ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: MAN'S PART IS NOT WORKS OF THE FLESH.
IF SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE IN MY LIFE, IF I GOT SOME KIND OF
A BONDAGE IN MY LIFE, MY PART--WHEN I SAY, "WE'RE
PARTNERS WITH GOD AND MAN HAS A PART AND GOD HAS A PART," MY
PART IS NOT TO COME UP WITH SOME NIFTY PLAN OF HOW
I CAN CHANGE MYSELF OR HOW I CAN CHANGE MY CIRCUMSTANCES.
MY PART IS TO DO WHAT GOD LEADS ME TO DO EVERY DAY AND TO TRUST
HIM TO DO THE PART THAT I CANNOT DO.
I WELL REMEMBER WHEN GOD PUT ON MY HEART, "IF YOU TEND TO MY
BUSINESS, JOYCE, I'LL TEND TO YOURS."
YOU TAKE CARE OF GOD'S BUSINESS AND GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.
NOW, YOU KNOW, SELF-DISCIPLINES ARE GOOD, GUIDELINES ARE GOOD.
OUR PLANS ARE NOT ALWAYS BAD, BUT WE'VE GOTTA BE READY TO LET
GO OF ALL OF THAT IF GOD SAYS, "I HAVE ANOTHER PLAN OTHER THAN
THE PLAN THAT YOU HAVE."
AMEN?
NOW, I'VE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SAY, MORE THAN ONE IN THE LAST NUMBER
OF YEARS AND PARTICULARLY IN THE LAST YEAR OR SO THAT, "WELL,
I'VE JUST DONE EVERYTHING.
I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING.
I'VE BEEN TO CHURCH.
I'VE SERVED IN CHURCH.
I'VE BEEN IN TREATMENT PROGRAMS.
I'VE HAD COUNSELING.
I'VE HAD DELIVERANCE.
I'VE DONE EVERYTHING AND I'M STILL IN BONDAGE.
I'M NOT FREE."
OKAY, NOW, I WANT YOU TO LISTEN TO ME 'CAUSE THIS IS IMPORTANT
THAT YOU HEAR THIS.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU MAY HAVE DONE ALL OF THAT AND STILL NOT BEEN LED BY
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WELL, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
OKAY, WELL, MAYBE SOMEBODY COMES THROUGH THE CHURCH AND SAYS,
"WE'RE ALL GONNA READ THE BIBLE THROUGH IN A YEAR," AND THAT
SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA SO YOU GET ON A JOURNEY OF TRYING TO
READ THE BIBLE THROUGH IN A YEAR, AND YOU'RE NOT REALLY
LEARNING ANYTHING OR GETTING ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
REALLY--YOU'RE NOT REALLY EVEN DOING IT FOR WHAT YOU CAN LEARN.
YOU'RE JUST DOING IT BECAUSE SOMEBODY SAID TO DO IT
SO--YOU'RE READING YOUR BIBLE BUT YOU'RE REALLY NOT PAYING ANY
ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE READING, EVEN WHEN YOU READ IT,
YOU DON'T REALLY INTEND TO OBEY IT.
DO YOU KNOW IT WON'T DO YOU ONE BIT OF GOOD TO BE HERE THIS
WEEKEND IF YOU DIDN'T WALK IN HERE READY TO LEARN AND GO OUT
AND DO WHAT YOU LEARN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: JUST BEING HERE WON'T CHANGE ANYBODY.
WE GO TO CHURCH TO LEARN HOW TO LIVE THIS LIFESTYLE THAT IS
GONNA GLORIFY GOD.
NOW, I KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT WE CAN GET
CAUGHT UP IN SO MANY PLOTS AND PLANS AND SCHEMES.
AND WE CALL EVERYBODY UP, "WELL, I'VE GOT THIS PROBLEM
AND I HEARD YOU GOT FREE.
WHAT DID YOU DO?" CAN I TELL YOU A SECRET?
EVEN IF YOU GO AND DO EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID, THAT DOESN'T MEAN
THAT IT WILL WORK FOR YOU.
YOU DIDN'T HEAR ME.
WE SPEND WAY TOO MUCH OF OUR TIME CALLING UP EVERYBODY ELSE
FINDING OUT WHAT THEY DID.
