ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO FEEL LIKE YOU
CAN'T GO ON ONE MORE DAY, BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, WHEN
YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP THE MOST THAT'S WHEN YOUR BREAKTHROUGH IS
THE CLOSEST.
SO, I'M JUST ENCOURAGING YOU, DON'T YOU QUIT AND DON'T YOU
GIVE UP.
BECAUSE GOD HAS GOT A GOOD PLAN FOR YOU.
HE'S ON YOUR SIDE AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE--ACTUALLY YOU'VE
ALREADY GOT THE VICTORY, YOU'RE JUST WALKING
TOWARD IT RIGHT NOW.
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: HEY, THERE, WELCOME TO "EVERYDAY ANSWERS."
WELL, IT'S A BASIC HUMAN NEED.
WE ALL WANT SOMEONE TO CARE FOR US, SOMEONE THAT WE CAN DEPEND
ON BECAUSE WE'RE JUST NOT MEANT TO BE ALONE.
OUR QUESTION TODAY HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THAT.
THIS COMES FROM ERIC AND HE SAYS, "DOES GOD KNOW WHAT I'M
GOING THROUGH, DOES HE HAVE PLANS FOR ME OR NOT?"
THAT'S SUCH AN HONEST QUESTION, ERIC AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU SHARING THAT WITH US AND SO TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO TACKLE
THAT QUESTION.
THERE'S A SCRIPTURE THAT YOU MAY KNOW.
IT SAYS, "THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF
DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO EVIL FOR YOU ARE WITH ME.
YOUR ROD AND YOUR STAFF, THEY COMFORT ME."
THAT VERSE IS ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN VERSES IN THE BIBLE.
IT'S CONTAINED IN ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN PASSAGES
IN GOD'S WORD, THE 23RD PSALM.
AND TODAY, JOYCE BREAKS DOWN THAT PSALM INTO HOW IT
SO BEAUTIFULLY APPLIES TO OUR LIVES.
AND DEFINITELY ANSWERS THAT QUESTION.
IN FACT, THERE'S SO MUCH GREATNESS IN THAT SHORT CHAPTER
OF THE BIBLE THAT JOYCE TOOK FOUR SESSIONS IN ONE WEEKEND
TO TEACH ON IT.
SO, TODAY WE WILL SHARE KEY MOMENTS FROM THOSE TEACHINGS AS
SHE ANSWERS THIS BIG QUESTION: CAN I DEPEND ON GOD?
JOYCE: "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, I SHALL NOT WANT."
SHEEP AND SHEPHERDS.
ANALOGIES IN THE BIBLE.
JESUS IS REFERRED TO AS THE SHEPHERD AND WE ARE REFERRED
TO AS HIS SHEEP.
A CHILD PROUDLY SAYS, "THIS IS MY DAD."
AND PUTS AN EMPHASIS ON, "MY DAD."
AND I BELIEVE WHEN DAVID WROTE THIS PSALM, HE WOULD HAVE SAID
IT MORE LIKE, "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD."
AND I WANT TONIGHT--REALLY MY GOAL IN TONIGHT'S TEACHING IS
FOR YOU TO COME INTO A PLACE OF FEELING SAFE.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO FEEL SAFE AND ESPECIALLY WOMEN WANT TO FEEL
SAFE, THEY WANT TO FEEL TAKEN CARE OF.
THAT'S JUST IN OUR NATURE TO WANT TO FEEL SAFE.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE CARED FOR, THAT GOD HAS A PLAN
FOR YOUR LIFE, THAT HE'S NOT MAD AT YOU, THAT HE KNEW EVERYTHING
THAT YOU WERE GOING TO DO WRONG BEFORE YOU EVER EVEN CAME INTO
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
AND HE ALREADY IN HIS PROVIDENTIAL CARE PROVIDED
FOR ALL OF IT.
GOD'S GOT YOU COVERED.
AMEN?
GOD'S GOT YOUR BACK.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD,"
I BELIEVE DAVID SAID.
I DON'T WANT US JUST TO THINK ABOUT A GOD WAY OFF IN THE SKY
SOMEWHERE BUT HE WANTS TO HAVE A PERSONAL INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP
WITH US.
THE DIFFERENCE IN RELIGION AND RELATIONSHIP IS WHAT I
JUST SAID.
RELIGION ALWAYS LOOKS FOR GOD SOMEWHERE AND TRIES TO GET TO
GOD THROUGH WORKS AND EFFORT.
AND SOME CERTAIN KIND OF BEHAVIOR.
"ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?" "WELL, I GO TO CHURCH."
