ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM
HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES. JOYCE: IF YOU ARE IN A MESS
RIGHT NOW, AND YOU JUST THINK, "THIS IS GONNA COME TO AN END,
AND SOMETHING GOOD IS GONNA HAPPEN TO ME. I'M NOT GONNA BE MISERABLE
MY WHOLE LIFE. I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING GOOD. I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING GREAT. I'M GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THIS WORLD, AND I REFUSE TO BE UNHAPPY
THE REST OF MY LIFE." [MUSIC] JOYCE: SO, I'M GONNA
TALK TO YOU ABOUT SEVEN FEARS TO AVOID. AUDIENCE: SKY DIVING? JOYCE: YEAH, SKY DIVE. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: AND I WONDER HOW
MANY I'LL GET THROUGH? BUT WE'LL SEE HOW WELL WE DO. THE FEAR OF REJECTION. WELL, BECAUSE I'D BEEN REJECTED
AS A CHILD, I MEAN I--YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OF WHAT MY DAD
WAS DOIN' TO ME, I WAS A LITTLE BIT--HAD A LITTLE BIT
OF A OFF PERSONALITY. AND I COULDN'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS. MY DAD DIDN'T WANT
ME TO HAVE ANY FRIENDS. AND SO, I WAS ALWAYS HAVING
TO MAKE UP EXCUSES AT SCHOOL FOR WHY I COULDN'T DO THIS,
AND WHY I COULDN'T DO THAT, WHY I COULDN'T
DO SOMETHING ELSE. AND THEN THE FIRST GUY
I MARRIED; HE RAN AROUND WITH ALL THESE OTHER WOMEN. AND A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT
TIMES HE WOULD JUST LEAVE ME. ONE TIME WHEN I WAS 18, WE WENT
TO ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO. HE WAS A--TOOK A JOB WHERE HE'D
DRIVE CARS TO OTHER PLACES, AND THEY'D PAY YOU FOR THAT. AND THEN HE WOULD WORK
AT A USED CAR LOT THERE. WELL, ONE NIGHT HE JUST
DIDN'T COME HOME. AND HE JUST LEFT ME
IN ALBUQUERQUE, 18 YEARS OLD, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IN THE WORLD
WAS GOIN' ON. HE DID IT AGAIN IN OAKLAND,
CALIFORNIA. AND SO, I MEAN--HERE I'M YOUNG,
I'M 18, 19 YEARS OLD. AND, YOU KNOW, DIDN'T REALLY
HAVE--I DIDN'T WANNA CALL MY PARENTS AND ASK FOR HELP,
'CAUSE I KNEW WHAT ASKING HELP FROM MY DAD WOULD AMOUNT TO. AND SO, I DIDN'T WANNA DO THAT. TOWARD THE END OF THAT MARRIAGE,
WELL, I HAD ONE MISCARRIAGE, BUT THEN I GOT PREGNANT,
HAD A BABY THAT I NAMED OF ALL THINGS, DAVID. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: DON'T EVER TRY TO TELL
ME GOD DON'T HAVE A PLAN. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: AMEN? SO, SURE ENOUGH, I MET DAVE,
WHEN DAVID WAS NOT QUITE A YEAR OLD, AND YOU--MAYBE
YOU'VE HEARD THIS STORY, BUT IT'S STILL WORTH
SAYING ANYWAY. DAVE PULLED UP IN FRONT
OF MY MOM AND DAD'S HOUSE WHERE I WAS WASHING MY MOTHER'S
CAR IN SHORT SHORTS. AND HE SAID, "HEY..." [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: "WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED
WASHING THAT CAR, YOU WANNA WASH MINE?"
