Simplify Your Life to Do God’s Work

[Simplify Your Life to Do God’s Work]( Current Teaching Series [God's Vision for the Rest of Your Life]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [Simplify Your Life to Do God’s Work]( By Rick Warren — 12/17/2021 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email]( “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 (TLB) Thousands of people have told me that, though they want to be used by God, they’re too busy. They’ve got their own agendas. They have their plans and dreams and ambitions, and they don’t have any time to give to God. If you’re serious about being used by God, say, “Lord, what do I need to let go of? What do I need to cut out? What barriers are holding me back, keeping me from running the race you have planned for me?” One of the biggest barriers is distractions. Jesus said in Luke 9:62, “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God” (TLB). Here are a few of the many things that might be distracting you from your life mission: The expectations of other people. You’ve got to decide who you’re going to please first in life. You can only have one “number one.” Hobbies. There’s nothing wrong with having hobbies. But if they distract you from the most important things, then you need to let them go. Your past. Maybe you haven’t let go of your past, and you’re holding on to guilt, resentment, or grief. Here’s the problem with that: When you’re stuck in the past, you can’t get on with the present—and you certainly can’t get on with God’s future for you. Your past is past. It’s over! So let it go. What do you need to let go of? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “‘Everything is permissible,’ but not everything is helpful” (HCSB). What does that mean? Many things aren’t necessarily wrong; they’re just not necessary. Life is often a choice between “Am I going to do something good?” or “Am I going to do what’s best?” If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy. He’ll get you so busy that you don’t have time for the important things—ministry, mission, and time alone with God. You can’t do it all. So do what matters most! Simplify your life and eliminate distractions so God can use you. [PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - What are the most important things in your life? - Think of some of the good things that you’ve put first in your life. Have any of them distracted you from God’s best for your life? - Why do you think it’s so easy to be distracted by seemingly good things that are not God’s best? Make God your “number one” today Have you lived such a distracted life that you’ve never stopped to take care of the most important thing—your salvation? If you’re ready to set aside those distractions and live for Jesus, start by praying this: “Dear God, I want to have a real, deep, and abiding faith in you and live for what matters. I confess that I have sinned and lived a life full of distractions. I need your forgiveness and mercy. Thank you for loving me so much that you sent Jesus to die for my sins, so that I can be forgiven. “Jesus, you promised that anyone who believes in you will not perish but have everlasting life and eternity with you in heaven. I believe in you and accept you as my Lord and Savior. I want to follow you and spend the rest of my life serving you. Amen.” If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at Rick@PastorRick.com and let me know. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus. The post [Simplify Your Life to Do God’s Work]( appeared first on [Pastor Rick's Daily Hope](. 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[LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: Choosing Your Future Message 2: Learning to Live Wisely Message 3: Embracing the Vision Message 4: Why You Need a Church Family Message 5: Enabling the Vision Message 6: How to Get Ready to be Used by God [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST]( Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Linkedin]( Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rick’s daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com]( Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.]( 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]( 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](. © 2021 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below. Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, 23182 Arroyo Vista, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, United States