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 --> 00:00:09.439 of Pastor Rick Warren. Today we continue in our series 3 00:00:09.480 --> 00:00:13.519 called fifty Days of Faith. In these lessons, Rick looks 4 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:17.039 into God's word to discover the true meaning of faith 5 00:00:17.239 --> 00:00:21.359 and explore ways we can strengthen it. But first, if 6 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:24.760 you'd like to discover the custom made dream God has 7 00:00:25.079 --> 00:00:28.519 just for you, stay tuned because in just a few 8 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:31.399 moments we're going to tell you about the video base 9 00:00:31.640 --> 00:00:35.280 created to dream Bible study. You can take a sneak 10 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:38.920 peek right now by going to Pastorick dot com while 11 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:42.799 you listen to today's message, or you can just text the 12 00:00:42.840 --> 00:00:47.240 word hope to eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. 13 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:51.520 That's the word hope to eight hundred six hundred five 14 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:55.880 thousand and four. Right now, here's Pastor Rick Warren with 15 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:59.679 the final part of a message called Expecting the Best. 16 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:02.960 If you're having to wake up with an alarm clock, 17 00:01:03.039 --> 00:01:05.040 you know what that's saying. Your body is not getting 18 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:09.159 enough sleep. You're having to forcefully wake yourself up because 19 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:12.920 you're not getting the sleep that you need, and it's 20 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:17.120 hard to be optimistic during a sleep deficit. Now, it's 21 00:01:17.159 --> 00:01:19.680 no wonder you're negative because you're waking up to an 22 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:24.480 alarm clock which alarms you in the morning. You know, 23 00:01:25.400 --> 00:01:27.280 it's like you're not waking up till it's a great, 24 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:32.159 wonderful day. No I'm alarmed. Well, no wonder you feel bad. 25 00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:38.200 You're waking up in the state of shock every day. Okay, 26 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:42.239 So I mean that's just kind of a no brainer. Okay. 27 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:47.480 Suggestion number two, don't turn on the morning news. And 28 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:49.359 you know what the local news is. All it's about 29 00:01:49.400 --> 00:01:51.599 is crime. And so they say, well, you know, last 30 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:53.239 night while you were sleeping, there are three more murders, 31 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:55.000 two more rapes in a house burned down. Oh that 32 00:01:55.079 --> 00:02:00.959 made my day. I feel happy. Local news has a 33 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:02.640 thing that the gory or it is, the more they 34 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:04.519 push it to the front, you know, item if they say, 35 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:09.120 if it bleeds, it leads, that's the idea. And you 36 00:02:09.159 --> 00:02:10.919 don't really need to know all that, because you know, 37 00:02:10.919 --> 00:02:12.240 you get up and you turn on and you hear 38 00:02:12.280 --> 00:02:14.639 all this local news and it's bad news all around you. 39 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:16.719 And then you sit down to the newspapers. If you 40 00:02:16.759 --> 00:02:18.800 hadn't had enough problems of your own, now you have 41 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:23.280 to read about the problems in Yugoslavia. Well, yeah, right, 42 00:02:23.520 --> 00:02:25.680 and then you get in your car and as you're 43 00:02:25.759 --> 00:02:28.680 driving to work, you turn on you know, the talk radio, 44 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:30.879 and you hear more problems. It's no wonder you're cranking. 45 00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:35.199 You need to start the day with good news, not 46 00:02:35.879 --> 00:02:40.280 bad news. So don't turn all that stuff on. Don't 47 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:42.199 listen to all the problems of the world as you're 48 00:02:42.240 --> 00:02:44.400 starting out in your morning and your mind is just 49 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:48.719 forming your mood for the day. Suggestion number three, start 50 00:02:48.759 --> 00:02:54.120 your day with worship. Tune in to God before you 51 00:02:54.199 --> 00:02:59.159 talk to anybody else. Talk to God first. Listen to 52 00:02:59.240 --> 00:03:01.840 good positive music. Can sit down and read a little 53 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:04.719 bit of God's word, read some promises of God. Talk 54 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:06.919 to God, and let God talk to you. Five minutes, 55 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:11.360 ten minutes, fifteen, twenty minutes, just starting your day. Study 56 00:03:11.479 --> 00:03:14.759 after study after study is shown that your mood for 57 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:17.800 each day is determined by the first ten minutes of 58 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:21.479 that day. Now you can be a little bit more 59 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:25.919 intentional about expecting the best, having a