I SAID, "BUDDY, IF YOU WANT YOUR CAR WASHED, WASH IT YOURSELF." [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: AND HE SAID,
"THE THING THAT WENT OFF IN HIM IS,
'THAT'S THE GIRL FOR ME!'" [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: SO, I CAN JUST TELL
YOU HE WAS EITHER HEARING FROM GOD, OR HE WAS NUTS,
ONE OF THE TWO. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: SO, HE'D BEEN
PRAYING FOR A WIFE. HE WAS 26, BORN AGAIN,
SPIRIT-FILLED, GREAT GUY. HE'D BEEN PRAYING FOR A WIFE,
AND HE SAID, "MAKE IT SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS HELP." [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: WELL, LET ME ASSURE
YOU, HE GOT HIS PRAYER ANSWERED. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: BECAUSE WE'D BEEN
MARRIED THREE WEEKS, AND HE LOOKED AT ME AND SAID,
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?" [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: WELL, I DIDN'T THINK
ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH ME, I THOUGHT EVERYBODY
ELSE HAD A PROBLEM. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: SO, HE HAD TO DEAL
WITH ALL THIS REJECTION, FEAR OF REJECTION, THAT I HAD. AND SO, WHEN PEOPLE ARE AFRAID
OF REJECTION, THEY GET ALL THESE OTHER PROBLEMS THAT
GO ALONG WITH IT. IT'S LIKE FIRST OF ALL,
THEY'RE VERY EASILY OFFENDED, VERY TOUCHY. IF YOU DON'T JUST COMPLIMENT
'EM, AND MAKE ON OVER 'EM ALL THE TIME, THEY FEEL REJECTED,
EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT REALLY BEING REJECTED. YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN? IF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE--WE HAD
THIS ONE GIRL THAT CAME TO THE WEEKLY MEETINGS THAT
I HAD AT A CHURCH I WENT TO YEARS AGO. AND SOMEBODY TOLD ME THAT
HER FEELINGS WERE HURT, BECAUSE I NEVER SPOKE
TO HER AFTER THE MEETINGS. AND I SAID TO GOD, "I DON'T EVER
SEE HER AFTER THE MEETINGS. SO, IF YOU WANT ME TALKIN'
TO HER, THEN SHOW HER TO ME." AND GOD SPOKE IN MY HEART
AND HE SAID, "I HIDE HER FROM YOU, BECAUSE YOU SPEAKING
TO HER IS NOT WHAT SHE NEEDS. SHE NEEDS TO GET HER WORTH
AND VALUE OUT OF ME, NOT YOU TALKING TO HER."
SO, SEE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE A FEAR OF REJECTION, THEY REALLY LIKE
IT WHEN SOMEBODY THEY THINK IS IMPORTANT MAKES ON OVER THEM. BUT GOD WANTS YOU TO GET FREE
OF THAT FEAR OF REJECTION. NOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A FEAR
OF REJECTION, YOU QUICKLY BECOME A PEOPLE PLEASER. I DON'T SUPPOSE WE HAVE ANY
OF THOSE HERE TODAY, DO WE? THE MOST EMPOWERING WORD
FOR A PEOPLE PLEASER IS "NO." "NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT I BELIEVE
GOD WANTS ME TO DO." "NO, I'M SORRY, I WOULD LOVE
TO HELP YOU WITH THAT, BUT I JUST CAN'T DO IT TODAY,
I'VE ALREADY GOT ANOTHER COMMITMENT."
ANYBODY WHO REALLY LOVES YOU, OR WHO IS REALLY A FRIEND,
IS NOT GONNA TRY TO CONTROL YOU. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: AND IF GOD IS TELLING
YOU "NO," THEY SHOULD WANT YOU TO SAY, "NO," TO THEM. I HAVE A FRIEND THAT PASTORS
A CHURCH IN MIAMI, AND HE'S ONE OF THESE GUYS THAT'S ALWAYS
ASKING ME TO DO HIM A FAVOR. "WILL YOU FORWARD MY BOOK? WILL YOU THIS, WILL YOU THAT,
WILL YOU SOMETHING ELSE?" AND SO, I TOLD HIM, I MEAN,
WE'RE PRETTY GOOD FRIENDS. I SAID, "RICH, I GOT A JOB
OF MY OWN, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T ALWAYS BE DOING ALL THIS."
