“Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment.” (1 Samuel 30:24 NLT)

In 1 Samuel 30, we find the story of David leading his men to victory in battle against Amalekite raiders who had plundered and burned the town of Ziklag. As David and the four hundred soldiers who had fought with him were returning home, those who had stayed behind to guard the camp and the supplies met them. Some of the troublemakers who had fought in the battle didn’t want to give any of the spoils of the battle to those who stayed by the camp. David said to the troublemakers, “Who will listen when you talk like this? We share and share alike—those who go to battle and those who guard the equipment” (1 Samuel 30:24 NLT).

Those who fought in the battle assumed that their role in God’s plan was more important than those who didn’t fight. David didn’t see it that way—and neither did God. And that principle still applies today to people who answer God’s call.

Whether God has called you to serve Him in such a way that people see you or whether He has called you to serve Him by supporting others who are seen, God will bless you and reward you for your service.

Maybe you feel as though your life isn’t really making a difference or that what you have to offer God doesn’t mean all that much. If so, you’ll be in for some surprises in Heaven, because what may not seem very valuable on earth will be of great value in Heaven.

God’s Word leaves little doubt as to our worth in God’s eyes. The apostle Peter wrote, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9 NLT).

We also have immeasurable value because we are God’s creation. The apostle Paul wrote, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago” (Ephesians 2:10 NLT).

I read a story about a man who found an old, blue-and-white vase while he was cleaning his attic. He took it to an auction to sell it, thinking he would probably get twenty or thirty dollars from it, maybe one hundred dollars if he was lucky. To his utter amazement, the vase turned out to be an original fifteenth-century work of art from the Ming Dynasty. It sold for $324,000.

What may not seem especially valuable now will prove to be extremely valuable later. Until then, we need to be faithful with what God has given us to do.

Reflection question: What value does God see in your acts of faithfulness and service? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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“And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:47 NLT)

The encounter between David and Goliath is one of the best-known stories in all of Scripture. In fact, it’s so well-known that it’s become a cliché. Today, any contest that involves an underdog is invariably referred to as a “David versus Goliath battle.”

The irony is that, strictly speaking, there’s no such thing as a David versus Goliath battle. No such fight ever occurred. David himself said so when he went out to meet the giant on the battlefield. “And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:47 NLT).

It wasn’t David’s battle; it was the Lord’s battle. David didn’t defeat Goliath; the Lord did. One reason David was chosen to represent God on the battlefield is that he was humble enough to recognize and acknowledge that truth. He was also wise enough not to rely on his own strength and skills when faced with a ridiculously powerful opponent.

That’s an important takeaway from this story because we are living in a critical time right now. I think all of us can agree that the devil is working overtime. He knows his days are numbered. He knows his judgment is certain. So, he is doing everything he can to wreak havoc until the day he faces his judgment. That means we, as the targets of his attacks, must stay battle-ready. Not to fight him using our own strength and tactics, but to stay close to the Lord so that we can call on His power and wisdom.

The apostle Paul wrote, “The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see” (Romans 13:12–13 NLT). Before we put on our spiritual armor, we need to cast off the works of darkness. We need to be done with the compromising life. We need to be done with trying to live in two different worlds. We need to get busy living as Christian soldiers.

No matter how much the devil tries to trip us up, our Commander-in-Chief will lead us to victory if we stay close to Him. Remember, “The battle is the Lord’s.” You will never get in over your head if you let God fight your spiritual battles.

The battle cry, the cry of victory, went forth from the cross as Jesus hung suspended between Heaven and earth, with nails in His hands and feet. In triumph, He cried out, “It is finished!” Those three words reverberated through Heaven and Hell. Every demon likely heard them. So, now we can stand in the victorious strength of Jesus. We can fight for Him as He works through us, marching on, taking ground for the kingdom.

I promise you—your life will never be boring as a spiritual soldier for the Lord!