"WELL, HOW DID YOU LOSE YOUR WEIGHT?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WOMEN GET THAT--WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT
SAYING THAT WHAT SOMEBODY ELSE DID MIGHT NOT WORK FOR YOU,
BUT I WILL TELL YOU, IT WILL NOT WORK FOR YOU IF IT'S
NOT SOMETHING GOD IS LEADING YOU TO DO.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT IF GOD IS LEADING YOU TO DO IT, THEN IT WILL WORK
FOR YOU.
WE SPEND WAY TOO MUCH TIME RUNNING TO PEOPLE WHEN WE NEED
TO GO TO GOD AND ASK HIM, "WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO IN
THIS SITUATION?"
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU SAY, "WELL, I DON'T KNOW THAT I CAN HEAR
FROM GOD."
LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING, HEARING FROM GOD IS NOT
A SPOOKY SUPERNATURAL.
IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GONNA HEAR VOICES.
IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A KNOWING.
YOU JUST GET A KNOWING.
I'M A GIVE YOU SOME PRACTICAL EXAMPLES THAT YOU'RE GONNA GET.
YOU KNOW FIRST OF ALL, I WAS A CHUBBY TEENAGER
SO I GOT ON THIS DIET MENTALITY AND ANYTIME THAT
YOU'RE DIETING, IT SEEMS LIKE THE WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT IS TO EAT
THE LEAST AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN AND GO AS LONG AS YOU CAN
WITHOUT EATING.
SO I GOT THAT SO ENGRAINED IN ME THAT EVEN AS AN ADULT WHO KNOWS
BETTER, I STILL SOMETIMES GO WAY TOO LONG WITHOUT EATING.
NOW WHEN YOU'RE IN YOUR 20S AND 30S,
YOU CAN GET BY WITH SOME OF THAT STUFF, BUT AS YOU GET
A LITTLE BIT OLDER, THINGS BEGIN TO AFFECT YOU DIFFERENTLY THAN
THEY DID WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER.
SO I HAVE BEEN KNOWING FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR PROBABLY
4 OR 5 YEARS THAT I NEED TO NOT GO SO LONG
WITHOUT EATING, THAT I NEED TO EAT A LITTLE SOMETHING EVERY
2 OR 3 HOURS, BUT I DON'T REALLY WANT TO DO THAT BECAUSE IF I EAT
LITTLE BITS ALL DAY LONG, THEN THAT MEANS I CAN'T SIT DOWN
AND HAVE THIS BIG, GREAT BIG MEAL AT ONE TIME.
AND I'M KIND OF LIKE AN ALL OR NOTHING PERSON SO IT'S
LIKE I JUST WON'T EAT ALL DAY, THEN I'M GONNA EAT EVERYTHING I
WANT WHEN I SIT DOWN TO DO IT.
WELL, THEN WHEN I DO THAT, IT MAKES ME SO STINKIN' SLEEPY,
I CAN'T HARDLY STAND IT.
SO THEN BECAUSE I'VE HAD MORE THAN MY BODY CAN HANDLE AND SO
THEN I SIT DOWN IN THE CHAIR AND I FALL ASLEEP.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: DROOLING ON MYSELF.
AND DAVE AND I WILL BE WATCHING TELEVISION AND HE CALLS ME ON
THE PHONE AND SAYS, "YOU KNOW, ARE YOU--WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET
UP NOW AND SPEND SOME TIME WITH ME?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OKAY, SO NOW LISTEN.
SO I DIDN'T DO IT, DIDN'T DO IT, DIDN'T DO IT, DIDN'T DO IT.
YOU KNOW, WHEN AND HOW MUCH I EAT IS NOT GONNA MATTER ABOUT
WHETHER I GO TO HEAVEN OR NOT BUT IF I DON'T LISTEN TO GOD,
I MAY NOT FEEL SO HOT.
HOW MANY OF YOU WANT TO FEEL BETTER?
CAN I TELL YA SOMETHING?
IF YOU'LL LISTEN TO GOD, YOU'LL START FEELING BETTER.
SOME OF YOU WOULD FEEL SO MUCH BETTER IF YOU'D JUST GO TO
BED AT NIGHT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: COME ON, HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO GO TO
BED EARLIER AND YOU JUST DON'T?
THEN YOU'RE GONNA FEEL BAD.
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT YOU NEED TO DRINK MORE WATER THAN
WHAT YOU DO, BUT YOU REALLY PREFER--?
OKAY, SO, THERE YOU GO.
YOU HEAR FROM GOD.
DON'T TELL ME YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD.