HE SAID, "I'LL TELL YOU WHAT," HE SAID, "I'LL ASK YOU FOR
ANYTHING, BUT I'LL NEVER GET MAD AT YOU FOR
TELLING ME, 'NO.'" WELL, I'M DOWN WITH THAT,
THAT'S GOOD. I DON'T CARE. BUT HOW MANY OF YOU AGREE
THAT IF SOMEBODY IS REALLY YOUR FRIEND AND THEY REALLY
LOVED YOU, THEN THEY'RE NOT GONNA GET MAD IF YOU
HAVE TO TELL THEM, "NO." [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: THEY'RE NOT GONNA TRY
TO CONTROL AND MANIPULATE YOU. AND IF YOU WANNA BE FREE
FROM THIS PEOPLE PLEASING, THEN YOU HAVE TO LEARN
HOW TO SAY, "NO." WHEN GOD SAYS, "NO,"
YOU SAY, "NO." DON'T SAY, "YES," WHEN YOUR
HEART IS SCREAMING, "NO." HOW MANY OF YOU DO THINGS
THAT YOU DO NOT WANNA DO? AND DON'T EVEN BELIEVE GOD
WANTS YOU TO DO, JUST TO KEEP SOMEBODY ELSE FROM GETTIN' MAD. WELL, WHAT DO YOU SAY
WE BURY THAT TODAY? AMEN? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: NOW, ANY OF THESE
THINGS, YOU KNOW, I TALK ABOUT THIS LIKE IT'S EASY,
BUT IT'S NOT. I MEAN, THIS IS SOMETHING YOU'RE
GONNA HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TO DO, AND YOU MAY FEEL AFRAID,
AND YOU MAY FEEL, FEEL, FEEL, FEEL, FEEL. AND MAYBE THEY WON'T
LIKE YOU ANYMORE. WELL, IF THEY DON'T, BYE-BYE
YOU DIDN'T NEED 'EM ANYWAY. AMEN? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: REJECTION JUST MAKES
US--THAT FEAR OF REJECTION MAKES US DO ALL KINDS
OF WEIRD THINGS. IN GALATIANS 1:10, PAUL SAID,
"IF I WERE TRYING TO BE POPULAR WITH PEOPLE, I WOULD NOT NOW
BE AN APOSTLE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST."
DO YOU KNOW THAT IF YOU PUT THIS TRYING TO PLEASE PEOPLE,
IN FRONT OF TRYING TO PLEASE GOD, YOU'LL END UP NOT
FULFILLING YOUR DESTINY? BECAUSE THE DEVIL WILL ALWAYS
PROVIDE SOMEBODY THAT WILL TRY TO DRAG YOU IN A DIFFERENT
DIRECTION THAN WHAT GOD'S TRYING TO GET YOU TO GO IN. I WANT YOU TO BE BOLD ENOUGH
TO FOLLOW GOD, IF EVERYBODY GETS MAD AT YOU. AND I CAN TELL YOU, WHEN GOD
CALLED ME TO DO WHAT I'M DOING, I LOST FRIENDS, FAMILY
MEMBERS TURNED AGAINST US. I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE TALKING
ABOUT ME, GOSSIPING ABOUT ME. AND I STILL THANK GOD TO THIS
DAY THAT SOMEHOW, HE GAVE ME THE GRACE AND THE COURAGE
TO GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT HE WAS SHOWING ME TO DO, INSTEAD
OF FOLLOWING THOSE PEOPLE. I WONDER WHERE I WOULD BE NOW. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: IT SURE WOULDN'T
BE HERE. I'D BE SOMEWHERE MISERABLE
AND UNHAPPY, AND THEY WOULDN'T BE FRIENDS
OF MINE ANYMORE ANYWAY. AMEN? I WATCHED WHAT BEING A PEOPLE
PLEASER DID TO MY MOTHER. I WATCHED WHAT THE FEAR
OF MAN DID TO HER. SHE BASICALLY JUST
NEVER HAD A LIFE. SHE LIVED UNTIL SHE WAS JUST
A FEW DAYS AWAY FROM BEING 90, BUT SHE NEVER REALLY HAD A LIFE. EVERYTHING WAS FEAR, FEAR,
FEAR, FEAR, AND TIPTOEING AROUND TRYING TO KEEP
MY DAD FROM GETTIN' MAD. AND I DID THAT TOO, UNTIL
I LEFT HOME AT EIGHTEEN. I FINALLY FIGURED OUT NOBODY
WAS GONNA HELP ME. AND SO, I HAD ASKED FROM
DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE FAMILY TO HELP ME, AND EVEN THEY KNEW
WHAT MY DAD WAS DOING TO ME. BUT BACK THEN SEXUAL ABUSE
WAS JUST LIKE NOBODY TALKED ABOUT THAT, NOBODY EVEN
WANTED TO THINK ABOUT THAT, AND ESPECIALLY NOT IF IT WAS
INCEST IN A FAMILY. AND SO, THEY JUST DIDN'T
WANNA GET INVOLVED, DIDN'T WANNA GET INVOLVED. EVEN ONE TIME, THE POLICE
CAUGHT MY DAD ABUSING ME IN THE BACK OF A CAR,
AND I THOUGHT, "FINALLY, I'M GONNA GET SOME HELP."
