So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

 I will
strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.       
Isaiah 41:10

God assured His people that He would protect them in the here and now, in the present distress
they were experiencing. No doubt God’s promise of freeing His people from the coming captivity
was very encouraging, especially to the true believers who were to endure the Babylonian
captivity. But they needed far more than just a distant, future hope of deliverance. Righteous
believers needed to know that God was with them day by day in their present painful
circumstances. So God met their need and gave them a most wonderful promise: whether in the
present or in the future and in whatever circumstances, God’s people were not to fear. Three
reasons are given why righteous believers should not be anxious or afraid.

First, God’s people were not to fear because He Himself would be with them. He would
strengthen and help them and uphold them with His right hand—His righteous, victorious hand.

Second, God’s people were not to fear because He would hold their right hands and help them
as they faced their enemies (v.13). Note the close relationship being stressed here: the LORD
tells righteous believers that He is “your God” and that He will take “hold of your right hand.” He
will “help you.” Meditating upon this promise should give enormous encouragement to believers
who are facing oppression and hardships.

Third, God’s people were not to fear because He was their Redeemer (v.14). In the present
Scripture, the LORD calls Himself the Redeemer, the family protector of His people. As their
Redeemer, He promises to help them.
 Loving God begins at home

In Matthew 22, Jesus points us to the most important commandment in the Bible which is found
in our scripture reading Deuteronomy 6: 5-7.                    

Immediately following the great commandment, God focuses our attention on family life. He speaks
specifically to parents to live out their love for Him by doing all in their power to pass their faith to their
children. Are we serious about loving God? Then we must be serious about teaching God’s word
diligently to our children. 

Here we find the purpose of parenting and grand-parenting: to impress the hearts of our children with a
love for God. At the heart of the Great Commandment is family discipleship—with parents being the
primary trainers of the children.    

Despite God’s plan for the happiness of the family we know all things have not always worked as well as
they were supposed to. Husbands and wives often do not get along. The marriage that was meant to last
until death often ends in divorce—or relationships doesn’t even get to marriage before giving birth to
children, separating and causing lots of pain. 

Parents and children are often angry at each other.  

So when we talk about a family that feels connected, we are not talking about a family without any
problems. Rather we are describing a family that enjoys relatively high levels of satisfaction and stability
among its members. So we can say there is hope for today’s families. 

Things can get better. The family who puts God first, communicates effectively, who are intentional about
managing conflict in a timely manner and are committed to being patient, kind, understanding and
forgiving will be a happy family. 
 SUPERINTENDENT CLOSING REMARKS:            

This morning our focus was on the family. I want to leave a few tips with you on how you can improve
your family spirituality. 

1. Prayer and Family worship

Don’t wait until you are a better Christian or until your children are a little older. Take action
today to increase prayer and family worship; for family worship is the most important meal that should
be consumed daily.

2       Create a family identity 

Find a family motto, whether by words, ideas or reflection. Allow each member to contribute.

2. Work together 
A happy family depends on team work. Every member of the family should feel that he or
she has a stake in wanting to have a happy family life. Create guidelines for how you can work
together as a team. 

3. Nurture your children’s positive features 

Guide your children t become resilient and foster positive values. Offer words of affirmation
and compliments often and always.

4. Turn your children into winner

The best approach is to emphasize the positive actions and traits. Lead your children with a
good example: be strong, be clear in your instructions, and show them the values of freedom to make
good choices and to think for themselves.  

5. Create an environment for inner peace

Inner peace is very important for every family. Spiritually attune people tend to be happier
than non – spiritual persons.  The greatest gift we can give our children is a spiritual upbringing. In
doing so, we enable them to be the masters of their own life. We give them the knowledge of the path
of inner happiness, and we empower them to a happy and positive life. 
 
 How to Invest Your Life
Rick Warren

Matthew 25:14-30

Several years ago, Donald Trump said this in an interview: “I’ll be 36 next year and I’ve done everything I
can do. Sometimes I think it was a mistake to have raced through it all so fast. What’s the next level up?
The grass isn’t always greener . . . I work, and I don’t worry. How can you top that? . . . I protect myself as
well as anybody can. I prepare for things but ultimately we all end up going . . . I don’t believe in
reincarnation, heaven, or hell. But we go someplace. Do you know? I cannot for the life of me figure out
where.'”

That is a picture of a man who is so busy possessing this world he is making no preparations for the next.
Before we point a finger, we ought to realize it’s easy for us to do the same thing. The fact is – most
people have absolutely no idea what life is all about.

There are three things you can do with your life: you can waste it, you can spend it, or you can invest it.

You can waste it.

There are plenty of things to waste it on. You can spend it on your career, on your hobby, on acquiring
certain possessions, or you can invest it. Jesus taught that the greatest use of your life is to invest it in
that which outlasts it. He told a story called the parable of the talents. In it he gives seven principles for
investing your life:

1.Everything I have belongs to God.

2. God has given me some talents.
3. God expects me to use those talents. Someday he’s going to ask me, “What did you do with what you
were given?”
4. It is wrong to bury what God has given me.
5. Fear keeps me from using my talent. When you cut through all the excuses, it’s fear that keeps you
from using your talents.
6. If I don’t use it, I’ll lose it.
7. If I use it wisely, I’ll be rewarded.
The study of these seven principles will make a major difference in your life.

1. OWNERSHIP: Everything I have belongs to God.

God made it all. You really own nothing. You didn’t come into this world with anything and you’re not
going to take anything out of this world. What you have you simply get to use for 60, 70, 80, 90 years. It’s
God’s. You just get to use it. God made man to manage his resources.

The Bible says, “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his
property to them.”(Matthew 25:14) Whose property was it – the servant’s or the master’s? It was the
master’s. God has entrusted some things to you. God owns everything.

