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<v Speaker 1>Hello, everybody. This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope with Rick Warren.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm really glad you're here today. We're continuing our series

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<v Speaker 1>from Psalm twenty three called living in the Goodness of God.

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<v Speaker 1>It's all about how God's goodness meets you right where

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<v Speaker 1>you are and brings hope even in difficult seasons. And

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<v Speaker 1>let's join Rick right now for the final part of

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<v Speaker 1>a message called how to be Led by God's Spirit

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<v Speaker 1>Number three.

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<v Speaker 2>If I want to be led by God's spirit, I

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<v Speaker 2>must look to God's word. I must look to God's word.

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<v Speaker 2>God's will is found in God's word. Psalm one nineteen

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<v Speaker 2>one oh five. Your word is a lamp to guide

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<v Speaker 2>me and a light for my path. If you're not

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<v Speaker 2>in the Bible every day, you're in the dark. You're

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<v Speaker 2>walking through life without a flashlight. Your word is a

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<v Speaker 2>lamp to guide me and a light for my path

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<v Speaker 2>Proverbs one nineteen. Psalm on nineteen is what that's supposed

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<v Speaker 2>to be. Psalm one nineteen one thirty three says this,

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<v Speaker 2>guide my steps by your word, so I will not

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<v Speaker 2>be overcome by any evil. It's up here on the screen.

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<v Speaker 2>Guide my steps by your word, so I won't be

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<v Speaker 2>overcome by any evil. Now, I want to give you

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<v Speaker 2>a couple statements real quickly. I could go into this

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<v Speaker 2>in detail, but I won't. About the word of God.

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<v Speaker 2>Write these down. Number one, God's will is found in

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<v Speaker 2>God's word. God's will is found in God's word. Most

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<v Speaker 2>of God's will is already revealed. No, the name of

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<v Speaker 2>your spouse is not there, But that's not what you're

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<v Speaker 2>misunderstanding what I'm saying. The principles are there on how

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<v Speaker 2>to find the right kind of man or the right

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<v Speaker 2>kind of woman that would be God's choice. And as

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<v Speaker 2>you read God's Word, he speaks to you. When you

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<v Speaker 2>open your Bible, God opens his mouth and he starts

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<v Speaker 2>talking to you. And when you close your Bible, God

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<v Speaker 2>closes his mouth, He shuts his mouth. We discovered the

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<v Speaker 2>will of God in the Word of God. So let

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<v Speaker 2>me just say it this way. Stop listening for a

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<v Speaker 2>voice and start looking for a verse. Some of you

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<v Speaker 2>want God to write it in the sky. Why would

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<v Speaker 2>he need to write it in the sky. He's already

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<v Speaker 2>written it in a book, but you won't even open

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<v Speaker 2>it on a daily basis. Stop looking for a voice.

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<v Speaker 2>Write it in the sky. Give me a word. Start

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<v Speaker 2>looking for a verse, and God will teach you the principles.

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<v Speaker 2>And by the way, God expects me to obey what

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<v Speaker 2>I already know before he shows me something new. So

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<v Speaker 2>if God's already shown you something, I want you to

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<v Speaker 2>do this and you haven't done it yet, why is

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<v Speaker 2>he going to show you step two until you've done

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<v Speaker 2>step one? It's already there. He said, I God, I

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<v Speaker 2>need to know if you want me to change jobs.

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<v Speaker 2>And God says, O, well, are you following what I've

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<v Speaker 2>already told you? Are you already doing that? The key

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<v Speaker 2>if you want to be led by the spirit, start

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<v Speaker 2>doing what you already know is God's will. Just start

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<v Speaker 2>doing what you already know is God's will. God's will

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<v Speaker 2>is found in God's word. The other thing I want

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<v Speaker 2>you to write down is this, God's will never contradicts

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<v Speaker 2>God's word. If you get an idea and you can't

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<v Speaker 2>find the basis for us in the Bible, it's wrong

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<v Speaker 2>because God has already given us his word. You know.

