ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM
IS PAID FOR BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: WE'RE EITHER GOING TO BELIEVE GOD, OR WE'RE GOING
TO BELIEVE THE ENEMY.
WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE GOD, OR WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE
OUR FEELING.
WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE GOD, OR WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE
WHAT PEOPLE TELL US.
WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE GOD, OR WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE
OUR OWN MIND.
WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE GOD, OR WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE
OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND I THINK YOU'VE PROBABLY BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW
THAT GOD'S GOT A BETTER REPUTATION
THAN ALL THE REST OF THOSE PUT TOGETHER.
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.
SO, WE HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
IS THIS GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?
WELL, WE'VE ALL SEEN THIS EXAMPLE OF HOW WE LOOK
AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY, BUT DID YOU KNOW
THAT BASED ON HOW YOU VIEW THIS GLASS, IT COULD DETERMINE
WHETHER OR NOT YOU DRINK THE WATER?
HMM, INTERESTING, HUH?
WELL, MORE ON THAT LATER.
BUT FIRST, CHECK OUT THIS QUESTION FROM TWITTER.
DANIELLE ASKS, "HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH DOUBT?"
GREAT QUESTION, DANIELLE.
AND IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO DEAL
WITH DOUBT, AND I DON'T KNOW ANYONE WHO DOESN'T AT ONE TIME
OR ANOTHER, MAYBE YOU'RE ALWAYS SECOND GUESSING YOURSELF
OR EVEN SECOND GUESSING GOD, THEN YOU ARE
IN THE PERFECT PLACE.
JOYCE IS GOING TO ANSWER THREE QUESTIONS TODAY FOCUSED
ON DOUBT, DOUBTING YOURSELF, DOUBTING GOD, AND TODAY,
WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO HANDLE ALL OF THEM.
HERE'S JOYCE'S ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, HOW CAN I DEAL
WITH DOUBT?
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, I THINK DOUBT, NAGGING DOUBTS, YOU'VE
MADE A DECISION, NOW HERE COMES THE NAGGING DOUBTS,
IT'S LIKE HAVING A BAD HANGNAIL.
YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO GO...
SUCH A LITTLE THING, BUT SUCH A HUGE PROBLEM.
HAVE ANY OF YOU BEEN DEALING WITH THE HANGNAIL OF DOUBT?
DOUBT COMES TO ATTACK ALL OF US.
IT ATTACKED ABRAHAM.
I'M SURE THAT DOUBT EVEN TRIED TO ATTACK THE MIND OF OUR LORD
AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.
I THINK HE HAD TO LIFT UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH.
ABRAHAM HAD TO LIFT UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH.
WHEN DOUBT COMES AGAINST US, WE JUST CAN'T SAY, "WELL, YOU KNOW,
I JUST WISH I DIDN'T HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM WITH DOUBT."
YOU GOT TO LIFT UP THE SHIELD OF FAITH AND YOU GOT TO SAY,
"I BELIEVE.
I BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING THAT GOD HAS TOLD ME
WILL COME TO PASS."
LET'S LOOK AT ACTS CHAPTER 27 AND BEGINNING IN VERSE 14.
NOW, PAUL WAS IN A SHIP WITH SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE,
AND GUESS WHAT?
A VIOLENT STORM CAME UP.
JUST LIKE WHEN JESUS WAS IN THE BOAT WITH HIS DISCIPLES
AND HE SAID, "LET US CROSS OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE,"
THE VERY NEXT THING THAT HAPPENED WAS A VIOLENT
STORM OF HURRICANE PROPORTIONS CAME UP.
JUST ABOUT ANY TIME THAT YOU SET YOUR MIND, YOU MAKE A DECISION,
YOU DECIDE TO DO BETTER IN LIFE, YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A COMMITMENT
TO SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE GOD'S ASKING YOU TO MAKE A COMMITMENT
TO, THE NEXT THING YOU CAN PROBABLY EXPECT IS A STORM.
I HATE TO TELL YOU THAT.
I'D RATHER TELL YOU THAT'S NOT THE CASE, BUT I WOULD JUST BE
TELLING YOU WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO HEAR RATHER THAN REALITY
IF I DID THAT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A STORM.
"BUT SOON AFTERWARD A VIOLENT WIND [OF THE CHARACTER
OF A TYPHOON] CALLED A NORTHEASTERNER CAME BURSTING
DOWN FROM THE ISLAND.
AND WHEN THE SHIP WAS CAUGHT AND WAS UNABLE TO HEAD
AGAINST THE WIND, WE GAVE UP AND LET HER DRIFT
AND BE BORNE ALONG.
WE RAN UNDER THE SHELTER OF A SMALL ISLAND CALLED CAUDA,
WHERE WE MANAGED WITH [MUCH] DIFFICULTY TO DRAW
THE SHIP'S SMALL BOAT ON THE DECK.
