ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: I AM SHARING MY LIFE WITH YOU.
I HAVE LIVED THESE THINGS, AND I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW
THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT THE WORD OF GOD WORKS.
AND IF YOU WILL LEARN IT AND APPLY IT IN YOUR LIFE, YOU CAN
BE COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED.
GINGER: HI, WELCOME TO "EVERYDAY ANSWERS."
THIS IS THE SHOW WHERE YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS AND THEN JOYCE
ANSWERS THEM DIRECTLY FROM GOD'S WORD.
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 THEM.
HE'S NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING.
SO TOGETHER, WE ARE DISCOVERING LIFE'S EVERYDAY ANSWERS.
GINGER: SO, LET'S GET RIGHT TO THE QUESTION.
THIS COMES FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THIS IS SUSIE
ASKING THE QUESTION.
SHE SAYS, "SOMETIMES RENEWING MY MIND IS A SECOND BY
SECOND STRUGGLE.
WHY DO I HAVE TO WORK SO HARD AT BEING HAPPY?"
WELL, SUSIE, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S WHAT EVERYBODY WANTS.
WE ALL WANT TO BE HAPPY.
AND THE BIBLE TELLS US TO RENEW OUR MINDS.
SO TODAY, JOYCE IS GOING TO SHARE HOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORK
SO HARD AT BEING HAPPY WHEN YOU LEARN TO CHANGE THE WAY
YOU THINK.
SHE'S GOING TO TELL US THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION,
HOW SHOULD I THINK TO BE HAPPY?
JOYCE: THOUGHTS ALWAYS GO BEFORE ACTIONS.
I ALWAYS SAY THAT WHERE THE MIND GOES, THE MAN FOLLOWS.
AND I THINK THAT'S VERY TRUE.
THE BIBLE TEACHES US IN ROMANS CHAPTER 8, VERSE 5
THAT THOSE WHO ARE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH
AND ARE CONTROLLED BY ITS UNHOLY DESIRES HAVE SET THEIR MIND ON
AND PURSUE THOSE THINGS WHICH GRATIFY THE FLESH.
SO, IT'S VERY PLAIN RIGHT THERE.
IF YOU'RE WALKING AFTER THE FLESH, IF I'M WALKING AFTER
THE FLESH, IT'S BECAUSE I'VE PUT MY MIND ON FLESHLY THINGS,
AND THEREFORE THAT'S WHAT I'M PURSUING.
WHATEVER WE PUT OUR MIND ON, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
GO AFTER.
OUR MIND AFFECTS OUR EMOTIONS, WHAT WE THINK COMES OUT OF
OUR MOUTH.
IT AFFECTS ALL OF OUR ACTIONS.
THEN IT GOES ON TO SAY, "BUT THOSE WHO ARE ACCORDING
TO THE SPIRIT AND ARE CONTROLLED BY THE
DESIRES OF THE SPIRIT SET THEIR MINDS ON AND SEEK THOSE THINGS
WHICH GRATIFY THE SPIRIT."
NOW, LET ME JUST SAY THIS: YOU CANNOT HAVE A FLESHLY MIND
AND HAVE A SPIRITUAL LIFE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.
SO, WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO THINK THINGS ON PURPOSE THAT ARE
GOING TO BENEFIT US.
PROVERBS 23:7 SAYS, "AS A MAN THINKS IN HIS HEART, SO IS HE."
ONE TRANSLATION SAYS, "OR SO DOES HE BECOME."
THE BIBLE TEACHES US, ESPECIALLY IN 2 CORINTHIANS 10:4 AND 5 THAT
THERE'S A WAR GOING ON, "THAT THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE
NOT CARNAL, BUT THEY'RE MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE PULLING DOWN
OF STRONGHOLDS, CASTING DOWN IMAGINATIONS, REASONINGS,
THEORIES, AND EVERY PROUD AND LOFTY THING THAT EXALTS ITSELF
AGAINST THE [TRUE] KNOWLEDGE OF GOD."
THOSE SCRIPTURES ARE TALKING ABOUT THE MIND AND HOW THERE'S
A BATTLE THAT RAGES IN THE MIND.
THE MIND IS THE BATTLEGROUND WHERE SATAN TRIES HIS LEVEL BEST
TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR LIVES.