Reflection question: How can you resist the urge to fight your spiritual battles alone? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT)

In our last devotion, we saw how God used Samuel because Samuel made himself available. Today, we’re going to look at another factor as we try to determine why God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

Part of our human nature is to prefer heroes and leaders who come from central casting. People who look the part: tall, solidly built, and good-looking, with a chiseled jawline and a thick head of hair.

God prefers a different criterion. Time and time again in Scripture, He defies conventional wisdom in choosing people to accomplish His will. When God sent Samuel to anoint the son of Jesse as the king of Israel, Jesse paraded every son but one in front of the prophet. He didn’t bother sending for David because he believed there was no way God would choose a lowly shepherd to lead His people.

He was wrong. God revealed His criterion to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7: “Don’t judge by his appearance or height. . . . The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (NLT).

A chapter later, when David traveled to the battlefield where the Israelites were squaring off with the Philistines, it wasn’t to fight the giant Goliath. It was to take food to his brothers on the front line. Fighting the Philistine champion was a job for King Saul or one of the battle-hardened soldiers in Saul’s army.

But that’s not who God had in mind for the task. He sent the shepherd boy who was offended by Goliath’s taunts and who recognized that the giant was no match for God. He sent the only person who wasn’t paralyzed by fear. He sent the person for whom a weapon was an afterthought. He sent the person who would make sure that God would get the credit for the victory.

God saw David’s heart. He sees our hearts as well—and He uses us accordingly. If you want to be used mightily by God, work on your heart. Hide God’s Word in it. Pour it out to Him in prayer. Love your neighbor, your enemies, and your fellow believers with all of it.

If you have faith in God, if you believe that He can use you, if you are willing to take a step of faith here and there, then God can and will do incredible things through you. One thing I’ve said many times over the years is that God is not looking for ability but availability. He can give you ability in time. But God is looking for someone to say, “I would like to make a difference where I am. Lord, I am available.” If you do, just watch what God will do.

Reflection question: What do you want God to see in your heart? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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

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“As Samuel grew up, the Lord was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.” (1 Samuel 3:19 NLT)

First Samuel 3:19 contains two extraordinary accolades regarding the prophet Samuel: “The Lord was with him” and “Everything Samuel said proved to be reliable” (nlt). But those accolades raise some important questions: Why Samuel? Why did the Lord choose to be with him? Why did the Lord make sure that everything he said proved to be reliable?

The Bible doesn’t answer those questions directly, but it does offer some clues. Earlier in the chapter, we learn that, as a boy, Samuel served the Lord by assisting the priest Eli in the tabernacle. One night, while Samuel was sleeping, he heard someone call his name. Assuming that it was Eli, Samuel rushed to the priest to see how he could be of service. But it wasn’t Eli who had called him. Three times Samuel heard the voice. And three times he rushed to Eli.

The fourth time Samuel heard his name called, he simply and humbly said, “Speak, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10 NLT). Why did God use Samuel in such a powerful way? Probably because he was available—not just during business hours, but in the middle of the night, out of a dead slumber. He was eager to serve every time his name was called.

Believers today can learn a lot from Samuel. We should always be available to be used by God. Our prayer should be, “Lord, You can use me anytime, anywhere, for any purpose—whether it’s my day off or not. I may be out surfing or on the golf course or out snowboarding, but I want You to call on me. I am always available to represent You. Please call on me.” Every Christian must be available and ready to echo the words of Samuel: “Speak, your servant is listening.”

God is not looking for ability as much as He is looking for availability. You may think, “God only uses the really talented people. He will never use me. There’s not much I can offer Him.” But God is looking for someone simply to be available and to let Him be strong on their behalf. God isn’t looking for strong people. He is looking for weak people through whom He can be strong. That means every person is qualified to be used by God. That means God can use you.

There is no telling how God will use you. But there are ways to make yourself available to Him. One is by putting yourself in the right place at the right time as much as possible. You can’t share your faith with others if you don’t interact or spend time with them. Another way to make yourself available to Him is to stay alert to the opportunities He sends your way.

