How do you know when it’s time for a change? Joyce shares reasons for changing seasons in our lives and how the Holy Spirit helps us adapt, 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: HOW MANY OF YOU
WANT GOD TO USE YOU?
OKAY.
WELL, HERE’S THE THING.
THERE’S A LOT OF STUFF GOD HAS
TO DO TO YOU BEFORE HE CAN
DO VERY MUCH THROUGH YOU.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: EVERYTHING IS
BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME.
BUT OUT OF SEASON, IT CAN JUST
BE AN ABSOLUTE MESS.
THERE’S A RIGHT TIME AND A WRONG
TIME FOR EVERY MATTER
UNDER THE SUN.
AND WHEN WE MATURE ENOUGH
TO BE ABLE TO DISCERN
THE SEASONS, IT’S A VERY GOOD
THING IN OUR LIFE.
SOMETIMES YOU WON’T CHANGE
UNLESS YOU COME TO A CRISIS
POINT IN YOUR LIFE AND THAT
CRISIS FORCES YOU TO CHANGE.
BUT HOPEFULLY, WE’LL GET SMART
ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE THE SIGNS
AND MAKE THE CHANGES WHILE
WE CAN STILL MAKE THEM BECAUSE
WE CHOOSE TO AND NOT MAKE
THEM BECAUSE WE’RE FORCED
TO AND HAVE NO CHOICE.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HOW MANY OF YOU
DON’T GET ENOUGH SLEEP?
YOU KNOW WHAT THE ANSWER
IS TO THAT?
GO TO BED.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, TO BE HONEST,
A LOT OF OUR PROBLEMS WOULD
NOT BE THAT HARD TO SOLVE,
“WELL, I KNOW I SHOULD
GO TO BED, BUT…”
“I KNOW I SHOULD DRINK MORE
WATER, BUT…”
“I KNOW I SHOULD START SAVING
SOME MONEY FOR WHEN I RETIRE,
BUT…”
“I KNOW I SHOULD MIND MY OWN
BUSINESS, BUT…”
“I PROBABLY SHOULDN’T SAY
THIS, BUT…”
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: COME ON, WE NEED
TO GET THE, “BUTS,” OUT
OF OUR LIFE…
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND START JUST DOING
WHAT WE KNOW THAT WE SHOULD DO.
LET’S JUST MAKE A DECISION,
HERE TODAY, THAT WE’RE GONNA GET
A LOT BETTER AT LETTING
THINGS GO, SO GOD CAN USHER
IN THE NEW THING THAT HE
HAS FOR US.
IT DOESN’T REALLY MAKE ANY
SENSE TO TRY TO KEEP HANGING
ON TO SOMETHING THAT GOD’S
DONE WITH BECAUSE ONCE GOD’S
FINISHED WITH IT, YOU’RE NEVER
GOING TO ENJOY IT, AMEN?
GOD’S EVEN SHOWN ME ABOUT
GIVING THINGS AWAY.
THAT ONCE HE ASKS ME
TO GIVE SOMETHING AWAY,
IF I KEEP IT AFTER THAT,
THERE’S NO LONGER ANY ANOINTING
ON IT FOR ME TO ENJOY IT.
I MAY KEEP IT AND LOOK AT IT,
BUT I WON’T ENJOY IT BECAUSE
IT DOESN’T BELONG TO ME ANYMORE,
GOD’S ALREADY SAID, “GIVE IT.”
RUSHING THROUGH ONE SEASON
TO GET TO THE NEXT ONE CAUSES
PROBLEMS, TOO.
MAYBE YOU’RE IN A WAITING
SEASON AND YOU’RE TIRED
OF WAITING, SO YOU’RE GONNA
DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
OR MAYBE YOU ARE AT A JOB THAT
YOU DON’T LIKE, AND YOU’RE
JUST TIRED OF WAITING ON GOD,
SO YOU JUST DECIDE YOU’RE
GONNA QUIT ANYWAY.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES
WE JUST GET TIRED OF WAITING
AND WE JUST GO MAKE DECISIONS
THAT ARE FOOLISH.
YOU NEED TO STAY PUT
UNTIL GOD RELEASES YOU,
AND WHEN GOD RELEASES YOU,
THEN YOU NEED TO GO.
I HAD A JOB, ONE TIME,
IN MINISTRY AND I WASN’T BEING
TREATED PROPERLY AND I WANTED
SO BAD TO GET OUT OF THERE
AND GO DO MY OWN THING.
BUT I KNEW IN THE DEPTHS
OF MY HEART, GOD DID NOT WANT
ME TO GO YET BECAUSE HE HAD
NOT RELEASED ME.
