Daily Hope with Rick Warren

God can use everything, good or bad, to accomplish his purposes. His good plan to grow your character and make you more like Jesus will not be changed by other people. What others intend for bad, he will use for good.

How does God teach you patience? By placing you in long lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles or at a delayed doctor appointment. Anytime you have to wait, God is making you more like Jesus.

Even when nothing makes sense, you can trust that God takes it all—the good and the bitter—and uses it for his good plan.

Change will not always be easy, and you might not always understand it. But remember this: Whatever change God requires from you, you can be sure it is for your good.

If you want to be happy, you need to get up every morning and say, “God, thank you for being with me today, for being in me today, and for being for me today.”

If you can shift to an eternal perspective, then you'll be able to keep going, no matter what happens.

Even in our darkest moments, we can follow Job's example and gratefully worship God, knowing that his will for us is to give thanks in all circumstances.

So whenever you're distressed and at the end of your rope, pray honestly and“cry out in the night . . . pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord” (Lamentations 2:19 NIV). God can handle it, and he’s ready to hear your prayers.

God doesn’t expect you to fulfill your purpose and do his will in your own power. First, he saves you, and then he gives you the power for daily living. He will give you everything you need to keep going and finish what he has called you to do.

If you want to learn to love people the way Jesus loves, here’s the secret: Get Jesus in you. Only with him in your life will you ever be able to love your spouse with God’s everlasting love.

Your spouse is going to sin, sometimes against you, sometimes against God, and sometimes against others. Colossians 3:13 says, “Put up with each other, and forgive each other. . . . Forgive as the Lord forgave you”(GW). Love forgives. A great marriage is simply the union of two great forgivers.

Commit to keeping your roots deep in Jesus and building your life on him. He can bring your marriage back to life.

As you and your spouse affirm each other’s value, strengths, and ministry, you’ll become each other’s biggest fans and see your relationship grow.

The greatest enemy of romance isn’t adultery or anger or bitterness. It’s busyness. Nobody is going to make time for your marriage except you.

The test of real love isn’t what you say about loving each other. It’s how you act. You want greater harmony in your home? Treat your spouse as Jesus would.