WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:05.679 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the audio broadcast ministry 2 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.119 of Pastor Rick Warren. Today we begin a series called 3 00:00:09.199 --> 00:00:13.160 fifty Days of Faith. In these lessons, Rick looks into 4 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:16.679 God's word to discover the true meaning of faith and 5 00:00:16.839 --> 00:00:21.000 explore ways we can strengthen it. But first, if you'd 6 00:00:21.079 --> 00:00:24.519 like to discover the custom made dream God has just 7 00:00:24.679 --> 00:00:28.399 for you, stay tuned because in just a few moments 8 00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:31.559 we're going to tell you about the video base created 9 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:34.960 to dream Bible study. You can take a sneak peek 10 00:00:35.079 --> 00:00:38.399 right now by going to Pastororick dot com while you 11 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:42.200 listen to today's message, Or you can just text the 12 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:46.600 word hope to eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. 13 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:50.880 That's the word hope to eight hundred six hundred five 14 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:55.039 thousand and four. Right now, here's Pastor Rick Warren with 15 00:00:55.159 --> 00:00:58.359 part one of a message called Expecting the Best. 16 00:00:59.479 --> 00:01:03.320 How do you get God's approval by being more good 17 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:08.480 than bad? No? By keeping the Ten Commandments? No, by 18 00:01:08.519 --> 00:01:12.680 promising to be perfect. No, by being religious and going 19 00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:13.200 to church. 20 00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:14.079 No. 21 00:01:15.040 --> 00:01:18.280 The Bible says there's only one way to get God's approval. 22 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:21.719 There's only one way to get God's smile on your life. 23 00:01:22.560 --> 00:01:26.599 In the Book of Hebrews, chapter eleven, it says, without faith, 24 00:01:26.920 --> 00:01:29.120 it is impossible to please God. 25 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:30.760 Listen to that. 26 00:01:31.200 --> 00:01:35.200 Without faith, it is impossible to please God. The only 27 00:01:35.239 --> 00:01:38.239 way you can get God's approval is by faith in 28 00:01:38.359 --> 00:01:41.920 Jesus Christ, his son. You may be a great person, 29 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:45.599 but without faith, it's impossible to please God. You may 30 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:47.879 do all kinds of great things in your life, but 31 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:51.719 without faith, it is impossible to please God. Would you 32 00:01:51.799 --> 00:01:55.480 say that faith is a pretty important issue, Yes, it is. 33 00:01:55.799 --> 00:01:59.680 It is vital that you learn how to live by faith, 34 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:03.519 that you strengthen your faith. So for the next fifty days, 35 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:06.719 we're entering into an eight week or fifty day series 36 00:02:06.760 --> 00:02:12.960 called fifty Days of Faith. And in this series, we're 37 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:15.840 going to stretch your faith. We're going to challenge your faith. 38 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:18.599 We're going to deepen your faith. We're going to strengthen 39 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:20.599 your faith, and you're going to see all kinds of 40 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:26.199 amazing things happen in your life as your faith grows. Now, 41 00:02:26.439 --> 00:02:28.639 how do you get more faith? So I'd like to 42 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:30.400 have more faith. How do I get it? Well, the 43 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:34.199 Bible tells us faith comes by hearing the word of God. 44 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:38.080 Faith comes from this book. This is faith food. And 45 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:40.800 the more you get into this book, God's word, the Bible, 46 00:02:41.039 --> 00:02:47.120 the more your faith will develop. Matthew nine nine. According 47 00:02:47.199 --> 00:02:50.280 to your faith, it will be done to you. Now 48 00:02:50.319 --> 00:02:52.719 Jesus is talking. And this is one of my favorite 49 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:56.639 verses in the Bible, because God says, it's your choice. 50 00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:00.000 You get to choose, according to your faith, that will 51 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:02.879 be done to you. You get to choose how much 52 00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:06.719 God blesses your life. You get to choose how many 53 00:03:06.759 --> 00:03:09.919 answers you have the prayer. You get to choose how 54 00:03:09.960 --> 00:03:12.919 much God gets to use you in his plan for 55 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:13.439 the world. 