Rick Warren's Blog, page 557

Why You Can���t Forgive Someone Too Much

We all have sources of irritation in our lives ��� people who repeatedly hurt us or mistreat us. The last thing we want to do is forgive them.

Why Should We Show Mercy?

No characteristic describes God more fully than mercy. It���s the first trait that God uses to describe himself in Scripture. It���s also an important characteristic for any serious follower of Jesus to develop. If it���s such a core part of who God is, it���s got to be essential for us

God���s Number One Characteristic

God���s number one characteristic in the Bible isn���t his sovereignty, omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, anger, or justice.

It���s his mercy.

God, Why Is This Happening to Me?

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).

Where Do You Turn for Help?

When we go through major disappointments in life, our natural reaction is to pull back and isolate ourselves. We want to handle it ourselves. We want to keep our losses and failures and mistakes and crises a secret. We want to withdraw. This is a terrible idea!

Don���t Stuff Your Pain, Tell God About It

Think you���ve had a bad day? The biblical character of Job had a Ph.D. in pain and loss. In the very first chapter of Job, after everything fell apart in his life, ���Job stood up, tore his robe in grief, and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped��� (Job 1:20 GW).

Convictions Help Us Live Like We Believe

Dictionaries usually define ���conviction��� as a fixed or strong belief. Conviction is really much more than that. Your convictions include your values, commitments, and motivations.

For Uncommon Courage, Open God���s Word

Faced with attacks on a biblical worldview, how do you live with uncommon courage? There are two things you need to do:

1. You need to accept God���s Word as your authority. Why? Because it is the only source that will never lie to you. If you���re going to be a man or woman of courage, you need to build your life on the rock that never changes, not on popular opinion. Build your life on the understanding that ���God said it, I believe it, and that settles it ��� whether I understand it or not.��� Hebrews 6:18 says, ���God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us��� (NLT).

Learn How to Clarify Your Worldview

To live with uncommon courage and stand up for Christ, you have to learn how to clarify your worldview ��� the foundation on which you base your beliefs. You also have to understand the non-Christian worldviews that compete for your devotion every day. Here are four popular worldviews:

How to Have Uncommon Courage

In a world full of ideas and beliefs that go against God���s Word, God wants you to have an uncommon courage and stand up for what you know is true and right. Everyone else is speaking up and telling you their worldview every day. Why shouldn���t you stand up for what you believe?