>> ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR
BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
>> [MUSIC]
>> JOYCE: ARE YOUR THOUGHTS HELPING YOU WALK IN THE FREEDOM
THAT CHRIST DIED TO GIVE YOU?
OR ARE THEY KEEPING YOU IN BONDAGE TO PERHAPS
YOUR PAST?
WATCH THIS TEACHING ON HOW THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIOR ARE
RELATED, AND LATER I'LL ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS
ON THIS IMPORTANT TOPIC.
>> JOYCE: PHILIPPIANS 4:5, PAUL SAID TO THE PHILIPPIANS,
"LIVE UNSELFISHLY, FOR THE LORD IS NEAR."
I LOVE THAT.
THAT WAS--THAT WAS WHY HE'S SAYING, "OKAY, STRAIGHTEN UP.
IT'S TIME TO GET IT RIGHT.
IT'S TIME TO QUIT MAKING EXCUSES.
IT'S TIME TO QUIT BEING SILLY.
IT'S TIME TO GET OFF THE FENCE.
IT'S TIME TO BE RED HOT, ON FIRE.
THE LORD IS NEAR."
>> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
HE'S NEAR, HE'S COMING SOON.
IF THERE'S EVER BEEN A TIME TO GET VERY SERIOUS
ABOUT OUR WALK WITH GOD, THIS IS THE TIME.
AND I'LL JUST TELL YOU THIS.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD THAT, YES, THEY LOVE GOD,
BUT THEY'RE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR WALK WITH GOD.
AND WE'RE GOING TO SAY THAT'S NONE OF YOU, IT'S ONLY
THE PEOPLE WATCHING BY TV.
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
YEAH, YOU WERE WATCHING IT BEFORE YOU GOT HERE,
AND YOU'RE GOING TO GO HOME WATCHING SOME MORE, AMEN?
COLOSSIANS 3:2, "SET YOUR MIND AND KEEP IT SET."
MAKE YOUR MIND UP.
MAKE YOUR MIND UP TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF YOURSELF.
MAKE YOUR MIND UP TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH.
YOU WANT ME TO MEDDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES?
>> [AUDIENCE CHEERING]
MAKE YOUR MIND UP TO STOP LIVING ON JUNK FOOD.
YOU SURE YOU WANT ME TO MEDDLE?
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
YOU SAY, "WELL, WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE BIBLE?"
IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE BIBLE.
GOD EVEN TELLS US WHAT TO EAT AND WHAT NOT TO EAT
IN THE BIBLE.
AND PAUL SAID, "I BUFFET MY BODY."
HE DID NOT SAY, "I BUFFET [BUH-FEY] MY BODY."
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BEAR
THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT.
YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUIT.
JUST KINDNESS IS SO AMAZING, SO AMAZING.
PATIENCE IS SO AMAZING.
I GOT A WAYS TO GO WITH THAT.
PATIENCE IS SO AMAZING, AND I HAVE IT IN ME.
I'M PREGNANT WITH PATIENCE.
I JUST HAVEN'T FULLY GIVEN BIRTH YET.
>> [AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE PREGNANT WITH SOME FEW THINGS YOU HAVEN'T
FULLY GIVEN BIRTH TO YET?
BUT WE'RE GOING TO BEAR DOWN AND PUSH.
>> [AUDIENCE CHEERING]
COME ON.
YOU KNOW, THE HOLY GHOST SAYS, "COME ON, HONEY, YOU CAN DO IT.
I'M YOUR COACH, PUSH."
SET YOUR MIND AND KEEP IT SET.
EPHESIANS 4:22, "STRIP YOURSELVES
OF YOUR FORMER NATURE [PUT OFF AND DISCARD
YOUR OLD UNRENEWED SELF] WHICH CHARACTERIZED
YOUR PREVIOUS MANNER OF LIFE AND BECOMES CORRUPT
THROUGH LUSTS AND DESIRES THAT SPRING FROM DELUSION.
AND BE CONSTANTLY RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR MIND
[HAVING A FRESH MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL ATTITUDE]
AND PUT ON THE NEW NATURE (THE REGENERATE SELF)
CREATED IN GOD'S IMAGE."
SO, WHAT'S THIS SAYING?
PUT OFF THE OLD MAN, PUT ON THE NEW MAN.
AND THE WAY YOU DO IT IS THROUGH CONTINUALLY, DAY AFTER DAY,
RENEWING YOUR MIND AND YOUR ATTITUDE.
OKAY, NOW LISTEN.
I COULD DO THIS FOR ANOTHER 2 HOURS,
BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE TIME, AND SO I'M GOING TO TRY TO WRAP
THIS UP FOR YOU REAL QUICK.
YOU WANT TO CHANGE, I WANT TO CHANGE,
BUT BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION DOES NOT COME
THROUGH STRUGGLE AND EFFORT.
