God has great plans for you! On this episode of Enjoying Everyday Life, Joyce Meyer shares insights on how to enjoy all of God’s promises for your life.
>> ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM
HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
>> JOYCE: SO, IF YOU WANT
TO LIVE DANGEROUSLY
AND YOU WANT TO HAVE
AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE, I DON’T
THINK THERE’S ANY LIFE THAT’S
MORE ADVENTUROUS THAN JUST
FOLLOWING THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
>> [MUSIC]
>> JOYCE: HELLO, AND WELCOME TO,
“ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE.”
GOD HAS AN AMAZING PLAN
FOR YOUR LIFE.
BUT IN ORDER TO TAKE HOLD OF IT,
YOU HAVE TO TAKE A RISK
AND TRUST GOD.
LET ME TAKE SOME TIME
TO ENCOURAGE YOU AND THEN
I’LL BE BACK TO ANSWER
SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> JOYCE: TONIGHT, WE’RE GONNA
TALK ABOUT TAKING A RISK.
BECAUSE, ANYBODY WHO’S NOT
EVER WILLING TO RISK WILL NEVER
DO VERY MUCH IN THIS WORLD,
AND IN ALL PROBABILITY,
YOU’LL END UP BEING QUITE
BORED WITH YOUR LIFE.
COUPLE THINGS THAT I SAID LAST
NIGHT THAT I DON’T WANT YOU
TO FORGET IS WALKING BY FAITH
IS TAKING STEP ONE BEFORE
YOU KNOW WHAT STEP TWO IS.
MY GOSH, I HAVE DONE THAT
SO MANY TIMES IN MY LIFE.
AFTER A FEW TIMES TO GET
A LITTLE MORE USED TO IT
AND IT’S NOT QUITE AS SCARY.
BUT, TAKING A STEP OF FAITH IS
STEPPING OUT TO DO SOMETHING
WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW HOW IT
WILL BE PROVIDED FOR BUT YOU
BELIEVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART
THAT IT’S WHAT GOD HAS TOLD
YOU TO DO.
I’LL GIVE YOU ONE EXAMPLE
FROM MY LIFE.
WHEN GOD STARTED PUTTIN’ IT IN
MY HEART TO TEACH A BIBLE STUDY,
A HOME BIBLE STUDY,
I HAD A FULL-TIME JOB AND I MADE
AS MUCH MONEY AS DAVE DID.
I HAD A REALLY GOOD JOB, AND WE
DIDN’T HAVE ANY MONEY PRESSURE.
BUT, I DIDN’T KNOW THE BIBLE
VERY WELL AND SO,
I NEEDED TO STUDY.
AND I DIDN’T REALLY HAVE TIME
TO STUDY WITH HAVING A FULL-TIME
JOB AND THREE CHILDREN,
AND SO GOD STARTED PUTTIN’
IT ON MY HEART TO QUIT MY JOB.
BUT, I WAS NOT AN IRRESPONSIBLE
PERSON AND THAT JUST DIDN’T
MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME BECAUSE
I COULD GET OUT THE
CALCULATOR AND FIGURE OUT
THAT OUR BILLS WERE MORE
THAN OUR INCOME WOULD
BE IF I DIDN’T WORK.
AND SO, I DID WHAT WE DO
SO OFTEN, I KINDA BARGAINED
WITH GOD AND I QUIT MY FULL-TIME
JOB AND GOT A PART-TIME JOB.
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
>> JOYCE: COME ON, YOU EVER TRY
TO OBEY GOD PART TIME, PART WAY?
“WELL, I DON’T WANT TO DO THAT,
BUT HOW ‘BOUT IF I DO THIS?
THAT WAY I’M STILL OBEYING YOU
BUT I STILL GOT A BACK-UP PLAN.”
COME ON, MAYBE GOD
IS WANTING SOME OF YOU TO LET
GO OF YOUR BACK-UP PLAN
AND TRUST HIM COMPLETELY.
SO, I GOT FIRED FROM
MY PART-TIME JOB, AND…
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
>> JOYCE: I WAS NOT THE KIND
OF PERSON THAT GOT FIRED
FROM A JOB, I MEAN,
I WAS A GOOD WORKER.
AND, I MEAN, IT WAS
JUST RIDICULOUS.
I MEAN, I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING
RIGHT AT THAT JOB.
EVERYTHING I TOUCHED BROKE DOWN,
AND I MEAN, IT WAS JUST CRAZY.
SO, IT BECAME OBVIOUS THAT GOD
HAD COMPLETELY BLOCKED MY WAY
AND THAT HE MEANT THAT I WAS TO
LAY DOWN THAT JOB AND TRUST HIM.
