Daily Devotions with Pastor Jim Cymbala

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!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:9–10, 17. We can accumulate riches here on earth—retirement funds, generational wealth, fancy cars—but it won’t go with us into eternity. Tomorrow isn’t promised, and if it comes, we have no idea what’s in store! So instead of hoarding material things, let’s keep our eyes on Jesus and prepare for a certain eternity with Him.  

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:15–16. What are you facing today—spiritually, emotionally, financially? The God who created an ever-expanding, intricate universe is the same God who’s on our side. He will help us with anything we face in life! Today and every day, we can worship and trust a living, awesome God. Amen!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:14–16. Nobody knows when Jesus will come back. Trying to predict when He will rapture His church doesn’t do us any good! Instead we should use our efforts to spread the gospel to others and see the church grow. Let’s tell someone about Jesus today and pray, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:13–14. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala shares a personal story of what Jesus’ second coming means to him. We may not all have similar experiences, but we can find peace in knowing that Jesus is coming back. Until then, let’s stay very close to our Savior.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:12. If we are born-again believers in Christ, we are promised a glorious eternity with God our Father! When we keep that in mind—that all the hurts and worries of this earth will fall away as we see holiness and glory face to face—our trials and burdens will seem easier. Jesus can change our perspectives!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:11–12. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala challenges us to keep fighting for our faith. If an athlete is serious about winning a game, he will put up a fight for the victory. As Christians, we face spiritual battles every day. It’s always too soon to give up. Let’s ask the Lord to help us fight the good fight today.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:11. Faith doesn’t start by trying to believe—it starts by reading God’s Word. We must pursue faith! We can’t love others by our own strength. The only way we can love others is if we let the love of the Holy Spirit run our lives. Let’s ask the Lord for the endurance we need to pursue faith and love!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:10. The Bible has a lot to say about money. Specifically, there are many verses warning against greed! We’ve all heard that “less is more,” so the opposite would also be true—more is actually less. If we have Jesus in our lives, we have all that we need.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:6–10. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala challenges us to trust God and be thankful—whether we have an old minivan, a new Jaguar, or no car at all! Worrying about having the newest things and accumulating the most wealth only ends up costing us. Our lives can radically change if we release the love of money!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:5–8. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala reminds us that we will leave this world the same way we entered it—with nothing! So instead of using all of our energy trying to gain material goods, let’s ask the Lord to help us be content with what we have. “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:8).

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:2–5. Godliness is not about acquiring money, a new car, or any other physical item. Some Christian leaders claim that our earthly possessions are a reflection of our faith—but that’s false! Would that teaching apply to the saints in third-world countries? No way. But the true teachings of the Bible are applicable everywhere. Let’s be alert for the truth and not worry so much about financial gain.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:3–5. Some Christians value their denomination or Bible translation more than they value people. But Jesus told us to love our neighbors and pray for our enemies. Christians are supposed to be known by love, not by the friction they cause. Let’s ask the Lord to soften our hearts.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:2–4. There are many different religions in the world, and different denominations in each one. It seems like every church has its own set of rules. But the heart of Christianity should simply be godliness. The purpose of a Bible-based ministry is devotion to Christ. We are called by God Almighty to be separate from this carnal world!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:2–4. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala challenges to get into God’s Word every day. How else will we be able to identify false prophets? If we don’t know what the Bible says, then we won’t know when someone’s teachings go against it. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand His Word today.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 6:1–2. Whether we’re ministers, house cleaners, teachers, or company owners, all Christians are called to be honest workers. We must ask the Lord for help in all our tasks—we’re to do our best in everything for His glory! Remember this today: societal rank and status don’t matter. Being honest in our words and actions to reflect our loving heavenly Father is what counts.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:22–25. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala challenges our intentions. Do we do things so that others will see and applaud? Or do we help and encourage others because that’s what God calls us to do? Some of our good deeds might only be recognized in heaven. But it will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Let’s serve Him today.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:22–23. Can Christians drink wine? Why does God heal some people but not others? These are questions many believers face, and Pastor Cymbala offers insight into both. If we are seeking the Lord’s will and wanting to please Him, He will bless us, one way or another. God will not curse His children. Let’s ask for His guidance and discretion today.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:22. Only God can make and keep us pure—clean from the corruption of this world. Our part is to heed His guidance by staying away from anything that harms our reputations and testimonies. Some people and organizations can claim to be Christian but really oppose the words of Jesus. Let’s ask the Lord to keep us clean, pure, and alert today.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:19–21. We all show favoritism—our religion, race, wealth, and social status can all influence how we interact with others. But Jesus ate with the poor. He fellowshipped with outcasts and embraced the sick. Do you think He prefers Black, white, Hispanic, or Asian people? No! Let’s be like Jesus and ask Him to help us stop the favoritism.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:19. Gossip is like those scam calls we all get—they’re phony. If there are no eyewitnesses to a tale we’re hearing about a brother or sister in the faith, we can’t take it as fact. We must ask the Lord for guidance and clarity and listen to witnesses before falling into a trap.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:17–18. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala shares from the heart of a shepherd of God’s people. Churches should honor their pastors, making sure they are taken care of financially. But while a pastor should be paid and cared for, but he should not be greedy and seek all the church’s money! Churches need a healthy balance in taking care of leadership. Let's pray for our leaders—that the Lord will guide and bless them!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:16–18.  In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala shares from his heart about the ministry. Imagine if a pastor were able to give back to his church every penny he’d been paid! Churches are supposed to pay their staff—and the Bible lines that out—but true servants of the Lord don’t do it for the money. Serving our Savior should be payment enough. Let’s align our hearts with the will of God today and serve Him joyfully.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:14–15. Many of us have seen people praise, worship, and serve the Lord publicly and then suddenly have nothing to do with Him or His church. What happened? They turned away from God—that starts by drifting away little by little. We can’t drift! We must ask the Holy Spirit every day to keep us close to Him.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:8–13. Thanks to social media and constant news coverage, we are drowning today in the opinions of others. But the only real opinion that matters to us should be Christ’s. When we get idle and mindlessly scroll, we’re paying more attention to the business of others than our own. Let’s do what the Lord has called us to today and mind our own business.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:5–7. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala encourages us to care for one another. Yet some people who claim to be Christians will deny helping their own family members! How can we be followers of the selfless Christ and then turn around and be selfish? Let’s ask the Lord to help us be more like Him today.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:3–4. Widows in Bible times were fairly destitute, so the church was to care for them. But some people tried to take advantage of that system. Today it’s still our duty to reach out and care for the widows in our churches—especially those in our families! Let’s have tender hearts toward the people who need us.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 5:1–2. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala shares a story about his mother in church! They had to do some conflict resolution. We’ve all been told to treat others how we want to be treated. Whether it’s a relative, a neighbor, or a stranger, let’s treat people the way Jesus wants us to.  

