No matter what’s happened in your past, you can go on to live an extraordinary life! Learn biblical principles that will lead you there, on this episode of Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer.
ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM
HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: I SAID, “GOD HAS
ALWAYS GOT A PLAN.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HE’S ALWAYS GOT
A PLAN.
AND JUST BECAUSE YOU OR I DON’T
KNOW WHAT THE PLAN IS,
THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT GOD
DOESN’T KNOW WHAT IT IS.
FEMALE: WHOO!
JOYCE: YEAH, WHOO!
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: I’M GONNA READ
A LITTLE LIST HERE OF THINGS
THAT WE MAY HAVE TO PRESS
THROUGH: REJECTION, BETRAYAL,
ABANDONMENT, UNFORGIVENESS,
OFFENSE, SELF-PITY,
WANTING TO TAKE REVENGE…
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HARD TIMES AND
TRIALS, TROUBLE YOU DON’T FEEL
LIKE YOU DESERVE,
SELF-CENTEREDNESS, JEALOUSY,
THE DESIRE TO GIVE UP,
DISCOURAGEMENT, DISAPPOINTMENT
WITH PEOPLE, DISAPPOINTMENT
WITH GOD, AND PEOPLE-PLEASING.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAD MORE
THAN THREE?
OKAY, I GOT A CONFESSION.
I LOOKED AT THE LIST AND I HAD
15 OUT OF 16.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THAT DOESN’T MEAN
I HAVE THEM ALL NOW.
THANK GOD, I’VE GOTTEN THROUGH
SOME OF THEM.
BUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE
THINGS, I’VE HAD TO MAJORLY
CONFRONT IN MY LIFE AND NOT
LET THEM TAKE ME OUT.
NOW, I KNOW YOU WANT
TO KNOW WHICH ONE I DIDN’T HAVE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND YOU WON’T BE
ABLE TO SLEEP GOOD TONIGHT,
IF I DON’T TELL YOU, SO.
THE ONLY ONE OF THESE I DID
NOT HAVE WAS DISAPPOINTMENT
WITH GOD.
I DON’T KNOW WHY, BUT FOR SOME
REASON I NEVER BLAMED GOD
FOR ANY OF MY PROBLEMS.
AND I’M GLAD THAT I DIDN’T
BECAUSE I DIDN’T HAVE TOO MANY
FRIENDS AND I REALLY NEEDED HIM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE,
THE FIRST THING THEY DO WHEN
THINGS DON’T GO RIGHT IS THEY
GET MAD AT GOD.
GOD IS NOT CAUSING OUR PROBLEMS,
HE IS THE ANSWER TO OUR
PROBLEMS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WHAT I REALLY WANNA
GET ACROSS TO YOU TONIGHT
IS IT’S TIME TO PRESS INTO
A NEW BEGINNING.
AND, SOME OF YOU NEED A NEW
BEGINNING, RIGHT NOW.
HOW MANY OF YOU NEED A NEW
BEGINNING RIGHT NOW?
OKAY.
WELL, GEE, THAT’S THE WHOLE
CROWD.
I DON’T EVEN HAVE TO SAY THE
OTHER THING I WAS GONNA SAY.
YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NEED A NEW
BEGINNING IN GETTING OUT
OF DEBT.
MAYBE YOU’VE TRIED BEFORE AND
IT’S JUST A PROBLEM FOR YOU.
YOU JUST KEEP SPENDING MONEY,
YOU REALLY SHOULDN’T
BE SPENDING.
MAYBE YOU NEED TO–A NEW
BEGINNING WITH A BAD ATTITUDE.
YOU HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE.
NO?
NOBODY HERE WITH A BAD ATTITUDE,
OKAY.
I’LL TRY SOMETHIN’ ELSE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: MAYBE YOU NEED–
MAYBE YOU’RE THE ONE THAT
NEEDS TO FORGIVE SOMEBODY,
MAYBE.
IF NOT, YOU CAN TRY TO BUY THIS
TEACHING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: MAYBE YOU NEED A NEW
BEGINNING IN EATING BETTER.
PEOPLE LOOK AT ME AND SAY,
“HOW CAN–AT YOUR AGE,
HOW CAN YOU BE IN THAT GOOD
OF SHAPE AND BE SO LITTLE.”
WELL, I DON’T EAT EVERYTHING
I WANT AND I WORKOUT
3 DAYS A WEEK.
AND FOR A LONG TIME,
I WALKED FIVE MILES A DAY UNTIL
I STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH
MY FEET AND I CAN’T DO THAT
ANYMORE, SO I’LL JUST FIND SOME
OTHER WAY TO GET THE DEVIL.
