ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: SEE, IF YOU GIVE GOD EVERYTHING, THEN HE'LL GIVE
YOU EVERYTHING.
BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA JUST KINDA LET GO OF WHAT YOU THINK YOU
WANNA LET GO OF, THEN YOU'RE NEVER REALLY GONNA BE FULLY
SATISFIED IN YOUR LIFE.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: OKAY, I WANNA JUST TELL YOU JUST A LITTLE QUICK
THING ABOUT MY JOURNEY, AND THEN I WANNA MINISTER TO YOU
FOR JUST A MINUTE.
I'VE BEEN TEACHING GOD'S WORD NOW FOR 42 YEARS, AND--
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THAT'S A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.
IT'S ALSO, REPRESENTS A LOT OF HARD WORK, AND A LOT OF HANGING
ON AND HOLDING ON AND NOT GIVING UP.
AND I KNOW THAT THIS ROOM TONIGHT IS FULL OF DREAMS.
YOU HAVE DREAMS FOR YOUR FAMILY.
YOU HAVE DREAMS FOR YOUR FINANCES.
YOU WANNA BE USED BY GOD.
YOU HAVE ALL KINDS OF DREAMS FOR YOUR LIFE.
IT COULD BE SOMETHIN' MAYBE SMALL TO SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT ALL
OF OUR DREAMS ARE IMPORTANT TO US.
AND OUR WALK WITH GOD IS A JOURNEY.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE SAID IS BEFORE I'M
FINISHED WRITING, I REALLY WANT TO TRY TO WRITE A BOOK ON JUST
MY JOURNEY WITH GOD.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S JUST A LONG WALK AND A LONG
JOURNEY, AND THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT COMPONENTS, AND SO
MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF THINGS.
AND GOD DOESN'T ALWAYS DO THINGS THE WAY THAT WE THINK HE SHOULD
OR WISH THAT HE WOULD, AND HE CERTAINLY DOESN'T ALWAYS DO THEM
OR EVEN USUALLY DO THEM IN OUR TIMING.
AND THERE'S DISAPPOINTMENTS, AND THERE'S CHALLENGES, AND THERE'S
THRILLS, AND THERE'S LAUGHTER, AND THERE'S TEARS, AND THEY ALL
GO TOGETHER TO MAKE A WONDERFUL LIFE.
AND I STARTED TEACHING IN MY LIVING ROOM, AND FOR 5 YEARS,
I TAUGHT 25 PEOPLE EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT IN MY LIVING ROOM FLOOR.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE ISRAELITES, THE BIBLE SAYS
THAT THEY JOURNEYED THROUGH THE WILDERNESS, AND THEN
THEY CAMPED.
AND THEN THEY JOURNEYED, AND THEN THEY CAMPED.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE SAME WAY WITH ALL OF US.
IT WAS, LIKE, YOU'RE GOIN' SOMEWHERE.
YOU'VE GOT A VISION.
THINGS ARE HAPPENING.
AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, NOTHING'S HAPPENING.
YOU'RE JUST CAMPED SOMEWHERE.
AND THEN, JUST LIKE GOD WOULD, THE CLOUD WOULD MOVE, AND THEN
THEY'D GET TO MOVE AGAIN, AND THEY NEVER KNEW WHEN IT
WAS GONNA BE.
SOMETIMES THEY CAMPED FOR A LONG TIME, AND SOMETIMES THEY JUST
CAMPED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
AND WHEN THE CLOUD MOVED, THEY MOVED, AND WHEN THE CLOUD
STOPPED, THEN THEY HAD TO CAMP.
AND MAYBE SOME OF YOU ARE EXCITED TO NIGHT BECAUSE YOU'RE
JOURNEYING RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, YOU'RE, LIKE, SOMETHIN'S HAPPENIN'.
YOU'VE HAD GOOD NEWS.
YOU'VE HAD A BREAKTHROUGH, AND, BOY, YOU JUST, YOU'RE ON
TOP OF THE WORLD RIGHT NOW.
BUT SOME OF YOU ARE CAMPED, AND YOU'VE BEEN CAMPED A LOT LONGER
THAN YOU'D LIKE TO BE CAMPED.
AND YOU'RE JUST AT THAT POINT, "WELL, I JUST NEED TO SEE
SOMETHIN' HAPPEN.
I NEED TO HAVE SOMETHIN' TAKE PLACE IN MY LIFE."
AND I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A FEW MINUTES TONIGHT TO JUST
ENCOURAGE YOU TO JUST DON'T GIVE UP.
DON'T ABORT YOUR DREAMS AND GIVE UP.
DON'T WASTE THE YEARS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY GOT PUT INTO
THE DREAM THAT YOU HAVE FOR YOUR LIFE.
IF GOD NEEDS TO TWEAK IT AND MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS,
THEN LET HIM DO THAT.
IT MAY NOT TURN OUT EXACTLY THE WAY YOU THINK IT WILL,
BUT IT WILL TURN OUT GOOD.