2. ALLOCATION: God has given me some talents.

“To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according
to his ability.” (Matthew 25:15). The word “talent” that we use today actually comes from this story. Back
in this day, talent simply meant an amount of money – about $1,000 bucks. The master gives five grand
to one guy, two grand to another, and one grand to another. He says, I want you to go invest it.
You have some talents. Talents are abilities, resources, skills or opportunities – all of the things that God
has given, including spiritual gifts. Anything that God has trusted you with – your children, your job – can
be considered a talent.

Notice the amount differs but everybody gets something. There is no such thing as a no-talent person.
Everybody has at least one. You do have a talent. The Bible says, “We have different gifts, according to
the grace given us.” (Romans 12:6) You’re unique. God has given you gifts, talents, skills, abilities,
experiences, personality traits, temperaments – all to make you, you. You’re unique. There’s nobody else
like you in the world. He made you for a purpose.

3. ACCOUNTABILITY: God expects me to use them.

“After a long time the master of the servants came back and settled accounts with them.” (Matthew 25:19)

The master had made an investment and wanted a return. God has made an investment in your life and
he wants a return. The Bible says one day God is going to do an account – an audit – of your life. Are you
ready for that? God is going to ask you, “What did you do with what I gave you?” You didn’t choose to be
born in America and enjoy the freedom you have here, what did you do with it? The greater the privilege
the greater the responsibility.

4. UTILIZATION: It’s wrong to bury what God gave me.

The first man took his money and doubled it – a 100 percent return. This man was a wise investor. The
second guy took his two grand and he doubled it. The point of the story is the third guy. The third guy just
buries it. He does nothing. “But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground
and hid his master’s money.” (Matthew 25:18) He’s cautious and conservative. He says, “I’m going to play
it safe!” He sat on it.

What was his master’s reaction? “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant.'” (Matthew 25:26) His
master was ticked! He was more than a little upset! “At least you could have put it in the bank.” You
haven’t even tried, he said. You hid it. This is the sin of inactivity, the sin of passivity.

The point is we cannot please God by playing it safe. We must take risks in life. If we don’t, we are wicked
and lazy. Why does God want me to take risks? Because, “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans
14:23) And the Bible also says “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) If everything
is safe, you don’t need any faith! Doing nothing is inexcusable. God would rather have you try to serve
him and totally blow it, than do nothing. I’d rather attempt to do something great and fail than attempt to
do nothing and succeed.

I’ve said that I want the church to put four words on my tombstone: “At least he tried!” I may not reach all
the goals I believe God has given me for my life but it really doesn’t matter. What matters is the effort –
trying! Trying to make your life count, trying to make an impact with your life, trying to do something
significant that is going to outlast you. It’s not whether you reach it or not, it’s the effort that counts. Doing
nothing is inexcusable.

Which person – the person with five talents, the person with two talents, or the person with one talent –
was the most likely person to “sit on it” – to do nothing? It was the guy with the one talent. Why? Because
this is what typically goes through our minds: “If I’m just a one-talent person, and therefore not a
superstar, I’m not going to do anything. I’ll let the pros do it. Since I don’t have 10 talents, I’m going to do
nothing! Since I only have one, I’ll just bury it. I’m not going to make any attempt in ministry at all with my
life.”

I see dull Christians all the time. The fizz, the sparkle has gone out of their life. The Christian life is not a
relationship any more, it’s a routine. There is no joy like it used to be. Their spiritual life has gone flat.
Why?
They are sitting on the sidelines – not in the game – spectating and not participating. They have buried
their talents. You get stretched when you’re in the game, not sitting on the sidelines saying, “Go team!”
God gives the principle of utilization – he expects me to use what he’s given me. If I don’t it’s not just a
casual matter. It’s flat out wrong to waste my life. I shudder to think of some of the excuses given while
standing before our pure Savior – excuses why no attempt was made to get involved helping other people
and serving others. Those excuses will seem pretty puny at that point. May I, as your pastor and friend,
urge you to seriously consider preparing for that event? Whether you like it or not, it’s inevitable.

5. MOTIVATION: Fear keeps me from developing my talent.

Why do we play it safe? It’s really fear – Satan’s favorite tactic. Satan has three kinds of fear: self-doubt,
self-pity and self-consciousness. Any time you’re sitting on your talent it’s usually because of one of those
three things.

Self-doubt – “I could never do that; I’m not qualified.” It’s the fear of failure. Do you remember when you
were in school and the teacher asked a question you knew the answer to but you thought there might be
a chance you’d be wrong so you didn’t raise your hand? “Do I want to put my life and reputation on the
line?” you thought. “If I say the wrong answer, I’m going to look like a real dork!” God says that’s fine for
kids but it doesn’t cut it as an adult! Don’t let fear get in the way. “I was afraid and went out and hid your
talent.” (Matthew 25:25)

Self-pity – “I’ve failed in the past so many times. I made an attempt at one time to get involved for God, to
get involved in ministry and service, but I got burned or I burned out. So I’m never going to try again.”
That’s like saying, “I ate at a restaurant once and it was bad food so I decided I’d never enter another
restaurant.” It doesn’t make sense.

There are two ways to respond to failure – as exemplified by Judas and Peter. Both committed the same
sin – they denied Christ. Judas let it get to him. He got on a guilt trip, became depressed and gave up. He
committed suicide because he blew it. Peter, on the other hand, wept bitterly, told God he was sorry and
picked himself up. Fifty days later, this same man – who three times denied Jesus Christ – was chosen to
birth the Church. In fact 3,000 people accepted Christ in one day while Peter preached! Just 50 days after
his greatest failure in life Peter experienced his greatest success. It does not matter so much where
you’ve been. What matters is what direction your feet are headed when you land. Where you are headed
right now is what counts, not all the garbage in the past. It’s where do you want to go, not where you’ve
been. Will the rest of my life be the best of my life?

Self-consciousness – “What will other people think? If I give my life completely to God, will I become a
fanatic?” The Bible says, “The fear of man brings a snare” (Proverbs 29:25) – it’s a trap. We excuse
ourselves from ministry by pointing to people who are more talented and saying, “Let them do it, God.” I
have a phrase when it comes to ministry – “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly.” I hate the phrase,
“If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.” That cuts out about 95 percent of us. That means that the only
people who should be doing anything are the people who are tops in the field. If you can’t do it well, don’t
do it! That’s stupid! The same is true of ministry. If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing poorly. What counts is
the effort!

