Rick Warren's Blog, page 612

God Chose You for His Family

God says your salvation is no accident. He chose you long before you chose him. He took the initiative. The Bible says in 1 Peter 1:2, ���You were chosen according to the purpose of God��� (TEV).

Why We Pray, ���Your Will Be Done���

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10 NIV)

We worship God when we give him our lives every time we pray. Jesus teaches that when we pray, we should commit ourselves to God’s will.

God has a specific will for your life. The Bible says in Romans 12:2 that his will is good and perfect and it fits you. Part of connecting with God is saying, “God, what is your will for me today? I want to do your will.”

In Heaven, God’s will is done perfectly. The problem on Earth is God’s will is not always done. That’s why we’re to pray, “Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” We’re saying, “God, I want to submit to you. I want to do what you want me to do.”

You can pray “Your will be done” in three different ways. You can say it in resentment: “Your will be done, but I don’t like it.” You can say it in resignation: “Your will be done, because I can’t help it.” Or you can say it in anticipation: “Your will be done, because I know it is the best, and that’s what I want for my life today!”

 I was a kid, we watched a popular TV show called “Father Knows Best.” Your earthly father may not always know what’s best, but you can trust that your heavenly Father does. That’s what it means to say, “Your will be done.”

Pray this prayer: “God, I know your will for my life is better than anything I can dream up. I want to give you my life. I want your will done in my life.”

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Talk It Over

What does it mean to pray in anticipation?
How can you know what God’s will is?
Do you believe that God cares about your dreams and desires? Why or why not?

God Wants to Save You, Not Scold You

Knowing God is for you will change your whole perspective on life. You���ll stop thinking of God as someone looking down from Heaven, ready to yell ���Gotcha!��� any time you mess up.

Where Do You Believe God Can Use You

You need to be connected to a church family so you can fulfill your calling to serve other believers in practical ways. The Bible says, ���All of you together are Christ���s body, and each of you is a part of it��� (1 Corinthians 12:27 NLT, second edition).

In the End, God Wins

History���s conclusion is inevitable.

I believe this with all my heart. It���s a fait accompli. It���s done. It���s finished. There���s no doubt. I���ve read the final chapter. God���s Word tells us how it���s going to end. One day God���s going to wrap it all up here on Earth, and he���s going to take his children home to Heaven to be with him forever. The Bible says, ���The Good News about God���s kingdom will be preached in all the world, to every nation. Then the end will come��� (Matthew 24:14 NCV).

Your Belief Unleashes the Power of God

Everything is possible with God.

���Jesus looked at them and said, ���With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible������ (Matthew 19:26 NIV).

The Great Commission Is Not a Suggestion

The whole world needs Jesus.

Jesus said this very clearly over and over, but in Matthew 28:18-20 he gave us the Great Commission: ���All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age��� (NIV).

The Church: Where We Learn to Love

Only the Church will last forever.

Nothing else is going to last. No business is going to last forever. No government is going to last forever. No nation is going to last forever. Only the Church is going to last forever.

It���s All About God

It���s not about you.

It���s not about profit or politics or anything else. It���s all about God. You may know that the first sentence of The Purpose Driven Life is ���It���s not about you.��� What you may not remember is that the title of the first chapter is ���It���s All About God.��� Those two go together. The reason it���s not about you is because it���s all about God.

How Should You Respond to Hope

God will never, ever, ever, ever stop loving you. You will always be loved. Nothing can destroy your relationship with God. If you grasp this fact, it will change your life.