ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: TRUTH IS ARMOR.
WHEN YOU START WALKING IN THE TRUTH, BEING TRUTHFUL WITH
YOURSELF ESPECIALLY IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
WHEN YOU START REALLY WALKING IN TRUTH, IT GIVES YOU AN ARMOR
AGAINST THE DEVIL.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: THE FIRST THING YOU MUST DO IF YOU EVER INTEND TO
HAVE ANY FREEDOM OVER BONDAGES IS YOU HAVE TO TAKE
100% RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHERE YOUR LIFE IS AT RIGHT NOW.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT DO YOU KNOW HOW HARD THAT IS BECAUSE YOU KNOW
HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO GET THERE?
I MEAN, I'M THIS WAY BECAUSE MY DAD SEXUALLY ABUSED ME.
I'M THIS WAY BECAUSE MY MOTHER ABANDONED ME, KNEW WHAT HE WAS
DOING, AND WOULDN'T HELP ME.
I'M THIS WAY BECAUSE MY FIRST HUSBAND WAS A CONMAN AND A PETTY
THIEF AND HE RAN AROUND WITH OTHER WOMEN.
I'M THIS WAY BECAUSE AND I'M THIS WAY BECAUSE AND I'M THIS
WAY BECAUSE--AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE LORD FINALLY PUT ON MY HEART, "THAT'S TRUE.
THAT'S TRUE.
THAT'S WHY YOU ARE THE WAY YOU ARE BUT DON'T LET IT BECOME
AN EXCUSE TO STAY THAT WAY."
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: THAT'S SUCH A GOOD POINT.
YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE.
NO MATTER WHO CAUSED YOU TO BE HERE, YOU ARE STUCK WITH YOU
AND YOUR LIFE.
AND NOBODY ELSE--NOW GOD WILL HELP YOU BUT NOBODY ELSE--LET'S
PUT IT LIKE THIS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY WANNA HELP YOU BUT YOU CAN'T DEPEND ON
SOMEBODY ELSE COMING ALONG AND FIXING YOUR MESS.
AND EVEN PEOPLE WHO WANNA COME ALONG AND HELP FIX IT, THEY
DON'T WANT THE FULL JOB.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THEY WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU A QUICK LITTLE STORY.
I DIDN'T REALLY PLAN TO DO THIS BUT I ONLY HAD ONE SIBLING.
HE'S NOT ALIVE ANYMORE.
HE WAS NINE YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME.
AND WE BOTH WERE ABUSED IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
HE WASN'T ABUSED SEXUALLY BUT HE WAS DEFINITELY--GREW UP IN
A HOME WHERE THE FATHER WAS UNPRESENT AND WHATEVER HE DID
TEACH HIM, EVERYTHING HE TAUGHT HIM WAS WRONG.
HE WENT INTO THE VIETNAM WAR WHEN HE WAS 17 AND ENDED UP IN
THE JUNGLES IN VIETNAM AND HIS SERGEANT GAVE THE GUYS DRUGS
OVER THERE JUST TO KEEP THEM, I GUESS, WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS SANE.
ANYWAY, MY BROTHER, AT THE AGE OF 17, GOT ADDICTED TO DRUGS.
AND IT WAS A LIFELONG PROBLEM FOR HIM: ALCOHOL,
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
BUT THE BIGGEST THING THAT I ALWAYS SAW ABOUT MY BROTHER
WAS THAT HE WOULD NEVER TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING.
HE GOT MARRIED, HE HAD A CHILD, HE NEVER SUPPORTED THE CHILD.
WHEN THEY CAME AFTER HIM FOR CHILD SUPPORT, HE WOULD WORK FOR
PEOPLE FOR CASH SO THE GOVERNMENT COULDN'T FIND THAT HE
WAS WORKING AND TAKE HIS CHECK.
WE'D GET HIM IN TREATMENT PROGRAM AFTER TREATMENT PROGRAM
AND, JUST WHEN HE'D START TO GET A LITTLE BETTER AND THEY WOULD
START TO GIVE HIM A LITTLE, LISTEN TO THE WORD,
RESPONSIBILITY, THEN HE'D DECIDE THAT, "WELL, YOU KNOW, SIS,
THIS IS JUST NOT FOR ME.
THIS IS NOT ME."
