On this episode of Enjoying Everyday Life, Joyce Meyer shares scriptures on the power and privilege of prayer, along with various hindrances that can keep you from getting your prayers answered.
ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM
HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: “GOD IS ABLE
TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY
ABOVE AND BEYOND ALL
THAT WE COULD EVER DARE
TO HOPE, ASK, OR THINK.”
C’MON, I DARE YOU TO BE DARING
IN YOUR PRAYERS.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: FATHER, THANK YOU
FOR THE WORD THIS AFTERNOON
ESPECIALLY AS WE PREACH
ON ONE OF OUR GREATEST
PRIVILEGES ON PRAYER.
AND I PRAY THAT WE WILL UNLOCK
THINGS, THAT WILL HELP OUR
PRAYERS TO BE ANSWERED,
IN A QUICKER AND A MORE
DIRECT WAY.
THANK YOU, JESUS, AMEN.
ALL RIGHT,
SEVEN HINDRANCES TO PRAYER.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, LET ME SAY
THAT PRAYER, I BELIEVE PROBABLY,
IS THE GREATEST PRIVILEGE
THAT GOD’S GIVEN US.
IT’S NOT A DUTY
OR AN OBLIGATION,
IT’S SOMETHING
WE GET TO DO.
WHEN WE PRAY, IT’S NOT
SOMETHING WE DO FOR GOD,
IT’S SOMETHING
WE DO FOR OURSELF.
WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF GOING
TO THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE,
THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS,
AND ASKING HIM TO GET INVOLVED
IN OUR OWN LITTLE PERSONAL
LIVES, AND DO THINGS FOR US THAT
WE CAN NEVER DO FOR OURSELF.
AND SO, THAT’S REALLY
PRETTY AMAZING.
AND YOU CAN PRAY ANYTIME,
ANYWHERE, ABOUT ANYTHING.
YOU DON’T HAVE
TO BE IN A CHURCH,
YOU DON’T HAVE
TO BE IN A PARTICULARLY
SPIRITUAL POSTURE.
IT’S GOOD TO HAVE SET APART
TIMES FOR PRAYER,
BUT YOU CAN PRAY YOUR
WAY THROUGH THE DAY.
WHAT I CALL JUST, YOU KNOW,
WE USED TO SAY–WHICH MANY
OF YOU MAYBE JUST–
“WHEN I PRAY, I’M GONNA
PRAY ABOUT THAT.”
WELL, YOU DON’T NEED TO DO THAT,
YOU CAN PRAY RIGHT NOW.
SO, THE FIRST HINDRANCE
TO PRAYER IS, YOU CAN’T GET
AN ANSWER IF YOU DON’T ASK.
SO, FIRST, YOU GOTTA PRAY.
AND IT’S INTERESTING HOW MANY
TIMES JESUS SAID TO ASK, ASK.
AND ACTUALLY, THAT WORD “ASK”
MEANS TO PUT A DEMAND ON WHAT
ALREADY BELONGS TO YOU.
THAT’S INTERESTING, ISN’T IT?
SEE, JESUS ALREADY BOUGHT
AND PAID FOR EVERY BLESSING,
SPIRITUAL AND MATERIAL,
AND YET, WE’RE NOT GONNA GET IT,
IF WE DON’T ASK FOR IT.
YOU HAVE NOT
BECAUSE YOU ASK NOT.
AND MANY PEOPLE DON’T ASK
BECAUSE THEY DON’T BELIEVE
THEY’RE DESERVING.
OR THEY DON’T BELIEVE THAT GOD
WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR THEM,
BECAUSE THEY’VE DONE THINGS
WRONG, OR WHATEVER
THE CASE MIGHT BE.
BUT YOU’RE ONLY CHEATING
YOURSELF IF YOU DON’T ASK.
GOD INVITES US TO ASK.
SEVEN TIMES
IN JOHN 14, 15, AND 16,
SEVEN TIMES HE SAID, “ASK.”
JOHN 14:12-14 SAYS, “VERILY
I TELL YOU, WHOEVER BELIEVES
IN ME WILL DO THE WORKS THAT
I’VE BEEN DOING, AND EVEN
GREATER THINGS THAN THESE
WILL THEY DO, BECAUSE
I’M GOING TO THE FATHER.”
NOW, YOU KNOW, TOOK ME A LONG
TIME TO FEEL LIKE I HAD ANY
UNDERSTANDING ON THAT SCRIPTURE.