ALTHOUGH WE DO NEED TO MAKE A DECISION, WE CANNOT DO IT
WITHOUT GOD'S HELP.
AND ACTUALLY, HE IS THE ONE WHO CHANGES US.
AND WHEN WE CHANGE, HE SHOULD BE THE ONE THAT GETS ALL
THE CREDIT AND ALL THE GLORY.
BUT NONETHELESS, WE DO HAVE TO WANT IT.
AND WE DO HAVE TO BE WILLING SOMETIMES TO SACRIFICE
OR TO MAYBE GO THROUGH A FEW THINGS
THAT ARE NOT REAL EASY IN ORDER TO GET IT.
YOU KNOW, GOD GETTING US TO DO THINGS HIS WAY SOMETIMES TAKES
A LITTLE BIT OF DEALING WITH US IN OUR LIFE.
GOD TOLD JONAH TO GO TO NINEVEH, HE WENT TO TARSHISH.
HE GOT ON A SHIP, HE WAS GOING TO GET AS FAR AWAY FROM GOD
AS HE COULD.
LO AND BEHOLD, A BIG STORM COMES UP.
THE STORM GOT SO BAD THAT THE MEN THREW HIM OVERBOARD.
GOD PREPARED A BIG FISH TO SWALLOW HIM.
THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS, HE'S IN THE BELLY OF THE FISH.
WELL, HE GOT TIRED OF THAT REAL QUICK, AND HE PRAYED.
AND THE FISH SPIT HIM OUT.
AND GOD SHOWED UP AGAIN AND SAID THE SAME THING TO HIM THAT HE
DID BEFORE HIS BAD TRIP, "GO TO NINEVEH."
SO, WE CAN DO THIS THE EASY WAY OR THE HARD WAY.
YOU CAN GO TO THE FISH'S BELLY BEFORE YOU TO GO TO NINEVEH,
OR YOU CAN JUST DO IT THE FIRST TIME THAT GOD SAYS
TO DO IT, AMEN?
>> [AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN WRESTLING WITH GOD ABOUT
SOMETHING, JUST TRYING TO GET HIM TO CHANGE HIS MIND,
JUST, "THIS IS TOO HARD, I CAN'T DO THIS"?
COME ON, IT'S-- MOST OF THE ROOM.
OKAY, LOOK AT ME AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
GOD'S GOING TO GET HIS WAY.
AND YOU CAN MAKE IT HARD OR EASY.
THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
GOD'S GOING TO GET HIS WAY, YOU CAN MAKE IT HARD OR EASY.
WELL, IF YOU CAN'T CHANGE YOURSELF BY TRYING,
HOW CAN YOU CHANGE YOURSELF?
"GOD, YOU'RE RIGHT, I WANT TO BE EVERYTHING
YOU WANT ME TO BE, AND I CAN'T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.
HELP ME."
AND THEN WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO IS COMMIT
TO STUDYING THE WORD.
AND I SUGGEST STUDYING THE WORD IN THE AREA WHERE
YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS.
YOU KNOW WHAT, IF YOU'VE GOT A BAD TEMPER,
STUDYING ON PROSPERITY IS NOT WHAT YOU NEED.
IT'S NOT JUST RANDOM, THE WORD OF GOD IS MEDICINE.
IT'S MEDICINE FOR YOUR SOUL.
THE WORD OF GOD HAS THE POWER TO CHANGE US, TO SAVE OUR SOULS.
OUR SPIRIT IS GOOD, IT'S OUR SOULS
THAT NEED HELP.
ARE YOU WITH ME?
HOW MANY OF YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR MIND?
HOW ABOUT HELP WITH YOUR MOUTH?
HOW ABOUT HELP WITH YOUR BEHAVIOR?
HOW MANY OF YOU ARE A LITTLE SELFISH,
YOU NEED TO GET BEYOND THAT?
OKAY, WELL, THEN EVERYTHING THAT WE NEED
FOR EVERY SPECIFIC PROBLEM, THERE'S A BUNCH OF SCRIPTURES
IN THE BIBLE ABOUT THAT SITUATION.
USE THE CONCORDANCE IN THE BACK OF YOUR BIBLE.
IF YOU'RE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING, GO LOOK IT UP,
AND THEN LOOK UP EVERY SCRIPTURE, READ IT,
COMMIT IT TO-- WELL, YOU DON'T EVEN
REALLY HAVE TO, "I'M GOING TO MEMORIZE THIS."
IF YOU READ IT ENOUGH, YOU WILL MEMORIZE IT.
WRITE THEM OUT IN LONGHAND, STUDY THEM, LOOK UP
THE MEANINGS OF THEM.
LOOK UP THE MEANINGS.
USE A REGULAR DICTIONARY.
