Rick McDaniel

President of High Impact Living, keynote speaker, writer, host of the Point of Impact podcast, author of nine books including the latest “GREATER.”

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

Sunday Scripture
"Please have pity and help us if you can! Jesus replied, 'Why do you say 'if you can'? Anything is possible for someone who has faith!'"
- Mark 9:22-23

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

Have you ever had your perfect plans completely upended? In this new episode of the Point of Impact podcast I share how to recalibrate your expectations, embrace the moments you didn't plan for and find valuable lessons hidden within life's sudden shifts.
https://t.co/jFnIR9TDyE

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

Inspiration to start your Day!

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

We need passion and purpose in our lives. Nothing is more powerful than a purposed, focused life. Purpose produces passion. Knowing why you’re here on earth creates great energy. Read this week's devotion below and see how you can pursue your passion.

Purpose Produces Passion

“We pray for God’s power to help you do all the good things you hope to do and your faith makes you want to do.”
—2 Thessalonians 1:11

I once visited the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, NY. Harriet grew up on the eastern shore of Maryland but lived over fifty years in upstate New York. The Park includes her home, church and the Home for the Aged.

Tubman was a slave who escaped when she was 27 years old and went to Philadelphia. But freedom was bittersweet because she missed her family and friends who were still enslaved. Harriet risked her life to rescue them and others.

She made about 13 trips over 11 years and rescued about 70 people and gave instructions to about 70 more who found their way to freedom on their own. Tubman didn’t start the Underground Railroad, but she helped to expand it and make it more effective.

As an Underground Railroad “conductor” Harriet depended on her intellect, courage and Christian faith. She followed the stars and other natural phenomena to guide her. She relied on sympathetic people who helped her, hid her and connected her with others who she could trust.

Tubman was also a Union spy, scout and nurse during the Civil War. After the war she was involved in the women’s suffrage movement. And then she founded the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged, a nursing home for elderly African Americans. Her passion to help was unending.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 tells us, "We pray for God’s power to help you do all the good things you hope to do and your faith makes you want to do." Harriet’s deep faith was founded upon timeless biblical truths. She had great confidence in the power of God to help her.

It was her faith that made her want to do good things. And she saw her hopes become reality time and time again. She never once lost anyone she helped to freedom, she survived combat and she bought a house for the aged without the money to pay for it.

Harriet lived with great purpose believing God had put her on earth to help those who could not help themselves. She pursued with great passion for all that God had for her to do.

We need the same kind of passion and purpose in our lives. Nothing is more powerful than a purposed, focused life. Purpose produces passion. Knowing why you’re here on earth creates great energy.

We may not be freeing people from slavery or founding a nursing home, but there are good things we want and hope to do. And if we pursue it, God’s power will help us to do it.

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

Growth comes from building on your talents, gifts and strengths— not by solving problems. Your God-given blessings are not loans, they are deposits. The more they are used, the greater, stronger and more valuable they become. Look for opportunities to make full use of them today.

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

Sunday Scripture
“I give you peace, the kind of peace only I can give. It isn’t like the peace this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid”
- John 14:27

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

Boredom is a warning sign that you’re not on track. It’s a signal that whatever we’re doing isn’t meaningful to you. Read this week's devotion below and see how to focus your efforts and energy. And keep yourself from being bored.

Bored Again

“When you eat or drink or do anything, always do it to honor God.”
—1 Corinthians

In a famous experiment, people were asked to sit quietly in a room for 15 minutes with nothing to do. They also had the option to hit a button and give themselves an electric shock.

Getting shocked is quite unpleasant but nearly half of the participants opted to press the button at least once. Why? Because boredom is a universally dreaded feeling. They preferred discomfort to boredom.

Being bored means wanting to be engaged when we can’t. It’s our brain telling us to act much like pain is an important signal of danger or harm. Boredom is also the way our brain tells us things aren’t going well.

Boredom is a warning sign that you’re not on track. Every episode of boredom creates an opportunity for making positive change rather than reactively looking for the fastest, easiest escape. But we need to pay attention.

Boredom gives a signal that whatever we’re doing isn’t meaningful to us, that it does not fulfill our purpose. Boredom is different from downtime or relaxation. Being bored is the uncomfortable feeling of wanting engagement when you can’t.