Fear causes me to make excuses for doing nothing. “Then the man who had received one talent came
and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown, and gathering
where you have not scattered.'” (Matthew 25:24) This guy prepared a speech. He says, “The reason why
I didn’t make any profit on my money is your fault!” He blames the master and passes the buck.

6. APPLICATION: If I don’t use it, I lose it.

This principle is true of anything in your life – time, money, effort, energy, talent or abilities. If you don’t
use it, you lose it. “The master says, ‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has ten talents.'”
(Matthew 25:28) That doesn’t seem fair! The rich get richer and the talented get more talented. But it is
fair. God has the right to take away anything that I don’t use for him. He gave it to me in the first place. He
has the right to do that. I forfeit it if I don’t use it. It’s a universal law: if I don’t use my muscles I lose my
muscles. If I don’t use my mind, I lose it – it becomes mentally dull. If I don’t use the opportunities God
has given me in business, sports, ministry, whatever, I lose the opportunities. If I don’t practice my talent, I
lose my talent. Use it or lose it.

Just start using what you have been given for God. If you find you need more energy, use what you’ve got
for God and watch what happens. Little becomes much when you put it in the master’s hand. If I need
more time, I give my time to God. If I need more money, I give my money to God. If I need more talent, I
give my talent to God. Watch him multiply it – just like the five loaves and two fish. He multiples it when
we place it in the Master’s hand.

7. COMPENSATION: If I use my talents, I’m going to be rewarded.

This is the test. This is why you’re here on earth. The rewards: “His Master replied, ‘Well done good and
faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things – I will put you in charge of many things. Come
and share your Master’s happiness!'” (Matthew 25:21)

God promises three rewards:

Affirmation – “Well done.” I can’t think of anything better than to stand before Jesus Christ and have him
say, “Good job, Rick. Good job! You really tried!”

Promotion – He says, “I’m going to give you greater responsibility. You’ve been faithful with little things;
I’ll trust you with more.” God can’t trust many of us with great blessings because we’re not faithful with the
little.

Celebration – He says, “Come and share your master’s happiness.” The happiest people I know are
those who are using what they have for God.

When God does an audit on your life – and it is coming – is it going to show a profit or a loss? A negative
or positive? Is he going to say, “Well done!” or “Lazy servant!” What’s it going to show? I shudder to think
some of the excuses I will have to give for earlier in my life when I did nothing! I was basically living for
myself. To stand before a Savior with pierced hands and have him say, “Why did you never even make
an attempt to get involved in a ministry? You were so busy doing your own thing!”

Can I, as your friend and your pastor, suggest that you start preparing for that event right now? Start
investing your life.

How? Look at the following “Life Investment Guide”. Evaluate yourself. Put an “X” on the line showing
what percentage of your talent you are using for God right now. Put an “O” where you would like to be six
months from now. Estimate what percentage of your time each week you’re investing in spiritual growth
and ministry (helping other people). There are 168 hours a week. If you’re giving 16 hours, that’s 10
percent. Put an “O” for your six-month goal. Evaluate what percent of your money you are investing in
God’s kingdom. Set a faith goal – an “O” – for the next six months.

The wisest investment you will ever make is not with Paine-Webber, Merrill Lynch or anybody else. The
wisest investment you will ever make is when you say, “God, I want to make the rest of my life count for
eternity. I give it to you, whatever it is. I’m tired of playing Mickey Mouse. I’m going to get in the game. I’m
tired of sitting on the sidelines. I’m not going to be a spectator.”

Only one life will soon be past

Only what’s done for Christ will last.
I received a card a few weeks ago: “By God’s grace I’m going to do all I can to help make my church all
God wants it to be. I’m thrilled to have a small part and I pledge all my time, talents and treasure to
accomplish God’s will for my life in this fellowship.”

Saddleback is an example of how God takes very ordinary people and does extraordinary things through
them. That is the testimony of this church – that God has taken very ordinary people who would make
commitments like this and God has done incredible things.
 When Fear Grows Up

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you; I will help you; I
will hold on to you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

From the time we were kids—and were convinced that there was something under our bed when the
lights were turned out—we’ve dealt with fear as a part of life. The older we get, the things that we fear
simply change. In a sense, our fears seem to grow up just as we do. We find ourselves wondering: Will I
find a job after I graduate college? Will I spend the rest of my life single? Does anyone really know who I
am?

As I have conversations with young adults, I continue to hear those questions of worry and fear. I’ve
noticed that these fears tend to hinder them as they make decisions about their future. But even more
significantly, these fears are hindering them from making a decision to follow Christ completely on faith
and from experiencing the richness of being Christ-follower.

For most young adults today, fear has grown up!

So how do we as young adult ministry leaders help them deal with fear that they may not even be
recognizing in their lives? As youth we have an opportunity to speak truth and hope into their lives
through a moment-by-moment relationship with Jesus in their lives.

Here are three things to address with young adults in dealing with fear:

1. Remind them of God’s promises concerning fear.

I’m pretty sure that God foresaw that most of us were going to deal with a powerful tool of the enemy in
our lives called fear. It often starts so subtle, involving small issues. However, if we let those small areas
of our life spill over into other areas, fear can be controlling and can stifle us from any decision or step of
faith.

Countless times in Scripture God reminds us not to fear—most often in the midst of trials, decisions, or
persecution.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you; I will help you; I
will hold on to you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

In Scripture, God never promised us that if we followed Him that He would make our lives easy, but He
did promise that He would never leave us! Remind young adults of His promises of complete commitment
to us as His followers.

2. Be vulnerable with young adults concerning your fears.

As leaders of young adults, we can be a significant voice in their lives as they navigate the fears they
face. They need to know that they are not alone on this journey. It can be powerful for them to hear about
the things that you fear, how you have faced those in your past, and how you are facing them in your
present. Young adults value authenticity in the leaders that they follow. When you become “real” in their
lives, that’s when you will have the most opportunity to speak truth and hope into their circumstances.