STUDY.
DON'T JUST READ, STUDY.
JAMES 1:21, "SO GET RID OF ALL UNCLEANNESS
AND THE RAMPANT OUTGROWTH OF WICKEDNESS, AND IN A HUMBLE
(GENTLE, MODEST) SPIRIT RECEIVE AND WELCOME
THE WORD WHICH IMPLANTED AND ROOTED [IN YOUR HEARTS]
CONTAINS THE POWER TO SAVE YOUR SOULS."
THIS HAS THE POWER.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHY?
THIS IS JESUS, THE WORD MADE FLESH,
WHO CAME TO DWELL AMONG US.
JESUS IS THE WORD, THE WORD IS JESUS.
THE POWER OF THE HOLY GHOST IS IN THIS BOOK.
YOU KNOW THAT?
YOU DIDN'T SPEND A WEEKEND SITTING OUT THERE,
LISTENING TO THREE PEOPLE TALK, TALK, TALK, TALK, TALK,
TALK, TALK, TALK, TALK, TALK JUST BECAUSE WE'RE JUST TALKING.
THIS STUFF IS GOING BEYOND YOUR BRAIN, AND GETTING DOWN
INTO YOUR SPIRITS, AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY FEEL
SOMETHING HAPPENING.
WE'RE BEING EDUCATED WAY BEYOND OUR BRAIN.
DESIRE IS BEING BIRTHED IN YOU.
DETERMINATION IS BEING BIRTHED IN YOU.
VISION IS BEING BIRTHED IN YOU.
HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE MORE SINCE YOU CAME IN HERE
THAN YOU EVER HAVE THAT YOU CAN HAVE A DIFFERENT LIFE
THAN WHAT YOU'VE BEEN HAVING, THAT THINGS CAN BE MUCH BETTER
THAN WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN?
>> [AUDIENCE CHEERING]
AMEN.
NOW, WATCH THIS.
IT HAS THE POWER TO SAVE YOUR SOULS.
"BUT BE DOERS OF THE WORD [OBEY THE MESSAGE]
AND NOT JUST A LISTENER, BETRAYING YOURSELVES
[INTO DECEPTION, WHICH IS REASONING CONTRARY
TO THE TRUTH]"
LEARN HOW TO MEDITATE ON THE WORD.
LEARN HOW TO SPEAK THE WORD.
GET THAT LIST THAT I TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT'S GOT THE 48 THINGS
ON IT ABOUT WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST OFF OF THE INTERNET.
I COUNTED THEM TODAY, 48 DIFFERENT THINGS.
START CONFESSING THOSE THINGS EVERY DAY.
BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE,
AND THEN IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, YOU WILL BECOME WHAT
YOU BELIEVE.
WHAT YOU BELIEVE BECOMES YOUR REALITY.
>> [MUSIC]
>> JOYCE: WELL, I HOPE THE TEACHING TODAY
WAS VERY HELPFUL TO YOU.
AND NOW GINGER JOINS WITH ME TO ANSWER SOME
OF YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THOUGHT LIFE.
WELL, WE SHOULD NOT RUN OUT OF QUESTIONS TODAY.
>> GINGER: THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
IT'S SUCH A BIG TOPIC, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE
NEVER FINISH RENEWING OUR MIND.
IT'S AN ONGOING PROCESS, SO THERE'S ALWAYS
SOMETHING NEW THAT COMES UP.
WE HAVE GREAT QUESTIONS FROM PEOPLE NEEDING SOME HELP.
TANELLE FROM TEXAS SAYS, "I FEEL A LOT OF PRESSURE
AND FEAR OF FAILURE
WHEN IT COMES TO RENEWING MY MIND.
WHEN I MAKE MISTAKES, IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME TO RECOVER
AND NOT FEEL CONDEMNED.
SO, HOW DO YOU RENEW YOUR MIND BUT STILL BE HAPPY WITH YOURSELF
EVEN WHEN YOU'RE NOT PERFECT?" >> JOYCE: YOU KNOW,
JUST THIS MORNING GOD WAS DEALING WITH ME
ABOUT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS, WHICH YOU KNOW,
I THINK FOR MOST OF US, IT'S A REGULAR
OR A SEMI-REGULAR THING.
AND I'VE REALLY COME TO APPRECIATE THAT,
AND NOT LET THAT BOTHER ME OR CONDEMN ME.
AND THE THING THAT I WAS THINKING THIS MORNING,
AND I HOPE THAT THIS WILL HELP THE WOMAN
ASKING THE QUESTION IS THAT
EVEN THOUGH I HAVE AN AREA OR TWO OR THREE WHERE GOD IS
SHOWING ME THAT I NEED TO COME UP HIGHER,
OR THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M DOING SOMETHING WRONG,
I KNOW THAT EVEN DURING THAT,
HE STILL LOVES ME COMPLETELY.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT SO MANY OF THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE
DEAL WITH, INSECURITY, FEAR OF FAILURE,
FEARS OF REJECTION, I REALLY BELIEVE
IT'S CONNECTED TO NOT BEING 100% SURE THAT GOD
LOVES US UNCONDITIONALLY.
