Pastor Rick Warren: Grateful Prayer Brings Peace

November 6, 2018 By Leave a Comment

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).

In Philippians 4:6-7 we find one of the most difficult passages in the entire Bible to obey: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace” (NLT).It’s not easy to stop worrying about the often-scary, everyday parts of our lives, but God tells us how to do it: “Pray about everything. . . . Thank him for all he has done.” Grateful prayer brings peace. God says that when you start to worry, stop to pray.

Parents understand the power of gratitude. Most parents wouldn’t appreciate their children always making requests without saying “thank you” for what they’ve already received. God sees it the same way. He wants us to ask him for what we need and want. More than 20 times in the New Testament, we’re told to “ask” him. But he wants us to ask with gratefulness.

The Bible urges us to be specific in our requests—and our praises. Instead of a simple “thank you for everything,” he wants us to tell him what we’re grateful for. When I say to my wife, “I’m so grateful for you,” she tells me to be specific. She likes to hear what I appreciate about her and what I’m grateful for about her.

God wants to hear the same things. So when you pray, tell God what you’re thankful for. Prayer is one of the most important ways we tell God “thank you.”

Thanking God in advance is a big step of faith. The Bible says that when we have the faith to thank God ahead of time for an answer to our prayers, miracles happen. The more thankful we are, the more God works in our lives. The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of his people. He empowers and uses our thanksgiving as an instrument of power in our lives.

Talk It Over

  • Why is gratitude so important for our spiritual lives?
  • Being as specific as possible, what are the reasons you’re thankful to God? Spend some time in prayer, thanking God for those things.
  • What are some ways you believe God will bless you in the future? Thank God for those things—even before they happen.

Are you ready to invite Jesus into your heart?

Do you want to receive God’s gift of grace to you? It’s a simple prayer that will tell God you accept the gift of Jesus.

Prayer:

“Dear God, I’m scared, but I want to get to know you. I don’t understand it all, but I thank you that you love me. I thank you that you were with me, even when I didn’t recognize it. I thank you that you are for me—that you didn’t send Jesus to condemn me but to save me.

“I admit that I never even realized I needed a Savior, but today I want to receive the gift of your Son. I ask you to save me from my past, my regrets, my mistakes, my sins, my habits, my hurts, and my hang-ups. I need you to take away the stress and fill me with your love. I need to be at peace with you, and I need you to put your peace in my heart.

“I ask you to save me for your purpose. I want to know why you put me on this planet. And I want to fulfill what you made me to do. I want to learn to love you and trust you and have a relationship with you. I pray this in the name of Jesus, amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, please write and tell me at Rick@PastorRick.com. I’d love to send you some materials as you begin your journey with Jesus.

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns

Editorial: This election is a showdown between Rauner and Madigan

November 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment

On Feb. 18, 2015, Gov. Bruce Rauner delivered his first state budget address from the House dais in Springfield. He proposed spending cuts. He called for changes to workers’ compensation law. He asked for public pension benefit reductions. He wanted a cap on lawsuit awards. And in exchange for those reforms, he would consider raising taxes.

Here’s a link to the editorial at the Chicago Tribune.

Filed Under: Columns

Midterm elections offer America a simple choice – More progress or a return to pain

November 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment

In the midterm elections Tuesday, every American will have an important choice to make at the ballot box.

Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: If You Don’t Use the Talents God Gave You, Other People Get Cheated

November 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment
By Rick Warren
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Devotional image from Rick Warren

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (1 Peter 4:10 NLT).

The Bible says in 1 Peter 4:10, “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another” (NLT). When you use your abilities to help each other, God is glorified.

God wired you to make a contribution. God did not give you talents and abilities for your benefit. They are for the benefit of other people, and their talents are for the benefit of you.

I am so grateful for people who are talented in areas that I’m not good at. For instance, I’m grateful for accountants. Because I stink at accounting! I’m grateful for people who know how to do taxes.

I’m grateful for people who have mechanical ability. I couldn’t fix a carburetor if I had to. I wouldn’t even know where to find it!

Everybody has different talents.

God has given me some talents. One of my talents is taking the Word of God and making it clear for other people to understand. When I use that ability, you get blessed. My talent is for you. It’s to help you.