WELL, BY THE TIME GOD
TOLD ME TO GO, I’D GOTTEN
TO THE POINT WHERE I LIKED IT
AND THEN I DIDN’T WANNA GO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO, YOU DON’T ALWAYS
GET TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO.
NOW, HERE’S AN EXAMPLE ABOUT
RUSHING THROUGH SEASONS.
ONE YEAR, IN MISSOURI,
WE HAD A VERY WARM WINTER.
WELL, DURING THE WINTER,
WE THOUGHT IT WAS GREAT.
“THIS WAS COOL, MAN, IT’S NOT
EVEN COLD THIS WINTER.
IT’S ALMOST LIKE NOT EVEN
HAVING WINTER.”
AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS ALL
GREAT UNTIL WE DISCOVERED
IN THE SPRING THAT IT NEVER GOT
COLD ENOUGH TO KILL THE BUGS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO, WE HAD BUGS, BUGS,
BUGS, AND MORE BUGS THAT SPRING.
AND WE HAD AN EPIDEMIC
OF LADYBUGS.
AND WE HAD LADY–
YOU KNOW, LIKE HOW PHARAOH
HAD FROGS IN HIS DRIVEWAY,
FROGS IN HIS OVENS,
FROGS IN HIS BED, WELL,
WE HAD LADYBUGS EVERYWHERE.
I’M NOT EXAGGERATING TO SAY
WE HAD HUNDREDS OF LADYBUGS
IN OUR HOUSE.
AND YOU KNOW, SINUS AND
ALLERGY SUFFERERS DIDN’T LIKE
IT BECAUSE IT NEVER GOT COLD
ENOUGH TO KILL OFF THE STUFF
THAT BUGGED ‘EM IN THE SPRING.
SO, IT MAY SEEM LIKE FUN TO BE
ABLE TO SKIP THROUGH ONE SEASON
AND GET TO THE OTHER ONE.
BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE,
FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WANNA SKIP
THROUGH THE SEASON WHERE GOD
DEALS WITH US, AND CHASTISES
US, AND CHANGES THINGS IN US.
AND THEY WANNA GO STRAIGHT
FROM BEING BORN AGAIN TO,
YOU KNOW, SOME GREAT BIG THING
IN THEIR LIFE, BUT THEY–
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE CHARISMA
THAT WILL GET YOU SOMEWHERE
BUT NOT ENOUGH CHARACTER
TO KEEP YOU THERE ONCE YOU
GET THERE.
AUDIENCE: OH…
JOYCE: COME ON, YOU WANT
ME SAY IT AGAIN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW,
WHEN I WAS TEACHING 20 PEOPLE
IN MY LIVING ROOM FLOOR,
I COULD PREACH THEN JUST
LIKE I DO NOW.
AND I USED TO WATCH PEOPLE
ON TELEVISION,
PREACHERS ON TELEVISION,
AND I REMEMBER THINKING,
“WELL, I DON’T KNOW WHY GOD’S
GOT ME STUCK IN MY LIVING ROOM.
I CAN PREACH BETTER THAN THAT.”
WELL, THAT WAS WHY I WAS STUCK
IN MY LIVING ROOM.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: IT WASN’T THAT
I COULDN’T PREACH BUT I HAD
AN ATTITUDE.
COME ON, I’M TALKING TO YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, YOU MAY
SIT OUT THERE AND THINK,
“WELL, I APPLIED FOR A JOB
ON THE WORSHIP TEAM AND THEY
DIDN’T HIRE ME AND I CAN SING
BETTER THAN ANYBODY UP THERE.”
WELL, UNTIL YOU LOSE THAT
ATTITUDE, YOU’LL KEEP SITTING
RIGHT WHERE YOU’RE SITTING
BECAUSE GOD IS MUCH MORE
CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ATTITUDE
AND OUR CHARACTER THAN HE IS,
WHAT WE CAN DO
TO IMPRESS PEOPLE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, A LOT OF TIMES
IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU’RE REAL
GIFTED AND YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND
WHY GOD’S NOT USING YOU,
MAYBE YOU BETTER DO
A CHARACTER CHECK.
ASK YOURSELF,
“HOW DO I TREAT PEOPLE?”
“HOW AM I WHEN IT COMES
TO CRITICIZING AND JUDGING
OTHER PEOPLE?”
YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE THE THINGS
THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD.
MAN LOOKS ON THE OUTSIDE,
BUT GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: GOD SEES OUR HEART.