IT’S LIKE, HOW COULD ANYBODY
DO GREATER THINGS THAN
WHAT JESUS DID?
AND I WOULD ALLOCATE THAT
THINKING TO THE MIRACLES
HE DID, AND YOU KNOW,
THE AMAZING THINGS.
BUT I BELIEVE IT MORE PERTAINS
TO WHAT WE CAN ALL DO TOGETHER,
AS A BODY OF BELIEVERS.
AND I SAY THIS IN A RIGHT
SPIRIT, BUT DO YOU REALIZE
THAT I REACH MORE PEOPLE
IN ONE DAY ON TV, THAN JESUS
REACHED IN THE 33 YEARS
HE WAS HERE.
THAT’S PRETTY AMAZING, ISN’T IT?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THAT’S BECAUSE
OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT
GOD HAS MADE AVAILABLE,
THAT THE DEVIL IS TRYING
TO TAKE OVER AND USE.
AND WE NEED TO USE THOSE
THINGS TO GET THE GOSPEL
AROUND THE WORLD.
AND SO, WE CAN REALLY
DO GREAT THINGS.
IT’S AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE
TODAY IT JUST–IT AMAZES ME HOW
MANY PEOPLE MUST SIT WITH THEIR
PHONE IN THEIR HAND ALL DAY
LONG, JUST LOOKING AT SOMETHING.
WE PUT A SILLY PICTURE ON,
OF MY SON TRYING TO GET
ME TO DANCE WITH HIM.
HOW MANY OF YOU SAW THAT?
OKAY, SEE, A LOT OF YOU.
WELL, IN A WAY,
IT AGGRAVATED ME, BECAUSE
I HAD SOMETHING ON INSTAGRAM
ABOUT STUDYING THE WORD,
AND WE HAD 42,000 HITS,
AND THAT THING WITH ME DANCING
GOT OVER A MILLION POINT FOUR.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I THINK, “MAYBE
I’M IN THE WRONG BUSINESS.
MAYBE I’VE GOT A SECOND BACKUP
JOB HERE, I CAN DANCE AND GET
A LOT OF PEOPLE TO WATCH THAT.
SO, ASK.
HOW MANY OF YOU AGREE THAT
SOMETIMES WE JUST KIND
OF FEEL LIKE, WELL, MAYBE
WE SHOULDN’T ASK FOR THAT?
YOU KNOW, IT’S LIKE–OR WE
THINK GOD’S MAD AT US.
CAN I TELL YOU THAT GOD’S
NOT MAD AT YOU?
AND EVEN IF YOU’VE DONE
SOMETHING WRONG, YOU CAN
SIMPLY REPENT, BE SORRY FOR IT,
BE WILLING TO GO IN A BRAND
NEW DIRECTION,
AND IT’S AS IF YOU NEVER DID IT,
AND YOU CAN ASK GOD
FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU NEED.
I REMEMBER A WOMAN THAT
I MET IN A STORE,
SHE WAS A CLERK IN THE STORE.
AND WE TALKED WHILE SHE
WAS WAITING ON ME, AND SOMEHOW
OR ANOTHER I FOUND OUT
SHE WAS A CHRISTIAN.
AND I WAS ASKING HER HOW THEY
WERE PAID, WERE THEY
ON COMMISSION, OR JUST GET
A SALARY, OR WHAT?
SHE SAID, “WELL, WE’RE SALARIED,
BUT WE HAVE TO MEET CERTAIN
CRITERIA, WE HAVE TO MEET
CERTAIN GOALS, OR WE WILL
EVENTUALLY LOSE OUR JOBS.”
AND SHE SAID, “I’M A LITTLE
CONCERNED, BECAUSE MINE
HAVE BEEN KINDA LOW LATELY.”
AND I SAID TO HER, WHICH SOUNDS
VERY NORMAL TO ME, I SAID,
“WELL, DO YOU EVER PRAY THAT
GOD WILL GIVE YOU FAVOR,
AND SEND CUSTOMERS TO YOU?”
AND SHE SAID–SHE’D BEEN
A CHRISTIAN 30 YEARS,
AND SHE SAID, “WELL, WOULD
IT BE OKAY TO ASK GOD
FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?”
I SAID, “YOU CAN ASK GOD FOR
ANYTHING, YOU KNOW, THE WORST
THING THAT’S GONNA HAPPEN
IS HE WON’T GIVE IT TO YOU.”
SO, IT’S NOT–YOU DON’T
HAVE TO BE AFRAID.