Many times we think that we have to have it all “figured out” and have all the answers before we can start
investing into the lives of young adults. However, what they value the most is simply having someone in
their lives that has navigated the road a little longer than they have—and who they can ask the questions
and seek honest answers from.
3. Pray with them consistently about fears they face.

It’s important for us to model for young adults the consistent need for Jesus in all areas of our lives. When
fear comes knocking, we have the opportunity to model for them what our first response should be. There
is such power when we can pray with and for them as they face things that appear to be crippling, but we
can point them toward Jesus who has all hope and direction.

The writer of Psalm 34:4 says: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my
fears.” 

Never shy away from the opportunity to pray with young adults about what they are fearing! When we
pray with them, it’s a powerful reminder that the strength is not in ourselves but rests solely in Jesus.

The more time you spend with young adults, you’ll see some very real fears that they’re facing. These
fears can often keep them from becoming the disciples that the Lord has called them to be! What an
incredible opportunity we have to walk with them with faith and trust that the Lord has provided strength,
encouragement and hope as they journey through the questions of young adulthood.
 What Are We Waiting On?

(1 Corinthians 2:10-13). Ask the Spirit of God to give you the mind and wisdom of God to bring
clarity of what to do and when to do it

I don’t know about you, but I am terrible at waiting. In this truly unique season, that fact has been made
pretty clear, to me at least. Even though I stink at waiting, it is impossible to ignore the biblical principle of
waiting. The Psalms alone are filled with verses that express waiting on the Lord. In Acts, Jesus
commanded the early church to wait until the Holy Spirit arrived. But how do we know when the wait is
over? What are we waiting on the Lord to do?

You may be asking yourself, what am I waiting on exactly?  Here are three things we should wait on.

1. Clarity of vision and direction given by the Spirit

God is not a God of confusion. He brings clarity. One of the most common phrases that I’ve
uttered in this season is, “I don’t know.” If we are seeking the Lord in prayer and we still don’t know what
to do, then we wait. James 1:5-8, instructs us to ask the Lord for wisdom and not to be double-minded in
asking because God is the source of wisdom. Wisdom brings clarity. Wisdom is taking knowledge and
information and knowing what to do with it. The Spirit of God knows the mind and wisdom of God. Wait
until you have clarity of vision. If you don’t know how to clearly articulate the purpose of the activity, then
you are not ready.

2. Unity among believers filled with the Spirit

If it is a true movement of the Spirit, then there will be unity. Ephesians 4:3 compels us to be
eager for maintaining unity of the Spirit. This implies that where the Spirit is, there is unity among God’s
people. Seek unity among church leaders and members. You can never have too much unity. Unity
doesn’t necessarily mean that we will agree on every detail. Paul and Barnabas disagreed on what to do
with Mark in Acts 15. They did, however, agree that the Lord was calling them to fulfill His mission in two
different ways. They disagreed with unity. When God moves, the unity is evident and
overwhelming. Wait until you have unity.

3. Passion and boldness by the Spirit to move forward in faith

When a clear vision comes that brings unity among the believers it results in passion and
boldness of action. The people of God are compelled to act. No arm-twisting involved. As a leader, you
don’t need to drag anyone into your vision. In Acts 10:44-48, we see this play out. The Holy Spirit falls
on the Gentiles in such a clear way that the other believers who were with Peter were unified in what to
do next. This act of baptizing Gentiles might seem simple to us now, but to them it was radical. Peter and
these other believers could have been chastised by the elders in Jerusalem for this act. What swelled in
them in that moment was a passion and boldness to live faithful lives unto the Lord. They were not
worried about pleasing anyone else except the Lord. Wait until the passion of your people for action is
evident.

The value of waiting is something that I am still learning. Most of us are familiar with making plans and
then asking God to bless them. It is much more effective to wait on the Lord to move and prompt your
heart and spirit to partner with Him in the work that He is doing. May we be faithful in waiting.
 The Truth about Shadows
BY RICK WARREN —

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod
and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4 (ESV)

One of the common sources of stress is loss. You can lose your job, your health, your money, your reputation, or a
loved one. And the coronavirus pandemic is most likely amplifying the stress.

When people go through loss, there are 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.

Fear, on the other hand, can be a bad thing. Not once in the Bible does it say, “Grieve not,” “Sorrow not,” “Weep
not,” or “Cry not.” What it does say is “Fear not.” And it says that 365 times! Because grief doesn’t paralyze us, but
fear does.

In Psalm 23:4, David says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you
are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (ESV).
David knew shepherds always carried a rod and a staff to protect their sheep. And he knew God had the power to
protect him. So David trusted God, even in the darkest valleys.

We’re collectively going through a dark valley right now, and we can choose to trust God—even in the shadows,
where it doesn’t make sense and when it can seem like a long way out of the valley.

But, here’s the good news to remember about big, scary shadows. You can’t have a shadow without light. If you
see a shadow, that means there is a light shining nearby.

So the key when you’re going through the valley of the shadow is to turn your back on the shadow and look at the
light. Because as long as you keep your eyes on the light—Jesus, the Light of the World—the shadow won’t scare
you.

Just like David, trust God in the dark valleys, and pray, “When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should
turn” (Psalm 142:3 NLT).
 Before You Open God’s Word, Believe It
BY RICK WARREN

“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it
has the power to save your souls.”
James 1:21 (NLT)

You may not always understand what the Bible says. But to anchor your life on the solid foundation of God’s Word,
you need to humbly accept whatever God tells you.

