“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22 NIV).
Let’s imagine together that you want to get serious about your physical health. You buy a book about exercise and tell a friend about it. “It’s going to change my life,” you say.
Then six months later you see your friend again, and you’re still in the same shape. “It’s the greatest book I’ve ever read,” you say. “I underlined parts of it, memorized whole sections, and even started a study group about it.”
But you never practiced what the book taught, so it didn’t change you.
Do you find yourself doing the same thing with God’s Word? You may mark your Bible, but do you let your Bible mark you?
The book of James says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22 NIV).
To receive the blessings of the Bible, you have to respond to it and let it change you.
If you haven’t practiced intentionally responding to God’s Word, it might be hard to know where to start. Here are some questions you can ask yourself as you read a passage of Scripture:
Does this show me a sin I need to confess or an attitude I need to change?
Does God give me a command to obey or an example to follow?
Is there a prayer in this passage of Scripture that I can pray for myself or for other people?
Start with these questions. As you put them into practice, you’ll soon find that you’re not the same person.
There’s a translation of the Bible called The Living Bible. That’s what each of us should be—a living Bible. The best translation of Scripture is when you translate it into your life and let it change you.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Build a Firm Foundation of Prayer in the Next Generation!
“Perhaps the most important role you can play in the life of a child is teaching them to trust God through prayer. It’s the key to living with hope.” —Pastor Rick
That’s why it’s so important to strengthen the hope of kids by introducing them to Jesus’ model for prayer at an early age. And we’re excited to help you do that with Pastor Rick’s children’s book, The Lord’s Prayer: Words of Hope and Happiness.
Filled with thoughtful insights from Pastor Rick as well as stunning illustrations from award-winning artist, Richard Jesse Watson, this book brings the poetic scripture from the King James Version alive for readers young and old. It’s sure to become a meaningful bedtime ritual, a treasured memory, and by God’s grace, a legacy that bears good fruit for generations to come.
This book is a perfect way to share the beauty and richness of The Lord’s Prayer with the children the Lord has placed in your life. And it’s our thanks for your gift below to help Daily Hope take the Good News to more people everywhere. So please request a copy for yourself or a friend today, and thanks for your generosity!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
