ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: WE'VE ALL GOT AN ASSIGNMENT FROM GOD.
AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT ASSIGNMENT,
WE NEED TO KNOW HOW TO FOCUS.
AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT THE DEVIL IS AN EXPERT
AT GETTING PEOPLE UNFOCUSED AND GETTING THEM, NOW LISTEN
TO ME, TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT SOMETHING THEY
CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: I HAVE A SERIES OF TEACHINGS THAT I DO CALLED
"SIT, STAND, WALK, AND RUN."
WELL, EACH ONE OF THOSE THINGS ARE SOMETHING THE BIBLE
INSTRUCTS US TO DO.
NOW, PRETTY MUCH PEOPLE JUST WANT TO GET SAVED
AND RUN THEIR RACE.
"WHAT'S MY MINISTRY?
WHAT CAN I DO?
I WANT TO GET A PROMOTION.
I WANT TO HAVE MORE MONEY.
I WANT TO DO SOMETHING GREAT.
YOU KNOW, WHAT'S MY MINISTRY, WHAT'S MY CALL?"
AND IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY.
THINK OF A BABY.
THEY'RE LAYING IN THE CRIB.
THEY DON'T ALL OF A SUDDEN JUMP UP AND START RUNNING
ACROSS THE ROOM.
NOW, JUST THINK WITH ME.
THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS THEY LEARN HOW TO SIT.
THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT STAYING SEATED WITH CHRIST
IN HEAVENLY PLACES.
THE BIBLE TEACHES US THAT JESUS IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND
OF THE FATHER.
DOESN'T TALK ABOUT HIM STANDING IN HEAVEN.
IT ALWAYS SAYS THAT HE'S SEATED, HE WHO SAT UPON THE THRONE.
AND WE ARE SEATED IN HEAVENLY PLACES WITH CHRIST JESUS.
WELL, BEING SEATED IS TALKING ABOUT ENTERING THE REST OF GOD.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
YOU DON'T WANT TO TRY TO RUN A RACE IF YOU DON'T KNOW
HOW TO ENTER THE REST OF GOD WHILE YOU'RE RUNNING THAT RACE.
BECAUSE THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE
MORE RESPONSIBILITY, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE DARTS THROWN
AT YOU, MORE DEMONIC ATTACKS.
AND IN THE PROCESS, YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO TRUST GOD
AND ENTER HIS REST, OTHERWISE YOU'LL NEVER, EVER, EVER BE ABLE
TO DO IT WITHOUT HAVING A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN
THREE TIMES A WEEK.
PEOPLE WANT PROMOTION, BUT WHEN YOU GET A PROMOTION, YOU ALWAYS
GET MORE RESPONSIBILITY.
SO, IT TAKES A LONG TIME,
HONESTLY, TO LEARN HOW TO STAY SEATED IN CHRIST.
THAT MEANS WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE GOING THROUGH PROBLEMS,
YOU STILL STAY SEATED.
AND I'M TALKING ABOUT SPIRITUALLY.
THAT MEANS WHEN YOU HEAR A THREAT AT WORK THAT YOU'RE
GOING TO LOSE YOUR JOB, YOU STAY SEATED.
THAT MEANS WHEN YOU DIDN'T GET PICKED
FOR THE WORSHIP TEAM AT CHURCH, THAT YOU STAY SEATED IN CHRIST.
THAT MEANS WHEN YOU FIND OUT THAT YOUR BEST FRIEND TOLD
YOUR SECRET, YOU STAY SEATED IN CHRIST.
AMEN?
THERE'S 1,000 WAYS THAT WE CAN LOSE OUR PEACE IF WE WANT TO,
BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO IF WE LEARN HOW TO REST IN GOD.
THOSE WHO HAVE BELIEVED DO ENTER THE REST OF GOD.
WE CAN BE SEATED IN CHRIST AND NOT HAVE TO WORK, WORK,
WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK AT TRYING TO BE A CHRISTIAN
ALL THE TIME.
THEN THE NEXT THING WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DO IS STAND.
WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO STAND AGAINST THE DEVIL.
WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO STAND STRONG WHEN THINGS
ARE COMING AGAINST US.
YOU CAN'T RUN BEFORE YOU LEARN
HOW TO STAND.
BECAUSE WHILE YOU'RE RUNNING, THERE'S GOING TO BE THINGS COME
AGAINST YOU, AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAND STRONG
AGAINST THE ENEMY.
AND THEN WE GOT TO LEARN HOW TO WALK.
BEFORE YOU CAN RUN, YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO WALK.
WE WALK WITH GOD.
WE WALK IN LOVE.
WE WALK IN THE SPIRIT.
WE WALK IN THE WORD.
AND A WALK IS ALL ABOUT A STEP.
MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY,
DISHES, GROCERY STORE, CLEAN THE HOUSE, GO TO WORK,
GO TO WORK, MONDAY, TUESDAY, GO TO CHURCH ON SUNDAY, MONDAY,
TUESDAY.
