ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM
HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES. JOYCE: OUR IDENTITY IS,
I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: HE TAKES OUR
WRONGNESS AND GIVES US HIS RIGHTNESS AS A GIFT. [MUSIC] JOYCE: ALL RIGHT,
SEVEN HINDRANCES TO PRAYER. WELL, FIRST OF ALL,
LET ME SAY THAT PRAYER, I BELIEVE PROBABLY,
IS THE GREATEST PRIVILEGE THAT GOD'S GIVEN US. IT'S NOT A DUTY
OR AN OBLIGATION, IT'S SOMETHING WE GET TO DO. WHEN WE PRAY IT'S NOT
SOMETHING WE DO FOR GOD, IT'S SOMETHING
WE DO FOR OURSELF. WE HAVE THE PRIVILEGE
OF GOING TO THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE,
THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS, AND ASKING HIM TO GET
INVOLVED IN OUR OWN LITTLE PERSONAL LIVES,
AND DO THINGS FOR US THAT WE CAN NEVER DO FOR OURSELF. AND SO, THAT'S REALLY
PRETTY AMAZING. AND YOU CAN PRAY ANYTIME,
ANYWHERE, ABOUT ANYTHING. YOU DON'T HAVE
TO BE IN A CHURCH. YOU DON'T HAVE
TO BE IN A PARTICULARLY SPIRITUAL POSTURE. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE SET-APART
TIMES FOR PRAYER, BUT YOU CAN PRAY YOUR
WAY THROUGH THE DAY. WHAT I CALL JUST--YOU KNOW,
WE USED TO SAY WHICH MANY OF YOU MAYBE DO,
"WHEN I PRAY, I'M GONNA PRAY ABOUT THAT."
WELL, YOU DON'T NEED TO DO THAT, YOU CAN PRAY RIGHT NOW. SO, THE FIRST HINDRANCE
TO PRAYER IS SIMPLY NOT PRAYING. NOW, SECOND THING IS HIDDEN SIN. WELL, YOU GOTTA COME
CLEAN WITH GOD. HE KNOWS IT ANYWAY. HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW,
THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT GOD DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT YOU? HE KNOWS THINGS ABOUT YOU
THAT YOU'VE FORGOTTEN. AND, BUT, GOD WANTS US TO TALK
TO HIM ABOUT THINGS, BECAUSE REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION,
IT GETS THOSE THINGS UP AND OUT OF YOU. IT'S KIND--IT'S ALMOST LIKE
A WAY OF GETTING RID OF THEM. AMEN? BUT HIDDEN SIN WILL
HINDER YOUR PRAYER LIFE. PSALM 66:18, DAVID SAID,
"IF I HAD CHERISHED SIN IN MY HEART, THE LORD WOULD
NOT HAVE LISTENED TO ME." SO, MAYBE BEFORE WE PRAY,
WE SHOULD ALWAYS START WITH-- I LIKE TO START MY PRAYERS
WITH THANKSGIVING, 'CAUSE YOU ENTER HIS COURTS WITH
PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING. SO, I LIKE TO START--ANYTIME
I GO TO GOD FOR LIKE SOME SERIOUS PRAYER,
I START WITH THANKSGIVING. AND I ALSO CONFESS EVEN
SINS THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT I SINNED. LIKE DAVID PRAYED THAT. HE SAID, CLEANSE ME OF HIDDEN
FAULTS, THINGS THAT I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER AND KNOW ABOUT. AND THAT'S GOOD, THERE'S NOT--
I WANNA GO BEFORE GOD CLEAN. AND I DON'T WANT ANYTHING
BETWEEN ME AND HIM EVER, WHEN I PRAY. IN JAMES 5:16-18 IT SAYS,
"CONFESS YOUR SINS TO ONE ANOTHER."
AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT TODAY. I THOUGHT, "YOU KNOW, THERE'S
NOT MUCH OF THAT THAT GOES ON." WE TRY TO HIDE EVERYTHING
FROM EACH OTHER. I DID A MESSAGE RECENTLY
CALLED IT'S OKAY NOT-- IT'S OKAY NOT TO BE OKAY. AND I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT--
IT WAS INTERESTING 'CAUSE I STARTED READING A BOOK
THE OTHER DAY, AND A GUY HAD THE SAME MESSAGE IN THERE. THE HOLY SPIRIT'S ALWAYS
SPEAKING THE SAME THING THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT AVENUES,
AND IT SHOULD BE THAT WAY IF IT'S GOD SPEAKING,
IT SHOULDN'T JUST COME THROUGH ONE PERSON. AND THE THING THAT I BECAME
AWARE OF, AND HE REITERATED THIS IS, EVERY TIME YOU ASK
SOMEBODY, "HOW ARE YOU?" IF THEY'RE A CHRISTIAN,
THEY'RE ALWAYS, "FINE." NO, YOU'RE NOT. YOU'RE NOT ALWAYS FINE. NOW, SPIRITUALLY YOU MAY
BE FINE, BUT WHY DO WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO LIE TO EACH OTHER,
AND ACT LIKE WE'RE PERFECT ALL THE TIME? SO, I'M JUST DETERMINED
TO TELL THE TRUTH. "HOW ARE YOU TODAY, JOYCE?"
"YOU KNOW WHAT? SPIRITUALLY I'M GOOD,
BUT I GOT A HEADACHE, I'D LIKE YOUR PRAYERS."
"SPIRITUALLY I'M GOOD, BUT I SLEPT AWFUL LAST NIGHT,
I'D LIKE YOUR PRAYERS." I THINK WE'D BE SO MUCH BETTER
OFF IF WE WERE JUST HONEST WITH EACH OTHER, INSTEAD
OF TRYING TO ACT LIKE THERE'S NEVER ANYTHING WRONG WITH US. AMEN? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: AND I ALSO BELIEVE
WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH SOME KIND OF SIN, AND ESPECIALLY
IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME
GETTING BEYOND. I THINK GOING TO SOMEBODY ELSE,
A SPOUSE, OR A TRUSTED FRIEND, I GUESS YOUR PASTOR, IF HE HAS
TIME TO DEAL WITH THAT KIND OF THING, AND JUST TELL HIM. I REMEMBER GOING TO DAVE
ONE TIME AND I SAID, "I'M JUST REALLY HAVING
A HARD TIME BEING JEALOUS--" AND I NAMED THE PERSON. AND I SAID, "I JUST CAN'T
SEEM TO GET OVER IT. WILL YOU PRAY FOR ME?"
AND YOU KNOW WHAT? AFTER THAT I NEVER HAD
ANOTHER PROBLEM. AND I DON'T THINK IT WAS HIS
MAGICAL PRAYER, I THINK IT WAS THE FACT THAT I BROUGHT
IT OUT IN THE OPEN AND DIDN'T HIDE IT ANYMORE. I THINK WE TRY TO HIDE TOO MANY
THINGS FROM EACH OTHER, BECAUSE WE WANT EVERYBODY
TO THINK THAT WE'VE GOT IT ALL TOGETHER. THERE IS NOT ONE PERSON
IN THIS ROOM THAT HAS IT ALL TOGETHER. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: AMEN? I MEAN, THERE HAS TO BE A REASON
WHY THAT'S THERE. "CONFESS YOUR FAULTS
TO ONE ANOTHER, SO THAT YOU MAY BE HEALED."
WELL, THAT MAYBE TALKIN' ABOUT HEALED PHYSICALLY,
BUT IT'S PROBABLY MORE THAN LIKELY TALKIN' ABOUT
BEING HEALED SPIRITUALLY. "THE PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS
PERSON IS POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE."
THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE SAYS, "THE PRAYER OF A RIGHTEOUS
MAN MAKES TREMENDOUS POWER AVAILABLE
[DYNAMIC IN ITS WORKING]." AMEN. AND REMEMBER, A RIGHTEOUS
MAN IS NOT A MAN WHO DOES EVERYTHING RIGHT. IT'S SOMEONE WHO'S WASHED
IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, AND WHO KNOWS THAT
RIGHTEOUSNESS HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THEM AS A GIFT,
BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS DID. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: DO YOU KNOW
HOW WONDERFUL THAT IS? MY GOODNESS. WHY IS IT THAT YOU GO TO CHURCH,
AND NOT ALL CHURCHES, BUT SOME CHURCHES,
ALL THEY WANNA TALK TO YOU ABOUT IS HOW AWFUL YOU ARE? YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT
WHEN YOU WENT IN. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: YOU ROTTEN,
MISERABLE SINNER, YOU. WELL, ACTUALLY WE ALL SIN,
BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THAT OUR IDENTITY IS "SINNER."
I THINK OUR IDENTITY IS, "I AM THE RIGHTEOUSNESS
OF GOD IN CHRIST." [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: HE TAKES OUR WRONGNESS
AND GIVES US HIS RIGHTNESS, AS A GIFT. 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21, "HE THAT
KNEW NO SIN BECAME SIN." HE DIDN'T JUST PAY FOR YOUR
SINS, HE BECAME SIN, "THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE
RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM." IT'S JUST LIKE--AND WHEN YOU
REALLY SAY THESE THINGS, AND YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING, IT'S LIKE HOW CAN WE BE UNHAPPY? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: I DON'T KNOW HOW
I CAN EVER GET UNHAPPY. AND I TOLD SOMEBODY IN THE BACK,
I SAID, "IF ANYBODY EVER HEARS ME COMPLAINING, YOU SHOULD JUST
KICK ME RIGHT IN THE REAR END." [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: I MEAN, WHEN YOU
THINK ABOUT IT, WHAT DO WE HAVE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT? I MEAN, LOOK AROUND YOU. I'M LOOKING AT A ROOM FULL
OF PEOPLE THAT AREN'T GOING TO HELL. [AUDIENCE CHEERING] JOYCE: WELL, YOU SAY,
"BUT I'M GOING THROUGH THIS, AND I'M GOING THROUGH THAT."
WELL, THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH,
AND THE OTHER GOOD NEWS IS, IS THIS IS NOT GONNA
LAST FOREVER. BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU LIVE
TO BE 100, THAT'S STILL JUST LIKE A ONE PIECE OF SAND ON ALL
THE OCEANS IN THE WORLD. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
ETERNITY WITH GOD. ETERNITY IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD,
FOREVER AND EVER, AND EVER AND EVER,
AND EVER AND EVER, AND EVER AND EVER,
AND EVER AND EVER. [AUDIENCE CHEERING] [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: SO, NO MATTER
WHAT WE GO THROUGH HERE, IT'S WORTH IT TO HANG ON. BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU
SOMETHING, WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN AND THAT TRUMPET BLOWS,
YOU'RE GONNA BE GLAD THAT YOU HUNG IN THERE. [AUDIENCE CHEERING] JOYCE: AND SO AM I. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: AND I'LL TELL YOU
THE TRUTH, AND I MEAN, I WANNA BE HERE AS LONG
AS GOD WANTS ME TO BE HERE. AND I WANNA FULFILL MY MISSION
AND DO EVERYTHING THAT HE'S ASKED ME TO DO. BUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT MAYBE
I'M PROBABLY ONLY GONNA BE HERE ANOTHER 12 TO 15 YEARS. WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK
ABOUT THAT, YOU THINK, "WOW! I'VE ALMOST COMPLETED
MY JOURNEY." YOU KNOW, LIFE IS A JOURNEY. WE ALL HAVE A JOURNEY THAT WE'RE
WALKING THROUGH. AND ALL THIS STUFF THAT WE GET UPSET ABOUT,
AND ALL THESE THINGS THAT WE THINK WE WANT, THAT WE CAN'T
BE HAPPY IF WE DON'T HAVE. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING,
THEY'RE NOT NEARLY AS IMPORTANT AS WE MAKE THEM OUT TO BE. EVERYTHING THAT WE SEE IN THIS
EARTH IS CURRENTLY PASSING AWAY, IT'S NOT EVEN GONNA EXIST. HIDDEN SIN,
BRING IT OUT IN THE OPEN, GOD KNOWS IT ANYWAY. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT ELIJAH WAS
A HUMAN BEING JUST LIKE WE ARE, IMPERFECT. ONE DAY HE CUTS
UP 400 BAAL PROPHETS. I MEAN, THAT'S QUITE A JOB
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT. THERE'S SOME--MAN, THERE'S SOME
STUFF IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. AND THEN THE NEXT DAY
OR A COUPLE DAYS LATER, HE GETS A THREAT FROM JEZEBEL,
AND HE RUNS LIKE A SCARED LITTLE MOUSE. AND SO, ONE DAY HE'S LIKE
BOLD AND... THE NEXT DAY HE'S... [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: SAYS HE, "WAS A HUMAN
BEING JUST LIKE US." AND YET, HE PRAYED FOR IT NOT
TO RAIN, AND NO RAIN FELL ON THE EARTH FOR SIX MONTHS. SO, EVEN THOUGH HE WAS VERY
IMPERFECT, HE STILL HAD POWER WITH GOD IN PRAYER. AND SO DO YOU. ARE YOU HEARING ME? DON'T MAKE THE MISTAKE
OF THINKING THAT YOU CAN'T PRAY AND ASK GOD FOR GREAT THINGS,
UNTIL YOU THINK YOU'RE GREAT. RIGHTEOUS MEN AND WOMEN
ARE NOT PERFECT. AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE ALL GOT
OUR FAVORITE SCRIPTURES, AND I'VE GOT MORE THAN ONE,
THAT'S FOR SURE. BUT THESE TWO ARE A COUPLE
OF MY FAVORITE. HEBREWS 4:15 AND 16,
"FOR WE DO NOT HAVE A HIGH PRIEST WHO IS UNABLE
TO EMPATHIZE WITH OUR WEAKNESSES, WE HAVE ONE WHO'S
BEEN TEMPTED IN EVERY WAY, JUST AS WE ARE--YET HE DID NOT SIN."
I THINK THAT'S SO INTERESTING THAT EVERY TEMPTATION
THAT WE FACE, JESUS HAD TO DEAL WITH IT TOO. SO, HE KNOWS HOW YOU FEEL. HE KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO WRESTLE WITH SIN. HE KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO WRESTLE WITH TEMPTATION. AND HE DOESN'T GIVE YOU
JUDGMENT, HE GIVES YOU EMPATHY, OR SYMPATHY. HE FEELS FOR YOU. "LET US THEN--" BECAUSE
OF WHAT WE JUST READ. "LET US THEN APPROACH
GOD'S THRONE OF GRACE WITH CONFIDENCE."
THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE SAYS, "APPROACH THE THRONE BOLDLY,
THAT WE MAY RECEIVE MERCY AND FIND GRACE IN PLENTY
OF TIME TO MEET OUR NEEDS." DON'T EVER BUY INTO THE LIE FROM
SATAN THAT YOU CAN'T GO TO GOD, AND ASK HIM TO MEET YOUR NEEDS,
JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN A BAD LITTLE GIRL OR BOY. MAN, YOU GUYS ARE QUIET. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: THAT'S OKAY, BE QUIET,
YOU'RE ABSORBING. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: NUMBER THREE,
AND OBVIOUSLY, I'M NOT GONNA GET DONE AGAIN. NUMBER THREE,
HINDRANCE TO PRAYER IS DOUBT. WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAD TO THINK
A LITTLE BIT AND WAIT ON GOD ABOUT HOW TO TEACH THIS,
BECAUSE DOUBT COMES TO ALL OF US. HOWEVER, THE BIBLE DOESN'T
SAY, DON'T EVER FEEL DOUBT, WE JUST CAN'T GET INTO IT--
TAKE IT ON AS OURSELVES. WE NEED TO MEET IT WITH FAITH. AND LIKE THEY SAY, "WHEN FEAR
KNOCKS ON THE DOOR, LET FAITH GO AND ANSWER."