In today’s verse, the word “accept” is from the Greek word dechomai. It’s a hospitality term. It means to receive
like a stranger. You are to receive God’s Word fully into your life. That means before you even open your Bible, you
tell God that you accept whatever he tells you. You agree to believe his Word, whether or not you understand it.
Look at the first part of today’s verse. In order to accept God’s Word, you first have to take care of the filthy stuff in
your life. Clean it out! Now, this doesn’t mean you need to clean up your life before you can come to God; instead,
it means sin can block you from  hearing  God. You can’t hear him when you’ve got something else filling your mind
and heart. You’ve got to make space for the truth. Believing and applying God’s truth will change you and make
you more like Jesus.
In the Bible, God often compares our accepting his Word to gardening. He wants us to accept the seeds he is
planting in our hearts and minds. But before the seeding and the feeding comes the weeding. Before you meet
with God, you have to take out the emotional and spiritual garbage in your life. You do that by confessing and
turning away from your sins. You admit to God what you’ve done that goes against his Word.

Then, through acceptance and confession, God can produce the fruit of obedience in your life.
 Five Ways God’s Word Is a Gift
BY RICK WARREN

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the
heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word.”
James 1:17-18 (NLT)

If you’re going to anchor your soul to something that never changes, then you need to treat God’s Word as a gift.
The Bible says, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the
lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true
word.

5 important things about God’s Word in this passage.

1. God’s Word is good.

It’s for your benefit. If you’re not reading the Bible, you’re missing all the promises, instruction, and benefits God
wants to give you.

2. God’s Word is perfect.

It’s a “perfect gift.” If it’s perfect, it means it’s infallible. There’s no error in it. You can count on it. And, if it’s
perfect, that means it’s exactly what you need.

3. God’s Word is true.

It says, “his true word.” Scripture will always tell you the right thing to do. It will never lead you in the wrong
direction. It’s always correct. Its truth will set you free!

4. God’s Word is unchanging.

The Bible says God never changes, and so his Word never changes. Some of the gifts you get in life wear out—they
fade, rust, and break down. You can’t always depend on them, but you can always depend on God’s Word.

5. God’s Word is life-giving.

James says, “God chose to give life to us by giving us his Word.” You were made in God’s image, which means you
have the ability to love God and be loved by him. God created you and gave you his Word so you can know him.
This is the only way to true life.

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the encouragement taught in
the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4 NIV). Everything in the
Bible was written to give you hope, even the parts you may not understand.
The one thing you may need most right now—encouragement—is in this book.

Have you been feeling discouraged? There is great hope, and it’s at your fingertips. Just open up your Bible!
 Not All Anger Is Sinful
BY RICK WARREN —

“Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.”
Proverbs 29:11 (NLT)

Many people think that all anger is sinful, but that’s not true.

Anger only becomes sin when it is expressed in an inappropriate way.

Sometimes the most appropriate response to a situation is anger. It can even be an expression of love. In
fact, the Bible says God gets righteously angry, and the only reason you’re able to experience anger is
because you’re created in his image.

But there is such a thing as sinful anger. This is when we blow up or clam up. It’s when we threaten,
insult, or belittle someone.

While mismanaged anger is a sin, managed anger is an asset because it gives you a clear-headed view
of the situation and allows you to respond with God’s love—even if you’re wronged.

Because God is for you and not against you he gives you the ability to choose how to handle your anger.
With the Holy Spirit working within you, you can control it.
Have you ever been in a heated argument at home, and the phone rang and you answered it by sweetly
saying, “Hello.” What just happened? You were able to change your tone instantly because you wanted
to.

Proverbs 29:11 says, “Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back” (NLT).
Choosing to get angry is just that—a choice. You’ve probably said at some point, “You make me so mad!”
But nobody can control your emotions without your permission. You can decide beforehand how you will
respond and manage your anger.
Your relationship to Christ will determine how well you master the anger in your life. Even in a crisis, in
the most difficult of situations, you can manage your anger with God’s love inside you.

And when anger is managed wisely and appropriately, it produces great marriages, great friendships,
great businesses, great leaders, and great progress.
 The Best Way to Start and Finish Your Day
BY RICK WARREN —

“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

During these days of uncertainty and unrest, it’s important to start and end your day by refueling your
soul. Your soul is the way you think, feel, and choose. Just like your physical body has to be fed every
day to stay healthy, so does your soul. If you’re not feeding your soul, you’re going to be drained
emotionally and spiritually.

So how do you refuel your soul? By getting into God’s Word every day. Jesus said,  “Man shall not live on
bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 NIV). The Bible is life!
You don’t just read it when you have a problem and need some advice. You don’t open it up just when
you need a pick-me-up. You feed on it every day so that you are consistently nourished and growing in
truth and love.
Do not begin your day by scrolling through your phone or listening to the news. Don’t let the last thing that
fills your mind each day be something on the TV. None of those things are going to feed your soul.

If you only develop one new habit during this pandemic, let it be starting and ending your day in God’s
Word. Wherever you leave your Bible leave it open if you can. If the Bible is closed, you will have a
tendency to overlook it. But if you leave it open to where you read last time, you’ll have an easier time
remembering to be consistent in Bible reading.

It doesn’t matter how long you read. It matters how you let God’s Word change you—how you see
yourself and others in light of God’s love, how you view your circumstances, and how your relationship
with God deepens and grows.

“The Sovereign Lord has given me his words of wisdom, so that I know how to comfort the weary.
Morning by morning he wakens me and opens my understanding to his will“ (Isaiah 50:4 NLT).

Are you weary and worn down? Nourish your soul and stay emotionally healthy by starting and ending
each day with the Word of God.
 Be Color Blessed, Not Colorblind
BY RICK WARREN

“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but
the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

Some people say, “When I look at people, I don’t see their race. I don’t see their color.” There’s a word for
that: liar!

Nobody is colorblind when it comes to race. And God doesn’t want you to be colorblind. He wants you to
be  color blessed.
God loves color. Just take a look outside! Everything he makes is in color, like sunsets and flowers. Look
at all the different people around the world. God loves color! The way he created you demonstrates this.

We need to learn to see all people the way God sees them.

The Bible says, “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV).

Quite frankly, that’s a tall order for most of us. It’s not natural to look at the inside before the outside.
We’re trained to make snap judgments based on outward appearance.