IT'S ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO DO THIS THING IN EVERYDAY LIFE
TO WALK WITH GOD.
AND THEN FINALLY, GOD WILL RELEASE YOU TO RUN YOUR RACE.
AND TONIGHT, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO RUN THE RACE
TO WIN.
AND NOT ONLY HOW TO RUN YOUR RACE, BUT HOW TO FINISH
THE RACE.
HEBREWS CHAPTER 12, VERSE 1.
"THEREFORE THEN, SINCE WE ARE SURROUNDED BY SO GREAT A CLOUD
OF WITNESSES [WHO HAVE BORNE TESTIMONY TO THE TRUTH],
LET US--" AND WE HEAR SOME KIND
OF VIOLENT WORDS, "NOW LET US STRIP OFF AND THROW ASIDE
EVERY ENCUMBRANCE (EVERY UNNECESSARY WEIGHT)
AND THAT SIN WHICH SO READILY (DEFTLY AND CLEVERLY) CLINGS TO
AND ENTANGLES US, AND LET US RUN," EVERYBODY SAY RUN,
"WITH PATIENT ENDURANCE AND STEADY AND ACTIVE
PERSISTENCE THE APPOINTED COURSE OF THE RACE THAT IS SET
BEFORE US."
WE ALL HAVE A RACE TO RUN.
IT'S KIND OF OBVIOUS WHAT MINE IS.
EVERY RACE IS NOT A MINISTRY POSITION RACE,
BUT WE ALL HAVE A RACE TO RUN.
YOUR RACE MIGHT BE RIGHT NOW RAISING
FOUR GREAT, AMAZING KIDS.
I DON'T KNOW, YOUR RACE NEXT WEEK MIGHT BE
GETTING YOUR HOUSE CLEANED UP AND CLEANING OUT THE GARAGE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, BUT WE'VE ALL GOT AN ASSIGNMENT
FROM GOD.
AND IN ORDER TO DO THAT ASSIGNMENT, WE NEED TO KNOW
HOW TO FOCUS.
AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT THE DEVIL IS AN EXPERT
AT GETTING PEOPLE UNFOCUSED AND GETTING THEM,
NOW LISTEN TO ME, TRYING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT SOMETHING
THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT.
DID YOU HEAR ME?
TRYING TO FIX THINGS YOU CAN'T FIX THAT ONLY GOD CAN FIX.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE CAN KEEP RUNNING OUR RACE IF WE KNOW
HOW TO STAY SEATED, HOW TO STAND, AND HOW TO KEEP
WALKING OUR WALK.
REMEMBER, YOU CAN'T JUST RUN.
YOU HAVE TO SIT, YOU HAVE TO STAND, YOU HAVE TO WALK,
AND THEN YOU RUN.
1 PETER CHAPTER 5, VERSES 8 AND 9.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT DAVID WAS ANOINTED TO BE KING 20 YEARS
BEFORE HE WORE THE CROWN.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THOSE 20 YEARS?
WELL, LET'S SEE, HAD A FIGHT WITH GOLIATH.
HAD TO HIDE FOR YEARS FROM A WICKED KING
THAT WAS TRYING TO KILL HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY OF HIS LIFE.
HAD TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH HIS ENEMIES.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WEAR THE CROWN THAT GOD HAS SET ASIDE
FOR YOU, THE CROWN OF VICTORY FOR RUNNING YOUR RACE,
IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO STAND AGAINST THE ENEMY.
AMEN?
OKAY, 1 PETER CHAPTER 5, VERSE 8 AND 9,
SOME OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES.
"WITHSTAND--" OR VERSE 8, "BE WELL BALANCED (TEMPERATE, SOBER
OF MIND); BE VIGILANT, CAUTIOUS AT ALL TIMES, FOR THAT ENEMY
OF YOURS, THE DEVIL, ROAMS AROUND LIKE A LION ROARING
[IN FIERCE HUNGER], SEEKING SOMEONE TO SEIZE UPON
AND DEVOUR."
EVERYBODY SAY, "IT'S NOT GOING TO BE ME."
"WITHSTAND HIM; BE FIRM IN FAITH [AGAINST HIS ONSET, ROOTED,
ESTABLISHED, STRONG, IMMOVABLE, DETERMINED], KNOWING
THAT THE SAME (IDENTICAL) SUFFERINGS ARE APPOINTED
TO YOUR BROTHERHOOD (THE WHOLE BODY OF CHRISTIANS)
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD."
CAN I TELL YOU SOMETHING TONIGHT?
YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH THINGS.
JUST BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T LOOK SAD DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT
GOING THROUGH ANYTHING.
MATTER OF FACT, THE MORE MATURE YOU GET IN THE LORD,
THE LESS YOU SHOW THE STRAIN OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH
WHEN YOU'RE GOING THROUGH.
