“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
If you feel overwhelmed or confused about a decision you’re trying to make, you might be wrapped up in yourself and not listening for God’s voice. The Bible says, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33 NIV). He is not the author of confusion.
When God speaks, it doesn’t create anxiety and worry. In fact, it creates the exact opposite. One sign you’ve heard God’s voice is when you’re in the middle of a storm—everyone else is worried and running around—yet you have a peace you can’t explain. That’s a sure sign you’re hearing from him. His voice gives you peace.
So if you’re feeling confused, guess what? It’s not God’s voice speaking.
If you’re a parent, do you want your kids to feel pressured or confused when you ask them to do something? No. You want them to understand what to do and then respond in obedience. God the Father wants the same thing for and from us.
If you’re feeling some anxiety and pressure, it might be because God’s told you to do something, and you keep saying “no.” That’s when pressure does build. But there’s always peace when you say “yes” to what God’s asking you to do.
Satan wants to drive us compulsively, but God wants to draw us compassionately. Satan wants to take advantage of our compulsions and use them to drive our lives. But God is our Good Shepherd. He wants to draw us in toward himself and experience his peace.
A pastor I deeply respect—the late Peter Lord—used to say, “Ninety percent of what God wants to say to you is encouragement.” If negative messages are all you ever hear from God, something’s wrong. If you can’t sense God’s peace about something as you’re listening to him, or if you feel like God’s told you to do something but you’re increasingly anxious because of it, something’s not right.
The Bible tells us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).
You can count on this: When God speaks, his words bring peace, not anxiety.
Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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