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Question Sunday.
Do you feel Discouraged? Prayers seem to go no where. Pastor Rick Warren has some very encouraging words for you.

We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.”

Ephesians 6:12 (GNT)

There is an unseen battle going on in a realm that we don’t even understand, a spiritual war in other dimensions between good and evil, between God and Satan, between angels and demons—and you’re caught right in the middle. If you’re a child of God, Satan hates you. And he wants to mess you up.

Ephesians 6:12 says, “We are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age” (GNT).

When you pray, there’s often a battle over how it’s going to be answered. While you’re waiting for God to answer, Satan is throwing darts at you—darts of doubt, discouragement, disappointment, and depression. The Bible says to be aware that he’s going to try to get you down.

The Bible doesn’t tell us much about the spiritual warfare that’s going on behind your prayers. But we do get a glimpse of it in the book of Daniel.

Daniel had a vision of an angel, who said, “Daniel, don’t be afraid. God has heard your prayers ever since the first day you decided to humble yourself in order to gain understanding. I have come in answer to your prayer. The [evil] angel prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help me, because I had been left there alone in Persia” (Daniel 10:12-13 GNT).

Are those the wildest verses you’ve ever seen? It says that Daniel had a prayer that wasn’t answered for a while, and he was starting to get discouraged. The angel showed up and said, “We heard your prayer from day one, but we’ve been in a battle over this, and it was such an intense battle that Michael the archangel had to come down and help me with this battle so I could come and tell you that the answer is on its way.”

The same thing is sometimes happening when you are waiting on your answer from God. You can’t know what kind of intense battle is going on over your prayer, but you can remember this: A delay is not a denial. When an answer to prayer is delayed, it doesn’t mean it’s not going to be answered. It just means God is fighting for you.

Don’t be discouraged. Keep praying!

Question Sunday. Ever get upset because your plans failed? If they failed they weren’t God plans for you.

My thoughts are not like your thoughts. Your ways are not like my ways.”

Isaiah 55:8 (NCV)

Life is full of interruptions. Sometimes we have big plans—for a career, family, or ministry—but God takes our lives in a different direction.

When our plans and God’s plans don’t match up, we often try to kick down the door. Then things get worse.

Just ask Jonah. He learned the hard way how to respond when God’s plans and his plans didn’t match. God told Jonah to warn the people of Nineveh that they needed to repent of their evil ways. But Jonah ran from God and ended up in the belly of a big fish, so God had to rescue him.

Jonah then did what God had said to do, but when the people of Nineveh repented and God didn’t punish them, the prophet was extremely disappointed.

So God gave Jonah an object lesson. God caused a plant to grow large enough to give Jonah shade. Then he sent a worm to attack the plant and kill it. The next day, as the sun beat down on Jonah’s head, he expressed his frustration to God.

And that’s when God reminded Jonah of four truths to remember when God’s plans differ from ours.

God can see things you can’t. He can see the past and the present and the future all at the same time. He created time, so he is not subject to time.

God is good to you, even when you’re cranky. Even when you’re going in the opposite direction from God, he still will cover you with shade. God cares about your comfort because that’s the kind of God he is. He loves you even when you’re unlovable.

God is in control of every detail of your life. Your plans don’t fail randomly. God has a purpose in everything in your life. Jonah shows us that God uses both the big (a large fish) and the small (a worm) to direct our lives, but he is in control of it all.

God wants you to focus on what will last. Most of what worries you won’t be around tomorrow. God wanted Jonah to care about the salvation of the people of Nineveh, not a plant that would die the next day. Above all else, God wants you to focus on getting his Word into your heart and bringing people into his family.

Just because your plans aren’t turning out the way you want doesn’t mean God isn’t intimately involved in every step. Ask God to help you see his hand in your broken plans, and trust his goodness as he shows you the way forward.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
Talk It Over

Describe a time when your plans and God’s plans didn’t match. How did that work out?
Look at the four truths from today’s devotional. Which do you typically need to be reminded of most when you’re struggling with what God is doing? Why?
What are some ways you can keep eternity in mind as you adjust to God’s plan over your own?
The post When Your Plans and God’s Plans Don’t Match appeared first on Pastor Rick's Daily Hope.

It’s not Sunday but this is a great question so we put it out today.
Fear…..are you fearful? Some would say no but we all fear and it is a large theme in the Bible. Below Pastor Rick Warren has some very helpful advice and scripture to change this for all of us.

