Chapter 1 It All Starts With God

Rick Warren immediately challenges us on the central issue, "it's not about me." Living in a selfish, egotistical, and survival of the fittest society, it's common to focus on how we can self-improve ourselves and get ahead in our society. At the very beginning, Warren flips our perspective when he explains "life is about letting God use you for his purposes, not your using him for your own purpose." I found this passage relevant to our discussion last week. Many people often mistake prayer as a "total request live" line, where we demand answers on questions that God may not want to reveal to us at the moment.

I find chapter one as not revolutionary to me. However, it ironically seems to be one of the hardest to practice and implement. It makes sense to me that we were made for God and for God. Unfortunately, I fail to fulfill that knowledge when I am consumed with the everyday hassles and stresses of life. In defense, I fully accept this concept and at times demonstrate passion and dedication towards it. I only wish I can completely take that leap of faith someday. Acknowledgement is the beginning...complete practice is the end.

I want to end with a wonderful saying from the Bible, "Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self."