AND I WAS KIND OF THINKING ABOUT THAT WORD "UNCONDITIONALLY."
AND I THINK THAT WE'VE THROWN THAT WORD AROUND SO MUCH
THAT MAYBE IT JUST KIND OF PASSES OUR--WE DON'T GRASP IT
LIKE WE SHOULD.
AND SO, WHEN I THOUGHT THAT THIS MORNING,
EVEN IN THE MIDST OF DEALING WITH THIS--
AND IT WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THOUGHTS.
IT WAS SOMETHING ABOUT THOUGHTS AND THE WAY I THINK ABOUT SOME
PEOPLE THAT WOULD TEND TO ANNOY ME.
>> GINGER: WHICH WE ALL DEAL WITH ALL THE TIME.
>> JOYCE: AND I THOUGHT, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THIS, GOD STILL LOVES ME COMPLETELY."
I KIND OF LIKE THE WORD "COMPLETELY."
YOU KNOW, HE-- THERE'S NEVER A MOMENT
IN OUR LIVES, GINGER, WHEN GOD DOESN'T LOVE US.
HE DOESN'T--I MEAN, HE DOESN'T WANT US
TO DO WRONG THINGS BECAUSE IT HURTS US.
I MEAN, YES, MAYBE IT HURTS HIM, TOO, BUT IT HURTS US,
AND IT HURTS OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE.
AND SO, WHEN GOD CORRECTS US,
I MEAN, THE BIBLE SAYS IN HEBREWS 12 THAT IT'S ALWAYS
BECAUSE HE LOVES US.
AND I THINK IF PEOPLE CAN JUST REMEMBER THAT WE'RE
NOT ON SOME KIND OF A MISSION TO BUY GOD'S LOVE
ALL THE TIME WITH OUR PERFECT BEHAVIOR,
THEN YOU CAN EVEN RECEIVE CORRECTION WITH JOY
BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT IT'S FOR YOUR BENEFIT.
>> GINGER: AND IT'S REALLY THAT HE CARES MORE
ABOUT OUR PROGRESS THAN HE DOES ABOUT OUR FAILURES
ALONG THE WAY.
>> JOYCE: ABSOLUTELY.
>> GINGER: WE HAVE TO HAVE THOSE.
>> JOYCE: AND HE WANTS US TO CELEBRATE THAT,
NOT GET SO FOCUSED ON WHAT YOU DO WRONG
THAT YOU DON'T SEE HOW MUCH YOU'VE CHANGED.
>> GINGER: RIGHT, CELEBRATING THAT PROGRESS, GREAT.
THIS IS A QUESTION FROM LOUISIANA.
AND THEY SAY, "MY BACKGROUND IS LIKE YOURS, EXCEPT I HAD
AN ALCOHOLIC MOTHER ALSO.
I GREW UP NEVER KNOWING WHAT LOVE WAS.
NOW, AS A CHRISTIAN, I KNOW I HAVE BEEN SAVED
IN MY HEAD, BUT HOW DO I CHANGE MY THOUGHTS
SO THAT I FEEL IT IN MY HEART?" >> JOYCE: THE ONLY WAY TO CHANGE
OUR THOUGHTS--AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, EVEN TO SAY,
"HOW DO I CHANGE MY THOUGHTS?"
IT'S SOMETHING THAT GOD HAS TO HELP US DO.
I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T HAVE A PART IN IT,
BECAUSE THE BIBLE DOES SAY THAT WE ARE TO CAST DOWN
WRONG THOUGHTS.
BUT EVERYTHING GOES BACK TO IT'S NOT JUST THAT I NEED
TO RENEW MY MIND, BUT MY MIND IS RENEWED
THROUGH STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD.
>> GINGER: THAT'S AN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE.
>> JOYCE: YEAH, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY,
BECAUSE THE WORD IS TRUTH, AND IT HAS POWER.
AND THOUGHTS THAT DON'T AGREE WITH THE WORD ARE LIES.
AND THEY HAVE POWER, TOO, BUT NEGATIVE POWER.
AND EVERYTHING THAT GOD OFFERS ALWAYS TRUMPS ANYTHING
THE ENEMY GIVES US.
SO, INSTEAD OF FIGHTING WITH THOUGHTS AND--
LET'S JUST SAY THAT I'M HAVING ALL THESE THOUGHTS
ABOUT SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY DID THAT HURT ME.