Some people you trust just by looking at them, others you don’t. Books are judged by their covers. Homes
are judged by their curb appeal. People are judged by how they look, dress, and talk.

So ask God to help you start seeing people the way he sees them. Look at their heart, not their skin.

It’s one of the first steps toward overcoming prejudice in your life — and in the world around you.
 Four Types of People You Need in Your Life
BY RICK WARREN —

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)

You and I can never be the kind of people God wants us to be on our own. We were never intended to do
life that way. We all need people who are teaching us, sharing their lives with us, investing in us, and
encouraging us to grow.

The Bible tells us, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs
13:20 NIV).
In fact, to be all that God calls you to be, you need to learn from at least four kinds of people:

Mentors. These are your coaches. I’ve had nine different mentors in my life. No one can teach you
everything you need to know. One person will teach you in one area. Another person will teach you about
something else.

Role models. These are people who are already doing or have already done what you want to do. Many
of the skills you’ve learned in your life, you’ve learned by watching others.

Partners. You need co-workers and colleagues who are in your profession, people to support and
challenge you on what God wants to do through your life.

Friends. Friends don’t necessarily help you with your goals. They’re just friends. They love you no matter
what you do. You can mess up, and they still love you. A friend walks alongside you when everyone else
walks out. That’s when you know who your true friends are.

Trying to live life solo isn’t just lonely. It works against God’s design for us.

Find your people, and make yourself available and vulnerable to them and how God wants to use them in
your life.
 Worship God No Matter What
BY RICK WARREN —

“That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.”
Daniel 2:19 (NLT)

Most of us don’t really know what to do when we’re confronted by an impossible situation. Did you know
that a teenage boy from thousands of years ago can help?

Over the past few devotionals, we’ve learned some incredible principles from how Daniel dealt with an
impossible request by the most powerful king of his time period. So far we’ve seen Daniel model these
four actions:

1. Don’t panic, and then get all the facts.

2. Ask for more time.
3. Gather prayer partners.
4. Ask God for supernatural help.

The next thing we learn from Daniel is to worship God.

It is important to understand that worship is much more than just music. There are thousands of ways to
worship. Any time you turn your attention to God, that’s worship. When you express your love to God,
that’s worship. You don’t have to be in church to worship.

When you worship God, you move your focus off of your problem and onto God.

The Bible says, “That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of
heaven” (Daniel 2:19 NLT).

The passage shows you how to worship God in the midst of a crisis. Specifically, Daniel did three things:
He praised God for who he is (v. 20), honored God for what he does (v. 21-22), and thanked God for his
help (v. 23).

That’s worship. Do that, and you’ll move the focus off of you and your problems and put it on God.

And he’s always where our focus should be.

 How to Apply the Bible to Your Life
BY RICK WARREN —

“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” James 1:22 (ESV)

Do you know what the most difficult part of Bible study is? Personal application.

What is application? It’s when you take the truth of God and apply it to your life.

Satan doesn’t care if you study the Bible—as long as you don’t apply it to your life.

Jesus taught the opposite: “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (John
13:17 NIV).

Just knowing God’s Word isn’t enough. You experience God’s blessings when you do what God’s Word
says.

The Bible tells us in James 1:22: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (ESV).

So how can you become a doer of God’s Word? How can you learn to apply it to your life? When I’m
applying Scripture to my life, I like to write out the application. My applications have four characteristics.

First, an application needs to be personal. That means it’s about you—not your spouse, kids,
neighbor, or coworker. Your life is the only one you can change. So your application will start with the
word “I,” not “we” or “you.”

Second, it needs to be practical. It should be something you can actually do. It might be an entire
project or a simple action step.

Third, it needs to be possible. If you choose an application that you aren’t actually able to do, you’ll get
discouraged. For instance, you might say, “I’m going to read through the entire Bible every single day.”
That’s highly unlikely, if not impossible. Instead, you can choose to read one chapter from the Bible every
day.

Fourth, it needs to be provable. This means that it needs a deadline. Take Philippians 2:14 for
example: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing” (ESV). You might write this personal application:
“Lord, I need you to help me not to grumble at work. I’m going to stay accountable by asking a friend to
check with me next week to see if I did this.”

So, the next time you read a passage of Scripture, don’t be satisfied with just studying the passage.
Instead, apply it by making it personal, practical, possible, and provable. Then you’ll start experiencing the
blessings God promises to people who are doers of his Word.
 Obey God Joyfully
BY RICK WARREN

“Obey [God] gladly.” Psalm 100:2

When you think about obedience, is “joy” a word that immediately comes to mind? Probably not. But the
Bible tells us to obey God joyfully. And as it turns out, there are lots of great reasons for being joyful as
we obey God.

First, look at what the Bible says about joyful obedience.

Psalm 100:2 says, “Obey [God] gladly”  (TLB).

Another psalm says, “I enjoy obeying your demands”  (Psalm 119:16 NCV).
And later in that same psalm, you can read: “I find pleasure in obeying your commands” (Psalm 119:47
GNT).

Over and over again you find the writers of these psalms instructing us to obey God gladly, and then
saying that he actually enjoys obeying God’s commands. How is obeying God enjoyable? Here are three
reasons:

1. When you obey God, you’ll have fewer problems. God made you and gave you the Bible—his
instruction manual for life. If you follow his instruction manual, you’ll have fewer problems. It’s like putting
together a bicycle—if you follow the instructions, the whole process will go more easily. If you follow life’s
instruction manual, you’ll have fewer problems and find life more enjoyable.

2. You’ll eventually be rewarded in heaven and see God’s promises fulfilled. “God blesses those
who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has
promised to those who love him” (James 1:12 NLT).

3. When you love God, you naturally want to obey him. The Bible says, “Loving God means doing
what he tells us to do” (1 John 5:3 TLB). Think of a marriage relationship. The longer two people are
married, the more they know what offends the other. And they start choosing not to do those things so
they won’t annoy the one they love. When you walk with the Lord through many years, you realize all he
has done for you and how good he has been to you. So you want to offend him less. You enjoy keeping
his commands. You do it because you love him.

