Devotionals by Pastor Rick Warren

“Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” Psalm 27:10 (NIV)

Nobody sails through life. We all have problems, scars, and hurts. One of the deepest causes of those hurts is rejection—from parents, friends, employers, peers, and more. You might even remember something said on the playground 40 years ago that still hurts today.

But there’s good news: God’s healing grace is available for whatever hurts you. The Bible promises, “God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NIV).  

A major way God heals us is by changing the way we think. The Bible says, “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think” (Romans 12:2 NLT).

Many of us think about ourselves in distorted ways, believing false ideas we picked up along the way. So instead of thinking about what other people say about you, you need to choose to think about what God says about you—and let those truths heal your heart. 

There are many things God says are true about you. One of them is this: God says you’re acceptable. 

Most of us spend our lives trying to be accepted. We want to be acceptable to our parents, to our peers, to our enemies, to people we envy, and even to total strangers. Your desire to be accepted probably influences the way you dress, the car you drive, the house you live in, or even the career you chose. 

No matter how hard you try, people will reject you. But Jesus won’t.

The Bible says, “Christ has accepted you” (Romans 15:7 NLT). His acceptance is unconditional because it’s based on God’s grace, not your performance or whether you’ve done more good than bad. That doesn’t mean sin doesn’t matter. It does. But through his grace, God gives us the power to change.

I hope that you’ve accepted Jesus Christ into your heart and life—but have you also realized that God has accepted you? The Living Bible paraphrase says, “You have been chosen by God himself” (1 Peter 2:9). And that’s all because of his grace. 

You may have an unpleasable parent, friend, or boss. Let me tell you something that’s very important: You don’t need their approval—because you’re accepted by the God of the universe.

Psalm 27:10 promises, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me” (NIV). God accepts you. And that’s ultimately all the acceptance you need.

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

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