Charles Stanley
Charles F. Stanley is the founder of In Touch Ministries, and a New York Times best-selling author. He demonstrates a keen awareness of people's needs and provides Christ-centered biblically based principles for everyday life.
How To Pray In The Will Of God – Charles Stanley, Radio Classic. The Bible tells us that when we pray to God “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). For many Christians who feel in the dark about God’s will, those words send them into doubt and insecurity. In this illuminating message, Dr. Stanley explains that we don’t have to wring our hands and wonder what the Lord is up to. God promises to show us how to pray His will for every situation we face. All we have to do is wait and trust Him.
Charles Stanley Weekly Sunday sermon (March 31, 2024) In Touch Ministries.
Charles Stanley (March 27, 2024) Daily Devotional: Restored to Lead.
God doesn't bear grudges. If you have confessed your mistakes, He's ready to lead you to abundant life.
John 21:1-25
During Jesus’ trial, Peter had denied Him three times, and now Jesus was risen, just as He’d promised. Who wouldn’t have felt ashamed? It would’ve been enough to send anyone back to something familiar, something safe. In John 21, we see Peter abruptly announce, “I am going fishing” (v. 3). So there he is, back on the water, doing what he knows best. Except the fishing is bad. They’ve caught nothing, so when a stranger appears on the shore and says, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat,” they figure it’s worth a try (v. 6). The catch nearly swamps the boat, and John—probably remembering another miraculous catch (Luke 5:1-11)—says, “It is the Lord!” As abruptly as he decided to go fishing, Peter jumps into the water and hurries to shore.
After breakfast, Jesus has spiritual business to tend to with Peter. His disciple hasn’t died, but neither is he living in the abundance Jesus promised. Peter has experienced a kind of death by denial. He needs Jesus’ tough questions to resurrect his bruised faith and restore him to leadership and life.
Our own denials may not rise to Peter’s level, but we are asked to trust Jesus in every situation. Sometimes we don’t, but Jesus’ fireside talk with Peter reminds us that He can restore anyone to the new life He’s promised.
Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 13-14
Charles Stanley (March 26, 2024) Daily Devotional: Raised from Fear to Faith.
If we will remember the love and power of our Savior, no fear can paralyze us.
John 20:19-22 - So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ``Peace be with you." And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, ``Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ``Receive the Holy Spirit.
Though they knew that the tomb was empty—though they’d heard Mary Magdalene’s amazing story—the disciples were worried and wondering. Jesus had promised to rise again, true; but He had died, just as they’d seen many others die. They lost hope, perhaps assuming they, too, were as good as dead. Fear had gripped them and locked them away.
But Jesus had other plans. John noted that it was “the first day of the week” (20:19), and just as God’s Word was there at the creation of all things (John 1:1), Jesus the Word was suddenly present for a new creation. “Peace,” He said before showing them the wounds that won their salvation (20:19-20). Then, much like God breathing His Spirit into man at the beginning, Jesus breathed the life of the Spirit into His disciples, fulfilling the promise He would make to be with them always.
Jesus’ resurrection meant a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), a new and abundant life in the Spirit, and a renewed purpose. The disciples were sent out to “make disciples of all the nations” and teach people to live as Jesus commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).
The same promise and purpose are ours. If we will remember His promise of presence, no fears can lock out the Savior, and no threat of death can withstand His resurrection power.
Bible in One Year: 1 Samuel 10-12
Charles Stanley (March 25, 2024) Daily Devotional: Returned from Exile.
God offers grace, not condemnation, to all who acknowledge their mistakes and ask for help.
Luke 15:11-32
Jesus’ resurrection—the heart of the gospel—promises us resurrection as well. When He comes again, we will rise from physical death (1 Thessalonians 4:16). But the Lord promises more, which is described in the story of the Prodigal Son.
After taking his inheritance, the son assumed he could choose the life he wanted. Instead, he wasted everything—which is the definition of prodigal—and ended up with a life more like death. Penniless and alone, he at last “came to his senses” (Luke 15:17) and realized the full life he longed for was waiting back at home.
Great need motivated the young man to return home, but he didn’t assume that a full life would be restored; he hoped only for a servant’s existence. But the father, feeling that the son’s return warranted gracious extravagance, said, “Bring out the best robe ... let’s eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again” (vv. 22-24).
Whenever we have chosen the way of death and find ourselves in a spiritual “far country,” we can remember the prodigal’s story. Like him, we can respond to the Spirit-given change of heart that draws us home. The Father’s extravagant grace awaits all who return.
Charles Stanley (March 24, 2024) Daily Devotional: Parting Words: Jesus Prays for Us.
Before going to the cross, our Savior prayed for the disciples—and He included us too.