56 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:14.719 How is it? 57 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:17.840 According to your faith, it will be done to you. 58 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:19.879 God says, you got a lot of faith, We'll get 59 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:21.680 a lot done in your life. You got a little faith, 60 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:23.439 We'll get a little done in your life. You got 61 00:03:23.479 --> 00:03:27.560 no faith, you get nothing done in your life. According 62 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:30.879 to your faith, it will be done. Faith is the 63 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:34.479 key that unlocks the door to heaven. So it's very 64 00:03:34.520 --> 00:03:38.960 important that you grow, you develop, you strengthen your faith. Now, 65 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:42.800 the next verse, Hebrews eleven one says faith assures us 66 00:03:43.319 --> 00:03:46.599 of things we expect. Would you circle the phrase things 67 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:50.879 we expect? Because if I had to summarize faith, faith 68 00:03:51.080 --> 00:03:53.759 is expecting the best. 69 00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:55.280 That's what it is. 70 00:03:55.680 --> 00:04:01.199 Faith is expecting the best. Now let me explain that 71 00:04:01.280 --> 00:04:02.680 because some of you who are saying, oh, well, that 72 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:04.599 just means like just being optimistic. 73 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:05.400 No it is not. 74 00:04:06.400 --> 00:04:08.000 Let me tell you what faith is not. It's not 75 00:04:08.199 --> 00:04:11.800 positive thinking. Now, positive thinking is good. I like to 76 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:15.000 be around positive thinking people. In fact, what's the alternative 77 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:20.079 negative thinking. I'd much rather be around positive thinking people 78 00:04:20.079 --> 00:04:21.120 than negative thinks to people. 79 00:04:21.439 --> 00:04:22.800 And positive thinking. 80 00:04:22.600 --> 00:04:24.920 Is real good, but it is very limited, and it 81 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.519 certainly isn't faith. I mean, I could put you out 82 00:04:28.519 --> 00:04:31.560 in the middle of a snowstorm in nothing but your 83 00:04:31.600 --> 00:04:35.639 pajamas and you could have positive thinking all you want, 84 00:04:35.680 --> 00:04:38.759 and you'd still be freezing to death. All the positive 85 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:40.240 in the thinking of the world wasn't going to make 86 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:43.439 you warmer, and so positive thinking it's a good thing, 87 00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:46.319 but there are some things that just can't affect. When 88 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:48.560 I talk about expecting the best, I'm not talking about 89 00:04:48.600 --> 00:04:51.160 wishful thinking, like, well, I hope I don't have any 90 00:04:51.160 --> 00:04:55.600 problems in life. Good luck, you've already blown that one. 91 00:04:56.040 --> 00:04:59.480 You're gonna have problems. You're gonna have difficulties. Expecting the 92 00:04:59.519 --> 00:05:03.360 best is not saying, well, I hope that everything goes 93 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:07.040 just the way I planned it, because almost nothing is 94 00:05:07.079 --> 00:05:08.040 going to go just the. 95 00:05:07.959 --> 00:05:09.839 Way you planned it in life. 96 00:05:10.680 --> 00:05:12.759 So what am I talking about when I say faith 97 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:15.480 is expecting the best. Well, there's a little definition on 98 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:19.279 your outline. You might fill this in. Expecting the best 99 00:05:19.319 --> 00:05:24.000 is the confident assurance that God is in control of 100 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:27.240 the future. That God is in control of the future, 101 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:32.000 and that he plans what is best for my. 102 00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:35.920 Life because he loves me. Let me read it again. 103 00:05:36.199 --> 00:05:40.720 Expecting the best is the confident assurance that God is 104 00:05:40.720 --> 00:05:43.839 in control of the future and my future, and that 105 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:49.800 he plans what is best for my life. Why because 106 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:53.639 he loves me. That definition is based on the next verse, 107 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:57.360 Psalm thirty two, verse eight. God says, I will guide 108 00:05:57.399 --> 00:06:02.000 you along the best pathway for your life. I'll advise you, 109 00:06:02.680 --> 00:06:05.319 and I'll watch over you. I want you to circle 110 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:09.800 the phrase your life because this is customized. It's talking 111 00:06:09.839 --> 00:06:14.279 about your life. The pathway for your life is tailor made. 112 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:19.120 It's personalized. The best pathway for your life is not 113 00:06:19.160 --> 00:06:21.199 the best pathway for the person sitting next to you. 114 00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:24.360 The best pathway for my life is not the best 115 00:06:24.360 --> 00:06:28.480 pathway for you. We all have different pathways that God 116 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:32.319 is designed. They're customized, tailor made plans for our lives. 