But here’s the point: You’ve got talents, too. Are you using them to bless others? Are you using them to help others?

If you don’t use the talents God gave you, other people get cheated. The way you bring glory to God is by using your talents. “Use your gifts well to serve one another.” God is glorified when you use your abilities to serve others.PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
Talk About It

  • What gifts has God given to you?
  • How are you using your God-given gifts to serve others? What are some other ways God might want you to use them for the benefit of others?
  • How do you need to accept help from someone so that person is able to use his or her gifts to bring glory to God?

 

Filed Under: Columns

A Prayer for God’s Strength – Your Daily Prayer

November 5, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Your Daily Prayer Devotional Banner

A Prayer for God’s Strength
By Rebecca Barlow Jordan

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint. –Isaiah 40:31

Have you ever needed supernatural strength to face a situation head-on, but not known what to pray? God is waiting and wants to offer us strength in time of need. Do not be afraid to pray and ask God for His strength to fall upon you! When you are weak, weary or unready to stand, and unsure of what to ask, pray along with these words!

Lord, I’m weary. My energy is sagging, and my motivation is lagging. And I am so in need of you. I need your strength and your fresh touch to get back on track again. Your Word says the joy of the Lord is my strength. If that’s true, then I need your joy to replace all the bone-tired parts of my mind, body, and soul.

The pressures of life sometimes push me into a corner, rendering me helpless to move forward. A hundred voices call my name, and I feel paralyzed at times to answer, not knowing where to turn. Lord, help me not to quit, to keep running the race faithfully, and to find strength in that safe, secret place of yours, under the shadow of the Almighty.

I need your strength to say no when I’m tempted to surrender to harmful things, or when selfishness clings to my clothes and won’t let go. I need your strength to say yes, when cowardice and fear nudge me to deny the convictions of my heart. I need your strength to reach out in love to those both close to me and all around me. When don’t I need your strength, God?

You are my rock, and I run to you today, believing that you will lift up my heavy arms, that you will fuel me for the tasks you’ve given me, and that your joy will completely consume the weakness of my life and make me strong again. I don’t want to stay grounded, crippled by limitations and failed attempts. I’m tired of feeble efforts. Lord, I want to mount up with wings like an eagle and not just fly. I want to soar.

Renew my strength, Lord. Fill me with your supernatural power to overcome each obstacle in my path. With my eyes on you, Lord, with you walking beside me, working through me, I can make it. Thank you, Lord!

In Jesus‘s name, Amen.

Filed Under: Columns

Op-Ed: As a registered voter you have one job. Do it.

November 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Voter apathy has been a problem in the United States for, well, much of this country’s existence.

Here’s a link to the editorial at Illinois News Network.

Filed Under: Columns

Pastor Rick Warren: God, revive us

November 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment

By Rick Warren

 
”Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless; be good to me, as you have promised . . . I want to obey your commands; give me new life, for you are righteous” (Psalm 119:37, 40 GNT).

The Bible says Satan is not afraid of your plans. He’s not afraid of your budget or your strategy. And he’s not afraid of your programs.But Satan is scared to death of your prayers, because that’s where you tap into God. And Satan knows that anytime God wants to do something really cool in your family, in your job, in your church, or in our nation, God starts by motivating you to pray.

So if you’re going to commit to learning how to pray effectively, you’d better buckle up! Our hearts need a spiritual awakening. The church needs revival. Our nation needs God. Things happen when people start praying together.

Talk It Over

As you grow in this area, I want you to start praying two verses every day:

“Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless; be good to me, as you have promised . . . I want to obey your commands; give me new life, for you are righteous” (Psalm 119:37, 40 GNT).

“Bring us back to you, GOD—we’re ready to come back. Give us a fresh start” (Lamentations 5:21 The Message).

Pray and ask God for three things every day as you look at these verses: Revive my heart, revive my church family, and revive our nation.

God, you are a good, good Father. Even when I’m in pain, you’re still a good Father. Even when my prayers weren’t answered the way I wanted them to be answered, you’re still a good Father.

Help me to remember that your plan for my life is always good and to always choose your plan, not mine. Help me to remember that you always give me what I need, not what I deserve. Thank you that you not only forgive me but you also pour your goodness into me. Thank you for putting my good above your own good by dying for me on the cross. You didn’t spare your own Son, so you certainly give me everything else I need. Thank you for inviting me to live with you forever in heaven.