"WELL, THAT'S NOT WHAT I ASKED YOU.
THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU A CHRISTIAN."
I CAN SIT IN MY GARAGE FOR A YEAR AND THAT WILL NEVER MAKE
ME A CAR.
JUST BECAUSE YOU SIT IN CHURCH THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU
A CHRISTIAN, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: A CHRISTIAN IS NOT EVEN NECESSARILY SOMEONE
THAT DOES GOOD WORKS.
I MEAN, YES, WE AS CHRISTIANS WE SHOULD DO GOOD WORKS BUT THAT
DOING GOOD WORKS DOESN'T PROVE TO ANYBODY THAT I'M A CHRISTIAN.
THE THING THAT MAKES US A CHRISTIAN IS THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST INTO OUR HEART TO BE OUR LORD,
TO BE OUR SAVIOR.
WE BELIEVE THAT HE IS THE SON OF GOD, GOD HIMSELF, WHO TOOK OUR
SIN UPON HIMSELF, WHO TOOK OUR PUNISHMENT, WHO DIED IN OUR
PLACE, WHO ROSE FROM THE DEAD, IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND
OF GOD THE FATHER.
AND AS WE RECEIVE HIM HE COMES TO BE INTIMATE AND PERSONAL,
TO LIVE INSIDE OF US TO HELP US WITH EVERYTHING.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: A SHEPHERD IS A MANAGER,
A CARETAKER, AN OWNER, A PROTECTOR, AND A PROVIDER.
LET ME SAY THOSE WORDS AGAIN.
A MANAGER, YES HE WANTS TO MANAGE YOUR LIFE.
A CARETAKER, AN OWNER, A SHEPHERD BUYS HIS SHEEP,
HE DOESN'T JUST GET THEM FREE.
AND THE BIBLE SAYS IN 1 CORINTHIANS 6:20,
"YOU ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE.
YOU ARE PURCHASED WITH A PRECIOUSNESS AND PAID FOR,
MADE HIS OWN.
SO THEN HONOR GOD AND BRING GLORY TO HIM IN YOUR BODY."
A SHEPHERD BUYS HIS SHEEP WITH MONEY.
JESUS BOUGHT US WITH HIS BLOOD.
HE DIED AND PAID FOR US TO BELONG TO HIM.
YOU ARE AN EXPENSIVE SHEEP.
SHEEP DO NOT INSTINCTIVELY TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES LIKE SOME
ANIMALS DO.
THERE'S A REASON WHY JESUS REFERS TO HIS CHILDREN AS SHEEP.
SHEEP NEED ENDLESS ATTENTION.
AND A GREAT DEAL OF SPECIAL CARE.
THEY ARE PRONE TO DISEASE AND PARASITES, REPRESENTING SIN,
FAILURE, WEAKNESS, FLAWS, AND ALL KINDS OF MESSES.
THEY ARE VERY FEARFUL, TIMID, STUPID--I GOT IT OUT OF
THE BOOK, ABOUT SHEEP, A SHEEP BOOK--AND THEY ARE STUBBORN.
A JACKRABBIT CAN STAMPEDE AN ENTIRE HERD OF SHEEP.
NO WONDER HE CALLS US SHEEP.
BUT THE SHEPHERD LOVES THE SHEEP AND HE TAKES CARE OF THE SHEEP.
THE SHEPHERD NEVER REALLY LEAVES THE SHEEP.
HE'S ALWAYS THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM.
EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE FAULTS THE SHEPHERD LOVES THEM AND
DELIGHTS IN TAKING CARE OF THEM.
SO, HERE'S THE DEAL, IN KINGDOM ECONOMY EITHER GOD DOES IT
OR WE DO IT.
WE ARE PARTNERS WITH GOD AND HE WILL GIVE US THINGS TO DO BUT
THE PART WE CAN'T DO WE NEED TO BACK OFF AND LET GOD DO.
THAT'S THE POINT WHERE WE SAY, "I'M NOT GOING TO FIGHT IT
ANYMORE.
I'M GOING TO PRAY ABOUT IT.
I'M GOING TO TRUST GOD.
I'M GOING TO TRUST HIS METHODS.
I'M GOING TO TRUST HIS TIMING.
I'M GOING TO TRUST HIS WAYS AND IF GOD CAN'T GIVE IT TO ME, THEN
I HAVE NO BUSINESS WITH IT."
COME ON, I SAID, "IF GOD CAN'T GIVE IT TO ME, THEN I HAVE
NO BUSINESS WITH IT."
ONE MORE TIME, "IF GOD CAN'T GIVE IT TO ME, THEN I HAVE NO
BUSINESS WITH IT, IT MUST NOT BE THE RIGHT THING FOR ME."
