“The fact that earth is not our ultimate home explains why, as followers of Jesus, we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection in this world.11 It also explains why some of God’s promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers seem unanswered, and some circumstances seem unfair. This is not the end of the story. In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life — longings that will never be fulfilled on this side of eternity. We’re not completely happy here because we’re not supposed to be! Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better.”
―
Rick Warren
“When God wants to make a mushroom, he does it overnight, but when He wants to make a giant oak, He takes a hundred years. Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering. Be patient with the process.”
―
Rick Warren
“You focus your attention on a single truth from the Bible and then continue to think about it throughout your day.”
―
Rick Warren
“We must care about unbelievers because God does. Love leaves no choice. The Bible says, “There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear.”18 A parent will run into a burning building to save a child because their love for that child is greater than their fear.”
―
Rick Warren
“Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life. When you fully understand this truth, you will never again have a problem with feeling insignificant. It proves your worth. If you are that important to God, and he considers you valuable enough to keep with him for eternity, what greater significance could you have?”
―
Rick Warren
“«En la medida en que el Espíritu del Señor opera en nosotros, nos parecemos más a él y reflejamos más su gloria». 2 Corintios 3:18 (BAD).
―
Rick Warren
“your character is the sum total of your habits. You can’t claim to be kind unless you are habitually kind — you show kindness without even thinking about it. You can’t claim to have integrity unless it is your habit to always be honest.”
―
Rick Warren
“William James said, “The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.”
―
Rick Warren
“Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).”
―
Rick Warren
“Cuando entiendes que la vida es una prueba, te das cuenta de que nada es insignificante para ti. Aun los percances más pequeños tienen significado para el desarrollo de tu carácter. Cada día es importante y cada segundo es una oportunidad para hacer crecer y profundizar tu carácter, para demostrar amor y depender de Dios. Algunas pruebas parecen abrumadoras y otras ni siquiera las sientes. Pero todas ellas tienen implicaciones eternas. Lo bueno es que Dios desea que sobrepases las pruebas de la vida, y él nunca permite que las que enfrentas sean mayores que la gracia que él te otorga para sobrellevarlas. La Escritura dice: «Pero Dios es fiel, y no permitirá que ustedes sean tentados más allá de lo que puedan aguantar. Más bien, cuando llegue la tentación, él les dará también una salida a fin de que puedan resistir».3 Cada vez que superas una prueba, Dios toma nota y hace planes para recompensarte en la eternidad. Santiago dice: «Dichoso el que resiste la tentación porque, al salir aprobado, recibirá la corona de la vida que Dios ha prometido a quienes lo aman».
―
Rick Warren
“Give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purposes. ROMANS 6:13 TEV”
―
Rick Warren
“We accept our humanity intellectually, but not emotionally. When faced with our own limitations, we react with irritation, anger, and resentment. We want to be taller (or shorter), smarter, stronger, more talented, more beautiful, and wealthier. We want to have it all and do it all, and we become upset when it doesn’t happen. Then when we notice that God gave others characteristics we don’t have, we respond with envy, jealousy, and self-pity.”
―
Rick Warren
“God never does anything accidentally...”
―
Rick Warren
“The most difficult area to surrender for many people is their money. Many have thought, “I want to live for God but I also want to earn enough money to live comfortably and retire someday.” Retirement is not the goal of a surrendered life, because it competes with God for the primary attention of our lives. Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and money”
―
Rick Warren
“The Bible says, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.”1 Our English word poem comes from the Greek word translated “workmanship.” You are God’s handcrafted work of art. You are not an assembly-line product, mass produced without thought. You are a custom-designed, one-of-a-kind, original masterpiece.”
―
Rick Warren
