God’s Gifts for Now

Current Teaching Series Building My Life on Values That Last

God's Gifts for Now Rick Warren — June 16, 2018 "If God gives us wealth and property and lets us enjoy them, we should be grateful and enjoy what we have worked for. It is a gift from God" (Ecclesiastes 5:19 GNT). The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:17 that God "richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (NIV). That's the kind of God we serve. He gave us the world for our enjoyment! But here's the problem: We're so busy getting more that we don't enjoy what we've got. One of my favorite things to do is watch the sunrise from the slope in our yard. I put a deck chair out there almost 20 years ago. I think I bought it at Target, so it's not expensive. It's faded, and a couple of its slats are broken. I love to sit in that ratty, old chair and watch the sun come up. It gives me great pleasure! Would I have any more joy watching the sunrise if I were sitting in a diamond-encrusted Barcalounger instead of a ratty chair from Target? No. It would not increase my joy one bit. In fact, there is an advantage to not having a diamond-encrusted Barcalounger. It's better to have a ratty chair on the slope. Why? Because nobody steals it! You need to ask yourself, "What am I not enjoying right now?" Most of us get into what I call "when and then" thinking — "When this happens, then I'll be happy." "When I get a boyfriend, then I'll be happy." "When I get married, then I'll be happy." "When I have kids, then I'll be happy." "When my kids go off to school, then I'll be happy." "When I get married again, then I'll be happy." You are as happy as you choose to be. Happiness is a choice! If you're not happy now, you're not going to be happy later. I could take you to some of the worst places in the world and show you two people living right next door to each other. One is miserable, and one is happy. Why? Happiness has nothing to do with your circumstances. It has everything to do with your attitude. If you're not happy living on what you're living on right now, I can guarantee you that you're not going to be happy with any more. Because you're always going to want a little bit more. Happiness is a choice. Choose to enjoy what God has given you right now for your enjoyment!PLAY today's audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk About It What has God blessed you with that you have not been enjoying to the fullest? What have you been waiting on to be happy? If happiness is a choice, why do people choose to be unhappy?

Our Gift: Building My Life on Values That Last In a world where what's true and right seems to shift every day, it's no wonder many people lead confused, unsatisfied lives. Building My Life on Values That Last reveals what God has to say about how you can . . . • Be responsible • Practice self-control • Find balance • Show respect • Give and receive forgiveness • Live honestly • And love completely LEARN MORE

Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes 9 full-length teaching CDs from Pastor Rick's series Building My Life on Values That Last LEARN MORE

Series Summary Session 1: Choosing My Standards Session 2: Accepting Responsibiilty Session 3: Developing Trust Session 4: Developing Self-Control Session 5: The Balanced Life Session 6: Showing Respect Session 7: Offering Forgiveness Session 8: Maintaining Moral Purity Session 9: Showing Fairness 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 © 2018 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