SATAN COMES TO KILL, STEAL, AND DESTROY, BUT JESUS SAID, "I
CAME," AND I'M SO GLAD HE DID, "I CAME THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE AND
ENJOY YOUR LIFE, AND HAVE IT IN ABUNDANCE, TO THE FULL,
UNTIL IT OVERFLOWS."
EVERY ONE OF YOU HAS A BLOOD-BOUGHT, CHRIST PAID FOR,
GOD-ORDAINED RIGHT TO ENJOY EVERY SINGLE MOMENT OF
YOUR LIFE.
WE ARE NOT HERE FOR MISERY.
WE ARE HERE TO ENJOY OUR LIVES.
AMEN?
AND THE DEVIL DOESN'T WANT US DOING THAT.
HE DOESN'T WANT HAPPY CHRISTIANS BECAUSE HAPPY CHRISTIANS ARE
LIKELY TO INFECT OTHER PEOPLE WITH THEIR JOY.
AS LONG AS ALL THE WORLD SEES IS SAD SAVED PEOPLE WITH BUMPER
STICKERS AND A LITTLE CHRISTIAN JEWELRY, IT DOESN'T SAY A THING
TO THEM AS FAR AS SUGGESTING THAT THEY MIGHT CONSIDER
WANTING WHAT WE HAVE.
SO, WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT, JOY IS NOT ONLY--IT DOESN'T ONLY
JUST FEEL GOOD, IT'S VERY NECESSARY.
IT'S THE BEST ADVERTISEMENT THAT WE CAN HAVE FOR
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CAN GO OUT AND BE HAPPY WHEN MAYBE ALL YOUR
CIRCUMSTANCES AREN'T HAPPY.
SO, THE DEVIL DIDN'T JUST START TO WORK ON ANY ONE OF US
YESTERDAY OR THIS MORNING.
HE'S BEEN AT IT A LONG, LONG TIME.
BUT WE HAVE WEAPONS.
THANK GOD THAT WE HAVE WEAPONS.
AND THE WEAPONS ALL INVOLVE THE WORD OF GOD.
TONIGHT, WHEN WE WERE WORSHIPING GOD, THAT WAS A WEAPON.
WE WERE DOING SPIRITUAL WARFARE TONIGHT WHEN WE WERE
WORSHIPING GOD.
THE WORD THAT I'M PREACHING TONIGHT IS FIGHTING DEMONIC
SPIRITS AND BREAKING STRONGHOLDS OFF OF PEOPLE'S LIVES.
WHEN WE HEAR THE WORD, SPEAK THE WORD,
MEDITATE ON THE WORD, SING THE WORD, WHEN WE PRAISE GOD,
ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE WEAPONS THAT DEFEAT THE ENEMY.
NOW, THE BIBLE TEACHES US THAT OUR MIND HAS TO BE RENEWED.
AND WE'RE GOING TO TALK A LOT ABOUT THAT TONIGHT.
THE DEVIL IS A LIAR, THE FATHER OF LIES.
HE HAS CAREFULLY STUDIED EACH ONE OF US FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
BUT I GUESS MY POINT IS, AND MY QUESTION TO YOU IS, HOW LONG
HAVE YOU STUDIED HIM?
HOW QUICKLY DO WE RECOGNIZE AN ENEMY ATTACK?
HOW LONG DO WE PUT UP WITH THE DEVIL'S NONSENSE BEFORE WE EVEN
BOTHER TO SAY, "I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO, AND YOU'RE
NOT GOING TO DO IT.
NO MATTER WHAT LIE YOU TELL ME, THIS IS WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS,
AND THAT IS WHAT I BELIEVE."
HOW LONG DO WE JUST PUT UP WITH THE ENEMY TORMENTING US?
HOW MANY DAYS DO WE HAVE TO BE IN A FIT OF DEPRESSION AND FULL
OF SELF-PITY BEFORE WE SAY, "OH, I THINK I'M UNDER ENEMY ATTACK"?
DON'T WAIT TILL YOU GET SO BAD THAT IT TAKES A TRUCKLOAD OF
CHRISTIANS TO COME AND PROP YOU BACK UP AGAIN.
LET'S LEARN HOW TO DO WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS IN 1 PETER 5,
RESIST THE DEVIL AT HIS ONSET.
IMMEDIATELY, "NO, GET BEHIND ME.
SHUT UP.