117 00:06:33.160 --> 00:06:35.279 And God says, if you'll trust me, if you'll get 118 00:06:35.279 --> 00:06:38.800 to know me, then you can expect the best because 119 00:06:38.839 --> 00:06:41.800 I will guide you in the path that's best for you. 120 00:06:42.240 --> 00:06:45.399 It's not the best for everybody else, but it's the 121 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:49.040 best for you based on who you are, who God 122 00:06:49.079 --> 00:06:53.240 made you to be, and who God wants you to become. Now, 123 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:55.759 why should I expect the best in life when so 124 00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:58.680 many things go wrong? Why should I expect the best 125 00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:02.759 when so many hearts have happened to me already? Well, 126 00:07:02.759 --> 00:07:04.560 we learned the answer to that question, and a very 127 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:07.360 famous story in the Bible. It's the story of David 128 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:12.120 and Goliath. You remember this one that the armies of 129 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:16.560 Israel were fighting the armies of Felictia and the Philistines 130 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:19.319 had a giant of a man. This guy literally was 131 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:21.879 the tallest man ever recorded in history. 132 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:24.879 His name was Goliath. He was nearly nine feet tall. 133 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:28.360 Everybody was intimidated by him, and he'd come out and 134 00:07:28.399 --> 00:07:29.879 stand at the front of the army and says Okay, 135 00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:31.519 I'll take any of you on, one on one or 136 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:36.040 one on ten. And everybody was cowering, everybody was intimidated. 137 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:40.040 He was terrorizing the Israeli army, except one little shepherd 138 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:44.160 boy named David goes, I'll fight him. I'll take him on. 139 00:07:45.079 --> 00:07:49.000 Everybody else is saying he's too big to fight. He's 140 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:51.079 got his little stones, and he says he's too big 141 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:52.120 to miss. 142 00:07:54.240 --> 00:07:55.439 He's a big target. 143 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:59.480 Besides, God's on our side, and one plus God equals 144 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:01.959 a majority, and we can take him on. And from 145 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:05.199 that story of David fighting Goliath, we learn three things 146 00:08:05.480 --> 00:08:08.160 about how David expected the best and what it does to. 147 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:12.720 Us when you expect the best. Number one, it honors God. 148 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:16.600 It honors God. There is something about expecting the best 149 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:19.560 that says something about what you think about who God 150 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:23.120 really is. When you expect God to help you, it 151 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:27.160 is it's the highest compliment that you can pay to God. 152 00:08:27.360 --> 00:08:30.519 Listen to what David's attitude was in First Samuel chapter seventeen. 153 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:33.000 This day the Lord will hand you over to me, 154 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:36.080 and I'll strike you down, and the whole world will 155 00:08:36.120 --> 00:08:38.159 know that there is a God. 156 00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:39.759 Dad. 157 00:08:39.919 --> 00:08:42.399 If you overhear one of your kids saying, Hey, my 158 00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:44.799 daddy can do anything. You've ever heard that? How does 159 00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:45.600 that make you feel? 160 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:46.480 Well? 161 00:08:46.480 --> 00:08:49.120 We have a God who really can do anything, and 162 00:08:49.159 --> 00:08:51.960 when we expect him to do those things in our lives, 163 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:56.080 it is an incredible honor to him. William Carry, a 164 00:08:56.120 --> 00:08:58.600 missionary who changed the world during his day because of 165 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:01.799 his faith, had to phrase that really governed his life. 166 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:04.759 He used to say, expect great things from God. Attempt 167 00:09:04.759 --> 00:09:07.120 great things for God. That's what your faith can do 168 00:09:07.200 --> 00:09:10.000 for you. It honors God. Number two. When I have faith, 169 00:09:10.039 --> 00:09:12.320 when I expect God to do the best, it increases 170 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:16.600 my ability in life. It increases my strength and ability. 171 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:19.120 As with David. David had the strength to hurl a 172 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:21.600 stone from his sling hit the Philistine in the head. 173 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:25.480 The stone sank in. Goliath stumbled and fell face downward 174 00:09:25.879 --> 00:09:28.559 to the ground. God gave him that ability because of 175 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:31.480 his faith. We've seen many places the difference that attitude 176 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:34.080 can make. Muhammad Ali, who many regard as one of 177 00:09:34.080 --> 00:09:36.720 the greatest athletes to ever live, says that the two 178 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:39.279 fights that he lost, he thought something different before those 179 00:09:39.320 --> 00:09:42.720 fights than any other fight. He thought, if I lose 180 