AND THAT’S WHY, SOMETIMES,
GOD WILL USE SOMEBODY THAT
YOU CAN’T FIGURE OUT WHY
IN THE WORLD HE WOULD BE USING
THEM BECAUSE THE PACKAGE
DOESN’T LOOK TOO IMPRESSIVE,
BUT GOD KNOWS THEY’VE GOT
A HEART OF GOLD.
WE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION
TO OUR INNER LIFE THAN
OUR OUTER LIFE.
LISTEN, IF WE SPEND AS MUCH
TIME GETTING SPIRITUALLY READY
TO GO OUT AS WE DO CHANGING
OUR CLOTHES FIVE TIMES AND
PUTTING ON A POUND OF MAKEUP.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW,
IT TAKES ME ABOUT 45 MINUTES
IN THE MORNING TO GET IT LOOKING
FROM THE WAY IT WAS WHEN
I GOT IT OUT OF BED TO…
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: TO NOW.
WELL, THANKFULLY, I DID LEARN,
A LONG TIME AGO, I SPEND USUALLY
A COUPLE HOURS WITH GOD BEFORE
I EVER GET AROUND TO TRYING
TO DRESS THIS THING UP,
BUT THERE WERE YEARS IN MY
LIFE WHEN I DIDN’T DO THAT.
AND YOU KNOW, I MIGHT HAVE PUT
MAKEUP ON IT MADE IT LOOK
GOOD, BUT IT WAS UGLY TO GOD
BECAUSE OF THE WAY I ACTED.
HELLO?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NO MATTER HOW
PRETTY SOMEBODY THINKS
YOU ARE AT WORK,
GOD LOOKS AT OUR ATTITUDE,
OUR CHARACTER,
HOW WE TREAT PEOPLE,
HOW WE TALK TO PEOPLE,
HOW WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE.
AND YOU WILL HAVE SEASONS
IN YOUR LIFE WHERE GOD JUST
TURNS YOU EVERY WHICH WAY,
BUT LOOSE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SEASONS
OF CHASTISEMENT,
SEASONS OF NOTHING GOING YOUR
WAY JUST TO SEE HOW YOU’LL ACT.
PLOWING UP
THE FALLOW GROUND,
THERE’S PLOWING
SEASONS IN OUR LIFE.
JUST IMAGINE IF YOU WERE A FIELD
FULL OF DIRT THAT HAD NEVER
BEEN PLOWED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
A FARMER BROUGHT IN A PLOW
AND STARTED GOING THROUGH
THAT FIELD AND PLOWING IT UP.
IF YOU COULD FEEL, IT WOULDN’T
FEEL VERY GOOD.
AND THE FALLOW GROUND
IN OUR LIFE, THE HARD, ROCKY
SOIL IN OUR LIFE HAS TO ALSO
BE PLOWED UP.
HOW MANY OF YOU WANT
GOD TO USE YOU?
OKAY.
WELL, HERE’S THE THING.
THERE’S A LOT OF STUFF GOD
HAS TO DO TO YOU BEFORE HE CAN
DO VERY MUCH THROUGH YOU.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: OH, MY LORD,
IF I COULD EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN
TO YOU WHAT ALL I HAD
TO GO THROUGH TO BE STANDING
WHERE I’M STANDING TODAY.
OH, MY GOSH.
I HAD SUCH A BAD ATTITUDE
FROM THE WAY I’D BEEN TREATED.
I FELT SORRY FOR MYSELF.
I HAD A CHIP ON MY SHOULDER.
THE WORLD OWED ME.
I WAS REBELLIOUS ESPECIALLY,
TOWARD ANY KIND
OF MALE AUTHORITY.
WHEW.
AND GOD JUST KEPT AT IT,
AND KEPT AT IT, AND KEPT AT IT,
AND KEPT AT IT,
AND KEPT AT IT.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY GOD
WASN’T TURNING ME LOOSE
ON THE WORLD.
AND I LOOK BACK NOW
AND I AM SO GLAD.
SO GLAD THAT GOD MADE ME WAIT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I AM SO GLAD THAT
HE DIDN’T LET ME GET INTO
A POSITION WHERE I WOULD HAVE
MADE A COMPLETE FOOL OUT
OF MYSELF AND BROUGHT SHAME
TO HIS NAME.
DON’T BE IN SUCH A HURRY
TO GET WHERE YOU’RE GOING.
TAKE THE TIME TO LET GOD
DO WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO IN YOU,
AND WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT,
HE WILL BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING
THROUGH YOU BUT YOUR SPIRITUAL
MATURITY IS MUCH MORE IMPORTANT
THAN STANDING ON A PLATFORM
SOMEWHERE SHARING YOUR GIFT.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THE PLOWING SEASON.
