Understanding NormalSomething in us likes to create patterns in our days and stick to them. What is it about normal that feels so safe and comforting? Why do we crave it? The Bible says that we are created in God’s image (see Genesis 1:27). This longing that we have is a yearning to touch the infinite, to share in the Immortal’s eternal existence, to rest in Him. Normal feels so safe and comfortin...  Read More

1 John 5:14-21This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.  If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. Th...  Read More

Four Steps To Stop WorryBy Rick Warren“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7 NLT, second edition)It takes more than willpower to stop worrying. You already know that, because you’ve already tried it. You’ve thought, “I shouldn’t worry about this,” and yet you just keep on worrying about it.It’s going to take more than your willpower to stop worrying. It take...  Read More

Four Reasons Why You Shouldn’t WorryBy Rick Warren“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25 NIV)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,...  Read More

Why Keep Praying When There Is No Answer?By Rick Warren“Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers.” (Ephesians 6:18b NLT, second edition)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:1. Persistent prayer focuses your attention.When you ...  Read More

Why Won’t I Let God Take Control?By Rick Warren“Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires …. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” (Romans 6:12-13 NLT, second edition)Every day you are controlled by something. You may be controlled b...  Read More

God Is Working While You’re WaitingBy Rick Warren“I wait expectantly, trusting God to help, for he has promised.” (Psalm 130:5 TLB)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.Daniel ...  Read More

1 John 5:4-13For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the tr...  Read More

What Does God Want While You Wait for an Answer?By Rick Warren“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.” (Psalm 37:7 NLT, second edition)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...  Read More

How Can I Get Out of This Mess?By Rick Warren“Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:24b-25a NLT, second edition)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 ...  Read More

Why Can’t I Stop Doing Wrong?By Rick Warren“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8 NIV)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.To stop defeating yourself, you must stop deceiv...  Read More

Why Do You Do What You Don’t Want To Do?By Rick Warren“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NIV)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?Our sinful nature causes us to often make the wrong choice. You can probably relate to the apostle Paul when he says, “I ...  Read More