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<v Speaker 2>He says, well, I had this impression. People tell me

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<v Speaker 2>all the time, Pastor Rick, I had this impression. Well,

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<v Speaker 2>what does the Bible say? You know? This is how

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<v Speaker 2>cults get started. I got this idea. The Bible tells

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<v Speaker 2>us in Galatians chapter one, verse eight that even if

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<v Speaker 2>an angel shows up and tells you something like here's

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<v Speaker 2>some new books to add to the Bible, he says,

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<v Speaker 2>you don't even trust that, because if it's not in

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<v Speaker 2>the Bible, he says, you don't God's will will never

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<v Speaker 2>contradict God's word. Most of what God's already wanted us

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<v Speaker 2>to know is found in this book, and if you

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<v Speaker 2>read it, God will guide you. You know. He said, Well,

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<v Speaker 2>if I act on what God's already told me, then

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<v Speaker 2>you're telling me He's going to tell me more. That's

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<v Speaker 2>exactly what I'm saying, all right. Number four, If I

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<v Speaker 2>want to be led by God's spirit, I must ask

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<v Speaker 2>the Holy Spirit to be my guide. I must ask

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<v Speaker 2>the Holy Spirit to be my guide. Do you remember

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<v Speaker 2>in high school they had a position on the faculty

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<v Speaker 2>called the school guidance counselor. And I remember that the

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<v Speaker 2>school they were supposed to help you decide if you're

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<v Speaker 2>going to go to college or get a job, or

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<v Speaker 2>get in the military or whatever. And they were the

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<v Speaker 2>guidance counselor. You have a guidance counselor for life. He's

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<v Speaker 2>called the Holy Spirit. And you don't just have this book.

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<v Speaker 2>It's nice to have this book, but what's even nicer

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<v Speaker 2>is to have the author speaking in your ear going

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<v Speaker 2>And this is what this means. And he is your

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<v Speaker 2>guidance counselor. But where I say, I must ask the

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<v Speaker 2>Holy Spirit circle that word ask. One of the reasons

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<v Speaker 2>you don't know God's will is you don't ask for it.

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<v Speaker 2>And in James four, verse two, the Bible says you

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<v Speaker 2>do not have because you do not ask God for it.

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<v Speaker 2>You just need to understand God's interested in every detail

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<v Speaker 2>of your life. He has the hairs on your head

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<v Speaker 2>numbered and he knows everything about you. He knows your

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<v Speaker 2>details more than you do. He knows the health problems

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<v Speaker 2>you've got that you don't even know you've got. God

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<v Speaker 2>knows them. And one of the best ways to engage

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<v Speaker 2>your guidance counselor is ask a specific question in prayer.

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<v Speaker 2>So I'm twenty seven verse eleven, teach me Lord what

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<v Speaker 2>you want me to do and lead me down the

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<v Speaker 2>right path. Now, how does he do that? How does

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<v Speaker 2>God lead me down the right path? Well, there are

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of different ways. But let me just mention

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<v Speaker 2>a couple one of the miss The primary way the

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<v Speaker 2>Holy Spirit guides us is by reminding us what we've

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<v Speaker 2>read in this book, because you read stuff in here,

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<v Speaker 2>and if you memorize it, then it's stored in the

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<v Speaker 2>back of your mind, and at the right moment, when

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<v Speaker 2>you're in that conflict at work, God can bring that

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<v Speaker 2>verse to mind, and Holy Spirit reminds us. The problem

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<v Speaker 2>is we are not good at retention. We have good forgetters,

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<v Speaker 2>but unfortunately a part of the Holy Spirit's job is

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<v Speaker 2>to help you. Remember have you ever been talking to

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<v Speaker 2>somebody and you go, I don't know what to say,

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<v Speaker 2>and then all of a sudden the idea pops in

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<v Speaker 2>your mind. The Holy Spirit just reminded you of that.

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<v Speaker 2>And the more this book you get in your mind,

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<v Speaker 2>the more he can bring back. Now, if there's nothing

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<v Speaker 2>of this book in your mind, what's he going to

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<v Speaker 2>bring out? Nothing? So you got it. You got to

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<v Speaker 2>get in the book. I can't tell you how many

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<v Speaker 2>times I've walked into a meeting or a phone conversation

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<v Speaker 2>or an interview, or a skeptic on the street or anything,

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<v Speaker 2>and I hadn't the slightest idea what I was going

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<v Speaker 2>to say, and I just shoot up a quick prayer,

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<v Speaker 2>guidance counselor what do you want me to say? Here,

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<v Speaker 2>Holy Spirit, what do you want me to say? And

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<v Speaker 2>he'll bring something. Some of you've never had that happen,

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<v Speaker 2>as I said, because you don't have anything stuck there

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<v Speaker 2>in your mind. So God gives us ideas through his word.

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<v Speaker 2>And the other way is he puts ideas in your mind. Yes,

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<v Speaker 2>he does put impressions in your mind. When God gives

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<v Speaker 2>you an idea, that's called inspiration. When the devil gives

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<v Speaker 2>you an idea, that's called temptation. When you get an

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<v Speaker 2>idea that's called dumb. It's just teasing. God gave you

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<v Speaker 2>your brain. He wants you to use it. Satan cannot

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<v Speaker 2>control you accept suggest thoughts. If you accept them, then

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<v Speaker 2>he's controlling you. God will not control you because He's

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<v Speaker 2>given you that free will. But when he puts an

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<v Speaker 2>idea in your mind you respond to it, then he

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<v Speaker 2>enlightens it. Now, is there any way I can speed

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<v Speaker 2>up that process that I get God's ideas quicker? Yes,

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<v Speaker 2>I'm going to tell you how you can speed up

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<v Speaker 2>the process of getting ideas quicker, like I need a

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<v Speaker 2>new product, I need a new solution. Two things write

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<v Speaker 2>these down. Number one, ask humbly, Ask humbly. That'll speed

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<v Speaker 2>up the process. Proverbs twenty five, Psalm twenty five, verse nine.

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<v Speaker 2>God guides the humble in what is right, and he

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<v Speaker 2>teaches them his way. The more humble you are in

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<v Speaker 2>coming to God, the quicker, God gives you the information

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<v Speaker 2>you need. Pride goes for a destruction a haughty spirit

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<v Speaker 2>before a fall. God says, if you just be humble

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<v Speaker 2>and say, God, I need you. I got to know this,

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<v Speaker 2>he said, I'll give it to you. The Lord is

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<v Speaker 2>my shepherd. So we're just talking about he leads me

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<v Speaker 2>in the paths in the right past for his name sake,

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<v Speaker 2>and I just be humble about it. Another way is

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<v Speaker 2>asking faith. I ask humbly, and then I ask in

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<v Speaker 2>faith and I say, God, I need to know what

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<v Speaker 2>you want me to do in this situation, and I'm

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<v Speaker 2>expecting you to give me the answer. Thank you in advance,

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you in advance. You got to have faith, James,

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<v Speaker 2>Chapter one. If you want to know what God really

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<v Speaker 2>wants you to do, and I hope that's what it

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<v Speaker 2>is for you. If you want to know what God

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<v Speaker 2>wants you to do, ask him and you'll gladly tell you,

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<v Speaker 2>for He is already ready to give a bountiful supply

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<v Speaker 2>of wisdom to all who ask. Remember ask combly, asking faith,

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<v Speaker 2>but be sure that you really expect him to tell you.

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<v Speaker 2>If you don't ask in faith, don't expect the Lord

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<v Speaker 2>to give you any solid answers. That's why you don't.

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<v Speaker 2>Often don't know what God wants you to do, you're

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<v Speaker 2>not asking in faith. I remember years ago we were

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<v Speaker 2>driving down the road. I think we're going up to

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<v Speaker 2>Fresno or something, and Kay Kay was looking down. She

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<v Speaker 2>was driving, and she looked down in the the gas

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<v Speaker 2>tank was on empty, and I said, where's the nearest

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<v Speaker 2>gas station? And we'd seen a sign about a mile back, said,

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<v Speaker 2>the next one is like thirty miles up. I think

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<v Speaker 2>we're up going up on five thirty miles down the freeway.

