Rick Warren's Blog, page 555

Faith, Not Feelings, Pleases God

When you are a baby Christian, God gives you a lot of confirming emotions and often answers the most immature, self-centered prayers so you���ll know he exists. But as you grow in faith, he will wean you of these dependencies.

Seeking a Feeling Is Not Worship

Yesterday we saw that David frequently complained of God���s apparent absence. But the truth is, God hadn���t really left David, just as God will never leave you. He has promised repeatedly, ���I will never leave you nor forsake you.���

God Is Real, No Matter How You Feel

It is easy to worship God when things are going great in your life ��� when he has provided food, friends, family, health, and happy situations. But circumstances are not always pleasant. How do you worship God then? What do you do when God seems a million miles away?

Working Together to Bring People to Jesus

You and I have been given the same mission that Jesus had. It���s one of the most critical acts of mercy we can take.

How to Be a Peacemaker (Part 2)

Peacemaking isn���t a well-developed skill in our world today, but it���s a skill that can be learned. In fact, Jesus calls all believers to be peacemakers.

In yesterday���s devotional, I shared three keys to biblical peacemaking. Here are four more:

How to Be a Peacemaker (Part 1)

Our natural tendency is to hate our enemies or at least to avoid them at all cost. But if you run from conflict, you���re going to be miserable most of your life. Jesus calls us to a higher standard. He calls us to be peacemakers ��� not peacekeepers. There���s a huge difference. Peacekeepers avoid conflict and pretend it doesn���t exist. But peacemakers resolve conflict and reconcile relationships.

Take the High Ground for a Clear Perspective

We all have EGRs (people with Extra Grace Required) in our lives. They annoy us, anger us, frustrate us, and test us.

But they also help us grow. God calls us to demonstrate mercy to all people ��� even those who cause us the most trouble.

Stay Out of the Mud

Retaliation never works with EGRs (Extra Grace Required people). It tends to escalate whatever problem you���re encountering. Over the last few devotionals I���ve shared with you the first four steps in dealing with people who frustrate, annoy, and hassle you:

Hold Your Tongue About EGRs

If you don���t have trouble with my first three suggestions for how to deal with those frustrating Extra Grace Required people (EGRs) in your life (look behind their behavior, refuse to be offended, and cut them some slack), the fourth will likely be the toughest.

Cut People Some Slack

Everybody has bad days. Kay knows that I have two touchy times every week. I���m touchy on Saturday afternoon because I���m focused on the message I am about to preach. And the other time I���m touchy is Monday morning, because I���m drained from preaching all weekend and talking to people between services. So Kay makes allowances for that. She cuts me some slack.