AMEN?
GINGER: WE NEED THE LORD'S GUIDANCE AND WE CAN DEPEND ON
HIM THAT HE WANTS TO BE THERE TO GIVE IT TO US BUT WE HAVE TO
CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT.
THAT WAS PART ONE OF FOUR TEACHINGS ON PSALM 23 AND AS WE
SAID THERE'S SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT GOD AS OUR SHEPHERD AND I
JUST LOVE THAT.
THAT MEANS HE'S ALWAYS THERE WATCHING OVER US
AND HE'S DEPENDABLE.
SO, LET'S JOIN JOYCE IN HER SECOND TEACHING ON PSALM 23 AS
SHE TALKS ABOUT RESTING IN GOD.
JOYCE: "HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN [FRESH, TENDER]
GREEN PASTURES."
THAT'S REFERRING TO ENTERING THE REST OF GOD.
HEBREWS 4 TEACHES US ABOUT A SUPERNATURAL, A SABBATH REST.
IT'S NOT A REST FROM ACTIVITY, BUT IT'S A REST IN ACTIVITY.
IN OTHER WORDS, I'M WORKING UP HERE AND WHAT I DO IS A LOT OF
WORK, BUT I REST IN MY WORK BECAUSE INTERNALLY I KNOW THAT
IT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE YOU LIKE ME AND MAKE YOU
LIKE WHAT I SAY, AND THAT'S GOD'S THING.
I'VE DONE MY PART, I'VE STUDIED, I'VE PRAYED, I'VE SHOWN UP,
I'M PREPARED.
SO, WE CAN ENTER THE REST OF GOD WHEN WE KNOW WHAT TO DO AND WE
KNOW WHAT NOT TO TRY TO DO.
AMEN?
AND A LOT OF TIMES WHAT WE DO IS WE DON'T DO
WHAT WE SHOULD DO AND WE TRY TO DO WHAT ONLY GOD CAN DO AND
THEN WE JUST GET ALL MESSED UP IN DOING IT.
ENTERING THE REST OF GOD, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE BECAUSE WHEN
YOU'RE IN THE REST OF GOD, YOU TRUST THAT GOD'S GOING TO
TAKE CARE OF THINGS.
YOU DON'T KNOW HOW HE'S GOING TO DO IT, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
HE'S GOING TO DO.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN HE'S GOING TO DO IT AND YOU'RE REALLY NOT
EVEN ALL THAT CONCERNED ABOUT IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS FAITH THAT
GOD IS FAITHFUL AND HE WILL NOT FAIL YOU AND LET YOU DOWN.
SO, WHEN YOU ENTER THE REST OF GOD, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE
ABOUT THE CHANGES YOU NEED IN YOUR LIFE , THAT CHANGES YOU
WANT TO SEE IN PEOPLE, THE SALVATION OF YOUR LOVED ONES,
YOUR FINANCES.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF A PROBLEM
YOU HAVE, GOD'S GOT AN ANSWER.
HE'S GOT A PLAN.
BUT WHEN WE'RE ALL FRUSTRATED AND UPSET, WE CAN'T RECEIVE
THE GUIDANCE OF GOD.
SO, WE NEED TO ENTER THE REST OF GOD.
AND I LIKE THIS, VERSE 2 BECAUSE IT SAYS "HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN
GREEN PASTURES."
SO, HERE'S THE THING, WE CAN EITHER CHOOSE TO OR HE CAN
MAKE US LIE DOWN.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, BUT I'M SURE SOME OF YOU
HAVE BEEN MADE TO LIE DOWN.
YOU'VE GOT IN A PREDICAMENT WHERE YOU ABSOLUTELY NO CHOICE
BUT TO WAIT ON GOD.
SO, "HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES.
HE LEADS ME BESIDE THE STILL AND THE RESTFUL WATERS.
HE REFRESHES AND RESTORES MY LIFE, MY SELF, MY SOUL."
NOW, WE'RE TRI-PART BEINGS, WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS FIRST
AND FOREMOST, WE HAVE A SOUL AND WE LIVE IN OUR BODIES.
OUR SOUL IS OUR MIND, HOW WE THINK, OUR WILL, WHAT WE WANT,
THE CHOICES WE MAKE, AND OUR EMOTIONS.
AND I THINK MOST OF US, IF WE'RE HONEST WOULD SAY THAT WE
PROBABLY RECOGNIZE THAT PEOPLE ARE LED MORE BY HOW THEY FEEL
PROBABLY THAN ANY OTHER SINGLE THING.