00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:47.039 this fight, and the difference that attitude can make. Faith 181 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:50.240 has the power to change your attitude about life like 182 00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:54.559 nothing else. It strengthens our ability in life. You might 183 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:56.759 remember in the story of David and Goliath. To show 184 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:58.879 you the kind of faith he had strength he had, 185 00:09:59.039 --> 00:10:02.440 he took five smooth stones off the ground, that little 186 00:10:02.440 --> 00:10:04.840 tiny sling, and he went out and he defeated the 187 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:07.840 giant name Goliath. Now you might be thinking, what kind 188 00:10:07.879 --> 00:10:09.879 of faith was it to take five stones? I mean, 189 00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:11.799 didn't he think you know that maybe God would give 190 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:13.799 him the strength to make it. No, you need to understand. 191 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:17.720 The Bible is very clear about this. Goliath had four brothers, 192 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:22.639 and so as David went on into this battle, he figured, 193 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:24.440 if I defeat one giant, God will give me the 194 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:26.840 strength to defeat four others if I have to. He 195 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:29.279 knew that God would give him the ability because of 196 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:33.759 his faith. When you act in faith, you receive additional 197 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:37.080 strength to face the difficulties of life. That's what faith does. 198 00:10:37.559 --> 00:10:39.559 Not only does it honor God and increase your ability, 199 00:10:39.559 --> 00:10:42.200 but number three, when you have faith, it encourages others. 200 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:48.799 The Bible tells us that when Goliath was defeated, the 201 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:52.679 Israelites gave a great shout of triumph, and they rushed 202 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:55.159 after the Philistines, and they chased them as far as Gath. 203 00:10:55.360 --> 00:11:00.679 This entire nation was victorious, An entire nation was energized, 204 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:03.799 was encouraged by the faith of this one young man. 205 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:08.279 That's the power that faith has. Everyone gets excited. Optimism 206 00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:14.559 is contagious, and faith has incredible power to make us optimistic. 207 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:18.159 George Gallup recently did a survey. The title of this 208 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:22.519 survey results is the Polster finds Faith brings optimism? Did 209 00:11:22.600 --> 00:11:24.519 you know that when you have faith that makes you 210 00:11:24.559 --> 00:11:27.480 more optimistic about life? He discovered that the people who 211 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:29.960 have the greatest faith are also the people who are 212 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:32.320 the happiest in life and the people who are the 213 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:36.200 most helpful to others. You like to be around optimistic people, 214 00:11:36.519 --> 00:11:39.879 and faith has the power to make us optimistic. When 215 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:43.279 you have faith, it encourages the people that you want 216 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:45.480 encourage in your life. It gives you the strength to 217 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.559 face the difficulties you want to face in life. And 218 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:50.519 all that honors God in ways that you can't imagine. 219 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:54.159 Now some of you are saying, Rick, how can I 220 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:58.200 expect the best? You don't know what I've been through. No, 221 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:02.000 I don't of you are saying, how can I expect 222 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:04.960 the best? You don't know the problems I'm facing right now? 223 00:12:05.159 --> 00:12:05.840 No, I don't. 224 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:09.679 Some of you are facing some giants in your life, 225 00:12:09.720 --> 00:12:14.120 some giant problems. You've got a financial goliath, you've got 226 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:17.919 a medical goliath, a relational goliath. You're facing some big 227 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:20.080 issues in your life, and you say, how can I 228 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:23.039 expect the best when everything seems to be going wrong? 