Make Your Decisions Using the Light of God’s Word

[Make Your Decisions Using the Light of God’s Word](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) Current Teaching Series [40 Days in the Word](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) [Listen to Today's Broadcast](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) [Make Your Decisions Using the Light of God’s Word](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) By Rick Warren — April 27, 2020 [Facebook](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) [Twitter](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) [Pinterest](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) [Email](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) [Devotional image from Rick Warren](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NIV) There’s no doubt about it. Today we’re faced with more decisions than ever before. We live in a multiple-choice culture. And decisions are significant. Sometimes even little decisions are like the hinges that let a giant door swing—they seem so small but can completely change the direction of your life. When I was in college, I decided at the last minute to go to a meeting. I arrived late and sat in the back row. The only other person in that row was a woman named Kay. After the meeting, I asked her out on a date. And eight days later we were engaged. A seemingly insignificant decision shaped the direction of my whole life. Since decisions matter so much, we must be wise in how we make them. The book of Proverbs says: “If you want better insight and discernment . . . learn the importance of reverence for the Lord and of trusting him . . . He shows how to distinguish right from wrong, how to find the right decision every time” (Proverbs 2:3-5, 9 TLB). How do you listen to God when making a decision? Look at his Word. I like to call this the Ideal Test. Do your decisions and actions line up with God’s will? Are they in harmony with God’s Word? You have two choices about who your ultimate authority will be: the world or God’s Word—what other people say or what God says. If you base your decisions on current popular opinion, you’ll always be on shaky ground because culture changes every day. On the other hand, if you base your decisions on God’s Word, you’ll have a solid foundation because his truth never changes. Recently I went up into the attic of our house. The attic light had burned out. I was walking around in the dark and kept bumping my head. “I need a flashlight,” I thought. Sometimes when you’re making a decision, you may feel like you’re bumping around in the dark. Fortunately, God’s given you a flashlight: the Bible. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (NIV). And when the light of God’s Word makes your choice clear, just obey—even if you don’t understand. I don’t understand electricity, but that doesn’t stop me from turning on lights and watching my television. I don’t understand the physics of internal combustion, but I still drive a car. You don’t need to understand why God says what he does in the Bible to benefit from it. You just need to obey his instruction and follow his principles. He gives his instructions for your benefit, and you’ll be blessed as a result of following them. [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) Talk About It - What seemingly insignificant decision in your life has ended up being like a small hinge that swung open a giant door? - Have you been making decisions based on the world’s advice or God’s Word? What’s one step you can make today to look to God’s Word in your decision-making? - Think of one particular decision you need to make. Spend some time looking through God’s Word and see what he has to say about it. [Facebook](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) [Twitter](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) [Pinterest](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) [Email](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r [Get 40 Days in the Word Study Kit when you give a gift to support Daily Hope](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) Pastor Rick Warren shows you how to get more out of God’s Word and grow closer to Jesus in his 40 Days in the Word study kit. Through an in-depth 200-page study guide and six-part DVD teaching video, you’ll learn • How to dig deeper during your devotional time • The key to memorizing Scripture and making it stick • How to apply the Bible in every area of your life [LEARN MORE](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) Includes 7 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series 40 Days in the Word. [LEARN MORE](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r [Series Summary](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) Message 1: Building My Life on the Bible Message 2: Why Can I Trust the Bible? Message 3: How the Bible Changes Us Message 4: Seeing What God Wants Me to See Message 5: How to Study a Bible Passage Message 6: Understanding the Meaning of a Biblical Text Message 7: Integrating God's Word into My Life [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r)[Twitter](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) [Instagram](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) [Linkedin](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) As the founding pastor of Saddleback Church with his wife Kay, Dr. Rick Warren leads a 30,000-member congregation in California with campuses in major cities around the world. As an author, his book [The Purpose Driven Life](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r) is one of the best-selling nonfiction books in publishing history. It has been translated into 74 languages and sold more than 50 million copies in all formats. His book The Purpose Driven Church was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the century. Rick also founded The PEACE Plan to address five global issues—spiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracy—through the power of ordinary people in the local church. You can listen to Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope, his daily 25-minute audio teaching, and sign up for his free daily devotionals at [PastorRick.com](JPFMHlbrN:m:1:2618166767:498F42CF25B06E37E7F343D17348F852:r). © 2020 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. This message was intended for: {EMAIL} You were added to the system December 23, 2016. For more information [click here](. [Unsubscribe](