ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: "WELL, GOD, WILL YOU, WILL YOU CHANGE DA--?"
GINGER: AS WE WALK THROUGH EACH NEW DAY, WE ALL HAVE
QUESTIONS.
THEY'RE JUST PART OF LIFE.
BUT DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE ANSWERS FOR YOU?
GOD SAYS WHEN WE LOOK, WE'LL FIND HIM.
HE'S NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING.
SO, TOGETHER, WE ARE DISCOVERING LIFE'S EVERYDAY ANSWERS.
GINGER: YOU KNOW, WE ALL FACE CHANGES EVERY DAY.
WE'RE CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING TO OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE'RE ADJUSTING TO NEW PEOPLE IN OUR LIFE.
AND IF SOMEHOW YOU MANAGE TO STOP ALL OF THAT CHANGE, YOU ARE
STILL AGING, AND THERE'S NO GETTING OUT OF THAT.
AND SOMETIMES THOSE CHANGES CAN BE A BIT OVERWHELMING.
SO, TODAY, ON OUR "HELP ME!" QUESTION, JOYCE IS GOING TO GIVE
YOU A LITTLE SUPPORT AND SOME HELP, AND SHE'S SPECIFICALLY
ANSWERING ONE PERSON'S QUESTION ABOUT A CHANGE
IN THEIR MARRIAGE.
GINGER: WELL, JOYCE, WE HAVE A VIDEO QUESTION FOR YOU TODAY,
AND THIS QUESTION KINDA MAKES ME SMILE BECAUSE I REMEMBER WHEN MY
MOM AND DAD WERE GOING THROUGH THIS POINT IN THEIR OWN LIFE AND
ASKING THE SAME QUESTION, SO I'M SURE MANY OF YOU WATCHING ARE
ASKING THIS QUESTION AS WELL, BUT TAKE A LOOK.
FEMALE: HUSBAND AND I HAVE BEEN MARRIED 44 YEARS.
HE'S BEGINNING TO GET READY TO RETIRE, AND SO WE'RE GONNA BE
HOME ALL THE TIME TOGETHER, AND I NEED ANSWERS AS FAR AS HOW TO
LEARN TO ADAPT TOGETHER AND TO DIFFERENT THINGS THAN WE'VE EVER
DONE BEFORE, THANK YOU.
JOYCE: WELL, I THINK THAT REALLY, A LOT OF TIMES WE'RE
ASKING QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE NOT GONNA GET ANSWERS TO BECAUSE
WE HAVE TO KINDA WALK IT OUT A LITTLE BIT AT A TIME.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD SAY IS NOT TO BE AFRAID TO TRY
NEW THINGS BECAUSE WHEN THINGS ARE CHANGING, ONE OF THE WORST
THINGS WE CAN DO IS TRY TO MAKE EVERYTHING STAY THE SAME
AS IT WAS.
AND IT WILL BE A TRANSITION.
I'M SURE THAT IF A WOMAN'S BEEN HOME RAISING KIDS AND I DON'T
KNOW IF SHE WORKED OR NOT, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE THE HOME, AND
THEN--SO YOU'RE KINDA DO YOUR OWN THING ALL DAY, DON'T HAVE
ANYBODY THAT YOU HAVE TO PLEASE OR, YOU KNOW, DO WHAT THEY WANT
YOU TO DO, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THAT PERSON IS THERE
ALL THE TIME.
IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT DYNAMIC, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT IN
CHRIST, IF WE'RE DETERMINED TO KEEP PEACE, WE CAN LEARN TO BE
ADAPTABLE.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE HAD TO LEARN IN MY
LIFE BECAUSE I STARTED OUT NOT A VERY ADAPTABLE PERSON AND I
WANTED EVERYBODY TO ADAPT TO ME, BUT I WASN'T VERY INTERESTED IN
ADAPTING, I'VE LEARNED THAT IT'S JUST SO MUCH BETTER TO KEEP
PEACE, AND THAT SO MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE GET UPSET ABOUT
REALLY ARE JUST NOT WORTH IT.
YOU KNOW, DAVE AND I HAVE BEEN MARRIED 50 YEARS, AND I LOOK
BACK NOW, WE GET AMUSED SOMETIMES.
WE LOOK BACK AT THINGS, ESPECIALLY ME 'CAUSE I HAD QUITE
A TEMPER IN THE EARLY DAYS, AND I LOOK BACK AT THINGS THAT
I USED TO GET UPSET ABOUT, AND THOSE THINGS WOULD NOT UPSET
ME NOW AT ALL.