AMEN?
I GOT–
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YEAH, WELL, YOU DON’T
NEED TO KNOW WHAT I GOT.
I GOT PLANTAR FASCIITIS
AND THEN I GOT THAT TAKEN CARE
OF AND THEN I GOT SOME
KINDA TENDONITIS.
YOU KNOW, THERE’S JUST STUFF ALL
OVER YOUR BODY AND IT ALL WANTS
TO GET SOME KIND OF AN ITIS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN,
THERE’S SO MANY ITISES
IT’S NOT EVEN FUNNY.
COLONITIS, AND BURSITIS, AND
ANYWAY…
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WE ALL NEED NEW
BEGINNINGS ALL THE TIME.
YOU KNOW, WE GET STARTED AND
WE’RE GOING GOOD FOR A WHILE.
MAYBE YOU NEED A NEW BEGINNING
IN YOUR PRAYER LIFE.
MAYBE YOU NEED A NEW BEGINNING
IN BIBLE STUDY.
MAYBE YOU NEED A NEW BEGINNING
IN REGULAR GIVING?
I DON’T KNOW HOW THIS MESSAGE
COULDN’T BE FOR EVERYBODY
IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM.
OKAY, PAUL SAID, “THAT I MAY
KNOW HIM AND THE POWER
OF HIS RESURRECTION–”
PHILIPPIANS 3:10-14.
“AND MAY SHARE HIS SUFFERINGS,
BECOMING LIKE HIM IN HIS DEATH.”
SO, THE APOSTLE PAUL IS TELLING
US RIGHT THERE THAT IF WE
WANNA BECOME LIKE JESUS,
WE’RE GONNA HAVE TO SHARE
SOME OF HIS SUFFERINGS.
AND THAT’S NOT A CURSE WORD,
IT’S A BIBLE WORD.
“THAT BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE
I MAY ATTAIN THE RESURRECTION
FROM THE DEAD.
NOT THAT I’VE ALREADY OBTAINED
THIS OR AM ALREADY MADE
PERFECT, BUT I–” WHAT?
AUDIENCE: PRESS ON.
JOYCE: HUH, “PRESS ON TO
MAKE IT MY OWN, BECAUSE CHRIST
JESUS HAS MADE ME HIS OWN.”
IN ESSENCE, HE’S SAYING,
“IF I THINK ABOUT WHAT JESUS
DID FOR ME, WHAT HE WENT THROUGH
FOR ME…”
COME ON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: “THEN I AM DETERMINED
THAT I AM GONNA PRESS THROUGH
WHATEVER I HAVE TO PRESS
THROUGH, AND BE THE PERSON THAT
JESUS DIED FOR ME TO BE.”
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: “BROTHERS, I DON’T
CONSIDER THAT I’VE MADE
IT MY OWN.
BUT ONE THING I DO–”
WHAT A STATEMENT.
“ONE THING I DO, IT IS MY ONE
ASPIRATION, IT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING TO ME,”
“LETTING GO OF WHAT LIES
BEHIND AND STRAINING–” SEE IT?
“STRAINING FORWARD TO WHAT
LIES AHEAD.”
NOW, I DON’T KNOW IF THIS
IS A HAPPY MESSAGE, RIGHT NOW,
TONIGHT OR NOT.
BUT I DO KNOW THIS.
THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO HEAR ME
TEACH, I AM NOT GONNA FEED YOU
DESSERT EVERY TIME YOU COME.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I’M SORRY,
BUT I’M JUST NOT.
GOD LOVES YOU.
YOU’RE SWEET.
YOU GOT A GREAT FUTURE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THERE’S A MIRACLE
RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FOR YOU.
OH, I CAN TURN IT ON, MAN.
I COULD GET YOU UP ON YOUR
FEET SCREAMIN’ AND YELLIN’ AND
I COULD GO OUT OF HERE FEELING
LIKE, SO, ON TOP OF THE WORLD.
BUT I’VE GOT A JOB TO DO.
AND I’M GONNA BE ACCOUNTABLE
TO GOD FOR DOING IT.
AND I BELIEVE THAT THE JOB THAT
GOD HAS GIVEN ME IS TO HELP
HIS PEOPLE MATURE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
WE LOVE TO SEE PEOPLE GET SAVED.
BUT I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU GET
SAVED AND THEN JUST BE A CARNAL
BELIEVER ALL YOUR LIFE.
I MEAN, CHRISTIANS SHOULD
BE HAPPY.