AND I LOVE THESE, “WELL, GOD,
IF YOU’LL JUST DO THIS,
AND IF YOU’LL JUST DO THAT.”
LET’S QUIT GOING TO GOD WITH
THESE LITTLE BITTY–YOU KNOW,
AFRAID THAT HE WON’T
DO VERY MUCH FOR US,
AND START ASKING BOLDLY,
LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS.
OBVIOUSLY, YOU NEED TO HAVE
THE RIGHT HEART OF REVERENCE
AND, YOU KNOW,
RESPECT FOR GOD.
BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT YOU–GOD WANTS TO HEAR
YOUR VOICE, AND HE WANTS
TO HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.
AND HE WANTS YOU TO ASK HIM
FOR THINGS THAT YOU WANT
AND NEED, BUT AS YOU’RE GONNA
SEE TODAY, HE WANTS US TO CARE
MORE ABOUT SPIRITUAL THINGS
THAN MATERIAL THINGS.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, I’M NOT
NECESSARILY TALKING ABOUT:
“WILL YOU GET ME A NEW CAR?”
“WILL YOU GET ME THIS?”
“WILL YOU GET ME THAT?”
OR “GET ME SOMETHING ELSE?”
‘CAUSE THE BIBLE PLAINLY SAYS,
THAT IF WE SEEK FIRST
THE KINGDOM, THAT THINGS
WILL BE ADDED.
“SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM
OF GOD AND (HIS WAY OF BEING
AND DOING), AND THINGS
WILL BE ADDED.”
AND IT SAYS, “DELIGHT YOURSELF
IN THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE
YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART.”
SO, YOU CAN JUST HAVE SOMETHING
IN YOUR HEART THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE.
AND IF YOU’RE MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT GROWING SPIRITUALLY,
AND THOSE ARE THE THINGS
THAT YOU STUDY AND ASK FOR,
THEN GOD WILL DO THOSE THINGS,
BUT HE’LL ADD AS A BONUS
THOSE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART.
I THINK ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
WE DON’T GET OUR PRAYERS
ANSWERED, IS BECAUSE WE’RE
JUST GOING AFTER MATERIAL
STUFF ALL THE TIME, AND NOT
THE THINGS THAT REALLY–
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND YOU’RE GONNA SEE
IN A MINUTE, I’M GONNA TAKE
THE TIME TO READ TO YOU
THE PRAYERS OF THE APOSTLE PAUL,
THAT HE PRAYED FOR THE CHURCH,
THEY’RE IN EPHESIANS,
PHILIPPIANS, COLOSSIANS,
AND GALATIANS, I THINK.
AND NOT ONCE, NOT ONE TIME
IN ANY OF THOSE PRAYERS,
DID PAUL EVER ASK FOR ANY
OF THE PEOPLE TO BE DELIVERED
FROM THEIR PROBLEMS.
NOR DID HE ASK FOR ONE
MATERIAL THING FOR HIMSELF,
OR FOR ANY OF THEM.
HE ASKED FOR THINGS THAT,
LIKE THAT PEOPLE WOULD KNOW
THE HEIGHT, THE DEPTH,
THE LENGTH, AND THE BREATH
OF THE LOVE THAT GOD
HAD FOR THEM.
AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE
REVELATION, KNOWLEDGE.
EVERYTHING HE ASKED FOR, WAS
SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE
THEM MORE MATURE SPIRITUALLY,
BUT GOD STILL TOOK CARE OF,
AND MET THEIR NEEDS.
SPEND TIME EVERY DAY PRAYING.
AND ONCE AGAIN,
THAT DOESN’T MEAN YOU HAVE
TO GO OFF IN A CORNER,
AND GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES,
AND SHUT YOUR EYES,
AND START SOUNDING SPIRITUAL.
IT MEANS THAT YOU CAN JUST TALK
TO GOD ABOUT WHAT YOU NEED.
AND IT IS GOOD, AS I SAID,
TO HAVE A SET-A-PART
TIME FOR PRAYER.
WHERE YOU’RE–IT’S QUIET,
GET IN A QUIET ATMOSPHERE,
GET QUIET ON THE INSIDE.
AND, YOU KNOW, DO IT REVERENTLY
BECAUSE YOU’RE TALKING TO GOD.
AND YOU’LL BE AMAZED WHAT
HE’LL DO IN YOUR LIFE.
“AND I WILL DO–” VERSE 13,
JOHN 14:13, “AND I WILL
DO WHATEVER YOU ASK
IN MY NAME, SO THAT THE FATHER
MAY BE GLORIFIED IN THE SON.
