Rick Warren's Blog, page 264

Quítate lo Viejo, y Ponte lo Nuevo

“Con respecto a la vida que antes llevaban, se les enseñó que debían quitarse el ropaje de la vieja naturaleza, la cual está corrompida por los deseos engañosos; ser renovados en la actitud de su mente; y ponerse el ropaje de la nueva naturaleza, creada a imagen de Dios, en verdadera justicia y santidad”. Efesios 4:22-24 (NVI)

Si quieres tener un cambio perdurable en la vida, tienes que empezar con tu cuerpo, incluyendo un cambio en la forma de pensar, de manera que lo que dejas en tu mente sean cosas que honren a Dios.

Efesios 4:22-24 dice, “Con respecto a la vida que antes llevaban, se les enseñó que debían quitarse el ropaje de la vieja naturaleza, la cual está corrompida por los deseos engañosos; ser renovados en la actitud de su mente; y ponerse el ropaje de la nueva naturaleza, creada a imagen de Dios, en verdadera justicia y santidad” (NVI).

Date cuenta que hay un quitarse y un ponerse. Tu salud realmente depende de que dejes de hacer algunas cosas que necesitas parar de hacer y comenzar a hacer otras que necesitas empezar a hacer. Deja de poner cosas negativas y dañinas en tu cuerpo y empieza a poner cosas edificantes.

Deja de poner cosas negativas en tu mente, y empieza a ver y escuchar cosas que te edifican y te hacen más parecido a Cristo. En la renovación de la mente primero hay que sacar antes de poner.

Digamos que vas a una tienda a buscar un nuevo abrigo. Encuentras uno y lo llevas al vestidor para probártelo, y si estás usando un abrigo, no te vas a poner el abrigo nuevo encima del abrigo viejo. Esto sería tonto, porque no vas a saber si te queda. Lo correcto es quitarte el abrigo viejo antes de ponerte el nuevo.

Tienes que quitar lo viejo antes de poner lo nuevo. Esto es una verdad espiritual, emocional y mental.

Reflexiona sobre esto :

¿Cuáles son las “cosas viejas” que tienes que sacar de tu vida, de tu mente y de tu cuerpo?¿Cuáles son las “cosas nuevas” que necesitas para llenar tu mente y tu cuerpo?¿Cuáles son los nuevos hábitos que tendrás que desarrollar a fin de lograrlo?¿De qué manera estás tratando de ser más como Dios en la “justicia y santidad”?Síguenos en nuestra cuenta de Instagram: @esperanzadiariadelpastorrick Si todavía no has confiado en Jesús y no te has comprometido a seguirlo, ¿por qué esperar más?
Si estás listo para cruzar esa línea y tomar la decisión de creer en Jesucristo y seguirlo,
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God, Why Is This Happening to Me?

“We don’t know everything, and our prophecies are not complete . . . Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us."

1 Corinthians 13:9, 12 (CEV)

In his pain and despair, Job asked a lot of legitimate questions: “Why let people go on living in misery? Why give light to those in grief” (Job 3:20 GNT).

This “why” question is human nature, and we all ask it. We have this misconception that if we understand the reason behind our pain, then it will make the pain easier.

Here’s the truth. You don’t need an explanation; you need strength. You don’t need an explanation; you need a Savior. You don’t need an explanation; you need comfort and support.

But we always want an explanation. We ask questions: Why did that person walk out of my life? Why did he make a promise to me and then break it? Why did he hurt me? Why did I lose my job? Why did she die? Why did I get sick?

Friends, I’ve been studying the “why” question for years, and here’s my educated answer: I don’t know. And I’m never going to know because I’m not God. And neither are you! We’re just never going to understand some things until we get to heaven. Then it’s all going to become clear.

Only God knows the answer to your “why.” And if you don’t get his answer right off the bat, you might as well stop asking because you’re simply prolonging the pain.

Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is God’s privilege to conceal things” (TLB). God is a God of revelation. He reveals himself through nature, circumstances, and Scripture. The only reason you know anything about God is because he has chosen to reveal himself.