WE SHOULD BE INFECTIOUS.
PEOPLE SHOULD JUST WANT WHAT
WE’VE GOT.
THEY SHOULD WANNA JUST
BE AROUND US.
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING
DIFFERENT ABOUT US.
WE’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE
EVERYBODY ELSE, AND BE LIKE
THE WORLD.
WE’RE ANOINTED FOR HARD STUFF.
DID YOU HEAR ME?
WE ARE ANOINTED FOR HARD
THINGS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE DON’T NEED–
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE DON’T NEED TO
GLIDE INTO EVERYTHING IN LIFE.
A CHALLENGE REALLY SHOULD
JUST MAKE US GO,
“ALRIGHT BRING IT ON.”
COME ON, YOU KNOW, WE’LL FEEL
MUCH BETTER ABOUT OURSELVES IF
WE GET A LITTLE STIRRED UP AND
PRESS THROUGH THINGS THAN
JUST THIS, “LAZY ME, OH…”
ISAIAH 61 IN VERSE 3 SAYS THAT
GOD GIVES US, “THE OIL OF
GLADNESS FOR MOURNING AND THE
GARMENT OF PRAISE INSTEAD
OF A FAINT OR A HEAVY SPIRIT.”
JESUS WANTS US
TO HAVE A PRESENT EXPECTATION
OF SOMETHING POSITIVE INSTEAD
OF CONSTANTLY MOURNING OVER
WHAT WE’VE LOST.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING
TO MOURN OVER DAILY IF YOU WANT
TO, IT’S NOT THAT DIFFICULT.
ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS SIT AROUND
AND REMEMBER ALL THE BAD
THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED
TO YOU IN YOUR LIFE AND FORGET
ALL THE GOOD.
YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IN HERE,
YOU’VE HAD MORE GOOD THINGS
HAPPEN TO YOU THAN BAD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: EVERYBODY, YOU’VE HAD
MORE GOOD THINGS HAPPEN
TO YOU THAN BAD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE TALK ABOUT HOPE,
AND I WAS AMAZED TO FIND OUT,
WHEN I REALLY DID A THOROUGH
STUDY ON HOPE, THAT HOPE IS NOT
JUST, “WELL, I HOPE…YOU KNOW,
I HOPE SO.”
NO, BIBLE HOPE–AND PETER SAYS
WE’VE, “BEEN BORN AGAIN INTO AN
EVER-LIVING HOPE.”
SO, GUESS WHAT?
YOU–HOPE IS SOMETHING YOU
CAN ALWAYS HAVE.
NO MATTER WHAT KINDA PROBLEM
OR CIRCUMSTANCE YOU GOT,
YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE HOPE.
BUT IT’S NOT JUST,
“WELL, I KINDA WISH GOD WOULD
DO SOMETHING.”
NO, HOPE IS A POSITIVE
EXPECTATION THAT SOMETHING
GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN
TO YOU AT ANY MOMENT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WHAT HAPPENS
IF YOU START GETTING UP WITH
THAT EXPECTATION?
“I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE WHAT GOD
DOES TODAY.
BOY, I BET TODAY’S GONNA
BE GOOD.
ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE
WITH GOD.
THERE’S NO TELLING WHAT HE MAY
DO FOR ME BECAUSE HE LOVES ME.”
[MUSIC]
GINGER: THANK YOU FOR
SITTING DOWN FOR ANOTHER
CANDID CONVERSATION TODAY.
JOYCE: OH, YOU’RE WELCOME.
GINGER: WE’RE GONNA
TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT
NO ONE WANTS TO EXPERIENCE,
BUT PROBABLY MOST OF US DO,
AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER,
AND THAT’S WHEN GOD JUST
FEELS KIND OF DISTANT,
ALMOST LIKE WE CAN’T REACH HIM.
PEOPLE SAY THE PRAYERS
ARE HITTING THE CEILING,
WHATEVER THAT MAY BE.
HAVE YOU HAD TIMES LIKE
THAT IN YOUR LIFE OR WHAT
HAS THAT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU?
JOYCE: I HAVE HAD
IN THE PAST, TO BE VERY HONEST,
I DON’T HAVE ANY MORE
AND I’LL TELL YOU WHY.
BECAUSE I NO LONGER NEED
TO FEEL GOD TO BELIEVE
THAT HE’S THERE.
I THINK THAT AS YOU
GROW AS A BELIEVER,
AND I’VE HAD LOTS
OF TIME TO DO THAT,
YOU BEGIN TO KNOW THINGS.
