[Godâs Plan Is Good, but Not Always Convenient]( Current Teaching Series [Jesus Came to Light Up Your Life]( [Listen to Today's Broadcast]( [Godâs Plan Is Good, but Not Always Convenient](
By Rick Warren â 12/18/2023 [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Email](mailto:?subject=I'd%20like%20to%20share%20a%20Daily%20Devotional%20from%20Pastor%20Rick%20with%20you&body= âJoseph went from Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a Judean city called Bethlehem . . . Joseph went there to register with Mary. She had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her child.â Luke 2:4-6 (GW) Godâs plan for your life is good. Itâs for your benefit. Itâs a loving plan. But it doesnât mean itâs painless, and it doesnât mean itâll always be convenient. This was particularly true with Jesusâ birth. The circumstances were hardly convenient for Mary and Joseph. The Bible tells us, âAt that time, the Emperor Augustus ordered a census of the Roman Empire . . . So Joseph went from Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to a Judean city called Bethlehem . . . Joseph went there to register with Mary. She had been promised to him in marriage and was pregnant. While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have her childâ (Luke 2:1, 4-6 GW). As they prepared to face their role as parents to the Son of God, Mary and Joseph heard that Caesar issued a census, and everybody had to go back to their ancestral town. Letâs put that in perspective: If tomorrow the government made a rule that required every single person to go back to the town they were fromâall at the same timeâit would cause chaos! Every plane, train, and automobile would be booked. Every highway would be filled. It would be incredibly frustrating and remarkably inconvenient. Now try navigating that chaos nine months pregnant. Imagine how inconvenient it would be to travel by donkey to another city when youâre ready to give birth at any moment. Thatâs what Mary did. Then, when she finally got to Bethlehem, she had to deliver her baby in a barn, surrounded by a bunch of animals. None of the circumstances around Jesusâ birth were convenient. But they were part of Godâs plan. It had been long foretold that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. The inconveniences to get them there were part of a bigger plan for Joseph and Mary, one that was better than they could have ever dreamed. Joseph and Mary trusted God through their discomfort and fear. You, too, can trust that all the things God does in your life are because he knows best. He might use some inconveniences to get you where you need to be, but he is always working for your good and working out his purposes in your life. [PLAY todayâs audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>]( Talk It Over - What inconveniences has God used to get you where you needed to be?
- What character traits do you think God is trying to grow in you when you face obstacles and inconveniences?
- Do you know what your purpose isâthe reason God put you on this earth? How has he provided for you so that you can pursue his purpose for you? The post [Godâs Plan Is Good, but Not Always Convenient]( 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 Daily Hope Prayer Journal when you give a gift to support Daily Hope!]( God uses your generous support to reach people around the world with the hope of Jesus through Daily Hopeâand for a limited time, your gift will be doubled thanks to a $100,000 Matching Grant! And weâll say thanks for your generosity by sending you a powerful tool to give your prayer life a boost in the year aheadâthe brand-new Daily Hope Prayer Journal! This yearâs theme, Experiencing Godâs Peace will help you tap into Godâs power and presence as you discover the keys to praying with passion and purpose. Featuring a soft-touch cover and 235 beautifully designed pages, this journal brings you over 150 life-changing Bible verses, stunning photos, and beautiful artwork. Youâll discover how to have a more vibrant prayer life, connect with the Lord, and establish a consistent daily prayer time. [GIVE NOW]( [Complete Audio Series (Purchase)]( Includes 3 full-length message from Pastor Rick's series Jesus Came to Light Up Your Life. [LEARN MORE]( [Series Summary]( Message 1: When God Changes Your Plans
Message 2: Jesus Came to Light Up Your Life
Message 3: The Purpose of Christmas [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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