THE POLICEMAN BARGAINED WITH MY DAD AND SAID, "I WON'T
TAKE YOU TO JAIL, IF YOU LET ME HAVE HER FOR A WHILE."
WELL, THANK GOD, HE GOT A CALL AND HAD TO LEAVE. SO, BUT AFTER A FEW EXPERIENCES
LIKE THAT I THOUGHT, "NOBODY'S GONNA HELP ME."
SO, I JUST MADE A DECISION, "I AM GONNA SURVIVE THIS." [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: "I'M GONNA GET
THROUGH THIS." AND GOD ONLY KNOWS WHY
I THOUGHT THIS, THERE WAS NO REASON IN THE NATURAL
TO THINK IT, BUT I WOULD LAY IN BED AT NIGHT AND THINK,
"SOMEDAY I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING GREAT." [AUDIENCE CHEERING] JOYCE: AND I THINK GOD
WANTS YOU TO THINK THAT TOO. IF YOU ARE IN A MESS RIGHT NOW,
AND YOU JUST THINK THIS IS GONNA COME TO AN END,
AND SOMETHING GOOD IS GONNA HAPPEN TO ME. I'M NOT GONNA BE MISERABLE
MY WHOLE LIFE. I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING GOOD. I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING GREAT. I'M GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IN THIS WORLD. AND I REFUSE TO BE UNHAPPY
THE REST OF MY LIFE. AMEN? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: IF YOU FEAR REJECTION,
YOU WILL BEHAVE IN A MANNER THAT WILL ACTUALLY MAKE
PEOPLE REJECT YOU. PEOPLE THAT ARE AFRAID
OF REJECTION--LIKE MY MOTHER WAS AFRAID OF REJECTION,
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DO IS, THEY'RE SO AFRAID
NOBODY IS EVER GONNA WANT THEM, THAT IF ANYBODY EVER DOES
PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THEM, THEY SMOTHER 'EM. HAVE YOU EVER HAD
A SMOTHERER IN YOUR LIFE? SOMEBODY WHO JUST LIKE--UGH! THEY WERE JUST THERE EVERY
TIME YOU TURNED AROUND. AND SO, PEOPLE THAT ARE--
THAT FEAR REJECTION, DO ODD THINGS. BE CONFIDENT AND TRUST GOD--
NOW, I'M GETTIN' READY TO SAY SOMETHING,
"FOR FAVOR WITH PEOPLE." I WONDER HOW MANY OF YOU
EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS? OR DO YOU EVER PRAY FOR FAVOR,
OR ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU FAVOR? I NEVER COME OUT ON THIS STAGE
WITHOUT ASKING GOD TO GIVE ME FAVOR WITH YOU,
BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TIME TO STAND UP HERE AND TRY
TO GET YOU TO LIKE ME, SO, I DEPEND ON GOD TO DO THAT. AMEN? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: YOU SHOULD PRAY
FOR FAVOR EVERY DAY, "GOD, GIVE ME FAVOR TODAY,
EVERYWHERE THAT I GO." WELL, WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE? WELL, I MEAN, IT'S JUST ALL
KINDS OF COOL THINGS HAPPEN. I MEAN, YOU'LL GET
IN A RESTAURANT THAT THEY SAY IS FULL AND THERE'S
NO SEATS LEFT, YEAH, FRONT ROW SEAT,
GOOD PARKING PLACE. AMEN? SOMEBODY WAITING ON YOU
IN A STORE WILL ASK YOU, "DO YOU HAVE THE 30% OFF COUPON
THAT WAS IN THE PAPER?" "NO, I DIDN'T SEE IT."