WHAT THEY THINK AND WHAT THEY FEEL.
I ALWAYS CALL IT, "I WANT, I THINK, I FEEL.
I WANT, I THINK, I FEEL."
WE SPEND MORE TIME TELLING GOD AND EVERYBODY ELSE WHAT WE WANT,
WHAT WE THINK AND WHAT WE FEEL.
AND GOD WANTS TO RENEW OUR MIND, TEACH US HOW TO THINK THE WAY
HE THINKS.
HE WANTS US TO USE OUR FREE WILL TO CHOOSE HIS WILL.
FREE WILL IS A GREAT GIFT BUT IT IS ALSO A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
HE COULD HAVE EASILY CREATED US WITH NO FREE WILL, WHERE WE HAD
NO CHOICE BUT TO DO WHAT HE WANTED US TO.
BUT THAT'S NOT RELATIONSHIP.
SO, HE GAVE US THIS AMAZING FREE WILL AND NOW HE SAYS, "I
SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, GOOD AND EVIL, HERE'S WHAT I'D
LIKE YOU TO CHOOSE AND IF YOU DO, EVERYTHING WILL GO WELL
WITH YOU."
SO, WE GROW IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, TO LEARN TO THINK
LIKE HIM.
TO LEARN TO USE OUR WILL TO CHOOSE HIS WILL.
AND THEN WE LEARN HOW TO FEEL THE HEART OF GOD AND TO FEEL
THE THINGS THAT HE FEELS.
AND TO ENJOY FEELINGS WHEN THEY'RE GOOD BUT REALIZE THAT
THEY'RE FICKLE AND NOT LET THEM RULE US AND CONTROL US.
SO, IT'S A LIFETIME JOB.
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT'S JUST NOT SOMETHING--
THAT YOU GET BORN AGAIN AND NEXT WEEK, THAT'S ALL
STRAIGHTENED OUT.
THAT IS A LIFETIME JOB.
AND THAT'S GOOD.
THAT'S GOOD.
WE'RE IN A PROCESS.
AND I'LL TELL YOU THE TRUTH, I'VE LEARNED TO ENJOY IT.
I'VE LEARNED TO ENJOY MY WALK WITH GOD.
THIS MAYBE SOUNDS A LITTLE ODD TO YOU BUT I'VE ACTUALLY LEARNED
TO ENJOY IT WHEN I RECEIVE CORRECTION FROM GOD BECAUSE IT
LETS ME KNOW THAT HE CARES ABOUT ME.
IF GOD DIDN'T CARE ABOUT US, THEN HE'D JUST LEAVE US ALONE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, IT'S EASIER FOR ME TO
RECEIVE CORRECTION FROM GOD THAN FROM PEOPLE, I WILL SAY THAT.
SO, IT'S REALLY BEST TO GET IT FIRST FROM GOD BECAUSE IF YOU
DON'T TAKE IT FROM HIM, HE WILL ULTIMATELY REVERT TO WORKING
THROUGH PEOPLE TO TELL YOU THE SAME THING HE TRIED TO TELL YOU
12 TIMES THAT YOU IGNORED.
AMEN.
SO HE WANTS TO RENEW OUR MIND, WANTS US TO USE OUR WILL TO
CHOOSE HIS WILL, AND LEARN TO--LEARN THAT FEELINGS ARE
REALLY NEITHER GOOD NOR BAD.
I MEAN, THEY CAN FEEL GOOD, THEY CAN FEEL BAD BUT WE JUST HAVE TO
LEARN THAT YOU REALLY HAVE TO STOP LETTING YOUR FEELINGS VOTE.
I REMEMBER ONE MORNING WAKING UP AND I FELT SO BAD I JUST
THOUGHT, "I CAN NOT PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER ONE.
I JUST CAN'T DO IT."
NOW, A LOT OF MY PROBLEM WAS STRESS AND I DIDN'T YET KNOW
WHAT THAT WAS.
I WAS WORKING TOO HARD, I WASN'T RESTING.
I NEEDED TO BE MADE TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES.
SO PART OF IT WAS MY OWN FAULT, YOU KNOW.
A LOT OF IT WAS MY OWN FAULT.
I WAS SAYING YES TO THINGS I SHOULD HAVE SAID NO TO AND JUST
HAD A LOT THAT I HAD TO LEARN.
BUT I REMEMBER ONE MORNING WAKING UP FEELING SO BAD I JUST
THOUGHT, "OH MY GOSH, I CAN'T STAND IT."