AND I'LL TELL YA, THERE IS NO BETTER FEELING THAN TO BE AT A
PLACE WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'VE ARRIVED AT THE PLACE THAT GOD
WANTED YOU TO BE AT.
AND I LOOK BACK NOW, AND I LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS WE WENT
THROUGH, AND THE PEOPLE WHO CAME AGAINST US, AND THE,
JUST ALL THE THINGS.
I REMEMBER THE FEAR AND THE EXCITEMENT, AND THE--I WAS SICK
AT DIFFERENT TIMES, AND DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT, AND JUST SO
MANY THINGS GO INTO MAKIN' A LIFE.
AND, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU CAN SIT AND YOU CAN LOOK AT SOMEBODY
THAT'S UP HERE, OR YOU CAN SEE SOMEBODY ON A STAGE SOMEWHERE,
OR YOU CAN HEAR SOMEBODY'S TESTIMONY, AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS
KNOW WHEN YOU SEE THEIR VICTORY WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH
TO GET THERE.
AND I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE YOU THAT WHAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH
NOW WILL BE WORTH IT IN THE END, AND YOU DON'T WANT TO QUIT
AND GIVE UP, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I DON'T THINK--I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF STARTERS,
BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH FINISHERS IN LIFE.
AND I LOVE WHAT PAUL SAID, "I DON'T CARE WHAT I'M GOIN'
THROUGH.
I DON'T EVEN COUNT MY LIFE AS DEAR TO ME.
IF ONLY I MIGHT FINISH MY COURSE WITH JOY."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: LET'S BE FINISHERS IN LIFE.
I MEAN, IF YOU'VE BEEN--IF THE DEVIL'S BEEN PLAYIN'
WITH YOUR MIND, AND YOU'VE BEEN KINDA THINKIN',
WELL, YOU'RE GONNA GIVE UP.
YOU'RE GONNA GIVE UP ON GOD.
YOU'RE GONNA GIVE UP ON GOIN' TO CHURCH.
YOU'RE GONNA GIVE UP ON YOUR MARRIAGE.
YOU'RE GONNA GIVE UP ON YOUR KIDS BECAUSE THEY'RE NEVER GONNA
CHANGE, OR YOU'RE GONNA GIVE UP ON THIS CALL YOU THINK YOU GOT
ON YOUR LIFE 'CAUSE NOTHING'S HAPPENING.
JUST MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT, "GET ONE THING THROUGH
YOUR HEAD, DEVIL.
I AM NEVER GOING TO GIVE UP."
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: "I'M NEVER GONNA QUIT, AND I'M NEVER GOING TO GIVE UP.
IF I GET IT THE WAY I WANT IT, THAT'S FINE.
IF I DON'T GET IT THE WAY I WANT IT, THEN I KNOW GOD IS SMARTER
THAN I AM, AND I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP."
I ACTUALLY THINK JUST THAT BULLDOG DETERMINATION IS ONE OF
THE GREATEST GIFTS THAT YOU CAN HAVE, TO JUST SAY, "I DON'T CARE
HOW LONG IT TAKES.
I DON'T CARE HOW HARD IT IS.
I'M NOT GONNA QUIT AND I'M NOT GONNA GIVE UP," AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND THEN, LASTLY, LET ME SAY THIS.
DON'T GIVE UP ON YOURSELF AND YOUR OWN--THE CHANGES
THAT YOU DESIRE IN YOU.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT GETS US DISCOURAGED IS WE READ THE BIBLE
AND WE SEE WHAT WE SHOULD BE, AND THEN WE SEE WHAT WE STILL
ARE, AND THEN SOMETIMES WE THINK IT'S TAKIN' US A WHOLE LOT
LONGER THAN IT SHOULD BE TAKIN' US.
ANYBODY FEEL LIKE THAT?
I MEAN, WE GET DISCOURAGED WITH OURSELVES, DON'T WE?
WE JUST THINK, "WELL, I'M JUST STILL A MESS.
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, I'M STILL A MESS."
CAN I GIVE YOU AN ENCOURAGEMENT?
EVERYBODY'S A MESS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND EVEN THE ONES THAT LOOK LIKE THEY GOT IT ALL
TOGETHER, BEHIND THE SCENES, THEY'RE STILL A MESS TOO, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO CELEBRATE YOUR
PROGRESS INSTEAD OF BEING UPSET ABOUT HOW FAR YOU STILL
HAVE TO GO.
COME ON, HOW FAR HAVE YOU COME?
DAVE SAID THAT HE FEELS LIKE, IN THE 50 YEARS WE'VE BEEN MARRIED,
THAT HE'S BEEN MARRIED TO 20 DIFFERENT WOMEN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BECAUSE I JUST KEEP CHANGING, YOU KNOW?
HE GETS A NEW ONE, AND THEN I CAMP FOR A WHILE, AND THEN I
JOURNEY WITH GOD, AND HE GETS ANOTHER NEW ONE, AMEN?
