Author: lamkhanh

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1 (NIV)

We are living in stressful times. More than ever, we need to learn resilience so that we can do what God has called us to do. That’s why the first step to being resilient is to remember how much God loves you. That’s the antidote to stress!

Part of fulfilling our purpose is becoming more like Jesus. And Jesus had no doubt in his mind that God the Father loved him. He talked about it over and over in verses like John 10:17, which says, “The Father loves me” (NLT).

Knowing and remembering that God has unconditional, extravagant, continuous, and never-ending love for you, just like he did for Jesus, is the foundation of a resilient life. As Paul says, “I am convinced that neither death nor life . . . nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39 NIV). We can be resilient, knowing that we can never be separated from God’s love.

You may be thinking, “Well, of course God loves Jesus. That’s his Son.” But did you know that Jesus says the same thing about his love for you as God’s daughter or son? In John 15:9-10, Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love” (NIV).

Understanding how much God loves you is the basis of your personal security. If you are not convinced that God loves you at all times—unconditionally and completely—then you’re going to be easy prey for the disapproval of other people. You’re going to be a people pleaser.

But when you are secure in who you are as God’s child—when you understand and accept how God feels about you—then you can face difficult times with confidence and less stress.

When you need to be reminded of how much God loves you, just look to his Word.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 NIV).

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants.” John 5:30 (GNT)

What motivates you to get up in the morning? To go to work? To study hard? To serve and give and love others? To keep going when life gets stressful?

If you don’t want to be fighting stress all the time, you need to know your deepest motivation.

Why is that? Because mixed motivations will leave you feeling like you’re being pulled in different directions. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters” (Luke 16:13 NLT).

Even God can’t please everybody. When somebody’s praying for it to rain, someone else is praying for it to be sunny. As a pastor for 42 years, I knew that I was always disappointing somebody, because people often have different expectations. I can’t please everyone, and neither can you.

The Bible says the fear of man is a trap. It will capture your heart and mind and cause you to stumble. That’s why Jesus said in John 5:30, “I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants” (GNT). Jesus knew who he was trying to please.

If you’re not trying to please God, then in all likelihood, you’re trying to please a bunch of people. It’s a lot easier and less stressful to decide you’re going to please God—because whatever you do that pleases God will always be the right thing. This is why Jesus was so stress resistant. He was only trying to please one person.

Whose approval are you depending on for your happiness? Who are you still trying to please? For some, it’s a parent who never showed approval or encouragement. For others, it may be a boss who’s impossible to please, no matter how hard you try.

But you are not a victim. You are as free as you choose to be. Nobody can pressure you into meeting their expectations without your permission.

When you live for an audience of one, you won’t be controlled by the fear of rejection. Instead, you’ll be motivated by love and free to be the person God made you to be.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”  Matthew 5:14 (NLT)

If you’re not sure who you really are, then you can be manipulated and molded by the pressures, problems, and people around you—and that leads to stress!

Our culture is constantly trying to fit you into its mold. When you have a confused and unclear identity, when you don’t really know who you are, it makes you more vulnerable to the culture’s influence. Until you settle in your mind that God loves you unconditionally and that you’re a child of God, you’re going to be prone to stress.

Jesus never had any doubts about his identity. In fact, 18 times in Scripture he publicly declared who he was. These are called his “I am” statements, like, I am the Light of the World. I am the Son of God. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I am the Bread of Life. Jesus made it clear that he knew exactly who he was.

In John 8:18, Jesus said, “I testify on my own behalf” (GNT). He didn’t need other people to tell him who he was. He didn’t look to others for validation.

When you depend on other people’s opinions for validation, you can’t be resilient to stress. Because if you don’t know who you are, then other people will decide it for you. They’ll force you into a mold, and you’ll get stressed trying to be someone you’re not. You’ll end up pretending and wearing a mask. It will wear you out!

Jesus knew he was the Light of the World. But he also said the same thing about you: “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14 NLT). Do you realize how special you are? Not because of what other people say but because of what God says. There’s nobody in the world exactly like you.

You must accept the truth about you—your strengths and your limitations and weaknesses. God made you with all of those things, and he has given you everything you need to do his will.

When you accept that, you’ll be secure in your identity and a lot less stressed.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish.”  John 11:25-26 (TLB)

The resurrection of Jesus changed everything. It literally split history into A.D. and B.C. It’s the most important event in human history. And it proves three things.