YOU MAY ASK ME FOR ANYTHING
IN MY NAME, AND I WILL DO IT.”
NOW, I’M GONNA HAVE TO ADMIT
TO YOU THAT AFTER 45 YEARS
OF TEACHING, I STILL CAN’T FULLY
GRASP THOSE SCRIPTURES.
THAT WE CAN ASK FOR ANYTHING,
AND HE’LL DO IT.
SO, WE ALSO HAVE TO INTERPRET
SCRIPTURE BY SCRIPTURE,
WHICH MEANS THAT YOU CAN’T
JUST PULL ONE SCRIPTURE
OUT OF THE MIDDLE AND MAKE
THAT EVERYTHING.
THERE ARE OTHER SCRIPTURES
THAT SAY, THAT WHATEVER
WE ASK ACCORDING TO HIS WILL,
THAT HE’LL GIVE US.
SO, GOD LISTENS TO OUR PRAYERS,
AND HE GIVES US WHAT
HE KNOWS IS BEST FOR US,
AND HE DOES IT IN HIS TIMING.
JOHN 15:7 AND 8, “IF YOU REMAIN
IN ME AND MY WORDS REMAIN
IN YOU, ASK WHATEVER YOU WISH,
AND IT WILL BE DONE.”
EVERYBODY SAY, “ASK.”
AUDIENCE: ASK.
JOYCE: “THIS IS TO MY
FATHER’S GLORY THAT
YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT,
SHOWING YOURSELF
AS MY DISCIPLES.”
JOHN 15:16, “YOU DIDN’T CHOOSE
ME, I CHOSE YOU AND I APPOINTED
YOU THAT YOU MIGHT GO AND BEAR
FRUIT–FRUIT THAT WILL LAST–
SO THAT WHATEVER YOU ASK
IN MY NAME THE FATHER
WILL GIVE IT TO YOU.”
THESE ARE SOME OUTRAGEOUS
PROMISES, DO YOU KNOW THAT?
I MEAN, THIS IS–WHAT
AN OUTRAGEOUS INVITATION.
“I AM GOD, COME TO ME
AND ASK ME FOR ANYTHING,
AND I’LL DO IT.”
WOW.
SOMEBODY SAY, “WOW.”
AUDIENCE: WOW.
JOYCE: YOU’RE LOOKING
AT ME LIKE, HUH?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU GOTTA
BE BOLD IN YOUR PRAYERS.
YOU KNOW, ONE TIME, I FELT–
IT JUST CAME TO MY HEART.
AND PROBABLY, YOU’LL JUST SAY,
I’M STUPID,
BUT I PRAYED THAT I’D BE ABLE
TO HELP EVERY PERSON
ON THE WHOLE PLANET.
I MEAN, I EVEN THOUGHT MYSELF,
“NOW, THAT’S DUMB,” YOU KNOW.
BUT I PRAYED IT ANYWAY.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I’M SURE THAT I HAVEN’T REACHED
‘EM ALL, BUT WE’RE PREACHING
IN OVER 100 LANGUAGES, IN ABOUT
TWO-THIRDS OF THE WORLD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, YOU KNOW
HOW AMAZING THAT IS?
THAT A WOMAN WITH A 12th GRADE
EDUCATION, THAT STARTED OUT
BROKEN-HEARTED AND MESSED UP,
IS HAVING THE PRIVILEGE
OF PREACHING TO THAT MANY
PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: BUT LET’S REMEMBER,
I ASKED.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I ASKED FOR SOMETHING
THAT SOUNDED OUTRAGEOUS,
THAT I DID NOT DESERVE,
AND GOD DID IT.
I WONDER HOW MANY THINGS
YOU’RE MISSING, OR I’M MISSING,
BECAUSE WE JUST DON’T ASK.
AND WE GET THAT THE DEVIL
WANTS US TO HAVE THAT IDEA,
“I DON’T DESERVE IT.”
AND YOU SHOULD THANK
HIM FOR REMINDING YOU,
BECAUSE HE’S RIGHT.
YOU DON’T DESERVE IT.
I DON’T DESERVE IT.
BUT THAT’S THE GREAT THING ABOUT
GOD, WHEN WE GO IN JESUS’ NAME,
WE’RE NOT PRESENTING TO GOD
ALL THAT WE ARE,
WE’RE PRESENTING WHAT JESUS IS.