better attitude if 60 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:30.560 you'll start your day intentionally with worship. Doesn't have to 61 00:03:30.599 --> 00:03:33.240 be long. Just focus in on God and verbally a 62 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:36.599 firm This is the day that the Lord has made 63 00:03:36.639 --> 00:03:40.479 I will rejoice and be glad. It's a choice. Did 64 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:44.280 you know that optimism releases endorphins in your brain? You 65 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:48.120 will actually feel better. You'll feel better if you start 66 00:03:48.159 --> 00:03:49.840 the day by tuning into God. 67 00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:55.080 You want to expect the best. Number two, think on 68 00:03:55.159 --> 00:03:58.719 God's promises throughout the day. You start the day by 69 00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:00.840 tuning into him, and then you think about his promises 70 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:04.240 throughout the day. This is David's second secret of optimism. 71 00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:07.319 The Bible tells us that he practiced this even in 72 00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:10.479 the most difficult of times. Palone nineteen, verse ninety five. 73 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:13.280 David says, though the wicked hide along the way to 74 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:16.759 kill me, I will quietly keep my mind upon your promises. 75 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:20.759 Now get this. He was facing the constant threat of assassination, 76 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:24.000 and he says, I need these promises throughout the day 77 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:26.360 to help me to face these threats in my life, 78 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:30.279 this anxiety that could inevitably overwhelm my day. The Bible 79 00:04:30.319 --> 00:04:31.720 tells us, in fact, would you read with me some 80 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:36.160 one nineteen eleven, what David's habit was. David said, I've 81 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:40.920 banked your promises in the vault of my heart. How 82 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:43.560 are you going to do this? Think about God's promises 83 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:45.879 throughout the day. The only way to do it is 84 00:04:45.959 --> 00:04:48.480 to memorize them, to bank them in your heart, to 85 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:51.680 put them where you can call upon them. And nothing, nothing, 86 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:54.800 will improve your attitude more than have those thoughts from 87 00:04:54.839 --> 00:04:57.160 God that you can rely on during the day. When 88 00:04:57.160 --> 00:04:59.000 you get in the tough spots, you can't whip out 89 00:04:59.040 --> 00:05:01.839 a Bible and look up verse you don't have time. 90 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:04.040 Those are the moments when you need to be able 91 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:06.079 to draw on what's in your heart. Did you know 92 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:09.560 there are over seven thousand promises in this Bible written 93 00:05:09.560 --> 00:05:12.000 for you and I to give us confidence and assurance 94 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:15.879 throughout the day that we can make it through. The 95 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:18.959 Bible tells us in Philippians chapter four, verse eight, how 96 00:05:18.959 --> 00:05:22.879 to think when it says you'll do best by filling 97 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:30.600 your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious, 98 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:36.399 the best, not the worst, the beautiful not the ugly. Now, 99 00:05:36.519 --> 00:05:38.399 let me ask you, does that sound like the fall 100 00:05:38.439 --> 00:05:41.680 lineup on TV? When I read that? Really, when you 101 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:43.560 think about the things that we fill our minds with, 102 00:05:43.639 --> 00:05:46.079 you get tired, You get anxious, and you think, maybe 103 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:48.839 I'll entertain my way into feeling better, and you feel 104 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:51.959 more tired, and you feel more anxious. Let me suggest this, 105 00:05:52.480 --> 00:05:55.920 listen to something different. If you're going to change your heart, 106 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:57.839 if you're going to change that anxiety, if you're going 107 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:00.639 to feel less threatened in life, feel more hope. We're 108 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:03.759 expecting the best. Start to listen to something different. Listen 109 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:06.720 to God's promises because they have the power to bring 110 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:10.560 faith and optimism into our lives. The Bible tells us 111 00:06:10.560 --> 00:06:13.560 in Hebrews, chapter ten, verse twenty three, let's keep a 112 00:06:13.639 --> 00:06:16.759 firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He 113 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:20.560 always keeps his word. Now, well, let me talk about 114 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:22.800 a practical way to do this, because I know some 115 00:06:22.839 --> 00:06:25.360 of you are thinking, Tom, I haven't memorized anything since 