229 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:30.120 Right now, you're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick 230 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:32.320 will be back in just a moment with the rest 231 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:35.399 of today's lesson. You can sign up for Pastor Rick's 232 00:12:35.440 --> 00:12:41.320 free email devotional at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 233 00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:43.799 Did you know that God has a dream for your life? 234 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:47.480 Before you took your very first breath, he had already 235 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:51.159 placed the gift of imagination into your brain and hardwired 236 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:55.360 creativity into every cell of your body. But discovering and 237 00:12:55.399 --> 00:12:58.840 fulfilling your God given dream will require a journey of 238 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:02.279 faith on your part. That's why Pastor Rick just released 239 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:05.399 the Created to Dream Bible study, based on the core 240 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:08.840 teaching found in his best selling book Created to Dream. 241 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:12.200 The six week video based study will reveal the process 242 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:15.440 God uses to fulfill the custom made dream he has 243 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:18.759 just for you, and the faith building faces he'll lead 244 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:22.000 you through as he does. This video study includes an 245 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:25.639 enhanced workbook with lesson outlines he verses in homework for 246 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:29.279 deeper reflection. Between each session. You can do the study 247 00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:31.960 on your own or with friends in a small group setting. 248 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:37.480 So whether you're feeling stuck, forgotten, afraid, or uninspired, the 249 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:40.080 Created to Dream Bible Study will give you the tools 250 00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:43.120 you need to awaken and pursue the custom made dream 251 00:13:43.240 --> 00:13:46.480 God created you to fulfill. And today when you give 252 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:48.840 a gift to help daily hope take the word of 253 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:51.879 God to a hurting world, will send you the Created 254 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:54.919 to Dream Bible Study. Kid to say thanks, go to 255 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:58.159 Pastorerrick dot com right now to get your copy, where 256 00:13:58.200 --> 00:14:01.639 you can call eight hundred six hundred five zero zero four. 257 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:05.039 That's Pastorick dot com. Or call eight hundred at six 258 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:08.039 hundred at five zero zero four. Thank you so much 259 00:14:08.120 --> 00:14:10.519 for your support, and don't forget to let us know 260 00:14:10.600 --> 00:14:12.320 which radio station you heard us on. 261 00:14:12.720 --> 00:14:13.879 Hi, it's Pastor Rick with. 262 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:14.919 Some big news. 263 00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:19.159 My daily devotional is now available in French. If you 264 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:22.039 know somebody who would enjoy reading the devotionals in French. 265 00:14:22.039 --> 00:14:24.679 Would you please email me and I'll send you a 266 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:28.279 link to sign up. My email is Rick at pastorick 267 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:36.840 dot com. That's Rick at pastorick dot com. 268 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:40.399 Now let's get back to today's lesson. Here on Pastor 269 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.240 Rick's Daily Hope, some of you. 270 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:45.600 Are facing some giants in your life, some giant problems. 271 00:14:45.960 --> 00:14:50.279 You've got a financial goliath, you've got a medical goliath, 272 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:53.720 or relational goliath. You're facing some big issues in your life. 273 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:56.039 And you say, how can I expect the best when 274 00:14:56.080 --> 00:15:01.279 everything seems to be going wrong right now? Well, I 275 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:04.720 don't know. I don't know everything's going on in your life, 276 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:07.799 but I do know this. You can do the same 277 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:11.480 four things David did to give him the confidence to 278 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.480 face his giants. 279 00:15:12.519 --> 00:15:16.559 And if you will do those four things, you will. 280 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:20.840 Find yourself having a positive, expect the best attitude even 281 00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:25.120 in the worst of situations. Now we know what gave 282 00:15:25.200 --> 00:15:28.559 David his confidence because he wrote a book called Psalms, 283 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:30.799 and in there he shares all of his inner feelings. 284 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:33.279 And this morning we're going to look at the four things. 285 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:36.200 David did, and if you will do these four things, 286 00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:40.559 you'll be able to face your giants with confidence. Would 287 00:15:40.559 --> 00:15:43.200 you like to be a more optimistic person? Would you 288 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:46.039 like to be a more expecting the best kind of person? 