YOU'RE A LIAR. THAT IS NOT TRUE."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I PERSONALLY AM VERY BIG ON SPEAKING OUT LOUD.
I THINK IF YOU'RE IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN, YOU CAN TALK BACK
TO THE DEVIL.
JESUS TALKED BACK TO THE DEVIL, AND THERE'S NO REASON WHY
WE CAN'T.
HE'S OUR EXAMPLE.
YOU SAY, "WELL, WHEN DID HE TALK BACK TO THE DEVIL?"
IN LUKE CHAPTER 4 AND OTHER PLACES.
THE DEVIL BEGINS EARLY IN OUR LIFE BY BOMBARDING OUR MINDS
WITH CLEVERLY DEVISED PATTERNS OF LITTLE NAGGING, NAGGING
THOUGHTS.
SUSPICION, DOUBT, FEAR, WONDERINGS, REASONINGS,
THEORIES.
HE MOVES SLOWLY AND CAUTIOUSLY.
AFTER ALL, WELL-LAID PLANS TAKE TIME.
A STRONGHOLD IS AN AREA WHERE AN ENEMY ENTRENCHES HIMSELF
AND CONTROLS THAT AREA.
AND SO, WHEN THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT HOW WE HAVE STRONGHOLDS IN
OUR MIND, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT'S AN AREA WHERE THE
ENEMY, SATAN, HAS WORKED A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, AND HE NOW IS
ENTRENCHED IN THAT AREA, AND HE'S CAUSED US TO BELIEVE
SOMETHING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE.
HOWEVER, AS LONG AS WE BELIEVE IT'S TRUE, NO MATTER HOW UNTRUE
IT IS, IT'S TRUE FOR US.
AND OF COURSE, I HAD MANY THINGS IN MY LIFE THAT I FIRMLY
BELIEVED THAT WERE ABSOLUTELY UNTRUE, BUT I DID NOT KNOW THEY
WERE NOT TRUE BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW THE WORD OF GOD.
I WONDER IF WE HAVE ANY IDEA HOW PRECIOUS THE WORD OF GOD IS.
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I THANK GOD FOR WHAT I KNOW.
OH MY GOODNESS, I WOULD NOT TAKE ANYTHING FOR THE 37 YEARS
I'VE BEEN STUDYING THE BIBLE.
I THANK GOD FOR WHAT I KNOW.
THE MORE YOU KNOW OF THE WORD, I MEAN REALLY KNOW, THE LESS
LIKELY YOU ARE TO BE DECEIVED.
"DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD [FASHIONED AFTER, ADAPTED
TO ITS EXTERNAL, SUPERFICIAL CUSTOMS], BUT BE TRANSFORMED
(ENTIRELY CHANGED) BY THE ENTIRE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND."
BE CHANGED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND.
WE ARE SAVED BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS.
WE ARE CHANGED BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST AND THE RENEWAL
OF OUR MIND.
WHEN YOU GET SAVED, YOUR MIND DOESN'T GET SAVED.
YOU DO GET A NEW MIND.
YOU GET A MIND OF THE SPIRIT.
YOU GET THE MIND OF CHRIST.
AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
BUT IT STILL HAS TO BE DEVELOPED.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DOWN DEEP INSIDE OF YOU.
OLD HABIT PATTERNS HAVE TO BE BROKEN.
STRONGHOLDS HAVE TO BE TORN DOWN.
HOW MANY PEOPLE RECEIVE CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR, THEY'RE
SINCERE, THEY PRAY A PRAYER OF SALVATION WITH SOMEBODY, THEY
WANT TO TURN THEIR LIFE AROUND, BUT THEY NEVER REALLY EDUCATE
THEMSELVES?
THEY DON'T EDUCATE THEMSELVES.
THERE'S NOT ONE PERSON HERE THAT WOULD EVER EXPECT TO GO BE
A DOCTOR WITH NO EDUCATION.
THE THING I HAVE TO GET ACROSS TONIGHT, JUST TRYING TO LAY
A FOUNDATION, IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO THINK EVERYTHING THAT
FALLS IN YOUR HEAD.
THE WORD OF GOD, WHEN YOU KNOW IT, BECOMES A FILTER FOR
YOUR LIFE.
THERE IS JUST ABSOLUTELY NO HOPE UNLESS PEOPLE LEARN THE TRUTH
AND LET THE TRUTH SET THEM FREE.
WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO THINK RIGHT IF WE EVER EXPECT TO
LIVE RIGHT.
AND YOU CAN DO YOUR OWN THINKING, AND YOU CAN DO IT
ON PURPOSE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO THINK EVERYTHING THAT FALLS INTO YOUR
MIND IF YOU'VE GOT ENOUGH OF THE WORD OF GOD IN YOU, THAT WHEN A
WRONG THOUGHT COMES, IT DOESN'T TAKE YOU BUT JUST A FEW MINUTES
AND YOU THINK, "THAT'S NOT GOD, AND I'M NOT WASTING MY TIME
REVOLVING IT AROUND IN MY MIND."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THE FIRST THING THAT YOU HAVE TO
MAKE YOUR MIND UP TO IF YOU'RE GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS
PROCESS, AND THE RENEWING OF THE MIND IS DEFINITELY A
PROCESS--EVERYBODY SAY PROCESS.
AUDIENCE: PROCESS.
JOYCE: YOU SEE, PROCESS HAS A BEGINNING AND AN END,
BUT IT'S ALSO GOT A MIDDLE.
AND MANY TIMES, THE MIDDLE IS A LOT LONGER THAN WE'D LIKE
IT TO BE.
"WHEN IS THIS EVER GOING TO END?
WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE OVER?
WHEN AM I GOING TO CHANGE?
WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE?" I HOPE THAT SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT I SHARE WITH YOU THIS WEEKEND WILL HELP YOU TO DO
SOMETHING THAT I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO DO, THAT NOBODY WAS
TEACHING ME HOW TO DO.
BUT SINCE I DID IT ALL WRONG AND LEARNED THE HARD WAY, MAYBE YOU
CAN--JUST MAYBE YOU CAN LISTEN TO ME, AND I COULD SAVE YOU
SOME AGONY.
SPIRITUAL MATURITY TAKES TIME, LOTS OF TIME.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.
THOSE OF YOU WHO RECEIVED CHRIST TONIGHT, ALL YOUR SINS WERE
FORGIVEN, BUT NOT JUST ALL THE SINS YOU EVER HAD COMMITTED,
EVERY SIN YOU EVER WILL COMMIT.
AND YOU WILL.
WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES.
BUT THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE GOSPEL IS THAT, WHILE WE ARE
MAKING THIS JOURNEY, IF WE KNOW WHO WE ARE IN CHRIST, WE DO NOT
HAVE TO SUFFER FROM GUILT AND CONDEMNATION OVER EVERY MISTAKE
THAT WE MAKE.
THAT ALSO IS AN ATTACK ON YOUR MIND.
SATAN IS THE ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN.
AND THE MOMENT THAT YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, OR EVEN THINK YOU
MADE A MISTAKE, OR IT EVEN HINTS LIKE YOU MADE A MISTAKE,
HE'S GOING TO ACCUSE YOU.
"THERE YOU GO, SEE, SEE?
YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO CHANGE.
SURELY YOU DON'T THINK GOD'S GOING TO ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS.
I DON'T EVEN THINK YOU'RE SAVED.
HOW CAN YOU EVEN SAY--HOW CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE YOU'RE SAVED
AND ACT LIKE THAT?" AND I'M TELLING YOU THAT IF YOU
REALLY UNDERSTAND THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL, THAT WHILE YOU'RE
MAKING THIS JOURNEY, YOU CAN ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF
YOURSELF AND YOUR LIFE.
I DIDN'T ENJOY A LOT OF MY JOURNEY, BUT I WOULD LIKE MY
PAIN TO PAY OFF FOR SOMEBODY.
AND HOPEFULLY, IT CAN BE YOU.
NOW, I DID LEARN THANKFULLY, MAYBE ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, BUT I
WASTED THE FIRST MAYBE 16, 17 YEARS JUST WANDERING
AROUND IN THE WILDERNESS.
SO, I JUST WANT TO SAY TO YOU IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE THIS
JOURNEY, YOU HAVE TO DECIDE RIGHT NOW TONIGHT THAT YOU'RE
NEVER GOING TO GIVE UP.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GIVE UP.
I DON'T CARE HOW MANY TIMES YOU FALL DOWN.