ACTUALLY, THE REALLY MATURE CAN CONTINUE TO MINISTER
TO OTHER PEOPLE WHILE THEY'RE HURTING SO BAD, THEY FEEL
LIKE THEY CAN'T STAND IT.
AND THOSE PEOPLE WILL NEVER EVEN REALLY KNOW
WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT WE'RE STILL IN THE CRIB STAGE
OF CHRISTIANITY, WHEN EVERY TIME WE HAVE A PROBLEM,
EVERYTHING IN THE WHOLE WORLD HAS TO STOP NOW.
CAN'T GO TO CHURCH THIS WEEK BECAUSE I'M UPSET BECAUSE I
DIDN'T GET MY PROMOTION THAT I WAS EXPECTING AT WORK LAST WEEK.
YOU KNOW, I TAUGHT HOME BIBLE STUDIES
FOR 5 YEARS AND MINISTERED TO 25 PEOPLE
FOR 2 AND A HALF YEARS, AND THEN MAYBE ANOTHER 25
IN ADDITION TO THAT IN ANOTHER BIBLE STUDY
FOR--SO FOR 5 YEARS, NOT 5 DAYS OR 5 WEEKS, FOR 5 YEARS.
AND I DIDN'T GET PAID FOR DOING IT.
AND I HAD QUIT A FULL-TIME JOB TO DO IT, SO MY INCOME WENT
WAY DOWN.
AND I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I WAS MAKING
ALL THESE HUGE SACRIFICES AND IT DIDN'T SEEM TO BE WORKING.
I WAS TRYING TO RUN.
I WANTED BIGGER THINGS.
I WANTED MORE OPPORTUNITIES.
I WANTED TO BE DOING THINGS LIKE THIS, BUT I HAD NOT LEARNED
YET HOW TO BE SEATED IN CHRIST, HOW TO REST IN HIM.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO STAND AGAINST THE ENEMY.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HAVE A PROBLEM AND NOT WHINE
AND MOAN ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.
AND I CERTAINLY WASN'T WALKING IN LOVE.
BUT I WAS TRYING TO RUN MY RACE.
IS ANYBODY HOME IN THIS PLACE TONIGHT?
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: I GET AMUSED AT PEOPLE TODAY BECAUSE THEY WANT
TO GET SAVED AND GET A MINISTRY.
AND THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS GET SAVED AND GET
SOME COMMON SENSE.
AND THE WORST THING THAT WE CAN DO REALLY IS PROMOTE
A NEW CONVERT INTO SOME PUBLIC POSITION OF LEADERSHIP.
ALL WE'RE DOING IS JUST ASKING TO HURT THEM.
EPHESIANS 6:12, "FOR WE ARE NOT WRESTLING WITH FLESH AND BLOOD
[CONTENDING ONLY WITH PHYSICAL OPPONENTS],
BUT AGAINST THE DESPOTISMS, AGAINST THE POWERS
[THE MASTER SPIRITS WHO ARE]
THE WORLD RULERS OF THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, AGAINST THE SPIRIT
FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY
(SUPERNATURAL) SPHERE.
THEREFORE PUT ON GOD'S COMPLETE ARMOR, THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE
TO RESISTS AND STAND YOUR GROUND ON THE EVIL DAY [OF DANGER],
AND HAVING DONE ALL [THE CRISIS DEMANDS], YOU ARE TO STAND
[FIRMLY IN YOUR PLACE].
STAND THEREFORE [HOLDING YOUR GROUND]."
SO, WHILE WE'RE TRYING TO RUN A RACE, EVEN WHEN WE GET
TO THAT POINT WHERE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, ACTUALLY IF YOU
WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, AND I DON'T WANT TO DISCOURAGE YOU
WHEN I SAY THIS, BUT THE MORE YOU'RE PROMOTED, THE MORE YOU'RE
GOING TO HAVE COME AGAINST YOU.
BUT I WILL ALSO SAY THIS.
THE MORE MATURE YOU GET IN CHRIST, THE LESS IT BOTHERS
YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ONLY RUNNING, NOW YOU'RE
SEATED, YOU'RE STANDING, AND YOU'RE WALKING.
AND YOU'VE MADE YOUR MIND UP THAT YOU'RE NOT GOING TO QUIT,
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO QUIT.
AND THAT YOU ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO START A RACE, BUT YOU'RE
GOING TO RUN A RACE, AND YOU'RE GOING TO WIN, AND YOU'RE GOING
TO FINISH YOUR RACE.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: SO REMEMBER, KEEP RUNNING YOUR RACE, AND DO NOT
LET PETTY THINGS DERAIL YOU FROM PURSUING ALL THAT GOD
HAS CALLED YOU TO DO.
LIKE MY GUEST TODAY, NOT ONLY IS HE A PASTOR, BUT HE'S A SINGER,
A COMEDIAN, HUSBAND, AND A FATHER, PASTOR JOHN GREY,
AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR AT LAKEWOOD CHURCH,
DOES IT ALL ON HIS RACE.
