Step Two in Crisis: Focus and Seek God

Current Teaching Series Can You Hear Me Now?

Step Two in Crisis: Focus and Seek God By Rick Warren — Nov 8, 2017 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17 ISV). We’ve all had times of crisis that test everything in life, including our trust in God. Daniel gives us a great blueprint for prayer during these difficult times. We can find six important principles for this in Daniel 9. In the last devotional, we looked at the first of those principles — we let God speak to us before we speak to him. The second step to praying in a way God will answer during a time of crisis is to focus our attention on God and seek him. Daniel did this in Daniel 9:3a: “I turned my face to the Lord God, seeking him” (ESV). This is basic relationship advice that works beyond your relationship with God. You’ll improve any relationship in your life if you physically turn yourself toward the other person and focus on them when they talk to you. Whenever my wife talks with me, I turn my face toward her. I’ve been married for more than 40 years. I can tell you this pays great dividends in our relationship. She loves it, because she knows she has my undivided attention. Turning your face toward someone shows attention. You can do with this God, too. Physically, look up toward the sky. If you can, go outside and look into the heavens as you pray. Physically turning toward God is the first step in truly focusing on him and seeking him, which is vitally important during a crisis (and every other moment of our lives). In Amos 5:4b, God says, “Seek me and live.” (NIV). You’re not really living unless you’re truly seeking God. We’re often in crisis because we’ve stopped seeking the Lord in certain aspects of our lives. To get out of the crisis in life, we have to do things differently. You’re guaranteed success by God when you seek him. He tells us, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17 ISV). PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over How focused would you say you are when it comes to seeking God in every area of your life? Take some time to reflect and decide. What are things you can do to be more consistent and faithful? Where do you find yourself frequently distracted when you pray? Where are you most able to focus fully on God when you pray?

Our Gift: God's Answers to Life's Difficult Questions Get God's answers to life's tough questions! Everyone faces hard decisions in life. And when we do, there's no simple formula for discovering God's answers. But one thing's for sure: you'll never find them if you're looking in the wrong place. Pastor Rick Warren wants to show you how the Bible answers 12 of life's toughest questions in his book, God's Answers to Life's Difficult Questions. You'll learn the answers to questions such as . . . • How can I cope with stress? • How can I rebound from failure? • How can I be confident in a crisis? • How can I overcome loneliness? LEARN MORE

Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes four full-length teaching CD's from Pastor Rick's series Can You Hear Me Now? LEARN MORE

Series Summary Session 1: God Wants to Talk with You Session 2: How God Talks to You Session 3: How to Get Guidance from God Session 4: How to Recognize God's Voice 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, which has been translated into 137 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. 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