Rick Warren's Blog, page 584

When You���re Tempted, God Wants to Help

The Bible tells us that God is ready to help. He says we���re to pray, ���Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.��� That is the prayer of deliverance. You ask God for help.

The Freedom of the Cross

Romans 6:6 says, ���We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves would have no power over us��� (NCV). What does ���our sinful selves would have no power over us��� mean? It means our natural inclination is to do the wrong thing.

Choose Grace, Not Bitterness

If you���re still holding on to resentment, then someone is controlling you. Have you ever said, ���You make me so mad���? What you���re admitting at that point is, ���You are controlling me.��� The only way you get this person out of your mind and heart is to heal it with grace ��� God���s grace.

Forgiveness vs. Restoration of Trust

Who has a better arsenal to repay, you or God? Who can settle the score better, you or God? I think God! If I have to choose whether I���m going to get back at someone or let God be the God of justice, I���m going to let God be the God of justice. I���m going to choose to leave it to God.

Why Should You Forgive?

God���s Word tells us why we have to let go of our hurt and resentment. We���ve got to release it instead of rehearsing it.

There are three reasons we need to forgive.

Revealing Is the Beginning of Healing

The Bible says, ���Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed��� (James 5:16a NIV). So let me ask you: Do you want to be forgiven? That���s the first step. Do you want to be emotionally healed? That���s something different.

Just As If You���d Never Sinned

You don���t have to be hesitant or shy about coming to God for forgiveness. The Bible says, ���Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most��� (Hebrews 4:16 NLT, second edition). At the throne of grace, you will not find scolding, punishment, or rejection. When we come to God with our sin, we receive his mercy, and we find his grace.

For a Fresh Start, Begin with Repentance

The path to a fresh start and a clear conscience begins with repentance. First, review every area of your life, and then repent of every sin.

The First Step to a Clear Conscience

The first step on the path to a clear conscience is to take a personal moral inventory or a personal spiritual assessment.

God Breaks, Then He Multiplies

Whatever you give to God, he multiplies.

If you give God your talent, he���ll multiply your talent. If you give God your energy, he���ll multiply your energy. If you give God your time, he will multiply your time. If you give God your money, he will multiply your money. If you give God your relationships, he will multiply your relationships. Whatever you give to God he will multiply and give it back.