AFTER HOISTING IT ON BOARD, THEY USED SUPPORTERS."
AND HE GOES ON AND ON AND ON HERE, AND TALKS
ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT THEY DID, AND HOW DIFFICULT
IT WAS, AND THE PEOPLE WERE GETTING ALL DEPRESSED
AND DISCOURAGED, AND ON AND ON AND ON.
AND THEN PAUL SAYS IN VERSE--LET'S TURN
IN VERSE 22, "BUT [EVEN] NOW I BEG YOU TO BE IN GOOD SPIRITS
AND TAKE HEART."
SO, RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS HORRIBLE STORM,
PAUL IS SAYING, "NOW, I'M BEGGING YOU TO STAY
IN GOOD SPIRITS."
YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF HARD, ISN'T IT, WHEN YOU GOT A STORM
IN YOUR LIFE TO BE HAPPY AND HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE?
BUT YET, THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WE'RE TO KEEP OUR JOY.
"IN THIS WORLD, THERE WILL BE TRIBULATION," JESUS SAID.
CHEER UP.
CHEER UP.
COME ON, I'M HAVING A HARD TIME EVEN GETTING A SMILE OUT OF YOU,
LET ALONE A LAUGH.
"CHEER UP, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."
SO, PAUL SAID, "I BEG YOU TO STAY IN GOOD SPIRITS."
JOY IS POWERFUL IF YOU WON'T LOSE YOUR JOY.
"AND TAKE HEART, FOR THERE WILL BE NO LOSS OF LIFE
AMONG YOU BUT ONLY OF THE SHIP.
FOR THIS [VERY] NIGHT THERE STOOD BY MY SIDE AN ANGEL OF GOD
TO WHOM I BELONG AND WHOM I SERVE AND WORSHIP.
AND HE SAID, 'DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED, PAUL.
IT'S NECESSARY FOR YOU TO STAND BEFORE CAESAR AND BEHOLD,
GOD HAS GIVEN YOU ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE SAILING WITH YOU.'"
SO, NOW I LOVE THIS, "SO KEEP UP YOUR COURAGE, MEN,
FOR I HAVE FAITH (COMPLETE CONFIDENCE) IN GOD
THAT IT WILL BE EXACTLY AS IT WAS TOLD TO ME."
NOW, THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED TO SAY--WHEN YOU'RE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM, THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED TO SAY,
"I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE EXACTLY AS GOD HAS PROMISED
IN MY LIFE."
WE DON'T JUST SING IT IN CHURCH, BUT WE SAY IT IN THE STORM.
I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE EXACTLY AS GOD HAS TOLD ME.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN, I DON'T KNOW HOW.
AND ACTUALLY, THE TRUTH IS I'VE DECIDED NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
I'M GOING TO LEAVE ALL THAT TO GOD, AND I'M GOING
TO GO AHEAD AND ENJOY EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE THAT I HAVE
BECAUSE GOD IS WORKING ON MY SITUATION, AND I BELIEVE,
I BELIEVE.
I THINK THE WAY THAT WE LIFT UP THAT SHIELD OF FAITH IS
TO RELEASE OUR FAITH THROUGH OUR MOUTH.
SEE, FAITH IS A FORCE THAT RESIDES ON THE INSIDE
OF YOU THAT'S BEEN GIVEN TO YOU BY GOD.
BUT IN ORDER FOR FAITH TO DO ANY GOOD, IT HAS TO BE RELEASED.
AND I THINK WE RELEASE FAITH THROUGH SAYING, THROUGH PRAYING,
AND THROUGH DOING.
I THINK YOU TAKE--I BELIEVE THAT I RELEASE MY FAITH
EVERY TIME I COME FROM THAT LITTLE CORNER
OUT OVER THERE, AND I COME OUT HERE AND I STAND IN FRONT OF YOU
AND I OPEN MY MOUTH.
THAT'S MY ACTION OF FAITH.
AND ACTUALLY, YOU WOULDN'T-- I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AFRAID
TO DO THIS, I'VE DONE IT SO MUCH.
BUT WHEN I WALKED OVER THERE OUT HERE FIRST TIME
THIS MORNING, I JUST THOUGHT, "WELL LORD, HERE WE GO AGAIN."
YOU KNOW, YOU THINK I ALWAYS FEEL ANOINTED TO DO THIS
AND I FEEL LIKE I'VE GOT THE RIGHT THING TO SAY?
SOMETIMES I DON'T--YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, "WELL."
YOU KNOW?
BUT I JUST FIND IF I WALK OUT HERE, THAT'S
MY STEP OF FAITH TO TRUST GOD TO SHOW UP.