AND HE CONTINUES TO KEEP ON RUNNING.
AND TODAY, WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CONTINUE RUNNING
YOUR RACE AND DOING ALL THAT YOU CAN DO FOR GOD.
WELL, JOHN, YOU ARE JUST SO TALENTED
THAT IT IS ANNOYING.
I DON'T SING.
JOHN: YEAH, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
YOU'RE, LIKE, ONE OF THE GREATEST TEACHERS
IN THE WORD, LIKE, EVER.
JOYCE: I AM FUNNY OCCASIONALLY.
JOHN: YOU ARE FUNNY.
YOU MAKE ME LAUGH OUT LOUD, AND THAT'S HARD TO DO.
JOYCE: SO, TELL US, JOHN, HAVE YOU EVER HAD ANYTHING
IN YOUR LIFE THAT HAS TRIED TO KEEP YOU FROM RUNNING
YOUR RACE?
OR HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TODAY TO JUST BE
ALL THAT THEY CAN BE?
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SUCH PRESSURE IN THE WORLD TO BE LIKE SOMEBODY
ELSE, BUT HOW DID YOU WORK THROUGH JUST BEING YOU?
JOHN: YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT STARTS WITH PARENTING FOR ME.
MY MOTHER ASKED THE LORD VERY EARLY ON, "WHO IS THIS YOUNG
MAN THAT I'M RAISING?" AND AT A YOUNG AGE, MY MOTHER
TOLD ME LATER SHE SAID THE LORD SAID, "YOU'RE RAISING A LEADER."
AND THEN AT 5 YEARS OLD, SHE SAW ME WATCHING WALTER CRONKITE
AND WATCHING THE "WORLD NEWS" INSTEAD OF PLAYING WITH TOYS.
SHE WAS COOKING DINNER, SHE WALKS IN, I'M WATCHING
THE "WORLD NEWS," AND I'M NOT MOVING.
AND SHE SAID, "AND IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT THAT GOD
SAYS, 'YOU'RE RAISING A WORLD LEADER.'"
AND SO, MY MOTHER BEGAN TO FRAME THE EXPERIENCES OF MY LIFE,
MY EDUCATION, MY RELATIONSHIPS, MY FRIENDSHIPS.
AND SHE FRAMED IT AROUND THE WORD THAT GOD SAID.
SO, I WAS ALWAYS VERY BROAD.
I ALWAYS WAS A BRIDGE BUILDER.
I ALWAYS HAD A HEART FOR THOSE WHO WERE BEING BULLIED.
RACE WAS A BIG ISSUE IN CINCINNATI.
I GREW UP IN CINCINNATI.
AND SO, MY MOTHER WAS ALWAYS CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE
THAT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE HER, AND SHE MADE SURE THAT THAT WAS
AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR ME AS WELL, NOT KNOWING THAT I
WOULD BE AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR AT THE MOST DIVERSE CHURCH
IN THE UNITED STATES ONE DAY.
BUT SHE MADE SURE THAT THE COMEDY IN ME, WHICH WAS
REALLY A DEFENSE MECHANISM TO NOT GET SPANKINGS.
WHEN MY MOM GOT MAD, I TRIED TO MAKE HER LAUGH.
SO, I'D LIKE PULL MY UNDERWEAR UP TO MY CHEST LIKE,
"PLEASE DON'T BEAT ME."
AND SHE'D BE LIKE, "JUST GO IN YOUR ROOM."
YOU KNOW, AND SO THE COMEDY, THE SINGING.
THE SINGING WAS A PART OF OUR FAMILY.
MY MOTHER WAS A CHURCH PIANIST, AND I WAS DIRECTING THE CHOIR
AT 7 YEARS OLD.
SO, I WAS ALWAYS IN CHURCH PLAYS, SINGING,
AND ALL OF THESE THINGS.
SO, I HONED MY GIFTS SERVING THE LORD.
AND SO, AS THE YEARS PROGRESSED, AND OPPORTUNITIES CAME FOR ME
TO MAYBE DO COMEDY AT COMEDY CLUBS, THAT NEVER
MOVED ME BECAUSE I WAS NEVER CALLED TO BE A COMEDIAN.
WHAT I REALIZED, 'CAUSE I GOT CALLED TO MINISTRY AT 13
AND I WAS SO DEPRESSED, I SAID, "THANKS, GOD,
YOU RUINED MY LIFE."
BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO BE AN ANGRY MAN YELLING AT PEOPLE,
WHICH IS WHAT I SAW SOMETIMES.
AND I SAID, "GOD, THEY YELL AT PEOPLE, PEOPLE ARE SCARED.
AND THIS STINKS."
AND HE SAID, "THAT'S WHY I CALLED YOU."
AND WHAT I REALIZED IS GOD SAVES YOUR SOUL, BUT HE SANCTIFIES
YOUR PERSONALITY.