WELL, TO BE HONEST, BACK THEN
I WAS JUST TRUSTIN’ GOD FOR MY
KIDS’ SHOES AND–WE WERE $40 A
MONTH SHORT ON PAYING OUR BILLS
AND SO IT WASN’T LIKE THIS HUGE
SUM OF MONEY THAT WE NEEDED,
BUT WE NEEDED A LITTLE BIT
OF EXTRA MONEY TO COME
IN MIRACULOUSLY EVERY SINGLE
MONTH FROM SOMEWHERE.
AND SO, I TOOK THAT STEP
OF FAITH TO DO THAT.
AND YOU KNOW,
SOMETIMES WE THINK WHEN
WE TAKE A BIG STEP OF FAITH,
THAT BOY, GOD IS JUST GONNA
LOAD IN THE REWARD AND
THE BLESSINGS RIGHT AWAY.
I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS SACRIFICE
I MADE AND I CAN’T WAIT
TO SEE WHAT GOD’S GONNA
DO FOR ME TOMORROW.
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
>> JOYCE: WELL, FOR 6 YEARS,
FOR 6 YEARS WE HAD TO BELIEVE
GOD LITERALLY, WHEN YOU HEAR
PEOPLE SAY I WAS BELIEVIN’
GOD FOR MY SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR,
I WAS BELIEVIN’ GOD
FOR MY SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR.
I DIDN’T KNOW THEN WHY
I HAD TO GO THROUGH
ALL THOSE HARD THINGS.
BUT I KNOW NOW, ‘CAUSE I CAN
TELL YOU NOW, WE NEED A LOT
MORE THAN A $40 A MONTH.
I MEAN, WHEN YOU’RE ON
TELEVISION IN 2/3 OF THE WORLD,
LET ME TELL YOU WHAT HONEY,
YOU GOT SOME BILLS TO PAY.
I MEAN, ALL THESE STATIONS
DON’T JUST LOVE ME AND SAY,
“WE’D LIKE TO PUT YOU ON FREE.”
THERE ARE FEW,
BUT NOT VERY MANY.
AND SO, 500 EMPLOYEES,
AND BUILDINGS, AND OFFICES,
AND EIGHT DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
AND ON, AND ON, AND ON.
I DON’T EVEN BOTHER TO TRY TO
LOOK AT WHAT WE NEED ANYMORE
BECAUSE IT WOULD JUST,
WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO FAINT.
BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT?
ALL THE BILLS ARE PAID.
THE BUILDING’S PAID FOR.
WE’RE NEVER LATE PAYING
OUR TV BILLS.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL,
AND I BELIEVE THAT WHAT GOD
ORDERS HE PAYS FOR.
BUT, I DON’T THINK THAT
ANYBODY WILL EVER DO ANYTHING
OF ANY MAGNITUDE WITHOUT
GETTING SOME TESTS.
AND SO, YOU STEP OUT AND BOY
YOU’VE PUT YOUR FOOT IN IT,
AND NOW YOU’RE THERE.
AND YOU KNOW, IT’S TOUGH
WHEN YOU’RE IN THE MIDDLE
OF SOMETHING AND YOU DON’T
KNOW HOW TO GO FORWARD
AND YOU CAN’T GO BACKWARDS
BECAUSE YOU’D LEFT EVERYTHING.
THERE’S NOTHING BACK THERE TO
GO BACK TO AND YOU CAN’T GET TO
WHERE YOU WANT TO BE AND YOU’RE
JUST STUCK THERE WAITING FOR
GOD TO DO WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO.
BUT IT BRINGS YOU SO CLOSE
TO GOD WHEN ALL YOU HAVE
TO DEPEND ON IS HIM.
SO, IF YOU WANT TO LIVE
DANGEROUSLY AND YOU WANT
TO HAVE AN ADVENTUROUS LIFE,
I DON’T THINK THERE’S ANY
LIFE THAT’S MORE ADVENTUROUS
THAN JUST FOLLOWING THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AND, I CAN TELL YOU, YOU MAY
NOT LIKE EVERY PLACE HE TAKES
YOU BUT YOU WON’T BE BORED.
IF YOU FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
YOU WILL NOT BE BORED
BECAUSE HE IS ONE CREATIVE
GUY THAT COMES UP WITH MORE
THINGS THAN WHAT YOU CAN
EVEN POSSIBLY IMAGINE.
AMEN?
AND SO, SATAN TRIES TO ATTACK
US IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS
TO GET US NOT TO TAKE THOSE
STEPS OF FAITH AND NOT TO DO
WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO.
AND ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE
SATAN ATTACKS US MORE
THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS IN HOW WE
FEEL ABOUT OURSELVES.