SO, JUST KEEP PEOPLE SURPRISED.
JUST KEEP CHANGING AND KEEP CHANGING, AND GOD CHANGES US
FROM GLORY TO GLORY TO GLORY.
FATHER, I WANNA PRAY JUST REALLY ESPECIALLY FOR EVERYBODY
IN THE ROOM TONIGHT THAT'S BEEN DISCOURAGED, WHO'S JUST BEEN
CAMPED LONGER THAN THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN STAND.
AND, LORD, YOU, OH, YOU NEVER PUT MORE ON US THAN WHAT WE CAN
BEAR, BUT WITH EVERY TEMPTATION, YOU ALWAYS PROVIDE A WAY OUT.
AND I KNOW THAT MANY TIMES, WE THINK WE CAN'T STAND
TO WAIT ONE MORE DAY, BUT IF WE REALLY CAN'T STAND
TO WAIT ONE MORE DAY, THEN WE WON'T HAVE TO WAIT ONE MORE
DAY, BECAUSE YOU'RE FAITHFUL.
AND I PRAY FOR PEOPLE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO
ENCOURAGE THEM, MAYBE A LITTLE THING, MAYBE A BIG THING.
BUT I PRAY THAT WITHIN THE NEXT 10 DAYS, THAT PEOPLE HERE THAT
ARE DISCOURAGED WILL SEE SOME LITTLE ENCOURAGEMENT TO KEEP
THEM MOTIVATED TOWARD MOVING ON.
I ASK YOU TO PROVIDE FOR EVERYBODY WHO HAS A NEED,
BUT ESPECIALLY, LORD, I PRAY EPHESIANS 3:16 OVER THEM, THAT
THEY WOULD BE STRENGTHENED WITH ALL MIGHT AND POWER IN THE INNER
MAN THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT INDWELLING THEIR INNERMOST BEING
AND PERSONALITY.
IF WE'RE STRONG ENOUGH INSIDE, THEN NO MATTER WHAT COMES
AGAINST US OUTSIDE, WE WILL KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON.
AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT, IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
JOYCE: WELL, I REALLY WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU NOT TO GIVE UP
AND WASTE THE YEARS THAT YOU'VE ALREADY PUT INTO YOUR JOURNEY
WITH GOD.
CELEBRATE YOUR PROGRESS INSTEAD OF BEING UPSET ABOUT HOW FAR YOU
MIGHT STILL HAVE TO GO.
TODAY, WE'VE COLLECTED SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS ON OUR WALK WITH
GOD, AND GINGER'S JOINING ME NOW SO WE CAN DISCUSS YOUR
QUESTIONS, AND HOPEFULLY ANSWER THEM.
WELL, GINGER, IT'S EASY TO FEEL LIKE YOU WANNA GIVE UP WHEN
YOU'RE ON A JOURNEY.
AND REALLY, ALL OF LIFE IS A JOURNEY, YOU KNOW?
WE ALWAYS GET SO FOCUSED ON THE DESTINATION THAT WE DON'T
ENJOY THE JOURNEY.
AND USUALLY, IT'S ONLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT HAVE ALREADY WASTED
A LOT OF THEIR LIFE THAT KNOW THAT, SO HOPEFULLY, WE CAN GET
THAT MESSAGE ACROSS TO PEOPLE TODAY, AND THEY WON'T WASTE SOME
OF THE YEARS THAT MAYBE WE DID.
SO WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS YOU GOT?
GINGER: WE HAVE SOME GREAT QUESTIONS, AND WE'LL START WITH
THIS ONE FROM WILLIAM IN HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA,
AND HE SAYS: "I'M A CHRISTIAN THAT FEELS STUCK BECAUSE
OF PAST MISTAKES.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CONTINUE FORWARD, FALLING BACK IN LOVE
WITH GOD'S WORD, BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M JUST NOT GETTING ANYWHERE.
WHAT CAN I DO?" JOYCE: WELL, TO BE HONEST,
WILLIAM, AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHO HAS THAT QUESTION, I THINK WE
ALL FEEL THAT WAY AT TIMES.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST GOT INTO A MORE SERIOUS WALK WITH GOD, I
JUST REALLY HAD A LOTTA PROBLEMS IN MY SOUL FROM THE ABUSE
IN MY PAST AND MISTAKES THAT I HAD MADE.
THAT REALLY, ALTHOUGH I'D GONE TO CHURCH FOR A LOT OF YEARS,
I DIDN'T REALLY REALIZE HOW FAR OFF I WAS FROM LIVING THE LIFE
THAT JESUS REALLY DIED TO GIVE ME.
AND SO, THE MORE I STUDIED THE WORD, THE MORE I REALIZED
HOW MANY PROBLEMS I HAD.
AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY, AND I DON'T MEAN THIS TO DISCOURAGE
ANYBODY, THAT AFTER 5 YEARS OF BEING WHAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY
SERIOUS IN MY WALK WITH GOD, I MEAN, I REMEMBER DAYS OF
THINKIN', "I HAVEN'T MADE ANY PROGRESS AT ALL."