HEARING FROM GOD MEANS THAT YOU HAVE A KNOWING ABOUT WHAT YOU
SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T DO.
I THINK THAT WE THINK ALL THIS HEARING FROM GOD IS ALL THIS
SUPERNATURAL, WHOO.
"GOD SAID AND I SAW ANGELS AND--" NO, IT'S JUST LIKE,
"I NEED TO GO TO BED."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: GO TO BED.
OR HOW ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE INCESSANTLY LATE EVERYWHERE
THEY GO?
"OH, GOD, I GOD SUCH A BONDAGE IN MY LIFE.
I PROBABLY NEED TO GO TO BEING LATE COUNSELING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY PROBLEM IS.
I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANYWHERE ON TIME.
I JUST NEED HELP.
I NEED DELIVERANCE.
CAN YOU PRAY FOR ME?" AND GOD HAS ALREADY TOLD YOU
TEN TIMES, "GET YOURSELF A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED AT
NIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED.
KNOW WHERE YOUR SHOES ARE.
KNOW WHERE YOUR KEYS ARE.
WHEN THE PHONE STARTS RINGING IN THE MORNING AND YOU'VE GOT
5 MINUTES TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, DON'T ANSWER IT."
COME ON, AM I TELLING THE TRUTH?
OR MAYBE FOR SOME OF YOU PERFECTIONISTS, YOU MIGHT HAVE
TO LEAVE A SPECK OF DUST SOMEWHERE WHEN YOU LEAVE.
CAN I TELL YOU A SECRET?
IT WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU GET BACK.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: IF YOU DON'T GET THAT DUDE BEFORE YOU LEAVE, IT WILL
BE THERE WHEN YOU GET BACK AND YET YOU LET IT MAKE YOU
LATE EVERYWHERE YOU GO.
NOW PEOPLE CAN'T DEPEND ON YOU.
NOW YOU'RE BREAKING YOUR WORD TO PEOPLE.
NOW YOU'RE LACKING IN INTEGRITY.
NOW YOU FEEL GUILTY AND CONDEMNED AND IT WASN'T BECAUSE
YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
IT WAS BECAUSE YOU KNEW WHAT TO DO BUT YOUR SOUL DIDN'T WANT
TO DO IT.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE WE DON'T LET THIS PART OF US GO TO THAT CROSS.
JESUS SAID, "TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME."
THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HAVE TO GET ON THAT CROSS AND DIE.
BUT I'VE BEEN SAYING IT LIKE THIS--I THINK THERE'S A COUPLE
OF SIDES TO THIS THING.
I CAN COME OUT HERE AND LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS AND I CAN SAY,
"MAN, JESUS DIED ON THAT CROSS."
BUT I THINK THERE'S ANOTHER SIDE TO THIS TOO, THE SIDE THAT MAYBE
I NEED TO GET ON ONCE IN A WHILE, THE SIDE THAT MAYBE
I NEED TO LET DEAL WITH ME, REMEMBERING WHAT CHRIST DID
FOR ME WHEN I DO IT AND THAT EVERYTHING IS NOT GONNA BE
COMFORTABLE AND EVERYTHING IS NOT GONNA BE EASY, BUT THERE IS
A LIFE WAITING FOR YOU AND A LIFE WAITING FOR ME THAT
WE DO NOT WANT TO MISS.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: OKAY, SO--SO THEN I STARTED HAVING THESE
WEAK SPELLS.
THEY STARTED HAPPENING ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO AND I MEAN I WAS
JUST GETTING--MAN, I WAS GETTING DIZZY AND I WAS GETTING WEAK,
AND MY HEART WAS POUNDING, AND I WAS SWEATING.
AND THEN IT WOULD TAKE ME LIKE AN HOUR TO GET OVER IT.
OH, MY GOSH, I HAVE SOME KIND OF HEART ATTACK.
WHAT'S--YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GOING ON?
AND THEN I HAD A COUPLE OF DAYS WHERE I FELT THAT WAY ALL DAY.
SO I'M PRAYING, "GOD, WHAT'S WRONG?
WHAT'S WRONG?
WHAT'S WRONG?" AND I KNEW--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I KNEW FROM GOD THAT IT WAS JUST MY BLOOD SUGAR.
I WASN'T EATING ENOUGH AT THE RIGHT TIMES ALL THE WAY BACK TO,
"YOU NEED TO EAT MORE OFTEN."
NOW I'M NOT TRYING TO MAKE A HEALTH LESSON OUT OF THIS.
