Daily Devotions with Pastor Jim Cymbala

God’s commandments are impossible to obey on our own. For example, we need the Holy Spirit to love our enemies as ourselves!

Going to church doesn’t overcome the flesh; only a close, personal walk with the Holy Spirit produces spiritual fruit.

While our fleshly nature produces thoughts and desires that do not honor God, the Holy Spirit transforms us by giving us new desires and new thoughts.

Just as Jesus was physically present with His disciples when He was on earth, we now have the Holy Spirit living in us as our advocate.

Who is the Holy Spirit? Mentioned from the beginning and sent to glorify Christ, the Holy Spirit is as much God as the Father and the Son are.

Staying connected to Jesus through prayer and His Word is how we abide in Him every day.

Some of us have a genuine fear of death, but let’s trust God to replace that fear with peace as we walk in confidence that He will bring us safely home to heaven.

When you feel like your situation has left you at a loss, remember that God will rescue you from every attack.

Many of us have experienced the uncomfortable feeling of being alone, but Jesus promises in His Word that He will never leave us.

People are going to let us down, but when they do, we can ask the Lord for His Spirit of mercy.

We will face trouble from people during our Christian walk. But let’s not be discouraged; instead, let’s trust God to handle those who trouble us and to help us through.

Sometimes when we backslide, we don’t want to pick up the Word of God. But let’s keep studying the Word to grow in our faith.

Are we submitting to the leaders the Lord has placed over us spiritually? We should. God places them in our lives to help us.

If you have Christian friends who have been there for you through different seasons of your walk, thank God for them—if you don’t ask Him to bring those people into your life.

The world’s ways may entice us, but let’s ask God to guard us against pride and greed so we don’t compromise our walk with Jesus.

Are we longing for Jesus’s return and looking forward to being united with Him in heaven? We have every reason to.

Our good works aren’t going to get us to heaven. It’s only by God’s grace and our faith in Jesus.

What can keep us from going down the wrong path? Instead of searching for new teachings, let’s remain in God’s Word.

Many believers begin their walk with Christ—but keeping our faith until the end is what matters!

God has a plan for our lives—but the enemy tries to pull us off course by targeting our weaknesses. Let’s stand firm by clinging to God’s truth and fighting the good fight of faith.

Is our focus on the day to day—or on eternity? When our focus is on eternity, we can live each day fully poured out for Christ. By leaning on the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we focus on what truly matters and live faithfully with the time we have been given.

We all have God-given gifts meant to serve the body of Christ. Taking time to evaluate how we use our talents helps us stay aligned with God’s call to serve Him faithfully.

Spreading the gospel is not a calling for a select few; God calls every believer to do the work of an evangelist. When our churches become soul-saving stations, we fulfill our mission to share our faith and bring the good news to the lost.

As Christians we inevitably face difficult times. Rather than giving in to anger or losing our tempers, we must endure trials with patience and self-control.

It’s easy to be shaken when the world goes against us as believers. Remaining steadfast in the Lord keeps us from being shaken. By focusing on what God has revealed to us, we build the endurance needed to stand firm regardless of what happens around us.

Are we anchoring our lives in the Word of God, or have we allowed personal myths and fantasies to replace biblical truth?

Are we seeking genuine spiritual growth, or are we guilty of only wanting to hear messages that make us comfortable without bringing conviction?

Let’s learn how to correct, rebuke, and encourage others in love by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide both our hearts and our timing.

Are we truly prepared to speak God’s truth—no matter what season of life we find ourselves in? We can do it through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Sharing about God must be grounded in His Word, because without Scripture, Christianity becomes whatever anyone wants it to be.

Jesus is coming back, and He will judge us according to how we respond to the gospel and our consciences.

You can’t be a strong Christian without being full of Scripture—God gave us His Word so we can be trained for righteousness.

Many avoid reading the Bible for fear that it will rebuke them, but God’s truth stems from love—let’s ask Him for the understanding and grace to follow His Word.

The Word of God is our foundation, and we can neither add to nor take away from it.

We must fill ourselves with God’s Word to grow in faith, wisdom, and peace.

The Bible itself cannot rescue us—true salvation comes from Jesus alone. The entire purpose of Scripture is to point us directly to Him.

If Christ is truly in us, our lives should reflect a relentless pursuit of a deeper relationship with Him anchored entirely in the Word of God.

Wolves in sheep’s clothing deny that Christians will be persecuted—and the terrifying truth is, they have lied so much that they now believe their own deception.

Anyone who stands for Christ will ultimately be persecuted, but when things get hard and pushback comes, we must not get rattled.