JOYCE: YEAH, OH, THAT'S GOOD.
JOHN: THIS IS THE POWER OF JESUS, THAT HE DIDN'T WANT ME
TO BECOME A COOKIE CUTTER VERSION
OF WHAT I THOUGHT PEOPLE EXPECTED.
SO, I GOT TO BE AUTHENTICALLY ME BECAUSE MY MOTHER MADE SURE
THAT I UNDERSTOOD THAT WHEN JESUS SAVES YOUR SOUL, HE
ACTUALLY UNLOCKS THE DORMANT GIFTS THAT ARE INSIDE OF YOU.
SO, WHAT WAS ONCE A COMEDIC GIFT NOW BECOMES AN OPPORTUNITY
TO SHARE JOY.
NOW, IT'S A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
AND SO, FOR ME, SUBMITTING MY GIFTS TO THE LORD,
ALL OF THEM, I SAID, "LORD, IF YOU'RE CALLING ME,
THEN LET ME BE ME."
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS--THIS IS
INTERESTING, I DON'T KNOW THAT I EVER DREW THIS CORRELATION
TILL RIGHT NOW.
I WANTED TO BE MENTORED BY CERTAIN PASTORS AND LEADERS,
AND IT NEVER WORKED OUT.
AND IT WAS BECAUSE GOD WANTED TO RAISE ME HIMSELF, AS IT WERE.
JOYCE: THAT WAS MY EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE.
WHEN I FIRST WENT INTO MINISTRY, I WOULD TRY TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS
WITH OTHER PEOPLE THAT I THOUGHT REALLY HAD IT ALL TOGETHER.
AND I'M TELLING YOU WHAT, I STARTED THINKING
LIKE, "WHAT IS GOING ON?" BECAUSE I WOULD EVEN GET
APPOINTMENTS, AND SOME WEIRD THING WOULD HAPPEN,
AND IT WOULD BE CANCELLED.
AND FINALLY, GOD GOT ACROSS TO ME, "I DON'T WANT
YOU TO GO AND ASK THEM ALL THE QUESTIONS YOU'D LIKE
TO ASK THEM BECAUSE WE DON'T NEED ANOTHER ONE OF THEM.
I WANT YOU TO BE YOU."
BUT I DO GOT TO TELL YOU, AND PROBABLY
A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WATCHING FEEL THIS WAY, I'M JUST A TINY
BIT JEALOUS OF THE MOM YOU HAD AND THE TRAINING YOU GOT.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE'S A WORLD OF PEOPLE WATCHING TODAY THAT ARE
JUST LIKE ME, THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THAT GROWING UP.
AND THERE WAS SO--I NEVER FELT ACCEPTED.
I ALWAYS FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH ME.
AND SO, I WAS REALLY ENTRENCHED IN TRYING TO BE WHAT I THOUGHT
EVERYBODY ELSE WANTED ME TO BE BECAUSE, FRANKLY, I DIDN'T THINK
I WAS ACCEPTABLE.
AND I KNOW THAT SO MANY PEOPLE SUFFER FROM THAT.
AND SO, EVEN AS YOU--EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE RAISED WELL AND YOU HAD
GOOD TRAINING, I'M SURE THAT YOU HAVE FELT THE PRESSURE IN LIFE,
BECAUSE WE ALL DO, OF BEING LIKE THIS ONE,
OR BEING LIKE THAT ONE, OR BEING LIKE SOMEBODY ELSE.
SO, TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT MAYBE AN EXPERIENCE
THAT YOU HAD ALONG THOSE LINES, WHERE YOU HAD TO DECIDE,
"NO, I'M GOING TO BE WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO BE."
JOHN: YOU KNOW, I THINK WHEN I LOOK AT MINISTRY
AND PREACHERS, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PREACHERS
IN MY HOMETOWN AND JUST KIND OF IN MY EARLY
STAGES OF MINISTRY.
LIKE, I KNEW I WAS CALLED AT 13.
I PREACHED MY FIRST SERMON AT 21.
AND SO, THERE WERE DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT I THOUGHT JUST HAD
IT--AGAIN, HAD IT TOGETHER.
BUT WHAT I REALIZED IS, AS I TRIED TO BE THEM,
I WAS LOSING ME.
AND I BECAME NOT OKAY WITH THAT.
I SAID, "NO, WHAT THEY DO IS GREAT FOR THEM.
BUT GOD CREATED ME UNIQUE, AND THERE MUST BE
SOMETHING IN ME THAT HE WANTS THE WORLD TO SEE."
AND SO, THERE JUST CAME A POINT WHERE I KIND OF GOT MAD
AT TRYING TO BE RECEIVED.
IT WASN'T WORKING ANYWAY, YOU KNOW?
AND I THINK I HAD THE MOTHER THAT I HAD BECAUSE I BATTLED
LOW SELF-ESTEEM FOR SO LONG.
I STILL STRUGGLE WITH IT.
