REBUILDING YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU’VE LOST EVERYTHING

Rick Warren: Sept. 3-4, 2005

 

 “I (Nehemiah) said to them, "You know full well the tragedy of our city. It lies in ruins, and its gates are burned. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and rid ourselves of this disgrace!" Nehemiah 2:17 (NLT)

 

“Then they said, ‘Let's start rebuilding! ’So they began to work hard.” Nehemiah 2:18b (NCV)

 

 STEPS TO REBUILDING YOUR LIFE

 

1. RELEASE YOUR GRIEF

 

“… the floods of destruction swept over me.  The grave wrapped its ropes around me. Death itself stared me in the face.  But in my distress I cried out to the Lord and, I prayed to my God for help.” Psalm 18:4-6 (NLT)

 

"Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8b (NLT)

 

2. RESIST BITTERNESS

"Watch out that no bitterness takes root among you... it causes deep trouble, hurting many in their spiritual lives." Hebrews 12:15 (LB)

  • ACCEPT what cannot be changed.
  • Focus on what's LEFT, not what's lost.
  • Play it down and PRAY it up

 

3. REEVALUATE YOUR LIFE

  • “Real life is not measured by how much we own." Luke 12:15 (NLT)

 

§         "We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." 1 Timothy 6:7 (NIV)

 

“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul”  Matthew 16:26 (NIV)

 

4. RECEIVE HELP FROM OTHERS

 “…Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.”  Romans 12:5 (NLT)

§         Best way: a Small Group

 

 5. RELY ON THE LORD

"You, Lord, give true peace to those who depend on you."   Isaiah. 26:3 (NCV)

 

“I find rest in God; only he gives me hope.”  Psalm 62:5 (NCV)

 

“You are my shield, my wonderful God who gives me courage.”  Psalm 3:3 (NCV)

 

 “I will bless the Lord who counsels me; he gives me wisdom in the night. He tells me what to do.”  Psalm 16:7 (LB)

 

“God is my savior.  I will trust him and not be afraid. The Lord gives me power and strength.”  Isaiah 12:2 (TEV)

 

“Come back to God Almighty  and he'll rebuild your life.”   Job 22:23a (Mes)

 

6. REFUSE TO BE  DISCOURAGED

Jesus: “By standing firm you will gain life.”  Luke 21:19 (NIV)

 

7. REACH OUT TO OTHERS.

 

§         BY PRAYING FOR THEM

 

Samuel: “Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.”  Samuel 12:23 (NIV)

 

§         BY SHARING WITH THEM

 

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”  John 3:17 (NIV)

 

§         BY SERVING THEM

 

"By helping each other with your troubles, you obey the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2 (NCV)