ONCE YOU’VE PUT YOUR HAND
TO THE PLOW, THE BIBLE SAYS,
“DON’T LOOK BACK.”
LUKE 9:62, “JESUS SAID TO HIM,
‘NO ONE WHO PUTS HIS HAND
TO THE PLOW AND LOOKS BACK
IS FIT FOR THE KINGDOM.'”
WHEN YOU’RE WORKING HARD,
DON’T THINK ABOUT HOW
HARD IT IS.
THINK ABOUT THE HARVEST.
AMEN?
WHEN YOU’RE GOING THROUGH
THINGS ARE HARD, DON’T JUST–
“OH, THIS IS SO HARD.
I DON’T KNOW IF I CAN TAKE THIS.
I’M GOING TO QUIT, GOD.
I’M GONNA GIVE UP.
IT JUST DOESN’T STOP.
IF I DON’T GET A BREAKTHROUGH
TODAY, GOD, I JUST CAN’T
GO ON.
LORD, IF JOYCE DOESN’T CALL
ME OUT AND GIVE ME A WORD,
I DON’T THINK I CAN STAY SAVED.”
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, I’VE GOTTA WORD
FOR EVERYBODY IN THE BUILDING
TODAY, “GROW UP.”
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: AND I SAY THAT
TO MYSELF, TOO.
I NEVER SAY ANYTHING TO YOU
THOUGH THAT GOD HASN’T SAID
TO ME, YOU CAN BE SURE OF THAT.
AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THE BIBLE SAYS THAT
WE’RE TO PLOW IN HOPE.
YOU KNOW WHAT HOPE IS?
HOPE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT
SOMETHING GOOD IS ABOUT
TO HAPPEN AT ANY MINUTE.
I LOVE THAT.
WE SHOULD LIVE WITH THAT KIND
OF EXPECTATION.
AND WHEN THINGS ARE HARD
IN OUR LIFE, WE NEED
TO GO THROUGH IT WITH HOPE,
NOT A BAD ATTITUDE.
WE NEED TO SAY, “THIS IS GONNA
WORK OUT FOR GOOD.
THIS IS HAPPENING FOR A REASON.
I NEED THIS.
I MAY NOT FEEL LIKE I NEED
IT BUT GOD’S GONNA WORK
IT OUT FOR MY GOOD.
THIS IS GONNA HELP ME GROW UP.
THIS IS GONNA HELP ME MATURE.
I’M GETTING EXPERIENCE THAT
I CAN USE LATER ON IN LIFE.”
AMEN?
YOU KNOW, THERE’S NOTHING THAT
TRUMPS EXPERIENCE.
YOU KNOW ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY YOU BELIEVE WHAT I SAY
IS BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT
I’VE BEEN THROUGH WHAT
I’M TALKING TO YOU ABOUT.
I DIDN’T JUST GO BUY A DOLLAR
SERMON BOOK AND MAKE
ALL THESE MESSAGES UP.
I’VE LIVED THIS STUFF.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND WHEN I TELL
YOU THAT GOD WILL WORK
EVERYTHING OUT FOR YOUR
GOOD IF YOU TRUST HIM,
I KNOW, FROM EXPERIENCE,
THAT GOD WILL WORK
EVERYTHING OUT FOR GOOD
IF YOU TRUST HIM TO DO IT.
WHEN I TELL YOU THAT IF YOU
WON’T QUIT AND YOU WON’T
GIVE UP YOUR TIME OF HARVEST
WILL COME, I CAN PROMISE YOU
THAT YOUR TIME OF HARVEST
WILL COME.
AND WHILE YOU’RE PLOWING,
YOU CAN PLOW IN HOPE.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:10,
“DOES HE NOT CERTAINLY SPEAK
FOR OUR SAKE?
IT WAS WRITTEN FOR OUR SAKE,
BECAUSE THE PLOWMAN SHOULD
PLOW IN HOPE AND THE THRESHERS
SHOULD THRESH IN HOPE
OF SHARING IN THE CROP.”
I LOVE THAT.
FALLOW GROUND HAS
TO BE PLOWED UP.
AND WHEN IT’S BEING PLOWED UP,
IT’S NOT THAT MUCH FUN.
IT’S DIFFICULT.
LEARNING HOW TO OBEY GOD
IS DIFFICULT.
BUT ONCE YOU LEARN HOW
TO PROMPTLY AND QUICKLY, OBEY
GOD, LIFE GETS SWEET, SWEET.