116 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:27.680 like third grade. I'm not getting in on this part 117 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:30.639 of it, all right. You know those aerobic shows you 118 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:32.680 see on TV where they have the different steps, you know, 119 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:34.519 the different, you know, the easy and then the medium 120 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:36.399 and then the difficult. We're going to do that with this, 121 00:06:36.560 --> 00:06:38.560 all right, some of you just you just need to 122 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:41.120 start with the easy part. Without faith, no one can 123 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:41.759 please God. 124 00:06:42.079 --> 00:06:42.720 Just start there. 125 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:45.560 Just memorize that part this week. Now you're thinking, is 126 00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:48.480 that Okay, can you memorize like part of a Bible verse, 127 00:06:48.519 --> 00:06:49.879 like God's going to get mad at you if you 128 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:53.040 do that. If you memorize just the word faith this week, 129 00:06:53.079 --> 00:06:56.040 it would help, wouldn't that Just that one word, just 130 00:06:56.079 --> 00:06:58.399 a little bit, can make a big difference. God's not 131 00:06:58.399 --> 00:06:59.600 going to get mad at that, is going to be 132 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.079 pleased with that. If you've memorized a lot, then memorized 133 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:03.759 the whole verse this week. But whatever way you do it, 134 00:07:03.839 --> 00:07:05.680 start to bank some of these things in your heart 135 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.759 where they can make a difference. I can't tell you 136 00:07:08.839 --> 00:07:12.199 the times that of the few verses I've memorized that 137 00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:15.199 God will bring one to mind that reminds me not 138 00:07:15.279 --> 00:07:18.079 to say something stupid in that situation, or to be 139 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:20.600 patient with one of my kids when I wouldn't have otherwise, 140 00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:22.720 or to have hope when I wouldn't have had hope, 141 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:24.399 or it gives me the strength to make a good 142 00:07:24.399 --> 00:07:26.160 decision when I want to make a bad decision. It's 143 00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:28.560 amazing how when you put some of these promises into 144 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:31.240 your life, they give you a faith to face the day. 145 00:07:33.720 --> 00:07:38.079 The third secret of expecting the best is to trust 146 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:43.319 in God's love even when things look bad. Trust in 147 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:48.920 God's love even when the thing, the situation, the circumstance 148 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:52.920 looks bad or bleak or depressing. Now, this is David's 149 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:56.879 third secret of optimism. It's where he found his confidence. 150 00:07:57.480 --> 00:08:00.680 The Bible tells us in Psalm forty two, David said, Oh, 151 00:08:00.720 --> 00:08:07.480 my soul, don't be discouraged, don't be upset. Expect God 152 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:11.639 to act, for I know. Here's the confidence that I 153 00:08:11.680 --> 00:08:15.319 shall again have plenty of reason to praise Him for 154 00:08:15.439 --> 00:08:18.120 all that he will do. Notice it's in the future. 155 00:08:18.240 --> 00:08:20.120 All that he will do he's going to do. He 156 00:08:20.160 --> 00:08:23.480 hadn't done it yet. This is a statement of positive expectation. 157 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:28.000 He said, I'm not gonna get discouraged. It looks bleak, 158 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:31.399 it looks bad, circumstances look dark. But I'm not going 159 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:34.279 to get down on it because I'm going to expect 160 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:37.440 God to act. I know that once again. In other words, 161 00:08:37.480 --> 00:08:39.679 he's done it in the past. I know it once again. 162 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:43.039 He'll help me out. Some of you are going through 163 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:45.039 some pretty dark times right now. What do you do? 164 00:08:45.879 --> 00:08:49.559 Number one? You remember how God has helped you in 165 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:53.480 the past. Oh, how quickly we forget Remember that God 166 00:08:53.480 --> 00:08:57.559 has helped you many many times out of many, many situations, 167 00:08:57.759 --> 00:08:59.559 many you weren't even aware that He was the one 168 00:08:59.559 --> 00:09:03.559 that was doing it. Remember that God has helped you 169 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:06.600 in the past even when you were unaware. And then two, 170 00:09:06.919 --> 00:09:11.519 you expect him to do it again. That's expecting the best. 171 00:09:12.639 --> 00:09:16.639 You're trusting in God's love when things look bad. Now listen, 172 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:23.080 We rarely understand why God allows things in our lives 173 00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:27.039 when they happen. Almost never does God give you an 174 00:09:27.080 --> 00:09:30.639 explanation of why there's pain in your life, problems in 175 00:09:30.679 --> 00:09:35.000 your life, difficulties in your life, circumstances you don't understand. 