NOT JUST LIKE KNOW
THEM IN YOUR HEAD,
BUT YOU–YOU KNOW,
THAT YOU KNOW.
IT’S LIKE, IT’S A REVELATION.
AND THERE’S SO MUCH
IN THE BIBLE ABOUT GOD
BEING WITH US ALL THE TIME.
AND HE’S EVER PRESENT.
HE’S EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME.
HE KNOWS EVERYTHING
AND SEES EVERYTHING.
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN US.
AND HE DOES–THERE’S NOWHERE
IN THE BIBLE THAT TELLS
US HE EVER MOVES OUT.
AND SO, IT’S JUST SO IMPORTANT
THAT PEOPLE DON’T LIVE
BY HOW THEY FEEL.
THAT’S A REALLY BIG THING
FOR ME IN MY TEACHING.
I MEAN, I STILL SEE
IT ALL THE TIME.
IT’S LIKE, BOY, IF YOU LIVE
BY HOW YOU FEEL,
YOU’RE JUST REALLY GONNA
HAVE A ROUGH, ROUGH TIME.
NOW, THERE’S ACTUALLY A NAME
FOR WHAT YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.
IT’S CALLED “DRY TIMES.”
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE
DO EXPERIENCE THEM.
BUT LIKE I SAID, I THINK
IT’S A MATTER OF KNOWING.
YOU KNOW, THOMAS,
DOUBTING THOMAS, HE ALWAYS
HAD TO BE SHOWN EVERYTHING.
AND JESUS DID SHOW HIM,
BUT HE SAID,
“BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO
BELIEVE AND HAVE NOT SEEN.”
AND I THINK YOU COULD ALSO
SAY BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO
BELIEVE AND HAVE NOT FELT.
GINGER: THAT’S A GOOD
WAY TO SAY IT, YEAH.
JOYCE: I THINK IF PEOPLE
CAN REALIZE THAT
“I DON’T HAVE TO FEEL IT.
I KNOW.
I KNOW THAT.
I KNOW THAT GOD IS THERE.
I KNOW THAT HE LOVES
ME BECAUSE IT’S IMPOSSIBLE
FOR GOD TO LIE.”
HE’S NOT A MAN THAT
HE SHOULD LIE.
IT’S AN IMPOSSIBILITY
FOR GOD TO LIE.
SO, IF HE SAYS, “FEAR NOT
FOR I AM WITH YOU,”
OR LIKE HE TOLD HIS DISCIPLES
BEFORE HIS ASCENSION,
“FOR LO, I’LL BE WITH YOU ALWAYS
EVEN UNTO THE ENDS
OF THE EARTH.”
AND I LOVE THIS STATEMENT:
GOD IS NO MORE THAN
A THOUGHT AWAY.
YOU KNOW, ALL YOU HAVE
TO DO IS THINK ABOUT GOD.
AND INSTEAD OF THINKING,
“WELL, I JUST DON’T FEEL GOD,”
[MUMBLING].
JUST THINK, “GOD, I DON’T
HAVE TO FEEL YOU,
I KNOW YOU’RE HERE.”
GINGER: YEAH.
YOU KNOW IT–IT’S BEEN A WHILE.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.
AND I THINK NOW THAT
THE THING IS EXPERIENCE.
THE THING IS, I HAVE ENOUGH
OF A BANK OF WHAT I’VE SEEN
AND EXPERIENCED IN GOD,
THAT EVEN WHEN I’M NOT SEEING
IT OR EXPERIENCING IT RIGHT NOW,
I KNOW WHO HE IS.
AND SO, THAT MAKES
SUCH A DIFFERENCE.
BUT THERE ARE STILL THOSE
TIMES WHEN SOMETHING REALLY,
REALLY DIFFICULT HAPPENS.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE,
SOMEONE’S DEALING WITH
A VERY DIFFICULT ILLNESS
AND THEY’RE NOT SEEING
THOSE ANSWERS THAT
THEY’RE ASKING FOR.
IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT
GOD ISN’T WORKING,
BUT WE’RE NOT ALWAYS
SEEING THE RESULTS
OF WHAT HE’S DOING.
SO, THERE ARE THOSE TIMES,
WHETHER IT’S THAT OR A HUGE
CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE,
LOSING SOMEONE REALLY
CLOSE TO YOU, THAT FOR ME,
IT IS AN EASY PLACE
FOR ME TO SLIDE INTO,
WHETHER IT’S THINKING GOD
IS DISTANT OR EVEN BEING
ANGRY BECAUSE HE ALLOWED
THESE THINGS TO HAPPEN.
