Daily Hope with Rick Warren

God actually created you for five purposes: to know and love him, to love others, to grow to spiritual maturity, to serve him by serving others, and to tell others about him.

Nothing in the world can give you what the church gives you. Only the church can meet your need for significance, stability, protection, productivity, and belonging.

Romans 1:12 says, “When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours” (NLT). That's why we belong to the church—so God’s people can say together, "Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you."

To understand how the church operates, look at the way God designed your body. Your hand, nose, spleen, and liver are all parts of your body. They all have separate functions, but together they make up one physical body—just like God’s church makes up one spiritual body.

Be still, be quiet, and be open to the work God wants to do in you as you make a habit of meditating on his Word and being in his presence.

Humble yourself and admit that you can’t do it on your own. And you don’t have to! God made the church to walk with you in good times and help you in stressful times. And he will lead you to the people you need if you’ll just let your guard down and trust him to provide.

One day you’re going to stand before God. How will you answer him when he asks what you did with what you were given?

When you live for an audience of one, you won’t be controlled by the fear of rejection. Instead, you’ll be motivated by love and free to be the person God made you to be.

You must accept the truth about you—your strengths along with your limitations and weaknesses. God made you with all of those things, and he has given you everything you need to do his will.

Understanding how much God loves you is the basis of your resilience. If you are not convinced that God loves you at all times—unconditionally and completely—then you’re going to be easy prey for the disapproval of other people. You’re going to be a people pleaser.

The antidote to the two biggest causes of stress in your life is gentleness and humility. You learn them by reminding yourself every day that you’re not God and you’re not anybody's savior.

You keep in step with God’s Spirit by being yoked to Jesus—partnering with him and letting him set the pace. Jesus was never in a hurry, and you won’t be either when you’re connected to him.

Your soul will never find rest in anything the world has to offer.

God can use everything, good or bad, to accomplish his purposes. His good plan to grow your character and make you more like Jesus will not be changed by other people. What others intend for bad, he will use for good.

How does God teach you patience? By placing you in long lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles or at a delayed doctor appointment. Anytime you have to wait, God is making you more like Jesus.