What If That Was a God-Given Opportunity? - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - September 13, 2025

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What If That Was a God-Given Opportunity?
By Rick Warren

“Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them.” Proverbs 3:27 (NLT)

Every day God gives you opportunities to show kindness to people around you. As he does, he’s watching to see how you’ll respond. 

Will you choose to be self-centered? Or will you notice the people who need a word of encouragement, a pat on the back, an errand done for them, or some other practical means of help?

The Bible says, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them” (Proverbs 3:27 NLT). 

You won’t always have an opportunity to help. So when you do, just do it!

You probably have people in your life that you’ve thought about helping. You have the best intentions. But you’ve done nothing. Why?

Maybe you’ve made excuses. You might have thought, “I’ll do it when things settle down.” Guess what? Things never will. 

If you’re going to do any good in your life, the time is now. The Living Bible paraphrase says, “If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done” (Ecclesiastes 11:4).

Do good now because you’re not guaranteed tomorrow. 

Jesus said, “We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work” (John 9:4 NLT).

God has tasks he wants you to do. Don’t wait for perfect conditions to do them. Instead, look every day for the opportunities God gives you to help and encourage others. And just do it.

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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.

You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.