176 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:39.600 Almost never does God give you an explanation. He didn't 177 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:42.200 know you an explanation in the first place. But number two, 178 00:09:42.200 --> 00:09:45.000 you wouldn't understand some of the reasons until you get 179 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:46.480 to have it and look back and go, oh, that's 180 00:09:46.519 --> 00:09:47.279 what was going on. 181 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:54.639 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick will be 182 00:09:54.720 --> 00:09:57.559 back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson. 183 00:09:57.919 --> 00:10:01.039 You can sign up for Pastor Ricks free email devotional 184 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:05.279 at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 185 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:08.039 Did you know that God has a dream for your life? 186 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:11.720 Before you took your very first breath. He had already 187 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:15.399 placed the gift of imagination into your brain and hardwired 188 00:10:15.480 --> 00:10:19.559 creativity into every cell of your body. But discovering and 189 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:23.039 fulfilling your God given dream will require a journey of 190 00:10:23.080 --> 00:10:26.519 faith on your part. That's why Pastor Rick just released 191 00:10:26.679 --> 00:10:29.600 the Created to Dream Bible Study, based on the core 192 00:10:29.679 --> 00:10:32.879 teaching found in his best selling book Created to Dream. 193 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:36.360 The six week video based study will reveal the process 194 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:39.639 God uses to fulfill the custom made dream he has 195 00:10:39.720 --> 00:10:42.720 it just for you, and the faith building faces he'll 196 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:46.080 lead you through as he does. This video study includes 197 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:49.720 an enhanced workbook with lesson outlines he versus in homework 198 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:53.080 for deeper reflection between each session. You can do the 199 00:10:53.120 --> 00:10:55.519 study on your own or with friends in a small 200 00:10:55.559 --> 00:11:01.320 group setting. So whether you're feeling stuck, forgotten, afraid, or uninspired, 201 00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:03.960 the Created to Dream Bible Study will give you the 202 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:07.039 tools you need to awaken and pursue the custom made 203 00:11:07.080 --> 00:11:10.480 dream God created you to fulfill. And today, when you 204 00:11:10.519 --> 00:11:12.919 give a gift to help daily hope take the word 205 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:15.559 of God to a hurting world, will send you the 206 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:18.919 Creator to Dream Bible Study. Kid to say thanks, go 207 00:11:19.080 --> 00:11:21.960 to Pastorrick dot com right now to get your copy, 208 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:25.240 or you can call eight hundred six hundred five zero 209 00:11:25.320 --> 00:11:28.559 zero four that's Pastor Rick dot com. Or call eight 210 00:11:28.639 --> 00:11:31.799 hundred at six hundred five zero zero four. Thank you 211 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:34.399 so much for your support, and don't forget to let 212 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:36.519 us know which radio station you heard us on. 213 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:45.320 Now let's get back to today's lesson. Here on Pastor 214 00:11:45.399 --> 00:11:46.559 Rick's Daily Hope. 215 00:11:46.879 --> 00:11:49.919 Remember that God has helped you many, many times out 216 00:11:49.919 --> 00:11:53.159 of many many situations. Many you weren't even aware that 217 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:56.879 He was the one that was doing it. Remember that 218 00:11:56.919 --> 00:11:59.360 God has helped you in the past even when you 219 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:02.360 were unaware. And then two, you expect him to do 220 00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:07.879 it again. That's expecting the best. You're trusting in God's 221 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:14.320 love when things look bad. Now, listen, we rarely understand 222 00:12:14.960 --> 00:12:17.840 why God allows things in our lives when they happen. 223 00:12:18.879 --> 00:12:22.399 Almost never does God give you an explanation of why 224 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:26.120 there's pain in your life, problems in your life, difficulties 225 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:30.799 in your life, circumstances you don't understand. Almost never does 226 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:33.679 God give you an explanation. He didn't know you an 227 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:36.399 explanation in the first place. But number two, you wouldn't 228 00:12:36.440 --> 00:12:38.960 understand some of the reasons until you get to have 229 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:40.559 it and look back and go, oh, that's what was 230 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:45.240 going on. So he doesn't explain why you go through 231 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.960 what you're going through. So what do you do when 232 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:51.000 you're in