[Take the Next Step of Faith]( Current Teaching Series [50 Days of Faith]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [Take the Next Step of Faith](
By Rick Warren â 09/12/2023 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= âAnd Jesus said to him, âGo; your faith has made you well.â And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.â 10:52 (NASB) I donât know what step you need to take next, but I do know that you need to take it. Your next step may be to accept Jesus Christ into your life or to be baptized. Maybe you need to join a church, show more gratitude, go on a mission trip, be generous with someone in need, take time to rest, or choose to rely on God instead of yourself. I donât know what your next step is, but I do know this: You have one. God will never be finished taking you deeper in faith. There is always a next step. If you donât take the next step, youâre going to get stuck in a rut. And the only difference between a grave and a rut is the length. If you donât move forward in faith, your heart will grow cold, and you grow more distant from God. He isnât going to help you with steps two, three, four, or five until you take step one. If youâre asking God to help you with something, he may be asking you, âWhy havenât you done what Iâve already told you to do?â You may have been planning to do something. Stop planning and just do it. Bartimaeus was a blind man who called out to Jesus in faith, believing that Jesus could heal him. Before Bartimaeus met Jesus, he was sitting beside the road. After he received his sight from the Lord, he âbegan following Him on the roadâ (Mark 10:52 NASB). Which of those two phrases describes your life: sitting beside the road or following Jesus on the road? Which of those two lifestyles do you think is more fulfilling? Which do you think offers more joy, more meaning, and more satisfaction? Which one do you want to represent your life? Thereâs only one way to follow Jesus on the road: Take the next step. Faith is more than believing. Faith is more than thinking, talking, or having convictions about Jesus. Faith is action. It is movement; it is activity. Faith is something you do. In fact, the Bible says in James 2:14, âIf people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothingâ (NCV).  Where do you get the faith to make a fresh start? Thereâs only one source: Jesus Christ. âEverything that we haveâright thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh startâcomes from God by way of Jesus Christâ (1 Corinthians 1:30 MSG). Bartimaeus had no idea that Jesus Christ was going to pass his way that day. To him, it was just another day. But God gave him an unexpected opportunity that offered him a fresh start. God is giving you the same opportunity. Donât delay. Take your next step of faith before the opportunity passes you by. [PLAY todayâs audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - Are you sitting beside the road or following Jesus on the road today?
- What are you waiting on in order to take the next step of faith in your life? What excuse have you been using to procrastinate?
- What ânext stepâ will you take today to move forward in faith and follow Jesus? Take the Next Step of Salvation Is the next step for you to accept Jesus into your life? No matter what youâve done or where youâve been, youâve got a place in Godâs forever family, ready and waiting for you. The invitation is wide open. Just believe and receive. Are you ready? Hereâs a prayer you can start with: âDear God, I know when I die, Iâm going to give an account of my life to you. I know I have sinned against you, and I have lived by my plan, not yours. I want that to change, starting right now. I want to take the step of turning away from my sins and toward you. âThank you for sending Jesus to die for all that Iâve done wrong so that I donât have to pay the penalty. I know I donât deserve your forgiveness. I know only your grace can save me, Lord. I could never be good enough to get into a perfect place. âJesus, thank you for loving me so much that you took all my guilt on yourself. You made me acceptable for heaven, and I humbly ask you to save me. I believe in you, Jesus. And I believe you will keep your promise to save me instantly, certainly, completely, and eternally. In Jesusâ name. Amen.â If you prayed the prayer above, please write and tell me at Rick@PastorRick.com. Iâd like to send you some materials as you begin your journey with Jesus. The post [Take the Next Step of Faith]( appeared first on [Pastor Rick's Daily Hope](. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= [Get the Created to Dream Study Kit when you give a gift to support Daily Hope!]( Like so many people today, you may find yourself feeling stuck, forgotten, afraid, or just uninspired. But the truth is that God has an incredible dream for your life just waiting to be discovered! And we want to help you find and fulfill it with Pastor Rickâs 6-week video-based Bible study, Created to Dream. Join Pastor Rick as he personally leads you on an exciting journey of discovery and growth that will build your faith and equip you to pursue the unique calling God has just for you. Created to Dream comes as our special thanks for your gift below to reach more people with the hope of Christ through Daily Hope. [LEARN MORE]( [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)]( Includes 7 full-length messages from Pastor Rick's series 50 Days of Faith. [LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: Expecting the Best
Message 2: Stretching My Imagination
Message 3: Taking the Initiative
Message 4: Persisting in Faith
Message 5: God's Way of Meeting My Needs
Message 6: Following God's Directions
Message 7: How to Keep on Believing [PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST]( Pastor Rick Warren [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Linkedin]( Enjoy today's devotional? Listen to Pastor Rickâs daily audio teaching at [PastorRick.com]( Did someone forward this devotional to you? [Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional.]( Rick Warren is the founding pastor of [Saddleback Church]( one of Americaâs largest and most influential churches. Pastor Rick is the author of the New York Times bestseller [The Purpose Driven Life](. His book [The Purpose Driven Church]( was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. Pastor Rick created [The PEACE Plan]( to address the five global giantsâspiritual emptiness, self-serving leadership, poverty, disease, and illiteracyâthrough the power of ordinary people in the local church. His Daily Hope broadcast and daily devotionals are offered around the world. You can listen to the broadcast or sign up for the free devotionals at [PastorRick.com](. © 2023 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe by clicking the link below.
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