But the Bible says God doesn’t only reveal; God also conceals. And sometimes God intentionally hides his face from you. Why? So you’ll learn to trust him and to live by faith rather than by your feelings.

God doesn’t owe you an explanation for anything. God doesn’t have to check in with you before he does something. God doesn’t have to get your permission before he allows things to happen in life. God is God, and you’re not always going to understand why some things happen.

The Bible says, “We don’t know everything, and our prophecies are not complete . . . Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us” (1 Corinthians 13:9, 12 CEV).

One day, everything will be made clear and will make sense. You’ll be able to say, “So that’s why God allowed that in my life!” Until then, God wants you to trust him.

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Talk It Over

What are some questions you need to put in the “Ask God When I Get to Heaven” file?
How does letting go of your “why” questions increase your faith?
How can you encourage someone today who has been questioning God and wondering why God allowed something to happen in their life?

The post God, Why Is This Happening to Me? appeared first on Pastor Rick's Daily Hope.

Si quieres Cambiar tu Vida, comienza con Tu Cuerpo

“Por lo tanto, hermanos, tomando en cuenta la misericordia de Dios, les ruego que cada uno de ustedes, en adoración espiritual, ofrezca su cuerpo como sacrificio vivo, santo y agradable a Dios”. Romanos 12:1 (NVI)

Para que el cambio ocurra en cualquier área de tu vida, ya sea financiera, vocacional, educativa, mental o relacional, tienes que comenzar por lo físico.

¿Por qué? Porque tu cuerpo afecta tu comportamiento. Tus músculos afectan tu ánimo y tu motivación. Tu fisionomía de hecho puede afectar tu psicología.

Romanos 12:1 dice, “Por lo tanto, hermanos, tomando en cuenta la misericordia de Dios, les ruego que cada uno de ustedes, en adoración espiritual, ofrezca su cuerpo como sacrificio vivo, santo y agradable a Dios” (NVI).

El problema con un sacrificio vivo es que puede elegir arrastrarse fuera del altar. Hacemos esto todo el tiempo. Nos ofrecemos a Dios, y luego nos retractamos. Esto no es una oferta que se hace una vez para siempre. ¡Hay que hacerlo cuatro, cinco o quizás diez veces al día!

¿Así que cuál es tu “verdadera y adecuada adoración”? Hay tres cosas que puedes hacer con tu cuerpo que la Biblia dice que son actos de adoración:

Purifica tu cuerpo. La Biblia dice en 2 de Corintios 7:1, “ Como tenemos estas promesas, queridos hermanos, purifiquémonos de todo lo que contamina el cuerpo y el espíritu, para completar en el temor de Dios la obra de nuestra santificación” (NVI). Purificas tu cuerpo controlando lo que permites en tu mente a través de lo que ves y escuchas y en tu cuerpo por lo que comes y bebes.Cuida tu cuerpo. Efesios 5:29 dice, “ pues nadie ha odiado jamás a su propio cuerpo; al contrario, lo alimenta y lo cuida, así como Cristo hace con la iglesia” (NTV). Mantener tu cuerpo en forma es un acto de adoración.Controla tu cuerpo. “Q ue cada uno aprenda a controlar su propio cuerpo de una manera santa y honrosa” 1 Tesalonisenses 4:4 (NVI). Controla tu cuerpo de tal forma que no te controle a ti. No hay razón para decir, “¡no me pude resistir!”

No importa el tipo de cambio que desees hacer en tu vida, siempre va a requerir energía. Para tener energía para alcanzar tus metas, el cambio debe comenzar con tu cuerpo.