SO HE LIVED WITH US FOR FOUR YEARS
AND WE TRIED TO TAKE CARE OF HIM AND HELPED HIM AND IF I SAID,
"DAVID, GET UP AND GO TO WORK," HE'D GET UP AND GO TO
WORK.
IF I SAID, "DAVID, DID YOU DO THIS," AND HE HADN'T DONE IT,
HE'D GO DO IT.
BUT IF SOMEBODY DIDN'T TELL HIM EVERYTHING TO DO, THEN HE JUST
DIDN'T DO ANYTHING.
SO I MARVEL THAT THE TWO OF US GREW UP IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD
WITH THE SAME TYPES OF PROBLEMS AND VERY SAD TO SAY THAT I GUESS
ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, HE ENDED UP COMMITTING SUICIDE AND I'M,
AT THE AGE OF 75, STILL PREACHING THE GOSPEL ALL OVER
THE WORLD.
NOW--
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: I'M NOT SAYING SOMETHING BAD ABOUT HIM AND
SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT ME, BUT I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT WE BOTH
HAD THE SAME OPPORTUNITY.
OTHERWISE, GOD IS SO GROSSLY UNFAIR, I MEAN, IF HE JUST SAYS,
"WELL, OKAY, YOU CAN MAKE IT BUT YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET OUT OF
BONDAGE, AND OH, THERE, OKAY, YOU CAN MAKE IT BUT, NO, YOU'RE
GONNA STAY IN BONDAGE ALL YOUR LIFE."
THE PROMISES OF GOD ARE FOR WHOSOEVER WILL--WHOSOEVER WILL
DO WHAT GOD TELLS THEM TO DO CAN HAVE WHAT GOD SAYS THEY
CAN HAVE.
GONNA SAY IT AGAIN.
WHOSOEVER DOES WHAT GOD TELLS THEM TO DO CAN HAVE WHATSOEVER
GOD SAYS THEY CAN HAVE.
ARE YOU GETTING IT?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I WANT YOU, WHEN THIS CONFERENCE IS OVER, TO GO HOME
AND HAVE A LONG MEETING WITH YOURSELF.
WE'RE ALWAYS HAVING MEETINGS BUT THE PERSON YOU NEED TO MEET
WITH THE MOST SOMETIMES IS YOU.
SO IF YOU'VE BEEN RUNNING PAST YOURSELF FOR
SO LONG, AVOIDING YOURSELF AND AVOIDING FACING SOME TRUTHS,
THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE YOU'RE AT ANYMORE, YOU NEED TO
SLOW DOWN, GET DOWN WITH YOURSELF, AND SAY, "OKAY, WHAT
AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE?" WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE?
WHERE AM I HEADED?
WITH WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW WHERE AM I LIKELY TO END UP
IN FIVE YEARS OR TEN YEARS?
DO I REALLY WANNA END UP IN THE DIRECTION THAT I'M HEADED IN
OR DO I WANNA MAKE SOME CHANGES NOW?
C'MON, SAY, "NOW."
DO I WANNA MAKE SOME CHANGES NOW?
YOU KNOW WHAT THE MOST DANGEROUS WORD IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS?
TOMORROW.
YOU KNOW, WHEN PHARAOH'S HOUSE WAS FULL OF FROGS, FROGS
IN THE BED, FROGS IN THE OVEN, FROGS EVERYWHERE, IF THEY HAD
A DRIVEWAY THERE WERE FROGS IN THE DRIVEWAY.
WHEN THEY PULLED THE CHARIOT OUT, IT WAS CRUNCH, CRUNCH,
CRUNCH.
FROGS, FROGS.
IMAGINE HAVING FROGS IN YOUR BED.
EVERYWHERE, YOU COULDN'T WALK WITHOUT STEPPING ON A FROG.
AND MOSES SAID, "TELL ME WHEN YOU WANT ME TO PRAY FOR THESE TO
GO AWAY AND I WILL PRAY AND THEY WILL GO AWAY."