"WELL, HERE I THINK I'VE GOT ONE HERE SOMEWHERE,
LET ME GIVE YOU ONE." WHEN YOU--WHEN GOD GIVES
YOU FAVOR, PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHETHER THEY WANT TO OR NOT. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: HOW MANY OF YOU NEVER
THOUGHT ABOUT PRAYING FOR FAVOR? SEE, THAT'S WAY TOO MANY,
I'M GLAD I'M HERE TODAY. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: START PRAYING
FOR FAVOR. IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO MAKE
PEOPLE LIKE YOU. YOU ARE ONLY RESPONSIBLE
TO BE YOUR WONDERFUL, UNIQUE, AMAZING, SELF. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: PAUL WAS NOT CONCERNED
WITH WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT. HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD LOVE
TO BE FREE ENOUGH TO NOT CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK OF YOU? WHOO, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NEVER
FREE UNTIL YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO IMPRESS ANYBODY. I'M GONNA SAY THAT AGAIN,
YOU'RE NEVER FREE UNTIL YOU NO LONGER FEEL YOU HAVE
TO IMPRESS ANYBODY. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: IN 1 CORINTHIANS 4:2-4
IT SAYS, "NOW IT IS REQUIRED THAT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
GIVEN A TRUST MUST PROVE THEMSELVES FAITHFUL. I CARE VERY LITTLE," PAUL SAID,
"IF I'M JUDGED BY YOU OR BY ANY OTHER HUMAN COURT; INDEED,
I DO NOT EVEN JUDGE MYSELF. MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR,
BUT THAT DOESN'T MAKE ME INNOCENT. IT'S THE LORD WHO JUDGES ME."
IN OTHER WORDS, PAUL SAID, "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK. I'M DOING THE BEST I CAN."
AND ONE PLACE PAUL SAID, "LEAVE ME ALONE, I BEAR
IN MY BODY THE MARKS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST."
AND I USED TO, YOU KNOW, BE CONCERNED, "OH, THIS GROUP
DIDN'T LIKE ME, AND THIS GROUP DIDN'T LIKE--WELL, I HEARD
THEY WERE TALKING, WELL, THEY THINK YOU'RE THIS, THEY THINK
YOU'RE THAT," YOU KNOW. AND I'M LIKE, I FINALLY GOT
TO THE POINT, I DON'T CARE, I JUST DON'T CARE. 'CAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? I MADE IT. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: I MADE IT. AND I DON'T CARE. I'M NOT GONNA LIVE MY LIFE--
SURE WE ALL WANT PEOPLE TO LIKE US, BUT 10% OF PEOPLE
ARE NOT GONNA LIKE YOU, I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO. AND SO, YOU MIGHT AS WELL
BE FREE, BE YOURSELF. C'MON, THIS IS GOOD
FOR YOU TODAY. THIS IS LIKE DESSERT. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: JUST, YOU KNOW,
JUST FOR PRACTICE, JUST--I MEAN, NOT TO PICK
ON ANYBODY, BUT TURN TO SOMEBODY, WHETHER YOU
KNOW 'EM OR NOT AND SAY, "I DON'T CARE WHAT
YOU THINK OF ME." [AUDIENCE RESPONDS] [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: WELL, THAT WASN'T
THAT FUNNY. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: OKAY, LUKE 10:10
AND 11 AND VERSE 16, "'WHEN YOU ENTER A TOWN,'
JESUS TOLD THE DISCIPLES, 'AND ARE NOT WELCOMED, GO OUT
INTO THE STREETS AND SAY, "EVEN THE DUST OF YOUR TOWN
WE WIPE OFF OF OUR FEET AS A WARNING TO YOU. YET BE SURE OF THIS:
THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR YOU."'