THIS IS ABOUT HOW TO HEAR FROM GOD.
AND SO I'M TRYING TO MAKE THE POINT THAT EVEN THOUGH WE
HEAR FROM GOD, WE STILL JUST DO STUPID STUFF.
AND SO STUPID SEED GETS A STUPID HARVEST.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ARE YOU WITH ME?
I MEAN IT'S JUST THAT SIMPLE.
IF I SOW STUPID SEED, I'M GONNA GET A STUPID HARVEST IN MY LIFE
AND THERE'S NO REASON TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.
THERE'S NO REASON TO OVER SPIRITUALIZE IT.
"OH, GOD, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S WRONG.
I'M TRYING TO PREACH THE GOSPEL AND HELP YOUR PEOPLE AND NOW I
JUST FEEL THIS WAY ALL THE TIME, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S
WRONG."
YEAH, YOU DO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OKAY, SO I'M THINKING, THIS IS MY BLOOD SUGAR.
I KNOW IT'S MY BLOOD SUGAR.
SO I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE LOW.
I KNOW HOW TO TAKE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR.
WELL, I TOOK IT AND IT WAS HIGHER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN,
NOT LIKE HIGH ENOUGH TO BE SERIOUS, BUT HIGH ENOUGH THAT I
NEEDED TO PAY ATTENTION TO IT.
SO I WENT TO MY DOCTOR.
I GOT AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DOCTOR.
TOLD HER THE WHOLE THING.
SHE SAID, "YUP, IT'S YOUR BLOOD SUGAR.
YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU EAT EVERY 2-1/2 OR 3 HOURS.
THAT'LL FIX YOUR PROBLEM."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW HERE'S THE THING, I KNEW THAT ALREADY 5 YEARS AGO.
GOD TOLD ME--LISTEN TO ME, GOD TOLD ME WHAT I NEEDED TO DO
BEFORE I EVER HAD A PROBLEM.
DID YOU HEAR ME?
I BELIEVE THAT GOD SHOWS US WHAT WE NEED TO DO AHEAD OF TIME SO
WE DON'T EVER END UP WITH A PROBLEM, BUT WE KEEP PUSHING
THE ENVELOPE, SO TO SPEAK, THEN WE GET A PROBLEM.
COME ON, IS ANYBODY HOME OUT THERE?
DON'T MAKE ME COME DOWN THERE AND GET YOU.
THE SAME THING WORKS WITH SPENDING, TAKING CARE OF
YOURSELF, STUFF IN YOUR MARRIAGE.
WONDER HOW MANY TIMES, LADIES, GOD'S TOLD YOU TO STOP SMART
MOUTHING YOUR HUSBANDS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: DID I REALLY SAY THAT?
I DON'T KNOW.
HEY, GOD GETS ON ME SOMETIMES.
COME ON NOW.
MMM, SHOULD WE CAMP THERE A MINUTE OR NOT?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU GUYS ARE GETTING A LITTLE SQUIRMY IN YOUR SEATS.
HERE'S THE THING, MAN, IF GOD WOULD GIVE ME THE GRACE TO SOME
WAY, SOMEHOW, BE ABLE TO PUSH ALL OF YOU THIS WEEKEND
TO REALLY MAKE A COMMITMENT TO LEAVE HERE AND BE LED BY
THE SPIRIT.
MAN, IF I COULD JUST GET YOU TO MAKE THAT COMMITMENT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WOW, TO JUST LEAVE HERE AND SAY, "MAN, GOD, I
BELONG TO YOU.
BOY, YOU PAID A TREMENDOUS PRICE FOR ME.
AND I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I NEED IN MY SPIRIT.
I'VE GOT EVERYTHING I NEED INSIDE OF ME FOR A GREAT LIFE.
I'VE GOT ALL THESE WONDERFUL PROMISES.
NOW I JUST--I WANT TO GROW IN HEARING FROM YOU."
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
AS YOU GROW IN HEARING FROM GOD, YOU'RE GONNA MAKE SOME MISTAKES.
THAT'S PART OF HOW YOU LEARN.
SOMETIMES YOU THINK YOU'RE HEARING SOMETHING FROM GOD
AND IT'S NOT GOD AND YOU GO DO SOME DUMB THING, GET YOURSELF IN
TROUBLE, BUT YOU'RE JUST LIKE, "WELL, GOD THAT WASN'T YOU.