AND PHARAOH OBVIOUSLY WAS MISSING SOMETHING ON TOP BECAUSE
HE SAID, "TOMORROW."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: NOW, WHAT KIND OF DUMB DO YOU HAVE TO BE IF--
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: IF YOU COULD NOT SLEEP WITH FROGS TONIGHT AND YOU CAN
JUST TAKE THAT WHEREVER YOU WANT TO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, C'MON, LADIES, LET ME JUST TAKE
A CHANCE ON MAKING YOU MAD.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SOME OF YOU MAY BE LIVING WITH SOMEBODY THAT IS
FROG, FROG, DOUBLE-FROG.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND THEY DON'T LOVE YOU.
THEY'RE USING YOU AND YOU ARE SO PETRIFIED OF NEVER HAVING
ANYBODY THAT YOU'RE STICKING WITH SOMETHING DUMB.
C'MON, GET RID OF THE FROG TODAY.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: SO NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE IN SOME OF YOUR LIVES.
I BELIEVE IT.
I COULD EASILY STAND HERE AND SAY, "THUS SAITH THE LORD:
NOW IS THE TIME FOR CHANGE."
I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS AN ANOINTING HERE TODAY FOR
PEOPLE TO MAKE DECISIONS.
THERE'S A GRACE HERE FOR GOD TO HELP YOU STICK WITH THOSE
DECISIONS BUT IT'S TIME TO START DOING THE THINGS THAT YOU
BELIEVE THAT GOD HAS TOLD YOU TO DO OR STOP DOING THE THINGS
HE HAS TOLD YOU TO STOP DOING.
IT'S TIME TO GET YOUR LIFE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,
AMEN.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: HERE'S A SCRIPTURE THAT SCARES ME A LITTLE,
IN A RIGHT WAY.
I HAVE A REVERENTIAL FEAR OF THIS SCRIPTURE.
ROMANS 14:12: "SO THEN EACH OF US WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT
OF HIMSELF TO GOD."
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE SOME SCRIPTURES THAT GIVE US
SOME REVERENTIAL FEAR.
THAT'S PART OF WHAT'S WRONG WITH PEOPLE TODAY.
THEY DON'T HAVE THE PROPER REVERENTIAL FEAR OF GOD.
YES, GOD IS OUR FRIEND BUT YOU CAN'T LOOK AT GOD LIKE YOUR
BUDDY THAT YOU JUST HANG OUT WITH, THAT JUST UNDERSTANDS YOU
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER.
NO, GOD IS GOD.
HE IS ALMIGHTY GOD AND HE MEANS WHAT HE SAYS AND WHEN HE SAYS TO
DO SOMETHING, WE BETTER DO IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND WE NEED A LITTLE MORE OF THAT HELLFIRE AND
BRIMSTONE PREACHING BACK THAT PEOPLE USED TO HAVE YEARS AGO.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SO I WAS READING SOMETHING THE OTHER DAY THAT
SAID, "TODAY PEOPLE THINK HELL EITHER DOESN'T EXIST OR THAT
IT'S JUST GONNA BE A PLACE THAT'S GONNA BE UNCOMFORTABLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: IT'S NO WONDER WE'VE GOT SO MANY WIMPY CHRISTIANS.
YOU GOTTA HAVE SOME REVERENTIAL FEAR OF GOD.
YOU GOTTA--YOU DON'T NEED TO BE AFRAID OF GOD.
HE LOVES YOU, HE'S NOT GONNA HURT YOU, BUT HE'S NOT TO BE
MESSED AROUND WITH EITHER.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "WE GET THE KINDNESS AND THE SEVERITY OF GOD,"
PAUL SAID.
WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES TO LIVE IN US, WE HAVE A GUIDE AND
A COMPANION FOR THE WHOLE REST OF OUR LIVES.
BUT NOW GET THIS.
WE HAVE A COMPANION THAT'S SMARTER THAN WE ARE.
AND HE'S IN US TO HOPEFULLY KEEP US GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
SO WE CAN HAVE THE THINGS THAT JESUS DIED FOR US TO HAVE.
THEY'RE ALL OURS BY RIGHT OF INHERITANCE BUT GOD IS NOT GOING
TO GIVE THE INHERITANCE THAT HE WANTS US TO HAVE TO A BUNCH OF
SPOILED BRATTY BABIES, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ANY PARENT KNOWS IF YOU'VE GOT ANY KIND OF
AN INHERITANCE TO LEAVE TO YOUR CHILDREN, YOU DON'T GO GIVE
A BUNCH OF MONEY TO A THREE-YEAR-OLD.