Are you available to be used by God? If not, why don’t you let the Lord know that you would like Him to call upon you? If Samuel’s story teaches us anything, it’s that God may call upon you before the night is over.

Reflection question: How can you prepare yourself for when God’s plan puts you in the right place at the right time? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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

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“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.’” (Exodus 14:15–16 NLT)

Ecclesiastes 3 identifies various seasons of life: “A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance” (verses 2–4 NLT), to name just a few.

In Exodus 14:15–16, we find two more: a time to wait and a time to move. When the Israelites found themselves between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea, Moses seems to have misread that particular season of life. He believed it was a time to wait. He continued to cry out to the Lord. God helped him understand that it was a time to move.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground’” (Exodus 14:15–16 NLT).

Knowing when to wait and when to move is one of the key aspects of discipleship. Waiting is essential. Waiting involves praying. And the apostle Paul wrote, “Never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT).

But there comes a point when we don’t need to pray about something anymore. There comes a time when we need to act—that is, in the way that God would have us move. Let’s say a couple is having trouble in their marriage. The husband is praying for his wife to change. But maybe he should change his prayer instead. Maybe he should say, “Lord, help me to be the godly person you want me to be. Help me to do my part.” His wife, of course, needs to pray the same thing.

Maybe someone has wronged you or offended you. Maybe they’ve wounded you or insulted you. You want to forgive them. You’ve prayed about it. Now it’s time to do it. It doesn’t matter whether you’re feeling it. Just do it. The emotions most likely will follow when you take that step of obedience.

Maybe you’ve been praying for the salvation of a friend or a loved one. You’ve prayed for them for years and years. But have you shared the gospel with them? Maybe it’s their moment to come to Christ. Keep praying but do your part.

God was saying to Moses, “Stop crying to me. Stop praying about it. Get moving. The miracle is coming.”

When you’re led by the Lord, make your move. There’s a time to pray, and there’s a time to move.

Reflection question: What would “making your move” look like in your life right now? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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

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“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NLT)

The apparent dead-end at the Red Sea must have seemed especially cruel to the people of Israel. Moses had led them out of slavery in Egypt, according to God’s instructions. They had tasted freedom, and they were on their way to the land God had promised their ancestors.

But for a moment it looked as though they would get no further than the water’s edge. The Red Sea blocked their forward progress, and the pursuing Egyptian army blocked any hope of retreat. Fighting their way out was out of the question. Pharaoh’s army was the mightiest military on the face of the earth. Imagine the terror and devastation the Israelites must have experienced when they saw that mighty force—with its chariots, horses, shields, swords, and spears—bearing down on them in the distance.

The Israelites thought they were dead. “But Moses told the people, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm’” (Exodus 14:13–14 NLT). Just stay calm. That’s a mighty tall order to cram into three small words.

But the wisdom served the people of Israel well. God parted the waters of the Red Sea so that they could walk across on dry land. And when Pharaoh and his army tried to pursue, God closed the waters and drowned them.

Just stay calm.

Those words will also serve us well as disciples of Christ. Like the people of Israel, we are being pursued by our enemy after being set free. When the devil senses that he has us in a vulnerable position, he will come at us with everything he has, including temptations and deception. And they can be intimidating. We may start to question whether we can withstand his barrage.

Spoiler alert: We can.

The apostle John wrote, “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world” (1 John 4:4 NLT).

If you are a believer, the Spirit of God lives in you. You belong to the Lord. Yes, the devil can tempt you. He can hassle you. But he cannot overcome you, because you are under God’s protection.

In Ephesians 6, the apostle Paul talks about the believer’s spiritual armor: the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the Spirit, and so forth. But before he describes the armor, he writes, “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10 NLT). In other words, just stay calm.

Stand still and watch the Lord rescue you.