THAT’S WHAT THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE
SAYS, WHEN YOU PRAY IN HIS NAME,
YOU’RE PRESENTING TO GOD,
ALL THAT JESUS IS.
WHEN HE LEFT, HE SAID
I’LL GIVE YOU MY NAME.
AND WE USE IT,
WE HAVE THE POWER OF ATTORNEY
TO USE JESUS’ NAME,
JUST AS IF IT WAS HIM.
JOHN 16:26-27, “IN THAT DAY
YOU WILL ASK IN MY NAME.
I’M NOT SAYING THAT I WILL ASK
THE FATHER ON YOUR BEHALF.
NO, THE FATHER LOVES YOU BECAUSE
YOU’VE LOVED ME AND HAVE
BELIEVED THAT I CAME FROM GOD.”
HE SAID, “I’M NOT GONNA ASK
FOR YOU, I’M GIVING YOU MY NAME,
AND I’M GIVING YOU THE POWER
TO GO STRAIGHT TO GOD AND ASK
HIM FOR WHAT YOU WANT AND NEED.”
I WONDER IF ANYBODY IS GETTIN’
AN INKLING OF HOW
POWERFUL THIS IS.
WOW.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ALMOST MAKES
ME WANNA DO NOTHING
BUT PRAY ALL THE TIME.
THIS WAS HIS INSTRUCTION PRIOR
TO THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE,
WHERE HIS SUFFERING BEGAN.
AND WE MISS A GREAT DEAL IN LIFE
BECAUSE WE FAIL TO PRAY.
THERE’S SO MUCH MORE THAT GOD
WANTS TO DO FOR YOU THAN
WHAT YOU CAN EVEN IMAGINE.
“GOD IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY
ABUNDANTLY ABOVE AND BEYOND
ALL THAT WE COULD EVER DARE
TO HOPE, ASK, OR THINK.”
C’MON, I DARE YOU TO BE DARING
IN YOUR PRAYERS.
JUST LIKE WHEN I ASKED TO HELP
EVERY PERSON ON THE PLANET,
THAT–I MEAN, I DID THAT,
AND IT SOUNDED STUPID
EVEN TO ME.
BUT I ASKED.
JAMES 4:2, NOW, I READ THAT
TO YOU IN OUR TEACHING
THIS MORNING.
AND THIS IS A DIFFERENT
TRANSLATION, IT SAYS,
“YOU DESIRE BUT YOU
DO NOT HAVE, SO YOU KILL.”
WHICH REALLY MEANS
YOU HATE PEOPLE.
YOU KNOW, IT’S PITIFUL
BUT SOMETIMES WE DO.
WE RESENT AND DISLIKE
AND SOMETIMES EVEN HATE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE WHAT WE WOULD
LIKE TO HAVE, AND DON’T HAVE.
DON’T BE–IF WE’RE JEALOUS
OF WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS,
WE’LL NEVER GET WHAT WE WANT.
DID YOU HEAR WHAT I SAID?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AS LONG AS WE’RE
JEALOUS OF WHAT SOMEBODY
ELSE HAS, WE WILL NEVER
GET WHAT WE WANT.
I THINK SOMETIMES IT’S A TEST
THAT GOD GIVES US, TO JUST PUT
SOMEBODY IN FRONT OF US THAT’S
GOT EVERYTHING THAT WE’D LIKE
TO HAVE, AND THAT WE DON’T HAVE,
JUST TO SEE IF WE’LL BE HAPPY
FOR THEM, OR IF WE’RE GONNA
BE JEALOUS OF THEM
AND DISLIKE THEM.
JEALOUSY IS A BIG PROBLEM.
IF YOU’RE JEALOUS OF A SIBLING,
OR YOU’RE JEALOUS OF SOMEBODY
YOU WORK WITH, YOU NEED TO ASK
GOD TO FORGIVE YOU FOR THAT,
AND START PRAYING FOR THEM
TO BE BLESSED EVEN MORE
THAN THEY ARE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, I JUST
NOTICED RECENTLY–OF COURSE,
IN EACH OF THE GOSPELS THERE’S
A LITTLE DIFFERENT ACCOUNT
OF WHEN JESUS WAS IN THE GARDEN
OF GETHSEMANE, AND GOING
THROUGH WHAT WE REFER
TO AS HIS AGONY.
AND I DON’T KNOW IF YOU REALIZE
IT OR NOT, BUT JESUS DIDN’T
WANNA GO TO THE CROSS.