AND I DO HAVE
TO BE VERY CAREFUL,
THAT I PULL MYSELF BACK
AND CORRECT THAT THOUGHT
PATTERN AND ADJUST BECAUSE
IT’S VERY SIMPLE TO GET THERE.
JOYCE: WELL, I CAN TELL YOU,
YOU KNOW, JUST TO KIND
OF GO BACK TO YOUR
ORIGINAL QUESTION,
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT
I DON’T EVER SOUND LIKE
“OVERLY SPIRITUAL,” LIKE I DON’T
EVER HAVE ANY PROBLEMS.
BECAUSE IF I…
GINGER: NO, YOU’RE
SO PRACTICAL AND REAL
I DON’T THINK YOU HAVE
TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.
JOYCE: I GO BY HOW I FEEL…
GINGER: YEAH.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW,
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN–
MANY TIMES, WHEN I DON’T FEEL
LIKE I’M HEARING FROM GOD OR,
YOU KNOW, MATTER OF FACT,
HE’S PRETTY SILENT SOMETIMES
FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
AND I’D MUCH RATHER HE TALK.
I MEAN, I LOVE TO JUST GET
ONE WORD FROM GOD
OR, YOU KNOW,
ONE SPECIAL TOUCH FROM GOD,
ONE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING.
AND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN
I DO FEEL CLOSER TO GOD
THAN OTHER TIMES.
BUT I THINK, LIKE, YOU SAID,
EXPERIENCE AND KNOWING
THAT THE WORD IS TRUE.
AND I WONDER HOW MUCH
OF THE BIBLE WE REALLY BELIEVE,
YOU KNOW, OR HOW MUCH
OF IT WE HAVE TO FEEL OR SEE.
AND WE WALK BY FAITH.
WE DON’T WALK BY WHAT WE FEEL
OR WHAT WE THINK OR SEE.
AND WE’D ALL RATHER
HAVE FEELINGS.
I MEAN, WHO WOULDN’T?
I’D RATHER FEEL GOD,
BUT I JUST–
I THINK I WENT THROUGH
ENOUGH OF THAT,
THAT I FINALLY JUST
WORE MYSELF OUT.
WHETHER IT’S LIKE–I JUST–
I DON’T WANT TO, “WELL,
GOD IS HERE IF I FEEL HIM.
AND HE’S NOT, IF I DON’T.”
“HE’S WORKING IF I SEE
SOMETHING, AND HE’S NOT
WORKING IF I DON’T.”
YOU KNOW, I’VE LEARNED TO–
GINGER: THAT’S A GREAT POINT.
WE CAN’T LIVE ON THAT
ROLLER COASTER.
JOYCE: NO, YOU JUST–
AND THAT’S–
YOU START TO FEEL LIKE A YO-YO,
YOU KNOW, IT’S LIKE–
AND THAT’S NOT THE REALM
GOD WANTS US TO LIVE IN.
THAT’S LIVING IN THAT
SOULLESS REALM.
AND HE WANTS US TO GO DEEPER
THAN THAT TO BELIEVE
WHAT HE SAYS NO MATTER
WHAT WE FEEL LIKE.
AND I LOVE THE STORY,
IT’S IN LUKE, CHAPTER FIVE,
WHERE THE DISCIPLES HAD BEEN
FISHING ALL NIGHT AND THEY
HADN’T CAUGHT ANYTHING,
AND THEY WERE WASHING
THEIR NETS AND PUTTING
EVERYTHING AWAY.
AND JESUS SAID,
“GO OUT IN THE DEEP WATER
AND YOU’LL CATCH SOME.”
AND IF YOU READ
IT IN THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE,
PETER BASICALLY SAID,
“WELL, I DON’T FEEL LIKE IT.
I DON’T WANT TO,
AND I DON’T THINK
IT’S GONNA WORK.”
BUT–
GINGER: THOSE THREE THINGS.
YEAH, HOW MANY TIMES HAVE
WE ALL SAID THOSE THINGS?
JOYCE: YEAH, BUT, I MEAN,
HE DIDN’T SAY
‘EM EXACTLY LIKE THAT,
BUT IF YOU REALLY READ
IT AND SEE THE ESSENCE
OF WHAT HE WAS SAYING,
THAT’S EXACTLY
WHAT HE WAS SAYING.
“BUT WE–WE FISHED ALL NIGHT
WE DIDN’T CATCH ANYTHING.
THIS ISN’T GONNA WORK.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE’RE TIRED,
WE’RE EXHAUSTED.
