Even Your Flaws Can Bring Glory to God

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES God's Prescription for a Healthy Life

Even Your Flaws Can Bring Glory to God By Rick Warren — Apr 15, 2016 “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it” (Psalm 139:14 NLT, second edition). When people are hurting, they need simple truth, not simplistic truth. It’s not enough to tell someone to pray, read the Bible, or go to church. You have to help them know how to make changes in their lives. And we can’t make changes in our lives until we understand our identity. You cannot become all that God created you to be until you embrace your identity — the unmistakably unique and flawed you that God made for a purpose. You are wonderfully complex (Psalm 139:14). To fulfill God’s purpose for you, you have to look at every dimension of your life and understand five factors that influence your identity. Then, you have to make the most of what you’ve been given. We may have all been given different parents, pains, problems, and potential, but we will all be held accountable one day for what we did with those factors. It’s like a game of five-card stud: You don’t get to mix your cards. You don’t get to choose your cards. You have to play the hand you’re dealt. The first factor that makes you who you are is your chemistry. This is your DNA, your genes, your hormones, your chemical makeup. Some of you were born with hypersensitivity; others have an extremely high tolerance for pain. Some of you have a low energy level; others are bouncing off the walls. Some of you have backs that are prone to fail you, weak eyesight, or brittle bones. Some of you have low levels of oxytocin, a hormone that affects how we relate to other people. No flaw is sinful or shameful — it’s the way God wired you! I bought a pair of distressed jeans once that had a tag that read: “These jeans have intentional flaws in order to make them unique.” Your “genes” are the same way: They have flaws that make you unique. Those flaws are part of your custom design, and God planned them for his purpose and glory. You will never be able to make a change in your life or fulfill God’s purpose for your life until you understand that you are wonderfully complex and uniquely flawed for God’s glory. The question then, is this: What will you do with the hand you’re dealt? PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What are the flaws that make you unique? How can you use those flaws to bring God glory? How does society work against the truth that your flaws have a purpose? Our Gift: The Daniel Plan Study Kit This six-session video-based, small group study from Rick Warren, Dr. Daniel Amen, and Dr. Mark Hyman is centered on five essentials that will launch your journey to health: faith, food, fitness, focus, and friends. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes all complete sermons from the Rick Warren God's Prescription for a Healthy Life teaching series. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: Why We Need Each Other Message 2: ​​​​​​​Getting Your Ship Out of the Harbor Message 3: Setting Goals In Faith Message 4: What It Takes to Really Change Message 5: God's Prescription for Health Message 6: Winning With the Hand You're Dealt Message 7: The Awesome Power of Focus Message 8: The Awesome Power of Forgiveness Message 9: The Awesome Power of 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 © 2016 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