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<v Speaker 2>So then I put it into one of these little

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<v Speaker 2>you know apps, and it said get off the freeway,

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<v Speaker 2>go ten miles down that little road and there'll be

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<v Speaker 2>a gas station. Now the question is am I going

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<v Speaker 2>to believe the sign or the app thirty miles down

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<v Speaker 2>that road or ten miles on the app and go

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<v Speaker 2>down a little road. This is a test of faith

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<v Speaker 2>and sometimes that's going to happen in your life because

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<v Speaker 2>you'll say, God, what should I do here? And God,

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<v Speaker 2>I'll tell you to do the exact opposite of what

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<v Speaker 2>you think you ought to do one time. If you

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<v Speaker 2>want to know God's will, just figure out what you

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<v Speaker 2>naturally do and do the opposite because you're off and wrong,

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<v Speaker 2>so that would be a good thing to do. But

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<v Speaker 2>you can always trust God's guidance system. He's never wrong.

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<v Speaker 2>You do have to believe him all right. Number five.

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<v Speaker 2>The fifth thing, if I want to be led by

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<v Speaker 2>God's spirit, I must listen for God's response. And this

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<v Speaker 2>is really a big reason why we don't hear God

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<v Speaker 2>is because we ask and then we immediately run off.

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<v Speaker 2>We don't wait, we don't be quiet, we don't listen,

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<v Speaker 2>we don't pause. We say God, I need to know this,

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<v Speaker 2>and then take off and then turn on the radio

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<v Speaker 2>or start listening to your iPhone or answering calls or

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<v Speaker 2>reading texts, or you know, watch a TV. And all

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<v Speaker 2>the circuits are jammed and God can't get through to

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<v Speaker 2>you for the answer. I cannot overemphasize the importance of

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<v Speaker 2>you taking some private time alone every day just to

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<v Speaker 2>sit quietly. I do this all the time. And I

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<v Speaker 2>sit down and I say, God, is there anything you

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<v Speaker 2>want to say to me right now? I just shut up.

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<v Speaker 2>I just listen. I've read your word. I've talked to

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<v Speaker 2>you all throughout the day. Job thirty three, verse fourteen.

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<v Speaker 2>God does speak, sometimes one way and sometimes another, even

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<v Speaker 2>though people may not understand it. He uses the Bible,

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<v Speaker 2>he uses teachers like what I'm doing right now. He

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<v Speaker 2>uses impressions, He can use circumstances, he can use pain,

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<v Speaker 2>he can do all these different things. But the key

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<v Speaker 2>is to tested by the word. And I want to

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<v Speaker 2>close with this Psalm seventy seven, because sometimes you say,

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<v Speaker 2>God don't want to know your will, and you look

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<v Speaker 2>out and you go, that doesn't make sense at all.

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<v Speaker 2>This is a test. Psalms seventy seven, verse nineteen is

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<v Speaker 2>actually a verse about Moses. You remember the story of

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<v Speaker 2>the Ten Commandments, when Charlton Heston, you know, stood up

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<v Speaker 2>there and he put this thing in the water, and

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<v Speaker 2>the nile turned red, and all of the different miracles

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<v Speaker 2>and things like that, and when finally Pharaoh said after

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<v Speaker 2>ten miracles, and all those miracles were making fun of

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<v Speaker 2>false gods. Pharaoh finally says, okay, you can go, And

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<v Speaker 2>so a million Jews are leaving and they're heading across

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<v Speaker 2>to go across the Sinai Peninsula, and all of a

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<v Speaker 2>sudden they come up to a little cul de sac

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<v Speaker 2>and they're standing with mountains on either side, the Red

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<v Speaker 2>sea in front of him, which looks impassable, and Pharaoh

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<v Speaker 2>has changed his mind, and the army's coming after him

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<v Speaker 2>and back. So they're himed in and they we're going

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<v Speaker 2>to be slaughtered. We got mountains on either side, we

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<v Speaker 2>got an ocean in front of us, and we've got

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<v Speaker 2>Pharaoh's armies and they're armed and we have no arms,

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<v Speaker 2>and they're coming after us. And they were in God's

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<v Speaker 2>that'll called the Sacon. It looks like it's a goner.