WE DON’T–WE DON’T FEEL
LIKE DOING THIS.
WE DON’T–WE DON’T
WANT TO DO THIS.
BUT ON THE GROUND
OF YOUR WORD,
WE WILL LOWER
THE NETS AGAIN.”
AND I LOVE THAT.
AND I THINK THAT’S THE PLACE
THAT GOD WANTS US TO COME TO,
THAT NO MATTER WHAT I THINK,
OR WHAT I WANT,
OR WHAT I FEEL,
IF GOD’S WORD SAYS IT,
THEN I BELIEVE IT.
I MEAN, REALLY,
WHY DO WE BELIEVE
OUR FEELINGS SO MUCH?
YOU KNOW, FEELINGS ARE FICKLE.
AND THEY–YOU CAN FEEL ONE
WAY ONE NIGHT AND THE NEXT
MORNING FEEL SOMETHING
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
AND FEELINGS WILL DISAPPEAR
WHEN YOU WANT ‘EM AND COME
WHEN YOU DON’T WANT ‘EM.
AND SO, THEY’RE VERY FICKLE.
WE CAN’T–WE CAN ENJOY
THE GOOD ONES.
BUT, BOY, IF YOU START DEPENDING
ON YOUR FEELINGS,
YOU ARE GONNA HAVE A ROUGH,
ROUGH GO.
AND SAME THING WITH YOUR MIND.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY
CAREFUL WHEN YOU’RE
THINKING SOMETHING,
IS IT JUST YOUR THOUGHT
OR IS IT REALLY A GOD THOUGHT?
IT JUST TAKES SO MUCH PRESSURE
OUT OF YOU IF YOU CAN GET
TO THAT PLACE.
AND I DON’T KNOW THAT YOU CAN
WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN
EXPERIENCE, TO BE HONEST.
I THINK THAT SOME OF THESE
THINGS, GINGER, JUST TAKE TIME.
YOU KNOW, WE’RE GROWING.
WE’RE GROWING SPIRITUALLY.
AND I THINK A CHRISTIAN WHO
HAS TO ALWAYS SEE SOMETHING
AND FEEL SOMETHING
TO BELIEVE IT–AND I DON’T
MEAN THIS INSULTINGLY,
BUT A GOOD EXAMPLE,
IT’S LIKE A BABY
WITH A PACIFIER.
YOU KNOW, THEY’RE NOT
GONNA BE SATISFIED
UNLESS THEY GOT THEIR BINKY.
AND SO, ALL THOSE FEELINGS
ARE KIND OF LIKE OUR BINKY,
YOU KNOW, WE WANNA FEEL
EVERYTHING AND WE’RE
JUST NOT GOING TO.
GINGER: YOU KNOW,
IT REMINDS ME,
OUR GRANDSON WAS IN HIS CRIB,
AND THEY WERE TRYING
TO WEAN HIM OFF OF THE BINKY.
AND SO, WHEN HE WAKES UP,
YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO TAKE
THE BINKY AWAY.
SO, I POPPED IT OUT
OF HIS MOUTH,
AND HE HAD TWO MORE
IN HIS HAND.
HE JUST POPPED
ANOTHER ONE BACK IN,
AND I TOOK THAT ONE OUT,
AND HE POPPED
ANOTHER ONE BACK IN.
HE HAD BINKIES EVERYWHERE.
JOYCE: OH, MY GOODNESS.
GINGER: AND WE GET THAT WAY.
WE REACH FOR EVERYTHING.
WE THINK WE HAVE
TO HAVE THE FEELINGS.
AND WE REACH FOR ALL
THESE DIFFERENT THINGS
WHEN GOD IS RIGHT THERE.
AND IF WE COULD JUST LET
GO OF ALL THAT OTHER STUFF
THAT WE’RE HOLDING ON TO,
TO FEEL RIGHT OR TO HAVE
OUR LIFE THE WAY WE THINK
WE WANT IT TO BE,
IF WE CAN LET GO OF THAT,
GOD IS NEARER THAN
WE THINK HE IS.
JOYCE: THERE’S A SCRIPTURE
IN ISAIAH, AND I DON’T
REMEMBER THE REFERENCE,
BUT IT SAYS THAT GOD WILL
REMOVE THE PROPS OUT
FROM UNDER US.