a difficult situation and it doesn't make sense, 233 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:53.279 it has no rhyme or reason to it. What do 234 00:12:53.320 --> 00:12:58.240 you do? You trust in the love of God. You say, 235 00:12:58.279 --> 00:13:01.360 you know what. I know God loves me, and I 236 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:05.440 know God is in control, and I know God sees 237 00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:08.360 everything that's going on in my life right now, and 238 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:11.720 I know God could change it, and I know God 239 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:14.799 wants what's best for me. So I don't have to 240 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:18.320 have an explanation. It's obviously here in that it's in 241 00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:22.399 the best pathway for my life at this point in 242 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:24.639 my life right now. I don't have to understand it 243 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:27.840 because I am trusting in the fact that God is 244 00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:31.039 in control and God is good, and God loves me, 245 00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:34.960 and he wants what's best for me. It's okay, God, 246 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:37.440 it doesn't makes sense, but I'm going to trust you. Folks. 247 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:42.440 That is a deep, deep, deep level of faith that 248 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:46.639 God wants you to grow in. Notice this verse he 249 00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:51.759 Brews twelve, verse ten. While we were children, our parents 250 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:55.360 did what seemed best to them. But God is doing 251 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:59.759 what is best for us, training us to live God's 252 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:03.559 holy best. Now here's the key. If you want to 253 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:05.840 handle the dark situations of life, You've got to look 254 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:08.559 at them from God's perspective, not your own. And that 255 00:14:08.679 --> 00:14:11.720 makes all the difference in the world. You look at 256 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:14.639 it from your viewpoint, it doesn't make sense. You look 257 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:18.440 at it from God's viewpoint, the problem shrinks in size. 258 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:21.960 The entire Israeli army looked at Goliath and said, this 259 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:26.360 guy is impossible to handle. He's in our way. We're 260 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:30.679 never gonna take him down. David looks at him from 261 00:14:30.720 --> 00:14:34.720 God's viewpoint and says, he's just a mere mortal man 262 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:38.519 who is defiling and defaming God. And God is on 263 00:14:38.559 --> 00:14:40.320 our side, and he'll help us out and we can 264 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:43.679 take him. It's all in the way you look at 265 00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:47.320 your situation. There's another promise that you might want to 266 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:51.240 memorize this week. It's Psalm ninety one, verse fourteen. Notice 267 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:54.919 what God says, I'll get you out of any trouble. 268 00:14:55.039 --> 00:15:00.200 Circle the word any. I'll get you out of any truble, 269 00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:05.919 any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if 270 00:15:05.919 --> 00:15:07.919 you'll only get to know and trust me. That's what 271 00:15:07.960 --> 00:15:10.639 God wants you to do. That's why God's been trying 272 00:15:10.679 --> 00:15:13.000 to get your attention through all the problems and stuff. 273 00:15:13.080 --> 00:15:15.039 He's been trying to get your attentions. I'll take care 274 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:17.320 of you if you'll just get to know me and 275 00:15:17.360 --> 00:15:21.879 trust me. David tells us the fourth secret that we 276 00:15:21.960 --> 00:15:25.559 need to talk with other believers. That's the fourth key. 277 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:29.840 Talk with other believers. David hung out with positive people. 278 00:15:29.879 --> 00:15:31.919 He wasn't just facing this giant on his own. He 279 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:36.360 had emotional and spiritual support. And so I'm one nineteen 280 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:40.080 sixty three, David says, I'm a friend and companion of 281 00:15:40.120 --> 00:15:44.600 those committed to making those committed to living by your rules. 282 00:15:45.679 --> 00:15:48.840 Now you need to associate with, You need to attach 283 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:53.200 yourself to. You need to fellowship with other people of 284 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:58.759 positive faith. Who do you hang out with? Does your 285 00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:01.720 faith get any support it all? If you hang out 286 00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:08.080 with cynical, sarcastic, critical, negative people, that's as contagious as 287 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:11.720 faith is, and they will tend to infect you. If 288 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:13.960 you want to be a person of great faith, of 289 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:18.639 great expectations, then you need to find some people who 290 00:16:18.679 --> 00:16:22.159 build into your life additional faith who help you grow, 291 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:25.440 because the wrong crowd will bring you down. There's a 292 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:29.399 verse in the Bible that says bad company corrupts good character, 293 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:32.519 and it really does when it comes to your attitude. 