Do you know how God measures your love? It’s not by what you say. God measures your love by your
obedience. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15 NIV). That’s how we prove our
love.

So start obeying God today. As you grow in your love for God, you’ll enjoy obeying his commands more
and more.
 How to Let the Bible Change You
BY RICK WARREN —

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:22 (NIV)

Let’s imagine together that you want to get serious about your physical health. You buy a book about
exercise and tell a friend about it. “It’s going to change my life,” you say.
Then six months later you see your friend again, and you’re still in the same shape. “It’s the greatest book
I’ve ever read,” you say. “I underlined parts of it, memorized whole sections, and even started a study
group about it.”

But you never practiced what the book taught, so it didn’t change you.

Do you find yourself doing the same thing with God’s Word? You may mark your Bible, but do you let your
Bible mark you?

The book of James says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it
says”  (James 1:22 NIV).

To receive the blessings of the Bible, you have to respond to it and let it change you.

If you haven’t practiced intentionally responding to God’s Word, it might be hard to know where to start.
Here are some questions you can ask yourself as you read a passage of Scripture:

 Does this show me a sin I need to confess or an attitude I need to change?

 Does God give me a command to obey or an example to follow?
 Is there a prayer in this passage of Scripture that I can pray for myself or for other people?
Start with these questions. As you put them into practice, you’ll soon find that you’re not the same person.

There’s a translation of the Bible called The Living Bible. That’s what each of us should be—a  living Bible.
The best translation of Scripture is when you translate it into your life and let it change you.
 God’s Love Changes Everything
BY RICK WARREN —

“I love you with an everlasting love.” Jeremiah 31:3 (GW)

Nothing you’ve ever done or will ever do can stop God from loving you. God said in Jeremiah 31:3,  “I love
you with an everlasting love” (GW).

Do you know how long everlasting is?

It’s forever. You can’t make God stop loving you; he will love you forever. His love isn’t based on what
you do. It’s based on who he is. The only reason you’re alive is because God made you to love you.
That’s why God sent his Son: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NLT).

God wants you to know his love. Even more, he wants you to feel his love.
God’s love will transform you when you feel it. It turns somebody who is hateful, bigoted, or racist into a
kind, gentle, and loving person. When God’s love hits your heart, it changes you.

If your life hasn’t changed, then you don’t know God. You can’t have somebody as big as God come into
your life and not be changed by it.

When God’s love comes into your life, it changes how you react to everyone else. When you truly
understand and experience the love of God, you can’t help but pass it on to others.

In fact, Jesus described it like this: “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved
you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have
love for one another” (John 13:34-35 HCSB).
But it starts with God’s love for us.

The most amazing conversion in the Bible is of a guy named Saul, who was a religious extremist that
killed Christians. One day, on his way to Damascus, he encountered the resurrected Jesus.

Jesus said to Saul, “Why are you persecuting me?”

Saul fell to his knees and said, “My Lord and my God.”

The man who had once been a religious extremist became the apostle of love. Saul, now known as Paul,
wrote most of the New Testament, including some of the most beautiful words on love ever written, 1
Corinthians 13.

The everlasting, completely free love of God will do that. It changes lives.

Has it changed yours?

 Why You Shouldn’t Fear Death
BY RICK WARREN —

“For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s
wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin
and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:17 (NLT)

Everyone fears death.

But, as we prepare to celebrate Easter, it’s important to remember that what Jesus did on the
cross put an end to that fear.

In Romans 5:17 Paul writes, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over
many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who
receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ” (NLT).
How did Jesus break the power of sin and death in our lives?

The Bible says, “Since all of these sons and daughters have flesh and blood, Jesus took on
flesh and blood to be like them. He did this so that by dying he would destroy the one who had
power over death (that is, the devil). In this way he would free those who were slaves all their
lives because they were afraid of dying” (Hebrews 2:14-15 GW).

God became human so he could die. Only a human could die. And only by dying could Jesus
break the power of death. It’s the only way he could deliver everyone who has lived their lives
as slaves to the fear of dying.

That’s what baptism is all about. It’s a picture of Jesus defeating death. Baptism represents the
truth that one day you’ll die and be buried in the ground. But then you’ll come back to life
because of what Jesus did on the cross.

Romans 6:3-4 says it like this: “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his death? When we were baptized into his death, we were placed
into the tomb with him. As Christ was brought back from death to life by the glorious power of
the Father, so we, too, should live a new kind of life.”
Your baptism is a symbol to the world—and to you—that death will not be the end of you.

You have nothing to fear because Jesus conquered death.

 It’s Your Choice to Rejoice in Trouble
BY RICK WARREN

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for
great joy.” James 1:2 (NLT)

No matter what challenges and difficulties you face, you can trust God to see you through.
That’s why the Bible says you can rejoice when you face trouble: “Dear brothers and sisters,
when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy” (James 1:2 NLT).
It’s easy to misunderstand this verse. God’s not saying be a martyr. He’s not saying deny
reality. He’s not saying fake it ‘til you make it.

We don’t rejoice for the trouble. But we can still rejoice during the trouble because of what we
know is true.
And what is true? We know that God sees and cares about everything we’re going through. We
know that we’re never alone, that God is always with us. We know that he will give us strength if
we trust him.

One of the greatest comforts when you’re going through troubles is God’s promise in Romans
8:28: “We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him.

God has promised to bring good out of bad for us—in everything. That includes the pandemic!

That’s not a promise for everybody. It’s a promise for believers, those who love him and are
committed to living according to his purpose.

When you’re in a tough time, joy is a choice because you can rely on the goodness of God. Joy
is not based on circumstances, and that’s why it’s your choice to rejoice no matter what the
situation.

Joy is not based on circumstances, and that’s why you are able to make a choice to rejoice no
matter what your situation is.

Joy is based on what we know is true, and it’s based on our faith that God will fulfill his promise
to work things out for good, according to his purpose.