SO, I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE WAYS TO DEFEAT DOUBT
IS WHEN YOU'RE STANDING, AND YOU'RE IN THAT WAITING
PERIOD, YOU'RE LIKE THE GUYS OUT IN THE BOAT IN THE STORM,
YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE. YOU HAVEN'T GOT
TO THE OTHER SIDE YET. I THINK WHEN DOUBT COMES,
YOU NEED TO OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND DO WARFARE, BY COMING
BACK AT THE LIE THAT SATAN'S TRYING TO TELL YOU,
WITH THE WORD OF GOD. SO, A LIE COMES TO YOU,
"GOD IS NOT GOING TO DO THIS, YOU MIGHT AS WELL GIVE UP."
WELL, YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND SAY, "DEVIL, YOU'RE A LIAR
AND GOD IS FAITHFUL, AND HE IS GONNA TAKE CARE OF ME." [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: NOW, I'LL TELL YOU
WHEN YOU DO THAT, DOUBT HAS TO RUN THE OTHER DIRECTION. SO, I SAY WE NEED
TO DOUBT OUR DOUBTS. WHEN DOUBT COMES AND SAYS
IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN, SAY, "I DOUBT THAT." [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: DO YOU UNDERSTAND
WHAT I'M SAYIN' WHEN I SAY--? I KNOW--PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER
HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS, YOU TELL 'EM TO TALK BACK
TO THE DEVIL, AND THEY THINK YOU'VE LOST YOUR MIND. I REMEMBER ONE WOMAN WHO--
SHE ACTUALLY ENDED UP BECOMING A GOOD PARTNER WITH
OUR MINISTRY, SHE SAID, "I'LL NEVER FORGET
THE FIRST TIME I HEARD JOYCE ON TELEVISION."
SHE SAID, "HERE'S THIS WOMAN YELLING AT THE TOP OF HER VOICE,
'AND JESUS SAID TO THE DEVIL, AND THE DEVIL SAID TO JESUS. AND JESUS SAID TO THE DEVIL,
AND THE DEVIL SAID TO JESUS.'" BUT IT'S IN THERE. AND SHE SAID, "I THOUGHT SHE
WAS NUTS," BUT SOMETHING GOT HOLD OF HER SPIRIT. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES EVEN
THOUGH YOU DON'T LIKE SOMETHING IN YOUR HEAD,
OR IT GOES AGAINST ALL REASON, YOU CAN STILL GET A HOLD
OF SOMETHING WITH YOUR SPIRIT. HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE
THAT YOU SHOULD TALK BACK TO THE DEVIL? ARE YOU--OKAY. WELL, THANK GOD FOR THAT. AT LEAST IF WE'RE GONNA BE NUTS,
WE CAN ALL BE NUTS TOGETHER. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: HALLELUJAH. NOW, I DON'T RECOMMEND DOING
IT OUT IN THE GROCERY STORE. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: YOU KNOW,
AT YOUR RELATIVE'S HOUSE, WHO ALREADY THINK YOU'RE CRAZY. BUT WE ARE IN A WAR,
DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT? THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE,
WE'RE IN A WAR. AND GOD HAS GIVEN US ARMOR,
AND HE'S GIVEN US WEAPONS, AND WE NEED TO USE 'EM. AUDIENCE MEMBER: YES! [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: AND YOUR MOUTH
FULL OF GOD'S WORD-- COME ON, I SAID, YOUR MOUTH
FULL OF GOD'S WORD... [AUDIENCE CHEERING] [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: SCARES THE LIVING
DAYLIGHTS OUT OF THE DEVIL. IT'S A DOUBLE TWO-EDGED SWORD. "LET HIM WHO HAS MY WORD,
SPEAK MY WORD FAITHFULLY." ASK IN FAITH NOT DOUBTING. "IF ANY ONE OF YOU LACKS WISDOM,
YOU SHOULD ASK GOD, WHO GIVES GENEROUSLY TO ALL WITHOUT
FINDING FAULT, AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU."