Reflexiona sobre esto :

¿Cuáles son las formas prácticas en las que puedes honrar a Dios a través de tu cuerpo hoy?¿Cuáles son las cosas pequeñas en las que necesitas trabajar para controlar tu cuerpo? ¿Cuáles son las cosas grandes?¿Cómo es que Cristo “alimenta y cuida a su iglesia”? ¿Por qué piensas que Dios desea que hagas lo mismo con tu cuerpo?Síguenos en nuestra cuenta de Instagram: @esperanzadiariadelpastorrick Si todavía no has confiado en Jesús y no te has comprometido a seguirlo, ¿por qué esperar más?
Si estás listo para cruzar esa línea y tomar la decisión de creer en Jesucristo y seguirlo,
haz esta oración . .fb-background-color { background: #ffffff !important; } .fb_iframe_widget_fluid_desktop iframe { width: 100% !important; }

The post Si quieres Cambiar tu Vida, comienza con Tu Cuerpo appeared first on Pastor Rick's Daily Hope.

Let Your Friends Carry You Through Hard Times

“By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ."

Galatians 6:2 (NCV)

When you go through major disappointments in life, it’s natural to want to pull back and isolate yourself. You want to handle it yourself. You want to keep your losses, failures, mistakes, and crises a secret. You want to withdraw. But this is a terrible idea!

When you go through disappointment, that’s when you need your friends the most. God doesn’t intend for you to handle pain and stress by yourself. It’s healthiest to accept help from others.

We were wired for each other. We need each other. We’re relational beings. One of the first things God said in the Garden of Eden was, “It isn’t good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18 TLB). We’re made to be in relationships.

Job 6:14 says, “When desperate people give up on God Almighty, their friends, at least, should stick with them” (The Message).

There will be times in your life when you are in so much pain, you will say, “I don’t even believe in God right now!” You need to have friends who will come alongside you and encourage you in your belief.

There will come a time when you’ll say, “I don’t have any faith right now. I’m full of doubt.” That’s when you need your friends to step in and say, “That’s okay. We will have faith for you. We will trust God for you in this.”

The Bible says, “By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 NCV). What is the law of Christ? It’s this: Love your neighbor as yourself. The Bible commands us to help each other. Every time you help somebody who’s going through pain, you are fulfilling the law of Christ.

Trying to handle trouble by yourself will only make you more tired and stressed. You need to accept the help of others and let your friends carry you through it, knowing that God is with you all the way. He is at work in your circumstances, even when you can’t see what he’s doing.

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Talk It Over

Who supports you through your loss and disappointment? Who do you support through hard times?
How can a small group of Christian friends provide the kind of support you need when you’re in trouble?
What will you learn about God through the support of your Christian friends?

The post Let Your Friends Carry You Through Hard Times appeared first on Pastor Rick's Daily Hope.

A Note From Pastor Rick

 

A Note From Pastor Rick

Dear Friend,

Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of every detail of our lives. No matter how much uncertainty is in our world right now, joy is the quiet confidence that ultimately everything will be all right.

And God wants you to live with this confident joy today.

The Bible says, “May all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you. May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, ‘God is great!’” (Psalm 70:4 NLT).

As you head into the holiday season, I’d like to remind you of three things that will never change—truths that will make joy possible both now and throughout the year ahead:

God’s Word will always be the truth.God will never stop loving you.Nothing can change God’s plan and purpose for your life.

I pray these promises encourage you today, and especially throughout this holiday season.

Would you write to me and let me know? I love hearing how Daily Hope has impacted your life, so if God’s spoken to you through this ministry this past year, please reach out. Your letters are what keep my team and me going, as well as all the people whose partnership makes this ministry possible.

You can write to me at Rick@PastorRick.com.

God bless you,

Pastor Rick

 

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God Used You to Save a Life . . .

 

God Used You to Save a Life . . .

Never underestimate the difference you can make when you trust God to make the difference. That’s the lesson driven home every time someone shares how God used your support of Daily Hope to transform a life.

Here’s a letter from Azlan, a listener who shares how God used Daily Hope to get him through difficult times:

“Born and raised in a Muslim family, my calling has always made me different than the others in my family. I’m originally from Iraq, and in 2019, I crossed over and was saved by Jesus Christ. I have struggled and battled on my new path, but my devotion led me to Pastor Rick. Over this past year, listening to him on the radio has gotten me through the hard times . I truly believe that God spoke to me through him. When I was scared, desperate, and wanted to give up and put an end to my life, God saved me through his words. I’m sharing this as a token of my gratitude for how God works miracles, makes a way, and breaks chains.”