I LOOK AT PICTURES AND I'M LIKE, "WOW, I NEED TO LOSE
ABOUT 600 POUNDS."
JOYCE: OH, I THINK YOU'RE CUTE.
JOHN: WELL, YOU'RE THE GREATEST, I LOVE YOU,
I'M SENDING AN OFFERING.
BUT I THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT GOD KNEW
HOW MUCH ENCOURAGEMENT I NEEDED BECAUSE I WAS SO DISCOURAGED
NOT HAVING THE FATHER, NOT HAVING THOSE POSITIVE
ROLE MODELS, BEING CALLED NAMES EVERY DAY ON THE BUS,
AT SCHOOL.
AND SO, I THINK WHEN IT CAME TO THE PREACHING SIDE,
I REALIZED THAT MAYBE I'M NOT GOING TO BE LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.
SO, OVER TIME, THE COMEDY AND THE SINGING AND THE ACTING,
HE STARTED MARRYING THEM, BUT IT WAS IN A VERY UNIQUE WAY.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, I BECAME SOMETHING THAT NO ONE
HAD EVER SEEN.
AND THE REASON WHY I KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS BECAUSE
WHEN I WOULD TURN ON TBN AND I WOULD WATCH YOU, I SAID,
"SHE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE ANYONE ELSE."
AND IT ENCOURAGED ME.
AND THIS IS HOW I KNOW IT'S THE HOLY SPIRIT,
BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS ABLE TO CONNECT A WOMAN FROM MISSOURI
WITH A YOUNG BLACK BOY IN CINCINNATI, AND I WAS ABLE
TO IDENTIFY IN YOU THAT IF GOD CAN MAKE YOU UNIQUE AND AMAZING
THROUGH THE PAIN AND THE THINGS THAT YOU WENT THROUGH,
AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS MIRROR MY OWN PAIN, BUT HERE WE ARE NOW
IN TWO VERY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, SAME HOLY SPIRIT, DIFFERENT
GIFTINGS, SAME HOLY SPIRIT, SAME CALLING, WE ARE JUST USING IT
IN--WE'RE BEING USED AND UTILIZED IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
BUT THE REJECTION, THE PAIN, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ACTUALLY
PUSHED ME TO USE ALL MY GIFTS.
I HAD TO USE THE GIFT OF COMEDY TO KIND OF KEEP THE BULLIES
AWAY, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE LIKE, "YOU SURE ARE UGLY."
I'M LIKE, "YEAH, I COULD BE A LITTLE CUTER."
SO, I JUST NEUTRALIZED THEM.
AND THEN THEY BECAME MY FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, BUT THEN WHEN IT CAME
TO THE GOSPEL, I'VE NEVER COMPROMISED
THE GOSPEL, I NEVER WILL.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT A PLATFORM.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE STAGE.
AND THE REASON WHY I BELIEVE THE LORD HAS ALLOWED ME TO DO
WHATEVER I'VE DONE FOR HIM IS BECAUSE I TOLD HIM, "IF YOU CALL
ME, I'M GOING TO SERVE YOU TILL I DIE, AND I'M NEVER GOING
TO SELL YOU OUT, AND YOU'LL ALWAYS HAVE A FRIEND IN ME.
I'M GOING TO TELL THESE PEOPLE JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY
TO THE FATHER, AND WHATEVER HAPPENS FROM THERE HAPPENS."
BUT HE WAS THE ONE THAT GAVE ME THE GIFTS, HE'S THE ONE
THAT DELIVERED ME FROM MY PAIN, AND HE'S THE ONE THAT'S GIVEN ME
THE PLATFORM.
SO, I AM NOT GOING TO APOLOGIZE FOR BEING UNIQUELY ME.
MY PAIN HELPED ME.
MY REJECTION MADE ME.
AND ALL OF THESE GIFTS, THEY WERE CULTIVATED
BY THAT--THOSE BROKEN MOMENTS.
JOYCE: WELL, YOU KNOW, JOHN, YOU CAN'T--YOU CANNOT LOVE OTHER
PEOPLE UNTIL YOU LOVE YOURSELF.
JOHN: YES.
JOYCE: AND I DON'T MEAN IN A SELFISH, SELF-CENTERED WAY,
BUT I JUST DIDN'T LIKE MYSELF BECAUSE I EXPERIENCED SO MUCH
REJECTION, AND I HAD SO MUCH GUILT IN MY LIFE FROM WHAT
MY DAD HAD DONE TO ME THAT REALLY WASN'T MY FAULT,
IT WAS HIS FAULT, BUT I ALWAYS GREW UP THINKING
SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH ME.
SO THEREFORE, I ALWAYS WANTED TO TRY TO BE SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND SO, GOD HAD TO TEACH ME
THAT I HAD TO BE ME, AND THAT HE WAS NEVER GOING TO HELP ME
BE SOMEBODY ELSE.
JOHN: WOW.