I LIKE THAT, WITHOUT FINDING FAULT. "BUT WHEN YOU ASK, YOU MUST
BELIEVE AND NOT DOUBT." NOW, REMEMBER, I'M NOT SAYING
THAT DOUBT'S NEVER GONNA COME. I'M JUST SAYING, DON'T GRAB IT,
AND LIVE WITH IT. YOU KNOW, DON'T TAKE IT TO BED
WITH YOU, AND ALL NIGHT LET IT IRRITATE YOU. "THAT PERSON WON'T RECEIVE
ANYTHING FROM THE LORD. THAT PERSON IS DOUBLE MINDED AND
UNSTABLE IN ALL THAT THEY DO." DOUBT PUTS US BETWEEN
BELIEVING AND NOT BELIEVING. BUT REMEMBER, YOU CAN OPEN
YOUR MOUTH AND DO WARFARE WITH THE ENEMY. MARK 11:23 AND 24,
"TRULY I TELL YOU, IF ANYBODY SAYS TO THIS MOUNTAIN,
'GO, AND THROW YOURSELF INTO THE SEA--'"
AND I THINK THAT'S PERTAINING MORE TO LIKE A MOUNTAIN
OF PROBLEMS. "'AND DOES NOT DOUBT IN HIS
HEART BUT BELIEVES THAT WHAT THEY SAY WILL HAPPEN,
IT WILL BE DONE FOR THEM.'" NOW, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN
VERY CAREFULLY HERE. "'THEREFORE, I TELL YOU,
WHATEVER YOU ASK FOR IN PRAYER, BELIEVE THAT
YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT, AND YOU WILL GET IT.'" [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: NOW THAT'S--YOU DON'T
WANNA MISS WHAT THAT SAYING. SEE, IN GOD'S ECONOMY YOU
BELIEVE BEFORE YOU RECEIVE. AND THAT'S THE CHALLENGING
PART BECAUSE YOU'RE BELIEVING THE WORD OF GOD. YOU'RE NOT BELIEVING WHAT YOU
CAN SEE, OR WHAT YOU CAN FEEL, OR EVEN WHAT MAKES SENSE TO YOU. YOU'RE SAYING, "I BELIEVE THAT
GOD IS FAITHFUL, AND I BELIEVE HIS WORD MORE THAN I BELIEVE
HOW I FEEL, OR WHAT I THINK, OR THE LIES OF SATAN."
WHEN YOU GO TO GOD AND ASK FOR ANYTHING, BELIEVE THAT
YOU HAVE RECEIVED IT. SAY, "WELL, WHERE IS IT?"
WELL, IT'S ON ITS WAY IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM. YOUR ANGEL'S ON ITS WAY WITH IT. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: SO, DON'T SAY
SOMETHING NEGATIVE, AND SEND 'EM BACK. AND THEN BELIEVE GOD AGAIN,
AND HE TRIES TO COME AGAIN. AND THEN YOU SAY SOMETHING
NEGATIVE, AND HE HAS TO GO AWAY. YEAH, PARTIALLY I'M HAVING FUN. BUT, YOU KNOW, THE TRUTH IS,
IS WE GOTTA BELIEVE AND STICK WITH IT. HOW MANY OF YOU UNDERSTAND
WHAT I MEAN? YOU KNOW, YOU JUST--
WHAT'S THE SENSE IN PRAYING FOR JOHNNY TO GET OFF DRUGS,
AND THEN GOING TO LUNCH WITH YOUR FRIEND, AND TALKING
THE WHOLE LUNCHTIME ABOUT HOW AFRAID YOU ARE THAT HE'S NEVER
GONNA GET OFF DRUGS? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: YOU JUST
KILLED YOUR PRAYER. WE GOTTA PRAY IT AND SAY IT. WHEN DOUBT COMES TO YOU,
OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND SAY, "I BELIEVE THAT GOD'S WORKING."