SO I THINK KNOWING THAT THINGS ARE GONNA CHANGE, AND ALSO
PRAYING ABOUT IT NOW BEFORE IT HAPPENS.
IT'S AMAZING TO ME STILL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF WALKIN' WITH
GOD HOW POWERFUL PRAYER IS.
AND INSTEAD OF WORRYIN' ABOUT IT OR TRYIN' TO FIGURE IT OUT, OR
EVEN MAKIN' YOUR OWN PLANS, JUST BE ADVENTUROUS, AND ASK GOD TO
HELP YOU AND GUIDE YOU EACH STEP OF THE WAY, AND JUST BE
DETERMINED TO ENJOY THIS NEW SEASON OF LIFE.
EVERY SEASON HAS VALUE.
EVERY SEASON HAS CHALLENGES, BUT OUR LIFE IS MADE UP OF A LOT
OF DIFFERENT SEASONS.
AND SO, SETTING YOUR MIND AHEAD OF TIME CAN BE A REAL KEY TO
ENJOYING THIS NEXT SEASON.
GINGER: YEAH.
GINGER: COMING UP, JOYCE WILL ANSWER THE QUESTION,
"I GO TO CHURCH, WHY ISN'T MY LIFE BETTER?"
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR HER, CONTACT US ON TWITTER.
USE #ASKJOYCE OR GO TO OUR "EVERYDAY ANSWERS" PAGE, EASY TO
FILL OUT YOUR QUESTION RIGHT THERE.
AND BE WATCHING AS WE ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS.
THERE'S ANOTHER THING WE WANT FROM YOU JUST AS MUCH AS WE WANT
YOUR QUESTIONS, YOUR INTERACTION.
IT'S TIME FOR "YOUR VOICE."
GINGER: WE ASKED YOU TO SHARE WHAT LIFE LESSON YOU'RE LEARNING
THROUGH YOUR CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THIS COMES
FROM LINDA FROM TACOMA, AND LINDA'S BEEN GOING THROUGH
A LOT: "THESE PAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN VERY PAINFUL.
I LEFT MY EX-HUSBAND 2 YEARS AGO BECAUSE OF HIS ALCOHOLISM.
ALSO, MY DAUGHTER IS BATTLING DRUG ADDICTION.
I HAVE HER SON, MY GRANDSON WITH ME.
HE'S MY HEART.
HE IS ALSO AUTISTIC AND YES, BEAUTIFUL.
THE LORD HAS TAUGHT ME TO COMPLETELY SURRENDER ALL TO HIM.
HE REPLACES MY FEAR WITH HIS SOVEREIGNTY AND GRACE.
I NOW HAVE PEACE AND I TRUST IN THE LORD."
WOW, LINDA, THANKS FOR SHARING THAT WITH US.
THOSE ARE SOME HARD, HARD LESSONS AND SOME HARD
CIRCUMSTANCES TO GO THROUGH AND, YOU KNOW, ANY OF US WHO HAVE
BEEN THROUGH SOME OF THOSE DIFFICULT TIMES KNOW HOW MUCH IT
MEANS TO HAVE SOMEONE TO HOLD ON TO BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO IT ON OUR
OWN, AND THAT'S WHAT GOD IS THERE FOR.
THAT'S WHAT HE'S ALL ABOUT.
SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO UNDERSTAND THE WHY BEHIND THE
CIRCUMSTANCE, BUT WHEN INSTEAD WE CAN FOCUS ON THE TRUST
AND KNOW THAT GOD IS WALKING US THROUGH, IT REALLY DOES CHANGE
EVERYTHING.
SO, TODAY, WE'RE ASKING YOU TO SHARE WITH US HOW TOTALLY
SURRENDERING TO THE LORD IS CHANGING YOUR LIFE.
USE FACEBOOK, #EA IF YOU'RE ON TWITTER, AND WE JUST WANNA HEAR
FROM YOU.
WE DO LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.
THERE'S A KEY ELEMENT TO EXPERIENCING POSITIVE CHANGE IN
OUR LIFE, AND WE CAN ALL ACCOMPLISH THIS GOAL.
SO, HERE'S A QUESTION FROM OUR "EVERYDAY ANSWERS" PAGE THAT WE
ARE GOING TO TACKLE NEXT.