294 00:16:33.159 --> 00:16:35.480 It's like that old cliche. If you want to soar 295 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:40.360 with the eagles, you can't run with the turkeys. David 296 00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:44.639 said in some One blessed is the man who doesn't 297 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:47.240 stand in the seed of the scornful, or sit in 298 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:49.799 the sea of the wicked of the scoffers. He doesn't 299 00:16:49.879 --> 00:16:52.039 hang out with cynical people, David goes, I don't do 300 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:55.240 that because I don't want them to infect me with 301 00:16:55.360 --> 00:17:00.720 their negativism. You need to talk with other beliefs, people 302 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:06.160 of faith on a regular basis. You need more VIPs 303 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:09.000 in your life than vdps. Do you know the difference. 304 00:17:09.680 --> 00:17:14.240 VIPs are very inspirational people who build up your faith, 305 00:17:14.799 --> 00:17:18.240 and vdps are very draining people who take it out 306 00:17:18.279 --> 00:17:22.359 of you. Now, if you've got more vdps, very draining 307 00:17:22.440 --> 00:17:26.599 people in your life than VIPs, you're in trouble because 308 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:29.559 your battery is getting drained. There's no way you're gonna 309 00:17:29.599 --> 00:17:32.119 expect the best. There's no way you're gonna be optimistic. 310 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:34.160 There's no way you're going to be a person of 311 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:37.880 faith because you're being drained all the time. You got 312 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:43.960 to get some VIPs, very inspirational people in your life now. 313 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:46.599 Of course, the most logical place to do that is 314 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:50.039 in a Bible study, a Bible study class, or a 315 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:52.759 small group where you can get to know some people 316 00:17:52.759 --> 00:17:55.599 who'll encourage you. That's why we talk about this all 317 00:17:55.640 --> 00:18:00.200 the time here at Saddleback. Look at the next verse says, 318 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:04.000 let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead, 319 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:07.839 let us encourage one another. If you're not in a class, 320 00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:09.960 if you're not in a group, where are you getting 321 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:13.519 your encouragement on a weekly basis? Now, I want to 322 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:19.480 pray for you. Let's bow our heads. The Bible says, 323 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:22.079 keep company with God and get in on the best. 324 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:23.880 And I don't want you to sit on the sidelines. 325 00:18:24.119 --> 00:18:25.960 I don't want you to miss out on what's going 326 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:31.000 to happen. Father. I don't know that I've ever been 327 00:18:31.079 --> 00:18:33.880 more excited about a plan to help these wonderful people 328 00:18:33.880 --> 00:18:37.640 develop and strengthen their faith. And I could hardly wait 329 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:39.599 to see the miracles and the changes you're going to 330 00:18:39.640 --> 00:18:43.119 do in our lives and our careers and relationships and families. 331 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:49.319 Help them to put things first, things first, and to 332 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:52.119 realize that without faith, it's impossible to please God. Lord. 333 00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:56.400 This is an important subject we're going to deal with now. 334 00:18:56.440 --> 00:18:59.519 I want you to pray, and I want you to 335 00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:05.440 pray this. Say thank you God in advance for all 336 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:07.240 You're going to do in my life during the next 337 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:17.599 fifty days. I'm expecting in faith. Now, in a crowd 338 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:19.359 this size, I'm sure that there's some of you who 339 00:19:19.359 --> 00:19:23.160 are worried about a giant problem this next week, a 340 00:19:23.240 --> 00:19:25.359 goliath in your life. Maybe it's a lab report from 341 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:27.880 a doctor, or maybe you've got a situation at work, 342 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.799 or your kids are your family are in some kind 343 00:19:29.799 --> 00:19:33.400 of difficulty. Maybe you've got an important decision that has 344 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:37.119 to be made soon. Why don't you relax right now, 345 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:45.240 take a deep breath and trust Jesus Christ. Say Jesus Christ. 