YOU KNOW, IF YOU STICK AROUND LONG ENOUGH WITH GOD,
YOU FINALLY GET AROUND TO MAKING SOME DECISIONS,
BECAUSE YOU GET TIRED OF BEING A MISERABLE CHRISTIAN. IT'S ONE THING TO BE A MISERABLE
SINNER, IT'S ANOTHER THING TO BE A MISERABLE CHRISTIAN. AND WE WANNA PLEASE GOD,
BUT ALL OF THESE--THIS DOUBT AND UNBELIEF, AND ALL THE STUFF
THAT COMES AGAINST US, IT GETS HARD FOR US TO HANDLE. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG
AGO IT'S BEEN, BUT I FINALLY-- I MADE A DECISION,
GOD HELPED ME MAKE A DECISION. SEE, I DON'T HAVE TO KNOW--
I DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE OR FEEL, BECAUSE I KNOW. JOB SAID, IN THE MIDST OF THE
WORST ORDEAL WE CAN IMAGINE, "I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES." [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: SEE, I DON'T--I KNOW
THAT JESUS IS COMING BACK. I KNOW THAT. WE KNOW THINGS DOWN IN HERE. AND IF WE WOULD BELIEVE MORE
OF WHAT'S IN HERE, INSTEAD OF WHAT'S UP HERE. AUDIENCE MEMBER: ALL RIGHT,
ALL RIGHT! JOYCE: ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT,
I AGREE WITH YOU TOO, SEE. WHEN GOD SAYS SOMETHING
TO YOU THAT IS UNREASONABLE, DON'T ASK YOUR HEAD
WHAT IT THINKS. YOU HAVE THINGS IN YOUR HEART. YOU NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION
TO WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART, THAN WHAT'S IN YOUR HEAD. ARE YOU WITH ME? AUDIENCE: YES! JOYCE: A PASTOR TOLD
ME ONE TIME THAT HE WENT TO BIBLE COLLEGE,
AND IT WAS A PRETTY BIG, WELL-KNOWN BIBLE COLLEGE,
I WON'T EVEN GET INTO THAT NOW. BUT HE HAD ALWAYS PLANNED
TO COME BACK TO ST. LOUIS AND START A CHURCH. BUT THEY REALLY LIKED HIM THERE. AND WHEN HE GRADUATED FROM
BIBLE COLLEGE, THEY OFFERED HIM A REALLY GOOD POSITION
AT THE CHURCH, WITH A VERY GOOD SALARY AND BENEFITS. SO, THEN HE GOT CONFUSED. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW. SHOULD I STAY HERE? SHOULD I GO TO ST. LOUIS?"
HE WENT TO A FRIEND FOR COUNSELING AND THE FRIEND
SAID, "TURN YOUR MIND OFF, GO SOMEWHERE, GET QUIET,
TURN YOUR MIND OFF, AND LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART."
WELL, HE ENDED UP IN ST. LOUIS WITH $13.00, A WIFE,
AND TWO KIDS, AND ENDED UP BUILDING ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CHURCHES IN ST. LOUIS. AMEN? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: ARE YOU WITH ME WHEN
I SAY, TURN YOUR HEAD OFF, GET QUIET, FIND OUT WHAT'S
IN YOUR HEART? SEE WHAT FITS. YOU KNOW HOW I KNOW
WHAT TO PREACH? AND I PREACH A LOT. SO, IT'S--YOU KNOW, I MEAN,
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON IN A WEEK FOR ME TO PREACH SEVEN
DIFFERENT THINGS. AND I BELIEVE THAT EVERY TIME
I GET UP TO PREACH THAT I'VE GOT THE RIGHT WORD,
AT THE RIGHT TIME, FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE. WELL, HOW DO I KNOW THAT? YOU KNOW, WHEN I GET--I MEAN,
OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT IN MY LIFE,
I'M NOT GETTIN' TOO MUCH THAT'S BRAND NEW. I'VE GOT--I'VE PREACHED
ON EVERYTHING I THINK THAT THE BIBLE--SO, I GET SO TICKLED
WHEN GOD GIVES ME A NEW REVELATION, THAT JUST THRILLS
ME MORE THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: IT'S LIKE, "WHOO! THAT'S REALLY GOOD."