John 17:20-21 - ``I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
After washing His disciples’ feet and commissioning them to go out into the world—not as conquering kings but as loving servants—Jesus shared His intimate thoughts. He helped them see what this task would look like and the type of troubles they’d face. He helped the men understand what “kingdom of God” meant and why He must leave them for a while. He promised that while He was gone, the Comforter would be with them. And though Jesus said they’d certainly have trouble, He then encouraged them, for He had overcome the world.
Can you imagine sitting at that table, eating that dinner, and looking into Jesus’ eyes as He broke the bread, drank the wine, and shared from His heart?
Then, Jesus prayed one last time for His friends. And not only that—amazingly, He also prayed for all who would believe based on their word (John 17:20). Friend, that means you. That means everyone who’s trusted in Him—Jesus was praying for us, and we have His very words. What could be more precious?
On that terrible night—Jesus’ last night before dying—the one thing He asked was for us to remain unified. For us to be knit together in love so the entire world would recognize Jesus in us. It is a sacred invitation, as important today as it was then.
Charles Stanley (March 23, 2024) Daily Devotional: Parting Words: Love One Another.
Leading others to Jesus begins with caring the way He does.
John 13:34-35 - ``A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ``By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
What does it look like to love God and to follow Jesus? Hundreds of voices around us shout very different answers to such questions. Believe this! Do that! Follow me! It can be confusing, even frightening, to a genuine seeker longing to know God.
But in today’s passage, we learn how Jesus wants believers to act on their faith—during His last dinner with the disciples, He simply encouraged them to “love one another.” This, Jesus says, is how the world will know we are His followers (John 13:34-35). Love will be the fruit, the sign, the proof.
What does this love look like? That’s a fair question, and Jesus has that covered, too: “Just as I have loved you, you should love each other” (John 13:34 NLT). Turning with compassion to the hungry, sick, fearful, and vulnerable, Jesus spent His life putting aside status in order to serve. He confronted the greedy and those using God’s name to amass power for themselves. In a startling act of humble service, He got down on the floor to wash the feet of His followers. And soon after, He went to the cross in the most stunning display of love in history.
Our marching orders, then, are to love in the ways Jesus loved. This is how the world will know we are His. This is how the world will know Him.
Charles Stanley (March 22, 2024) Daily Devotional: Parting Words: A New Commandment.
We love like Jesus when we serve one another.
John 13:1-17
Is there a task around the house you just can’t stand to do, yet you know it needs to be done? Maybe you find yourself looking the other way, hoping someone else will do the dirty work.
But not Jesus. On this final night with His friends, as they gathered for dinner, someone needed to clean all those filthy feet. After all, they would be sitting on the ground, their bodies close to the low table of food. Their sandals would be caked with dust and dirt and whatever else they walked through on the streets. This task was considered so disgusting and menial that it’s thought even slaves at times refused to do it.
But on this night, Jesus Himself filled a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet. Peter was appalled and cried, “Never shall You wash my feet!” (John 13:8). Yet Jesus insisted. There, in their last hours together, it was paramount that they understood exactly who Jesus was. Yes, Jesus was their Teacher, Lord, and Master. And His signs and wonders were evidence that He was God. But this God came to serve, not to demand. To die, not to kill.
What does it mean to follow such a God? That night, with His friends, Jesus demonstrated this vividly. No student can be greater than his teacher, after all. We must be the people who serve one another.
Charles Stanley Weekly Sunday sermon (March 24, 2024) In Touch Ministries.
Charles Stanley (March 21, 2024) Daily Devotional: Willing to Wait for God’s Way.
Trust the Lord to bring you His best at the right time.
Lamentations 3:24-26 - `The LORD is my portion," says my soul, ``Therefore I have hope in Him." The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently For the salvation of the LORD.
Many of us struggle when it comes to disciplining ourselves in the area of instant gratification. There are so many things we want now. And to make matters worse, we usually have the ability to follow through on our desires. That’s what the credit card industry is all about: Have it now; pay later. But finances aren’t the only area where we get into trouble. Being in a hurry to get married can lead to an unwise choice of a spouse. Or being in a rush for career success might tempt us not to consider whether our pursuit aligns with God’s plans.
Why do you think the Lord wants us to wait? One reason is to protect us from our own self-destructive ways. Those who can’t say no to their own desires end up enslaved to them. God wants us to be mature believers who have the character and self-restraint to wait for Him to provide in His perfect time. Because the heavenly Father is omniscient, He alone knows what’s best. You can trust that if He asks you to wait, He has something more wonderful in mind than you could ever provide for yourself.
Does anything seem to have power over you? If so, it may be an area that requires the practice of self-restraint. Yield to the Lord and submit your desires to Him. Then, begin saying no to temptations as you wait for God to reveal His perfect plan.
Bible in One Year: Ruth 1-2