I WON'T DO THAT AGAIN."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: LET ME TELL YA SOMETHING.
THE HOLY SPIRIT CARES ABOUT EVERY--TO ME, THIS IS THE MOST
WONDERFUL THING ABOUT THIS INTIMATE, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD IS THAT HE CARES ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT CONCERNS YOU,
EVERYTHING.
I GOT UP ONE MORNING AND MY DAUGHTER MAKES CHILI THAT I
REALLY LIKE.
I THOUGHT, "MAN, I WONDER IF LAURA WOULD MAKE ME SOME CHILI
TODAY.
WELL, SHE'S GOT FOUR TEENAGERS AND I'M THINKING, I DON'T NEED
TO BE CALLING HER ASKING HER TO MAKE ME CHILI.
SHE'S GOT ENOUGH GOING ON IN HER LIFE.
SO NO, I'LL JUST--I'D SURE LIKE TO HAVE IT, LORD, BUT I DON'T
WANT TO BOTHER HER."
THIRTY MINUTES LATER, SHE CALLED, "I WAS JUST WONDERING
THIS MORNING, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO MAKE YOU SOME CHILI TODAY?"
WHOA, HOLY GHOST, YES, HALLELUJAH.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU CAN THINK WHAT YOU WANT TO, THAT KIND OF STUFF SOMETIMES
MEANS MORE TO ME BECAUSE THAT LETS ME KNOW THAT GOD CARES
ABOUT EVERY LITTLE THING THAT CONCERNS ME.
YOU KNOW, SO MANY PEOPLE STAY IN BONDAGE TO WHATEVER, EVERYTHING
FROM SMOKING TO DRINKING TO EATING DISORDERS TO SEXUAL
PROBLEMS, PORNOGRAPHY, GAMBLING.
AND LET ME TELL YA, THERE'S PROBLEMS IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
AND THE SAD THING IS IS I THINK THEY'RE PEOPLE WHO LOVE GOD.
THEY DON'T WANT TO DO WRONG SOMETHINGS, BUT SOMEHOW OR
ANOTHER, THEY JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT FROM BONDAGE TO
FREEDOM.
AND SO I'M JUST GONNA MAKE A BOLD STATEMENT HERE, AND I
HOPE I DON'T MAKE ANYBODY MAD BUT IF I DO I'LL JUST TELL YOU
THAT I'VE SEARCHED MY HEART AND I BELIEVE THIS.
SO IF I'M WRONG, I BELIEVE IT.
I'M SINCERELY WRONG--IF I'M WRONG, I'M SINCERE ABOUT IT.
I BELIEVE THAT ANY PERSON THAT'S IN BONDAGE, IF YOU WILL ASK GOD
TO LEAD YOU OUT OF IT AND YOU WILL STUDY THE WORD, I BELIEVE
IF YOU'LL BE COMMITTED TO DOING EACH STEP OF THE WAY WHAT GOD
SHOWS YOU TO DO, I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY WAY THAT YOU CAN
STAY IN BONDAGE.
NOW LISTEN, YOU MAY GO TO A HUNDRED TREATMENT PROGRAMS
AND STAY IN BONDAGE.
YOU MAY GO TO 5,000 HOURS OF COUNSELING AND SPEND
A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON IT AND YOU MAY STAY IN BONDAGE, BUT
YOU WILL NOT FOLLOW THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND STAY IN BONDAGE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: IT IS NOT POSSIBLE, NOT POSSIBLE.
EXAMPLE, I WAS SEXUALLY ABUSED BY MY DAD.
OBVIOUSLY I HAD HANGUPS IN THE SEX AREA.
I DIDN'T CARE TOO MUCH FOR IT, AND THAT'S NOT A REALLY GOOD
THING IF YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A DECENT MARRIAGE.
SO I KNEW THAT I NEEDED TO GET MY ATTITUDE STRAIGHTENED OUT.
AND NOW DON'T STONE ME WHEN I SAY THIS, BUT I INVITED
THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO MY BEDROOM.
YOU'RE NOT REAL SURE WHAT TO THINK OF THAT, ARE YA?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OKAY, LISTEN, WHEN YOU SAY, "SEX," THE HOLY SPIRIT
DOESN'T GO, "AH!"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THE WHOLE THING WAS GOD'S IDEA TO START WITH SO.