YOU PUT WHAT THEY HAVE WITH A TRUSTEE UNTIL THEY'RE OLD
ENOUGH TO GET IT.
WELL, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR TRUSTEE, AND JESUS SAID HE WILL
REVEAL EVERYTHING TO YOU THAT'S MINE.
HE WILL TRANSMIT IT TO YOU.
HE WILL MAKE IT WORK IN YOUR LIFE BUT IT'S AS WE MATURE
AND GROW UP IN GOD.
JOHN 16:13: "WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL GUIDE
YOU INTO ALL THE TRUTH."
BUT PLEASE REMEMBER, A LOT OF WHAT GOD'S GONNA HAVE TO SHOW
YOU IS STUFF ABOUT YOU THAT YOU DON'T WANNA SEE.
I WONDER--WELL, LET'S JUST ASK AND SEE WHAT WE GET.
WHY NOT?
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE HARD TO GET ALONG WITH?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, THEN, I GUESS YOU DON'T HAVE TO WONDER WHY YOU
DON'T HAVE MANY FRIENDS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HOW MANY OF YOU ARE CONTROLLERS?
YOU WANNA BE IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SEE?
THIS IS LIKE A FREE SESSION ON THE PSYCHIATRIST'S COUCH TODAY.
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: OKAY, NOW LISTEN.
IF WE KNOW THAT, WE KNOW--SEE, GOD SHOWED ME WHEN I WAS TALKING
TO HIM ABOUT CHANGING DAVE, HE SAID, "YOU'RE JUST HARD TO GET
ALONG WITH."
I REMEMBER WHEN DAVE FINALLY SAID TO ME ONE DAY,
HE SAID, "DO YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'VE TRIED TO DO THIS TO PLEASE YOU AND THAT TO PLEASE YOU AND
THIS TO PLEASE YOU AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO, YOU STILL FIND SOME
WAY TO BE UNHAPPY SO GUESS WHAT?
I'M DONE TRYING.
YOU CAN EITHER GET HAPPY OR YOU CAN STAY UNHAPPY BUT YOU'RE NOT
GONNA MAKE ME UNHAPPY ANYMORE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SERIOUSLY, HAVE A MEETING WITH YOURSELF.
BE BOLD.
WHAT KIND OF A PERSON AM I?
C'MON, GOD, LET'S HAVE A TRUTH SESSION.
AM I SELFISH OR AM I GENEROUS?
DO I--DO I REALLY ENJOY GIVING?
I FOUND OUT A TRUTH ABOUT ME LAST WEEK.
AT THIS AGE, I FOUND OUT SOMETHING ABOUT ME, AND I SAID
TO MY DAUGHTER WHO THEN BEGAN TO LAUGH VERY LOUDLY, I SAID, "DO
YOU KNOW WHAT, LAURA, I HAVE DISCOVERED ABOUT MYSELF?"
AND SHE SAID, "WHAT?" I SAID, "I DON'T LIKE TO BE
UNCOMFORTABLE."
AND SHE SAID, "REALLY?"
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT BEFORE?"
AND I SAID, "NO."
SEE, I DON'T LIKE TO BE HOT AND I DON'T LIKE TO BE COLD.
I WANT IT TO BE JUST RIGHT.
I LIKE A GOOD MATTRESS.
CAN'T DO WITH A MATTRESS THAT'S NOT GOOD.
AND THEN I ALSO REALIZED THAT WHEN I'M NOT COMFORTABLE
I USUALLY WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS I'M NOT
COMFORTABLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SO IF GOD DECIDED TO SHOW ME THAT, I HAVE A FEELING
THAT THE NEXT LESSON IS GONNA BE LEARN TO BE UNCOMFORTABLE
AND KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HOW MANY OF YOU THINK THAT YOU MAYBE HAVE A FEW MORE
THINGS TO LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF?
OKAY, NOW, IT'S NOT GOOD TO LIE TO A PREACHER SO I WANNA KNOW
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE GONNA GO HOME AND SOMETIME WITHIN
THE NEXT WEEK YOU'RE GONNA HAVE THAT MEETING WITH YOURSELF.
ALL RIGHT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T GROW SPIRITUALLY WITHOUT TRUTH.
BUT HERE AGAIN, IT'S JUST NOT SOME TRUTH.