In Psalm 34:1, King David said, “I will praise the LORD at all times; his praise is always on my
lips” (NCV). Even now, we should thank God. Praise God. Rejoice in God—not just in good
times. At all times
 Four Secrets to Answered Prayer
BY RICK WARREN —

Here are four secrets to answered prayer from the life of Nehemiah:

Base your request on God’s character. Pray like you know God will answer you: “I’m
expecting you to answer this prayer because of who you are. You are a faithful God. You are a
great God. You are a loving God. You are a wonderful God. You can handle this problem, God!”

Confess the sins of which you’re aware. After Nehemiah based his prayer on who God is, he
confessed his sins. It wasn’t Nehemiah’s fault that Israel went into captivity. He wasn’t even
born when it happened; he was most likely born in captivity. Yet, he’s including himself in the
national sins. He says, “I’ve been a part of the problem.”

Claim the promises of God. Nehemiah prays to the Lord, saying, “I want you to remember
what you told your servant Moses.” Can you imagine saying “remember” to God? Nehemiah
reminds God of a promise he made to the nation of Israel. In effect, he prays, “God, you warned
through Moses that if we were unfaithful, we would lose the land of Israel. But you also
promised that if we repent, you’d give it back to us.”
Does God have to be reminded? No. Does he forget what he’s promised? No. Then why do we
do this? Because it helps us remember what God has promised.

Be very specific in what you ask for. If you want specific answers to prayer, then make
specific requests. If your prayers consist of general requests, how will you know if they’re
answered?
Nehemiah is not hesitant to pray for success. He’s very bold in his praying. Have you ever
prayed, “Lord, make me successful?” If you haven’t, why haven’t you? What is the alternative —
a failure?

Is it OK to ask God to make you successful? It all depends on your definition of success! I
believe a good definition of success is this: “fulfilling God’s purpose for my life in faith, love, and
the power of the Holy Spirit and expecting the results from God.” That is a worthy life objective
that you should be able to pray for with confidence
 Is Something Other Than Christ Controlling Your Life?
BY RICK WARREN — APRIL 30, 2020

“‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything.” 1 Corinthians
6:12

The Bible is full of wisdom for decision-making. In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul says, “‘All things are
lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything” (ESV).
When deciding whether to allow something into your life, you can think of this as the
Independence Test.

Ask yourself: Could this begin to control and dominate my life? Could it become addicting to
me? Could I become dependent on it?

No matter how fun something is, it’s bad for you if it becomes an addiction.

Why is this so important? Because whatever dominates your life eventually becomes your god.
The first of God’s Ten Commandments—says, “You shall have no other gods before
me” (Exodus 20:3 NIV).
God knew how easily you could slip into worshiping other things. He knew you could get
addicted to your idols.

What are idols? You likely think of idols as something in the past—maybe little stone statues
that people put on a shelf and worshiped. But people still have idols today. Maybe you worship
the maker of your car, the label in your clothing, or the corner office in your building.

That’s not to mention all of the things you can become addicted to: Work. Sex. Money. The
Internet. The list is endless.

How do you know if you’ve fallen into an addiction? How do you know if something is starting to
dominate your life—when you no longer are independent of it? Ask yourself: What do I think
about the most? When I’m alone, where does my mind go?

For most of us, it’s hard to be honest about the things that dominate our lives. If you’re thinking,
“This is not what I’m addicted to. It couldn’t be that.” Guess what? It’s probably that. That’s
probably the thing you’re struggling with.

In another translation of 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul says, “I can do anything I want to if Christ has
not said no, but some of these things aren’t good for me. Even if I am allowed to do them, I’ll
refuse to if I think they might get such a grip on me that I can’t easily stop when I want to” (TLB).

Paul decided not to let anything—other than Christ—control his life. Jesus is the only one that’s
worthy of that place in your life, too. Anything else that you put in that place will eventually
dominate and ruin your life. But when Christ is in control, he encourages, enables, and
empowers you.
The next time you’re deciding whether something is in its proper place in your life, use the
Independence Test. Christ is the only one who deserves your dependence.

PRAYER

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be
done for you by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:19

Prayer is the most important part of the Victory group meeting. Make sure you have plenty of
time left so your prayer time is not rushed. This is not a “closing prayer,” but a time for everyone
in the group to take specific requests to God. This is where the action is. The goal is to create a
venue where people will see God move on their behalf.

Tips for Powerful Prayer

• Listen to the Holy Spirit carefully during the Connect and Word sections for things that
may need prayer.

• Spend your time praying for one another, not sharing and discussing prayer requests.

• Keep your prayers simple, sincere, and short. Most non-believers have never heard an
ordinary Christian just talk to God and will be touched by the sincerity and simplicity of
the prayer.

• Pray, don’t preach. Pray in simple and short sentences, not long “sermon prayers.”

• Use conversational prayer, not complicated or profound, intercessory prayer.

• Expect God to answer your prayers.

 Godly Friends Help You Make Good Decisions

By Rick Warren — July 4, 2020

“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.” Proverbs
13:20

When you trust God to make tough choices easier, he gives you wisdom when you ask for it. One
way he does that is by directing you to people who know and practice his Word. He gives you
connections with godly people who will point you in the right direction.

You need to get some godly people in your life who love and obey the Bible. You were never
meant to practice God’s wisdom on your own.

Proverbs 13:20 says, "Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in
trouble" (NLT).

This is important because the quality of your life and the quality of your decisions will be
determined by who you spend the most time with.

Are the people you hang out with the most helping you or hurting you? Are they building your faith
or your fear? Are they causing you to worship or to worry? Are they stress relievers or stress
generators in your life?

This time of social distancing presents some unique challenges to obeying this verse. We’re just
not hanging out like we used to!

While we’re in a season of uncertainty and isolation, you can still keep company with wise people.
For instance, technology allows you to stay in touch through phone or video. Then, be intentional
about connecting with people every day—people who will encourage you and point you to God’s
Word and help you make wise decisions.