289 00:15:46.240 --> 00:15:47.840 What do you do? Number one? 290 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:54.200 First, tune in to God every morning. First thing. Tune 291 00:15:54.200 --> 00:15:59.480 into God every morning. Start your day with God. That'll 292 00:15:59.480 --> 00:16:02.039 make you more positive. That'll make you more optimistic, That'll 293 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:05.200 make you more a person of faith. This is David's 294 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:08.039 first secret of optimism. Look at this verse Psalm five, 295 00:16:08.159 --> 00:16:11.559 verse three. He says, in the morning, Oh Lord, you 296 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:15.159 hear my voice. In the morning, I lay my request 297 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:19.200 before you and read it with me. Wait in expectation. 298 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:21.919 Where does he get his spirit of expectation? He spends 299 00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:25.320 time with God in the morning. He starts his day 300 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:28.720 with God before he talks to anybody else. He talks 301 00:16:28.919 --> 00:16:33.919 to God. Now, some of you were born naturally pessimistic. 302 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:36.879 I'm not going to ask you to raise your hands. 303 00:16:36.919 --> 00:16:39.919 But you know who you are, and you know for 304 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:43.159 you the cup is always half empty, not half full. 305 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:47.240 And you identify with that great theologian e Re the 306 00:16:47.320 --> 00:16:54.639 Donkey and Winnie the Pooh, a pretty pessimistic specimen. He 307 00:16:54.879 --> 00:16:57.879 or the old donkey stood by the side of the stream, 308 00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:59.919 and he looked at himself in the water. 309 00:17:01.480 --> 00:17:05.400 Pathetic, he said, that's what it is. Pathetic. 310 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:09.519 He turned and slowly walked down the stream for twenty yards, 311 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:13.599 splashed across it, and walked slowly back on the other side. 312 00:17:14.160 --> 00:17:17.920 Then he looked at himself in the water again, as 313 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:23.920 I thought, He said, no better from this side. But 314 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:30.799 nobody minds, nobody cares. Pathetic, That's what it is. There 315 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:32.960 was a crackling noise in the bracken behind him. Out 316 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:35.920 came Winny the Pooh Good morning, or said Winny the 317 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:41.480 Pooh good morning. Pooh bear said ere gloomily. If it 318 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:46.279 is a good morning, he said, which I doubt. He said, 319 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:51.359 do you ever feel like e or in the morning. 320 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:55.960 Let's just have a little survey here. How many of you, 321 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:59.160 true confession? How many of you wake up grouchy in 322 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:03.119 the morning? How many of you let her sleep? 323 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:14.319 Huh? 324 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:17.519 You know, there are really only two kinds of people 325 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:20.039 in life, folks. There are people who get them and 326 00:18:20.119 --> 00:18:24.119 say good morning, Lord, and there are other people who 327 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:28.920 get them to say, good Lord, it's mourning. Now, you're 328 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:31.680 either a good morning Lord person or a good Lord, 329 00:18:31.759 --> 00:18:34.160 it's mourning person, And good morning, Lord. 330 00:18:34.200 --> 00:18:35.960 People always marry good Lord. 331 00:18:36.039 --> 00:18:42.839 It's mourning people. It's in God's great humor that we 332 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:47.759 marry each other. Now, for those who feel a little sluggish, 333 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:51.720 a little negative, a little critical in the morning, you're 334 00:18:51.720 --> 00:18:53.960 not expecting the best when you first get up. 335 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:56.279 You're not jumping up with great faith. 336 00:18:56.480 --> 00:18:59.599 You're not feeling optimistic and positive and God's gonna do 337 00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:01.960 a great thing in my life today. You're just a 338 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:05.119 little cranky, a little negative, maybe even a little cynical 339 00:19:05.160 --> 00:19:08.880 about the world. I have some suggestions for you. Write 340 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:12.119 these things down somewhere there on your outline. Okay, here's 341 00:19:12.119 --> 00:19:19.440 some suggestions. Number one, go to bed earlier. I mean, 342 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:24.240 that's a no brainer. Okay, you're not getting enough sleep. 