Small Lessons Lead to Big Successes

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Daring Faith

Small Lessons Lead to Big Successes By Rick Warren — Jan 22, 2016 “Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him.” (Deuteronomy 11:2 TEV) Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and across the wilderness to the Promised Land. It should have only taken them a few weeks, even with a large crowd. But it took them 40 years. What in the world were they doing? For 40 years, they were walking around in a circle. God was giving them one test after another and saying, “Will you trust me?” There were seven tests. Every time they failed the test, he sent them on another lap around the wilderness. But even in that wilderness, they were not there by accident. Waiting in the wilderness always has a purpose. Some of you are in the wilderness right now. Remember this: The way to the Promised Land is through the wilderness. You’ve got to go through that waiting period. You’ve got to go through that desert. You’ve got to go through that dry spell. You are waiting in the wilderness for a purpose. And while you’re waiting, you need to keep a record of the lessons you’re learning. Numbers 33:2 says, “At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress” (NLT, second edition). The Bible also says, “Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him” (Deuteronomy 11:2 TEV). Are you keeping a written record of your progress in the Christian life? Are you writing anything down? You need to start keeping a journal when you’re waiting. A journal is different than a diary. A diary is for events; a journal is for lessons. I have learned in the waiting periods of life that little lessons lead to big successes. Some of the tiniest lessons I’ve learned in dry periods, in depressing periods, in discouraging periods have been the keys to big successes in my life. Little lessons lead to big successes. So you need to write them down! Psalm 119:33 is a good prayer to pray when you’re in the wilderness and waiting for God to deliver you: “‘God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course’ (MSG). So I don’t wander around. Teach me how to live so I can get through this with the minimum amount of time. I don’t want to be here for 40 years. I don’t want to go in circles. Teach me the lessons for life so I can stay on track and grow in spiritual maturity.” PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over Why is it so hard for us to wait? What have you learned from the waiting periods of your life? Why is it important to be able to remember how God provided for you in the wilderness? Our Gift: Daring Faith Study Kit Do you want God to do miracles in your life? In this series, Pastor Rick shares why faith is the key to miracles and challenges you to grow and be stretched in your faith so that you can experience God’s blessing, spiritual maturity, answered prayers, and even miracles. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes all complete sermons from the Rick Warren Daring Faith teaching series. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: What Happens When You Have Faith Message 2: ​​​​​How to Get Ready for a Miracle Message 3: Daring to Believe Message 4: Daring to Imagine Message 5: Daring to Give God My Best Message 6: Daring to Plant in Faith Message 7: Daring to Commit Message 8: Daring to Be Generous Message 9: Daring to Wait on God Message 10: Daring to Go In Faith PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at rickwarren.org. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life," read by more than 100 million people in 137 languages. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered across America. This devotional © 2015 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe