Daily Devotions with Pastor Jim Cymbala

When we are born again, the Spirit of God comes to live within us. Yet believers are also called to continually seek a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. Remaining filled keeps us from becoming lukewarm or slipping into habits that do not honor the Lord. Rather than waiting passively, we must continually yield to the Spirit in order to walk in obedience and live a life dedicated to God.

On the Day of Pentecost, when the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in tongues as the Spirit led. The Holy Spirit enables us to do what we cannot accomplish in our own strength. We must, however, yield to His direction, following the Holy Spirit’s leading rather than seeking to bend His will to our own.

Scripture describes fire as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, marking His presence and purifying work within believers. When God baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and fire, He cleanses our hearts, consuming everything that is not from Him and refining what remains. This fire rests upon us to sanctify, cleanse, and empower us for His purposes.

Too often, we worship the spirit of worship rather than worshiping the Spirit of God. True spiritual revival cannot be manufactured by human effort or church programs—it requires an authentic move from heaven. Genuine revival occurs when God meets with His people directly, shifting our focus away from production and back toward a real encounter with Him.

Are we staying faithful to the unique calling God has placed on our lives, or are we letting organizational demands crowd out our spiritual focus? In this message, explore Acts 6 as the early church navigates growth, ministry priorities, and the vital need for leaders who are truly full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Discover why devoting ourselves to prayer and the Word opens the door for God to...

Are we trying to live for God and share the gospel in our own human strength, or are we walking in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit? In this message, explore Acts 1:8 and discover why early believers were told to wait for spiritual power before becoming witnesses to the world. Instead of getting distracted by speculation over end-times dates and prophecies, God calls us to draw near to Hi...

Are we trying to overcome our struggles alone, or are we allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us? In this message, explore how self-control is not produced by self-effort, but is a fruit of the Holy Spirit living within us. Discover how yielding to the Spirit empowers us to conquer addictions, discipline our speech, and break free from the desires of the flesh. Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s...

Are you experiencing true, inner peace—or are anxiety and chaos stealing your rest? In this message, explore the vital distinction between having peace with God through salvation and experiencing the daily peace of God imparted through the Holy Spirit. Discover how yielding to the Spirit frees us from strife, calms our hearts, and guards our homes against division.

How do we experience true, lasting joy even amid life’s greatest trials? In this message discover how yielding to the Holy Spirit unlocks the fruit of the Spirit—moving us beyond fleeting happiness and into the supernatural strength found in the joy of the Lord. As we learn to walk by the Spirit rather than relying on our own strength, He produces a deep, surging peace that guards our hearts again...

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.