Focusing on God’s Purpose Leaves Little Time for Envy

Current Teaching Series 40 Days of Love

Focusing on God's Purpose Leaves Little Time for Envy By Rick Warren — Jul 10, 2017 “Let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1b TLB). When you start to get concerned about something God is doing in another person’s life and envy starts to build, focus on the plan God has for your life. Don’t get distracted — center in on God’s will for your life. There’s a simple phrase in the story of the vineyard workers that the owner says to those who were grumbling about not getting what they deserved: “Take your money and go!” (Matthew 20:14a GW). He’s basically saying to those who can’t get past their envy, “It’s time to move on now. Quit having a pity party. Just get over it!” Sometimes we get stuck in the past. Maybe you still envy the person who got to be prom king or queen. But why should you let what someone else got keep you from God’s plan for your life right now? Hebrews 12:1b says, “Let us run with patience the particular race that God has set before us” (TLB). The “particular” race means your unique race — the race that is only for you. God has a plan that he wants you to pursue that is unlike anyone else’s. He planned it for you before you were even born, and it includes better things than you could ever dream for yourself. Once you begin to discover and pursue the unique purpose that God has for your life, you won’t envy anyone anymore. You’re released from the tyranny of having to be best all the time. You just have to be the best you can be, the person God made you to be. When you get focused like this on God’s particular race for you, you’ll be so caught up in what he wants you to do that you won’t have time for envy. You’ll be living your life for an audience of one. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over Why is there freedom in living life for an audience of one? How do you know what God’s purpose is for your life? What experience from your past may be keeping you from pursuing God’s will for you right now?

Our Gift: 40 Days of Love Study Kit Learn to love like Jesus! Pastor Rick wants to show you what it really means to love others like Jesus with his six-session study kit, 40 Days of Love. With a teaching DVD and study guide workbook, 40 Days of Love is a powerful resource for personal study or small groups. It will help you… • Make loving God and others your highest priority • Find true rest in forgiveness • Build healthier relationships • Love more authentically, even when it's difficult LEARN MORE

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Series Summary Session 1: It's All About Love Session 2: Love Matters Most Session 3: Loving Like Jesus Loves Me Session 4: Love Lets It Go Session 5: Love Is Not Easily Angered Session 6: The Secrets of Lasting Love 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 around the world. This devotional © 2017 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