“[Jesus] included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.”

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (MSG)

The Bible is full of commands. But do you know what the most common one is?

Don’t be afraid. You’ll find it 365 times in Scripture—including several times in the Easter story. “Don’t be afraid” were the first words the angel told those who showed up at the tomb on Easter morning. They were also the first words Jesus spoke after the resurrection.

It’s no wonder why it’s a common theme of the Bible and in the Easter story: Fear is humanity’s most common problem.

You might not think you’re a fearful person. But if you think about it, you may realize that many of your decisions are based on fear, such as the fear of what people think of you and the fear of failure.

But Easter brings good news! Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, you can now live without fear. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, “[Jesus] included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own” (MSG).

When you live according to the resurrection of Christ, the Bible says you’re living a better life, a life where you’re free from fear.

In fact, there are five truths about the resurrection that will set you free from fear if you understand them. I’ll share these truths over the next two days.

First, you know Jesus tells you the truth. Throughout history many people have claimed to be God or the Messiah—but only one proved it. The Bible says, “[Jesus] was declared to be God’s Son with great power by rising from the dead” (Romans 1:4 NCV).

Without the resurrection, you couldn’t trust anything Jesus said. But you can trust what Jesus says about God, heaven, and everything else he taught because he rose from the dead like he said he would.

Second, you know death isn’t the end. Until Jesus rose from the dead, people didn’t know if there was life after death because there was no proof. Jesus changed that. The Bible tells us, “God raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, and we know that God will also raise us with Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:14 NCV). You don’t need to fear death, because Jesus’ resurrection shows us that death isn’t the end of the story. It’s really the beginning of your best life—your eternal life in God’s presence.

Learning to live without fear will transform your life now! Tomorrow I’ll share with you three more Easter truths that will help you live in freedom from fear.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
Talk It Over

What are some of the fears that have held you back from the better life God has planned for you?
Why do you think our lives are so often ruled by fear?
What would a life free of fear look like for you? How would it impact your daily interactions with other people?
Are you tired of the imprisonment of fear?

God promises that he will drive out your fears as you follow him in faith. Pray this simple prayer right now: “Dear God, I'm tired of pretending and people-pleasing and the stress of trying to be perfect when I can't be. I'm tired of holding on to hurt and memories that continue to cause pain in my life. I’m tired of being afraid of rejection and afraid of letting people see who I really am. I want to let it all go.

“Lord, I bring you everything that has brought me shame, regret, resentment, and worry. I don't want to live that way anymore! I want to live a life of freedom, and I know that can only be found through your Son, Jesus Christ.

“Today, I confess my sin to you and ask you to forgive me. Thank you, Jesus, that you made a way for me to be forgiven and accepted because of what you did on the cross and your resurrection. I submit to you as Lord of my life and want to follow you for the rest of my life. Please fill me with your love and hope and help me to walk in faith. I ask that you drive away my fear with your perfect love. I ask this in your name. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at [email protected] and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.

Question Sunday.
Are you tired and worn. You don’t have anything left. Do you just want to quit? Pastor Rick Warren has a message that may change your life.
Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.”

Galatians 6:9 (TLB)

If things don’t happen right away or when you think they should, that doesn’t mean you should quit. You need to be diligent and develop endurance.

The Bible says, “Let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up” (Galatians 6:9 TLB).

Is there something you feel like giving up on? Maybe it’s your marriage; it seems like it’s dead and going nowhere. Maybe it’s your career; you’ve tried and tried and tried to make a difference, and it just isn’t happening. Maybe you feel like giving up on a dream or a goal—or even yourself.

Here’s an important thing to know. A thousand years before you were born, God knew that you would be reading this today, so God could have me say this to you as a friend: Don’t give up.

The tunnel may seem extremely dark right now, but there is always a light at the end. It may be just around the corner! You are known by God, loved by God—and you have a purpose that God designed you uniquely to fulfill.

Don’t think what you’re doing doesn’t matter. Don’t give up on doing the right thing. Don’t think anyone would be better off without you. Those are lies from the mouth of the Devil himself. Remember what God has said about you. Remember that he wants to bless you.

Don’t give up. Look up to God. Find a spiritual family—a church and a small group—to help you through the tough times. Meditate on God’s Word for encouragement.

Most of all, don’t give up on God. He will never give up on you!

Great book to help in this same area is “Three feet from Gold” by Sharon Lechter and Dr Greg Reid