Rick Warren's Blog, page 579

God Understands You Can���t Change Overnight

When God helps you grow spiritually, he doesn���t just snap his fingers so that it happens instantly. He does it incrementally. When God wants to make a mushroom, he takes six hours, but when he wants to make an oak tree, he takes 60 years.

Let God Take the Driver���s Seat

How do you let go and let God? First, you have to make Jesus the manager of your life.

The problem is, we usually want to be the manager of our own lives, and so we argue and disagree with God. We think we know what���s best. The reason you���re under a lot of stress is that you���re constantly fighting God in your mind ��� ���I know God says to do this but I want to do that instead!���

Meekness Does Not Equal Weakness

If you want to make healthy choices to be well and whole again, you have to learn to be meek. Matthew 5:5 says, ���Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth��� (NIV).

If You Want to Change, Start with Your Thinking

Change requires new thinking. In order to change, we must learn the truth and start making good choices, but we also must change the way we think.

You Have to Choose to Change

Change requires making choices. It���s not enough to dream of changing. It���s not enough to desire change. In order for you to change, you will need to make a decision. You must choose to change.

If You Want to Change, Then Face the Truth

The secret to personal change is not willpower. The secret is to know and face the truth. You must know and face the truth about yourself and your nature if you want to change.

Nothing will change in your life until you know and face the truth about your weaknesses, your relationships, your successes and failures, and your past and future.

When You Hit a Detour, Don���t Give Up!

When God gives you a mission, you can be sure you���ll run into delays, difficulties, detours, and dead ends along the way. They are a natural part of life. But you can be ready for them.

Shortcuts Will Only Get You Off Track

One of the pitfalls you may face as you fulfill your purpose in life is temptation to take shortcuts.

In truth, these shortcuts will only get you off track. The shortcuts may be moral, ethical, spiritual, financial, or even relational.

To Hear God, Get Near to God

You say, ���I want to trust God, but I don���t hear him.���

You don���t hear God when your mind is filled with a thousand other distractions. To hear God, you���ve got to get near to God. You���ve got to get alone with God and be quiet.

Whose Voice Are You Listening To?

Have you noticed that the moment you establish a goal in your life, you start hearing people say, ���Who do you think you are?��� or ���It can���t be done��� or ���Forget about it���?