“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
When you accept God’s gift of salvation, you don’t have to depend on willpower anymore to change. You’ve got God’s power. He gives you new energy, new strength, and new capacity.
How many times have you tried to change things in your life, but it hasn’t worked? We set New Year’s resolutions that only last about a week, maybe a month. Why? Because willpower doesn’t work. Willpower runs out.
You don’t need willpower. You need God’s power!
Romans 5:5 says, “God has poured out his love into our hearts by means of the Holy Spirit, who is God’s gift to us” (GNT).
God has poured himself out for us through the Holy Spirit. That means he’s not only going to help you. He’s not only going to be around you. He’s not only going to be with you and working on you. He’s going to be working in you. He’s going to put his Spirit inside of you. That’s what happens when you receive God’s Christmas gift, Jesus Christ.
When we try to change on our own, we get tired, and we give up. But it’s God who gives you the power to start over when you’ve blown it. God gives you the power to make changes you can’t make on your own. God gives you the ability you need. And God gives you the power to keep going.
It’s about trusting, not trying.
Don’t ever try to motivate yourself to change simply out of guilt. It doesn’t work. You don’t need guilt in your life; you need God’s grace. You don’t need legalism; you need love. Love is what changes us. The more you’re filled with God’s love, the more power you have to change.
The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (NLT).
Would you like more power? More love? More self-discipline? Then you need to get God’s Spirit in your life by accepting his gift of Jesus this Christmas.
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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