Be in Constant Communion with God

[Be in Constant Communion with God](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) Current Teaching Series [Living in the Goodness of God](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) [Listen to Today's Broadcast](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) [Be in Constant Communion with God](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) By Rick Warren — February 16, 2019 [Facebook](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) [Twitter](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) [Pinterest](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) [Email](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) [Devotional image from Rick Warren](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) “Never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NLT). You will never develop a close relationship with God by just attending church once a week or even by just having a daily quiet time. Friendship with God is built by sharing all your life experiences with him. Of course it is important to establish the habit of a daily devotional time with God, but God wants more than an appointment in your schedule. He wants to be included in every activity, every conversation, every problem, and even every thought. You can carry on a continuous, open-ended conversation with God throughout your day, talking with him about whatever you are doing or thinking at that moment. The habit of “praying without ceasing” from 1 Thessalonians 5:17 means conversing with God while shopping, driving, working, or performing any other everyday task. A common misconception is that “spending time with God” means being alone with him. Of course, as Jesus modeled, you need time alone with God, but that is only a fraction of your waking hours. Everything you do can be “spending time with God” if he is invited to be a part of it and you stay aware of his presence. The classic book on learning how to develop a constant conversation with God is Practicing the Presence of God, written in the 17th century by Brother Lawrence, a humble cook in a French monastery. Brother Lawrence was able to turn even the most commonplace and menial tasks—like preparing meals and washing dishes—into acts of praise and communion with God. The key to friendship with God, he said, is not changing what you do, but changing your attitude toward what you do. What you normally do for yourself, you begin doing for God, whether it is eating, bathing, working, relaxing, or taking out the trash. Today we often feel we must “get away” from our daily routine in order to worship God, but that is only because we haven’t learned to practice his presence all the time. Brother Lawrence found it easy to worship God through the common tasks of life; he didn’t have to go away for special spiritual retreats. This is God’s ideal. In Eden, worship was not an event to attend, but a perpetual attitude; Adam and Eve were in constant communion with God. Since God is with you all the time, no place is any closer to God than the place where you are right now. The Bible says, “He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything” (Ephesians 4:6 NCV).[PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) Talk About It - Have you wished that you could “get away” and have time alone with God? How can you change your attitude and posture toward God today so that this day has the same effect as a spiritual retreat? - As you go through your day, do you feel God’s presence more at one time than another? Why? - Which of your daily tasks is most difficult to see as an opportunity to worship God? Why? [Facebook](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) [Twitter](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) [Pinterest](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) [Email](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r [Our Gift: Living in the Goodness of God Guided Experience](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) Is God really good all the time? Absolutely, but too often we don’t live like we believe it. This in-depth guided experience is much more than a Bible study. It’s a spiritual growth tool that will show you how to trust God, apply his Word, and live in his goodness every day of your life. This book has a soft leather like cover and has 285 full color interior pages packed with Pastor Rick’s teaching, Bible verses, graphic artwork, photos and exercises all designed to help you learn how to truly live in God’s goodness. God wants to give you the confidence of his goodness, even on your darkest days. [LEARN MORE](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) Includes 12 full-length teaching CDs from Pastor Rick's series Living in the Goodness of God. [LEARN MORE](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r [Series Summary](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) Message 1: Is God Really Good All the Time? Message 2: Letting God Meet My Needs Message 3: Relaxing in God’s Goodness Message 4: How God’s Goodness Can Restore You Message 5: How to Be Led by God’s Spirit Message 6: The God of My Valleys Message 7: How Jesus Treats His Sheep Message 8: How God Lifts Me Up When I’m Worn Down Message 9: Living an Anointed Life Message 10: From Overwhelmed to Overflowing Message 11: Why You Don’t Need to Fear Your Future Message 12: Heaven: God’s Eternal Goodness to You [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r)[Twitter](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) [Instagram](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) [Linkedin](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) Enjoy today's Devotional? [Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio.](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r) This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at [pastorrick.com](JwoIvIYN_:m:1:2618166767:00C81F4803B87C0F51F7BBCCEA856FBE:r). 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. This message was intended for: {EMAIL} You were added to the system December 23, 2016. [Unsubscribe](