YOU KNOW, WE LOVE IT WHEN GOD SHOWS US TRUTH ABOUT
SOMEBODY ELSE.
THAT DON'T HURT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BUT IT'S WHEN HE STARTS SHOWING US, YOU KNOW
WHAT, IT IS YOUR FAULT.
THERE'S ALWAYS THINGS THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING WRONG.
NOBODY'S SAYING THAT YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON IN THE BUILDING
THAT DOES ANYTHING WRONG.
BUT HERE'S THE THING.
WE CAN'T FIX THEM.
ONLY GOD CAN.
THE ONLY PERSON YOU CAN FIX IS YOU, AMEN?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND SO I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO IF I STAY BUSY
LETTING GOD WORK WITH ME, THEN HE'LL TAKE CARE OF THE OTHER
PEOPLE IN MY LIFE AND I DON'T NEED TO MAKE THEM MY PRIVATE
WORKSHOP THING.
"SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE IN ALL THINGS, BOTH IN SPEECH,
OUR LIVES EXPRESSING TRUTH.
LET US GROW UP IN ALL THINGS INTO HIM FOLLOWING HIS EXAMPLE
WHO IS THE HEAD THAT IS CHRIST JESUS."
FUNNY EXAMPLE.
YOUR CLOTHES GET TOO TIGHT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, YOU'RE NEVER EATING TOO MUCH.
WE KNOW THAT.
YOUR METABOLISM HAS GONE HAYWIRE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THE CLEANERS SHRUNK YOUR CLOTHES.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: SURELY, THE CLEANERS SHRUNK YOUR CLOTHES.
TRUTH IS ARMOR.
WHEN YOU START WALKING IN THE TRUTH, BEING TRUTHFUL WITH
YOURSELF ESPECIALLY IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
WHEN YOU START REALLY WALKING IN TRUTH, IT GIVES YOU AN ARMOR
AGAINST THE DEVIL.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE BELT OF TRUTH IS ONE OF THE PIECES OF
ARMOR THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.
NOW, WE KNOW THAT'S TALKING ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD.
BUT THE WORD OF GOD MUST BE APPLIED TO OUR LIVES.
AND SO IN EPHESIANS 6 IT SAYS THAT WHEN YOU'RE HAVING
PROBLEMS, YOU ARE TO TIGHTEN THE BELT OF TRUTH.
TIGHTEN IT.
IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU'RE GOING THROUGH SOMETHING TOUGH, YOU
BETTER HANG ON TO WHAT'S IN HERE LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER HUNG ON
BEFORE.
AND I'VE LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT PROBLEMS.
SHORT-TERM PROBLEMS ARE MUCH EASIER TO DEAL WITH THAN LONG,
LONG, VERY LONG, PROBLEMS.
OR WHEN YOU GET OVER ONE, AND ANOTHER ONE COMES RIGHT BACK.
AND YOU GET OVER ANOTHER ONE, AND ANOTHER ONE COMES
RIGHT BACK.
ANYBODY HERE FEEL LIKE YOU'VE JUST HAD A TRAIN OF PROBLEMS
LATELY?
WELL, I'VE HAD SOME STUFF GOING ON TOO, LET ME TELL YOU.
AND I'VE HAD TO HANG ON.
WE GOT TIME FOR ONE MORE.
I HAVE TEN OF THESE TODAY, BY THE WAY.
PSALM 51:6 SAYS: "BEHOLD, YOU DESIRE TRUTH IN
THE INNERMOST BEING."
SO WHAT'S OUR JOB FOR TODAY?
WE'RE GONNA BE HONEST WITH OURSELF ABOUT OURSELF, RIGHT?
AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA LEARN HOW TO SAY?
I WANT YOU TO LEARN HOW TO SAY THIS WITHOUT MUMBLING:
"I WAS WRONG.
AND I'M SORRY."
YOU MUMBLED.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU DID OKAY ON THE "I WAS WRONG," BUT
YOU WENT TO A LOW MUMBLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: C'MON, "I WAS WRONG, AND I'M SORRY."
THAT CAN SAVE MARRIAGES, IT CAN ENDEAR YOU TO PEOPLE.