AND I REMEMBER I WENT OUTSIDE AND SAT ON THE LITTLE PORCH THAT
WE HAD, LOOKED OUT AT THE TREES AND I SAID--I KNEW I KIND OF HAD
A DECISION TO MAKE BECAUSE ONE PART OF YOU THINKS,
"I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE."
ANYBODY KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?
AND ANOTHER PART, THAT PART INSIDE IS SAYING, "BUT YOU DON'T
WANT TO GIVE UP."
I CAN'T DO THIS ANYMORE BUT I DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP.
AND I REMEMBER JUST SAYING OUT LOUD, "GOD, IF I'VE ONLY GOT
ONE OUNCE OF STRENGTH, I'M GIVING IT TO YOU."
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M STILL HERE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND I'M NOT, I'M NOT JUST TELLING YOU
HOW WONDERFUL I AM.
I'M TRYING TO ENCOURAGE YOU THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE THE DECISIONS.
THESE ARE NOT THINGS THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN COME ALONG.
THESE ARE NOT DECISIONS THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN MAKE FOR YOU,
THESE ARE DECISIONS THAT ONLY YOU CAN MAKE.
AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT JUST PREACHING TO THE PEOPLE
IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
I'M SHARING THIS MESSAGE NOT ONLY FOR YOU BUT FOR THE PEOPLE
WATCHING ALL OVER THE WORLD BY TV AND I MEAN THERE ARE SO MANY
MESSES IN SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES AND SO MUCH PAIN.
I MEAN, SICKNESS AND FINANCIAL NEED AND RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS
AND JUST ALL KINDS OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON IN
PEOPLE'S LIVES.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, I FEEL YOU.
I GET IT.
I UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO FEEL LIKE YOU CAN'T GO ON
ONE MORE DAY.
BUT, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP
THE MOST THAT'S WHEN YOUR BREAKTHROUGH IS THE CLOSEST.
SO, I'M JUST ENCOURAGING YOU DON'T YOU QUIT AND DON'T YOU
GIVE UP BECAUSE GOD HAS GOT A GOOD PLAN FOR YOU.
HE'S ON YOUR SIDE.
AND YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE--ACTUALLY YOU'VE ALREADY
GOT THE VICTORY, YOU'RE JUST WALKING TOWARD IT RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, GOD DOESN'T USE THESE ANALOGIES JUST FOR SOMETHING
TO DO.
HE CALLS JESUS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD BECAUSE THERE'S LESSONS WE CAN
LEARN FROM STUDYING A SHEPHERD'S RELATIONSHIP TO HIS SHEEP.
HE CALLS US SHEEP BECAUSE THERE'S LESSONS WE CAN LEARN
FROM STUDYING THE NATURE OF SHEEP.
WHY DON'T YOU JUST TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME, I MEAN,
YOU CAN LOOK IT UP.
YOU CAN FIND ANYTHING YOU WANT NOW IN AN INSTANT ONLINE.
JUST LOOK UP THE NATURE OF SHEEP AND SEE WHAT YOU GET.
YOU'LL RECOGNIZE YOURSELF PRETTY QUICK.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I RECOGNIZE MYSELF.
ALRIGHT.
SOME SHEEP ARE KNOWN TO BE CAST DOWN MORE THAN OTHERS AND ONLY
THE DILIGENCE OF THE SHEPHERD HELPS THEM SURVIVE.
WHEN A SHEEP IS CAST DOWN, PREDATORS MOVE IN.
FOR THE SHEEP IT'S BUZZARDS, VULTURES, DOGS, COYOTES,
AND COUGARS.
FOR US, IT'S THE DEVIL.
HE MOVES IN BECAUSE A SHEEP THAT IS CAST DOWN, DEPRESSED,
DISCOURAGED, DOWNTRODDEN, SAD, LOST THEIR JOY, IS EASY PREY
FOR THE ENEMY.
THE DEVIL DOES EVERYTHING HE CAN TO KEEP US SAD AND MAD BUT GOD
WANTS US GLAD.
BECAUSE REALLY AND TRULY OUR JOY IS FOUND IN STRENGTH.
GINGER: YOU KNOW WHATEVER YOU'RE GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW,
JUST REMEMBER WHAT JOYCE IS SAYING ABOUT NOT GIVING UP
BECAUSE I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT GOD WILL NOT GIVE UP ON YOU.
AND YOU CAN DEPEND ON HIM.
WE'LL GET BACK TO EVEN MORE OF JOYCE'S ANSWER FOR TODAY BUT
FIRST LET'S SEE HOW ONE FRIEND ON SOCIAL MEDIA HAS EXPERIENCED
GOD AS A LOVING SHEPHERD.