THEN JESUS SAID, 'WHOEVER LISTENS TO YOU LISTENS TO ME;
WHOEVER REJECTS YOU REJECTS ME; AND WHOEVER REJECTS ME REJECTS
HIM WHO SENT ME.'" SO, COOL THING TO REMEMBER:
WHEN ANYBODY MISTREATS YOU, GOD TAKES IT PERSONALLY. [AUDIENCE CHEERING] JOYCE: AND YOU KEEP
A GOOD ATTITUDE AND GOD'LL PAY YOU BACK. ONE PERSON MIGHT REJECT YOU,
BUT HE'LL GIVE YOU 10 THAT LOVE YOU TO REPLACE THAT. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: I REMEMBER TIMES
IN MY LIFE WHEN I FELT LIKE NOBODY LIKED ME. I COULDN'T EVEN FIND ANYBODY
TO GO TO LUNCH WITH. I BET I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY
TROUBLE NOW. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: AND I DON'T SAY
THAT IN A SMART ALECK WAY. EVERYTHING THAT--EVERY LITTLE
BIT OF FAVOR, EVERY LITTLE THING THAT GOD LETS ME DO,
IT'S TO HIS HONOR AND HIS GLORY. I DON'T DESERVE ANY OF IT. BUT I'M TRYING TO TEACH
YOU A LESSON THAT IT'S CHALLENGING, IT'S HARD. I'VE PROBABLY CRIED A SWIMMING
POOL FULL OF TEARS OVER THESE 45 YEARS. AND DEAR GOD, IN THE BEGINNING
I WANTED TO GIVE UP SO OFTEN, IT WAS PITIFUL. I'M PAST ALL THAT NOW. BUT IT WAS NOT EASY TO GET
OVER WHAT I WENT THROUGH AND GET TO THIS POINT. BUT MAN, DO I LOVE IT NOW. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: LORD! SEE, I KNOW, AND I DON'T MEAN
THIS TO SOUND NEGATIVE EITHER BUT I'M NOT DUMB,
I'M NOT GONNA LIVE FOREVER. AND SO, I DON'T KNOW,
I'LL BE 79 IN JUNE AND SO, I'LL-- [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: IT'S KIND OF CREEPY
TO THINK THAT IN A YEAR I'LL BE 80. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: 'CAUSE I SURE
DON'T FEEL THAT OLD. [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: I JUST WANNA TELL YOU,
NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU THINK IT IS TO GO THROUGH THINGS,
PLEASE GO THROUGH AND GET ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT. [AUDIENCE CHEERING] JOYCE: REMEMBER SOMETHING
GOOD'S GONNA HAPPEN TO YOU. THERE'S ANOTHER SCRIPTURE
REGARDING THIS SAME SITUATION HERE, WHERE JESUS SAID,
"IF THEY REJECT YOU, SHAKE IT OFF."
AND THAT'S WHAT SOME OF YOU NEED TO DO,
JUST SHAKE IT OFF. YOU HEAR SOMEBODY'S BEEN
TALKING ABOUT YOU, JUST SHAKE IT OFF. SAY OUT LOUD, "YOU MAY NOT
LIKE ME, BUT GOD LOVES ME." ALL RIGHT. JESUS WAS CALLED A STONE,
A ROCK, HE'S OUR ROCK. WHY A ROCK? BECAUSE A ROCK DOESN'T MOVE. WE CAN COUNT ON HIM ALWAYS
BEING THE SAME. AND HE WAS REJECTED,
AND THE BIBLE SAYS IN PSALM 118, "THE STONE WHICH
THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE."
SO, IF PEOPLE REJECT YOU AND YOU LOVE THEM ANYWAY--
I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THIS FALL. I HAVE A BOOK COMING OUT THIS
FALL CALLED "LOVING PEOPLE THAT ARE HARD TO LOVE."
AUDIENCE: WHOO! JOYCE: WHOO, BUDDY! IS THAT GONNA--
IS THAT ONE GONNA GET YOU? I DON'T--THAT'S--YOU BETTER
HAVE EATEN YOUR WHEATIES WHEN YOU READ THAT. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: BUT JESUS SAID,
"WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO IF YOU LOVE PEOPLE THAT ONLY LOVE YOU,
YOU'RE NO DIFFERENT THAN AN UNBELIEVER. BUT I TELL YOU LOVE
YOUR ENEMIES." LOVE THOSE THAT ABUSE
YOU AND MISUSE YOU. AND LOVE IS NOT FEELING
GOOEY ABOUT SOMEBODY, IT'S HOW YOU TREAT 'EM. SOME PEOPLE I HAVE TO LOVE
FROM A DISTANCE, BUT I'M DETERMINED TO LOVE 'EM. AND BY THE WAY, GOD GETS
REJECTED ALL THE TIME, SO YOU'RE IN GOOD COMPANY. I THOUGHT ABOUT THAT ONE DAY,
"I DON'T KNOW WHY IT BOTHERS ME SO MUCH WHEN PEOPLE
REJECT ME, GOD GETS REJECTED EVERY DAY."
