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If You Want to Grow, Sometimes You Have to Say ‘No’ - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - November 3, 2023

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If You Want to Grow, Sometimes You Have to Say ‘No’
By Rick Warren

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1 NLT).

The most important word to remember for your spiritual journey may be a surprising one: “no.”

Your faith journey is a long one. Too many people start off strong but putter out before the end. God wants you to go the distance. 

Your spiritual life is like a marathon—and you can’t run a marathon with a barbell in your hands. In fact, people often quit their faith journey early because everything they’re carrying wears them out.

So, to run your spiritual race well, you need to de-clutter.

Consider these images:

In the middle of the ocean, a cruise liner can get pretty fast. But if you add a hundred lifeboats to it, it’ll slow down.

Plug a battery into one lightbulb, and it’ll last a long time. Plug it into 15, and it drains quickly. Plug it into 100, and it’ll drain even more quickly.

That’s what happens to you when you try to do too much. You need to learn to say “no” to some things that are good because they keep you from doing your best.

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down” (NLT).

These weights aren’t bad or sinful. They’re just unnecessary. A weight in your life could be a job, a relationship, or a hobby. It’s something that slows you down from what God wants to do in your life. And it’s not worth it. 

Consider what weights are slowing you down—and start stripping them off today! 

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Daily Hope Devotional: 365 Days of Purpose, Peace, and Promise

Be Encouraged Each Day to Live Out God’s Purposes

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Each devotional starts out with a Bible verse, followed by teaching that explains God’s Word and shows you how to apply it daily so you can face any challenge and live the life you were created to live.

As a special bonus when you give, we’ll also send you What's Driving Your Life?: A 10-Day Turnaround for a Fresh Start. Featuring 10 hand-picked devotions from Pastor Rick’s new book, they’ll guide anyone feeling stressed, worried, or discouraged toward seeking God for a fresh start.

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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.