And Lord, even though I don’t always understand it, thank you that you don’t say yes to every prayer request. I realize that your ways are higher than mine, and a lot of stuff I won’t understand until I’m with you in eternity.

Father, revive my heart. Revive my small group and my church family. Revive our nation, God! Only changed people can change the world. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Have you trusted Jesus for your salvation?No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, you can have a place in God’s forever family ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. Just believe and receive.

Are you ready? Here’s a prayer you can start with:

“Dear God, I know that when I die I’m going to give an account of my life to you directly. I confess that I have ignored you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to turn away from my sins and move toward you.

“Thank you for sending Jesus to die for all that I’ve done wrong so that I don’t have to pay the penalty of being eternally separated from you. I know that I don’t deserve your forgiveness. I know that only your grace can save me, Lord. I could never be good enough to get into a perfect place.

“Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask you to save me. I ask you to save me from the sins and the habits that are messing up my life right now. I believe in you, Jesus. And I believe that you will keep your promise to save me instantly and certainly and completely and eternally. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

If you prayed that prayer, please write and tell me at Rick@PastorRick.com. I’d love to send you some materials as you begin your journey with Jesus.

Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

Filed Under: Columns

Hillary Clinton and 2020: I’m a proud Democrat (but also a realist) – Hillary’s time has come and gone

November 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment

I love Hillary Clinton.

I wanted her to be the Democratic presidential nominee when she ran unsuccessfully against then-Sen. Barack Obama in the 2008 primaries.

Here’s a link to the editorial at Fox News.

Filed Under: Columns

A Prayer for When You Feel Weary and Burdened – Your Daily Prayer

November 1, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Your Daily Prayer Devotional Banner

A Prayer for When You Feel Weary and Burdened
By Debbie McDaniel

“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

For many of us, activity and busyness come naturally. We’re on the go, we’re in a hurry, it’s what we’re all about. We seem to be rewarded for how much we can accomplish, especially in short amounts of time. We live in a culture that praises movement, that places value on the busy. We tend to get impatient with those who are too slow about anything.

Nothing wrong being active or on the go. Except for this one thing.

We often never stop.

And it’s there – in the slowing down – that often can feel almost unnatural, in a society that moves too fast. Like we’re supposed to be doing something more but just haven’t figured it out yet.

We rub shoulders every day with people who are burdened, weary, or lonely. Sometimes we may notice, but many times we don’t. We’re just too busy or overwhelmed ourselves. And to be honest, many days, “we” are those people – the burdened, the weary, the lonely. Just needing someone to notice. To slow down. To take time.

We desperately need Christ every day, to bring joy and hope to our own lives and to those around us. Without Him, we will most certainly run dry. For we’re not meant to run on our own, our strength can’t carry us through every hard struggle and hardship we may encounter. But He promises rest and peace for our souls even in the midst of weariness and burdens.

Slowing down takes work. Stopping and just breathing deep – takes practice.

Maybe that’s why God says it so clearly, “Be still and know that I am God.” Psa 46:10

Breathing in His grace today. And remembering to take time to slow down…

Peace.

Dear God,

Thank you that your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Thank you that you promise to give the worried, the hurried, the pressured, and stressed out – rest and peace for our souls – if we’ll just come before you. Thank you that you already know all that concerns us, and you care. We’re so grateful for your reminder that we don’t have to carry it all on our own. Forgive us for the times that we’ve tried to fix things in our own power, for not taking the time to rest, or coming to you first with our needs and burdens.  Thank you for the refreshing that comes from your Spirit, filling us with joy, covering us with a shield, leading us forward with hope. Equip us to be those who take notice of others who seem weary and burdened too. Help us to slow down, to take the time, to point others to you.

In Jesus‘ Name,

Amen.

Filed Under: Columns

Editorial: The case for Erika Harold: Don’t be ‘undecided’ on Illinois corruption

October 31, 2018 By Leave a Comment

Voters in 30 states will elect attorneys general this year. But only eight states are considered battlegrounds for that crucial office. Illinois is one of them.

Here’s a link to the editorial at the Chicago Tribune.

Filed Under: Columns
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