346 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:49.559 I want to put my trust in you and expect 347 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:54.319 the best in your name. I pray Amen. 348 00:19:58.160 --> 00:20:01.079 This is Pastor Rick's daily Home Hope. We are so 349 00:20:01.279 --> 00:20:04.359 happy that you've chosen to study along with us today. 350 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:06.720 Did you know that you can start every day with 351 00:20:06.880 --> 00:20:10.680 hope and encouragement from Pastor Rick. Well, you can when 352 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:14.559 you sign up to receive his life changing daily Bible 353 00:20:14.640 --> 00:20:19.039 teaching delivered directly to your inbox. Just go to Pastorick 354 00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:23.000 dot com and sign up for his free daily Hope devotional. 355 00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:27.079 Don't miss out. Sign up now at Pastorick dot com. 356 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:30.039 Rick will be right back to close out our time today. 357 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:33.640 But first, did you know that God has a dream 358 00:20:33.720 --> 00:20:37.079 for your life? Before you took your very first breath, 359 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:40.480 He had already placed the gift of imagination into your 360 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:45.319 brain and hardwired creativity into every cell of your body. 361 00:20:45.559 --> 00:20:49.920 But discovering and fulfilling your God given dream will require 362 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:53.440 a journey of faith on your part. That's why Pastor 363 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:57.400 Rick just release the Created to Dream Bible Study based 364 00:20:57.400 --> 00:21:00.279 on the core teaching found in his best selling book 365 00:21:00.519 --> 00:21:04.720 Created to Dream. This six week video based study will 366 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:08.680 reveal the process God uses to fulfill the custom made 367 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:12.039 dream he has just for you, and the faith building 368 00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:15.960 phases he'll lead you through as he does. This video 369 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:20.599 study includes an enhanced workbook with lesson outlines, key verses, 370 00:21:20.839 --> 00:21:25.039 and the homework for deeper reflection between each session. You 371 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:27.759 can do the study on your own or with friends. 372 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:32.920 In a small group setting. So whether you're feeling stuck, forgotten, afraid, 373 00:21:33.359 --> 00:21:37.720 or uninspired, the Created to Dream Bible Study will give 374 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:41.160 you the tools you need to awaken and pursue the 375 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:46.000 custom made dream God created you to fulfill. And today, 376 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:48.599 when you give a gift to help Daily Hope take 377 00:21:48.680 --> 00:21:51.839 the word of God to a hurting world, we'll send 378 00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:55.519 you the Created to Dream Bible Study Kit. To say thanks, 379 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:59.759 go to Pastorick dot com right now to get your copy, 380 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:03.680 or you could just call eight hundred six hundred five 381 00:22:03.799 --> 00:22:07.960 thousand and four that's Pastor Rick dot com or eight 382 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:11.960 hundred six hundred five thousand and four and thank you 383 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:15.279 so much for your support, and don't forget to let 384 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:18.920 us know which radio station you heard us on. Here's 385 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:22.200 Rick with a letter from one of our listeners friends. 386 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:24.240 Today, I want to share with you a powerful testimony 387 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:27.759 from Alqistas. She's a nineteen year old who listens to 388 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:30.960 Daily Hope in Greece and she talks about how God 389 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.720 began to work in her life as she listened to 390 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:37.039 the message the courage to keep on. She wrote, Dear 391 00:22:37.079 --> 00:22:38.920 Pastor Rick, I just want to send you a big, 392 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:42.480 big thank you. I've been completely lost. Over the last month, 393 00:22:42.680 --> 00:22:45.640 I've been anxious and sad and tired. I've wanted to 394 00:22:45.640 --> 00:22:48.000 give up, but my mother's a big supporter of yours, 395 00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:51.559 and she encouraged me to listen to your broadcast and 396 00:22:51.640 --> 00:22:55.119 I did. I started listening to it once or twice 397 00:22:55.160 --> 00:22:58.559 a week, just to make my mom happy. But one day, 398 00:22:58.839 --> 00:23:01.359 when I was in a mess, I bumped into a 399 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:05.440 message of yours, called the Courage to Keep on Going. 400 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:10.759 I was like, WHOA, how did he know? That broadcast 401 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:14.079