This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the audio broadcast ministry of Pastor Rick Warren.

Well, today we continue in our series called Building a Better Future.

In these lessons, Pastor Rick shares how we can build a foundation for a better future

by following the examples of leaders in the Bible who followed God's calling to rebuild

after a time of captivity.

What you've probably noticed, the more grateful a person is, the happier they are.

That's the power of gratitude.

But it's not always easy to feel grateful.

That's why Pastor Rick developed a great new resource called the Power of Gratitude.

Go to PastorRick.com to find out more or just text the word daily to 800-600-5,000-4.

Now, here's Pastor Rick Warren with the final part of a message called,

making a plan to improve your life.

Part of the planning process of your life is to anticipate problems in advance.

I have to do this all the time as a leader, Saddleback, to see the problems before they actually get there.

And plan for them in advance.

Proverbs 27, verse 2 says,

a sensible man looks for the problems ahead and prepares to meet them.

These are all important steps. You might want to listen to this message again a second time.

You see, another part of anticipating the barriers is to calculate the cost in advance,

because there's always a price tag for every dream and for every goal.

Nehemiah actually gives the king. He's asked for permission to go.

Then he's asked for protection. Now he gives the king a shopping list.

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