might say, “Well, if I had a million dollars, then I would give more to the Lord.” But that isn’t necessarily true. Maybe you feel that you can’t afford to give. But in reality, you can’t afford not to. I don’t know of a single person who has ever managed to outgive God.

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

Greg Laurie – Not All There Is

June 17, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. —James 1:12

Not long ago, I had a conversation with two people after church.

One was in a wheelchair with a severe disability, and the other was speaking at length. I listened to her for a while, and then I turned to the woman in the wheelchair and said, “Well, how are you doing?”

“I am doing fine,” she told me.

But then her friend said that she actually had just had two brain surgeries to remove cancer, and they were successful.

I looked at this young woman with her disability, someone who had just come through such a difficult time, and I thought, And where is she now? She is at church.

I think of all of the excuses people come up with as to why they can’t make it to church. They have a cold, or it takes too long to get into the parking lot, and so forth. Yet here was this young woman who, despite her severe disability and recent surgeries, was at church, praising God and saying she is doing fine. I was touched by her example.

So I said to her, “You know, the Bible promises a special blessing and crown to those who have suffered in this life. I admire your faith. You are an inspiration to me.”

James 1:12 says, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him” (NLT). It all will be made up to us in the life to come. Have you lost something to follow Jesus? Whatever losses you may have incurred for following Christ will be more than made up to you.

Make no mistake about it: Our life on earth isn’t all there is. There will be rewards for our faithfulness to God.

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

Greg Laurie – Through the Fire

June 16, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. —Job 23:10

God specializes in putting us in situations where only He can delivers us. That way, we can’t “thank our lucky stars” or compliment ourselves on our own cleverness or resourcefulness. Rather, we must say, “Only God could have done this.” The Lord wants to receive the glory for what He does. And He clearly says in Scripture that He will not give His glory to another (see Isaiah 42:8).

It reminds us of a man who knew something about suffering, whose very name, in fact, is synonymous with the word. I am speaking, of course, of Job. Here was a man who lost his children, his home, and everything he owned, including his health.

Job had a lot of questions, the same questions that many of us have. He said, “Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say to me” (Job 23:3-5).

Job honestly admitted what he was struggling with. Then he added what would become a classic statement of faith: “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Job was saying, “I don’t know what’s is going on. I don’t know why God has allowed these things to happen. But I know this: when I am tested, I will come forth as gold.” That was God’s objective for Job. And it’s His objective for you, too.

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

Greg Laurie – God’s Specialty

June 14, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, who acts for the one who waits for Him. —Isaiah 64:4

I know it is hard to imagine sometimes what God is up to in your life. You see a blank canvas, but God sees a finished painting. You see a piece of coal, but God sees a refined diamond. You see an untalented person, but God sees a mighty man or woman of God.

This is also true of those we see in Scripture. We see an impetuous, impulsive Simon, but God sees a strong, decisive apostle named Peter. We see a conniving, manipulative Jacob, but God sees a godly, trusting man named Israel. We see a young, naïve Joseph, but the Lord sees a brilliant, wise world leader. And when it was all said and done, Joseph was able to look back and say to his brothers, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). He recognized that God used the things that happened to him to mold him into a compassionate, forgiving leader of many. He was clay in the Potter’s hand. He trusted in the Lord.

God specializes in making something out of nothing. I wonder what He is doing with you right now? You are a work in progress, and He isn’t finished yet. If you are still alive and reading this, God has more work to do in your life! Most artists usually don’t like someone looking over their shoulders, trying to second-guess what they’re about to do. “Wait until I am done,” they will say, “and then you will see.”

So trust in the Lord during those times when it is hard to see what He is doing. Don’t allow the hardships you face to make you a bitter person. It’s time to let go of that. Rather, allow them to make you a better person.

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

Greg Laurie – The Generosity Principle

June 13, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. —Proverbs 11:25

An infamous pirate named Juan Carlos was known for his theft and was rumored to have buried treasure hidden somewhere. A man approached Juan Carlos one day in Mexico, pushed him to the ground, and said, “Tell me where all your money is buried, or I will kill you right here on the spot!”

Juan Carlos didn’t speak a word of English and needed an interpreter, so he saw a boy nearby and called him over. The boy relayed the man’s message to Juan Carlos, and fearing for his life, Juan Carlos said to the boy, “Tell this man I don’t want to die. Tell him the money is located 30 paces north of the city water tower, under a large rock.”

The boy turned to the man and replied, “Juan Carlos says he is an honorable man and that he will never tell you where the money is. Juan Carlos says kill him now.”

There are some people who, once they have something, don’t ever want to let it go. But the Bible tells us that as we give, God will give to us. In 2 Corinthians 9:8, we read, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (NLT).