BUT I CAN TELL--I MIGHT GET FOUR OR FIVE OR SIX
MESSAGES OR SERIES OUT OF MY FILE CABINET. AND I'LL GO SIT DOWN WITH 'EM
AND JUST START GOIN' OVER 'EM. AND I CAN TELL, SOMETIMES
I'LL SAY, "NOPE, THAT'S NOT IT. NOPE, THAT'S NOT IT."
I CAN TELL BY FINDING OUT WHAT FITS. SEE, YOU NEED TO--YOU CAN FIND
OUT WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IN MINISTRY BY WHAT FITS,
WHAT FEELS RIGHT, WHAT'S COMFORTABLE. WHEN YOU GO OUT AND BUY
A NEW OUTFIT, YOU DON'T GO GET SOMETHING THAT'S UNCOMFORTABLE. AT LEAST I DON'T,
I USED TO WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. I'D BE UNCOMFORTABLE IN ORDER
TO BE CUTE, UNTIL I... [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: TILL I JUST ABOUT
RUINED MY FEET WEARING THREE AND A HALF INCH
HIGH HEELS UP HERE. DON'T DO THAT NO MORE,
NOW I GET COMFORT SHOES. AND WE JUST NEED TO SLOW
DOWN A LITTLE BIT. AND NOT THINK WE'VE GOTTA
MAKE [SNAPPING]. WHEN YOU'RE BEING PRESSURED
FOR AN ANSWER, THAT'S THE DEVIL, IT'S NOT GOD. GOD WILL GIVE YOU TIME... [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: TO HEAR THE RIGHT
THING FROM HIM. ANNOUNCER: DISCOVER
THE FREEDOM TO TALK TO GOD ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING
WITH TODAY'S OFFER, "THE POWER OF SIMPLE PRAYER."
THROUGH HER PRACTICAL TEACHING, JOYCE HELPS UNRAVEL
THE MYSTERY OF TALKING TO GOD, AND SHARES THE BUILDING BLOCKS
FOR A MORE RICH, AND INTIMATE PRAYER RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. AND WHEN YOU ORDER,
YOU'LL ALSO GET THIS BONUS DIGITAL SERIES
"PRAYERS THAT GET ANSWERED." "THE POWER OF SIMPLE PRAYER,"
AND BONUS SERIES "PRAYERS THAT GET ANSWERED,"
IS AVAILABLE TO ORDER FOR YOUR GIFT OF... OR MORE. CONNECT WITH US RIGHT NOW,
VISIT ONLINE AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG OR CALL... [TAPE REWINDING] GINGER: SO,
YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO A LOVE LIFE
WOMEN'S CONFERENCE? WHAT? WELL, THIS IS THE ONE. THIS IS THE 40th
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, AND IT IS GOING
TO BE BIG. AND WE'RE BACK
IN ST. LOUIS WHERE JOYCE BEGAN IT ALL. REGISTER NOW
AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG. JOYCE: WELL, IF YOU HAD
TO DESCRIBE THE CURRENT STATE OF THE WORLD,
WHAT WORDS COME TO MIND? DIVISION,
STRIFE, ANGER. YET, IN SPITE
OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE, THE LOVE OF GOD HAS THE POWER
TO CHANGE PEOPLE'S HEARTS. THAT'S WHY I'M SO EXCITED
ABOUT MY LATEST BOOK, "LOVING PEOPLE
WHO ARE HARD TO LOVE." THIS BOOK WILL TEACH YOU
HOW TO FIND AND GIVE HOPE TO A WORLD IN DESPERATE
NEED OF GOD'S LOVE. ANNOUNCER:
"LOVING PEOPLE WHO ARE HARD
TO LOVE," ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY. ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU HAVE
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