Don’t Be Distracted from the Work God Has for You

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES God's Vision For the Rest of Your Life

Don't Be Distracted from the Work God Has for You By Rick Warren — Sep 21, 2016 “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 TLB). I have met thousands of people who’ve told me they want to be used by God, but they will never be used by God. Why? They’re too busy. They’ve got their own agenda going. They’ve got their plans and dreams and ambitions, and they don’t have any time! In the midst of their busyness, they try to carve out a little sliver from the pie of life and say, “I’ll give this to God.” But it doesn’t work that way. If you’re serious about being used by God, you have to say, “Lord, what do I need to let go of? What do I need to cut out? What are the barriers that are holding me back, that are keeping me from running the race you have for me?” There are lots of different barriers that will hold you back from God’s plan for your life. One of the big ones is distractions. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the kingdom of God” (TLB). Here are a few of the many things that could distract you from your life mission: The expectations of other people. You’ve got to decide who you’re going to please first in life. You can only have one number one. Hobbies. There’s nothing wrong with these things. But if they distract you from the most important things, then you need to let go of them. Your past. Some of you refuse to let go of your past — whether it’s guilt or resentment or grief. But if you’re stuck in the past, you cannot get on with the present, and you certainly can’t get on with God’s future for you. Your past is past. It’s over! You need to let it go. What do you need to let go of? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is helpful” (HCSB). What does that mean? It means this: A lot of things aren’t necessarily wrong; they’re just not necessary. Life is often a choice between “Am I going to do something good?” or “Am I going to do what’s best?” If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy. He’ll get you so busy that you don’t have time for the important stuff — time alone with God, ministry, and mission. You need to simplify your life and eliminate distractions so God can use you. Don’t try to do it all. Do what matters most! PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What are the most important things in your life? Think of some of the good things that you’ve put first in your life. How have they distracted you from God’s mission for you and the most important things? Why do you think we’re so easily distracted by seemingly good things that are not God’s best for us? Our Gift: God's Vision For The Rest of Your Life Complete Audio Series Do you want God’s vision for your life? Join Pastor Rick for this series as he walks through the ways to embrace and remember what God has done in the past. Learn to grow in wisdom here in the present, and to make resolutions for the future that will help you become who God created you to be. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes six full length teaching CD's from Pastor Rick's series God's Vision For the Rest of Your Life. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: ​​Choosing Your Future Message 2: ​​​​​​​​​​Learning to Live Wisely Message 3: ​​​Embracing the Vision Message 4: ​​Why You Need a Church Family Message 5: Enabling the Vision Message 6: ​​How to Get Ready to Be Used By God 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 pastorrick.com. 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