AND I JUST KEEP HAVING ANGRY THOUGHTS,
AND I KEEP HAVING THOUGHTS OF REVENGE,
AND I KEEP HAVING THOUGHTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW,
SELF-PITYING THOUGHTS OR WHATEVER.
THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TREATED ME THAT WAY.
I DON'T THINK THAT I CAN JUST FIGHT THAT.
I THINK THAT WE FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH
WITH THE WORD OF GOD.
THAT IS THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT.
AND SO, WHAT I WOULD DO IN A SITUATION LIKE THAT,
IF I WAS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
I WOULD CERTAINLY PRAY.
AND IF I DIDN'T GET A BREAKTHROUGH
JUST FROM PRAYER, THEN I WOULD PURPOSELY
LOOK UP SCRIPTURES THAT I KNEW THAT WERE TELLING ME
THAT ANGER DOESN'T PROMOTE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS
THAT GOD DESERVES, AND THAT GOD IS MY--
GOD IS THE ONE WHO BRINGS JUSTICE IN MY LIFE.
HE IS MY RECOMPENSE.
I CAN TRUST HIM TO DO THOSE THINGS.
AND I HAVE FOUND FOR ME THAT THE POWER THAT'S
IN THE WORD IS WHAT WILL CALM MY SOUL DOWN.
AND MY MIND IS PART OF MY SOUL.
AND THEN SOMETIMES I JUST HAVE TO TALK TO MYSELF A LITTLE BIT
USING SCRIPTURE AND JUST SAY, "WELL, YOU KNOW, JOYCE,
YOU DON'T DO EVERYTHING RIGHT EITHER.
AND THERE'S TIMES WHEN YOU HURT PEOPLE'S FEELINGS
AND PROBABLY DON'T EVEN KNOW IT.
AND YOU KNOW, JOYCE, GOD FORGIVES YOU UMPTEEN TIMES
EVERY DAY, SO YOU CAN FORGIVE SOMEBODY ELSE."
SO, WE HAVE TO LET THE WORD DO THE RENEWING OF OUR MIND.
>> GINGER: YEAH, VERY GOOD.
AND THAT ACTUALLY ANSWERED THE NEXT QUESTION PERFECTLY,
BECAUSE SHE WAS ASKING, WHAT ARE THOSE PRACTICAL STEPS?
IS IT--IS IT READING THE BIBLE?
IS IT BEING DILIGENT?
IS IT TRUSTING THE HOLY SPIRIT?
AND IT'S ALL THOSE THINGS.
>> JOYCE: YEAH, AND LET ME JUST SAY THAT READING THE BIBLE
I DON'T THINK IS OUR ANSWER.
I'VE SEEN THIS SO CLEARLY IN THE LAST 2 YEARS,
ESPECIALLY THAT I NEED TO KEEP BRINGING THAT TO PEOPLE.
IT'S NOT JUST READING THE BIBLE.
I MEAN, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT THAT PHRASE ALMOST
AGGRAVATES ME ANYMORE BECAUSE WE HEAR THAT
ALL THE TIME, "DO YOU READ YOUR BIBLE?
DO YOU READ YOUR BIBLE?" BUT WE NEED TO STUDY THE BIBLE.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN JUST GLANCING OVER SOMETHING, OR EVEN
PERHAPS READING IT JUST TO-- >> GINGER: I DID IT.
>> JOYCE: YEAH, JUST TO SAY I DID IT OR--
>> GINGER: GOT THAT DONE TODAY.
>> JOYCE: HURRY UP, GOT THAT DONE TODAY.
THERE'S A DIFFERENCE IN THAT AND STUDYING.
AND I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, AND I JUST FEEL LIKE
WE SHOULD SAY THIS TODAY, IF YOU'RE HAVING PROBLEMS
WITH YOUR MIND, FIRST OF ALL,
GOD'S THE ONE THAT HAS TO MAKE THE CHANGES IN US.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE DON'T HAVE ANY PART IN IT,
BECAUSE WE OBVIOUSLY DO.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT YOU HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON
THAT--I MEAN, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I HAVE A BAD THOUGHT,
AND I CAN JUST CAST IT DOWN AND GO ON ABOUT MY BUSINESS.
BUT THERE ARE TIMES, TOO, WHEN MAYBE IF THERE'S
A REAL STRONG EMOTION INVOLVED, OR IT'S A LIFETIME HABIT,
THEN I'M GOING TO NEED A LITTLE MORE HELP
THAN JUST CASTING DOWN, BECAUSE I CAN CAST DOWN,
IT'LL COME BACK 500 TIMES A DAY.
SO, THAT'S WHEN I NEED TO GO TO THE WORD
AND STUDY IN THE AREA WHERE I'M HAVING THE PROBLEM.
I THINK A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE JUST TRY TO BUCKSHOT
APPLY THE WORD.