BUT TO BE HONEST, THAT IS JUST NOT TRUE.
GINGER: AND YOU'RE RIGHT, WE'VE ALL FELT THAT BEFORE.
JOYCE: WE FEEL THAT, BUT THE THING IS, IS WE DON'T--WE REALLY
HAVE A BAD HABIT OF LOOKING AT HOW FAR WE HAVE TO GO, AND NOT
REALLY CELEBRATING HOW FAR WE'VE COME.
I MEAN, I STILL HAVE ISSUES IN MY LIFE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALL GONNA BE DEALIN' WITH SOMETHING UNTIL
JESUS COMES BACK TO GET US BECAUSE WE JUST, THE FLESH
IS JUST IMPERFECT.
BUT MY GOSH, I'VE COME SO FAR, AND I'M SURE WILLIAM HAS TOO.
AND I JUST WANNA ENCOURAGE HIM TO NOT JUST LOOK AT HOW FAR
HE HAS TO GO.
AND, YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST, SOMETIMES WE ARE--"STUCK" IS NOT
A GOOD WORD, BUT WE ARE AT A SAME PLACE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.
IT'S LIKE THE MESSAGE THAT I'VE BEEN SHARING THAT, YOU KNOW,
THE ISRAELITES MADE THEIR JOURNEY, AND THEY JOURNEYED,
AND THEN THEY CAMPED.
AND THEN THEY GOT TO JOURNEY AGAIN, AND THEN THEY CAMPED.
AND WE SEEM TO BE OKAY WITH THE JOURNEYING, BUT NOT SO MUCH
WITH THE CAMPING.
GINGER: YEAH, IT'S THE CAMPING.
JOYCE: AND IT GETS CHALLENGING, BUT IT'S JUST, IT'S
PART OF OUR WALK WITH GOD, AND IT'S PART OF THE TEST OF BEING
STEADFAST, AND BEING FAITHFUL, AND BEING PATIENT, AND BEING
DILIGENT, AND JUST NOT GIVING UP.
GINGER: WELL, THERE'S ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION HERE.
I WANNA FIND THE RIGHT ONE BECAUSE THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT
NOT WANTING TO GIVE UP.
SO, THIS IS FROM ASHLEY IN ARKANSAS, AND SHE SAYS: "I FEEL
STUCK AT HOW TO COMPLETELY TURN MY LIFE AROUND AND TO GIVE
MYSELF TO THE LORD.
I'M READY TO CHANGE.
I BELIEVE, I PRAY, SO WHAT ARE THOSE PRACTICAL STEPS?
HOW DO I GET CLOSER?" JOYCE: WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
I DON'T THINK THAT ANYBODY COMPLETELY TURNS THEIR LIFE OVER
TO GOD AT ONE MOMENT IN TIME.
AND HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS, GOD SEES HER HEART.
AND SO, WHEN GOD SEES A HEART THAT WANTS TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT,
BOY, HE'S ALL OVER THAT, AND WORKIN' WITH YOU.
BUT I WAS JUST, I WAS THINKIN' THIS MORNING ABOUT A MESSAGE
THAT I WANNA TEACH COMING UP SOMETIME.
JUST, I JUST WANNA CALL IT, "LITTLE BY LITTLE" BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING REALLY HAPPENS LITTLE BY LITTLE.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S IF YOU GAIN WEIGHT, YOU GAIN IT
LITTLE BY LITTLE.
AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOSE IT, IT'S LITTLE BY LITTLE.
BUT SOMETIMES WE TAKE 50 YEARS TO GET IN A MESS, AND THEN WE'RE
UPSET IF GOD DOESN'T DELIVER US IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
AND SO, I KNOW JUST RECENTLY, I WAS PRAYIN' ABOUT SOMETHING THAT
IT SEEMS LIKE I'VE BEEN PRAYIN' ABOUT FOR A LONG, LONG TIME
AND NOT SEEING ANY BREAKTHROUGH.
AND SO YOU SOMETIMES CAN START THINKING, "WELL, IS ANYTHING
HAPPENING?" BUT I WAS REMINDED, AND I JUST
WANNA REMIND THIS YOUNG LADY THAT THE BIBLE SAYS,
"ASK AND KEEP ON ASKING, SEEK AND KEEP ON SEEKING,
KNOCK AND KEEP ON KNOCKING.
YOUR PRAYERS WILL BE ANSWERED.
YOU'LL FIND WHAT YOU'RE AFTER."
SEEKING GOD IS A LIFETIME THING.
I STILL HAVE TO DO IT EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE.
WELL, I DON'T MEAN HAVE TO LIKE I DON'T WANT TO, BUT I STILL DO
IT EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE.
