Joel Osteen Daily Devotional 18 August 2026 (Tuesday) Message. Today’s Word With Joel & Victoria Osteen.
Joel Osteen Daily Devotional 18 August 2026 TOPIC: Why the Criticism?
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you again, why do you look down on your brother or regard him with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
Romans 14:10, AMP
TODAY’S WORD
It’s easy to be critical of someone when we hear what they supposedly said or did that we think is wrong or is something we don’t like. But how many times are we judging things prematurely, finding fault in someone without knowing the facts, without knowing the motives, without knowing the challenges, without knowing how they were raised or what they’re dealing with? Sometimes we’re critical of things we don’t understand. We form negative opinions when it’s actually not what it looks like. We don’t know the full story, and we assume things that may not be true. If we walked in that person’s shoes, most of the time we’d be more understanding, more compassionate.
Even if what we’ve heard is true, where is the mercy? Where is the grace to give people room to make mistakes, to not be perfect? Maybe God is dealing with them, maybe they’re going to make better decisions. Instead of judging them, talking behind their backs, why don’t you take that same time and pray for them? Be a part of the solution and not the problem.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You for freely giving me Your mercy that I might freely give it to others. Thank You for always calling me higher, to see others through Your eyes, and to have an understanding heart. Help me to not be critical and judgmental of others, to be part of the solution and not the problem. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
About Joel Osteen
Raised in Houston, Texas, with a loving family of seven and world-renowned parents in full-time ministry, Joel Osteen never imagined that he would follow so closely in his father’s footsteps. As a young man, his training and interests were behind the scenes in television production, though he was close to his father in ministry. (Joel Osteen Daily Devotional 18 August 2026)