THREE TIMES–THREE SEPARATE
TIMES HE WENT TO THE FATHER
AND SAID, “FATHER, IF POSSIBLE,
LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME:
NEVERTHELESS YOUR WILL
BE DONE, AND NOT MINE.”
SO, WITH EVERYTHING
IN HIM, HE DID NOT WANT
TO GO TO THE CROSS.
AND I DON’T THINK IT WAS SO MUCH
BECAUSE OF THE CRUCIFIXION,
AS IT WAS HIM TAKING
OUR SINS ON HIMSELF.
I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE HOW
HORRIBLE THAT MUST HAVE BEEN
FOR SOMEBODY AS AMAZING
AND HOLY AS HE IS, TO TAKE
THE SIN OF THE WHOLE WORLD.
THE BIBLE SAYS, “HE BECAME SIN.”
WOW!
“IF IT’S POSSIBLE, LET THIS CUP
PASS FROM ME: NEVERTHELESS YOUR
WILL BE DONE, AND NOT MINE.”
SO, AS MUCH AS HE DID NOT WANT
TO GO TO THE CROSS,
HE WANTED TO DO GOD’S WILL.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THAT KINDA GOT ME JUST
THINKING ABOUT WHAT THAT MUST
HAVE BEEN LIKE FOR HIM.
AND YET, HE DID IT FOR US.
AND HE GAVE US THE PRIVILEGE
OF GOING TO GOD IN PRAYER,
AND ASKING IN HIS NAME, FOR
WHATEVER WE WANT AND NEED.
IT’S AMAZING.
YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE
YOU ASK NOT.
YOU KNOW, THAT LITTLE VERSE
OF SCRIPTURE WAS KIND OF LIFE
CHANGING FOR ME.
BECAUSE IN THE AMPLIFIED,
IT TALKS ABOUT WHAT CAUSES
STRIFE, AND FIGHTS, AND FEUDS,
AND QUARRELS, AND IT SAYS,
YOU WANT ALL THIS STUFF,
AND YOU’RE NOT GETTIN’ IT,
SO YOU FIGHT, AND YOU WAR,
AND YOUR JEALOUS
OF OTHER PEOPLE.
THEN IT VERY SIMPLY SAYS,
“YOU HAVE NOT BECAUSE
YOU ASK NOT.”
WHEN I GOT A HOLD OF THAT
I THOUGHT, “WELL, I’M DONE BEING
CAREFUL, I’M GONNA START ASKING
FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING
THAT I CAN THINK OF,
THAT I WOULD WANT.”
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WHY NOT?
NOW, YOU KNOW,
WE ALREADY KNOW IF WE’RE
JUST GONNA GO TO GOD
ASKING FOR CARNAL STUFF,
THEN OUR MOTIVES ARE ALL WRONG,
HE’S NOT GONNA GIVE IT TO US.
MATTER OF FACT, I’VE LEARNED
A GREAT DEAL IN 45 YEARS,
WHICH I’M SURE YOU UNDERSTAND.
I REMEMBER ONE TIME WHEN GOD
MADE ME AWARE, AND I THINK
IT WAS WHEN I WAS STUDYING
THESE PRAYERS OF PAUL, THAT
I WAS ASKING FOR TOO MUCH STUFF,
AND NOT ENOUGH OF WHAT
WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND GOD WAS REALLY, AT THAT
TIME IN MY LIFE, TEACHING
ME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF HIS PRESENCE,
P-R-E-S-E-N-C-E,
NOT HIS PRESENTS,
P-R-E-S-E-N-T-S.
AND GOD CHALLENGED ME TO NOT
ASK HIM FOR ANYTHING, UNTIL
HE GAVE ME PERMISSION TO AGAIN,
EXCEPT HIM.
DON’T ASK ME FOR ANYTHING
EXCEPT MORE OF ME.
TRY THAT FOR A WHILE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND IT WAS
CHALLENGING.
YOU KNOW, THINGS WOULD COME
UP IN ME, AND I’D START TO ASK
GOD FOR SOMETHING, AND I’D SAY,
“OH, NEVER MIND, ALL I NEED
IS MORE OF YOU, MORE OF YOU.”
SEE, IF WE GET THINGS
IN THE RIGHT ORDER, THEN THERE’S
NOTHING, NOTHING GOOD THIS
WORLD CAN OFFER, THAT GOD
DOESN’T WANT YOU TO HAVE.
DO WE REALLY THINK
HE MAKES ALL THE GOOD
STUFF FOR THE SINNERS?
BUT HE WANTS US TO BE ABLE
TO HANDLE THEM RIGHT.