AND I THINK ABOUT
LIKE SOMETIMES WHEN
A NEW TREE IS PLANTED
AND IT’S A LITTLE SKINNY TREE,
THEY’LL PUT WOODEN PROPS
GOING FOUR DIFFERENT
WAYS TO KEEP IT GOING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
AND SO, A LOT OF TIMES THESE
OTHER THINGS WE NEED,
THESE FEELINGS,
AND THESE YOU KNOW,
RIGHT THOUGHTS OR TO SEE
SOMETHING HAPPENING
ALL THE TIME,
THEY’RE LIKE THOSE PROPS.
BUT THE TIME WILL COME WHEN
GOD WILL REMOVE THOSE PROPS.
AND IT EVEN SAYS
IN PSALMS THAT HE TESTS
AND TRIES OUR EMOTIONS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, GOD WILL–
HE’LL TAKE THOSE THINGS AWAY.
NOW, THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT
YOU NEVER FEEL ANYTHING.
BUT WE DO HAVE TO COME
TO THE POINT WHERE WE’RE
NOT DEPENDING ON THAT.
OTHERWISE, YOU CAN SEE–
I MEAN, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
HERE’S A GOOD EXAMPLE.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN
I GET DONE PREACHING
AND I JUST FEEL LIKE IT WAS
JUST ABSOLUTELY NO GOOD.
NOW, THAT DOESN’T
HAPPEN TO ME OFTEN,
BUT IT DOES HAPPEN.
EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE,
I’LL BE PREACHING AND I’M JUST–
IT’S–FOR SOME REASON,
IT’S REALLY HARD
FOR ME THAT DAY.
AND I WILL–SURE ENOUGH,
THAT’LL BE THE DAY WHEN
SOMEBODY’LL SAY, “MAN,
WHAT YOU SAID TODAY,
CHANGED MY LIFE.”
AND SO, IT’S NOT GOOD OR BAD
BECAUSE I FEEL IT’S GOOD OR BAD.
GINGER: YEAH, THAT’S SUCH
A GOOD POINT.
JOYCE: I MEAN,
GOD IS FAITHFUL.
AND HE–
I’VE DONE MY PART,
WHEN I GET UP THERE,
AND HE’S NOT GONNA
LEAVE ME STRANDED.
AND SOMETIMES, EVEN,
THERE’S SO MANY THINGS
THAT AFFECT US.
AND SOMETIMES, EVEN,
IF I JUST DON’T FEEL REAL GREAT,
IT’LL MAKE THE MESSAGE
SEEM A LOT DIFFERENT
TO ME THAN IF I DO.
AND I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL
ABOUT WATCHING WHAT
OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING.
YOU KNOW, I USUALLY–I DON’T
LIKE WHEN I’M PREACHING,
TO LOOK AT SOMEBODY THAT’S
YAWNING ALL THE TIME,
YOU KNOW?
GINGER: WHO WOULD, YEAH?
JOYCE: I WANNA LOOK
AT SOMEBODY THAT’S TAKING
NOTES AND, YOU KNOW,
REALLY INTO IT.
AND SO, THE–
WE ARE A SPIRIT,
WE HAVE A SOUL,
AND WE LIVE IN A BODY.
AND OUR SOUL IS OUR MIND,
OUR WILL, AND OUR EMOTIONS.
AND SO, IT’S A NEW BIRTH.
GOD COMES TO LIVE INSIDE OF US,
BUT IT’S IN THAT DEEP PART
OF US WHERE NOBODY REALLY,
BUT US AND GOD, KNOW ABOUT.
AND GOD WANTS TO–IN ORDER
TO SHOW, FOR US TO SHOW
HIM TO THE WORLD,
HE HAS TO ALSO OWN OUR SOUL.
AND SO, THAT’S THE WHOLE
MATURING AND THE GROWING
UP PROCESS.
PAUL SAID, “I CAN’T
FEED YOU WITH MEAT.
I HAVE TO KEEP GIVING
YOU MILK BECAUSE YOU’RE
NOT READY FOR IT YET.”
WELL, WHAT’D HE REALLY
MEAN BY THAT?
I CAN’T TEACH YOU
A STRONG MESSAGE.
I HAVE TO JUST KEEP TEACHING
YOU THINGS THAT FEEL GOOD.
YOU KNOW,
JUST DESSERT MESSAGES.
I CAN’T GIVE YOU, YOU KNOW,
THINGS THAT ARE GONNA
CORRECT YOU OR CONFRONT
YOU WITH SOME KIND
OF TRUTH THAT’S GONNA–
“BABY, YOU’RE GONNA HAVE
TO APPLY THAT TO YOURSELF.”
AND SO–BUT IT’S OK BECAUSE
WE’RE ALL THAT WAY.