AND MAYBE IF WE'D TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT MORE IN CHURCH, WE
MIGHT NOT HAVE ALL THE WEIRDNESS GOING ON OUT IN THE WORLD
THAT WE DO.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO I ASKED GOD TO WALK ME OUT OF THE PROBLEMS I HAD
INTO BEING A GOOD WIFE, AND IT TOOK TIME.
MOST THINGS TAKE A LITTLE MORE TIME THEN WE'D LIKE THEM TO, BUT
I'M ALWAYS ENCOURAGED IF I CAN JUST SEE A LITTLE PROGRESS.
YOU KNOW, I'M STILL NOT WHERE I'D LIKE TO BE, BUT HEY, I'M NOT
WHERE I USED TO BE.
AND AS LONG AS I'M SEEING PROGRESS, THAT'S THE THING THAT
ENCOURAGES ME AND I THINK THAT THAT'S ALL GOD WANTS IS THAT WE
JUST KEEP PRESSING ON.
AND I HOPE I'M NOT BEING TOO PERSONAL HERE BUT IF I AM,
I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP YOU.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I JUST TOLD DAVE I SAID,
"WE WILL NOT HAVE THE LIGHTS ON.
THERE WILL BE NO LIGHTS ON."
AND NOW LISTEN, I JUST KNEW IN MY HEART, OKAY, NOW TONIGHT YOU
LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON.
OOH.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SEE, YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING IN
HERE--ARE YOU WITH ME?
COME ON, EVERYTHING IN HERE WAS, NO.
BUT SEE HERE'S THE THING YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND.
PLEASE LISTEN TO ME, ANYTHING THAT GOD LEADS YOU TO DO, HE
WILL GIVE YOU THE GRACE TO DO.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: DO YOU HEAR ME?
ANYTHING GOD LEADS YOU TO DO, HE WILL--SO I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE
TO DO IT, I JUST HAD TO SURRENDER, SEE.
I JUST HAD TO SURRENDER AND YIELD TO GOD.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M NOT HAVING ANY TROUBLE NOW EATING EVERY 2-1/2, 3 HOURS.
AND ACTUALLY THE FUNNY THING IS IS I WAS GOING ALL DAY WITHOUT
EATING BECAUSE I THOUGHT I'D GAIN WEIGHT AND I'VE LOST
3 POUNDS SINCE I STARTED EATING EVERY 2-1/2 TO 3 HOURS.
GO FIGURE.
ALL I DID WAS JUST YIELD TO THAT.
NOW, LET'S JUST SAY THAT SOMEBODY HAS SOME KIND OF
A SEXUAL BONDAGE, PORNOGRAPHY, WHATEVER.
HERE COMES A MAGAZINE TO THE HOUSE THAT'S GOT A LADY IN HER
UNDERWEAR ON THE FRONT COVER.
NOW, YOU ALREADY KNOW WITHOUT ANYBODY HAVING TO PREACH TO YOU
IF YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN, THAT YOU SHOULD NOT TURN THE FIRST PAGE.
YOU TAKE IT DIRECTLY AND THROW IT IN THE TRASH CAN.
YOU DON'T LOOK.
YOU JUST THROW IT AWAY.
THAT'S THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THROW IT AWAY.
IF YOU'VE HAD A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL, YOU DON'T GO OUT TO
THE BAR WITH YOUR FRIENDS.
YOU KNOW BETTER THAN TO DO THAT.
ARE YOU WITH ME?
IT'S NOT THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, IT'S THAT WE DON'T WANT
TO DO IT.
AND THERE MAY BE A FEW TIMES IN OUR LIFE WHERE WE HONESTLY DON'T
KNOW WHAT TO DO, BUT I'LL TELL YA, IF YOU KEEP PRESSING IN WITH
GOD, GOD WILL GIVE YOU AN ANSWER AND HE WILL SHOW YOU.
AND MANY TIMES--NOW LISTEN TO WHAT I WANT TO SAY.
MANY TIMES, SOME OF OUR BIGGEST PROBLEMS HAVE SIMPLE, LITTLE
ANSWERS THAT IF WE WILL JUST FOLLOW THAT LEADERSHIP OF
THE HOLY SPIRIT, THINGS WILL TURN AROUND IN OUR LIVES.
OKAY, SO NOW WATCH THIS.
THE WORD "YIELD" MEANS TO GIVE IN, TO GIVE UP, TO LET GO,
TO BACK DOWN, TO CLIMB DOWN, OR TO RAISE THE WHITE FLAG.