THE RIGHTEOUS MAN FALLS DOWN SEVEN TIMES, GETS UP AGAIN.
"BE NOT WEARY IN WELL-DOING, FOR IN DUE SEASON YOU SHALL REAP IF
YOU FAINT NOT."
WHAT IS DUE SEASON?
ONLY GOD KNOWS, AND HE'S NOT TELLING.
I DON'T KNOW, WE'RE ALL DIFFERENT.
GOD HAS TO DEAL WITH US ALL IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
HE'S GOT DIFFERENT PLANS FOR ALL OF US.
SOME ARE A LITTLE MORE STUBBORN THAN OTHERS.
SOME ARE A LITTLE SLOWER LEARNERS THAN OTHERS.
GOD DELIVERS US, ACCORDING TO DEUTERONOMY 7:22,
LITTLE BY LITTLE.
THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS.
DEUTERONOMY 7:22, "AND THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL CLEAR OUT THOSE
NATIONS BEFORE YOU LITTLE BY LITTLE."
WHO LIKES LITTLE?
I DON'T LIKE LITTLE.
THERE'S NOTHING ABOUT LITTLE THAT EXCITES ME.
I LIKE BIG, BOLD, AGGRESSIVE, ALL, NOW, QUICK.
I DON'T CARE ANYTHING ABOUT SLOW, LITTLE BY LITTLE.
THE REST OF THAT SCRIPTURE SAYS, "LEST THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD
INCREASE AMONG YOU."
WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES THAT MEAN?
WELL, I BELIEVE THAT BEAST IS PRIDE.
AND I HONESTLY THINK IF GOD CAME AND DELIVERED US, JUST WHOOSH, I
TELL YOU WHAT, WE WOULD WANT TO SPEND THE REST OF OUR LIFE
GIVING VICTORY LESSONS TO EVERYBODY WE MET.
THERE WOULD BE NOT ONE SHRED OF HUMILITY IN US, NOR WOULD WE
HAVE ANY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH WHEN
THEY GO THROUGH THINGS.
AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
WHEN YOU TELL ME, "I'M GOING THROUGH THIS,
I'M GOING THROUGH THAT.
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME WITH THIS, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME
WITH THAT," I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I KNOW.
AND WHEN I SHARE THE WORD OF GOD WITH YOU, I DIDN'T GET THIS OUT
OF A SERMON BOOK.
I AM SHARING MY LIFE WITH YOU.
I HAVE LIVED THESE THINGS.
AND I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW
THAT THE WORD OF GOD WORKS.
AND IF YOU WILL LEARN IT AND APPLY IT IN YOUR LIFE, YOU CAN
BE COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED.
NO COULD BE, IF, MAYBE.
YOU WILL BE COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED BY THE WORD OF GOD.
IT IS FULL OF POWER TO BRING HEALING IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR
LIFE, EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
I JUST WANT TO STOP FOR A MINUTE.
FATHER, I WANT TO PRAY FOR EVERYBODY IN HERE AND EVERYBODY
THAT'S WATCHING BY TV THAT HAS BACK PROBLEMS.
I THANK YOU, LORD, FROM THE VERY TOP OF THEIR SPINE, ALL THE WAY
DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, THAT EVERYTHING LINES UP,
ALL THE VERTEBRAS ARE HEALTHY, ALL THE DISCS ARE HEALTHY.
I ASK YOU TO HEAL PEOPLE FROM INJURIES.
AND WE ASK YOU TO TOUCH THEM RIGHT NOW IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
EVEN PEOPLE WATCHING TV, TOUCH THEM RIGHT NOW.
PRAYING THE PRAYER OF FAITH AND ASKING YOU TO HEAL PEOPLE WITH
BACK PROBLEMS IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN.
JUST HAVE A LITTLE HEALING PAUSE RIGHT THERE.
AMEN.
NOW, YES, HEARING OTHER PEOPLE HELP YOU.
GOD GIVES THE GIFT OF TEACHING.
BUT I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WE ALL--WE JUST GIVE YOU PIECES.
THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS GOT TO PUT IT TOGETHER FOR YOU.
AND SO, YOU HAVE TO TAKE WHAT YOU KNOW, GET YOUR BIBLE, GET
WITH GOD, AND START LETTING GOD DO THE WORK IN YOUR LIFE THAT
ONLY GOD CAN DO.
