Daily Devotions with Pastor Jim Cymbala

Exalt the Lord! | Psalm 34 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala

God is not a doctrine—He's a person we can know. We can receive His grace, and His Holy Spirit can live inside us. That's why we should be praising and exalting Him at all times. He is worthy of it! To exalt the Lord is good for our souls—we’re never spiritually healthier than when we praise Him.

Hope Not in Things | Psalm 33 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala

What makes us feel safe in this turbulent world? Many of us place our hope for security in things like savings accounts, militaries, trust funds, and careers. But really, our hope should be in Jesus! He is the provider of everything we need and want—especially those things that make us feel safe. “My hope is in You.” Say that to God today. He loves to hear it!

Forgiven Guilt | Psalm 32 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala

Has the hand of the Lord ever felt heavy on your life? When we sin and don’t repent, it feels almost oppressive. But David the psalmist wrote, “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven.” If you are saved, all your sin and guilt are forgiven! We can be blessed and happy when we confess our sins to our loving Father. Let’s live in that truth today.

Help! | Psalm 31 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala

One of the greatest, shortest prayers is “Help!” God already knows about our need—He understands the reality of our situations better than we do. He's just waiting for us to ask for help. The strength of prayer is not in its eloquence or the number of words. It's in the intensity and desperation of the heart that reaches out to God.

Seasons of Life | Psalm 30 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala

Life has different seasons—sometimes we're on the mount of rejoicing and victory, other times we're going through valleys and discouragement. Even as Christians, we go through tribulations and trials. But God brings us through! The reward is that much richer when we trust Him through the hard times. So don’t lose hope in the lows. God’s going to get you out.

Listen for His Voice | Psalm 29 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala

God talks to us today—that’s not just an Old Testament thing! While He no longer uses booming thunder or billowing smoke, the voice of God is still present. It is small but powerful. We feel Him uplifting our spirits when we’re discouraged. We hear Him through the inspired words others share with us. God wants to speak to you—listen closely for His voice today.

Worship Honestly | Psalm 28 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala

Jesus is worthy of hearts-open, hands-raised, all-out worship. But so often we hold back because of what we’ve been taught or what others may think of us. We present ourselves one way in church but act differently once we walk out of the sanctuary doors. Let’s be genuine and honest in every aspect of our lives—not just in worship—and honor the One who saved us.

In His Presence | Psalm 27 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala

More can happen in five minutes of God’s presence than in two hours of church proceedings. A spiritually-minded person doesn’t need fancy words or nice religious activities—he just wants the presence of God. Let’s open up and let God in today. Commune with Him, see His beauty, and feel His peace.

Have Good Company | Psalm 26 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala

Who we spend time with matters. We as Christians are called to be examples to the lost, but if we're going to do that, we cannot allow the world to affect us. We need to love others without being influenced by them. Let's ask God for wisdom today—to make us blessings to those who don't know Him while not letting bad company corrupt our morals and grieve the Holy Spirit.

Be Humble! | Psalm 25 | Daily Devotions | Pastor Jim Cymbala

Humility is an under-appreciated virtue today. But God lifts up the humble! Jesus was the humblest person to live, even though He had no sins to humble Him. He set the example for us, as His humility came from emptying Himself and totally depending on God the Father. We are nothing, and we have nothing. Let's be lowly, like Jesus, knowing that God everything in our lives comes from God.