YOU EVER THINK ABOUT THAT? NOBODY COULD BE ANY BETTER
THAN HIM, AND EVEN HE CAN'T HAVE EVERYBODY LOVE HIM. NUMBER THREE, WHOO! I'M SO PROUD OF MYSELF. [AUDIENCE LAUGHING] JOYCE: THE FEAR THAT
THINGS WILL NEVER CHANGE. HMM. THE NEVER LIE, THE DEVIL
LOVES THE NEVER LIE. YOU WILL NEVER CHANGE. ENEMY EVER TELL YOU THAT? YOU'RE STUCK WITH ONE HABIT;
IT SEEMS LIKE NO MATTER WHAT YOU JUST CAN'T SEEM
TO GET OVER IT. YOU TRY, AND TRY, AND TRY,
AND MAYBE YOU'LL GET BETTER FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND THEN LO AND BEHOLD,
YOU DO THE SAME DUMB THING ALL OVER AGAIN. ANYBODY LIKE THAT? OKAY. DO YOU KNOW THE BIBLE ACTUALLY
SAYS THAT GOD LEAVES A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WEAKNESS IN EACH
ONE OF US, SO WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON HIM? YOU'LL NEVER HAVE A PERFECT
PERFORMANCE, BUT YOU CAN BE PERFECT IN HEART. AMEN? PAUL HAD THAT THORN
IN THE FLESH. PEOPLE SPEND THEIR TIME ARGUING
ABOUT WHAT THE THORN WAS. I DON'T CARE, IT WAS SOMETHING
HE DIDN'T LIKE. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS
A SICKNESS OR WHAT IT WAS. LIKE I SAID, IT DOESN'T MATTER. ALL I KNOW IS THAT HE ASKED
GOD THREE TIMES TO TAKE IT AWAY, AND GOD SAID, "NO."
"MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU."
AND SO, PAUL SAID, I'M EXCITED WHEN I'M WEAK, BECAUSE WHEN
I'M WEAK IS WHEN I'M REALLY STRONG, BECAUSE THEN GOD
WORKS THROUGH MY WEAKNESSES. GOD WORKS THROUGH
YOUR WEAKNESSES TO SHOW HIMSELF STRONG. PHILIPPIANS 1:6 SAYS, "HE THAT
HATH BEGUN A GOOD THING IN US WILL COMPLETE
IT AND BRING IT TO ITS FINISH." [AUDIENCE CHEERING] JOYCE: GOD'S NOT GONNA
LEAVE YOU HALFWAY DONE SOMEWHERE. THE NEVER LIE. "YOUR FAMILY WILL NEVER CHANGE."
"YOUR HUSBAND WILL NEVER CHANGE."
"YOUR WIFE WILL NEVER CHANGE." "YOUR KIDS WILL NEVER CHANGE."