IT SAYS: "WHY SHOULD I PUT GOD FIRST IN MY LIFE?
I ALREADY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM."
WELL, THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION BECAUSE YOU CAN HAVE
A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND NOT BE PUTTING HIM FIRST, BE PUTTING
OTHER THINGS BEFORE HIM ALL THE TIME, AS WE ALL WANT TO DO.
WELL, JOYCE WILL EXPLAIN WHY AS SHE ANSWERS THE QUESTION,
"I GO TO CHURCH, WHY ISN'T MY LIFE BETTER?"
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE'RE BORN AGAIN, IT'S LIKE
A MAJOR, IT'S MAJOR IN OUR LIVES.
WHEN YOU FINALLY COMPLETELY TURN YOUR LIFE OVER TO GOD AND YOU'RE
FILLED WITH HIS SPIRIT, BOY, THAT WAS, LIKE,
"WOW, WHEW, MAN."
BUT WHAT THIS SCRIPTURE SAYS WAS ACTUALLY EVEN, IN SOME WAYS,
GREATER FOR ME, NOT THAN THE NEW BIRTH, BUT I HAD TO LEARN THIS
IMPORTANT LESSON, AND YOU HAVE TO LEARN THIS IMPORTANT LESSON
BEFORE GOD CAN DO FOR YOU ALL THAT HE WANTS TO DO.
"ONE THING HAVE I ASKED OF THE LORD, AND THAT WILL I SEEK,"
"SEEK" IS A VERY POWERFUL WORD.
THAT MEANS "GO AFTER WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT."
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE GOING AFTER IN LIFE?
AND SO MAYBE YOU NEED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE SEEKING WITH ALL OF YOUR HEART?
IS IT MORE MONEY, A PROMOTION ON YOUR JOB, MORE OF THIS, THAT
SOMETHIN' ELSE, MORE POPULARITY?
ALL THAT STUFF IS FADING AWAY AND IS NOT GONNA BE AROUND
FOR VERY LONG.
WHEN IT'S ALL OVER, THERE'S ONLY GONNA BE GOD, SO THIS IS
THE TIME TO MAKE SURE YOU GOT A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
SO, "ONE THING WILL I ASK OF THE LORD, AND THAT WILL I SEEK
AFTER, INQUIRE FOR, AND (INSISTENTLY) REQUIRE: THAT I
MAY DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD [IN HIS PRESENCE]
ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, TO BEHOLD AND GAZE UPON
THE BEAUTY [THE SWEET ATTRACTIVENESS
AND THE DELIGHTFUL LOVELINESS]
OF THE LORD AND TO MEDITATE, CONSIDER,
AND INQUIRE INTO HIS TEMPLE."
NOW, I HAVE TO STOP THERE AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON
WHY THIS WAS SO IMPORTANT TO ME.
MOST OF US, WHEN WE LEARN TO TRUST GOD, AND I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE'S ANY WAY TO AVOID THIS, MOST OF US, WHEN WE LEARN TO
TRUST GOD, WE START TRUSTING HIM FOR WHAT WE WANT.
WE START TRUSTING HIM FOR TO FIX ALL OF OUR PROBLEMS.
WE PRAY ABOUT THOSE PROBLEMS.
WE'RE ALWAYS AFTER GOD TO, "CHANGE THIS PERSON
SO WE CAN BE HAPPY," OR, "CHANGE THAT CIRCUMSTANCE
SO WE CAN BE HAPPY," OR, "GIVE ME A BETTER JOB.
GIVE ME MORE MONEY.
I NEED THIS.
I NEED, I NEED, I NEED, I NEED, I WANT, I WANT, I WANT, I WANT."
AND FOR MOST OF US, OUR LIST IS PROBABLY PRETTY LONG.
AND SO, ACTUALLY, WHAT WE REALLY WANT IS WE WANT GOD'S PRESENTS,
P-R-E-S-E-N-T-S.
YEAH, YOU KNOW WHERE I'M GOIN'.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND TO BE HONEST, HE'LL LET US DO THAT FOR A LONG
TIME BECAUSE HE IS ESTABLISHING RELATIONSHIP WITH US.
HE'S SHOWING US THAT HE'S GOOD, THAT HE WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF
US, THAT HE WANTS TO DO THINGS FOR US.
IT'S THE SAME WAY WE TREAT OUR CHILDREN WHEN THEY'RE LITTLE.
