Rick Warren's Blog, page 637

How to Manage Your Mind

God is far more interested in changing your mind than changing your circumstances.

We want God to take away all of the problems, pain, sorrow, suffering, sickness, and sadness. But God wants to work on you first, because transformation won’t happen in your life until you renew your mind, until your thoughts begin to change.

Why is it so important that you learn how to manage your mind? Let me give you three reasons.

Godly Goals Require Faith

Godly goals are set through faith. The Bible says, “Without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6a NIV). In order to please God, you must set goals that require faith.

What does this mean? It means you must set goals that are bigger than ones you can reach on your own.

The Truth About Shadows

One of the common sources of stress is loss. You can lose your job, your health, your money, your reputation, or a loved one.

When people go through loss, there are always two common reactions. One is fear, and the other is grief. Grief is good. Grief is the way we get through the transitions of life. In fact, if you don’t grieve, you get stuck! Grief will not kill you if you let it out.

There Is No Excuse Not to Rest

The Bible is filled with instructions about rest and recreation and relaxation. In fact it’s so important that God put it in the Ten Commandments — right up there with “Don’t commit adultery” and “Don’t murder.” He says every seventh day, you have to take a day off. That’s how important a Sabbath is in your life.

Let Jesus Lighten Your Load

I don’t know what burden you’re carrying. I don’t know what’s weighing you down. But I do know the answer.

Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 RSV).

When You’re Under Attack, Just Rest

Our civilization is losing its civility. The world is getting ruder! One of the things that’s causing that is the Internet, because it allows people to hide behind the screen and say things online that they would never have the courage to say to others face to face.

Only God Can Provide

The major cause of stress in your life is worry. You worry because you wonder if you will have what you need when you need it. But anytime you expect other people to meet your needs instead of God, you’re going to be frustrated and disappointed, because nobody can meet all your needs. Only God can meet all your needs.

Goals Stretch Your Faith

Every time you set a goal, you are saying, “I believe God wants me to do this by ‘such and such’ a date,” and that is a statement of faith.

If you state a big goal, God will work in a big way. If you state a medium-size goal, God will work in a medium way. If you state a small goal, God will work in a small way.

While You’re Working on Your Goals, God Is Working on You

Yesterday we talked about the reasons why you need to set some goals. Today we’re going to talk about three more reasons why goal setting is so important that even Jesus set goals for himself.

Come Home to Celebration

Do you want to get back to God? You first have to get fed up, then own up to your sin, and then offer up your life in sacrifice. Finally, you celebrate.