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING WE TELL PEOPLE,
AND YOU MAYBE HAVE HEARD THIS BEFORE, IS YOU HAVE TO BE YOU
BECAUSE EVERYBODY ELSE IS ALREADY TAKEN.
AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE YOURSELF, YOU'RE IN FOR A MISERABLE LIFE
BECAUSE EVERYWHERE YOU GO, YOU'RE THERE.
YOU CAN'T EVER GET AWAY
FROM YOURSELF.
AND SO, FOR MY MINISTRY, IT TOOK PLACE IN STAGES.
AND FOR 5 YEARS, I TAUGHT HOME BIBLE STUDIES.
AND THEN I FELT LIKE GOD WANTED TO PROMOTE ME TO A LARGER
AUDIENCE, BUT THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENED WAS,
FOR A WHOLE YEAR, I GOT TO DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.
AND IT WAS SO CONFUSING TO ME, BUT I LOOK BACK NOW AND I
REALIZE IT WAS DURING THAT YEAR THAT GOD DEALT WITH ME
SO SEVERELY ABOUT BEING MYSELF.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF FUNNY STORIES I TELL THAT I DON'T HAVE
TIME TO GET INTO RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK WE JUST REALLY WANT
TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TODAY TO BE WHO THEY ARE.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SAY BE YOURSELF, THAT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT WE DON'T NEED TO CHANGE.
WE ALL HAVE CHANGING THAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT GOD'S NEVER
TRYING TO CHANGE YOU INTO SOMEBODY ELSE.
AND I LOVE WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT HE SANCTIFIES
YOUR PERSONALITY.
I'M GOING TO BORROW THAT AND PREACH ON THAT.
JOHN: COME ON, DO IT.
JOYCE: I'D LIKE YOU JUST TO GIVE A FINAL REALLY BIG
JOHN GREY ENCOURAGEMENT HERE ON TELLING OUR AUDIENCE TODAY
HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO BREAK FREE
FROM THAT DESPERATION OF TRYING TO BE SOMEBODY YOU'RE NOT,
AND JUST BE WHO THEY ARE.
JOHN: I CALL IT CIRCUMFERENCE VALIDATION
SYNDROME.
I MADE IT UP, IT PROBABLY MEANS NOTHING.
BUT WHEN YOU NEED THE VALIDATION OF YOUR CLOSE CIRCLE, YOU'LL DO
ANYTHING TO BE ACCEPTED.
AND WHAT I REALIZED IS THAT I AM VALIDATED BECAUSE JESUS DIED
FOR ME.
MY VALUE IS IN HIM.
AND SO, WHOEVER I AM WAS ENOUGH FOR HIS BLOOD, WHICH MEANS I
NEED TO BE OKAY WITH THAT.
YES, THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES CHANGE.
HE CONVICTS, HE PRUNES, HE CORRECTS.
BUT AT THE CORE OF WHO I AM, I LOVE GOD.
AND SO, THE TEXTURE OF MY LIFE FOLLOWS THE TENOR OF HIS VOICE.
I HAVE DECIDED THAT I AM ENOUGH, AND I AM SECURE IN THAT.
AND IN THAT, I'M ABLE TO CELEBRATE
EVERYBODY ELSE'S UNIQUE GIFTS.
I'M NOT INSECURE OR JEALOUS, NOR DO I DESIRE PLATFORMS.
THE ENEMY OF THE ANOINTING IS AMBITION.
I AM NOT AMBITIOUS FOR OPPORTUNITIES OR PLATFORMS.
I WANT TO BE A GOOD HUSBAND, AND I WANT TO BE A GOOD FATHER,
AND I WANT TO DIE RIGHT.
BUT AFTER THAT, ALL BETS ARE OFF.
FOR ME, I JUST WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW WHOEVER YOU ARE IS
ENOUGH FOR THE BLOOD.
AND THAT MEANS IT'S GOING TO BE ENOUGH FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.
AND IF IT'S NOT, THEN MAYBE THEY DON'T NEED TO BE
IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO YOUR LIFE.
JOYCE: AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT US--I MEAN, LIKE,
YOU KNOW, I USED TO FEEL LIKE I NEEDED TO APOLOGIZE ALL THE TIME
FOR BEING SUCH A MESS.
AND THE LORD SPOKE TO MY HEART ONE DAY, AND HE SAID, "YOU KNOW,
I KNEW WHAT I WAS GETTING WHEN I GOT YOU, WHEN I CALLED YOU.
YOU'RE LIKE--YOU'RE NOT A SURPRISE TO ME."
I THINK SOMETIMES WE THINK GOD'S GOING, "OH NO, WHAT--YOU KNOW,
I DIDN'T KNOW THIS.
I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO BE LIKE THAT.
I DIDN'T--IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN YOU WERE GOING TO MAKE
THIS MANY MISTAKES, I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY CALLED
SOMEBODY ELSE."
AND SO, GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT US.