YOU KNOW, THE ANSWER TO EVERY
PROBLEM IS, FIND OUT WHAT
GOD’S SAYING AND DO IT.
HOSEA 10:12, “SOW FOR YOURSELVES
RIGHTEOUSNESS;
REAP STEADFAST LOVE;
BREAK UP YOUR FALLOW GROUND,
FOR IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD,
THAT HE MAY COME AND RAIN
RIGHTEOUSNESS UPON YOU.”
THAT MEANS GET PREPARED
FOR BLESSINGS.
MAYBE RIGHT NOW, YOUR FALLOW
GROUND IS YOU’RE ANGRY
AT SOMEBODY AND YOU JUST
WON’T LET IT GO.
I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE THERE
ARE IN HERE TODAY THAT NEED
TO FORGIVE SOMEBODY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: OKAY, LET ME TELL
YOU SOMETHING.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT
WE HAVE AS BELIEVERS,
IS UNFORGIVENESS,
STAYING OFFENDED,
BEING MAD AT PEOPLE.
I MEAN, IT IS THE NUMBER
ONE PROBLEM IN THE CHURCH.
IF WE WOULD ALL LEARN HOW
TO FORGIVE QUICKLY AS CHRIST
FORGIVES US–
COME ON.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WHAT WOULD HAPPEN
IN THE WORLD,
IF CHRISTIANS ACTUALLY STARTED
TO LOVE EACH OTHER?
WOW, IMAGINE THAT.
THEN OUR BUMPER STICKER MIGHT
MEAN SOMETHING TO SOMEBODY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT AS LONG AS ALL
WE’VE GOT IS A BUNCHA STUFF
HANGING ALL OVER US THAT SAYS,
“I’M A CHRISTIAN,
I’M A CHRISTIAN,”
ALL WE DO IS GET WATCHED.
SO, IF YOU’RE GONNA PUT
A BUMPER STICKER ON YOUR CAR,
YOU BETTER NOT BREAK THE SPEED
LIMIT AND CUSS AT PEOPLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: COME ON, YOU MAY NOT
LIKE EVERYTHING I SAY,
BUT YOU WON’T BE CONFUSED.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: COME ON,
LET’S CAMP HERE FOR A MINUTE.
IT’S TIME TO FORGIVE.
IT’S TIME TO LET IT GO.
IT’S TIME TO GET OVER IT
AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE.
“WELL, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT
THEY DID TO ME.”
NO, I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S BEEN
DONE TO YOU, BUT I DO KNOW
WHAT WAS DONE TO ME,
AND I KNOW WHAT’S BEEN
DONE TO A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE,
AND I ALSO KNOW WHAT WE’VE
DONE TO JESUS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THERE’S NO REASON
FOR ANYBODY–
YOU CANNOT FIND
AN EXCUSE GOOD ENOUGH,
TO HANG ON TO ANGER.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: COME ON,
YOU CAN’T FIND AN EXCUSE.
“WELL, YOU JUST DON’T KNOW.”
BUT YOU SEE, IT’S NOT THAT
WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU
IS NOT IMPORTANT.
BUT HERE’S THE THING.
WHEN YOU FORGIVE, YOU’RE NOT
DOING YOUR ENEMY A FAVOR,
YOU’RE HELPING YOURSELF.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I WROTE A BOOK
ON FORGIVENESS AND I CALLED IT,
“DO YOURSELF A FAVOR
AND FORGIVE.”
WE’RE HELPING OURSELVES
WHEN WE OBEY GOD.
EVERYTHING THAT GOD TELLS
US TO DO–
YOU SAY, “BUT, I JUST CAN’T GET
OVER IT.”
OKAY, MAYBE YOU CAN’T GET
OVER THE FEELINGS RIGHT AWAY,
BUT I’LL TELL YOU WHAT
WILL HAPPEN, IF YOU’LL START
TO DO WHAT GOD TELLS YOU TO DO.
YOU START PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE
THAT YOU’RE MAD AT AND SEE
HOW LONG YOU CAN HATE ‘EM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: COME ON, YOU START
PRAYING FOR ‘EM EVERYDAY.
YOU PRAY FOR THEM TO BE BLESSED.
YOU PRAY FOR GOD TO BLESS ‘EM.
AND IF AN OPPORTUNITY
COMES ALONG, AND THERE’S
SOMETHING THEY NEED AND YOU
CAN MEET THAT NEED,
YOU GO MEET THAT NEED.