AND IT HAS TO BE IN THE AREA WHERE WE'RE HAVING THE PROBLEM.
I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, YOU KNOW, IF I'VE GOT
A BAD TEMPER, READING A BOOK ON SUCCESS
IS NOT GOING TO HELP MY TEMPER.
I NEED TO STUDY IN THE AREA
WHERE I'M HAVING A PROBLEM.
IF I HAVE A HEADACHE, I DON'T STICK A BANDAID
ON MY HEAD.
SO, WE NEED TO GET SMART ENOUGH TO APPLY
THE WORD JUST LIKE IT WAS MEDICINE FOR OUR SOUL.
>> GINGER: SO, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DIGGING IN.
I MEAN, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO TAKE LIGHTLY,
BECAUSE IT'S LIFE-CHANGING.
SO, WHEN GOD GIVES US ALL OF THESE TOOLS,
HE GIVES US HIS HOLY SPIRIT, HE GIVES US HIS WORD.
SO, WE NEED TO TAKE THAT STANCE OF I'M GOING TO DO
WHAT IT TAKES TO LET HIM HELP ME THROUGH THIS.
>> JOYCE: YEAH, SOMETHING I'M THINKING RIGHT NOW
THAT PEOPLE COULD DO,
OKAY, INSTEAD OF GETTING A SERIES OF MY CDS
AND JUST LISTENING TO THEM WHILE YOU'RE RIDING IN THE CAR,
WHICH THAT'S GREAT, YOU KNOW.
NEVER HURTS US TO LISTEN MORE THAN ONCE,
LISTEN TO IT GOING TO WORK AND COMING HOME.
BUT IF YOU'RE REALLY STRUGGLING IN AN AREA,
SIT DOWN WITH THOSE CDS, GET YOUR BIBLE OUT,
GET SOME PAPER OUT.
AND EVERY TIME I MENTION A SCRIPTURE, EVEN IF I QUOTE IT,
OPEN YOUR BIBLE AND LOOK AT IT.
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT LOOKING AT IT
THAT HELPS GET IT IN YOU.
EVEN WHEN I'M STUDYING TO PREACH, IF IT'S SOMETHING
THAT I'VE PREACHED TEN TIMES BEFORE,
I STILL GET MY BIBLE OUT, AND I LOOK AT THE SCRIPTURES,
BECAUSE THERE'S POWER IN THAT WORD.
>> GINGER: AND FOR ME, IT'S WRITING IT DOWN TOO.
SOMETHING ABOUT WRITING IT ON A PIECE OF PAPER
MAKES ME REMEMBER IT, MAKES ME THINK ABOUT IT
IN A DEEPER WAY.
>> JOYCE: I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.
AND SOMETIMES EVEN JUST TO LOOK UP DEFINITIONS OF WORDS
ARE HELPFUL.
SO, I THINK THAT-- I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO THINK
THAT STUDY THE BIBLE IS SO OMINOUS THAT, OH,
WELL I--YOU KNOW, I CAN'T DO THAT.
THERE IS SO MUCH INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US TODAY THAT
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE REALLY FOR ANYBODY NOT
TO KNOW THE WORD.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TAKING THE TIME.
>> GINGER: IT'S AN INVESTMENT.
>> JOYCE: IT IS AN INVESTMENT.
>> GINGER: YEAH.
I LOVE THIS QUESTION BECAUSE THIS REALLY TAKES IT DOWN
TO THE VERY BASICS THAT ARE SO IMPORTANT.
THIS QUESTION COMES FROM NEW YORK, AND THEY SAY,
"I WOULD LOVE SOME ADVICE ON A SIMPLE WAY
TO TALK ABOUT OUR THOUGHTS AND RENEWING OUR MIND
WITH OUR CHILDREN, IN MY CASE A 9 YEAR OLD."
THE EARLIER WE START, THE BETTER OFF WE ARE.
SO, HOW DO WE EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS THAT GOD HELPS US WITH?
>> JOYCE: WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A QUESTION I'VE
NEVER HAD TO ANSWER, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE
STRICTLY A LEAN ON GOD THING.
I THINK MAYBE THE FIRST THING TO DO WOULD BE TO HELP
YOUR CHILDREN REALIZE THAT THEY DO HAVE
A CONVERSATION GOING ON IN THEIR HEAD ALL THE TIME.
I THINK THAT A LOT OF TIMES, EVEN FOR ME AS AN ADULT,
I HAD NO IDEA THE EFFECT THAT MY THOUGHTS
WERE HAVING ON ME.
I MEAN, I GUESS I KNEW THAT I HAD THOUGHTS,
BUT NOBODY HAD EVER-- I'D NEVER TALKED
ABOUT HAVING THOUGHTS.