THIS IS ALICIA AND SHE SAYS, "MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER WAS IN
A HOSPITAL FOR 8 MONTHS.
ONE DAY I PRAYED, 'GOD I'M TIRED OF CRYING ALREADY, WHATEVER YOU
WANT WITH MY CHILD, YOUR WILL BE DONE.'
THE FOLLOWING DAYS, MY DAUGHTER SHOWED IMPROVEMENTS
AND STARTED GETTING BETTER.
SHE WENT THROUGH REHAB, WE HAD TO RETEACH HER TO SWALLOW,
SPEAK, SIT AND WALK.
SHE GOT WELL, WENT BACK TO SCHOOL AND IS NOW WORKING
FULL TIME.
GOD ANSWERED MY PRAYERS WHEN I SURRENDERED TO HIM."
THANK YOU, ALICIA.
WE'RE SO HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU SHARING THAT ENCOURAGEMENT WITH US.
BECAUSE WHAT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS WHILE GOD DOESN'T
ALWAYS WORK IN THE SAME WAY OR HEAL IN THE SAME WAYS, HE HAS
THAT SAME LOVE FOR EVERY ONE OF US.
AND HE IS WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF.
YOU CAN DEPEND ON IT.
SO, TELL US YOUR STORY.
IN WHAT WAYS HAVE YOU STRUGGLED TO DEPEND ON GOD?
AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED AS A RESULT OF LETTING HIM WORK
IN YOUR LIFE?
ANSWER THAT QUESTION ON FACEBOOK OR TWITTER.
USE #EA AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
ASK, WE MAY ANSWER IT HERE ON THE SHOW.
USE #ASKJOYCE.
YOU CAN ALSO DO THAT ON INSTAGRAM.
JUST WRITE IT ON A CARD AND HOLD UP YOUR QUESTION RIGHT THERE
WITH #ASK JOYCE AND WHO KNOWS, YOU MAY SEE IT HERE ON THE SHOW.
SO RIGHT NOW, LET'S GET BACK TO JOYCE WITH MORE OF TODAY'S
ANSWER.
JOYCE: "HE LEADS ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,
[UPRIGHTNESS AND RIGHT STANDING WITH HIM--NOT BECAUSE
I'VE EARNED IT BUT]
FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE."
NOW, LET ME JUST SAY A WORD ABOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS AND RIGHT
STANDING WITH GOD.
MOST OF US SPEND MOST OF OUR LIFE
FEELING BAD ABOUT OURSELVES.
FEELING GUILTY AND CONDEMNED, ASHAMED AND LIKE THERE'S
SOMETHING WRONG WITH US.
THE DEVIL WANTS TO GIVE US WRONGNESS.
HE WANTS US TO FEEL THAT WE'RE WRONG.
THAT EVERYTHING WE DO IS WRONG.
THAT WE'RE JUST NOT WHAT WE SHOULD BE.
AND JESUS WANTS TO GIVE US RIGHTEOUSNESS OR RIGHTNESS.
AND YOU CAN'T PRODUCE SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T HAVE IN YOU.
AN APPLE TREE CAN ONLY MAKE APPLES BECAUSE GOD HAS MADE IT
AN APPLE TREE.
AND SO, IT'S FOOLISH TO TEACH PEOPLE TO BEHAVE RIGHT IF
THEY'VE NOT FIRST RECEIVED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD
THROUGH CHRIST.
THAT'S WHY JUST WHAT I REFER TO AS RELIGION AND I DON'T MEAN TO
BE RUDE BY THAT BUT WHEN I TALK ABOUT "RELIGION" I'M TALKING
ABOUT JUST FOLLOWING RULES AND REGULATIONS AND GOING THROUGH
FORMULAS THAT REALLY HAVE NO LIFE AND NO POWER IN THEM.
JUST KEEPING LAWS THAT YOU THINK ARE GOING TO PLEASE GOD WHEN
REALLY JESUS DIDN'T DIE SO WE COULD ALL HAVE OUR OWN LITTLE
BRAND OF RELIGION.
HE DIED SO WE COULD HAVE AN INTIMATE, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
WITH GOD THROUGH HIM.
WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS THE THICK, 3 FEET THICK CURTAIN
THAT SEPARATED, THAT WAS IN THE TEMPLE THAT
SEPARATED THE HOLY PLACE FROM THE MOST HOLY PLACE
WAS RIPPED FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM AT THE MOMENT THAT
JESUS DIED.
WHY NOT FROM THE BOTTOM UP?
THERE WAS A POINT BEING MADE.
IT WAS TOO TALL FOR MAN TO REACH IT.