YOU WILL BE ABSOLUTELY AMAZED HOW MUCH BETTER PEOPLE WILL LIKE
YOU IF YOU START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE THINGS
YOU DO WRONG AND STOP TRYING TO PUSH EVERYTHING OFF ON
SOMEBODY ELSE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: THE SECOND KEY TO BREAKTHROUGH: PRAY, OF COURSE,
'CAUSE YOU'RE GONNA NEED A LOT OF HELP WITH THIS ONE.
SO YOU WANNA PRAY FIRST.
BECAUSE THE NEXT KEY TO BREAKTHROUGH IS STOP FEELING
SORRY FOR YOURSELF.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: SELF-PITY.
THE DEVIL INVITES YOU TO A PITY PARTY AND YOU DECIDE TO GO.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU'VE BEEN THERE EVERY DAY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS.
YOU KNOW IT'S A MISERABLE PARTY BUT YOU GO AGAIN.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, WHO WOULDN'T WANNA SIT IN A DARK ROOM ALL DAY
AND CRY AND THINK ABOUT HOW BAD OFF YOU ARE?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WHAT COULD YOU FIND TO DO THAT WOULD BE ANY MORE FUN
THAN THAT?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I USED TO HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM WITH SELF-PITY.
"I WAS ABUSED.
I DIDN'T GET TO GO TO COLLEGE.
[MOANING]
DAVE'S OUT PLAYING GOLF AGAIN TODAY,"
ON AND ON AND ON.
AND I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY THIS BUT AS I WAS GROWING UP
IN GOD AND HE HAD GIVEN ME A MINISTRY AND I WAS WANTING THAT
TO GROW, I STILL WASTED A LOT OF MY TIME, YES, I SAID
"WASTED A LOT OF MY TIME," FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF.
IF A MEETING WASN'T BIG ENOUGH I FELT SORRY FOR MYSELF.
IF I WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING AND THE OPPORTUNITY
WENT TO SOMEBODY ELSE I'D FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF.
HOW MANY OF YOU WANNA SEE THE POWER OF GOD FLOWING THROUGH
YOUR LIFE?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WELL THEN, TODAY, YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP PITY.
SELF-PITY.
YOU KNOW WHY IT'S A PROBLEM?
BECAUSE IT'S IDOLATRY.
IT CAUSES US TO TURN IN ON OURSELVES AND EVERYTHING IS
ABOUT HOW I FEEL, WHAT I WANT, WHAT I'M NOT GETTING, WHAT
PEOPLE AREN'T DOING FOR ME, WHAT I'VE MISSED OUT ON IN LIFE.
WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING IS COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS, NOT
LOOKING AT ALL THE STUFF THAT SOMEBODY HAS NOT DONE FOR US.
LET ME READ YOU DEUTERONOMY 7:1-2:
"WHEN THE LORD YOUR GOD BRINGS YOU INTO THE LAND WHICH
YOU ARE ENTERING TO POSSESS AND HAS CLEARED AWAY MANY NATIONS
BEFORE YOU, THE HITTITES, THE GIRGASHITES, THE AMORITES,
THE CANAANITES, THE PERIZZITES, THE HIVITES, THE JEBUSITES," AND
WE'VE ALL GOT OUR OWN "ITES," THE GROUCHY NEIGHBORITES,
THE BAD BOSSITES, THE ACHING BACKITES, THE--WE'VE ALL
GOT 'EM.
NOW, LISTEN TO THIS.
"WHEN THE LORD YOUR GOD GIVES THEM OVER TO YOU AND YOU DEFEAT
THEM, THEN YOU SHALL UTTERLY DESTROY THEM.
YOU SHALL NOT MAKE A COVENANT (OR A TREATY) WITH THEM, NOR
SHALL YOU SHOW THEM MERCY OR COMPASSION."
NOW, I WANT TO APPLY THIS TO THIS THING ABOUT SELF-PITY
BUT YOU CAN APPLY IT TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS.
I KNEW THAT GOD HAD DEALT WITH ME ABOUT SELF-PITY.
I KNEW I NEEDED TO STOP DOING IT.
AND I FULLY INTENDED TO OBEY GOD BUT SOMETIMES I JUST WANTED TO
HAVE JUST ONE CUP OF COFFEE WITH PITY.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: BEFORE I HAD TO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF
AND ACT HAPPY ALL DAY.