THERE'S THINGS ABOUT US THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW BECAUSE WE
CAN'T EVEN FACE THEM YET.
AND HE KNOWS, AND HE LOVES US ANYWAY.
AND THE THING THAT WE TALK ABOUT A LOT THAT MOST OF THE WORLD
DOES NOT UNDERSTAND IS KNOWING WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST.
AND THAT MEANS THAT IN AND OF MYSELF, I'M STILL
A PRETTY GOOD SIZED MESS.
BUT IN CHRIST, I'M ACCEPTED, I'M LOVED, I'M VALUED,
I'M GIFTED, I'M TALENTED.
AND WHEN WE MAKE MISTAKES, WE'RE STILL IN CHRIST,
AND HE STILL LOVES US.
JOHN: A-TO-THE-MEN.
JOYCE: AMEN.
WELL, TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU A BOOK, AND I WROTE IT, SO I
JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT IT IS REALLY GOOD.
AND IT'S CALLED "SEIZE THE DAY."
AND YOU KNOW, I HAD THIS BOOK IN MY HEART FOR QUITE A WHILE
BECAUSE I JUST THINK SO MANY PEOPLE WASTE THEIR LIFE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS WE THINK WE'RE WAITING FOR,
OR WHY WE'RE PUTTING OFF BEING THE BEST US THAT WE CAN BE
UNTIL ANOTHER DAY.
BUT YOU KNOW, AS I GOT A LITTLE BIT OLDER,
AND OF COURSE I'M NOT OLD, BUT AS I GOT A LITTLE BIT OLDER,
ONE DAY I CAME TO THE POINT WHERE I REALIZED,
"YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'VE LIVED MORE OF MY LIFE THAN WHAT I HAVE LEFT."
AND I CAN TELL YOU WHEN YOU START REALIZING THAT MOST OF HOW
LONG YOU'RE GOING TO BE HERE IS ALREADY GONE,
YOU START TO THINK ABOUT THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
AND SO, I DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE ONE MORE DAY OF MY LIFE
BEING ANGRY.
I DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE ONE MORE DAY OF MY LIFE
PUTTING THINGS OFF THAT I NEEDED TO TAKE CARE OF TODAY.
I DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE ONE MORE DAY OF MY LIFE
NOT ENJOYING MY LIFE.
I WANTED TO HAVE FUN, I WANTED TO ENJOY LIFE.
I WANTED TO BE EVERYTHING THAT I COULD BE.
AND SO, I JUST WANT TO ASK YOU TODAY, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
WHEN?
WELL, DON'T DO THAT.
NOW IS THE TIME THAT GOD HAS ANOINTED FOR YOU TO BEGIN
TO BE ALL THAT YOU CAN BE.
SO, YOU CAN START BY ORDERING THIS BOOK AND DOING IT
RIGHT AWAY.
AND LET ME JUST SAY DON'T THINK, "OH, WELL, MAYBE I'LL BE OUT
SHOPPING AND I'LL SEE IT SOMEWHERE SOMEDAY,
AND I'LL GET IT."
NO, YOU EITHER GET IT RIGHT NOW, OR YOU GET TO A BOOKSTORE,
AND YOU GET IT.
AND IF THEY DON'T HAVE IT, ASK THEM TO ORDER IT.
GET IT FROM US OR ANYWHERE BOOKS ARE SOLD.
THIS BOOK, I THINK, HAS THE ABILITY TO BE LIFE-CHANGING
FOR YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY, AND I HOPE
THAT YOU WILL JOIN US EVERY DAY.
GOD BLESS YOU.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WELL, WHETHER IT'S GETTING OUT OF DEBT, WORKING
ON A RELATIONSHIP, OR MAYBE EVEN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL,
YOU KNOW, YOU ONLY GET ONE LIFE.
WELL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOURS?
IT'S TIME TO START LIVING LIFE ON PURPOSE.
PICK UP YOUR COPY OF "SEIZE THE DAY" TO LEARN HOW.
ANNOUNCER: TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING JOYCE'S BOOK,
"SEIZE THE DAY," FOR YOUR DONATION OF...OR MORE.
CALL US RIGHT NOW TOLL-FREE...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
GINGER: WE ALL GO THROUGH TIMES WHEN THE QUESTIONS
IN OUR LIFE SEEM TO OUTWEIGH THE ANSWERS.
JOYCE MEYER WANTS TO HELP WITH THAT.
CHECK OUT HER NEW SHOW "EVERYDAY ANSWERS."
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS AND JOIN US AS WE DISCOVER LIFE'S
EVERYDAY ANSWERS TOGETHER.
ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU FRIENDS AND PARTNERS.
TOGETHER, WE'RE SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST AROUND THE WORLD.
TO FIND OUT MORE, PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT US ONLINE
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHARE THE LOVE
OF CHRIST AROUND THE GLOBE.
[MUSIC]
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 ABERCAP.COM
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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