AND A LOT OF TIMES, I DON'T FEEL THAT HE'S WITH ME
UNTIL I DO THAT.
SEE, A LOT OF TIMES, WE WANT ALL THE PROOF THAT GOD
IS WORKING IN OUR LIFE BEFORE WE'LL DO ANYTHING.
YOU HAVE FAITH GIVEN TO YOU AS A GIFT FROM GOD,
BUT YOU GOT TO RELEASE IT.
AND YOU GOT TO RELEASE IT BY TAKING GOD-INSPIRED ACTION,
BY PRAYING GOD-INSPIRED PRAYERS, AND BY SAYING THINGS THAT AGREE
WITH GOD'S WORD.
SO, WHEN DOUBT COMES, THE WAY YOU FIGHT DOUBT
IS TO DOUBT YOUR DOUBTS.
AND WHEN THE DEVIL PUTS THE THOUGHT OF DOUBT, YOU SAY,
"I DOUBT THAT DOUBT, AND I BELIEVE THAT IT WILL BE
EXACTLY AS GOD HAS TOLD ME THAT IT WILL BE."
GINGER: SO, WE'VE LEARNED THAT WE NEED TO DEAL WITH DOUBT
BY RELEASING OUR FAITH.
AND WE RELEASE OUR FAITH THROUGH PRAYER.
BUT HOW DOES THAT APPLY WHEN WE DOUBT GOD HIMSELF?
WELL, JOYCE HAS THE ANSWER FOR THAT COMING UP, BUT FIRST WE
NEED TO HEAR YOUR VOICE.
WE ASKED YOU TO SHARE HOW GOD IS HELPING YOU TO LOVE PEOPLE.
ANNE SAYS, "MY 5-YEAR-OLD GRANDDAUGHTER AND I JUST TALKED
ABOUT THIS THE OTHER DAY.
I WAS DOING MY DAILY BIBLE STUDY,
AND SHE ASKED ME WHY DO I DO BIBLE STUDY EVERY DAY.
I TOLD HER, 'THIS BOOK SHOWS ME HOW TO LOVE OTHERS.'
I SAID, 'I CAN'T GET UP IN THE MORNING AND BE
THE LOVING PERSON I AM WITHOUT THIS BOOK AND BECAUSE
OF JESUS AND HIS LOVE FOR ME.'" MIKE SAYS, "GOD HAS HELPED ME
LOVE PEOPLE BY LEADING ME INTO A CAREER TEACHING
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MORE THAN A PAYCHECK.
IT'S BEEN A GIFT OF LOVE IN MANY WAYS THAT EXTENDS
GOD'S LOVE THROUGH ME INTO ALL THE CHILDREN.
IT TEMPERS THEIR HURT AND PAIN."
WELL, YOU ARE BOTH SO RIGHT, AND THERE IS NO WAY
THAT ANY OF US CAN LOVE WITHOUT GOD REALLY BEING
IN OUR LIFE TO HELP US.
AND TO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT SEEING IT
REALLY AS A MINISTRY AND THE WAY THAT GOD HAS PUT YOU
IN THE RIGHT PLACE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE TO LOVE
THEM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALL NEED TO PRAY FOR EVERY DAY.
THIS TIME, SHARE WITH US HOW GOD HAS HELPED YOU TRUST HIM.
PERHAPS THAT WILL HELP SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS STRUGGLING
WITH THEIR OWN FAITH.
GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, YOU'LL SEE THE QUESTION,
YOU CAN POST ON THERE.
IF YOU USE TWITTER, USE #EA.
AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION
ON THIS WHOLE TOPIC.
TODAY, IT COMES FROM CATHERINE, AND SHE SAYS, "HOW DO I PUT
TRUST AND FAITH IN GOD WHEN BAD THINGS KEEP HAPPENING?"
WELL, CATHERINE, HERE'S YOUR ANSWER.
JOYCE: ROMANS 4, VERSE 18, "[FOR ABRAHAM, HUMAN REASON
FOR] HOPE BEING GONE, HOPED ON IN FAITH."
HE MUST'VE HAD SOME REALLY, REALLY, REALLY LOUSY
CIRCUMSTANCES.
HE HAD A PROMISE FROM GOD.
NOTHING HAPPENED ACCORDING TO THE TIMETABLE
THAT HE WOULD HAVE CHOSEN.
PART OF IT WAS HIS OWN FAULT BECAUSE HE GOT IN THE FLESH,
AND SINCE GOD WASN'T MOVING FAST ENOUGH, HE--HIM AND SARAH
CONCOCTED A PLAN OF THEIR OWN, AND I THINK THAT JUST PUT OFF
GOD'S ANSWER.