First, the resurrection proves that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be. He repeatedly said he was the Son of God who came to die for our sins. And he did just that. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most well-documented events in history. It would stand up in any court of law. In fact, it has many, many times throughout centuries.

The apostle Paul said, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV).

Second, the resurrection proves that Jesus keeps his promises. Jesus told his disciples that he would “be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:21 NIV). Because Jesus kept that promise, you can trust the other promises in the Word of God. The Bible says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. . . . [He] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 1:20, 22 NIV).

Third, the resurrection proves that there is life after death. Because of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, we have hope for the future. And it is a hope that will not disappoint (see Romans 5:5). Jesus said, “I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish” (John 11:25-26 TLB).

Where else are you going to get a promise like that? Nowhere! Who else can give that to you? No one! If you don’t get it from Jesus, you won’t have it. That is an amazing benefit, and it’s available to you today. What’s the qualification? You must believe.

The Bible says, “This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life’” (Romans 1:17 NLT). God’s Word also says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

The Good News is that the death and resurrection of Jesus give us access to God. In other words, we can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. “God says he will accept and acquit us—declare us ‘not guilty’—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like” (Romans 3:22 TLB).

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”  Matthew 11:29 (NLT)

Everyone wants to know the antidote to anxiety because we all experience it. We live in stressful times and rest for our bodies and souls seems elusive.

But it’s not a secret: Jesus wants you to worry less and trust him more. He says in Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (NLT).

After you come to Jesus and let him share your load, he wants you to learn from him. Why? Because Jesus is never in a hurry. He sets a pace that comes from a gentle and humble heart that is meant to bring life and not weariness. Jesus modeled for us how to live with peace and purpose, and following his example is how we refill our spiritual and emotional tanks. Watch how he lived, and do it the way he did.

Learning how to live like Jesus is a process. You don’t learn it overnight because you didn’t develop your overloaded lifestyle overnight. But no matter how long it takes, you’re going to learn to trust him.

You’ll learn from Jesus how to be gentle and humble. But how is that going to help you? Gentleness and humility don’t seem like the natural cure for being stressed out and tired. Maybe you would expect him to say, “Learn from me, and I’ll teach you how to have endurance and stamina.”

Jesus wants you to learn to be gentle and humble because aggression and arrogance are two of the biggest causes of stress and emptiness in life.

Aggression is when we don’t want to wait for anything, and we get over-committed. It’s the opposite of gentleness.

Arrogance is when we try to control everything. Our ego is responsible for more stress and arrogance in our lives than we realize.

The antidote to the two biggest causes of stress in your life is gentleness and humility. You learn them by reminding yourself every day that you are not God and you are not anybody’s savior.

Spend time with Jesus, and you’ll see how gentleness and humility lead to rest.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:29-30 (NIV)

Are you feeling overloaded? You may be trying to control things too much. We do it all the time, sometimes without realizing it. Even when we don’t try to, we act subconsciously as if it all depends on us. We have to hold everything together. We have to make it all happen.

The greater your need to control things, the more overloaded, stressed, and empty you’re going to be in life. You have to learn to give up control!

When you come to Jesus because you’re running on empty, this is the next step of obedience: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:29-30 NIV).

When you get fed up, it’s time to give up control.

A yoke is not the middle of an egg (that’s a yolk) but the wooden frame that you put over two animals so they can pull a piece of farm equipment together. When you already feel like you’re carrying a heavy load, taking on Jesus’ yoke may sound like more of a burden. Why would you want to take on a different yoke and keep pulling?

The purpose of a yoke is to lighten the load, not to make a heavier load. Sharing a yoke means sharing the load you’re carrying. When two animals team up together, it makes the load lighter, not heavier.

When you’re not yoked to Jesus, you can easily move at a pace that’s too fast and go off in a ditch. But if you’re yoked to him, then there’s no way he’s going to let you outpace yourself, and he’s not going to let you go off in a ditch.

A yoke makes the load lighter, and it keeps you from getting in trouble. Galatians 5:25 says, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (NIV).

You keep in step with God’s Spirit by being yoked to Jesus—partnering with him and letting him set the pace. Jesus was never in a hurry, and you won’t be either when you’re connected to him.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Come to me and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (CEV)

When Jesus says, “Come to me and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 CEV), what kind of rest is he talking about?