IT BEING RIPPED FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM WAS CLEAR INDICATION
THAT GOD WAS OPENING UP THE WAY NOW FOR THE COMMON ORDINARY
EVERYDAY PERSON TO ENTER INTO THE HOLY PRESENCE OF GOD
AND HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM.
WE DON'T JUST NEED RELIGION.
AND SO, RELIGION SOMETIMES JUST GIVE YOU A BUNCH OF THINGS TO DO
BUT NEVER TEACHES YOU WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST.
NOW, I WENT TO A CHURCH FOR MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS
AND ALTHOUGH I LEARNED SOME VERY GOOD THINGS, THEY HAD A GOOD
MESSAGE ABOUT GRACE AND I LEARNED ABOUT BEING SAVED
THROUGH GRACE.
AND I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT DOCTRINAL THINGS,
THE VIRGIN BIRTH AND LOTS OF REALLY, REALLY GOOD THINGS.
BUT NOBODY EVER TAUGHT ME WHO I WAS IN CHRIST.
I NEVER FELT ANY BETTER ABOUT MYSELF AT ALL BECAUSE I HAD
A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
I STILL JUST THOUGHT THAT I WAS THIS TERRIBLE MESS THAT JUST
COULD NEVER DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN JUST MESS UP
EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE.
AND SO IN 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21, ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES,
IT SAYS, "HE THAT KNEW NO SIN BECAME SIN THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST."
NOW, IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR ME TO TAKE A MINUTE AND LET YOU
KNOW THAT IF YOU'RE A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN THEN GOD VIEWS YOU
AS BEING IN RIGHT STANDING WITH HIM, IRREGARDLESS OF WHAT
YOU DO.
AND I KNOW THAT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO WRAP OUR HEADS AROUND.
YOU THINK, "WELL, WON'T THAT JUST GIVE PEOPLE A LICENSE
TO SIN?" NO, BECAUSE HERE'S THE THING,
ONCE YOU KNOW REALLY WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST AND THE BEAUTY OF WHAT
HE'S DONE FOR YOU, SIN IS THE LAST THING THAT YOU'RE GOING
TO WANT TO DO.
YOU'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN TO PLEASE GOD, NOT
TO BE RIGHT WITH HIM BUT BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN MADE RIGHT WITH HIM.
AMEN?
SO, NO CONDEMNATION OF THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST.
SO, IT'S IMPORTANT TO ME TO LET YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A RIGHT
STANDING WITH GOD AND YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS NOW OF WALKING THAT
OUT IN YOUR LIFE.
THERE'S SEVERAL WAYS THAT I CAN SAY IT BUT I CAN SAY IT WE'RE
ALWAYS IN THE PROCESS OF BECOMING WHAT WE ALREADY ARE.
SO, WE'RE SPIRIT.
SO SPIRITUALLY, WE'VE BEEN MADE RIGHT WITH GOD.
BUT NOW IN OUR EXPERIENCE WE'RE LEARNING HOW TO WALK THAT OUT
WITH GOD.
I MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD WHEN I AM BORN AGAIN, BUT THEN I
GET ON THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE MAKES
OUR PATH BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER EVERY DAY.
NOW, LET'S JUST GO BACK TO PSALM 23 HERE.
"HE LEADS ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS NOT BECAUSE
I'VE EARNED IT BUT FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE.
YEA, THOUGH I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,
I WILL FEAR NO EVIL."
NOW, HERE'S THE MESSAGE THAT I WANT TO GET ACROSS TO YOU.
EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND YOU'RE ON
THE RIGHT PATH AND YOU'RE GROWING IN GOD.
YOU'RE PRESSING ON IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, YOUR PATH IS
BECOMING BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER EVERY DAY, THAT DOES NOT
NECESSARILY MEAN THAT YOU WILL NOT PASS THROUGH WHAT THE BIBLE
CALLS, "THE SHADOW OF THE VALLEY OF DEATH," WHICH BASICALLY
JUST MEANS HARD TIMES.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO WE'VE GOT TO GET
RID OF ANY KIND OF THINKING, "WELL, YOU KNOW I'M DOING ALL
THIS STUFF AND I'M TRYING TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT AND THE RIGHT
THINGS NOT HAPPENING TO ME AND I'M JUST TIRED OF THIS SO I'M
JUST GOING TO QUIT AND GIVE UP."
WE NEED TO LEAVE THE TIMING OF OUR RESULTS IN GOD'S HANDS.
OUR JOB IS NOT RESULTS.
OUR JOB IS OBEDIENCE.