Reflection question: How can you stay calm when troubles come? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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

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“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT)

Some people can sleep through anything. I’m not one of them. If I hear one little noise, I’m awake. If a bird chirps, I’m awake. I’m a light sleeper.

Apparently, Jesus was a heavy sleeper. Luke’s Gospel tells us that as the disciples battled a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was sound asleep. Water made its way into the boat as it pitched back and forth. Sinking seemed like a very real possibility. The terrified disciples woke up Jesus, crying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” (Luke 8:24 NLT).

On the one hand, they panicked. And they can be faulted for that. On the other hand, they channeled their anxiety in the right direction. They cried out to the Lord. In a sense, they prayed.

When we are in trouble, we need to follow their example. We need to pray. We need to give our worries to the Lord and trust Him. We need to place our faith in Him.

Faith and worry cannot coexist. One chases out the other. Do you know people who don’t get along? Maybe you want to invite one of them to your house, but you’re hesitant to invite the other because there’s always conflict between the two of them. Faith and worry have the same type of relationship. Where there is worry, there is no place for faith. Faith is driven out by worry, and worry is driven out by faith.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT).

The New Testament in the modern English PHILLIPS Bible puts it this way: “Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.”

It has been said that if your knees start shaking, you should kneel on them. In other words, when things get scary, pray. Cry out to God.

Prayer is essential to discipleship. The sooner new believers learn to give their fears, doubts, concerns, and problems to God as those issues arise, the quicker they will grow in their faith.

The disciples in the boat that day were left in awe by Jesus’ ability to answer their prayers. Their faith was bolstered beyond measure. The same thing happens when Jesus’ followers pray today.

Reflection question: How can you prioritize prayer in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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

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“So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!” (Exodus 14:22 NLT)

There’s a reason that Exodus 14:22 ends with an exclamation point. “So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!” (NLT). Imagine how thrilling it must have been for the Israelites to walk through the middle of the Red Sea on dry ground as they followed God’s leading. Maybe they saw fish swimming by in the walls of water on either side of them, like something out of the best aquarium ever.

The people of Israel walked for hours. The journey across the basin of the Red Sea took all night. But the Lord was with them every step of the way. No one who crossed the sea that day could have anticipated just how long their eventual journey would take—or where it would lead them.

Their experience serves as an excellent illustration of the Christian life. It, too, is just a walk with the Lord. And discipleship is what happens along the way when we prioritize that walk.

Often the beginning of the Christian journey is filled with excitement and wonder, as the realization of what God has done for us sinks in. But as was the case with the Israelites during their forty-year journey through the wilderness, the excitement and wonder begin to wane over time. We start to take things for granted. We become apathetic.

That’s what happened with people who came to see Jesus during His earthly ministry. After the initial excitement and newness wore off, people began to drift away. They rejected Jesus and His teachings for a variety of reasons (see Matthew 8:34; Mark 6:3; Luke 4:28–29). They became apathetic toward their walk with Him and began to search elsewhere for something new, something different.

If you struggle with apathy in your walk with Christ, then you need to prioritize, what I call, your “R.P.G.S.”: (1) Read the Bible every day. You never outgrow it and never get beyond it. God’s Word never becomes irrelevant. (2) Pray about things. Bring things up before the Lord. You need to have a prayer life. (3) Go to church. You need to be a regular part of the church. (4) Share your faith with others.

Many believers stop doing these things and then wonder why spiritual apathy is seeping into their lives. It’s because they’re not doing the basics. If you decide not to eat anymore, here’s what will happen: You’ll get lightheaded. You’ll feel almost sick. And if it goes on for a while, you’ll start to die. You can’t live that way. You must eat to survive. In the same way, if you neglect spiritual disciplines, it won’t be long until you start to wither.

Friedrich Nietzsche said, “The essential thing ‘in heaven and in earth’ is that there should be long obedience in the same direction.”

As Christians, our lives are a walk of faith. We need to keep walking that walk.

Reflection question: How can you avoid apathy in your walk with the Lord? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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

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

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