God saved a life through your support! He broke chains and made a way to recover hope in him . . . and at this very moment he’s still at work!

Thank you for your continued partnership and prayers to help people all around the world encounter Jesus in deep and meaningful ways.

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Together We Can Reach Over 80% Of the World for Jesus!

 

Together We Can Reach Over 80% Of the World for Jesus!

Did you know that with just 24 languages, you can share God’s Word with over 80% of the world? It’s true! There are roughly 7.9 billion people on the planet and 6.4 billion speak one of those 24 languages. Thanks to friends like you, we’ve already translated the Daily Hope devotionals from English into French, Indonesian, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, and Vietnamese—so billions more can now go deeper into God’s Word with Daily Hope . . . in their own language!

And with your continued support, we are aggressively expanding our Daily Hope translation ministry. The goal is to reach as many people as possible among the 6.4 billion who speak one of the 24 languages, so they will have solid biblical teaching available to them.

Right now, work is underway translating Daily Hope into Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, German, Hindi, Japanese, Javanese, Malay, Simplified Chinese, Swahili, Taihu Wu, Telugu, Turkish, Urdu, and Western Punjabi. This is a monumental task that’s picking up steam because of you.

So thank you for your generous support. And please pray for our translators, as well as those who will soon receive God’s Word in their very own language thanks to you. Together we’ll reach over 80% of the world for Jesus! 

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Embrace God’s Vision for Your Life

 

Embrace God’s Vision for Your Life

By Rick Warren

The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV).

Friends, this means wherever we abandon or ignore the truth of God’s Word, our lives will suffer. And God doesn’t want that for you.

Thankfully, the opposite is also true: Wherever you embrace the truth of God’s Word, your life will flourish— it’s his vision for the good life!

God wants you to live a life of purpose, power, significance, and meaning. He wants you to get on with his plan. You start by embracing God’s vision for your life.

This means you say, “God, doing things my way doesn’t work. My plans have only caused stress, tension, and heartbreak. I wasn’t put on this planet to live my plan, so I’m recommitting my life to your plan. I’m embracing your vision for my life.”

The Bible says, “Those who embrace these my ways are most blessed” (Proverbs 8:32 The Message).

Many people say, “Why should I do that? I’m already living the good life.” But the “good life” is based on looking good, feeling good, and having the goods. That is a superficial life. God made you for so much more.

The Bible promises “a far better life than people ever lived on their own” (2 Corinthians 5:15 The Message). That’s the life God offers you today: not merely a good life—the better life.

How do you get started on this better life—a life of purpose, power, significance, and meaning? The Bible says to “open your eyes and see—how good GOD is” and “run to him” (Psalm 34:8 The Message).

I want you to take a minute and pray about God’s vision for your life. Say, “God I’m running to you. I’m opening my eyes. I’m now switching from my plans to your purposes for my life.”

As you make this commitment to follow God’s plans and purposes, I’ll be praying that God will help you understand his vision and mission for the rest of your life.

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Necesitas el Poder de Dios para Cambiar

“Hay algo dentro de mí, que lucha contra lo que creo que es bueno. Trato de obedecer la ley de Dios, pero me siento como en una cárcel, donde lo único que puedo hacer es pecar. Sinceramente, deseo obedecer la ley de Dios, pero no puedo dejar de pecar porque mi cuerpo es débil para obedecerla. ¡Pobre de mí! ¿Quién me librará de este cuerpo, que me hace pecar y me separa de Dios? ¡Le doy gracias a Dios, porque sé que Jesucristo me ha librado!”.  Romanos 7:24-25 (TLA)

Todos tenemos áreas de la vida que cambiaríamos si pudiéramos. Hemos intentado una y otra vez mejorar nuestras vidas por nuestra cuenta.

Y hemos fracasado, miserablemente.