"[ALL HUMAN REASON FOR] HOPE BEING GONE, HE HOPED ON IN FAITH
THAT HE WOULD BECOME THE FATHER OF MANY NATIONS AS IT
HAD BEEN PROMISED UNTO HIM."
HE HAD A PROMISE FROM GOD.
IT TOOK TOO LONG.
THINGS WEREN'T HAPPENING.
HE HAD TO LOOK AT HIS BODY, WHICH WAS AS GOOD AS DEAD.
HE HAD TO LOOK AT SARAH, WHO WAS BARREN AND WAY PAST
CHILD-BEARING YEARS.
I MEAN, THE TWO OF THEM I'M SURE WERE QUITE A MESS IF YOU
JUST TOOK IT AT FACE VALUE.
AND YET, THEY HAD A PROMISE FROM GOD THAT THEY
WERE GOING TO HAVE A CHILD AND THAT HE WOULD BE THE FATHER
OF MANY NATIONS.
"HE DIDN'T WEAKEN IN FAITH WHEN HE CONSIDERED
THE [UTTER] IMPOTENCE OF HIS OWN BODY, WHICH WAS
AS GOOD AS DEAD BECAUSE HE WAS ABOUT A HUNDRED YEARS OLD,
OR [WHEN HE CONSIDERED]
THE BARRENNESS OF SARAH'S [DEAD] WOMB."
EVERYTHING HERE IS DEAD.
NOW, WATCH THIS, "NO UNBELIEF OR DISTRUST MADE HIM WAVER
(OR DOUBTINGLY QUESTION) CONCERNING THE PROMISE OF GOD,
BUT HE GREW STRONG AND WAS EMPOWERED BY FAITH
AS," HE OPENED UP HIS MOUTH AND SAID SOMETHING THAT WAS
GOING TO RELEASE HIS FAITH.
HE'S WAITING, DOUBT IS COMING, QUESTIONS ARE COMING, WAVERING
IS COMING, IT'S ATTACKING HIM.
AND HE OPENS UP HIS MOUTH, AND GIVES PRAISE
AND GLORY TO GOD.
"GOD, I PRAISE YOU AND I THANK YOU THAT I HAVE A PROMISE
FROM YOU.
AND I THANK YOU, GOD, THAT YOU ARE NOT A MAN THAT YOU
SHOULD LIE.
I KNOW, GOD, THAT YOU'RE WORKING, AND I BELIEVE
THAT I WILL SEE THE OUTCOME OF MY FAITH."
I'M TELLING YOU WHAT, WE DO A LOT OF TALKING, BUT I WONDER
HOW MANY IN THIS ROOM ARE TALKING ABOUT
THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME.
USUALLY WHAT WE DO WHEN WE HAVE PROBLEMS, WE CALL UP A FRIEND
AND GRUMBLE.
WE CALL UP SOMEBODY WE KNOW AND WE MURMUR.
WE WANT EVERYBODY TO FEEL SORRY FOR US, WHICH IS COMFORTING
THE FLESH, BUT DOES US NO SPIRITUAL GOOD WHATSOEVER,
AMEN?
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES LIFTING UP THAT SHIELD OF FAITH TAKES
A LITTLE MORE OF AN EFFORT THAN MAYBE THAT WE WOULD LIKE
TO MAKE BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW HOW MANY TIMES A DAY
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PICK THE THING UP, KEEP THE DEVIL'S
FIERY DARTS AWAY FROM YOU.
EVERYTHING THAT GOD ASKS US TO DO IS NOT EASY.
HE GAVE US THE SHIELD, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I WOULD GET
IF I DID THIS LONG ENOUGH?
I WOULD GET A MUSCLE IN THIS RIGHT ARM.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SOME OF US NEED.
WE NEED MORE MUSCLES FROM USING OUR FAITH, HALLELUJAH.
HE GREW STRONG IN FAITH AS HE GAVE PRAISE AND GLORY TO GOD,
NOT AS HE MURMURED AND GRUMBLED AND COMPLAINED.
WE HAVE TO START SAYING SOMETHING IN OUR STORMS
THAT'S GOING TO DO US SOME GOOD, AND NOT JUST TALK
ABOUT THE STORM.
THE BIBLE SAYS WE CAN SPEAK TO THE MOUNTAIN.
IT DOESN'T SAY TALK ABOUT THE MOUNTAIN, IT SAYS SPEAK
TO IT AND TELL IT WHERE TO GO.
HALLELUJAH.
YOU HAVE POWER IN YOUR MOUTH.
THE POWER OF LIFE AND DEATH IS IN YOUR TONGUE.
IT'S ONE THING TO SOUND CHURCHY IN CHURCH.
IT'S ANOTHER THING WHEN YOU'RE BY YOURSELF
IN YOUR MIDNIGHT HOUR, AND YOU FEEL LIKE ALL HELL
IS COMING AGAINST YOU.
THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED TO SPEAK THE WORD.
AND YOU NEED TO SPEAK IT OUT LOUD.
AND MANY OF YOU WATCHING BY TELEVISION RIGHT NOW,
YOU'RE SITTING IN YOUR HOMES OR WATCHING ON YOUR COMPUTER
OR WHEREVER YOU'RE AT, AND I WANT YOU TO BE ENCOURAGED
TODAY THAT GOD KNOWS YOUR NEED, HE KNOWS YOUR NAME,
HE'S HEARD YOUR PRAYERS.
BUT DON'T YOU QUIT AND DON'T YOU GIVE UP BECAUSE GOD IS FAITHFUL.
GOD IS FAITHFUL, AMEN.
I DON'T THINK OUR PROBLEM IS SO MUCH WITH GOD AS IT IS
WITH US.
I THINK OUR DOUBT COMES BECAUSE WE DOUBT OURSELVES
A LOT MORE THAN WE DOUBT GOD.
WE BELIEVE GOD WOULD DO IT, BUT WE'RE NOT SURE
HE WOULD DO IT FOR US.
WE'RE EITHER GOING TO BELIEVE GOD, OR WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE
THE ENEMY.
WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE GOD, OR WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE
OUR FEELINGS.
WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE GOD, OR WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE
WHAT PEOPLE TELL US.
WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE GOD, OR WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE
OUR OWN MIND.
WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE GOD, OR WE'RE GOING TO BELIEVE
OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND I THINK YOU'VE PROBABLY BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW
THAT GOD'S GOT A BETTER REPUTATION
THAN ALL THE REST OF THOSE PUT TOGETHER.
GINGER: HOW IS THAT FOR AN INSPIRATION
AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR YOU?
YOU CAN LOOK AT DOUBT AND SAY, "I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU
HOLD ME BACK ANYMORE.
I'M GOING TO BE BOLD, CONFIDENT, AND COURAGEOUS."
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE OFFERING YOU TODAY, JOYCE'S TEACHING CALLED
"BOLD, CONFIDENT, AND COURAGEOUS."
BECAUSE DOUBT REALLY COMES DOWN TO FEAR, FEAR THAT WE
CAN'T TRUST, FEAR OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN.
BUT GOD'S WORD SAYS WE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR
BECAUSE HE'S SO MUCH BIGGER THAN ALL OF OUR FEARS.
THIS HAS 5 HOURS OF TEACHING THAT WILL HELP YOU UNDERSTAND
THAT, AND HELP YOU REALLY BE ABLE TO ABSORB
WHAT GOD'S WORD SAYS ABOUT IT.
YOU CAN GET IT JUST LIKE THIS, OR YOU CAN GET IT
AS A DIGITAL SERIES, BUT CALL AND ORDER YOURS RIGHT NOW
BECAUSE IT WILL HELP YOU BEGIN MOVING TO WHERE GOD
WANTS YOU TO BE.
JOYCE WILL TACKLE SELF-DOUBT COMING UP, BUT FIRST,
HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT ON "EVERYDAY ANSWERS."
JOYCE: I'VE SPENT MANY YEARS OF MY LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN
MISERABLE BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW HOW TO ACCESS THE PEACE THAT WAS
MINE THROUGH CHRIST.
I CAN TELL YOU TONIGHT THAT YOU NEVER AGAIN HAVE
TO PRAY FOR PEACE.
GINGER: ALL RIGHT, IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER QUESTION.
THIS COMES FROM TWITTER AND IT SAYS,
"HOW DO YOU HANDLE SELF-DOUBT?
QUESTIONING YOUR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS
IN EVERY SINGLE SITUATION AND SCENARIO."
WELL, WE UNDERSTAND THAT.
WE ALL HAVE THOSE FEELINGS OF SELF-DOUBT.
THAT TAKES US BACK TO OUR GLASS OF WATER.
SO, IS IT HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL?
OUR PERSPECTIVE DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT IT IS, BUT IT CAN MAKE US
THINK THAT WE CAN'T DRINK THIS WATER BECAUSE THERE'S
NOT MUCH LEFT, OR IT CAN TELL US THERE'S PLENTY AND THERE'S
ENOUGH FOR ME TO ENJOY.
SO, OUR PERSPECTIVE MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE
ON OUR OUTLOOK ON LIFE.
THAT'S WHY THIS QUESTION IS SUCH A BIG ONE.
AND THIS EXAMPLE OF PERSPECTIVE BECOMES CLEAR AS YOU LISTEN
TO JOYCE'S ANSWER TO: HOW DO I DEAL WITH SELF-DOUBT?
JOYCE: "LET US THEN THEREFORE FEARLESSLY AND CONFIDENTLY
AND BOLDLY," WHOO, HALLELUJAH.
"BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS THAT WE ARE NOT PERFECT, LET US THEN
FEARLESSLY AND CONFIDENTLY AND BOLDLY DRAW NEAR
TO THE THRONE OF HIS GRACE THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE THE HELP
THAT WE NEED IN PLENTY OF TIME TO GET US OUT OF TROUBLE."
BUT HOW DO YOU COME?
BOLDLY, BOLDLY.
WELL, THAT'S HARD TO DO WHEN YOU'VE BEEN BAD, ISN'T IT?
WHEN WE'VE BEEN BAD, WE GO, "OH GOD."
[MUMBLING]
BUT THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS REPENT, "GOD, I'M SORRY
FOR MY SINS.
I'M SO SORRY, PLEASE FORGIVE ME.
AND NOW, IN OBEDIENCE TO YOUR WORD, I'M GOING TO PRAY
ABOUT MY SITUATION.
I'M GOING TO DO IT BOLDLY BECAUSE I KNOW I'M NOT GOING
TO GET ANYTHING FROM YOU AS A COWARD."
WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO BE BOLD BY FAITH, BE CONFIDENT BY FAITH,
BE FEARLESS BY FAITH.
SELF-DOUBT.
WHAT GOES ON IN YOUR MIND?
DO YOU JUDGE EVERY MOVE THAT YOU MAKE?
"OH, I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THAT.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT THAT.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE THERE.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE EATEN THAT."
I TELL YOU, I--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WE NEED TO STOP DOING THINGS THAT WE KNOW
WE'RE GOING TO BE SORRY FOR WHILE WE'RE DOING IT.
SOON AS YOU SWALLOW THE LAST BITE, THEN HERE COMES
THE CONDEMNATION, "OH, I SHOULDN'T HAVE EATEN THAT."
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU EAT IT, AND IF YOU
WANT TO EAT IT, EAT IT IN FAITH AND DON'T BE SORRY YOU DID IT.
AND IF YOU CAN'T EAT IT IN FAITH AND ENJOY IT, THEN LEAVE IT
ALONE AND DON'T EAT IT TO START WITH.
I MEAN, GOD'S REALLY BEEN TEACHING ME THAT.
DON'T DO STUFF, AND THEN TURN AROUND AND WISH YOU
WOULDN'T HAVE.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO IT, ENJOY IT, OTHERWISE DON'T DO IT.
AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS HAVE A LITTLE BETTER PLANNING
AND KNOW THAT WE CAN'T SAY YES TO OURSELF ALL THE TIME,
BUT WE CAN SOMETIMES.
HEY, AFTER I DO THESE CONFERENCES,
I ALWAYS HAVE DESSERT.
AND I PLAN IT, IT'S LIKE I HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHAT I'M
GOING TO HAVE WHEN I GET HOME YET, BUT I WILL HAVE SOMETHING.
BUT I DON'T DO IT EVERY DAY OR THREE TIMES A DAY.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HAVING PLEASURE IN LIFE,
BUT YOU CAN'T JUST LIVE ON PLEASURE AND NEVER PARTAKE
OF THE DISCIPLINE YOU HAVE TO PARTAKE OF IN ORDER TO BE
A BALANCED PERSON.
"OH, I DIDN'T PRAY LONG ENOUGH.
OH, YOU KNOW, I PRAYED, BUT I DIDN'T PRAY LONG ENOUGH.
AND I'M SURE I DIDN'T PRAY IT RIGHT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DID READ A CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE, BUT I
DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I READ, AND I PROBABLY READ
THE WRONG CHAPTER ANYWAY.
AND OH MY GOSH, JOYCE SAYS WE GOT TO CONFESS THE WORD, AND I
DIDN'T CONFESS THE WORD YET TODAY, AND HERE IT IS BEDTIME.
AND WELL, YOU KNOW, FAILED AGAIN.
AND OH, I DIDN'T HUG MY KIDS TODAY.
THERE'S ONE OF THOSE BUMPER STICKERS, 'HAVE YOU
HUGGED YOUR KID TODAY?' NOW THAT MAKES ME FEEL GUILTY
BECAUSE NO, I DIDN'T HUG MY KID YET TODAY."
COME ON, WE ALL KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
"OH, I SPENT TOO MUCH AT THE GROCERY STORE.
I TALKED TOO MUCH.
I SHOULD BE QUIETER.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT, I SHOULDN'T, I'M NOT, I'M NOT."
YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU GOT TO GET OVER JUDGING YOURSELF FOR EVERY SINGLE THING
THAT YOU DO AND START HAVING SOME CONFIDENCE, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I LOVE PAUL'S ATTITUDE.
LET'S LOOK AT 1 CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 4.