NOW, JUST VERY SERIOUSLY,
I WANT TO TELL YOU
THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE’S PROBLEMS,
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE,
YOUR PROBLEM IS YOU JUST
DON’T LIKE YOURSELF.
AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON’T
LIKE THEMSELVES DON’T EVEN
KNOW THEY DON’T LIKE THEMSELVES.
AND, THEY BLAME EVERYTHING
ON EVERYBODY ELSE.
“WELL, IF YOU WOULDN’T DO THIS,
I’D BE HAPPY, AND IF YOU
WOULD DO THAT, I’D BE HAPPY,
AND IF YOU DIDN’T DO THIS,
I’D BE HAPPY.”
DO YOU KNOW IF YOU CAN GET HAPPY
WITH WHO YOU ARE AND HAPPY
YOURSELF THEN YOU CAN SPEND
YOUR LIFE MAKING SOMEBODY
HAPPY RATHER THAN BEING
MAD AT THEM ‘CAUSE THEY’RE
NOT MAKING YOU HAPPY?
AMEN?
>> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: AND SO, I FINALLY
CAME TO GRIPS WITH THE FACT
IN MY LIFE THAT I WASN’T ABLE
TO LOVE ANYBODY BECAUSE
I DIDN’T LOVE MYSELF.
I COULDN’T HAVE MERCY
ON OTHER PEOPLE.
I WAS VERY LEGALISTIC BECAUSE I
WAS VERY LEGALISTIC WITH MYSELF.
I DIDN’T RECEIVE GOD’S MERCY,
AND YOU CAN’T GIVE AWAY
WHAT YOU DON’T HAVE.
AND SO, ONE OF THE THINGS I’M
GONNA ASK YOU TO DO, AS PART
OF YOUR JOURNEY HERE AT THIS
CONFERENCE, IS SOMEWHERE ALONG
THE WAY GET IN TOUCH WITH HOW
YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF.
DO YOU LIKE YOURSELF?
DO YOU LOVE YOURSELF?
DO YOU RESPECT YOURSELF?
BECAUSE HERE’S THE BOTTOM LINE,
WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT YOURSELF
IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT
ANYBODY ELSE BELIEVES ABOUT YOU.
COME ON, WHAT YOU BELIEVE
ABOUT YOURSELF IS MUCH MORE
IMPORTANT THAN WHAT ANYBODY
ELSE BELIEVES ABOUT YOU.
AND IF YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE
IN CHRIST THEN YOU DON’T HAVE
TO LIVE AS A PEOPLE-PLEASER.
SATAN REGULARLY ATTACKS
OUR WORTH AND VALUE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN JESUS WAS BEING
TEMPTED IN THE WILDERNESS,
THE ACCOUNT IS IN
LUKE CHAPTER 4,
TWO DIFFERENT TIMES SATAN
SAID TO HIM, “WELL, IF YOU
ARE THE SON OF GOD.”
“WELL, IF YOU ARE A CHILD
OF GOD, THEN WHY DO YOU
HAVE THESE PROBLEMS?
WELL, IF GOD LOVES YOU,
THEN WHY HASN’T HE ANSWERED
YOUR PRAYERS?”
HE’S ALWAYS TRYING TO ATTACK
OUR WORTH AND OUR VALUE
AND KEEP GET US THINKING
THAT GOD DOESN’T LOVE US.
AND SO, WE WANT TO TALK FOR JUST
A MINUTE ABOUT HOW YOUR
SELF-IMAGE AFFECTS YOUR FUTURE,
BECAUSE ADVENTURE REQUIRES
BOLDNESS, AND BOLDNESS REQUIRES
CONFIDENCE, AND CONFIDENCE
REQUIRES A HEALTHY SELF-IMAGE.
SO, HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF?
2 SAMUEL CHAPTER 9 THE FIRST
EIGHT VERSES, “AND DAVID SAID,
‘IS THERE STILL ANYONE LEFT
OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL,
THAT I MIGHT SHOW HIM KINDNESS
FOR JONATHAN’S SAKE?'”
WHAT WE NEED TO SEE OUT OF THAT
IS GOD IS SAYING, “IS THERE
ANYBODY THAT I CAN SHOW
KINDNESS TO FOR JESUS’ SAKE?”
GOD’S NOT GOOD TO US BECAUSE
WE DESERVE IT BECAUSE WE DON’T,
BUT HE’S GOOD TO US
BECAUSE JESUS DESERVED IT
AND WE BELIEVE IN HIM
AND WE’RE JOINT HEIRS WITH HIM,
AND HE SAID, “EVERYTHING
THE FATHER HAS IS MINE
AND EVERYTHING THAT’S MINE,
I’M GIVING IT TO YOU.”
>> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: “AND NOW THERE
WAS A SERVANT OF THE HOUSE
OF SAUL WHOSE NAME WAS ZIBA,
AND THEY CALLED HIM TO DAVID.
AND THE KING SAID TO HIM,
‘ARE YOU ZIBA?’
AND HE SAID,
‘I AM YOUR SERVANT.’
AND THE KING SAID,
‘IS THERE STILL SOMEONE
AT THE HOUSE OF SAUL THAT
I MAY SHOW THE KINDNESS
OF GOD TO HIM?’
AND ZIBA SAID TO THE KING,
‘THERE IS STILL A SON OF
JONATHAN; BUT HE IS CRIPPLED
IN HIS FEET.'”
NOW, THERE’S A STORY BEHIND
THIS, I’M NOT GOING TO GET
INTO ALL THIS.
HE ACTUALLY, HAD FALLEN DOWN THE
STEPS WHEN SAUL AND JONATHAN
DIED, AND IT WAS ANNOUNCED
THAT DAVID WAS GOING
TO BECOME THE KING.
AND, PEOPLE WERE AFRAID,
AND HE FELL AND THAT WAS HOW
HE BECAME CRIPPLED.
BUT, NONE THE LESS, HERE’S THIS
YOUNG BOY THAT WAS THE KING’S
GRANDSON, THE SON OF THE NEW
KING’S COVENANT FRIEND,
BUT HE SPENDS HIS LIFE IN HIDING
IN A PLACE CALLED LO-DEBAR.
HAVE YOU EVER LIVED IN LO-DEBAR?
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
>> JOYCE: I WAS TRYIN’ TO THINK
OF A WAY TO BE CUTE AND
I THOUGHT, “WELL, I’VE BEEN
LOW AT DEE BAR BEFORE.”
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
>> JOYCE: CAN YOU IMAGINE ME
HANGIN’ OUT AT THE BAR…
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
>> JOYCE: …DEPRESSED BECAUSE
MY LIFE WAS SO BAD?
THANK GOD, I’M NOT AT LO-DEBAR
ANYMORE.
AMEN?
>> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: AND, “THE KING SAID,
‘WELL, WHERE IS HE?’ AND ZIBA
SAID, ‘HE’S IN THE HOUSE
OF MACHIR THE SON OF AMMIEL,
AT LO-DEBAR.’
THEN KING DAVID SENT
AND BROUGHT HIM FROM THE HOUSE
OF MACHIR THE SON OF AMMIEL,
AT LO-DEBAR.
AND MEPHIBOSHETH THE SON
OF JONATHAN,” BOY, THESE PEOPLE
HAD SOME NAMES, DIDN’T THEY?
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
>> JOYCE: “CAME TO DAVID
AND FELL ON HIS FACE
AND PAID HOMAGE.
AND DAVID SAID, ‘MEPHIBOSHETH!’
AND HE ANSWERED, ‘BEHOLD,
I AM YOUR SERVANT.'”
NOW, YOU GOTTA WATCH THIS.
“AND DAVID SAID TO HIM, ‘DON’T
FEAR, FOR I WILL SHOW YOU
KINDNESS FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR
FATHER JONATHAN, AND I WILL
RESTORE TO YOU ALL THE LAND OF
SAUL YOUR FATHER, AND YOU SHALL
EAT AT MY TABLE ALWAYS.’
AND HE PAID HOMAGE AND SAID,
‘WHAT IS YOUR SERVANT,
THAT YOU SHOULD SHOW REGARD
FOR SUCH A DEAD DOG AS I AM?'”
NOW, WE SEE THE REAL PROBLEM.
IT WAS HIS OWN POOR
SELF-IMAGE THAT KEPT HIM
FROM GOING TO THE PALACE,
BOLDLY GOING IN AND SAYIN’,
“I AM KING SAUL’S GRANDSON.
JONATHAN WAS MY FATHER,
AND I HAVE RIGHTS.”
HOW MANY OF YOU, BECAUSE YOU
HAVE A POOR SELF-IMAGE NEVER
GO BOLDLY TO THE THRONE?
“COME BOLDLY TO THE THRONE,”
THE BIBLE SAYS.
“WELL, GOD, IF YOU’LL JUST
DO THIS AND IF YOU’LL
JUST DO THAT.”
TRY TO KEEP THAT PHRASE OUT OF
YOUR PRAYERS, BECAUSE THE WORD,
“JUST,” MEANS JUST ENOUGH
TO BARELY GET BY.
“WELL, GOD, IF YOU’LL JUST
HELP ME TONIGHT.”
I DON’T WANT YOU TO JUST HELP
ME TONIGHT, I NEED HELP
EVERY SINGLE MOMENT
OF EVERY SINGLE DAY.
>> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
>> JOYCE: “IF YOU’LL JUST GET ME
OUT OF TROUBLE THIS TIME, LORD.”
NO, YOU GONNA GET IN TROUBLE
AGAIN TOMORROW, AND TOMORROW,
AND THE NEXT DAY, AND YOU’RE
GONNA HELP–NEED HELP THEN, TOO.
SO WHY DON’T YOU JUST
GO AHEAD AND ADMIT IT AND SAY,
“GOD, I NEED HELP EVERY
MOMENT OF EVERY DAY.
PLEASE DON’T EVER LEAVE ME FOR
ONE SECOND BECAUSE I NEED YOU.
I NEED YOU.”
YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO GET
A LITTLE BIT BOLDER IF YOU WANNA
GET VERY MUCH OUT OF GOD.
YOU GOTTA ASK FOR A LOT.
>> JOYCE: WELL, FOLLOWING THE
LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
IS EXCITING, EVEN THOUGH
IT CAN FEEL RISKY.
MANY OF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
STEPPING OUT IN FAITH AND
GINGER’S HERE WITH SOME OF THOSE
QUESTIONS, THAT BY THE GRACE OF
GOD, I PRAYERFULLY, WILL ANSWER.
>> GINGER: WELL, WE HAVE SOME
REALLY GOOD QUESTIONS TODAY,
AND IT’S A SCARY THING OFTEN
TIMES WHEN GOD ASKS US TO DO
SOMETHING, AND SOMETIMES
WE’RE NOT SURE WHAT
HE’S ASKING US TO DO.
SO, THIS FIRST QUESTION
COMES FROM CHERYL, “I’M 65,
AND I CAN’T RETIRE.
I WANT TO SWITCH JOBS,
BUT I’M TOO AFRAID MY AGE MAKES
ME UNEMPLOYABLE.
CAN I MAKE A CHANGE AT MY
AGE WITHOUT LOSING IT ALL?”
>> JOYCE: I THINK YOU CAN
ABSOLUTELY MAKE A CHANGE
AT ANY AGE.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD PROBABLY NOT
RECOMMEND THAT SHE QUIT HER JOB
IF SHE REALLY HAS TO WORK, UNTIL
SHE HAS ANOTHER ONE SECURED,
BECAUSE THAT’S JUST WISDOM.
BUT, CERTAINLY, GO FOR IT.
YOU KNOW, I DON’T–
AGE IS REALLY A NUMBER.
IT’S LIKE, I LIKE TO SAY I CAN
AGE WITHOUT GETTING OLDER.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO GET AN OLD
MINDSET JUST BECAUSE YOU,
YOU KNOW, HAVE REACHED
AN UPPER AGE.
NOW, YOU KNOW, IN THE NATURAL
PEOPLE MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE
DISINCLINED TO WANT
TO HIRE SOMEONE THAT’S
A LITTLE BIT OLDER.
BUT, WE HAD A MAN JUST RECENTLY
LEFT HERE AND MOVED TO FLORIDA
AND HE’S IN HIS SIXTIES
AND HE GOT A GREAT POSITION.
AND SO, A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE
WILL REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR
EXPERIENCE THAT YOU HAVE.
>> GINGER: SO, STEP OUT THERE.
>> JOYCE: “STEP OUT AND FIND
OUT,” THAT’S WHAT I ALWAYS SAY.
THE THING YOU HAVE TO REALIZE
ABOUT STEPPING OUT IS YOU HAVE
TO BE WILLING TO BE WRONG TO
FIND OUT IF YOU’RE RIGHT.
>> GINGER: OH, YEAH, YEAH.
>> JOYCE: AND THAT’S–I MEAN,
TO ME THAT’S REALLY SOMETHING
TO THINK ABOUT, IT’S LIKE WE’RE
ALWAYS SO AFRAID WE’RE GONNA
BE WRONG.
BUT, A LOT OF PEOPLE JUST STAY
IN THINGS FOREVER THAT THEY JUST
DON’T–IT’S NOT EVEN THE RIGHT
PLACE FOR THEM ANYMORE BECAUSE
THEY’RE NOT WILLING TO BE WRONG.
>> GINGER: YEAH, WELL,
THEN I THINK YOU CAN HELP
CHRISTINA WITH THIS ONE.
SHE SAYS, “I’VE BEEN ASKING GOD
FOR YEARS WHAT HE WANTS ME
TO DO WITH MY LIFE BUT HE HASN’T
REALLY REVEALED ANYTHING.
DOES THAT MEAN HE WANTS
ME TO STAY WHERE I AM?
WOULD GOD WANT YOU TO STAY
IN A PLACE WHERE YOU
DON’T HAVE PEACE?”
