You Don’t Need a Plan. You Need ‘I Am.’

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES When You're Hoping for a Miracle

You Don't Need a Plan. You Need 'I Am.' By Rick Warren — Jul 16, 2016 “When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Mark 6:49-50 NIV). You only learn what Jesus is really like in the storms of life. You see that he’s not a mere man. He’s not just a nice teacher. He’s not simply an ethical leader. He is God, the Creator of the universe. In Mark 6, Jesus noticed the disciples were in distress in the middle of a lake as the wind and waves pounded their boat and kept them from making any progress. And so Jesus walked out to them on the water. Verses 49 and 50 say, “When they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid’” (NIV). The disciples had doubted and thought that Jesus was maybe just a nice prophet who could do some miracles. By walking on water, Jesus revealed that he’s far more than a man. He was showing that he’s God. He also gave them a challenge (“Don’t be afraid”) and a reassurance. He said, “It is I.” In the Greek this phrase is actually two words: Ego ima. And ego ima simply means “I Am.” Why is that important? “I Am” is the name of God — not “I was” or “I will be” or “I hope to be.” When Jesus says, “I Am,” he is saying you don’t need to be afraid. You don’t need to sweat it. He is God. And that is enough. If you’re going through a storm right now, you don’t need a job — you need Jesus. You don’t need a plan; you need a person. You don’t need a system; you need a Savior. You don’t need a new goal; you need God. When you’re going through a storm, remember that God is not distant, apathetic, or uninvolved. He is “I Am.” And he will get you through the storm. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What or who do you usually look to save you in a storm? What keeps you from looking to God? What is it that you need from God to get through your storm? Talk to him about it, and then watch for him to provide at just the right time. What have you learned about God through the storms of your life? Our Gift: God's Power to Change Your Life Book God is all about changing lives. He can help you through any struggle you’re facing, and take you from where you are to where you want to be. In God’s Power to Change Your Life, Rick Warren lays the groundwork for personal transformation, offering biblical insights on what it takes to become more loving, live more peacefully, develop patience, and have self-control. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes all complete sermons from the Rick Warren When You're Hoping for a Miracle teaching series. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: ​When You're Running Out of Everything Message 2: ​​​​​​​​​When You Can't See Your Way Clearly Message 3: ​​When You've Come Up Empty Message 4: ​When You Feel You're Sinking Message 5: When A Marriage Has Ended Message 6: ​​When You're Drowning In Debt Message 7: When A Friend is Dying 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