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<v Speaker 2>They're gonna be dead. The name of that place was

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<v Speaker 2>called Bales of Fawn, which means God's hidden treasure. God

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<v Speaker 2>had him exactly where he wanted him to be. He

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<v Speaker 2>was going to do a miracle, and suddenly the ocean splits,

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<v Speaker 2>you know the story, and they start walking through on

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<v Speaker 2>dry ground, and imagine how in shock. Everybody had to

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<v Speaker 2>be walking through that area, and when they get through

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<v Speaker 2>the other side, it closes up, and you know the

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<v Speaker 2>whole story. This verse in Psalms talks about it, and

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<v Speaker 2>it says, your road lord led by a pathway through

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<v Speaker 2>the sea, a pathway no one knew was there. I

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<v Speaker 2>love that verse. There have been so many times in

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<v Speaker 2>I have come up against enormous barriers, financial barriers, approval barriers,

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<v Speaker 2>physical barriers, energy barriers. And I'm looking at this and

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<v Speaker 2>I go, God, there's mountains on the east side and

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<v Speaker 2>an impassable barrier in front of me, and the enemy's

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<v Speaker 2>caving in, closing in very quickly. And I'm in bales

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<v Speaker 2>the fawn. I'm in God's hidden treasure. And God says,

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<v Speaker 2>I've got you exactly exactly where I want you to be.

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<v Speaker 2>Watch this, and you made a pathway through the sea,

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<v Speaker 2>a pathway no one knew was there. Bam, some of

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<v Speaker 2>you are in balesa fon right now. There's no way

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<v Speaker 2>we're getting now this. We're going into bankruptcy. There's no

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<v Speaker 2>way getting now this. It's we've heard the sea word cancer.

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<v Speaker 2>There's no way out of this. We're headed for a divorce, court,

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<v Speaker 2>there's no and you are exactly where God wants you

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<v Speaker 2>to be. He wants to do a miracle. But there

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<v Speaker 2>are five things you got to stop doing, and there

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<v Speaker 2>are five things you got to start doing stops and starts,

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<v Speaker 2>stops and starts. And when you do that, you get

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<v Speaker 2>God's guidance and he shows you a pathway that nobody

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<v Speaker 2>knew was there. That's power heads. God can make a

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<v Speaker 2>way when it seems there is no way. Now we've

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<v Speaker 2>just gone only into three verses of this incredible passage

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<v Speaker 2>Psalm twenty three, And out of that we know that

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<v Speaker 2>because God is good, when I'm worried, he will meet

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<v Speaker 2>my needs. The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything

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<v Speaker 2>I need. And when I'm stressed, He'll teach me to relax.

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<v Speaker 2>He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads

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<v Speaker 2>me beside still waters. When I'm empty, he will replenish

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<v Speaker 2>my strength. He restores my soul. And when I don't

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<v Speaker 2>know what to do, he will guide me. He leads

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<v Speaker 2>me in the right paths for His namesake. Would you

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<v Speaker 2>pray all right? Now? Talk to God? Why don't you

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<v Speaker 2>say something like this, Dear God, I want to be

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<v Speaker 2>led by your spirit I don't want to go through

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<v Speaker 2>life on my own ingenuity and power. I've had too

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<v Speaker 2>many dead ends. I know that's not the solution. You

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<v Speaker 2>have said. Only those people who are led by God's

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<v Speaker 2>spirit are God's children. Because you are a good God,

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<v Speaker 2>you guide us in your goodness. Lord. Starting today, there's

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<v Speaker 2>some stuff I want to stop doing. Help me to

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<v Speaker 2>remember that I cannot follow a culture that doesn't follow you.

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<v Speaker 2>Do not copy the behavior and values of the world.

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<v Speaker 2>To love everybody, but do not love the value system

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<v Speaker 2>the Lord. Help me to remember that I can't follow

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<v Speaker 2>friends who aren't led by you. I don't want anybody

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<v Speaker 2>leading me in the wrong way. I want to love people,

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<v Speaker 2>but I don't want to lead me. I want to

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<v Speaker 2>be an influence, not be influenced. I want to be

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<v Speaker 2>a thermostat, not a thermometer. Help me to remember that

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<v Speaker 2>I can't look to other sources besides you and come

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<v Speaker 2>to you with a clear conscience. It's not horoscopes and prayer.

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<v Speaker 2>It's not self help books and the Bible. They're not

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<v Speaker 2>on the same level. I want to stop being led

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<v Speaker 2>by my circumstances. And most of all, Lord, I want

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<v Speaker 2>to stop being mastered and manipulated by my moods. I

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<v Speaker 2>cannot be led by the spirit if I'm led by

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<v Speaker 2>my feelings. I'm sorry for the times that I've made

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<v Speaker 2>feelings my God, and I did what I felt like doing,

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<v Speaker 2>not necessarily what you wanted me to do. Lord. Today

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<v Speaker 2>I'm telling you I want to be led by your spirit.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to be led. I've got to be led.

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<v Speaker 2>More than that, I'm willing to do whatever you tell

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<v Speaker 2>me to do. I don't have to understand it. I'm

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<v Speaker 2>telling you yes in advance. Help me to look to

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<v Speaker 2>your word every day. Guide my steps by your word

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<v Speaker 2>so I will not be overcome by any evil. Your

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<v Speaker 2>word is a lamp to guide me in a light

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<v Speaker 2>for my path. Be my flashlight. Help me to remember

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<v Speaker 2>that your will is found in your word word, that

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<v Speaker 2>your will will never contradict your word. And so today

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<v Speaker 2>I asked you, Holy Spirit, to be my guidance counselor

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<v Speaker 2>for the rest of my life. I'm asking you humbly,

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<v Speaker 2>and I'm asking you in faith and help me to

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<v Speaker 2>not be so impatient that I can't stop and just

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<v Speaker 2>listen for your response. Help me to learn to wait

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<v Speaker 2>on you, to be still and know that you are God.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you the good Shepherd. If you've never invited Christ

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<v Speaker 2>in your life, just say, Jesus Christ, come into my

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<v Speaker 2>life right now. I want to get to know you.

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<v Speaker 2>I want to learn to trust you. I want to

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<v Speaker 2>have a relationship and a friendship with you. And I

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<v Speaker 2>pray this humbly in your name. Amen.

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<v Speaker 1>Hey, if you've just prayed along with Rick to accept

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus in your life, Rick would love to hear from you.

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<v Speaker 1>Just email Rick at Pastororrick dot com. And now here's

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<v Speaker 1>a closing thought from Pastor Rick.

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<v Speaker 2>God has five purposes for your life. He wants you

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<v Speaker 2>to know and love Him. That's called worship. He wants

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<v Speaker 2>you to belong to his family that's called fellowship. He

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<v Speaker 2>wants you to grow in him. That's called discipleship. He

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<v Speaker 2>wants you to serve Him with your gifts and talents.

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<v Speaker 2>That's your ministry. And he wants you to share the

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<v Speaker 2>good News with other people. That's your mission. Now today,

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<v Speaker 2>as we close, I want to talk to you about

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<v Speaker 2>the third purpose, discipleship or personal growth. How do we

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<v Speaker 2>grow well? We grow through the nourishment of God's word.

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<v Speaker 2>It's how we get to know God. To know God's

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<v Speaker 2>word is to know God's will. God's word is the

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<v Speaker 2>source of God's will, and God's ultimate goal for your

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<v Speaker 2>life is for you to become like Jesus Christ. To

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<v Speaker 2>do that, you have to fill your life with the

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<v Speaker 2>word of Jesus Christ. Two Timothy three seventeen says through

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<v Speaker 2>the Word, we're put together and shaped for the tasks

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<v Speaker 2>that God asked for us. I remember in the Old Testament,

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<v Speaker 2>the Bible says that Job treasured God's word more than

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<v Speaker 2>his daily bread. That's how I want you to treat

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<v Speaker 2>God's Word. That's how you grow in discipleship. Get into

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<v Speaker 2>his word every day, study it, memorize it, and meditate

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<v Speaker 2>on it. Apply it. Never take it for granted. God's

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<v Speaker 2>word is as essential to your soul as food is

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<v Speaker 2>to your body. So get into the Word today. God

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<v Speaker 2>bless you.

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<v Speaker 1>Be sure to join us next time as we look

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<v Speaker 1>into God's Word for our daily hope. This program is

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<v Speaker 1>sponsored by Pastor Rick's Daily Hope and your generous financial support.