Rick Warren's Blog, page 534

What Does It Mean to Have Radical Gratitude?

Radical gratitude looks like this: ���Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God���s will for you in Christ Jesus��� (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV).

We Pray for Too Little, and We Want It Too Soon

When we want God to answer our prayers, we must be willing to not only let God answer whenever he thinks is best but also however he thinks is best. God���s ways are always better and bigger and higher.

How to Pray When Your Answer Is Delayed

God���s timing is perfect. We may think he���s late, but he���s never late. God���s delays are not God���s denials. ���Not yet��� does not mean ���no.���

Why God Sometimes Delays Your Answers to Prayer

I heard a story once about a young girl who wrote a letter to a missionary, trying to encourage him and lend her support. Evidently, she���d been told not to request a response to her letter because the missionaries were very busy. So when the letter arrived, the missionary got a kick out of reading, ���Dear Mr. Missionary, we are praying for you. But we are not expecting an answer.���

Take a Step of Faith ��� in God���s Timing

When God gives an idea ��� a rhema ��� he gives it in three parts.

First, he says what he���s going to do, then he says how he���s going to do it, and then he gives you the timing.

Wait, and Watch God Affirm Your Faith

I remember growing up with some old math books that had the answers at the end of the book. I could work out the equation, figure out the answer, and then go and check it in the back. Or not! What I actually did was go find the answer and then, knowing where I was supposed to end up, try to figure out how to do the equation.

God Can Use Our Spirit-Controlled Desires to Direct Us

When we want God���s direction for our lives, we should get our desires out of the way so that we can honestly say, ���God, I���m willing to go either way ��� whatever you want is what I want.���

Two Important Steps to Getting a Word from God

Perhaps you���ve had a quiet time ��� when you get alone with God and read the Bible ��� where a verse that you���ve read a hundred times suddenly jumps out at you, and you think, ���I���ve never seen that before!��� Or suddenly you see a new way to apply it, and at the end of the day, you find out it was exactly what you needed for that day. That���s a rhema. God���s Spirit took a general word to everybody and applied it to you in a personal and practical way.

The Holy Spirit Makes God���s Word Personal

In order to understand how prayer works, you must understand that God speaks two ways. He speaks generally ��� the Word of God to everyone ��� and that is called logos. He also speaks personally to individuals through his Word, and that���s rhema. That���s one way God answers your prayer.

Have You Met This Basic Condition for Answered Prayer?

The Bible says God has laid out five conditions to answered prayer: you have an honest relationship with God, you harbor no unforgiveness toward anyone, you���re willing to share the results with other people, you ask God in faith, and you pray in Jesus��� name.