EVEN IF IT GIVES YOUR FLESH
THE CREEPY-CRAWLIES,
YOU GO AND DO IT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ‘CAUSE THAT’S EXACTLY
HOW YOU BREAK THE POWER
OF SATAN OFF OF YOUR LIFE WHEN
YOU START ACTING LIKE JESUS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: COME ON, IF YOU’RE
THE PASTOR OF A LOCAL CHURCH,
AND SOMEBODY THAT YOU’VE
NURTURED UP IN THE LORD,
AND BEEN LIKE A SON TO YOU
IN THE LORD, HE TAKES HALF
YOUR CONGREGATION
AND MOVES DOWN THE STREET,
BUY HIM A NEW SOUND SYSTEM.
COME ON, YOU CAN’T–
LOVE NEVER FAILS.
HATRED, RESENTMENT,
BITTERNESS ALWAYS FAIL,
BUT LOVE NEVER FAILS.
GOD HAS GIVEN US A WEAPON
LIKE NO OTHER WEAPON,
AND IT’S THE WARFARE OF LOVE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND NOT ONLY THAT,
IT’S JUST FLAT-OUT FUN.
IT’S JUST FUN TO MAKE THE DEVIL
MAD AND HAVE HIM HAVE TO SIT
AROUND AND WATCH YOU LOVE
SOMEBODY THAT’S MISTREATED YOU.
OO-HOO.
WHAT SEASON ARE YOU IN NOW
OR IS GOD DEALING WITH YOU
ABOUT BEING LESS SELFISH?
NO ANSWERS, OKAY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HOW ‘BOUT BEING MORE
DISCIPLINED?
HMM…
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HOW ‘BOUT GETTING
OUT OF DEBT?
MMM…
WELL, THEN YOU GOTTA
QUIT FLIPPING PLASTIC
EVERYWHERE YOU GO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: IT’S SO MUCH FUN
TO SAY, “PUT IT ON MY ACCOUNT,”
BUT THE BILL COMES.
AMEN?
HOW ABOUT HAS GOD BEEN DEALING
WITH ANYBODY ABOUT IT’S TIME
TO GET HEALTHY, TIME TO START
TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HOW MANY OF YOU
GOD’S DEALING WITH YOU TO STOP
EATING JUNK ALL THE TIME?
SO, DON’T FIGHT THE SEASONS
OF YOUR LIFE.
AND REMEMBER THAT–
DON’T EVER THINK THAT YOU
CAN ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU’VE
ALWAYS DONE BECAUSE THINGS
ARE GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE.
AND WHEN THEY DO,
DON’T FIGHT IT.
IT JUST MAKES YOU MISERABLE
IF YOU FIGHT IT.
GINGER: JOYCE
IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
CHANGE IS INEVITABLE.
THINGS IN OUR LIVES
ARE GOING TO CHANGE.
BUT THE HARDEST THING IS,
WHEN THEY DO,
TO STOP FIGHTING IT.
SOMETIMES, WE JUST NEED
TO GO WITH WHAT GOD
WANTS TO DO IN OUR LIFE.
SO, TRY TO REMEMBER,
IT’S EXPERIENCE THAT
WE’LL NEED LATER IN LIFE.
IT WILL PREPARE US FOR
THE WONDERFUL FUTURE
THAT GOD HAS FOR US.
BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT,
CHANGE IS HARD SOMETIMES.
BUT GOD NEVER LEAVES
US IN A HARD PLACE.
HE’S CONSTANTLY MOVING
US THROUGH THIS
JOURNEY CALLED LIFE.
JOYCE HAS A BOOK
THAT’S REALLY GOOD
AND IT’S A REALLY EASY READ.
IS CALLED “ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY.”
AND IT HELPS YOU TO UNDERSTAND
THERE ARE WONDERFUL
THINGS IN EVERY SINGLE DAY.
AND SHE ALSO HAS A TEACHING
THAT WE ARE GOING TO OFFER
TOGETHER WITH THAT BOOK
TODAY, CALLED “PRESSING
IN AND PRESSING ON.”
IT’S THREE AUDIO
TEACHINGS ON DIGITAL,
AND THEY ARE GOING
TO HELP YOU CONTINUE TO GO,
WHEN YOU MIGHT
FEEL LIKE GIVING UP.
YOU NEED A LITTLE HELP
“PRESSING IN AND PRESSING ON”?
THIS IS THE OFFER FOR YOU.
SO, PICK IT UP TODAY.
NOW, DON’T GO AWAY
BECAUSE AFTER THE BREAK,
YOU’LL MEET A SOLDIER WHO
RETURNED FROM IRAQ ONLY
TO FIGHT A NEW BATTLE
HERE AT HOME.
