Rick Warren's Daily DevotionalSample
God Is Real
It is easy to worship God when things are going great in your life - when he has provided food, friends, family, health, and happy situations. But what do you do when God seems a million miles away? How do you worship God then?
The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, thanking God during a trial, trusting him when tempted, surrendering while suffering, and loving him when he seems distant.
Friendships are often tested by separation and silence; you are divided by physical distance or you are unable to talk. In your friendship with God, you won't always feel close to him.
David probably had the closest friendship with God of anyone. God took pleasure in calling him "a man after my own heart." (1 Samuel 13:14)
Yet David frequently complained of God's apparent absence:
"Lord, why are you standing aloof and far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most?" (Psalm 10:1 LB)
"Why have you forsaken me? Why do you remain so distant? Why do you ignore my cries for help?" (Psalm 22:1 NLT)
"Why have you abandoned me?" (Psalm 43:2 TEV)
Of course, God hadn't really left David, and he doesn't leave you. He has promised repeatedly, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:8)
About this Plan
Do you know what God created you for? If you don't, then you may drift through the next ten years of your life instead of living out what God has called you to do. These devotionals by Rick Warren will help you get to where God wants you to go spiritually, financially, emotionally, relationally, and physically. They offer practical steps for reaching the goals God has for you.
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