IT WAS JUST SOMETHING I HAD ALL MY LIFE,
BUT WASN'T REALLY PAYING ANY-- I MEAN, I WASN'T--
>> GINGER: JUST HAPPENS.
>> JOYCE: YEAH, I WASN'T EVEN AWARE THAT MY THOUGHTS
COULD MAKE ME MISERABLE, THEY COULD MAKE ME HAPPY.
SO, I THINK THE FIRST THING TO DO IS TO MAKE THEM
AWARE THAT THEY HAVE THOUGHTS ALL THE TIME,
AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE.
AND SO, LET'S JUST SAY MAYBE THEN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THINGS
THAT HAPPEN.
LIKE, IF YOUR CHILD GETS MAD AT SOMEBODY,
THEN TALK TO THEM ABOUT, "NOW, WHAT KIND OF THINGS
ARE YOU THINKING RIGHT NOW ABOUT THIS PERSON?
AND YOU COULD CHOOSE TO THINK SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
SO, INSTEAD OF THINKING, 'I'M MAD AT THEM,'
LET'S WRITE ON A PIECE OF PAPER, 'I FORGIVE MY FRIEND
FOR HURTING MY FEELINGS.'"
AND THEN YOU CAN EVEN, "WE'LL SAY THAT TOGETHER
OUT LOUD SIX OR SEVEN TIMES A DAY, AND IT WILL HELP YOU
RENEW YOUR MIND."
SO, I THINK MAYBE APPLYING THAT TO CERTAIN INSTANCES.
AND TO MAKE THAT PART OF WHAT YOU TALK ABOUT
IN YOUR HOME ON SOME KIND OF A SEMI-REGULAR BASIS.
NOT THAT YOU HAVE TO JUST TALK ABOUT THOUGHTS ALL DAY LONG,
BUT THOUGHTS AND WORDS, WOW.
I WAS THINKING THIS MORNING, I THOUGHT--
OH, IT WAS YESTERDAY.
I WAS WALKING, AND I WAS PRAYING,
AND I THOUGHT, "LORD, WOULDN'T IT BE AWESOME
IF I COULD JUST RECALL EVERY NEGATIVE, UNKIND,
WRONG THOUGHT THAT I'VE EVER HAD,"
I MEAN WORDS THAT I'VE SPOKEN IN MY WHOLE LIFE.
AMAZING, JUST IMAGINE HOW THAT WOULD CHANGE OUR LIVES.
AND OF COURSE, WE CAN'T RECALL THEM ALL,
BUT WE CAN START MAKING CHANGES AND DOING THINGS RIGHT
SO IT WILL TAKE OVER THE HARVEST OF WHAT WE'VE DONE WRONG
IN THE PAST.
>> GINGER: OH, I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD ANSWER.
I MEAN, IT'S SO HELPFUL NOT ONLY FOR A 9 YEAR OLD,
BUT FOR ANY OF US.
IT'S JUST GREAT TO UNDERSTAND THE POWER NOT ONLY
OF OUR THOUGHTS, BUT THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
TO HELP US CHANGE OUR ENTIRE OUTLOOK,
THE WAY THAT WE DEAL WITH EVERYTHING BY BEING
JUST IMMERSED IN GOD'S WORD.
>> JOYCE: AND WE DO HAVE NOT ONLY
"BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND," BUT WE HAVE
"BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND FOR TEENAGERS,"
AND WE HAVE "BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND
FOR KIDS."
AND SO WE TRIED TO BRING IT DOWN TO A LEVEL THAT
A YOUNGER CHILD COULD UNDERSTAND,
FOCUSING ON THE THINGS THAT THEY MIGHT BE DEALING WITH.
SO, I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THE PERSON WHO ASKED
THE QUESTION WAS AWARE OF THAT, SO.
>> GINGER: YEAH, AND THEY'RE AVAILABLE ONLINE.
>> JOYCE: I THINK WE'RE OUT OF TIME, IS THAT RIGHT?
>> GINGER: YOU DID GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> JOYCE: TODAY WE'RE OFFERING YOU SOME HELP WITH THAT BATTLE
THAT GOES ON IN THE MIND, AND IT'S THE "BATTLEFIELD
OF THE MIND BIBLE" HARDCOVER EDITION.
THIS IS THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE FULL OF ARTICLES
AND TEACHING NOTES AND QUOTES AND PRAYERS
AND THINGS THAT ARE ALL GOING TO HELP YOU
NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS,
BUT SPECIFICALLY WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS
ABOUT YOUR MIND AND YOUR THOUGHTS
AND YOUR EMOTIONS AND HOW ALL OF THAT
PLAYS OUT IN OUR LIFE.
SO, I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO GET YOURSELF
A COPY OF THIS TODAY, BECAUSE IT CAN'T BE ANYTHING
OTHER THAN A BLESSING IN YOUR LIFE.