MOM AND DAD DO EVERYTHING.
THE KID JUST...
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: RECEIVES.
THEY'RE NOT SATISFIED VERY LONG.
THEY WANT ANOTHER TOY, A NEW SOMETHIN' ELSE,
BUT THEY'RE KIDS.
WE GET IT, SO.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THE TIME COMES WHEN YOUR KIDS GET TO BE
A CERTAIN AGE WHERE YOU AIN'T LIKIN' THAT TOO MUCH ANYMORE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: IT'S LIKE, "HEY, MAYBE I'D LIKE YOU TO DO SOMETHIN'
FOR ME.
MAYBE I'D LIKE YOU TO JUST TO STOP BY SOMETIME JUST TO
SEE ME WITHOUT COMIN' JUST 'CAUSE YOU WANT SOMETHIN'."
COME ON, IS ANYBODY IN THE HOUSE TODAY?
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: AND SO I'M GOIN' ALONG.
I'VE GOT MY LITTLE MINISTRY.
IT'S PRETTY LITTLE, BUT IT WAS GROWIN' A LITTLE BIT, AND I WAS
UNHAPPY MOST OF THE TIME, AND ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS,
THAT, AND SOMETHIN' ELSE, AND TELLIN' GOD, WELL, IF HE'D
DO THIS, I'D BE HAPPY.
IF HE'D DO THAT, I'D BE HAPPY.
IF HE'D DO SOMETHIN' ELSE, I'D BE HAPPY.
AND ACTUALLY, DAVE AND I WENT TO THE BOOKSTORE ONE DAY TO GET
SOME BOOKS, AND DAVE PICKED OUT SOME BOOKS, AND I PICKED OUT
SOME BOOKS, AND HE CAME OUT WITH A BOOK IN IT BY A WOMAN NAMED
MADAM GUYON, WHO LIVED IN THE 16TH CENTURY, AND THIS BOOK
WAS ABOUT SEEKING THE PRESENCE OF GOD, NOT P-R-E-S-E-N-T-S,
BUT P-R-E-S-E-N-C-E.
AND I WAS LOOKIN' AT HIS BAG, AND I JUST FELT DRAWN TO THAT
BOOK, SO I SAID, "DO YOU MIND IF I READ THIS BEFORE YOU DO?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BOY, I SHOULD'VE READ MY OWN BOOK, BUT ACTUALLY, IT
WAS VERY LIFE CHANGING FOR ME BECAUSE THROUGH READING THAT,
GOD JUST GOT THIS ACROSS TO ME.
YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, WE ALL NEED TO SPEND TIME WITH GOD,
AND WE KNOW THAT.
WE NEED TO SPEND REGULAR QUALITY TIME WITH GOD, AND WE KNOW THAT.
BUT THE DEVIL FIGHTS PEOPLE ON THAT MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.
HE'D RATHER YOU GO TO CHURCH THREE TIMES A WEEK THAN TO SPEND
A HALF AN HOUR A DAY WITH HIM, JUST YOU AND HIM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND SO I'M BUSY IN MINISTRY AND, YOU KNOW, I'M
DOIN' MY THING, AND, YOU KNOW, I'M REAL HAPPY 'CAUSE I'M
WORKIN' FOR THE LORD.
THE PROBLEM WAS, WAS I WASN'T SPENDIN' ANY TIME WITH HIM.
AND THAT HAS TO BE THE FOUNDATION OF ANY LIFE
THAT'S GONNA BE REALLY POWERFUL AND SUCCESSFUL.
YOU CANNOT STAND WHAT COMES AT YOU WHEN YOU'RE A POWERFUL
PERSON IF YOU DON'T HAVE A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
TO GO BACK TO ALL THE TIME.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: 'CAUSE I CAN TELL YOU, IF YOU THINK YOU WANNA BE
WELL-KNOWN, THE MORE WELL-KNOWN YOU ARE, THE MORE THE DEVIL'S
GONNA COME AGAINST YOU.
AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW THAT ONLY GOD IS HOLDING YOU UP,
IT'LL DESTROY YOU.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND SO, GOD HAD BEEN DEALING WITH ME ABOUT PUTTIN'
HIM FIRST AND SPENDIN' TIME WITH HIM, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST SEEKING
HIM FOR WHO HE WAS AND NOT WHAT HE COULD DO FOR ME.