>> JOYCE: NO, I DON’T THINK GOD
WANTS YOU TO STAY SOMEWHERE
WHERE YOU DON’T HAVE PEACE.
AND, IF YOU DON’T HAVE PEACE
THAT MAY BE GOD TELLING YOU
TO MOVE ON.
AND HERE AGAIN, YOU KNOW,
I DON’T KNOW THE DETAILS OF
EXACTLY WHAT SHE’S TALKING ABOUT
BUT AS FAR AS LIKE, FINDING OUT
WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO?
I ALWAYS SAY JUST TRY SOME
THINGS AND PRETTY SOON YOU’LL
FIND WHAT YOUR ANOINTING IS.
I WAS JUST SO HUNGRY TO SERVE
GOD AND WANTED TO AND WAS
WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.
I EVEN CLEANED MY PASTOR’S
HOUSE A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT
THAT’S DEFINITELY NOT MY GIFT.
AND PASSED OUT TRACTS ON THE
DOWNTOWN STREETS OF ST. LOUIS
AND DIDN’T LIKE THAT, WORKED
IN THE NURSERY, DIDN’T TAKE
LONG FOR ME AND THE KIDS
TO FIND OUT THAT WASN’T IT.
BUT, WHEN I STARTED TEACHING,
I KNEW I’D FOUND MY NICHE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU TRY
SOMETHIN’ AND IT DOESN’T WORK,
DON’T GET DISCOURAGED, JUST SAY,
“WELL, AT LEAST NOW I KNOW THAT,
THAT’S NOT WHAT I’M SUPPOSED
TO DO.”
>> GINGER: YEAH, IT’S JUST PART
OF THE LEARNING PROCESS.
>> JOYCE: YEAH, SOMETIMES YOU
HAVE TO TRY A FEW THINGS BEFORE
YOU FIND OUT WHAT’S RIGHT.
IT’S KINDA LIKE–IT JUST CAME
TO ME SO I’LL JUST BELIEVE
IT’S A GOOD EXAMPLE.
IT’S KINDA LIKE SOMETIMES WHEN
YOU GO TO THE DOCTOR, SOMETIMES
THEY’LL HAVE TO TRY TWO,
OR THREE, OR EVEN FOUR DIFFERENT
KINDS OF MEDICINE BEFORE THEY
FIND WHAT’S GOING TO WORK
WITH YOUR SYSTEM.
AND SO, DON’T EVER JUST STAY IN
A PLACE WHERE YOU DON’T HAVE
PEACE AND YOU DON’T HAVE GRACE
TO BE, BECAUSE YOU’RE AFRAID
OF MAKIN’ A MISTAKE.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE TO SUPPORT
OURSELVES SO YOU CAN’T
BE FOOLISH AND JUST, YOU KNOW,
QUIT YOUR JOB UNTIL YOU KNOW
THAT YOU HAVE SOMETHING.
AND, BUT THERE’S WAYS WORK
AROUND THAT AND DO WHAT GOD
WANTS YOU TO DO.
>> GINGER: GOD CAN MAKE A WAY
WHERE YOU DON’T SEE ONE.
THIS IS A QUESTION FROM JESSICA.
“HOW DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN GOD’S TIMING AND YOUR
OWN WHEN TAKING STEPS FORWARD?”
IT’S A BIG ONE AND A HARD ONE.
>> JOYCE: I ALWAYS SAY,
“TAKE A STEP AND SEE…”
>> GINGER: THAT’S GREAT ADVICE.
>> JOYCE: “…AND SEE IF THAT
ONE WORKS, AND THEN IF IT DOES
AND YOU CAN TELL GOD’S FAVOR’S
ON IT, THEN TAKE ANOTHER STEP.”
WE DON’T HAVE TO JUST GO JUMP
OFF THE CLIFF.
>>GINGER: YEAH.
>> JOYCE: YOU KNOW, WE CAN
CLIMB DOWN ONE ROCK AT A TIME.
AND SO, WHEN–YOU KNOW, WHEN
GOD CALLED ME INTO MINISTRY,
I MEAN, I STARTED TEACHING
A VERY SMALL BIBLE STUDY.
AND, FIVE YEARS LATER,
PEOPLE WERE STILL COMIN’.
AND SO, THEN I TOOK A STEP
OF FAITH AND FOR ONE YEAR,
I FELT LIKE–I FELT LIKE GOD HAD
TOLD ME IT WAS TIME TO QUIT
TEACHING THE BIBLE STUDIES, AND
I QUIT, BUT THEN FOR A YEAR,
I DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
AND SO, THAT WAS A REAL TESTING
YEAR FOR ME, AND IT DIDN’T
MAKE SENSE TO ME AT THE
TIME BUT I LOOK BACK NOW
AND THERE WERE A LOT
OF ISSUES THAT WERE SETTLED
IN MY LIFE DURING THAT
YEAR OF, “NOT KNOWING.”