When suffering for Christ comes, our greatest weapon is the endurance given by the Holy Spirit to help us keep serving, praying, reading the Word, and witnessing.

When we surrender our own efforts and ask God to change us from the inside out, He faithfully fills us with the very character qualities of Jesus.

Are you still in search of your purpose when God’s Word calls us to a purpose of spreading the Gospel?

Signs and wonders don’t prove good doctrine, which is why we must stay full of the Word and pray for the discernment to recognize a counterfeit before false teaching pulls us away from the faith.

When the noise of the world threatens to wash out the truth of Jesus, we must seek God for the discernment to see clearly.

True Christianity is measured by how we live, because if our doctrine doesn’t actively make us more Christlike, we have completely lost our way.

To keep from losing our way in a culture that does not love what is good, we must stay humbled by drawing close to God and learning to follow Jesus’s example of doing good.

Because we can easily abuse everyday habits like sleeping, talking, and eating, we must consistently look to God for the discipline of self-control.

To be a real peacemaker, we must first seek God’s forgiveness and speak the truth in love instead of spreading slander behind people’s backs.

Are we actively living separate from the unholiness of the world and showing the love of Jesus to others?

Even within the church, we frequently struggle with submitting to authority and consistently practicing a lifestyle of gratitude.

We must stop giving glory to the world and start boasting in Jesus. God will share a lot with us, but He will never share His glory.

Jesus gave up His entire life for us, yet what we prioritize in our daily thoughts and conversations shows where our hearts really are.

Going to church means nothing if our focus is ourselves instead of Jesus. Let’s present ourselves as living sacrifices and experience real peace and joy.

While the last days will bring terrible times, the real tragedy is when those who claim the Lord participate in the darkness of the world—which is exactly why we need Jesus to renew us.

Satan uses more than just obvious traps like gossip and lust. We need discernment to spot dangerous, unbiblical doctrinal traps.

Could the resentment you’re holding toward people in your life be hindering your availability to be used by the Lord?

It’s so easy for us to want to fight with our friends, family members, and colleagues over disagreements. What if we chose to be like Jesus and choose kindness instead?

Life is hard, but when we call on the name of the Lord with a pure heart, He hears our prayers.

How are we living our lives? Following our youthful desires, or in pursuit of living right in God’s eyes?

Are we truly prepared for the good work God is calling us to, or do we still need the Lord to cleanse us?

False teaching spreads rapidly—and can hurt the faith of some Christians.

Does our conversations reflect our devotion, or is it just godless chatter?

May we present ourselves to the Lord each day, ready for Him to renew us.

Arguing with others is a waste of time that neither honors God nor builds up those around us.

In a world that thinks differently from God, let’s always remember the main thing: Jesus Christ.

Do we spend our time sharing the love of Christ with others or dwelling on the things they said against us?

In a world where everything is constantly shifting, it’s a relief that Jesus stays exactly the same.

Clinging to our old life is the very thing keeping us from an eternity with Jesus.

Intimacy with Jesus changes everything—including how we see and love the people around us.

We want the comfort of faith without the cost—but there’s no way around suffering for the sake of Jesus.

The most important takeaway from the Word of God is our Savior—Jesus, raised from the dead as the atonement for our sins.   Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 2:8.

If we’re going to minister well, we must be disciplined.  Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 2:5–7.

We can’t get involved in civilian affairs if we want to be soldiers for Christ. Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 2:4.

We can’t keep what we’ve learned from God to ourselves—we’ve got to share it with others.  Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 2:1–2.