THAT’S COMING UP NEXT.
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…
[TAPE REWINDING]
GINGER: SO,
YOU’VE NEVER BEEN
TO A LOVE LIFE
WOMEN’S CONFERENCE?
WHAT?
WELL, THIS IS THE ONE.
THIS IS THE 40th
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION,
AND IT IS GOING
TO BE BIG.
AND WE’RE BACK
IN ST. LOUIS WHERE
JOYCE BEGAN IT ALL.
REGISTER NOW
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: SOME PEOPLE
JUST PUSH YOUR BUTTONS.
AND NO MATTER HOW HARD
YOU TRY TO LOVE THEM,
THEY TAKE YOU FROM ZERO
TO ON-EDGE IN NO TIME FLAT.
SO, HOW DO YOU SEE
THE GOOD IN PEOPLE WHEN
IT’S REALLY HARD TO FIND?
JOYCE MEYER WANTS
TO SHOW YOU IN HER NEW BOOK,
“LOVING PEOPLE WHO
ARE HARD TO LOVE,”
A STEP-BY-STEP SURVIVAL
GUIDE TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE
THOSE DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIPS
AND A WORLD IN NEED
OF GOD’S LOVE.
LOVING THAT DIFFICULT PERSON
MAY NOT CHANGE THE WORLD
BUT IT COULD CHANGE YOURS
AND THEIRS.
“LOVING PEOPLE WHO
ARE HARD TO LOVE,”
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY.
GINGER: LONG AFTER
THE BATTLE IS OVER,
A GROWING NUMBER
OF OUR NATION’S HEROES,
RETURN FROM ACTIVE
DUTY FACING THE MOST
FEARSOME ENEMY OF ALL,
THE BATTLE BEING
WAGED IN THEIR MINDS.
TAKE A LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE
YOU’RE MAKING THROUGH
A CHRIST-CENTERED PROGRAM
HELPING VETERANS REGAIN
THEIR SOLID FOOTING IN LIFE.
SEAN: THINGS HAPPEN
IN THE MILITARY THAT
YOU CAN’T EXPECT.
I’M DEPLOYED TO IRAQ
AS A GUNNER.
GOT HURT.
AND THEN, WHEN I GOT OUT,
I WAS DEPRESSED, ON PAIN PILLS,
AND I WAS IN MY ROOM FOR
TWO YEARS, AND WOULDN’T LEAVE.
I FELT LIKE THE MILITARY
GAVE ME A PURPOSE.
LIKE I WAS PROUD TO STRAP
MY BOOTS ON EVERY DAY.
AND THEN, ONCE I DIDN’T HAVE
THAT NO MORE, I WAS JUST LOST.
ANNOUNCER: EVEN THOUGH
THE THREAT OF PHYSICAL WAR
IS OVER, WHEN SOLDIERS LIKE,
SEAN O’NEILL, COME HOME,
A NEW WAR OFTEN AWAITS THEM,
ONE THAT ATTACKS THEIR MINDS,
AND HOLDS THEIR FUTURES HOSTAGE.
HAND OF HOPE, THE OUTREACH ARM
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
AND THE LOS ANGELES DREAM CENTER
HAVE JOINED FORCES
TO PROVIDE A PLACE OF REFUGE
FOR VETERANS LIKE SEAN.
MATTHEW: THE TRANSITIONAL
LIVING CENTER AT THE DREAM
CENTER IS REALLY ALLOWING THEM,
FIRST OF ALL, TO GET OFF
THE STREETS AND GET OUT
OF HOMELESSNESS, AND JUST
START REBUILDING THEIR LIVES.
NOT ONLY TO MINISTER
TO THEIR NEED BUT MINISTER
TO THEIR POTENTIAL.
SO, WHEN THEY COME HERE,
WE GIVE ‘EM A PLACE TO LIVE,
WE HELP THEM WITH BANK
ACCOUNTS AND BASIC EVERYDAY
TYPE OF THINGS TO HELP
THEM REBUILD THEIR LIVES.
WE HAVE A COMPUTER LAB SET
UP TO HELP THEM RESEARCH
WHAT’S GOING ON.
AND A FAITH-BASED PLACE FOR
THESE GUYS TO GROW SPIRITUALLY.
AND JUST GETTING AWAY–
CUZ SO MANY OF THEM LIVE
IN SKID ROW AND UNDER BRIDGES
AND GETTING THEM ON A CAMPUS.
ENVIRONMENT’S THE VERY THING
THAT CHANGES PEOPLE THE MOST,
I THINK, IS JUST BEING
IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT.