In a sample of 4,000 American adults, 63% reported experiencing boredom at least once over 10 days. When boredom hits, many reach for the closest thing at hand—their smartphone. But time on your phone is not meaningful so they likely get bored again.

Instead of reacting to boredom seek to understand the signal it is sending you. Boredom is linked to what we most want from life. Living a meaningful, purposeful, fulfilling life. It is a helpful signal that shows us we are not where we should be.

1 Corinthians says, "When you eat or drink or do anything, always do it to honor God." Are you living a God-honoring life? This question helps you to determine what you should do with your life. Boredom gives you the opportunity to reflect on your purpose.

A clear purpose defines how you use your time, gifts and resources. It concentrates your effort and energy. Purpose moves you from stuck, stagnated and disengaged to growing, changing and impacting.

When you know your why then what you’re doing matters, even if it doesn’t appear that way now. You embrace your gifts and talents. And live out your purpose with focus and direction.

Your focus keeps you from being bored. There is great energy in a focused life. The monotony of life that wears you down, saps your strength and robs your joy is replaced with enthusiasm. And the self-satisfaction of knowing you’re fulfilling your God-given potential.

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

Happy Memorial Day!

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

Over 25 years ago we started the first Alpha Course in Virginia. Today we visited Holy Trinity Brompton in London where the @alphacourse began. Incredible Pentecost Sunday service (pic was pre-service, place was packed.)

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

Incredible experience today in London. The Jesus March concludes in Trafalgar Square. Lifting up Jesus. Excited to be a part of it.

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

To feel and function at our best, we need rest. Sleep is not the only kind of rest. In this new episode of the "Point of Impact" podcast I share the seven types of rest, why we need them and how to get each one.
https://t.co/iwYVTtRmL0

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

God is not in a hurry. You are. It's why you're tired, frustrated, stressed. This is a pivotal season in your life. Don't doubt his guidance while you wait. Trust that when the time is right everything will fall into place. God has a perfect plan for you—believe it.

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

Want to change your life? You can by programming your mind for success, growth and impact. Here's how:

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

They say dogs are a man’s best friend. Whether you think dogs are part of a family or not, my dog was a friend to me. What she taught me about love, faithfulness and joy are lessons I’ll never forget. Read this week's devotion below and see how to be a true friend.

A Faithful Friend

“Some friends don’t help, but a true friend
is closer than your own family”
—Proverbs 18:24

We had our dog Sammie for almost fourteen years. She was my faithful friend. Sammie came over to my side of the bed every morning to greet me and start the day, she came over every night before she went to sleep.

When I came home from work or wherever I had been she would get all excited and jump up to see me. She stayed with me at various beach houses and mountain condos where I wrote three of my books.

My morning routine involved feeding and walking her. She just loved to spend time with me. When I would leave, she always acted so sad. When I would go on trips, she would sit at the door each night hoping I would come home. On some Fridays I even took her to my office.

If I was home and my wife came in the door she would come over and put her head on me. If my wife and I would hug she would bark and squeeze between us. Sammie wanted it to be clear that I was her buddy before anyone else.

Once we took her on a trip and she stayed in the hotel when we went to get breakfast. There was a sign in the restaurant that said, “I Just Want To Be The Person My Dog Thinks I Am.” I shared that sentiment.

When I would watch sports and yell at the television she came over and put here full 70-pound body on my torso. She didn’t want me to be upset, even if it was just a game. Sammie snuggled with me as if she was a lap dog, she just wanted to be close to me.

Sammie was a dog not a person, but when you receive such unconditional love, the loss is great. The happiness she brought to our lives and the constant companionship is not easily if ever replaced.

Proverbs 18:24 tells us, "Some friends don’t help, but a true friend is closer than your own family." They say dogs are a man’s best friend and I agree. Whether you think dogs are part of a family or not, Sammie was a friend to me.

What Sammie taught me about love, faithfulness and joy are lessons I’ll never forget. So, her passing was significant. It left a hole that cannot quickly be filled. I want to be the friend to Jesus and to people that Sammie was to me. I don’t know if I can, but I will try because of her friendship.

[Rick McDaniel @rickmcdaniel]

Persistent people begin their success where others quit. One person with persistence, perseverance and endurance will accomplish more than 1000 people with just interest. It's tempting to quit when our dreams aren't coming true. Be diligent, be determined. It 's going to happen.