When seasons of weakness leave us vulnerable to the enemy, we can stand strong in the Lord. Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 2:1.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:16–17. In this devotional, we learn that we all need help when life gets tough. How can we support other brothers and sisters in Christ who are hurting? Made in the image of God, our true self is the Spirit within us—and we have no idea how the Lord might use us to refresh the spirits of those in turmoil.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:16. In this devotional, we learn how to refresh our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ. Such obedience prompts the Lord’s blessing over our entire household. Let’s obey the Holy Spirit’s prompting and refresh those who need a reminder of Christ’s love.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:15. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala unravels the reality that we can walk with the Lord and still experience betrayal and tough seasons. When we follow Jesus, we take up the cross and realize that the Lord is with us.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:14. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala encourages us to guard the gifts of the Holy Spirit against Satan. Because the Spirit lives through us, we can fully exercise these divine gifts. Let’s ask for the Spirit’s help to protect what the Lord wants us to hold on to.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:13. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala warns that the enemy seeks to steal truth from our minds. To distinguish sound teaching from heresy, we must know the Bible. Let’s reject novel teachings and stand firm on our true foundation: Jesus Christ.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:11–12. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala shares about our instinct for survival. God knows our desire to cling to life because He designed us to live forever with Him through Jesus Christ. Knowing this, we can confidently cling to the truth of eternal life.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1: 9–11. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala reminds us that salvation from eternal death comes through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, not our good works. Praise God that death doesn’t have the final say—we can look forward to eternal life with our Lord!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:8–9. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala reminds us of our salvation through Jesus Christ. Since we often battle the fleshly desire to sin, let us pray against our fallen nature and choose to live holy lives through God’s Spirit within us.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:8. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala reminds us that walking with Christ involves sacrifice. He isn’t referring to the trouble brought on by our own mistakes but the cost of sharing the gospel—and we can rely on God's power to bring us through it.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:6–8. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala encourages us never to be ashamed of Jesus, the gospel, or our brothers and sisters in Christ. This is especially vital today, when society often pushes back against Christian faith. Instead of seeking the world’s approval, let’s stand firm and stay true to the Lord.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:7. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala gives practical application regarding brotherly love. We Christians are commanded to love everyone: other believers, those against us, and everyone in between. So why do we try to separate our churches by skin color, age, or political affiliation? Let’s start living on earth as it is in heaven—there won’t be different sections for different races there, just love for God our Father.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:6–7. In this devotional, we can see that there’s no reason for Christians to live in fear—God didn’t give us a spirit like that! He is so full of grace that He gave us the Spirit of power and love. We can overcome every fear in this earthly life by depending on Christ. So are we living in fear or in God’s power?

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:6. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala asks us if we’re burning for Christ still. God has a calling for each of us—are we living it or avoiding it? We can’t be lukewarm Christians and see God’s favor. We must ask the Lord to help us get on fire for Him!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:4–5. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala shares the importance of Christian heritage. We don’t all have the privilege of coming from generations of Christians, but each of us has the opportunity to leave a spiritual legacy for our families. Let’s share the love of God with those we love so we can build a heritage of strong faith!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:3–4. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala reminds us that we’re supposed to love one another. Our biological families might be messy, unloving, or distant, but because the Holy Spirit lives within believers in Jesus, our spiritual family can be full of the love of Christ. Remember to walk in that love and share it with others today.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:3. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala challenges us to lift up one another in prayer. Consider how much of an impact we could have on the lives of those we love if we prayed for them more often! God can do amazing things in people who spend time with Him in prayer and Bible study. Let’s ask the Spirit to fill us this week and show us who to lovingly pray for.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:2. We can ask God our Father for whatever we’re lacking. He loves to help His children, and He wants to see us living in peace! If we need more grace, mercy, or peace, all we have to do is follow God’s leading. There are so many gifts from the Holy Spirit for us—let’s ask Him for what we need.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:1–2. Jesus never lost His peace. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala walks us through a brief study of the peace of God that passes all understanding. Our lives can feel ruffled up and busy sometimes, but with Jesus on our side, we can still experience peace in the craziness.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:1. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala challenges all of us to follow God’s calling on our lives. Everyone has a calling, but not all callings are the same. We can be totally fired up for something, but if it’s not God’s will, we won’t see true success. Today let’s surrender our plans and ideas to our Father and follow His perfect will.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 2 Timothy 1:1. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala introduces the apostle Paul’s final letter and reminds us of this truth: Jesus is both Savior and Lord. He cannot be one or the other. If Jesus is our Savior, then we must serve Him, lovingly, as the Lord of our lives. It’s an honor to do that, so let’s serve the Lord with joy today.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:20–21. What a gift we have in showing the love and grace of God to others! We become gracious when we are filled with God’s grace. All we have is today—let’s look to the Lord and trust that He gives us His grace every single day.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:20–21. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala encourages us to keep our faith simple. Faith doesn’t have to be all about deep studies of angels and events occurring outside of the Bible’s recording. Rather, we are told to have childlike faith. We must guard what God has given us and not let what the Bible calls “chatter” cause us to depart from the faith.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:18–19. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala talks about salvation. There is a time after this life that we need to be prepared for! What God has in store for all that love Him is real, wonderful life. We should praise Him every day for that amazing promise!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:17–18. A loving parent isn’t going to deprive his child of enjoying life. God—our Heavenly Father who loves us more than we can comprehend—doesn’t want us to live depressed, not enjoying life, either! When we shift our focus from earthly matters to the love of Jesus, we find more joy. Let’s share that with others today!