WE DO WHAT WE DO NOT EVEN TO JUST GET A RESULT, BUT BECAUSE
THAT'S WHAT WE BELIEVE GOD WANTS US TO DO AND WE KNOW THAT
IF WE DO WHAT IT IS RIGHT, WE WILL HAVE PEACE AND, LISTEN TO
ME, THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE CAN EVER FAIL AND NOT BE DELIVERED
IF WE'RE DOING WHAT'S RIGHT.
IF YOU'VE GOT PROBLEMS IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW.
YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE BEING ATTACKED IT'S FOR ONE OF
TWO REASONS.
EITHER YOU'VE OPENED THE DOOR BY DOING SOMETHING STUPID AND YOU
LET THE ENEMY IN OR YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT AND THE ENEMY'S
MAD ABOUT IT AND HE'S TRYING TO COME AGAINST YOU
TO GET YOU TO STOP IT.
AND YOU DON'T NEED TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ONE IT IS, YOU
JUST PRAY AND ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU IF YOU'RE WRONG, KEEP
SHOWING YOU IF YOU'RE RIGHT AND EITHER WAY, I'M GOING TO KEEP ON
KEEPING ON AND I'M GOING TO COME OUT WITH THE VICTORY
ON THE OTHER SIDE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I WANT TO PRAY FOR YOU THOUGH.
FATHER, I PRAY FOR EVERYBODY HERE, THEY'VE BEEN SUCH A GOOD
ATTENTIVE CROWD TONIGHT.
I PRAY, LORD, THAT PEOPLE REMEMBER THIS AND NEXT TIME
THEY'RE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING DIFFICULT OR IF THEY'RE GOING
THROUGH SOMETHING DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW THAT THIS IS WORKING
SOMETHING GOOD IN MY LIFE.
THIS IS GOING TO WORK OUT GOOD.
THIS TOO SHALL PASS, AND IT'S GOING TO WORK OUT GOOD.
LEAD ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AND YEA THOUGH I
GO THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH, I WILL FEAR NO
EVIL, GOD, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME.
GINGER: SO, WITHOUT A DOUBT YOU CAN DEPEND ON GOD.
AND WE SHOULD, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE SO DESPERATELY NEED HIM.
AND HE WANTS TO BE THERE FOR US.
YOU KNOW THE TEACHINGS THAT YOU SAW TODAY WERE ONLY A SMALL
PORTION OF WHAT JOYCE TAUGHT ON PSALM 23 AND THERE'S SO MUCH
VALUABLE INFORMATION IN THERE.
SO OUR OFFER TODAY IS THIS.
IT'S CALLED "PSALM 23: THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD" AND IT TELLS YOU
NOT ONLY HOW YOU CAN DEPEND ON GOD, BUT IT ALSO TALKS ABOUT
MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES IN LIFE, HOW HE WANTS TO HELP US
THERE.
AND HOW HE WILL BE THERE REGARDLESS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES
THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW.
REALLY GOOD STUFF.
YOU CAN GET IT AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OR LIKE THIS,
4 HOURS OF TEACHING ON CD.
AND FOR TODAY WE ARE GIVING THIS AT ANY AMOUNT, WHICH MEANS
ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN GIVE, WE WANT TO GET THIS IN YOUR HANDS
BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
AND IF THERE'S A POSSIBILITY FOR YOU TO GIVE
A LITTLE BIT MORE TO HELP GET IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE,
WE APPRECIATE THAT SO MUCH.
IT REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
CHECK OUT EVERYDAY STUDY.
IT'S A SECTION ON OUR WEBSITE THAT WILL KEEP YOU REGULARLY IN
THE WORD OF GOD.
IT GIVES YOU A WEEKLY EMAIL UPDATE THAT WILL JUST HELP YOU
TO KNOW WHAT TO STUDY, WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS AND HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS IN YOUR LIFE.
IT WILL REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU IN YOUR OWN PERSONAL BIBLE STUDY.
NEXT WEEK JOYCE ANSWERS THE QUESTION,
"HOW CAN I TRANSFORM MY LIFE?" IT'S A GREAT ONE FOR YOU TO
WATCH IF YOU NEED TO MAKE CHANGES IN YOUR LIFE, LIKE I
THINK NEARLY ALL OF US DO.
AND REMEMBER THERE IS ALWAYS AN ANSWER FOR YOU IN GOD'S WORD.
SO, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO FIND IT TOGETHER WITH YOU.
[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.
For more infomation >> Mom Sees Teen Sons Hands On Picture Day Breaking Down Immediately At Truth He Can't Hide - Duration: 3:26. 
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