WHY DON'T YOU JUST LEARN TO TELL THE DEVIL TO SHUT UP? NEVER'S AN AWFULLY LONG TIME. I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I'VE SEEN
PEOPLE CHANGE THAT--MAN! MY DAD FINALLY GOT SAVED
WHEN HE WAS 80. I PRAYED FOR HIM FOR I DON'T
KNOW HOW MANY YEARS. AND DAVE AND I GOT TO LEAD
HIM TO THE LORD, AND HE ASKED US TO BAPTIZE HIM. YOU THINK THAT WASN'T
A VICTORY DAY FOR ME? WHOO! [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] JOYCE: BUT IT TOOK LOVING
SOMEBODY THAT I DIDN'T FEEL LOVING TOWARD. BUT WE TREATED MY PARENTS GOOD. WE TOOK CARE OF THEM
WHEN THEY WERE OLD. COST A LOT OF MONEY TO KEEP THEM
IN GOOD, ASSISTED LIVING, AND I WON'T GET INTO ALL THAT. BUT BEING GOOD TO PEOPLE
THAT HAVE TREATED YOU LOUSY IS SOMETHING
THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND. GOES BEYOND THEIR UNDERSTANDING. AND IT WAS PROBABLY ONE
OF THE MOST POWERFUL THINGS THAT GOD EVER GAVE
ME THE COURAGE TO DO. MY DAD CHANGED. AND I'M TELLING YOU,
HE ALWAYS HAD A FILTHY MOUTH, AND FROM THE DAY HE WAS
BORN AGAIN I NEVER HEARD HIM CUSS AGAIN. HE CHANGED. DON'T LET THE DEVIL TELL YOU
THAT YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS WILL NEVER CHANGE. AND WHATEVER YOU DO,
DON'T BE THE ONE THAT TRIES TO CHANGE 'EM. I CAN SAVE YOU TIME,
IT WON'T WORK. I TRIED A LONG TIME. THE MORE YOU TRY TO CHANGE
SOMEBODY, THE MORE RESISTANT THEY GET. YOU KEEP IT UP LONG ENOUGH,
THEY'RE GONNA HATE YOU. PRAY FOR THEM INSTEAD. I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU HAVE
ON THE POTTER'S WHEEL, BUT WHOEVER IT IS, YOU NEED
TO GO HOME AND LET HIM OFF, BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GONNA
REWORK 'EM. AMEN? [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING] 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... ANNOUNCER: SOME PEOPLE
JUST PUSH YOUR BUTTONS. AND NO MATTER HOW HARD
YOU TRY TO LOVE THEM, THEY TAKE YOU FROM ZERO
TO ON EDGE IN NO TIME FLAT. SO, HOW DO YOU SEE
THE GOOD IN PEOPLE, WHEN IT'S REALLY HARD TO FIND? JOYCE MEYER WANTS TO SHOW YOU
IN HER NEW BOOK "LOVING PEOPLE WHO ARE HARD TO LOVE."
A STEP-BY-STEP SURVIVAL GUIDE TO HELP YOU NAVIGATE THOSE
DIFFICULT RELATIONSHIPS, AND A WORLD IN NEED
OF GOD'S LOVE. LOVING THAT DIFFICULT PERSON
MAY NOT CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT IT COULD CHANGE YOURS,
AND THEIRS. "LOVING PEOPLE WHO
ARE HARD TO LOVE." ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY. ANNOUNCER: WATCH EPISODES
OF, "ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE," READ DAILY DEVOTIONALS,
FOLLOW A BIBLE STUDY PLAN WITH THE NEW
JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES APP. SEARCH JOYCE MEYER IN YOUR
APP STORE, AND DOWNLOAD THE NEW JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
APP TODAY. JOYCE: WELL LADIES,
IT'S FINALLY HERE! OUR 40th ANNIVERSARY
OF LOVE LIFE WOMEN'S CONFERENCE IS THIS WEEK,
AND IT'S STILL NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN US. WE'RE BACK IN PERSON
IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, THURSDAY, THE 22nd THROUGH
SATURDAY, THE 24th. AND IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT HERE,
YOU CAN STREAM THE ENTIRE CONFERENCE ONLINE FROM
WHEREVER YOU ARE. WE HAVE MANY SPECIAL GUESTS,
INCLUDING JOEL OSTEEN, CHRISTINE CAINE,
AND LISA HARPER. PLUS INSPIRING WORSHIP ARTIST'S
CHRIS TOMLIN, TAUREN WELLS, PHIL WICKHAM, AND BRANDON LAKE. YOU DON'T WANNA MISS THIS. AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT
TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE OUR MONDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
AND START AGAIN ON MONDAY LIVES. AND SOMETIMES WE ALL GET KIND
OF TIRED OF JUST DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AND OVER. AND I THINK SOME OF YOU
REALLY NEED A BREAK. YOU NEED TO JUST COME OUT
AND GET OUT FROM UNDER WHAT YOU NORMALLY DO AND COME
AND GET IN GOD'S PRESENCE AND LET HIM SPEAK
A FRESH WORD TO YOU, A WORD IN DUE SEASON. SO, REGISTER TODAY
BY GOING TO OUR WEBSITE JOYCEMEYER.ORG/LOVELIFE. AND I REALLY PRAY THAT
I'LL SEE YOU THERE. 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.
