Charles Stanley Daily Devotional 24 October 2025 (In Touch) Friday Message
Charles Stanley Daily Devotional TOPIC: When Facing Life’s Mountains
TODAY’S SCRPTURE: Zechariah 4:1-9
1 Then the angel who was speaking with me returned and roused me, as a man who is awakened from his sleep.
2 He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see, and behold, a lampstand all of gold with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps on it with seven spouts belonging to each of the lamps which are on the top of it;
3 also two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl and the other on its left side.”
4 Then I said to the angel who was speaking with me saying, “What are these, my lord?”
5 So the angel who was speaking with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.”
6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, `Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.
7 `What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”‘”
8 Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house, and his hands will finish it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
Wouldn’t it be great if doing God’s will was always easy? But at times we encounter obstacles. When Zerubbabel felt this way, the Lord sent the prophet Zechariah with a word of encouragement.
Zerubbabel was given the task of rebuilding the temple. The first temple had been built during a time of peace and prosperity—under Solomon, the treasuries were overflowing and the workforce was huge. But the situation was quite different when the Jews returned after 70 years of Babylonian captivity. Now they were few in number, their enemies kept attacking, Jerusalem was in ruins, and resources were limited. In today’s reading, Zechariah’s message to Zerubbabel (4:1-9) contained two principles that strengthened him:
- We are to face our tasks in the power of the Holy Spirit (v. 6). The Lord’s work can never be done with human strength. His indwelling Spirit must empower us with the wisdom and energy to accomplish His will in our life.
- When God calls us to a task, He assumes the responsibility for removing any hindrances (vv. 7-9). When we’re tempted to give up, it’s time to look up and see the obstacle through His eyes.
Is the Lord asking you to do something that seems impossible? Ask Him to supply the hope and strength to persevere.
Bible in One Year: Luke 8-9
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: When you feel like giving up, ask God for the wisdom and energy needed to accomplish His will.
Dr. Charles F. Stanley was the founder of In Touch Ministries and a New York Times best-selling author. Throughout his ministry, he demonstrated a keen awareness of people’s needs and provided Christ-centered biblically based principles for everyday life