AND IT'S A LONG STORY, AND I DON'T HAVE TIME TO GET INTO ALL
OF IT, BUT I ACTUALLY CAME TO THE POINT WHERE GOD
CHALLENGED ME.
HE SAID, "I DON'T WANT YOU TO ASK ME FOR ANOTHER THING UNTIL
I TELL YOU YOU CAN.
NOT ONE THING.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO ASK ME FOR NOTHIN' EXCEPT ME."
YEAH, "WOW," YOU GOT IT RIGHT, SISTER.
THAT WAS SO HARD.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "WELL, GOD, WILL YOU, WILL YOU CHANGE DA--?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "NEVER MIND, LORD, I JUST NEED YOU."
COME ON, THIS IS GOOD FOR US.
"I JUST NEED YOU.
I NEED MORE OF YOU IN MY LIFE."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "WELL, LORD, I DIDN'T GET THE RAISE AT WORK THAT I
DESERVED, AND WILL YOU--?
NEVER MIND, LORD, I JUST NEED YOU."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "WELL, THEY DIDN'T TREAT ME RIGHT, AND I THINK YOU
NEED TO DEAL--WELL, NEVER MIND, LORD, I JUST NEED YOU.
CAN I HAVE MORE OF YOU?
AND I THINK IT WAS SOMETHIN' LIKE ABOUT 6 MONTHS BEFORE
I KINDA GOT THROUGH THAT THING, AND I'LL JUST TELL YA WHAT GOD
SPOKE TO ME.
HE SAID, "IF YOU DON'T PUT ME FIRST AND SEEK ME ON A REGULAR
BASIS FOR WHO I AM, YOU CANNOT DO WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO
AND STAY ALIVE."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, YOU CAN DO WITH THAT WHATEVER YOU WANT TO, BUT
THAT'S WHAT GOD PUT IN MY HEART.
SO, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I COULD SAY TO YOU, MOST OF YOU HAVE
ASKED THE LORD FOR A LOT.
DO YOU WANT IT OR NOT?
REALLY?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ARE YOU SURE?
OKAY, THEN IT'S TIME TO GROW UP.
YOU DON'T GET TO GO TO GOD ALL THE TIME JUST FOR WHAT YOU WANT.
YOU GO TO HIM FIRST, AND THE FIRST THING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH
IS, "GOD, WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TODAY?"
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "WHAT DO YOU NEED?
HOW CAN I SERVE YOU?
WHO NEEDS A MIRACLE, AND YOU WANNA WORK THROUGH ME?
WHO NEEDS A BLESSING, AND YOU WANNA--?
IF YOU'RE LOOKIN' FOR SOMEBODY TO WORK THROUGH TODAY, LORD,
HERE I AM."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "HERE I AM, IT'S ME."
AND GOD GAVE ME THIS EXAMPLE THAT I THOUGHT WAS REALLY GOOD.
SOMETIMES IT TAKES A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE TO GET A POINT ACROSS.
AND MY UNCLE, WHO'S LONG SINCE GONE ON TO BE WITH THE LORD,
HE HAD A PACEMAKER, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WORK TODAY,
BUT BACK THEN, THEY HAD TO BE CHARGED EVERY SO MANY DAYS
OR YOUR HEART WOULDN'T WORK.
SO I CALL MY AUNT ONE DAY AND I SAID, "DAVE AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE
YOU OUT FOR DINNER TODAY.
MAYBE YOU'D LIKE TO HAVE A GOOD STEAK.
CAN WE TAKE YOU OUT?" AND SHE SAID, "WELL, HONEY,
WE CAN'T GO TODAY, BECAUSE YOUR UNCLE HAS TO CHARGE
HIS PACEMAKER TODAY."
AND I SAID, "WELL, CAN'T HE DO THAT LATER?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: COME ON, NOW.
SHE SAID, "CAN'T HE DO IT LATER?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I WONDER HOW MANY TIMES WE THINK WE CAN PUT GOD
OFF TILL LATER.
SEE, AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHIN'.
YOU START OUT OVER HERE ON THE JOURNEY, AND YOU GOT GOD'S
BEST OUT THERE IN FRONT OF YOU.
BUT THERE'S LESSONS WE HAVE TO LEARN ALONG THE WAY.