3 JOHN 1:2, “BELOVED, I WOULD
ABOVE ALL ELSE, THAT YOU
PROSPER AND BE IN HEALTH,
EVEN AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS.”
AND SO, WE COULD SAY THAT
A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY.
“ACCORDING TO YOUR LEVEL
OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
AND ABILITY TO HANDLE IT,
I WANT YOU TO HAVE ANYTHING
AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT.”
BUT GOD IS NOT GONNA GIVE
US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE,
AND HANDLE IT RIGHT.
AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
MONEY CAN BE DANGEROUS,
IF IT’S NOT BEING MANAGED
BY SOMEBODY WHO LOVES GOD,
I MEAN, WITH ALL OF THEIR HEART.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THERE’S SO MANY PEOPLE
IN ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS,
AND I’M SURE IN OTHERS,
THAT THEY START OUT RIGHT
AND THEN THEY GET FAMOUS,
AND THEY START GETTIN’ MONEY
AND THEY START GETTIN’ THINGS,
AND PRESSURE STARTS COMING
ON ‘EM TO DO THIS AND THAT
AND SOMETHING ELSE,
AND THEN THEY END UP GETTIN’
AWAY FROM GOD.
I ASK GOD ALL THE TIME,
“DON’T GIVE ME, DON’T–PLEASE
DON’T GIVE ME MORE THAN I CAN
HANDLE AND STAY HUMBLE.”
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I DON’T WANT ANYTHING
THAT’S NOT RIGHT FOR ME.
THERE’S NOTHING WORSE THAN
HAVING A BUNCH OF STUFF THAT’S
GONNA DRIVE YOU AWAY FROM GOD,
INSTEAD OF BRINGING YOU
CLOSER TO HIM.
AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING,
THE MORE YOU HAVE,
THE MORE YOU SHOULD GIVE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU START
WHERE YOU’RE AT.
YOU START GIVING A PORTION
OF WHAT YOU HAVE,
NO MATTER HOW SMALL IT IS.
WHO’S ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS
WOMEN IN THE BIBLE?
THE WOMAN WHO GAVE SOMETHING
LESS THAN A PENNY,
THE WIDOW’S MITE.
MATTER OF FACT, WE DON’T
EVEN HAVE A DENOMINATION
AS SMALL AS WHAT SHE GAVE.
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE OLD
ENOUGH THAT YOU REMEMBER
WHEN THEY HAD MILLS?
MY GOSH.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ME AND TWO
OTHER PEOPLE?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW, I FEEL REALLY
ANCIENT, COME ON, HELP ME!
YOU GOTTA REMEMBER THAT
DON’T YOU, WHEN THEY HAD
MILLS, THEY HAD RED ONES
AND GREEN ONES, RIGHT?
SEE, I’M GONNA GO OVER HERE
AND TALK TO THE OLDER PEOPLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THEY WERE–
WEREN’T THEY PLASTIC?
THEY WEREN’T EVEN REALLY MADE
OUT OF METAL, THEY WERE
PLASTICKY, I THINK, YEAH.
AND SO, YOU MIGHT GO BUY
SOMETHING, IT WOULD BE SO MANY
DOLLARS, AND SO MANY CENTS,
AND THREE MILLS.
WELL, YEAH, “WHAAAT?”
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, THEY GOT
RID OF THAT.
BUT, SO, LET’S JUST SAY THAT
THIS WIDOW, SHE GAVE MAYBE
TWO MILLS, LESS THAN A PENNY,
AND YET, SHE’S STILL BEING
TALKED ABOUT IN THE BIBLE.
SO, WE’RE NOT TALKIN’ AMOUNT,
WE’RE TALKIN’ SACRIFICE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND JESUS SAID,
“SHE GAVE ALL THAT SHE HAD,
BUT YOU GAVE ONLY A LITTLE
BIT OUT OF A LOT THAT YOU HAD.”
AND I THINK THAT JESUS IS NOT
AS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT
WE GIVE, AS HE IS WHAT WE HAVE
LEFT AFTER WE GIVE.
AMEN?
ALL RIGHT, I’LL GET OFF MONEY
‘CAUSE I KNOW–
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: DO YOU KNOW THAT
PEOPLE TALK TO YOU ABOUT
MONEY EVERYWHERE YOU GO,
BUT THE ONLY PLACE IT BOTHERS
YOU IS IN CHURCH?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, IF YOU THINK
ABOUT THAT, IT QUICKLY GETS
YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHY
THE DEVIL HAS DONE SUCH
A NUMBER IN THAT AREA.