PAUL WAS BEING JUDGED AS TO WHETHER OR NOT HE WAS
A FAITHFUL APOSTLE.
AND I WANT YOU TO HEAR HIS RESPONSE, VERSE 3.
1 CORINTHIANS 4, VERSE 3, "BUT [AS FOR ME PERSONALLY], IT
MATTERS VERY LITTLE TO ME THAT I SHOULD BE PUT ON TRIAL BY YOU
[ON THIS POINT] AND THAT YOU OR ANY OTHER HUMAN TRIBUNAL
SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND QUESTION AND CROSS-QUESTION ME.
I DO NOT EVEN PUT MYSELF ON TRIAL AND JUDGE MYSELF."
NOW, THERE'S FREEDOM.
THERE IS FREEDOM RIGHT THERE.
HE SAID, "I'M NOT MENTALLY EXAMINING EVERY MOVE
THAT I MAKE, TRYING TO DECIDE IF IT'S RIGHT OR WRONG."
YOU KNOW WHAT HE GOES ON TO SAY?
"I'M NOT CONSCIOUS OF ANYTHING AGAINST MYSELF AND I FEEL
BLAMELESS, BUT I'M NOT VINDICATED AND ACQUITTED
BEFORE GOD JUST BECAUSE I FEEL BLAMELESS.
IT'S THE LORD [HIMSELF]
WHO EXAMINES AND JUDGES ME."
I LOVE THAT.
HE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW IF I'M GUILTY OF ANYTHING OR NOT.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE I AM, BUT WHO KNOWS, I MIGHT BE.
HOWEVER, I'M NOT GOING TO LIVE IN THAT REALM OF EXAMINING
EVERY MOVE THAT I MAKE, AND JUDGING MYSELF
AND CRITICIZING MYSELF.
I AM GOING TO TRUST GOD THAT IF I'M DOING SOMETHING
THAT HE REALLY DOESN'T LIKE, THAT HE WILL BRING
ENOUGH CONVICTION IN MY LIFE TO GET THE POINT ACROSS TO ME,
AND HE WILL DEAL WITH ME IN SUCH A WAY
THAT I WILL STOP DOING IT."
THERE'S FREEDOM IN THE HOUSE TODAY, AMEN.
I KNOW THERE'S GOT TO BE SOME PEOPLE HERE TODAY
THAT YOU ARE JUST TIRED OF HEARING WHAT YOU'RE NOT,
AND WHAT YOU SHOULD'VE THAT YOU DIDN'T OF, AND WHAT YOU
DID THAT YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE.
AND YOU'RE JUST LIKE, "DEVIL, SHUT UP."
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE'S NEVER GOING TO STOP HAVING AN EFFECT ON ANY PERSON
WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHO THEY ARE IN CHRIST.
YOU HAVE TO KNOW THAT GOD LOVES YOU, AND HE DOESN'T LOVE YOU
BECAUSE YOU DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.
HE LOVES YOU BECAUSE YOU WANT TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
GOD LOVES YOU AND HE CARES ABOUT YOU BECAUSE YOU'RE OPEN
TO TRUTH, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH, BECAUSE YOU
WANT TO LEARN, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GROW.
"WELL, YEAH, BUT THIS MORNING, I GOT IMPATIENT
WITH ONE OF MY FRIENDS WHILE I WAS ON MY WAY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PARK, I GOT
A LITTLE BIT NASTY WITH SOMEBODY OUT THERE.
YOU KNOW, THEN I GOT KIND OF FRUSTRATED OUT IN THE--
AT THE RESOURCE TABLES, AND SOME LADY SHOVED ME,
AND I WANTED TO KNOCK HER DOWN.
I MEAN, AFTER ALL, WHAT KIND OF A CHRISTIAN AM I?
I JUST--IT'S NOT GOING TO DO ME ANY GOOD TO BE HERE.
I DOUBT I'M GOING TO GET ANYTHING OUT OF THIS.
I DOUBT, I DOUBT, I DOUBT."
WELL, THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED TO GO GET YOUR SHIELD OF FAITH
AND SAY, "WAIT A MINUTE, I BELIEVE THAT GOD IS PLEASED
WITH ME.
AND HE UNDERSTANDS MY WEAKNESSES AND MY INFIRMITIES BECAUSE
HE'S BEEN TEMPTED IN ALL POINTS JUST LIKE I HAVE,
YET HE NEVER SINNED.
I HAVE JESUS IN MY LIFE BECAUSE I'M NOT PERFECT."
COME ON, I'M TRYING TO TAKE SOME PRESSURE OFF SOME PEOPLE
TODAY.
MATTHEW 3:16, "NOW WHEN JESUS WAS BAPTIZED, HE WENT UP
AT ONE SIDE OF THE WATER, AND BEHOLD, THE HEAVENS
WERE OPENED.
