Stay Focused on God’s Plan for Your Life
By Rick Warren
“Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 TLB).
I have met thousands of people who’ve told me they want to be used by God but who will never be used by God. Why? They’re too busy. They’ve got their own agenda going. They’ve got their plans and dreams and ambitions, and they don’t have any time! In the midst of their busyness, they try to carve out a little sliver from the pie of life and say, “I’ll give this to God.” But it doesn’t work that way.
If you’re serious about being used by God, you have to say, “Lord, what do I need to let go of? What do I need to cut out? What barriers are holding me back and keeping me from running the race you have for me?”
Lots of different barriers will hold you back from God’s plan for your life. One of the biggest categories: distractions. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the kingdom of God” (TLB).
Here are a few of the many things that could distract you from your life mission:
The expectations of other people. You’ve got to decide whom you’re going to please first in life. You can only have one number one.
Hobbies. There’s nothing wrong with these things. But if they distract you from the most important things, then you need to let go of them.
Your past. Maybe you refuse to let go of your past—whether it’s guilt or resentment or grief. But if you’re stuck in the past, you cannot get on with the present, and you certainly can’t get on with God’s future for you. Your past is past. It’s over! You need to let it go.
What do you need to let go of? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is helpful” (HCSB).What does that mean? It means this: A lot of things aren’t necessarily wrong; they’re just not necessary. Life often means choosing either “Am I going to do something good?” or “Am I going to do what’s best?”
If the Devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy. He’ll get you so busy that you don’t have time for the important stuff—time alone with God, ministry, and mission.
You need to simplify your life and eliminate distractions so God can use you. Don’t try to do it all. Do what matters most!
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
The Purpose Driven Live: What on Earth am I Here For?
Discover the secret to a successful life!
God wants you to live your life in the way he designed it to be lived.
He wants you to know what works best in your relationships, at work, with your health—and how to maintain peace and balance in your life.
We want to help you do that by sending you a copy of Pastor Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For. It’s our gift thank you for your donation today.
This valuable resource can help you:
• Understand how much God loves you
• Believe that God wants you to succeed
• Embrace the meaning and purpose of your life
• Prepare you for eternity
Request your copy of The Purpose Driven Life: What On Earth Am I Here For when you give below to help more people worldwide find daily hope in Jesus.
May it help you move from a life of mere survival to a life of significance—the life you were meant to live!
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
