Rick Warren (April-08-2021) Daily Devotional: Be a Promise Person
“The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” – Psalm 118:6 (NLT)
God is calling you—as his child—to be a promise person.
What’s a promise person? It’s simply someone who chooses to focus on God and his promises.
If you try to do anything of value in life, naysayers eventually will come your way. They might ridicule you, spread rumors about you, or even threaten you.
But don’t focus on the naysayers or even on your problems. Focus on God and his promises. Become a promise person.
The Bible tells us how Jesus responded to criticism: “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23 NIV).
When a naysayer comes your way, don’t head to a co-worker or friend to gossip. Instead, entrust yourself to God and his promises. Pray, “Lord, I know you love me. I know you have a plan for my life. I’m going to trust you.”
King David said it like this: “The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?” (Psalm 118:6 NLT).
People can dislike you—but it won’t harm you. You don’t need anyone else’s approval to be happy. You will be as happy as you choose to be. You don’t need approval from a parent, sibling, or friend. The Lord is for you. And his is the only opinion that matters.
In Psalm 119:11, David writes, “I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart” (The Message).
That’s what you need to do. Stop storing up in your mind all the negativity that comes your way. Instead, become a promise person. Bank on the promises of God. And trust he will do exactly what he says he will do.
Talk It Over
- If it’s true that “you’re as happy as you choose to be,” why aren’t more people happy?
- What are some promises from God that are helpful when you face naysayers?
- Whose approval have you struggled most to get in your life? Why have you longed for that person’s approval? Ask God to help you look only to God for approval.
May the word of God in the above Rick Warren sermons bring out the best in us to the continuous glory of the name of God.