I JUST WANTED A LITTLE BIT OF TIME AND GOD LED ME TO THIS
SCRIPTURE.
SAID, "YOU CAN'T HAVE PITY ON PITY.
YOU CAN'T HAVE COMPASSION ON PITY.
YOU CAN'T LET IT STAY AROUND FOR TWO SECONDS.
YOU HAVE TO UTTERLY DEFEAT IT AND DESTROY IT."
JOYCE: WELL, TRUTH IS THE MOST POWERFUL ARMOR THAT WE
HAVE AGAINST THE DEVIL.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU THE TRUTH ABOUT
YOURSELF AND THEN LEAN ON GOD TO SHOW YOU WHAT TO DO ABOUT
WHAT HE SHOWS YOU.
YOU KNOW, WE ALL NEED TRUTH BUT IT'S THE TRUTH ABOUT US
THAT HELPS US.
DON'T EVER BE AFRAID TO FACE TRUTH.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING YOU A BOOK FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY OF
ANY AMOUNT.
THE BOOK IS CALLED, "NEVER GIVE UP!"
I TELL YOU, I HONESTLY BELIEVE IF YOU'LL BE THE KIND OF PERSON
WHO JUST SAYS, "I AM NOT GONNA GIVE UP," THAT YOU WILL HAVE
VICTORY IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.
BUT WE HAVE TO LEARN TO TAKE 100% RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR
LIFE, STOP MAKING EXCUSES, AND EVEN IF WHERE YOU'RE AT RIGHT
NOW MAYBE WASN'T YOUR FAULT, IT'S THE RESULT OF THINGS THAT
HAVE HAPPENED THAT YOU HAD NO CONTROL OVER OR SOMEBODY HURT
YOU, STILL IF YOU DON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHERE YOU'RE
AT NOW, YOU'LL NEVER GET OUT OF THAT PLACE.
SO BE WILLING AND READY TO HEAR FROM GOD AND TO DO WHAT HE SHOWS
YOU TO DO AND YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A BREAKTHROUGH.
AND GET THIS BOOK, "NEVER GIVE UP!"
YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY OF ANY AMOUNT.
ALL WE ASK IS THAT YOU DO YOUR BEST.
LEARN TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR LIFE AND DO WHAT GOD SHOWS
YOU TO DO AND YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A BREAKTHROUGH.
GOD BLESS YOU.
JAMIE: THIS BOOK HELPED ME OVERCOME SO MANY OBSTACLES.
IT ALSO INSPIRED ME TO RUN MY FIRST MARATHON.
SUMMER: I GOT THIS BOOK IN THE BEGINNING OF MY JOURNEY
INTO RECOVERY.
IT HELD ME UP AND HELPED ME PERSEVERE THROUGH THE STRUGGLE
OF STAYING CLEAN.
GEORGETTE: THIS BOOK HELPED ME THROUGH SO MUCH AND WHENEVER
I START TO GIVE UP, I READ IT AGAIN.
ANNOUNCER: "NEVER GIVE UP!" PROVIDES SOLID BIBLICAL TOOLS
TO HELP YOU FACE ALL OF LIFE'S CHALLENGES.
PACKED WITH EXAMPLES OF REAL-LIFE PEOPLE WHO PREVAILED
IN THE MOST DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS INSPIRING
BOOK WILL ENCOURAGE YOU WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE ALL THE ODDS ARE
AGAINST YOU.
IT'S A BOOK YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF TURNING TO AGAIN AND AGAIN.
AND IT'S AVAILABLE TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT OF ANY AMOUNT.
TO ORDER, CALL US TOLL-FREE...
OR VISIT US AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
ANNOUNCER: YOUR SUMMER MAKEOVER CONTINUES RIGHT HERE ON
"ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE."
TUNE IN THROUGH THE MONTH OF AUGUST FOR SHOWS DESIGNED TO
BRING OUT THE NEW YOU.
THE SUMMER MAKEOVER.
SIGN UP TODAY AT JOYCEMEYER.ORG AND TUNE IN TO
"ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE."
ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED TODAY'S PROGRAM.
PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG TO SHARE YOUR
PRAYER REQUESTS, SEE THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE,
OR PARTNER WITH US IN SHARING CHRIST AND LOVING PEOPLE
ALL ACROSS THE GLOBE.
THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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