Rick Warren's Blog, page 616

Four Reasons Why You Shouldn���t Worry

Worry is essentially a control issue. It���s trying to control the uncontrollable. We can���t control the economy, so we worry about the economy. We can���t control our children, so we worry about our children. We can���t control the future, so we worry about the future. But worry never solves anything! It���s stewing without doing.

Why Keep Praying When There Is No Answer?

The Bible says in Ephesians 6:18, ���Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers��� (NLT, second edition).

Why should you be persistent in your prayers, even when you don���t get an answer? There are four reasons.

Why Won���t I Let God Take Control?

Every day you are controlled by something. You may be controlled by your own ego or by the expectations of other people. You may be controlled by fear or guilt or resentment or bitterness. You may be controlled by a substance or a habit. But you are controlled by something every day.

God Is Working While You���re Waiting

God wants you to wait patiently for him to answer your prayer, but he also wants you to wait expectantly. Have faith. Trust God to hear and to answer. When you wait expectantly, you show God that you believe his promises. You believe he���s going to keep his word.

What Does God Want While You Wait For An Answer?

What does God want you to do while you���re waiting on an answer to your prayer?

Psalm 37:7 says, ���Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act��� (NLT, second edition). God wants you to wait patiently for him to answer your prayer.

How Can I Get Out of This Mess?

Here is the testimony of a Chinese Christian: ���I walked through the road of life and had fallen into a great ditch. The ditch was filled with depression, discouragement, and sin. As I lay in that ditch, Mohammed came along and said, ���It���s your fault you���re in the ditch. You offended Allah, and this is your just punishment.��� Then Marx came by and said, ���You���re in the ditch because of class warfare.

Why Can���t I Stop Doing Wrong?

Sin always involves self-deception. At the moment you���re sinning, you���re deceiving yourself because you think that what you���re doing will actually produce better results than what God has already told you to do.

Why Do You Do What You Don���t Want to Do?

Have you ever wondered why you do what you don���t want to do? Ever wondered why it���s so hard to do the things that you know are the right things to do?

Four Ways God Speaks to You

A lot of us think we���re too busy to listen for God���s response. But we have to take the time to tune in and listen, because God is speaking. Job 33:14 says, ���God does speak ��� sometimes one way and sometimes another ��� even though people may not understand it��� (NCV).

Two Steps to Knowing God���s Will

Admit that you need guidance.
We don���t really like to admit when we���re confused. Men especially don���t like to do this! It���s not in my nature to say, ���Hey! I���m lost!��� and stop and ask for directions. That���s why, when it comes to knowing God���s will, it takes some real courage to admit that we���re confused and need direction.