"Life's Healing Choices" in American Sign LanguageSample

Be Wise: Look Ahead and Face Reality
By Rick Warren

“The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts.” (Proverbs 14:8 TLB)

Many people in life start out well, but they end up progressing poorly because they don't plan for the pitfalls. But the Bible says the wise man looks ahead and faces reality.

As we plan for our future, we all face pitfalls, such as cultural distractions, voices of doubt, tempting shortcuts, and discouraging delays. Just look at Noah: He had pitfalls after God told him to build the ark, but he overcame them — and you can, too.

Now, this doesn’t mean God will give you a goal as audacious as building an ark, but I pray he’ll give you a big goal — even an audacious one —for your next ten years.

The Bible says, “The wise man looks ahead. The fool attempts to fool himself and won’t face facts” (Proverbs 14:8 TLB). By looking ahead, we’ll not only be prepared to spot the pitfalls when they come into our lives but also be equipped to make plans that help us become the man or woman God wants us to be.

Ask God to help you establish goals for the next decade of your life. Then you’ll be ready to move forward and learn how to handle the pitfalls that could potentially keep you from getting where God wants you to go.

Talk It Over

What are the lessons from your last ten years that you can apply to your next decade?

When you look to the future, who do you want to become? What do you want God to accomplish in your life?

How do your goals reflect the power of God in your life? Do you dream big because you serve a big God?