AND HERE AGAIN, I JUST FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT WE JUST, THE DEVIL
REALLY LOVES IT WHEN WE GET STUCK LOOKIN' AT OUR FAULTS
AND NOT LOOKING AT HOW FAR GOD HAS BROUGHT US.
MAYBE WHAT SHE NEEDS TO DO IS NOT SPEND SO MUCH TIME LOOKING
AT WHAT ALL'S WRONG WITH HER, BUT LOOKING MORE AT WHAT'S RIGHT
WITH JESUS, AND WHAT HE'S DONE IN HER BEHALF.
GINGER: OH, THAT'S GREAT, AND THAT'S PROBABLY VERY SIMILAR
TO THIS ANSWER.
THIS QUESTION SAYS: "WHAT CAN SOMEONE BE DOING WHILE WAITING
ON GOD'S PROMISES?" JOYCE: WELL, YOU KNOW,
THE BIBLE SAYS IN PSALM 37:3, AND I LOVE THIS SCRIPTURE,
I QUOTED IT TO MYSELF THIS MORNING: "TRUST IN THE LORD
AND DO GOOD."
WHEN YOU HAVE ENEMIES ALL AROUND YOU AND THERE'S SO MANY THINGS
TO FRET ABOUT, WHAT CAN WE DO?
EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW, "WHAT CAN I DO?"
WELL, OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN AND SHOULD DO ANYTHING THAT GOD
SHOWS YOU TO DO, BUT THE KEY IS, IS IN NOT DOING SOMETHING JUST
FOR THE SAKE OF DOING SOMETHING BECAUSE THEN THERE'S A DANGER OF
GETTING IN TO WHAT THE BIBLE CALLS, "WORKS OF THE FLESH."
AND WORKS OF THE FLESH IS OUR ENERGY TRYING TO DO WHAT ONLY
GOD CAN DO.
SO, I CAN WANNA CHANGE-- GINGER: BOY, I'M GOOD
AT THAT.
I MEAN, I WANNA JUMP IN THERE AND FIX EVERYTHING.
USUALLY, IT MAKES IT WORSE.
JOYCE: ABSOLUTELY, AND FIX IT FOR EVERYBODY,
IF YOU'RE LIKE ME.
GINGER: YEAH, ME TOO.
JOYCE: I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'LL FIX YOUR PROBLEM
IF I CAN'T FIX MINE.
AND SO, WE REALLY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOT TO TRY TO DO
WHAT WE CAN'T DO, AND TO TRUST GOD.
TRUST GOD FOR TWO THINGS.
TRUST GOD TO GIVE US THE GRACE TO DO WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT HE
SHOWS US TO DO, BUT REFUSE TO DO WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO.
GINGER: YEAH, GOOD, WELL, HERE'S A QUESTION FROM SOMEONE
WHO IS NOT CURRENTLY WALKING WITH CHRIST, AND I LOVE THIS
QUESTION FROM ANGELA.
SHE SAYS: "I WANT TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
I'M DOING GOOD AND I'M JUST A BEGINNER IN THIS PATH, BUT I'VE
ALWAYS BELIEVED IN GOD, BUT I'M JUST ONE OF THOSE CHRISTIANS
THAT I CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE SOMETIMES WHEN I READ
IT, SO I STILL FEEL LIKE A LOST SOUL.
I DON'T WANT GOD TO GIVE UP ON ME."
JOYCE: WELL, GOSH, THERE'S ABOUT 20 MESSAGES IN THAT.
FIRST OF ALL-- GINGER: THERE ARE A LOT OF
GREAT QUESTIONS FROM ANGELA.
JOYCE: FIRST OF ALL, ANY FAIRLY NEW BELIEVER ALMOST
ALWAYS BASES PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING ON WHAT THEY FEEL.
SO LET'S PUT SOME QUOTATION MARKS AROUND THAT WORD
AND KINDA BLOW IT UP, "FEEL, I FEEL, I FEEL."
"I DON'T FEEL LIKE ANYBODY LOVES ME."
"I DON'T FEEL LIKE GOD HEARS MY PRAYERS."
"I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M GROWING."
"I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M GETTING ANYWHERE."
SO, ONE OF THE STEPS TOWARDS SPIRITUAL MATURITY THAT IS SO
IMPORTANT IS TO COME TO A PLACE WHERE YOU MAKE A DECISION, AND
IT IS A DECISION, THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BELIEVE WHAT THE WORD
OF GOD SAYS MORE THAN YOU BELIEVE HOW YOU FEEL BECAUSE
FEELINGS ARE JUST SO FICKLE.
AND THEN, ALSO, THERE MUST BE A FULL, COMPLETE COMMITMENT
OF YOUR HEART TO GOD.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A LITTLE BIT HARD TO TELL FROM HER QUESTION
EXACTLY WHERE SHE'S AT IN HER COMMITMENT.
IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, SHE'S A CHRISTIAN, BUT SHE'S KINDA
TRYING TO DECIDE, YOU KNOW, HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT THINGS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, GIVING YOURSELF COMPLETELY TO GOD IS
A TOTALLY DIFFERENT THING THAN GIVING YOURSELF PARTIALLY.