OH, I WISH GOD WOULD HAVE GIVEN ME THIS EXAMPLE 2 MONTHS AGO
BECAUSE THEN I WOULD HAVE HAD LITTLE WHITE FLAGS MADE
FOR ALL OF YOU.
BECAUSE WHEN SOMEBODY IN A WAR WAVES THIS FLAG, IT MEANS
SURRENDER, AND WE ALL NEED TO WAVE OUR WHITE FLAG OF SURRENDER
TO GOD.
AND WHEN HE SAYS, "THIS IS WHAT I SEE," I SAY, "I SURRENDER.
I'M GONNA EAT EVERY 2-1/2 TO 3 HOURS THE REST OF MY LIFE.
I SURRENDER.
I'M GONNA GIVE UP ALL THIS COLA AND CAFFEINE AND COFFEE AND I'M
GONNA DRINK WATER, GOD.
I SURRENDER.
I'M GONNA GO TO BED AT NIGHT.
I SURRENDER.
I'M GONNA STOP TALKING BACK TO MY HUSBAND EVERY TIME I DON'T
LIKE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON."
COME ON, HAVE I HIT YOUR NEED YET?
"I SURRENDER.
I'M NOT GONNA KEEP BUYING THINGS EMOTIONALLY AND CHARGING UP BILL
AFTER BILL AFTER BILL.
I SURRENDER MY ATTITUDE.
I SURRENDER MY STUBBORNNESS."
OKAY, LET ME ASK YA A QUESTION.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE, YOU WALKED IN HERE
WITH IT, BEEN HANGING ON TO IT A LONG TIME AND YOU KNOW THAT GOD
IS TALKING TO YOU RIGHT NOW AND YOU'RE READY TO SAY, "IT'S TIME
FOR ME TO YIELD AND SURRENDER THAT THING TO GOD.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE IT HOME, JOYCE.
I WANT TO GIVE IT TO GOD BEFORE I LEAVE HERE."
HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD SAY THAT'S YOU?
WELL, THEN I GOT THE RIGHT CROWD AT THE RIGHT TIME, DON'T I?
IF THAT'S YOU, LET'S STAND UP.
WE'RE GONNA PRAY RIGHT NOW, A PRAYER OF SURRENDER.
COME ON, RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU, JESUS.
THANK YOU, LORD.
OKAY, NOW LISTEN, THIS IS ACTUALLY QUITE BEAUTIFUL 'CAUSE
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS SAYS TO ME?
PROGRESS.
GOD THINKS THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
HE'S NOT MAD AT US BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO
YIELD.
HE THINKS IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
SO NOW I'M GONNA PRAY A PRAYER, AND I WANT YOU TO JUST AGREE
WITH ME FOR YOUR OWN LIFE.
FATHER, WE BRING WHATEVER THESE SITUATIONS ARE TO YOU TONIGHT.
WE CAN'T FIX OUR OWN PROBLEMS.
WE CAN'T FIND ENOUGH METHODS.
WE CAN'T FIND ENOUGH PLANS.
WE CAN'T MAKE UP ENOUGH STRATEGIES TO EVER SET OURSELVES
FREE, BUT IF WE WILL JUST SURRENDER TO YOU AND YIELD,
SIMPLY LET IT GO AND YIELD TO YOU.
ALTHOUGH THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE WON'T FEEL ANY PAIN IN OUR
SOUL, IT DOES MEAN THAT YOU'LL HAVE ANOTHER LITTLE PART OF US
THAT YOU CAN WORK THROUGH.
SO GOD, WE CHOOSE TONIGHT TO SURRENDER, TO YIELD.
WE LEAVE IT, WE LET IT GO.
NOW GIVE US THE GRACE, GOD, TO GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH THIS
THING AND DO IT YOUR WAY.
IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
EVERYBODY GIVE GOD A BIG PRAISE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL, YOU KNOW, BEING LED AND GUIDED BY
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PROBABLY A LOT EASIER
THAN WHAT YOU THINK IT IS.
I THINK SOMETIMES WE OVERLY SPIRITUALIZE THINGS AND WE MAKE
THEM SOMETHING THAT'S UNATTAINABLE.
YOU CAN BE LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
IT ALL STARTS WITH PRAYER, WITH TALKING TO GOD BY SHARING THINGS
WITH HIM THAT ARE IN OUR HEART, OR TALKING TO HIM ABOUT WHAT WE
WANT OR WHAT WE NEED AND ASKING HIM FOR HIS GUIDANCE.