AMEN?
NEXT THING YOU GOT TO DO IS BE POSITIVE.
AND IF YOU'RE A NEGATIVE PERSON WITH A NEGATIVE MIND, WITH
NEGATIVE THOUGHTS, THEN YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST GET THAT ON
WITH GOD AND GET THAT TAKEN CARE OF.
IF THAT TAKES THE NEXT 3 YEARS, YOU JUST GOT TO GET THAT ONE
SETTLED BECAUSE THERE IS NOTHING, ZIPPO, ZERO NEGATIVE
ABOUT GOD, NOTHING.
WE HAVE TO LEARN TO BE WHAT ZECHARIAH CALLED
A PRISONER OF HOPE.
AND HE SAID THOSE THAT ARE PRISONERS OF HOPE WILL RECEIVE
DOUBLE WHAT THEY LOST, DOUBLE.
I'M LIVING IN A DOUBLE BLESSING FROM WHAT THE DEVIL TOOK AWAY
FROM ME IN MY CHILDHOOD.
MEN DISHONORED ME AND BELITTLED ME.
NOW, GOD HONORS ME.
BUT I HAD TO MAKE SOME SERIOUS DECISIONS IN MY LIFE.
AND SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO MAKE
THIS WEEKEND ARE SOMETHING THAT ONLY YOU CAN MAKE.
NOBODY ELSE CAN MAKE THEM FOR YOU, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TELL
YOU THAT THEY'RE ALL EASY, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT IT'S
WORTH IT IN THE END.
I WAS SO NEGATIVE.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT GOD DEALT WITH ME ABOUT.
I WAS JUST SO NEGATIVE.
EVEN A PERSON WHO IS REALLY POSITIVE WON'T HAVE EVERYTHING
WORK OUT THE WAY HE WOULD LIKE IT TO ALL THE TIME.
BUT THE POSITIVE PERSON CAN GO AHEAD AND DECIDE TO ENJOY
HIMSELF NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
THE NEGATIVE PERSON, HOWEVER, CANNOT ENJOY ANYTHING.
SO, WE JUST NEED TO MAKE OUR MINDS UP TO BE HOPEFUL PEOPLE
THAT ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO
THOSE WHO LOVE GOD AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.
NOW, THE KEY THERE IS IN THE WORD "TOGETHER."
ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER.
EACH INGREDIENT INDIVIDUALLY MAY NOT BE GOOD, BUT WHEN YOU PUT
THEM ALL TOGETHER, THEY GET GOOD.
SO, MAYBE SOME OF YOU HAVE STILL GOT SOME INGREDIENTS COMING,
SO JUST HOLD ON.
EXAMPLE: THE ABUSE IN MY LIFE WAS
NOT GOOD.
IT WAS NOT GOOD TO BE SEXUALLY ABUSED BY 15 YEARS
BY MY OWN FATHER.
THAT WAS NOT GOOD.
BUT WHEN IT WAS MIXED TOGETHER WITH EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOD'S
DONE IN MY LIFE, IT HAS NOT ONLY WORKED OUT GOOD FOR ME, IT HAS
WORKED OUT GOOD FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE GLOBE WHO
NEEDED TO BE DELIVERED AND SET FREE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I CAN--I COULD NOT EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU.
I SPENT MANY YEARS SAYING, "WELL, YOU KNOW, I WISH THAT
WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED TO ME, BUT IT DID, SO WE'LL DEAL
WITH IT."
AND ONE DAY, I WAS IN THE MIDST OF SAYING, "WELL, I WISH THAT
WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED TO ME," AND IT WAS LIKE THE HOLY GHOST
STOPPED ME.
AND I THOUGHT, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
I CANNOT EVEN SAY NOW--" AND I KNOW IT SOUNDS CRAZY.
I CANNOT EVEN STAND HERE AND TELL YOU THAT I WISH
I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABUSED.
YOU KNOW WHY?
BECAUSE SOME WAY, SOMEHOW, GOD DID SOMETHING AMAZING
AND MIRACULOUS WITH THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT I KNOW THAT MY LIFE IS BETTER
BECAUSE OF IT THAN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT IT.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
SO, STOP BEING BITTER ABOUT WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU AND WHAT YOU
DIDN'T HAVE, AND JUST ASK GOD TO THROW IN SOME OTHER INGREDIENTS
AND GET IT TO ALL WORK OUT GOOD.