AND HE [JOHN], SAW THE SPIRIT OF GOD DESCENDING
LIKE A DOVE AND LIGHTING UPON HIM.
AND BEHOLD, A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAID, 'THIS IS MY BELOVED SON,
IN WHOM I DELIGHT!'" NOW AGAIN,
THIS SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION.
A VOICE CAME OUT FROM HEAVEN SAYING, ONCE AGAIN,
"THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I DELIGHT.
HEAR HIM."
SO, WE SEE TWICE IN THE LIFE OF JESUS
THOSE WORDS COME FROM HEAVEN, "THIS IS MY BELOVED SON,
IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED."
SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND THAT
AND GET THAT BECAUSE AFTER ALL, THAT WAS PERFECT JESUS.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IF HE NEEDED TO HEAR THAT,
IF HE NEEDED TO HEAR THAT FOR CONFIDENCE AND AFFIRMATION,
HOW MUCH MORE DO WE NEED TO HEAR THAT FOR CONFIDENCE
AND AFFIRMATION?
WHAT IF JESUS WOULD HAVE SAID, "OH NO, NO"?
COME ON, I DARE YOU TO LOOK AT YOURSELF IN THE MIRROR
EVERY MORNING AND SAY, "GOD LIVES IN THIS SUIT OF CLOTHES.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: GOD LIVES IN ME.
I'M A PARTNER WITH GOD.
HE SENT HIS SON TO DIE FOR ME, AND I DECLARE BOLDLY
THAT ALTHOUGH I DON'T DO EVERYTHING PERFECTLY RIGHT
AND I'M LIKELY TO MAKE SOME MISTAKES TODAY,
GOD IS PLEASED WITH ME."
COME ON, YOU GOT THAT MUCH COURAGE?
DO YOU HAVE THAT MUCH COURAGE, CAN YOU DO THAT?
AND I KNOW RIGHT NOW, SOME OF YOU
ARE ALREADY CRINGING.
IT'S LIKE...
DON'T YOU FEEL IT?
THE SHRIVELING UP...
THERE'S THE DEVIL TRYING TO SHRIVEL UP YOUR SPIRIT,
YOU KNOW, LIKE...
"BUT HOW CAN I SAY THAT WITH THE THINGS THAT I DID?"
I DIDN'T SAY GOD'S PLEASED WITH ALL YOUR BEHAVIOR.
GINGER: WELL, DOUBT MAY BE NATURAL, BUT GOD IS
SUPERNATURAL.
HE GOES BEYOND DOUBT AND YOU CAN TRUST HIM.
YOU CAN BE BOLD AND CONFIDENT AND COURAGEOUS BECAUSE OF WHO HE
IS, AND WE HAVE A TEACHING CALLED JUST THAT.
JOYCE'S TEACHING, "BOLD, CONFIDENT, AND COURAGEOUS,"
WILL TELL YOU HOW TO DO THINGS IN THE FACE OF FEAR OR DOUBT,
HOW TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT YOU NEED TO ACCOMPLISH,
AND ESPECIALLY WHAT GOD HAS IN MIND FOR YOU.
THESE 5 HOURS OF TEACHING ON THIS SERIES WILL REALLY HELP
YOU STEP OUT IN FAITH.
YOU CAN GET IT DIGITALLY AS WELL IF YOU LIKE, SO MAKE SURE
THAT YOU PICK THIS UP TODAY BECAUSE THOSE DOUBTS
ARE HOLDING YOU BACK FROM PLACES AND THINGS THAT GOD WANTS
TO BLESS YOU WITH.
PICK THIS UP AND FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF RIGHT NOW.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS FOR JOYCE, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
CONTACT US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, GO TO OUR WEBSITE,
THERE'S A PLACE RIGHT THERE ON THE EVERYDAY ANSWERS PAGE
THAT YOU CAN PUT THOSE QUESTIONS IN, AND THEN BE WATCHING.
IF YOU ASKED A QUESTION ON TWITTER, WE'VE BEEN ANSWERING
A LOT OF THOSE.
USE #ASKJOYCE AND BE WATCHING RIGHT HERE EVERY WEEK
FOR MORE ANSWERS.
YOU KNOW, WE REALIZE THAT SOME OF YOU ARE DEALING
WITH SOME REALLY TOUGH CIRCUMSTANCES.
LIFE IS HARD SOMETIMES, AND IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE
THAT GOD WILL HELP YOU, BUT HE IS FAITHFUL.
YOU CAN TRUST HIM EVEN IN THE FACE OF DOUBT.
HE IS THERE WITH YOU TODAY, AND HE'LL BE WITH YOU TOMORROW.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING PROGRAM WAS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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