AND EACH THING THAT WE LEARN, THEN WE TAKE THAT WITH US,
AND BECAUSE WE LEARNED THAT, THEN THAT CAN TAKE US
TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
AND THEN WE LEARNED SOMETHIN' ELSE, AND THEN THAT CAN TAKE US
TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, AND I JUST MEAN THIS SINCERELY, OUR JOURNEY
WITH GOD CAN BE THE MOST EXCITING THING THAT WE COULD
POSSIBLY IMAGINE IF WE'LL LOOK AT IT PROPERLY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "ONE THING," WELL, I'LL TELL YA, THERE WAS A LOT
MORE THAN ONE THING ON MY LIST.
PSALM 27:4: "ONE THING HAVE I ASKED OF THE LORD, AND THAT'S
THE THING I'M GONNA SEEK AFTER."
AND HE SAID, "I WANNA WALK IN HIS PRESENCE.
I CAN LAY ASIDE MY LIST OF PRESENTS THAT I NEED, AND IF I
JUST HAVE YOUR PRESENCE--" 'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT?
WHEN YOU HAVE JESUS, TO BE HONEST--AND I'M NOT JUST TALKIN'
ABOUT YOU PRAY A SINNER'S PRAYER AND NOW YOU'RE BORN AGAIN.
I'M TALKIN ABOUT IF YOU HAVE THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE,
AND IF HE IS NUMBER ONE IN YOUR LIFE, AND HE IS THE CENTER OF
EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO, YOU ARE GONNA END UP HAVING
EVERYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: "DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU
THE SECRET PETITIONS AND HIDDEN DESIRES OF YOUR HEART."
PUT GOD FIRST.
"SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS,
HIS WAY OF BEING AND DOING, AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS
WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU BESIDES."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS TO BE LEGALISTIC
ABOUT THEIR TIME WITH GOD, BUT I DO THINK THAT YOU NEED
TO BE SERIOUSLY COMMITTED TO IT.
AND I THINK IT JUST MIGHT PUT A SMILE ON GOD'S FACE IF YOU'RE
GETTING READY TO HAVE YOUR MORNING TIME WITH GOD, OR YOUR
EVENING TIME, OR WHATEVER IT IS, AND SOMEBODY CALLS AND WANTS TO
TAKE YOU OUT FOR A FREE DINNER, "NO, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T DO THAT
RIGHT NOW.
I GOTTA RECHARGE."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "I GOTTA PLUG IN HERE."
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: "OH, WELL, YOU CAN DO THAT LATER."
"WELL, ACTUALLY, NO, I WILL DIE IF I DON'T DO IT NOW," COME ON.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: WOW, OKAY, NOW LET'S READ THE REST OF THIS BECAUSE
NOW IT GETS REALLY GOOD.
VERSE 4, SO IF I SEEK HIM FIRST, IF HIS PRESENCE IS WHAT I SEEK,
VERSE 5 SAYS: "FOR IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE HE WILL HIDE ME IN HIS
SHELTER; IN THE SECRET PLACE OF HIS TENT HE WILL HIDE ME;
HE WILL SET ME HIGH UPON A ROCK.
AND NOW SHALL MY HEAD BE LIFTED UP ABOVE MINE ENEMIES ROUND
ABOUT ME; AND IN HIS TENT I WILL OFFER SACRIFICES AND SHOUTS
OF JOY; I WILL SING, YES, I WILL SING PRAISES TO THE LORD."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO, WHEN I PUT HIM FIRST, ALL THESE OTHER THINGS
ARE GONNA WORK OUT GOOD IN MY LIFE.
AND THEN I'M GONNA CONCLUDE THIS TEACHING TODAY BY US LOOKING
A LITTLE BIT FURTHER IN PSALM 27 TO VERSES 13 AND 14.
DAVID SAID: "[WHAT, WHAT WOULD HAVE BECOME OF ME] HAD I NOT
BELIEVED THAT I WOULD SEE THE LORD'S GOODNESS IN
THE LAND OF THE LIVING!"
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "WAIT AND HOPE FOR AND EXPECT THE LORD; BE BRAVE AND
OF A GOOD COURAGE AND LET YOUR HEART BE STOUT AND ENDURING.
YES, WAIT FOR AND HOPE FOR AND EXPECT THE LORD."
OKAY, SO, WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS GO HOME WITH A NEW ATTITUDE.
"SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ME, BUT MY
NUMBER-ONE GOAL IS TO SEEK GOD FOR WHO HE IS,
NOT WHAT HE CAN DO FOR ME.
I JUST WANNA LOVE YOU, LORD.