THAT PEOPLE ALWAYS THINK
IF A PREACHER TALKS TO PEOPLE
ABOUT GIVING, THAT HE’S TRYING
TO GET IN THEIR POCKETS.
ANYWAY.
I’M SO GLAD THAT SOMEBODY
TAUGHT ME TO GIVE.
I’M GRATEFUL THAT I CAME INTO
THE CHURCH AT A TIME WHEN
PEOPLE DIDN’T GET AGGRAVATED
IF YOU TALK TO ‘EM ABOUT HOW
THEY COULD PROSPER, AND HOW
GOD WANTED TO BLESS ‘EM.
BUT YOU CAN’T GET THAT OUT
OF BALANCE AND PUT THAT FIRST.
“BELOVED, I WOULD ABOVE
ALL ELSE THAT YOU PROSPER
AND BE IN HEALTH, EVEN
AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS.”
“AS YOU MATURE SPIRITUALLY,
I WANNA GIVE YOU AS MUCH
AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN HANDLE.”
BUT GOD’S NOT GONNA GIVE
US MORE THAN WE CAN HANDLE.
THAT’S WHY WE NEED TO PRAY
FOR THE SPIRITUAL THINGS,
AND LET GOD ADD THE MATERIAL
THINGS AS HE SEES FIT,
AND KNOWS THAT IT’S RIGHT.
ANNOUNCER: DISCOVER
THE FREEDOM TO TALK TO GOD
ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING
WITH TODAY’S OFFER,
“THE POWER OF SIMPLE PRAYER.”
THROUGH HER PRACTICAL
TEACHING, JOYCE HELPS UNRAVEL
THE MYSTERY OF TALKING TO GOD,
AND SHARES THE BUILDING BLOCKS
FOR A MORE RICH, AND INTIMATE
PRAYER RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
AND WHEN YOU ORDER,
YOU’LL ALSO GET THIS
BONUS DIGITAL SERIES
“PRAYERS THAT GET ANSWERED.”
“THE POWER OF SIMPLE PRAYER,”
AND BONUS SERIES
“PRAYERS THAT GET ANSWERED,”
IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER
FOR YOUR GIFT OF…
OR MORE.
CONNECT WITH US RIGHT NOW,
VISIT ONLINE AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG
OR CALL…
[MUSIC]
GINGER: LET ME GIVE YOU
A GREAT EXAMPLE OF HOW
PROJECTGRL WORKS.
YOU SEE, GOD’S LOVE,
REPRESENTED HERE,
HAS TOTALLY CHANGED MY LIFE.
NOW, ALL I NEED TO DO IS SHARE
IT WITH ANOTHER WOMAN OR GIRL.
♪ WALK ALONE ♪
♪ WALK ALONE ♪
♪ WALK ALONE ♪
♪ WE WILL NEVER ♪
♪ WALK ALONE ♪
♪ WALK ALONE ♪
♪ WALK ALONE ♪
♪ WALK ALONE ♪
♪ WE WILL NEVER ♪
♪ WALK ALONE ♪
[MUSIC]
GINGER: HOW MANY TRIPS
HAVE YOU BEEN ON NOW?
ANNA: THIS IS MY THIRD
TRIP WITH HAND OF HOPE.
GINGER: AND, WHAT WAS
THE MAIN REASON THAT YOU
DID WANT TO DO THIS?
YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO TRAVEL,
TO HELP PEOPLE.
ANNA: YES.
IT’S A TOTAL DIFFERENT WORK
AS A DOCTOR HERE THAN BACK
IN MY HOME COUNTRY.
BUT, IT’S REALLY, I FEEL LIKE
I REALLY WANTED TO DO THAT
TO JUST HELP PEOPLE IN POOR
COUNTRIES WHO CANNOT HAVE
ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE.
I DO THAT BECAUSE I LOVE JESUS
AND I HOPE THAT THE PATIENTS
FEEL THAT.
SOMETIMES WE JUST PRAY
RIGHT AT THE INVESTIGATION
TABLE WITH THEM.
SO, JUST TO MAKE THEM KNOW
THAT JESUS IS THE DOCTOR
ALL ABOVE US.
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU HAVE
ENJOYED TODAY’S PROGRAM.
PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG TO SHARE
YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS,
OR PARTNER WITH US IN SHARING
CHRIST AND LOVING PEOPLE
ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE.
THIS PROGRAM HAS
BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.