SO TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU A COUPLE THINGS THAT YOU'RE GONNA
LIKE, FIRST OF ALL, THE BOOK THAT I'VE WRITTEN CALLED,
"THE POWER OF SIMPLE PRAYER."
DON'T MAKE IT COMPLICATED.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BECOME A DIFFERENT PERSON WHEN YOU
TRY TO TALK TO GOD.
YOU JUST BE WHO YOU ARE AND BRING TO HIM THE REALITY OF WHAT
YOU ARE LOOKING FOR HIM TO DO IN YOUR LIFE.
AND THEN WE GOT A PRAYER JOURNAL THAT WE WANT TO PUT INTO YOUR
HANDS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT'S VERY GOOD SOMETIMES TO
WRITE DOWN THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE ASKING GOD TO DO AND THEN
PERHAPS MAYBE GO BACK ONCE EVERY MONTH OR SOMETHING AND LOOK AT
THE THINGS YOU PRAYED AND I BET YOU'LL BE AMAZED TO SEE HOW MANY
OF THOSE PRAYERS GOD HAS ANSWERED WHEN YOU JUST MAYBE
THOUGHT IT WAS A COINCIDENCE.
SO, LET GOD GET INVOLVED IN YOUR LIFE, BE GUIDED BY
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
PRAY SIMPLE PRAYERS AND BE A PERSON THAT GOD CAN USE IN
A GREAT AND A MIGHTY WAY.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: GOD WANTS TO HELP YOU, BUT HE CAN'T IF YOU DON'T ASK
HIM TO.
ANNOUNCER: TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING
"THE POWER OF SIMPLE PRAYER."
INSIDE THIS BOOK, JOYCE UNRAVELS THE MYSTERY, TALKING WITH
GOD ABOUT EVERYTHING.
ALSO, WE'RE OFFERING A PRAYER JOURNAL.
INSIDE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO WRITE DOWN YOUR SPECIFIC PRAYER AND
A PLACE FOR YOU TO WRITE DOWN GOD'S ANSWER YOU RECEIVE.
FOR A DONATION OF...
YOU'LL RECEIVE THIS TALKING WITH GOD SET TODAY BY CALLING...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: WELL, THIS YEAR UNPRECEDENTED TRAGEDIES HAVE
LEFT COUNTLESS PEOPLE DEVASTATED IN THE U.S.
AND ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND AS YOU'RE MAKING YOUR END OF
THE YEAR GIVING PLANS, PLEASE CONSIDER JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
OUR MISSIONS ARM CALLED HAND OF HOPE
CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF MANY OF THESE HURTING PEOPLE.
TOGETHER WITH GOD'S HELP, WE'RE ABLE TO SHARE CHRIST AND LOVE
PEOPLE IN EVERY TANGIBLE AND REAL WAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF THIS MINISTRY AND FOR
MAKING AN EVEN BIGGER IMPACT BY GIVING TODAY.
GOD BLESS YOU.
JOYCE: PEOPLE ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS ASK ME, "WELL, WHAT'S
YOUR VISION NOW, YOU KNOW?" AND I THINK THAT I'M ONE OF
THE BLESSED PEOPLE THAT CAN SAY, I'M--I AM ACTUALLY DOING WHAT
GOD PUT IN MY HEART.
THE VISION THAT HE GAVE ME IS BEING FULFILLED EVERY SINGLE
DAY, AND I REALLY JUST WANT TO HELP MORE AND MORE PEOPLE.
I REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO--I ALWAYS SAY I WANT JESUS TO BE
FAMOUS, NOT THAT HE'S NOT BUT I WANT TO DO MY PART TO MAKE HIM
MORE FAMOUS.
AND IT'S JUST SO IMPORTANT THAT WE REPRESENT HIM RIGHT OUT IN
THE WORLD AND TO TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO DO THAT.
NAOMI: THEY LOOK SAD AND GET DOWNHEARTED AND THEN THEY LOOK
AT YOU MAKE EYE CONTACT AND YOU SMILE, AND THEY READ THAT SMILE
AND THEN THEY START SMILING.
AND THEN THE KIDS ALL RUN TO YOU AND THEY SMILE.
WHEN YOU REALLY EXPERIENCE THAT, YOU JUST--YOU WOULD--YOU'RE
HOOKED.
[MUSIC]
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.
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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