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:15–16. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala reminds us that our words and actions are our testimonies. Are we teaching others how to be saved? We must continue to live the Christian life—we don’t get to backslide just because we’re saved! Let’s ask the Lord to rejuvenate our spirits today so we can walk in His light.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:12–15. Instead of spending all our time obsessing over some earthly thing that won’t help us in eternity, why don’t we devote ourselves to what God wants us to do? If we spent as much time reading God’s Word as we do scrolling on our phones, imagine how different our lives would be!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:13–14. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala reminds us to be diligent about prophecy. Christians today still receive specific callings through a prophetic word—it’s important to identify false prophets, though. If what someone speaks over us or loudly declares does not align with Scripture, we know to turn the other way.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:12–13. We don’t have to be trained pastors to share the gospel with others. People watch us every day—how we act, talk, dress. Are we sharing with them how God works in our lives? Some are called to proclaim to large crowds, while others might share one-on-one on the subway. Wherever we are, let’s talk about Jesus.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:11–12. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala reminds us that we might be the only reflection of Jesus that someone sees today. Are we setting good examples? Or are we gossiping, swearing, flirting? Let’s display the light and love of our Savior and be the faith-filled examples we’re called to be.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:8–10. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala reminds us to put our hope in the living God. How wonderful it is to know that the God we worship and pray to is alive and listening! When we place all our hope and trust in Him, we’re empowered to win over our lost or straying loved ones. Let's not stop hoping and praying regarding the needs around us!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:8. Do we think the solution to our anxieties and ill-ease is taking in more of what the world has to offer? No way! We need to take away the suggestive and vulgar media and add in time with our heavenly Father. Only He can give us peace.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:7. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala encourages us to train spiritually just like we do physically. How? Instead of taking in the world’s junk food—through television, music, and books—let’s take in the holy Word of God. The world's negative things won’t help us reach our goals of holiness and righteousness. We must replace them with God’s gifts!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:6. We could follow the best diet and go to the gym every day but still be unhealthy. Our spiritual health—how we feel and react to circumstances—is nourished only by time with the Lord and His Word. Have we nourished our souls today? Let’s dig deeper into the Bible and find new strength for the day.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:3–5. Some religions have food restrictions. According to the New Testament, there are no holy or unholy foods. But following a command about what we put in our mouths is easier to do than following the one that says to watch what comes out of our mouths! Words are deadly weapons. Just like we taste our food, let’s chew on our words before letting them fly.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:1–3. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala encourages us to watch out for rules and teachings that go against the Bible. For example, being unmarried or avoiding certain foods doesn’t make someone more or less of a Christian! We are not under the Old Testament law—we are called to follow the Word of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let’s ask the Lord to reveal what is fake so that we can avoid it!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:1–2. There’s an old saying that we’ve all probably heard before: “What would Jesus do?” If we change that saying and instead ask ourselves about things we see, “Would Jesus do that?” we will grow in discernment. The false teachings of the world are enticing and self-gratifying. Let’s ask the Spirit for guidance and follow what is really true.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 4:1. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala warns us about false teachers. Some people today claim to have heard words from the Lord that are actually additional—and contrary—to the Bible. If they truly did, that means God left crucial information out of His book. Did He do that? No! We won’t find truth from politicians, money-grabbers, or psychics. The complete truth is in the Word of God. Let’s study it today.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 3:14–16. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala reminds us of the importance of the local church. Believers in Jesus Christ are all members of His church—no matter where on earth they’re from! But we each receive encouragement and fellowship from our local churches. Let’s get involved however we can!

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 1 Timothy 3:14–15. In this devotional, Pastor Cymbala encourages us with the truth that God is alive! When we pray, we’re not praying to a concept—we have a God who is living, listening, and answering our prayers. It dishonors God if we act as if He is dead. Jesus conquered death for us! Are we living with Him fully alive in our hearts and minds? Let's do it today.

Join Pastor Jim Cymbala for today’s daily devotional from 3:12. Do you serve in your church? Ministering to others goes against our selfish, human nature, but true greatness lies in serving, not in being served. How much we serve—singing in the choir, working with the children, or even making something for others, like Pastor Cymbala’s mother did—reflects our relationship with Christ. Let’s get involved!