YOUR KIND OF NATURALLY PUSHED
TO GREATNESS BECAUSE THAT’S
THE CORE VALUE OF THE CAMPUS.
SEAN: I AM DIAGNOSED
WITH PTSD, I’M TECHNICALLY 100%,
SO YEAH.
AT FIRST, IT WAS HARD–
IT WAS REALLY HARD.
LIKE THERE’D BE DAYS
WHERE I WOULDN’T WANT
TO TALK TO NOBODY.
I WOULDN’T WANNA TO ANYTHING.
BUT NOW, I CAN JUST COME TALK
TO ONE OF MY LEADERS HERE,
AND THEY’LL PRAY, AND THEN,
THEY JUST SHOWER YOU
WITH LOVE AND PATIENCE.
AND THEN, YOU JUST LIKE–
THEY TAKE THEIR TIME WITH YOU.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
YOU CAN WORK ON GETTING
YOUR MIND RIGHT.
WORK ON GETTING, YOU KNOW,
FILLING YOURSELF UP WITH
THE SPIRIT LIKE, YOU KNOW,
YOU WORK ON SETTING–GETTING
A GOOD FOUNDATION, YOU KNOW.
SO, IT’S A GREAT PLACE.
MATTHEW: TO BE ABLE
TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS
AND NOT HAVE TO WAIT
ON THE GOVERNMENT
TO TELL US HOW TO DO IT,
IS A BEAUTIFUL JOY OF A
FAITH-BASED PLACE LIKE THIS.
CHANGE DOESN’T HAPPEN
WITH JUST ALLOWING PEOPLE
TO HAVE A PLACE TO STAY
OR BED TO LIVE IN,
BUT IT COMES THROUGH
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING THIS
DREAM TO BECOME REALITY.
AND BECAUSE OF YOUR GIVING,
PEOPLE LIKE US ARE ABLE
TO STAY ON THE FRONT LINES
IN HELPING PEOPLE,
BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU
THAT MAKE IT HAPPEN.
GINGER: IT IS REALLY
WONDERFUL TO SEE HOW
GOD RESTORES THESE
VETERANS’ LIVES.
I REMEMBER MEETING SEAN
AND AS HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS PAIN,
JUST BEING HEARTBROKEN FOR
WHAT HE AND SO MANY OTHER
PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH.
BUT THERE IS A WAY THAT
WE CAN SHARE HOPE WITH THEM.
AND WE DON’T WANT TO JUST
LET THEM SUFFER ON THEIR OWN,
WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING
THAT WE CAN.
YOU SEE, GOD TAKES ALL THEIR
PAIN AND SUFFERING,
AND HE CAN TURN IT AROUND
GIVING THESE SOLDIERS WHO’VE
GIVEN SO MUCH TO OUR NATION
A NEW BEGINNING IN HIM.
WHEN YOU JOIN WITH US
AT JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES,
WITH YOUR FINANCIAL GIVING,
YOU’RE LITERALLY CHANGING LIVES.
AND YOU’RE PART
OF WHAT WE JUST SAW.
YOU SEE, WE WORK TOGETHER
WITH THE DREAM CENTER
OF LOS ANGELES.
WE WORK TOGETHER WITH YOU.
AND GOD USES
ALL OF US TOGETHER
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
OUR HAND OF HOPE OUTREACHES
TOUCH EVERY AREA OF LIFE,
FROM FEEDING
AND EDUCATING CHILDREN,
TO FRESH WATER WELLS,
MEDICAL CARE,
DISASTER RELIEF,
SO MUCH MORE.
AND WHAT YOU JUST SAW TODAY,
HELPING VETERANS, LIKE SEAN.
YOUR SPECIAL GIFT TODAY
WILL DO MORE THAN YOU
EVER REALIZED POSSIBLE.
SO, WHEN YOU GIVE A GIFT
TO JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES,
TO OUR HAND OF HOPE
OUTREACHES,
YOU ARE MAKING A LONG-TERM
INVESTMENT INTO
PEOPLES’ LIVES,
WHO NEED TO KNOW THAT
THERE IS HOPE FOR THEM.
REACH OUT TO US RIGHT NOW.
LET US KNOW THAT YOU WOULD
LIKE TO DO WHAT YOU CAN.
NO GIFT IS TOO LARGE
OR TOO SMALL.
WE JUST LOVE HEARING
FROM YOU.
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU
ENJOYED TODAY’S PROGRAM.
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
THIS PROGRAM HAS
BEEN MADE POSSIBLE
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.