Break Free from the Prison of Pretending
By Rick Warren
“I will live in perfect freedom, because I try to obey your teachings.” Psalm 119:45 (GNT)
Pretending to be someone you’re not is exhausting, isn’t it?
Too many people have spent so much of their lives pretending that they don’t remember who they really are anymore. They’ve spent all their energy and effort trying to fake their way through life, thinking it will give them the life they want.
If that’s you, then you’re in a prison of pretending. And you’ve locked yourself in this prison for two main reasons.
First, you’re trying to please people. The Bible tells you how foolish this is: “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the LORD, you are safe” (Proverbs 29:25 GNT).
Second, you feel like you need to be perfect to be loved. Since no one is perfect, you’ll never feel truly loved if perfectionism is snaring you. You make up for this by living in a pretend world, where you never make mistakes. Even worse, as you’re hard on yourself, you’re also harsh on others. Everyone ends up in your prison.
Jesus once said of people who pretend to be something they’re not, “You are the ones who make yourselves look right in other people’s sight, but God knows your hearts. For the things that are considered of great value by people are worth nothing in God’s sight” (Luke 16:15 GNT).
What’s the cure for a life of pretending to be something you’re not?
Switch your focus to what God thinks. God is the only one who knows you completely and loves you unconditionally. If you’re doing what God wants, then you’re doing what’s right.
The psalmist says of this kind of focus, “I will live in perfect freedom, because I try to obey your teachings” (Psalm 119:45 GNT).
You don’t need to scroll on your phone to find out who you really are. Social media can’t tell you how much you’re really loved.
Only God can tell you the truth about who you are—and that will set you free.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Choose Faith Over Fear!
Are you ready to live with more freedom, joy, and impact?
That’s what you’ll discover how to do in Pastor Rick Warren’s 6-session, *video-based Bible study Daring Faith.
Complete with a study guide and devotion for each day, this study will help you learn how to . . . expect the best, build a life of faith, stretch your imagination, take initiative, face your fears, and trust God while you’re waiting.
So request your copy of Daring Faith when you give a gift today to help more people break free from fear and find their hope in Jesus through Daily Hope.
*Video is available in DVD or streaming formats. The workbook will be mailed to you.
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
