Your Commitments Shape Your Life

“Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives we should be living!” (2 Peter 3:11 TLB)

You don’t have to understand all the implications of your decision when you choose to follow Jesus. You simply need to respond to his invitation and make a commitment to follow Christ.

Your commitments shape your life more than anything else. Your commitments can develop you or they can destroy you, but either way, they will define you.

Tell me what you’re committed to, and I’ll tell you what you’ll be in 20 years, because we become whatever we’re committed to.

It is at this point of commitment that most people miss God’s purpose for their lives. Many are afraid to commit to anything, and they just drift through life. Others make half-hearted commitments to competing values, which leads to frustration and mediocrity. Others make a full commitment to worldly goals, such as becoming wealthy or famous, and they end up disappointed and bitter.

Every choice has eternal consequences, so you need to choose wisely: “Since everything around us is going to melt away, what holy, godly lives we should be living!” (2 Peter 3:11 TLB)

Christ-likeness comes from making Christ-like commitments.

PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>

Talk It Over

• Based on your commitments, what might people assume about you?
• What keeps you from committing to things that will help you develop Christ-likeness?
• How will the urgency in 2 Peter 3:11 affect the way you make your commitments?

http://rickwarren.org/devotional/english/full-post/your-commitments-shape-your-life

Fathers: Pray Fervently For Your Children

“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours” (John 17:9 NIV). 

Jesus reflected the father heart of God when He prayed for the disciples. As a father, or mother, you can pray that your children will focus on the five purposes of God.

God’s five purposes for your children are the same as God’s five purposes for your life, and the same as the five purposes for the church. Jesus prayed for all five purposes in the lives of those He was leading. 

Jesus said, “I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given me, for they are Yours” (John 17:9 NIV). 

We can pray that our children will live for Christ joyfully: “I say these things while I’m still in the world so that they will have the same joy that I have” (John 17:13 GWT). 

We can pray that our children will grow strong spiritually: “I’m not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one” (John 17:15 NLT). 

We can pray that our children will serve Christ effectively: “Make them ready for Your service through Your truth; Your teaching is truth” (John 17:17 NCV). 

We can pray that our children will experience fellowship personally: “My prayer . . . is that they will be of one heart and mind, just as you and I are one, Father . . . and the world will believe You sent me” (John 17:21 LB). 

We can pray that our children will bring others to Christ regularly: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in Me because of their message” (John 17:20 TEV). 

Even if you are not a father, or a mother, you will help others move toward the heart of God by praying for them and the purposes God has planned for their lives.

Source: http://rickwarren.org/devotional/english/full-post/fathers-pray-fervently-for-your-children