Focus on Pleasing God, Not People

Current Teaching Series God's Vision for the Rest of Your Life

Focus on Pleasing God, Not People By Rick Warren — September 6, 2018 "Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts" (1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT). God did not make you to be what somebody else wants you to be. God didn't make you to be what your parents want you to be, what your girlfriend or boyfriend wants you to be, what your spouse wants you to be, or what your boss or your friends want you to be. God made you to be you. If you're going to become all you can be, you have to refuse to be defined by others. Hebrews 11:24 says, "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter" (NIV). Moses had an identity crisis. He was born a Hebrew slave but raised as Egyptian royalty, the grandson of Pharaoh. When he grew up, he faced two options: He could pretend to be Pharaoh's grandson for the rest of his life and live a life of luxury and fame and power. Or he could admit who he really was: a Jew. If he admitted who he really was, his family would kick him out to live with slaves the rest of his life. He would be disgraced and humiliated and live a life of pain and drudgery. Which would you choose? Most people today are living lies. They're trying to be people they're not. But Moses refused to live a lie because he was a man of integrity. He insisted on being who God made him to be despite all kinds of peer pressure. Here's my question for you: Who are you letting determine your identity? Is it your friends and family? Maybe you have parents who died years ago, but you're still trying to live up to their vision for your life. Perhaps you are hanging on to what your ex-husband or ex-wife said to you, and you're trying to prove that person wrong. Or maybe you are trying to keep up with what social media and culture and the competition all say you should be. But the Bible says this: "Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts" (1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT). The first resolution you need to make is this: "I resolve that I will no longer let other people press me into their mold. I'm going to be what God wants me to be. I'm going to do what God wants me to do, and I'm going to fulfill the plan that God has for my life, not somebody else's plan for my life." Friend, that is real success. Real success in life is being exactly who you were created to be and nothing more.PLAY today's audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk About It Who or what is attempting to shape your identity by pressuring you to be someone or something you are not? Spend some time writing down who you are in Jesus Christ. How does he define your identity? How can you discover exactly who God made you to be?

Our Gift: The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? God wants you to live your life in the way he designed it to be lived. He wants you to know what works best in your relationships, at work, with your health—and how to maintain peace and balance in your life. This valuable resource can help you: • Understand how much God loves you • Believe that God wants you to succeed • Embrace the meaning and purpose of your life • Prepare you for eternity LEARN MORE

Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes 6 full-length teaching CDs from Pastor Rick's series God's Vision for the Rest of Your Life. LEARN MORE

Series Summary Session 1: Choosing Your Future Session 2: Learning to Live Wisely Session 3: Embracing the Vision (The Purpose Driven Life) Session 4: Why You Need a Church Family Session 5: Enabling the Vision (Purpose Driven Giving Session 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, 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