THEN I WENT TO WORK AT A CHURCH,
HAD A LITTLE BIGGER OPPORTUNITY,
THEN FINALLY STEPPED OUT
INTO MY OWN MINISTRY.
AND SO, IT’S A LITTLE BIT
AT A TIME.
>> GINGER: YEAH, THAT’S GOOD.
QUESTION FROM BELINDA,
“FEAR AND THE WHAT-IFS ARE
HOLDING ME BACK.
I HAVE MY CHILDREN AND MY MOTHER
TO CONSIDER, WHAT IF I MAKE
THE WRONG CHOICE?
HOW WILL I KNOW IT’S GOD?”
>> JOYCE: WELL, SADLY, WE NEVER
KNOW 100% FOR SURE THAT
SOMETHING’S GOD UNTIL YOU
STEP OUT AND FIND OUT.
THAT’S WHY I RECOMMEND TAKING
BABY STEPS SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT
GOD’S ANOINTING IS ON.
YOU KNOW, NOT KNOWING EACH ONE
OF THESE SPECIFIC SITUATIONS,
IT’S HARDER TO SPEAK INTO
THEM ‘CAUSE I’M HAVING
TO SPEAK IN GENERAL TERMS.
BUT, I MEAN, WHEN I THINK ABOUT
ALL THE THE RISKS THAT I’VE
TAKEN OR EVEN LIKE YOU, WHEN YOU
LEFT YOUR JOB AND CAME HERE.
I MEAN, YOU WALKED AWAY FROM ALL
YOUR FRIENDS, YOUR CHURCH, AND
EVERYTHING BECAU–AND YOU DID IT
BASED ON WHAT WAS IN YOUR HEART.
>> GINGER: YEAH, AND WE LEFT
A PLACE WHERE WE WERE
VERY CONTENT, VERY HAPPY
AND WE KNEW THAT GOD WAS ASKING
US TO DO SOMETHING.
AND SO, IT DEFINITELY
IS TAKING A RISK, AND THOSE
WHAT-IFS ARE BIG.
YOU KNOW, “WHAT IF WE’RE
NOT HEARING GOD RIGHT?”
>> JOYCE: YEAH, RIGHT, AND EVEN
WHEN WE SAY, “WE KNOW,” IT’S
LIKE–IT’S A DIFFERENT KINDA
KNOWING THAN LIKE KNOWING
FOR SURE IN YOUR HEAD THIS
IS ALL GOING TO WORK OUT.
AND SOMETIMES, WE JUST GET
THE TIMING OFF A LITTLE BIT,
YOU KNOW.
I FELT A DESIRE TO GO ON
TELEVISION AND I TRIED A COUPLE
OF YEARS BEFORE GOD ACTUALLY
PUT ME ON TELEVISION,
AND IT WAS JUST A DISASTER.
IT JUST DIDN’T WORK AT ALL.
SO SOMETIMES, YOU–IT’S NOT THAT
WHAT YOU STEP OUT TO DO IS NOT
THE RIGHT THING, IT MAY JUST
NOT BE THE EXACT RIGHT TIME.
BUT YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY–
RISK ALWAYS BRINGS REWARD.
AND, YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO MAKE
SOME KIND OF AN INVESTMENT
TO REAP SOME KIND OF A HARVEST.
AND SO, ALL YOU CAN
DO IS THE BEST YOU CAN
DO TO HEAR FROM GOD.
AND, I THINK SHE SAID, “WELL,
WHAT IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE?”
AND, I BELIEVE THIS
WHOLEHEARTEDLY, IF YOUR
HEART IS REALLY RIGHT,
AND YOU SOUGHT GOD AND DONE
ALL YOU KNOW HOW TO DO TO HEAR
FROM HIM, AND YOU STEP OUT
INTO SOMETHIN’ AND IT TURNS
OUT NOT TO BE THE RIGHT THING,
I BELIEVE GOD WILL EVEN USE
THAT IN YOUR LIFE AS EXPERIENCE
AND HELP YOU GET YOURSELF
BACK ON THE RIGHT PATH.
>> GINGER: I THINK YOU’RE RIGHT,
AND THAT’S SO REASSURING THAT
WE’RE NOT GOING TO MISS GOD.
IF WE’RE SEEKING HIM,
WE’RE NOT GOING TO MISS HIM.
>> JOYCE: YOU KNOW, LIKE HE TOLD
ME ONE TIME, “IF YOU MISS ME,
I’LL FIND YOU,” SO…
>> GINGER: YEAH, THAT’S GOOD.
ONE MORE QUESTION?