AMEN?
RENEW YOUR MIND.
LEARN HOW TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT.
TAKE AN INVENTORY OF WHAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT.
WHEN YOU'RE DEPRESSED, ASK YOURSELF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
THINKING ABOUT.
WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A DAY FULL OF SELF-PITY, JUST STOP AND SAY,
"NOW, WHAT HAVE I BEEN THINKING ABOUT?"
COME ON NOW, I'M TALKING TO YOU.
WHEN YOU'RE JEALOUS OF SOMEBODY, JUST ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT
HAVE I BEEN THINKING ABOUT?" YOU CAN TURN YOUR LIFE AROUND BY
CHOOSING TO THINK ON SOMETHING GOOD.
AND YOU KNOW, WHEN AN OCEAN LINER HAS BEEN GOING FULL SPEED
AHEAD IN ONE DIRECTION FOR A LONG TIME, IT'S GOING TO TAKE
A LITTLE BIT TO TURN THAT BABY AROUND.
SO, REMEMBER THE LITTLE BY LITTLE RULE.
I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO HOME TOMORROW AND START THINKING
ALL THESE LOVELY, BEAUTIFUL THOUGHTS.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT MAY TAKE YOU A WHILE TO WAKE UP IN
THE MORNING THINKING ABOUT THE PROVERBS 31 LADY, I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, I WOKE UP MANY MORNINGS, "THERE'S NO POINT IN ME EVEN
GETTING OUT OF BED BECAUSE ALL I'M GOING TO DO IS JUST DO
ONE STUPID THING AFTER ANOTHER ALL DAY LONG.
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT, AND NOBODY CARES ABOUT ME ANYWAY.
I'M JUST GOING TO GET UP AND CLEAN THIS HOUSE, AND THEY'RE
GOING TO MESS IT UP, AND I'M SICK AND TIRED, AND SICK
AND TIRED OF THIS AND THAT.
NOBODY LOVES ME AND NOBODY CARES.
EVERYBODY JUST TAKES ADVANTAGE OF ME ALL DAY."
MAN, I'M SO GLAD I DON'T HAVE TO THINK LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
AND IF IT EVEN STARTS, I CAN SAY, "NO.
NO, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, NOT GOING AROUND THAT MOUNTAIN
AGAIN."
NOW, LET ME JUST SAY THIS IN CLOSING.
YOU, WITH THE HELP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT,
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING APART FROM
HIM--REMEMBER THIS.
THERE'S NO POINT IN YOU GOING HOME AND SAYING, "THAT'S IT,
BLESS GOD, I'M GOING TO CHANGE MY THINKING."
NO, YOU WON'T.
ACTUALLY, YOU WILL GET WORSE THAN EVER IF YOU DO IT
LIKE THAT.
YOU GOT TO GO HOME AND SAY, "MAN, GOD, WAS I CONVICTED
TONIGHT.
YOU WERE ALL OVER ME.
WHEW, I NEED A LIFE CHANGE.
HELP ME, GOD, HELP ME.
I CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU, GOD.
YOU GOT TO HELP ME."
AND THEN YOU GET UP IN THE MORNING AND SAY, "GOD, HELP ME."
AND AT NOON, YOU SAY, "GOD, HELP ME."
AND TOMORROW NIGHT, YOU SAY, "GOD, HELP ME."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU START
ASKING GOD TO HELP YOU?
YOU'RE GOING TO GET CONVICTED MORE.
AND DON'T YOU LET THE DEVIL TAKE IT, AND BEAT YOU OVER THE HEAD,
AND MAKE YOU FEEL CONDEMNED.
YOU SAY, "THANK YOU, GOD, THAT YOU'RE SHOWING ME STUFF.
THANK YOU THAT YOU'RE REVEALING ME.
THANK YOU."
BECAUSE ANYTHING THAT GOD REVEALS, HE'S READY TO DEAL WITH
IF YOU'LL LET HIM.
COME ON, I SAID ANYTHING THAT GOD REVEALS, HE'S READY TO DEAL
WITH IF YOU'LL LET HIM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
GINGER: SO REMEMBER, IT'S SO MUCH HARDER TO ENJOY LIFE WHEN
YOU VIEW EVERYTHING FROM A NEGATIVE MINDSET.