WE GO THROUGH THAT,
AND AS LONG AS YOU ARE
SINCERE AND YOU WANNA
GROW IN GOD, YOU ULTIMATELY–
LESS AND LESS THESE THINGS
WILL BE IMPORTANT TO YOU.
IN THE BEGINNING,
THEY’RE VERY IMPORTANT.
BUT WE’RE ALL AT A DIFFERENT
PLACE IN OUR WALK WITH GOD.
BUT NO MATTER WHERE YOU’RE AT,
IN YOUR WALK WITH GOD,
IF YOUR HEART’S SINCERE,
WHEN JESUS RETURNS,
HE’S GONNA BRING YOU ACROSS
THE FINISH LINE AND WE’LL
ALL END UP IN THE SAME PLACE.
GINGER: SO, WHEN GOD
SEEMS DISTANT,
HOLD ON TO THE TRUTH OF WHO
HE IS AND WHAT HIS WORD SAYS,
AND NOT OUR FEELINGS,
OR EVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES
OF OUR LIVES.
JOYCE: AND DON’T EVEN
BOTHER VOICING THAT.
“WELL, I FEEL LIKE GOD
JUST ISN’T HERE.”
I WOULD JUST–
IT’S ALWAYS BETTER TO SAY
THE TRUTH NO MATTER
HOW YOU FEEL.
WHEN I FEEL LIKE
GOD’S NOT WORKING,
I’M NOT SEEING ANYTHING,
I WILL PURPOSELY SAY,
“GOD IS WORKING ON MY
SITUATION RIGHT NOW
AND I’LL SEE THE RESULT
AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME.”
OR WHEN IT SEEMS LIKE THINGS
ARE TAKING WAY TOO LONG,
I’LL SAY, “GOD’S TIMING
IS PERFECT IN MY LIFE.”
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN TALK
YOURSELF OFF THE LEDGE,
IF YOU WILL.
GINGER: YEAH,
THAT’S GREAT ADVICE.
THANK YOU.
ANNOUNCER: LIFE
IS A JOURNEY WITH
MANY UPS AND DOWNS,
AND IT’S UP TO US TO LEARN
TO ENJOY IT.
JOHN 10:10 TELLS US THAT
JESUS CAME SO THAT
WE MIGHT HAVE AND ENJOY
AN ABUNDANT LIFE.
DISCOVER BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES
FOR LIVING A FULFILLING
AND JOY-FILLED LIFE
WITH JOYCE’S SMALL BOOK,
“ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY.”
START ENJOYING WHERE YOU ARE,
ON THE WAY TO WHERE
YOU’RE GOING.
ALONG WITH THE BOOK,
YOU’LL ALSO RECEIVE
JOYCE’S THREE-PART
AUDIO TEACHING SERIES
“PRESSING IN AND PRESSING ON.”
LEARN TO PRESS INTO GOD’S
INCREDIBLE PURPOSE
FOR YOUR FUTURE.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO SETTLE
FOR A MEDIOCRE LIFE IF YOU
PUT THESE PRACTICAL
PRINCIPLES INTO ACTION.
THESE AUDIO TEACHINGS
WILL BE AVAILABLE
TO YOU ANY TIME IN YOUR
JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
APP LIBRARY, SO YOU CAN LISTEN
WHENEVER YOU’D LIKE.
THESE RESOURCES ARE
AVAILABLE FOR YOUR GIFT
TO THE MINISTRY OF…
OR MORE.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY.
VISIT ONLINE
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG,
OR CALL…
GINGER: NEED A GIRLS TRIP?
REGISTER NOW
FOR THE LOVE LIFE
WOMEN’S CONFERENCE,
SEPTEMBER 22nd-24th
IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.
C’MON, REGISTER NOW,
AND JOIN US!
LADIES: WHOO!
GINGER: IF YOU ARE A MEDICAL
CARE PROFESSIONAL, WE NEED
YOUR HELP.
IN FACT, PEOPLE ALL OVER THE
WORLD NEED YOUR HELP.
AND, IT’S AN OPPORTUNITY THAT
WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE AS WELL.
YOU SEE, THROUGH OUR VOLUNTEER
MEDICAL TRIPS, WE TRAVEL ALL
OVER THE WORLD TO PLACES
THAT ARE VERY REMOTE AND
HAVE DESPERATE NEED
OF HEALTHCARE.
SO, GO TO OUR WEBSITE, CHECK OUT
THE SCHEDULES, AND JOIN US
RIGHT HERE.
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.
ANNOUNCER: FOR MORE
INFORMATION VISIT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
THIS PROGRAM HAS
BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.