I WANT YOU TO USE ME.
IT'S TIME FOR ME TO GROW UP.
I DON'T WANNA BE A BABY ANYMORE, GIVING YOU MY WHOLE LIST OF
EVERYTHING I GOTTA HAVE EVERY DAY TO KEEP ME HAPPY.
YOUR WILL BE DONE IN MY LIFE.
I LOVE YOU, JESUS.
I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU, AMEN."
COME ON, LET'S GET UP AND GIVE GOD A BIG SHOUT, WHOO!
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
GINGER: SO, SPENDING TIME WITH GOD AND SEEKING A CLOSER
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM IS REALLY THE KEY TO THOSE CHANGES THAT
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IN YOUR LIFE.
AND THIS RESOURCE WILL HELP YOU TO DO THAT.
IT'S FROM JOYCE, AND IT'S CALLED,
"PURSUING WHAT MATTERS MOST."
IT'S FOUR HOURS OF TEACHING, AND IT'S ALL ABOUT PUTTING GOD
FIRST.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY PUTTING GOD FIRST WORKS.
IT'S BECAUSE GOD HAS A GREAT PLAN FOR YOU, AND HE PUTS YOU AT
THE TOP OF THAT PLAN ALSO.
NOT ALWAYS WHAT YOU WANT, THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT WHAT IS
BEST FOR YOU.
GOD IS A GOOD GOD.
HE LOVES YOU, AND HE KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED.
AND SO, WHEN WE LISTEN TO WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS ABOUT PUTTING
HIM FIRST AND PURSUING WHAT MATTERS MOST, IT HELPS US PUT
THOSE OTHER THINGS IN ORDER IN OUR LIFE.
AND WHEN YOU GET THIS, YOU'RE ALSO GONNA GET THIS MUG,
AND LET ME TELL YA, PEOPLE LOVE THIS MUG.
WE HAVE SOLD SO MANY OF THESE.
IT SAYS, "GOOD MORNING, THIS IS GOD!"
AND IT HAS A LOT OF REMINDERS ON HERE FOR YOU ABOUT WHAT
TO DO THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY.
ON THE BACK HERE, IT SAYS, "CAST ALL YOUR ANXIETIES ON HIM,
BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU."
SO WHEN YOU ORDER THIS RESOURCE AND THIS MUG TODAY, YOU'RE GONNA
GET A GREAT LITTLE PAIR THAT YOU CAN LISTEN AND LEARN
AND ENJOY YOUR COFFEE OR TEA OR WHATEVER YOU LIKE.
BUT DO IT RIGHT NOW, DON'T WAIT.
WE HAVE A STORY COMING UP OF A WOMAN WHO COULDN'T CHANGE HER
CHILDHOOD CIRCUMSTANCES, SO SHE WAS DETERMINED THAT SHE WOULD
NOT LIVE THAT WAY AS AN ADULT.
HOWEVER, SHE ALMOST FELL INTO THAT VERY SAME TRAP.
HERE'S A LOOK AT HOW SHE ESCAPED.
ANNOUNCER: HERE'S THE SHORTENED STORY OF
DENISE ENGELBRECHT'S FAMILY.
SHE MARRIED MARK, AND THEN THEY HAD BRIANNA.
WITHIN THE NEXT SIX YEARS CAME CARA, ARIYAH, AND MIKAYLA.
IF YOU THINK IT'S OVER, THAT'S A REASONABLE HUNCH, EXCEPT ELISHA,
JOSIAH, AND JOSHUA COMPLETE THE ENGELBRECHT BUNCH.
THEN THERE'S 15 CHICKENS AND A CHINCHILLA
NAMED NEO, A CAT, 2 DOGS, 1 BIRD.
WAIT, MAKE THAT A TRIO.
IT'S WHAT DENISE ALWAYS WANTED, A PEACEFUL HOME FULL OF
HAPPY CHILDREN.
BUT THIS IS FAR FROM THE CIRCUMSTANCES SHE GREW UP IN.
DENISE: I REMEMBER A LOT OF ANGER IN THE HOUSE, WHERE IT
JUST WAS NOT A HAPPY PLACE TO BE.
I DIDN'T FEEL STABLE.
I DIDN'T FEEL SECURE.
I DIDN'T FEEL SAFE.
ANNOUNCER: DENISE'S HOME WAS FULL OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL
ABUSE.