¿Por qué? No podemos cambiarnos nosotros mismos. Si pudiéramos, lo haríamos. Pero no podemos, así que nunca lo haremos por nuestra cuenta.

La fuerza de voluntad no funciona. Como mucho, funciona durante seis meses. Pero nuestra fuerza de voluntad es limitada. Muy pronto se nos acaba y nos rendimos. Dejamos la dieta y volvemos a los malos hábitos. Volvemos a las malas relaciones y empezamos a hacer los mismos patrones que teníamos antes. Necesitamos más que fuerza de voluntad para cambiar nuestras vidas.

Necesitamos el poder de Dios.

Pablo entendió esto, él escribió, “Hay algo dentro de mí, que lucha contra lo que creo que es bueno. Trato de obedecer la ley de Dios, pero me siento como en una cárcel, donde lo único que puedo hacer es pecar. Sinceramente, deseo obedecer la ley de Dios, pero no puedo dejar de pecar porque mi cuerpo es débil para obedecerla. ¡Pobre de mí! ¿Quién me librará de este cuerpo, que me hace pecar y me separa de Dios? ¡Le doy gracias a Dios, porque sé que Jesucristo me ha librado!” Romanos 7:24-25 (TLA).

Así que deja de tratar de cambiarte a ti mismo. No necesitas una clase. No es necesaria una nueva relación. No es necesario un libro de autoayuda. No necesitas más dinero.

Necesitas a Jesús.

Reflexiona sobre esto:

¿Cuáles son algunas maneras que has tratado de cambiar en tu vida que no han funcionado?¿Por qué crees que la fuerza de voluntad es tan ineficaz para hacer cambios en nuestras vidas?¿Cómo se obtiene el poder de Dios?Síguenos en nuestra cuenta de Instagram: @esperanzadiariadelpastorrick Si todavía no has confiado en Jesús y no te has comprometido a seguirlo, ¿por qué esperar más?
Si estás listo para cruzar esa línea y tomar la decisión de creer en Jesucristo y seguirlo,
haz esta oración . .fb-background-color { background: #ffffff !important; } .fb_iframe_widget_fluid_desktop iframe { width: 100% !important; }

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Don’t Stuff Your Pain; Tell God About It

“Get up, cry out in the night, even as the night begins. Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord."

Lamentations 2:19 (NCV)

Think you’ve had a bad day? Job would understand; he practically had a PhD in pain and loss.

In the very first chapter of Job, everything in his life fell apart. His response? “Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped” (Job 1:20 GW).

Notice that Job openly expressed his pain to God. When you experience pain, do you tell God exactly how you feel? It should be the first thing you do.

This may surprise you, but God can handle your anger and frustration. He can handle your emotions. Why? Because he gave them to you. You were made in his image, and he is an emotional God.

When your 2-year-old has a temper tantrum and pulls on your legs, you can handle that. In the same way, God is bigger than your emotions, and it’s okay to tell him exactly how you feel.

When you pray for a promotion but don’t get it, when a loved one walks out of your life, or when you get the dreaded call saying, “It’s cancer,” you can tell God how you feel. You can say, “I’m mad. I’m upset. I’m frustrated.” God can handle your complaints, questions, fear, and grief. God’s love for you is bigger than all your emotions.

My kids know I love them. They know I have more experience than they have because I’ve been on this planet longer. But my children sometimes question my judgment. Still, I’d rather have an honest, gut-level conversation with them than have them stuff their frustration and disappointment inside.

God is the same way! He would rather you wrestle with him in anger than walk away in detached apathy.

When tragedy strikes, you don’t have to grin and bear it. Instead, go to your heavenly Father with your pain. “Get up, cry out in the night, even as the night begins. Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord” (Lamentations 2:19 NCV).

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Talk It Over

Who is the first person you usually talk to about your troubles? Why do you trust that person? In what ways would it make a difference to go to God first?
When have you kept anger to yourself? What were the physical and emotional effects of that?
What will you do to be more honest with God in your prayers?

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