Jesus offers a rest for your soul that’s much deeper than physical rest—because he knows that the problem you need help with right now is probably not overworked muscles.

When you come to Jesus in your emptiness, what you probably have is an overloaded mind, soul, and spirit. You need rest not just from physical work but from tension, stress, anxiety, hurry, and worry. You need the kind of rest that can’t come from taking a good nap or going on vacation.

Most people have a way to unwind when they’re physically tired that’s different from how they unwind when they’re emotionally and spiritually exhausted. Maybe when you’re tired, you watch a movie or spend time on your phone. Maybe you have to lie down, or maybe you need a walk outside. Maybe you choose to spend time with friends, or maybe it’s better for you to be alone.

Those can all be good things—but none of them can restore your soul.

Only God can restore your soul. That’s why, when you have soul emptiness, soul depression, or soul overload, Jesus wants you to come to him.

Isaiah 40:29 says, “He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak” (TLB).

When you’re empty inside, culture says you need to do more. You need to make more money, get more things, do more things, travel more places. Go, go, go. More, more, more. But that’s the very reason you’re empty!

Jesus wants you to do the opposite: Don’t go. Come to him—and come just as you are.

Your soul will never find rest in anything the world has to offer. That’s because your soul was not created to be filled by anything in this world.

You were made for God, and you only find real rest when you bring your weary soul to him.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (CEV)

Nothing is going to change in your life until you get dissatisfied with it. You have to come to the point where you say, “I’m not going to live this way anymore. I’ve had enough. I’m going to change. I’m going to do something about the way I feel.”

Sometimes it’s just too easy to put up with everything you’re going through, even when you don’t like it, simply because it’s familiar.

It’s uncomfortable and maybe even painful—but it’s not new.

When you do finally reach the point of desperation because you’re fed up with your circumstances and choices and the way they affect you and others, you need to go straight to Jesus.

What does Jesus say when we come to him with an emptiness in our lives—an empty soul, an empty heart, empty of character? How does he respond when we tell him that we have nothing to give?

He doesn’t scold us or judge us. He doesn’t bring us down or tell us to figure it out. He does the exact opposite.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light” (CEV).

As a pastor for over 40 years, I’ve talked to thousands of people, and I’ve discovered only three things that cause people to change: pain, perspective, and having no other choice.

Most people don’t change until you feel the heat. There is no breakthrough until you have the breakdown! We all come to a point where there is a breakdown of our pride, our arrogance, and our self-sufficiency when we realize we can’t do it on our own—and that we don’t have to.

A breakdown is always the door to a breakthrough. Come to Jesus, and let him refill you with the power of the Holy Spirit and the hope of your salvation. He will never turn you away.

By Rick Warren – Source: nhulieuthanhkinh.com

“Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The LORD is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary.” Isaiah 40:28 (GNT)

The bigger the changes that happen in your life, the more time you need to spend with God.

That time with God is called a quiet time. You read the Bible, talk to God in prayer, and are quiet so you can listen to what God wants to say to you.

When you’re stressed out, time alone with God is the great stabilizer in your life. It’s also the greatest re-energizer when you’re worn out. We’ve all gone through a lot of stress the last few years, and some of us don’t have as much energy as we used to. Chronic stress has drained us as so much in our lives has changed.

Are you feeling fatigued? That’s natural. It’s what chronic stress does to our bodies. No matter how much sleep we get at night, we wake up tired or start to drag a few hours into the day. If you feel like you’re just trying to get by, you are not alone.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, stressed out, and like you’re barely hanging on, then you need to remember Isaiah 40:28: “Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The LORD is the everlasting God; he created all the world. He never grows tired or weary” (GNT).

God created the entire universe in six days—and he only rested on the seventh day to model a Sabbath for us. He never gets tired! He is never overwhelmed or worn out. He never gets stressed. He can handle anything—including all the things you can’t.

If you spend more time with God, who never grows tired or weary, then you’re going to have more energy. Spending time with God is not a burden or a drudgery or a drain—it’s the opposite! He gives strength to those who are weary. He gives peace and rest.

If you’re stressed, don’t seek a quick fix. Don’t look for a shortcut. Don’t fight changes that you can’t possibly control. Instead, spend time with God every day.