SHE SAYS THERE WAS ONLY ONE PLACE SHE AND HER SIBLINGS
COULD FIND STABILITY AND PEACE.
DENISE: I WOULD GO TO CHURCH.
MY MOM WOULD SEND US OFF TO CHURCH ON THE CHURCH SCHOOL BUS
I THINK JUST TO GET RID OF US AND GET US OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR
THE SUNDAY, BUT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT I COULD GRAB
AHOLD OF AND KNOW THAT THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING STABLE
OUT THERE.
I REMEMBER BACK THEN, I JUST FELT LIKE THE WOMAN THAT GRABBED
AHOLD OF JESUS'S GARMENT.
I FELT LIKE I NEEDED TO GRAB AHOLD OF JESUS AND NOT LET GO.
ANNOUNCER: DENISE'S SIBLINGS CLUNG TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
TO NUMB THE PAIN.
DENISE: I SAW HOW THAT, YOU KNOW, WORKED, AND I SAW HOW THE
SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT THEY WERE DOING
WASN'T WORKING FOR THEM.
IT JUST WASN'T WORKING FOR THEM, AND THEY WERE CREATING EVEN MORE
INSTABILITY THAN WHAT WE GREW UP IN.
ANNOUNCER: WHEN SHE BEGAN HER OWN FAMILY, SHE WAS DETERMINED
TO MAKE HER HOME A PEACEFUL PLACE, BUT SHE DIDN'T KNOW HOW
TO CREATE THE STABILITY SHE DESIRED.
DENISE: I HEARD THE PASTOR SAY, "OH, WELL, YOU NEED TO GET
IN THE WORD BECAUSE IT'S LIVING AND IT'S, YOU KNOW," AND I EVEN
HEARD JOYCE SAY THAT TOO, BUT I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT A BOOK COULD BE LIVING.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT IF I WOULD READ THE BIBLE, IT WOULD CHANGE
MY LIFE.
ANNOUNCER: DENISE SAYS AS SHE LEARNED FROM JOYCE, SHE WAS ABLE
TO SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES HERSELF.
AND WHEN SHE BEGAN TO DO SO, HER LIFE CHANGED.
DENISE: I WOULD FEEL THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW I WAS
ABLE TO BE THE PERSON GOD WANTED ME TO BE.
IT GAVE ME THE STRENGTH TO BE WHO I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.
ANNOUNCER: DENISE SHOWED HER KIDS THE LOVE AND AFFECTION SHE
NEVER RECEIVED GROWING UP, AND CREATED A BOND THAT'S HAVING
LIFELONG EFFECTS.
DENISE: THAT BOND IS WHAT BREAKS THAT GENERATIONAL
PATTERN, AND THAT BOND IS WHAT MAKES THEM FEEL SECURE AND SAFE.
ANNOUNCER: DENISE'S BROTHERS AND SISTER CONTINUE TO SUFFER
FROM THE EFFECTS OF THEIR CHILDHOOD, BUT SHE IS LIVING
PROOF THAT NO MATTER WHAT DARK CIRCUMSTANCE THEY GREW UP IN,
GOD CAN AND WANTS TO GIVE US ALL A LIFE WORTH LIVING.
DENISE: I WOULDN'T BE HERE IF I DIDN'T HANG ON TO GOD AND THE
DETERMINATION THAT GOD WOULD SEE ME THROUGH.
IF YOU JUST GRAB AHOLD OF HIM AND NOT LET GO, AND BE
DETERMINED THAT HE'S, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GONNA GIVE UP ON
YOURSELF, AND GOD WON'T GIVE UP ON THEM.
GINGER: DENISE DISCOVERED THAT GOD'S WORD IS POWERFUL.
IT COULD CHANGE THE WAY SHE THINKS AND CHANGE HER LIFE.
AND REMEMBER, HE CAN ALSO DO THE SAME THING FOR YOU.
AS WE LEAVE YOU TODAY, HERE'S A GLIMPSE AT WHAT'S
COMING UP NEXT TIME.
JOYCE: AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAT THAT IS
THE ONLY ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEM.
GET UP, STOP FEELIN' SORRY FOR YOURSELF.
STOP EXPECTING SOMEBODY ELSE TO DO FOR YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD BE
DOING FOR YOURSELF.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I CAN SAY THAT WITH BOLDNESS BECAUSE THAT'S
EXACTLY WHAT GOD HAD TO SAY TO ME.
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING PROGRAM WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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