BUT GOD CAN HELP US ALL CHANGE OUR THOUGHTS AND FIND HIS PEACE,
EVEN WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES ARE HARD BECAUSE THAT'S THE KEY.
LIFE IS NOT GOING TO BE PERFECT, BUT HE STILL WANTS US TO BE
HAPPY.
SO, STUDYING HOW TO CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK
WILL REALLY CHANGE OUR LIVES.
WE'RE GOING TO OFFER THIS TO YOU TODAY, AND IT'LL BE A GREAT HELP
FOR YOU.
THIS IS "THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND" ACTION PLAN.
WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT ACTION PLANS IS THEY WORK FOR YOU
PERSONALLY, THEY WORK IN YOUR BIBLE STUDY, THEY WORK WITH A
SMALL GROUP IF YOU JUST WANT TO DO IT WITH YOUR FAMILY.
THERE ARE TWO DVDS, FOUR CDS, A PERSONAL STUDY GUIDE, AND ALSO
A JOURNAL JUST FOR YOU TO MAKE NOTES IN.
SO, AS YOUR LIFE IS CHANGING, YOU CAN LOOK BACK AND SEE SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE LEARNED.
THIS IS ALL AVAILABLE AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, WHICH IS SO
HANDY, OR YOU CAN GET IT JUST LIKE THIS.
SO, MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THIS OUT BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT'LL
REALLY HELP YOU OUT, YOUR FAMILY, AND IT WILL ALSO
HELP OUT THE MINISTRY.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD FOR US TOO.
NOW, WE LOVE HEARING FROM YOU.
WE HAVE ENJOYED SO MUCH THE THINGS THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN
POSTING ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
WE'RE ASKING YOU TO JOIN THIS CONVERSATION EVERY DAY AT
THE JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES FACEBOOK PAGE,
AND ON TWITTER USING HASHTAG EA.
AND WHEN YOU WANT TO ASK A QUESTION, HASHTAG ASKJOYCE.
SO, HERE ARE A COUPLE OF THOSE THINGS THAT WE HAVE
BEEN HEARING FROM YOU.
FROM SIEARA, "GOD HELPED ME IN THE STRUGGLE OF BEING A VERY
YOUNG TEENAGE MOM.
GOD HAS SHOWN ME HIS GRACE AND MERCY DAILY."
HOW IMPORTANT IS THAT?
A LOT OF PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT KIND OF STRUGGLE.
BARB FROM OTTAWA SAYS, "GOD HAS HELPED US THROUGH MANY STRUGGLES
BY FAITH.
READING THE BIBLE AND PRAYING, STAYING IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH
HIM MAKES ME STRONGER, AND IT PUTS SUCH PEACE IN MY HEART."
AND FINALLY, ONE MORE.
THIS COMES FROM ARIZONA, AND KENDRA SAYS, "GOD HELPS US EVERY
DAY, ESPECIALLY THIS LAST YEAR.
WE HAVE A MEDICALLY COMPLEX 6-MONTH-OLD WHO HAS FOUGHT
EVERY DAY OF HER LIFE.
WITH GOD'S GRACE, SHE IS HERE AND GETS BETTER EVERY DAY."
WOW, THAT IS AMAZING.
AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT, KENDRA.
AND FOR ALL OF YOU WHO SHARE YOUR LIVES WITH US ONLINE,
IT MEANS A LOT.
WE LOVE IT THE WAY YOU ARE ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER,
AND YOU'RE ANSWERING EACH OTHER'S QUESTIONS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS SHOW IS ALL ABOUT.
SO TODAY, LET US KNOW HOW YOUR LIFE IS CHANGING AS YOU CHANGE
THE WAY YOU THINK.
POST IT ON THE JOYCE MEYER MINISTRY FACEBOOK PAGE,
ON TWITTER USING HASHTAG EA.
AND WHILE YOU'RE ONLINE, CHECK OUT JOYCE'S ARTICLE.
IT'S JUST REALLY HELPFUL FOR YOU.
IT'S THERE, IT'S ABSOLUTELY FREE.
IT'S CALLED "HOW TO OVERCOME NEGATIVE THINKING AND LIVE LIFE
WITH HOPE."
IT'S ON OUR EVERYDAY ANSWERS PAGE AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
[MUSIC]
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING PROGRAM WAS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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