Who Controls Your Future?

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES Building My Life on Values That Last

Who Controls Your Future? By Rick Warren — Nov 24, 2015 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28 NLT, second edition) One of the great fears we all face is the fear of the future. We fear for the futures of our families, our friends, our jobs, our communities — and everything else in between. It’s natural. We’re not in control. But that realization should drive us to trust God more deeply. We might not be in control of our future, but God is. He created the whole universe. If he wanted to, the Lord could just snap it out of existence in a moment. Yet he is working his plan in history. He is moving history to a climax, a destiny. One day Jesus Christ will come back to Earth. Nothing will stop that. Just as he is working in history to move events toward that day, he will work in your life for a purpose, too — if you’ll let him. The Bible says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT, second edition). God’s Word doesn’t say that everything is good. It also doesn’t say that God causes everything. He doesn’t cause war. He doesn’t cause cancer. He doesn’t cause rape, abortion, incest, or molestation. He doesn’t cause evil. We do that. God gives us the freedom to choose. Evil is the price of that freedom. But the Bible does say that God causes everything to work together for good. He can take the dumb, evil, and bad decisions I’ve made in my life and use them for good if I’ll trust him. Romans 8:28 isn’t a promise for everyone, though. It’s for “those who love God.” It’s for those who trust God and say, “Here, Lord, you take all the broken pieces of my life and put them together.” This is why when I read the headlines each day, I don’t worry. Sure, there are a lot of problems in the world today, but God is still in control. God is still moving history to a climax. And God is still moving his people toward his best for them. One day God will work everything out for his purpose. Because God is in control, we can trust him with everything — including the good, the bad, and the ugly of our lives. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick>> Talk It Over How will knowing that God is in control help you to trust him better? How have you seen God take a bad decision and make something good out of it? What’s one fear of the future that you can hand over to God today? Today’s Scripture “I will give You thanks in the great congregation; I will praise You among a mighty throng.” (Psalm 35:18, NASB) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Praise Him in the Sanctuary There is tremendous power available when we worship the Lord! The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people, and when God’s presence manifests, the enemy must flee. When we worship together in a corporate setting at church, prayer meeting or Bible study, that power is multiplied. One can put a thousand to flight, but two can put ten thousand to flight. That’s why it’s so important that we give thanks and worship when we come together in our church services. Worship begins with a choice. We have to choose to give God praise and thanks even if we don’t necessarily feel like it. Choose to worship Him today with your whole being—body, soul and spirit. Practice praising Him at home or wherever you are, and always be ready to praise Him in the sanctuary. A Prayer for Today “Father in heaven, today I choose to bless and magnify You. I will praise and honor You because You are worthy. Thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness to me in Jesus’ name. Amen”