>> ANNOUNCER: NEW FROM JOYCE MEYER,
A STUDY BIBLE DESIGNED TO HELP YOU RENEW YOUR THOUGHTS,
"THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND BIBLE."
WITH INSIGHT FROM JOYCE'S BESTSELLING BOOK
"BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND," PAIRED WITH THE SCRIPTURES
THAT INSPIRED THEM, EXPLORE GOD'S WORD
IN A DEEPER WAY TO HELP YOU LEARN TO THINK HOW GOD THINKS,
GAIN PRACTICAL TRUTHS FOR OVERCOMING LIFE'S CHALLENGES,
TRAIN YOUR MIND FOR ULTIMATE VICTORY, AND MORE.
"THE BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND BIBLE,"
RENEW YOUR MIND THROUGH THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD
FROM JOYCE MEYER.
RECEIVE YOUR COPY TODAY FOR YOUR GIFT OF...
CALL...
OR GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
>> [MUSIC]
>> FEMALE: HOW DO I TRUST GOD WHEN I'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED
OVER AND OVER AND OVER?
>> FEMALE: HOW CAN I HAVE FAITH IN GOD WHEN I'M NOT SEEING
AN IMPROVEMENT?
>> MALE: I TRUST GOD, BUT SOMETIMES I HAVE
SO MANY FEARS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
>> [MUSIC]
>> [MUSIC]
>> JOYCE: WELL, WE ARE VERY HONORED
TO HAVE RUTH GRAHAM JOINING US THIS YEAR
AS ONE OF OUR GUEST SPEAKERS AT THE LOVE LIFE
WOMEN'S CONFERENCE.
WELL, RUTH, BEING THE DAUGHTER OF BILLY GRAHAM,
I'M SURE THAT YOU'VE HAD LOTS OF DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES,
A LOT OF WONDERFUL ONES, AND MAYBE SOME CHALLENGING ONES.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE SHARING
WITH SOME OF THE WOMEN THAT WILL BE AT THE CONFERENCE
THIS YEAR?
>> RUTH: WELL, I THINK SO MANY OF US FEEL LIKE WE HAVE
TO KEEP MASKS ON.
WE CAN'T BE WHO WE REALLY ARE.
AND SO I TRY TO BE WHO I REALLY AM.
AND SO OFTEN THAT GIVES PEOPLE PERMISSION TO BE
WHO THEY REALLY ARE.
AND GOD--THAT'S WHERE MINISTRY TAKES PLACE,
SO I'M EXPECTING MINISTRY TO TAKE PLACE.
>> JOYCE: WELL, THIS IS GOING TO BE A POWERFUL WEEKEND,
AND I REALLY DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS IT.
SO, INVITE SOME FRIENDS, REGISTER TODAY.
DON'T PUT IT OFF.
>> [MUSIC]
>> GINGER: RIGHT NOW WE ARE IN TANZANIA.
AND THIS IS AN AREA THAT IS SO FAR OUT IN THE BUSH,
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW WE GOT HERE.
WE GOT A LITTLE BIT LOST ON THE WAY, BUT WE'VE HAD
A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE HERE.
THIS IS OUR BASE CAMP, AND FROM HERE,
WE'RE JUST A SHORT WALK OVER TO A WATER WELL
THAT WAS DUG IN THIS AREA.
ALONGSIDE THAT WELL, YOU HELPED US BUILD A SCHOOL,
WHERE MANY CHILDREN ARE NOW LEARNING.
AND BESIDE THAT SCHOOL, YOU HELPED US BUILD A CHURCH
WHERE THE GOSPEL MESSAGE IS FLOWING FREELY.
IT IS SO EXCITING TO SEE WHAT GOD IS DOING HERE,
AND WE NEED YOU TO KNOW WHAT A BIG PART OF IT YOU ARE.
WE ARE JUST SO BLESSED THAT GOD ALLOWS US TO BE
A PART OF THESE AMAZING MOMENTS THAT WE WOULD NOT TRADE
FOR ANYTHING.
>> ANNOUNCER: YOU MEAN MORE TO US AT JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES
THAN YOU MAY EVER KNOW.
WE APPRECIATE YOU, AND WE THANK OUR FRIENDS
AND PARTNERS FOR MAKING THIS WORLDWIDE MINISTRY POSSIBLE.
TOGETHER, WE'RE FEEDING THE HUNGRY, CLOTHING THE POOR,
AND PRESENTING THE GOSPEL TO THE NATIONS.
PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG TODAY
TO SHARE YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS, FIND OUT MORE
ABOUT OUR RESOURCES, SEE JOYCE'S CONFERENCE SCHEDULE,
AND TO JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE GLOBE.
>> [MUSIC]
>> ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR BY THE FRIENDS
AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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