AND FOR ME, I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT WHEN I BECAME A SERIOUS
CHRISTIAN BECAUSE I HAD BEEN A CHRISTIAN FOR MANY YEARS.
WENT TO CHURCH, DID A LITTLE WORK AT CHURCH, GAVE MONEY
AT CHURCH.
I LOVED GOD.
I BELIEVE THAT I WOULD HAVE GONE TO HEAVEN IF I WOULD HAVE DIED,
BUT I WASN'T FULLY COMMITTED.
MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WAS MORE ABOUT WHAT HE COULD DO FOR
ME, AND MY DESPERATION PRAYERS, RATHER THAN REALLY TURNING
MY WHOLE LIFE OVER TO HIM AND INVITING HIM TO BE INVOLVED
IN EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE.
GINGER: AND DON'T YOU THINK THAT'S PROBABLY WHERE
THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE IN THEIR WALK?
JOYCE: I THINK SO.
GINGER: I MEAN, A LOT OF PEOPLE SITTING IN THE PEWS OF
CHURCHES EVERY NOW AND THEN, AND THAT'S JUST WHERE A LOT OF
PEOPLE ARE, ESPECIALLY AMERICANS.
JOYCE: AND I THINK TOO THAT SOMETIMES WE THINK THAT GOD IS
ONLY INTERESTED IN THE SPIRITUAL PART OF OUR LIFE, BUT HE'S NOT.
HE WANTS TO BE INVOLVED IN EVERY AREA OF OUR LIVES,
AND THAT'S WHAT GETS SCARY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, "WELL, IF I INVITE GOD INTO THE
ENTERTAINMENT SECTION OF MY LIFE, WHAT AM I DOING NOW THAT
I'M MAYBE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO ANYMORE?"
OR, YOU KNOW, "IF I INVITE GOD INTO THE FRIENDSHIP, SOCIAL
SECTION OF MY LIFE, HOW MANY FRIENDS DO I HAVE THAT MAYBE ARE
HURTING ME SPIRITUALLY?" AND SO THIS IS A BIG ISSUE
FOR PEOPLE.
BUT SEE, IF YOU GIVE GOD EVERYTHING, THEN HE'LL GIVE YOU
EVERYTHING.
BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA JUST KINDA LET GO OF WHAT YOU THINK YOU
WANNA LET GO OF, THEN YOU'RE NEVER REALLY GONNA BE FULLY
SATISFIED IN YOUR LIFE.
AND HERE AGAIN, THIS IS A DECISION--I'LL PUT IT LIKE THIS.
IN ORDER TO GO TO HEAVEN, YOU MUST BELIEVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART
THAT JESUS IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS, THAT HE DID WHAT HE SAID THAT HE
DID, THAT HE DIED FOR OUR SINS, HE PAID THE PENALTY FOR THEM.
HE DIED, HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, HE'S NOW SEATED IN HEAVEN.
HE SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BE WITH US.
AND I BELIEVE IF YOU TRULY BELIEVE THAT, THAT YOU WILL GO
TO HEAVEN.
BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN
THAT ARE NEVER GONNA ENJOY THE JOURNEY, BECAUSE THEY HOLD BACK
ALL THESE PARTS OF THEMSELVES.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, FOR ME, GINGER, I'D BEEN ABUSED IN MY CHILDHOOD,
AND SEXUALLY BY MY DAD, AND SO I HAD THIS WHOLE BIG AREA THAT WAS
LIKE THIS HUGE BIG SECRET.
AND I THOUGHT BECAUSE I WALKED AWAY FROM MY DAD'S HOME AT 18
THAT I DIDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEM ANYMORE, BUT I STILL HAD IT
IN ME.
AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I HAD TO DO WHEN I GOT SERIOUS
WITH GOD WAS LET HIM INTO THOSE AREAS OF MY LIFE TO BEGIN TO
BRING HEALING, AND IT WAS HARD.
GINGER: THAT HAS TO BE FRIGHTENING.
JOYCE: I DIDN'T WANNA GO BACK AND LOOK AT THAT.
I DIDN'T WANNA GO BACK.
I DIDN'T WANNA THINK THERE WERE ANY LEFTOVER RESULTS OF WHAT
HAPPENED TO ME IN MY LIFE.
SO, I JUST THINK ANY PERSON WHO'S WILLING TO LET GOD INTO
EVERY ARE OF THEIR LIFE--I MEAN, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE
GONNA GET WHAT WE WANT THE INSTANT THAT WE WANT IT.
THERE'S STILL GONNA BE JOURNEYING AND CAMPING, AND
JOURNEYING AND CAMPING, BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, AND HE WILL CHANGE
OUR LIVES IN AMAZING WAYS IF WE WILL LET HIM INTO EVERY AREA OF
OUR LIFE.
