Pastor Rick's Daily Hope

The First Step to a Clear Conscience
By Rick Warren

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.” Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)

The first step on the path to a clear conscience is to take a personal spiritual assessment.

You need to sit down with God in a quiet space and say, “God, I’m going to do business with you. I’m going to make a list of anything wrong in my life that’s getting between you and me. Help me to see the things I know are wrong and the things I don’t know are wrong.” Ask God to clear your mind and reveal your sins.

You can pray Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (NLT). You’re saying, “God, turn your spotlight on my inner self. Find the stuff in me that’s entangled me and that’s holding me back.”

It’s important to take your time. Don’t rush it! Don’t say, “God, I’ve got five minutes for you to reveal every sin I’ve ever done.” Take your time. Write it all down.

Why is it important to write it down? Writing makes it specific. Thoughts disentangle themselves through the lips and the fingertips. You speak it, and you write it. If you haven’t written it down, you haven’t really thought about it.

Let me ask you a very important question. How serious are you about wanting God’s blessing on your life? Enough that you’re willing to be gut-level honest? Are you willing to be honest with God? Are you willing to be honest with yourself? Are you willing to be honest with other people? Or are you just going to live in denial? Denial and God’s blessing do not go hand-in-hand.

If you’re serious, then you’re just a step away from liberation! You are one step away from a feeling of joy and purity that you’ve never experienced. You are so close to freedom from the habits and hurts and hang-ups that are messing up your life.

Don’t procrastinate. Take time today, get alone by yourself, and do a personal spiritual assessment. It will change your life!

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In God’s Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions, Pastor Rick Warren takes you to the Bible to find practical, life-changing guidance for some of life’s biggest struggles.

This book will help you:

1. - Cope with stress in a healthy, biblical way
2. - Find peace and confidence in times of crisis
3. - Rebound from failure and move forward with purpose
4. - Overcome loneliness and build meaningful relationships
5. - Experience real, lasting change through God’s truth

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

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