>> JOYCE: OKAY.
>> GINGER: THIS IS FROM LISA,
“I CAN’T GET PAST MY PAST.
HOW DO I LET GO SO I CAN
MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PLAN
THAT GOD HAS FOR ME?”
>> JOYCE: WELL, YOU KNOW,
I DON’T RECOMMEND A LOT
OF REASONING BUT SOMETIMES
YOU DO HAVE TO BE REASONABLE
WITH YOURSELF.
AND SO, THE THING THAT COMES
TO MY MIND IS, WHAT GOOD
IS IT DOING YOU TO STAY
STUCK IN YOUR PAST?
CAN YOU GO BACK AND UNDO
WHAT HAPPENED?
IF THERE’S NOTHING YOU CAN DO
ABOUT IT THEN YOU HAVE TO TRUST
GOD TO SOMEHOW WORK IT OUT
FOR YOUR GOOD.
EVERYBODY’S GOT A PAST
BUT THE KEY IS, IS IT’S PAST.
AND WE ALL HAVE A FUTURE,
GOD’S GOT A GOOD PLAN
FOR US IN THE FUTURE.
AND, I THINK SOMETIMES JUST–
YOU KNOW, SHE SAYS,
“HOW CAN I GET PAST MY PAST?”
WELL, THE BEST WAY IS JUST TO
HEAD STRAIGHT INTO YOUR FUTURE.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF SHE STARTS
TAKING STEPS TO GO FORWARD
THEN THE THINGS THAT ARE BEHIND,
IT’LL BE EASIER TO LEAVE
THEM BEHIND.
FIRST, SHE MAY TAKE THEM WITH
HER MENTALLY, BUT EVENTUALLY
SHE’LL GET OVER THAT.
BUT IF YOU JUST STAY STUCK
IN THE SAME PLACE AND YOU KEEP
DOING THE SAME THING OVER,
AND OVER, AND OVER IT’S–
NOTHING’S GOING TO CHANGE.
SO, YOU GOTTA START MOVING
FORWARD.
YOU KNOW, WHAT THE APOSTLE
PAUL SAID, “ONE THING I DO,
IT’S MY ONE ASPIRATION,
FORGETTING WHAT LIES BEHIND,”
AND HE SAID, “AND STRAINING
OR PRESSING TOWARD THE THINGS
THAT ARE AHEAD.”
>> GINGER: SO, IT TAKES
A LITTLE BIT OF EFFORT,
A LITTLE BIT OF FORCE.
>> JOYCE: TAKES A LITTLE PUSHING
AND A LITTLE–YOU KNOW, THERE’S
A–AND I DON’T MEAN IT LIKE
WORKS OF THE FLESH WHERE
WE’RE STRUGGLING, AND MISERABLE,
AND FRUSTRATED BUT THERE
IS A DECISION AND THERE’S
A STEPPING OUT.
AND, I THINK ANY TIME WE STEP
OUT THE ENEMY’S GOING TO STEP
TOWARD US, LIKE PAUL SAID,
“A WIDE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY
WAS OPENED UNTO ME AND WITH
IT MANY ADVERSARIES.”
I SAY IT A LITTLE DIFFERENT WAY,
“NEW LEVEL, NEW DEVIL.”
SO, THE ENEMY’S ALWAYS GOING TO
TRY TO KEEP US FROM THE FUTURE
THAT GOD HAS PLANNED FOR US.
AND, EVERYBODY GETS THERE THE
SAME WAY, YOU EITHER STEP OUT
AND YOU TAKE A RISK OR YOU
STAY IN THE SAME OLD PLACE.
WHICH IS OKAY TOO,
IF THAT’S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
BUT, IF YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE
YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE
STEPPING OUT THEN THE ONLY
WAY TO FIND OUT IS TO STEP OUT.
>> GINGER: RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
I THINK A LOT OF US ARE READY
TO TAKE THAT JUMP.
>> JOYCE: YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY
OF OUR LIFE IS A GIFT FROM GOD.
BUT HOW ARE YOU SPENDING
THAT GIFT?
ARE YOU LETTING LIFE
JUST HAPPEN?
OR ARE YOU PURSUING GOD’S BEST?
IN MY BOOK, “SEIZE THE DAY,”
I WANNA STIR YOU UP
TO TAKE YOUR LIFE BACK AND
TEACH YOU HOW TO LIVE EVERY DAY
ON PURPOSE FOR A PURPOSE.
“SEIZE THE DAY,”
ORDER YOUR COPY RIGHT NOW.
>> ANNOUNCER: YOU CAN GET THIS
FOR A DONATION OF ANY AMOUNT.
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OR CALL…
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>> ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU
ENJOYED TODAY’S PROGRAM.
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