GINGER: YOU KNOW, THE LAST THING THAT SHE SAID IN THIS
QUESTION WAS, "I DON'T WANT GOD TO GIVE UP ON ME."
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO HER ABOUT THAT FEAR?
JOYCE: WELL, GOD IS NEVER GONNA GIVE UP ON ANY OF US,
NEVER.
I MEAN, THAT'S JUST REALLY, LIKE--I DON'T WANNA SAY IT'S
A WRONG QUESTION TO ASK, BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND SOMEBODY ASKING
IT, BUT-- GINGER: AND MANY PEOPLE
FEEL THAT WAY.
JOYCE: YEAH, BUT GOD'S NOT A QUITTER.
I MEAN, HE'S NOT GOING TO GIVE UP ON ANYBODY.
WE GIVE UP ON PEOPLE.
WE GIVE UP ON OURSELVES, BUT GOD WILL NEVER EVER, EVER, EVER,
EVER GIVE UP ON US.
HE'S WITH US ALL THE TIME, EVERYWHERE, NO MATTER
WHERE WE GO.
HE ALREADY KNEW EVERYTHING THAT WE WERE EVER GONNA DO THAT WAS
WRONG BEFORE WE EVER DID IT, AND HE LOVES US ANYWAY.
GOD'S NOT GONNA GIVE UP ON HER.
GINGER: YEAH, WELL, THIS JOURNEY IS SO IMPORTANT.
I MEAN, IT'S REALLY ALL OF US, ALL OF OUR LIVES, LIKE YOU SAID,
IT NEVER STOPS.
WE'RE ALWAYS LEARNING AND GROWING, BUT WE CAN STOP
PROGRESS BY OUR CHOICES AND BY THE THINGS THAT WE DO.
SO HERE'S A GREAT QUESTION.
CHARLIE SAYS: "I'M AT THE BEGINNING OF MY JOURNEY.
WHAT ARE SOME BIBLE VERSES THAT YOU WOULD SUGGEST TO KEEP ME
FOCUSED AND STRONG?" JOYCE: WELL, I MEAN, THERE'S
A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT I COULD SAY TO THAT.
I MEAN, FIRST OF ALL, PROBABLY EVERY BIBLE VERSE IS USED
IN THAT.
I MEAN, "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO IS MY
STRENGTH," PHILIPPIANS 4:13.
I MEAN, I STILL THINK ABOUT THAT ALMOST EVERY DAY.
ISAIAH 57: "NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER, BUT
EVERY TONGUE THAT RISES AGAINST ME IN JUDGMENT I WILL SHOW TO BE
IN THE WRONG."
BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY IN THE FEW MINUTES THAT WE HAVE
LEFT IS SOMETHING THAT I DID NOT DO FOR A LONG TIME.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH IT
TO OTHER PEOPLE, AND I THINK IT ANSWERS HIS QUESTION TOO.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD DO IF I WERE YOU IS I WOULD
LEARN TO ENJOY MY JOURNEY.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, EVEN I LOOK BACK IN RAISING MY CHILDREN.
YOU KNOW, I WAS A GOOD MOM AND I TOOK CARE OF MY KIDS, BUT I WISH
I WOULD HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO HAVE ENJOYED THEM MORE.
I WAS SO FOCUSED ON RAISING THEM THAT I FORGOT TO ENJOY THEM AS
MUCH AS I SHOULD HAVE.
AND, YOU KNOW, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE A 2-YEAR-OLD, AND THEY'RE
LIKE, "OH, I'LL BE SO GLAD WHEN THE TERRIBLE 2s ARE OVER."
AND, YOU KNOW, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEY'RE 3, AND THEN
BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, THEY'RE 30 AND YOU WISH THAT YOU, YOU KNOW,
HAD SOME OF THAT BACK.
AND SO, ONE OF MY VERY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES, THE ONE THAT
THE NAME OF THIS TV PROGRAM IS BASED ON, IS JOHN 10:10:
"THE THIEF," WHO WE KNOW IS THE DEVIL, "COMES TO KILL,
TO STEAL, AND TO DESTROY."
THAT'S ALL HE COMES FOR, TO MAKE US MISERABLE, TO STEAL OUR
PEACE, TO STEAL OUR JOY, TO STEAL THE PLAN THAT GOD HAS
FOR OUR LIVES.
"BUT JESUS CAME THAT WE MIGHT HAVE AND ENJOY OUR LIVES,
AND HAVE IT IN ABUNDANCE (TO THE FULL, UNTIL IT OVERFLOWS]"
AND SO, REALLY, NO MATTER WHAT LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH
SOMEBODY IS AT, IF YOUR HEART'S RIGHT AND YOU WANNA GROW, GO
AHEAD AND ENJOY WHERE YOU'RE AT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE YOU WON'T BE
THERE FOREVER.
YOU KNOW, YOU WON'T BE 2 FOREVER.