This goes along with the principle Jesus gave us: “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full — pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back” (Luke 6:38, NLT).

As God blesses you, you can bless others.

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

Greg Laurie – Crabs in a Pail

June 12, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. —Matthew 23:12

A fisherman who caught crabs would keep them in a bucket without a lid. Someone noticed this and asked him, “Don’t you have to keep a lid on that bucket?”

He said, “No, they never get out.”

“Why? Because they can’t get out?”

“No,” he said. “When one crab tries to go over the side, the others reach up and pull him back down again.”

That is just like human beings as well. As one person begins to climb, others are thinking, How dare you succeed? How dare you do better than me? How dare you get that promotion? How dare you get that attention? How dare you do well when I’m not doing just as well? You get back down here with me!

It has been said that envy shoots at another and wounds itself. This is so true. Envy can eat us up inside. We need to recognize it as sin and repent of it. We may try and rationalize our jealousy, but we need to realize it is wrong and ask God to forgive us. God wants us to put the needs of others above our own, love one another, and care for one another. This is so very important.

Instead of worrying about what other people have, let’s be thankful we are even drawing breath in our lungs. It is a gift from God. And if God lifts you to an exalted position, then that is His grace. If He lifts up someone else, that also is His grace. None of us deserve it; it is all the grace of God. Just be faithful to what God has called you to do.

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

Greg Laurie – It’s at the Door

June 11, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. —Genesis 4:7

Years ago, my son Christopher was lying out in the sun at our house when he woke up to find a huge gopher snake, coiled up and hissing at him, poised to strike. It must have been six or seven feet long. Terrified, he ran into the house and shut the door behind him.

That is a picture of how sin can be: ready to strike. It is at the door — for all of us. It is potentially there at all times, and for some of us, it has already slithered across the threshold.

When Cain saw that the Lord accepted Abel’s offering, but not his, he was angry. So God gave him a warning. He essentially told Cain what was going to happen to him if he didn’t get himself under control: “Sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it” (Genesis 4:7). Another way to translate it would be, “Sin is crouching at the door like a beast.” What a vivid picture that is of sin crouching, ready to pounce like a wild animal.

So the next time sin comes knocking at your door, you might say, “Lord, would You mind getting that? I’m going to stand in Your strength. I’m going to trust in You. You are the only one who can give me the strength to overpower sin.” If we will master sin, then we must first be mastered by Him who mastered it.

Tragically, Cain did not allow himself to be mastered by God but instead became enslaved by the Devil.

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

Greg Laurie – Receiving from Giving

June 10, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

There is one who scatters, yet increases more; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. —Proverbs 11:24

A mother who wanted to teach her daughter the joy of giving gave her both a quarter and a dollar to take to church one Sunday morning. She told her daughter that she could put in either one; the choice was hers. As they were leaving church, the mother asked her daughter what she ended up giving to the Lord.

The little girl replied, “I was going to give the dollar, but just before the offering, the man in the pulpit said we should be cheerful givers. I knew I would be a lot more cheerful if I just gave the quarter.”

That is how a lot of us are. We think, I am not cheerful about giving, so I suppose I had better keep it for myself. But we need to understand that God wants to change our hearts. We need to discover the joy of giving. And if we haven’t yet discovered it, then we need to ask God to change our hearts because giving is a blessing. We can experience joy in it.

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). It is hard for children to wrap their minds around that truth. But as we get older, and especially if we become parents, we discover the joy of giving. We actually find more pleasure in giving than in receiving. The word Jesus used for blessed is a word that could be translated “happy”. In other words, the Bible is saying that if you want to be a happy person, then be a generous person. If you want to be a happy person, then be a giving person.

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

Greg Laurie – Sow a Thought . . . Reap a Destiny

June 9, 2014 broboinhawaii Leave a comment

By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. —Psalm 17:4

When the Devil wanted to lead the first man and woman into sin, he started by attacking their minds. And he still uses that tactic to this day.

Paul warned of this when he said, “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3). The Devil attacks our minds because our brain, our thoughts, our imagination—these are command central. With the mind you can reach into the past through memories, and you can reach into the future through imagination. The Devil knows that if he can get us to think about something, to contemplate it, to consider it, then he is halfway there.

The Bible tells us, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

It has been said, “Sow a thought; reap an act. Sow an act; reap a character. Sow a character; reap a destiny.” It starts with a thought, but it can lead to a destiny. The Devil knows that if he can get us to think about something, to consider something, then he almost has us.

Eve’s mind certainly wasn’t filled with the things of God when the Devil approached her. Had it been, she could have effectively resisted his temptations. When we have the Word of God hidden in our hearts, it will give us an important resource that we can call upon to effectively resist temptation.

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

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