343 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:28.079 If you're having to wake up with an alarm clock, 344 00:19:28.119 --> 00:19:30.119 you know what that's saying. Your body is not getting 345 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:34.279 enough sleep. You're having to forcefully wake yourself up because 346 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:38.000 you're not getting the sleep that you need. And it's 347 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:42.240 hard to be optimistic during a sleep deficit. Now, it's 348 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:44.720 no wonder you're negative because you're waking up to an 349 00:19:44.759 --> 00:19:49.599 alarm clock which alarms you in the morning. You know, 350 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:52.359 it's like you're not waking up till it's a great, 351 00:19:52.440 --> 00:19:53.160 wonderful day. 352 00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:54.079 No, I'm alarmed. 353 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:59.200 Well, no, wonder you feel bad. You're waking up in 354 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:04.480 the state of shock every day. Okay, So I mean 355 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:06.160 that's just kind of a no brainer. 356 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:17.960 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. We are so happy 357 00:20:18.000 --> 00:20:21.039 that you've chosen to study along with us today. Did 358 00:20:21.079 --> 00:20:23.519 you know that you can start every day with hope 359 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:27.160 and encouragement from Pastor Rick, Well you can when you 360 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:31.319 sign up to receive his life changing daily Bible teaching 361 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:35.720 delivered directly to your inbox. Just go to Pastorick dot 362 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:39.279 com and sign up for his free Daily Hope devotional. 363 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:43.400 Don't miss out. Sign up now at Pastorick dot com. 364 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:46.359 Rick will be right back to close out our time today. 365 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:49.960 But first, did you know that God has a dream 366 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:53.400 for your life? Before you took your very first breath, 367 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:56.759 he had already placed the gift of imagination into your 368 00:20:56.799 --> 00:21:01.640 brain and hardwired creativity into every cell of your body. 369 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:06.200 But discovering and fulfilling your God given dream will require 370 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:09.759 a journey of faith on your part. That's why Pastor 371 00:21:09.839 --> 00:21:13.680 Rick just release the Created to Dream Bible study based 372 00:21:13.720 --> 00:21:16.599 on the core teaching found in his best selling book 373 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:21.039 Created to Dream. This six week video based study will 374 00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:25.000 reveal the process God uses to fulfill the custom made 375 00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:28.359 dream he has just for you, and the faith building 376 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:32.279 phases he'll lead you through as he does. This video 377 00:21:32.319 --> 00:21:36.920 study includes an enhanced workbook with lesson outlines, key verses, 378 00:21:37.160 --> 00:21:41.400 and the homework for deeper reflection between each session. You 379 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:44.079 can do the study on your own or with friends 380 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:49.240 in a small group setting. So whether you're feeling stuck, forgotten, afraid, 381 00:21:49.680 --> 00:21:54.039 or uninspired, the Created to Dream Bible Study will give 382 00:21:54.039 --> 00:21:57.640 you the tools you need to awaken and pursue the 383 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:02.279 custom made dream God created you to fulfill. And today 384 00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:04.920 when you give a gift to help daily hope take 385 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:08.160 the word of God to a hurting world, we'll send 386 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:11.839 you the Created to Dream Bible Study Kit. To say thanks, 387 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:16.119 go to Pastorrick dot com right now to get your copy, 388 00:22:16.440 --> 00:22:20.000 or you could just call eight hundred six hundred five 389 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:24.759 thousand and four. That's Pastorrick dot com or eight hundred 390 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:28.559 six hundred five thousand and four and thank you so 391 00:22:28.759 --> 00:22:31.799 much for your support, and don't forget to let us 392 00:22:31.839 --> 00:22:35.559 know which radio station you heard us on. Here's Rick 393 00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:37.759 with a letter from one of our listeners. 394 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:40.640 Hi everybody today, I want to introduce you to Alison. 395 00:22:41.559 --> 00:22:43.920 She recently wrote me to tell how God had saved 396 00:22:43.920 --> 00:22:47.039 her from a life of prostitution and used Daily Hope 397 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:49.480 to help a girl as a young Christian. Here's what 398 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:53.440 she wrote. I grew up in an atheist family and 399 00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:56.400 I was taught that people who believe in God are crazy, stupid, 400 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:59.200 and brainwashed. I ended up being in a hardcore drug 401 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:01.440