YOU WON'T BE 3 FOREVER.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, TRUST ME, WHEN YOU GET TO BE--WHEN YOU'VE BEEN
WALKIN' WITH GOD FOR A LONG, LONG TIME--I MEAN, I THINK BACK
NOW AT SOME OF THE DIFFICULT TIMES THAT I WENT THROUGH, BUT
SOME OF THE AMAZING THINGS THAT GOD DID, AND, YOU KNOW, I ALMOST
WISH SOMETIMES I COULD GO BACK AND ENJOY THEM ALL OVER AGAIN,
BUT I CAN'T DO THAT.
SO DON'T FORGET TO ENJOY THE JOURNEY THAT YOU'RE ON RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T QUIT AND YOU DON'T GIVE UP, GOD WILL
DEFINITELY GET YOU TO WHERE YOU WANNA BE.
I JUST CAN'T TELL YOU HOW FAST IT'S GONNA BE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, SERVING GOD IS ACTUALLY A REAL PLEASURE.
IT'S GREAT, THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE.
I LOVE WHAT PETER SAID, "WE'RE BORN AGAIN INTO AN EVER-LIVING
HOPE," AMEN?
GINGER: AND YOU THINK OF THE ALTERNATIVE.
I MEAN, WALKING IN THIS LIFE WITHOUT HIM, WITHOUT
THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP, WOW.
I WOULD CHOOSE WITH HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY EVERY TIME.
JOYCE: ABSOLUTELY, WELL, TODAY, WE HAVE A GREAT RESOURCE
THAT WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU IN YOUR WALK WITH GOD BY GETTING
THIS INTO YOUR HANDS.
IT'S CALLED, "ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY" BOOK.
I'VE GOT IT RIGHT HERE.
IT'S NOT A BIG BOOK, BUT I LOVE THESE LITTLE BOOKS BECAUSE, BOY,
YOU CAN ZIP THROUGH THIS, AND REALLY JUST GET--I CALL THEM
SPIRITUAL VITAMINS, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE THINGS THAT IT'S
REALLY GONNA HELP YOU.
SO, LIKE ONE CHAPTER HERE IS, "JOY AND PEACE IS FOUND IN
BELIEVING."
SOMETIMES YOU'VE LOST YOUR JOY, BUT IT'S BECAUSE YOU STOPPED
BELIEVING.
SO WE'RE OFFERING THIS TO YOU TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT TO
THE MINISTRY OF ANY AMOUNT.
WE BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL DO YOUR VERY BEST THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN,
AND THIS IS A GOOD BOOK THAT YOU CAN ENJOY, AND WHEN YOU'VE
FINISHED WITH IT, YOU CAN PASS IT ON TO SOMEBODY ELSE AND THEY
CAN ENJOY IT.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT HAPPINESS IN LIFE STARTS WITH
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE OF HEART.
SO CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY AND ENJOY WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW ON
THE WAY TO WHERE YOU'RE GOING.
ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY.
GOD BLESS YOU.
ANNOUNCER: MAKE PLANS NOW TO SPEND YOUR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
WITH JOYCE, THREE UNIQUE SESSIONS OF INSPIRING TEACHING,
HEARTFELT WORSHIP, AND ENCOURAGING BEHIND-THE-SCENES
MOMENTS AT THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE,
COMING TO PHOENIX, ARIZONA FEBRUARY 16 AND 17
AND BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA MARCH 16 AND 17.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CONFERENCE
OR CALL...
ANNOUNCER: SO, THE BIBLE IS GOD'S MANUAL TO HELP US NAVIGATE
LIFE, BUT LIFE OFTEN GETS IN THE WAY OF KNOWING THE BIBLE,
FINDING THE TIME, KNOWING WHERE TO BEGIN, AND DISCOVERING WHAT
THIS ALL MEANS TO YOU.
WE UNDERSTAND, AND WE'D LIKE TO HELP.
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/STUDY, YOU'LL FIND FREE RESOURCES TO HELP YOU
GET MORE OUT OF THE BIBLE, WHETHER YOU'RE A NEW CHRISTIAN
OR HAVE BEEN WALKING WITH CHRIST FOR YEARS.
SO JUMP IN TODAY, "THE WORD," IT'S FREE, IT'S MOBILE, AND IT'S
TAILORED FOR YOU AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOYCE: ONE OF THE GREATEST JOYS IN MY 40 YEARS IN MINISTRY
IS SEEING THE EXCITEMENT IN SOMEONE'S LIFE WHEN THEY
DISCOVER THE ANSWERS TO LIFE'S QUESTIONS ARE RIGHT IN
THE WORD OF GOD.
AND THAT'S WHAT "EVERYDAY ANSWERS" IS ALL ABOUT.
IT'S A SHOW DESIGNED FOR YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE'LL
SEE WHAT THE BIBLE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THEM, REAL QUESTIONS,
REAL-LIFE STORIES, REAL ANSWERS.
ANNOUNCER: WATCH EPISODES AND SEND IN YOUR QUESTIONS AT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG/EVERYDAYANSWERS.
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.
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