ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: SEE SOMETHING BEYOND WHERE YOU'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
HAVE A HOPE.
HAVE AN EXPECTANCY.
BELIEVE THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.
BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO GET BETTER.
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WELL, I'VE HAD THE WONDERFUL PRIVILEGE OF WRITING
ANOTHER BOOK, AND IT'S CALLED, "20 WAYS TO MAKE
EVERY DAY BETTER."
YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A REALLY PRACTICAL, HELPFUL BOOK THAT'S
JUST FULL OF LITTLE THINGS, JUST LITTLE ADJUSTMENTS THAT YOU CAN
MAKE THAT CAN ACTUALLY TURN A BAD DAY INTO A BETTER DAY.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES, TO BE HONEST, WE'RE HAVING A BAD DAY AND WE
DON'T EVEN REALLY KNOW WHY.
WE'RE JUST MOVING THROUGH LIFE SO FAST THAT WE DON'T EVEN
REALLY TAKE THE TIME TO SAY, "NOW, WHY AM I IN A BAD MOOD?
WHY AM I HAVING SUCH A BAD DAY?
WHY AM I UPSET?" I'VE BEEN FINDING OUT, IF I STOP
AND JUST KINDA STAY ON THINGS FOR A LITTLE BIT JUST TO ASK GOD
FOR SOME DISCERNMENT, THAT HE CAN SHOW ME THINGS ABOUT WHY
THINGS ARE GOING CERTAIN WAYS THAT THEN HELPS ME TO MAKE
A CHANGE.
SO, ONE OF THE CHAPTERS THAT WE TALK ABOUT, OR ONE OF THE THINGS
WE TALK ABOUT IN THIS BOOK, IS NOT GIVING INTO DREAD.
NOW, DREAD IS A VERY CLOSE RELATIVE, I SAY, TO FEAR.
AND WE ALL KNOW THAT FEAR BRINGS TORMENT, IT'S TERRIBLE, IT TRIES
TO HOLD YOU BACK FROM WHAT YOU REALLY WANNA DO.
BUT YOU KNOW, DREAD IS REAL--IT'S NOT EXACTLY THE SAME
THING, BUT IT'S REAL CLOSE TO IT.
AND I'VE REALLY LET THE HOLY SPIRIT
WORK WITH ME OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS TO LEARN
HOW TO NOT DREAD THINGS, ESPECIALLY THINGS THAT I KNOW
THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO DO ANYWAY.
NOW, WE ALL HAVE THINGS IN LIFE THAT ARE A LITTLE MORE PLEASANT
TO US THAN OTHER THINGS.
THERE'S PROBABLY NOT ONE OF YOU WATCHING RIGHT NOW THAT COULDN'T
NAME SEVERAL THINGS THAT YOU DREAD.
I MEAN, PEOPLE DREAD CLEANING THE HOUSE.
THEY DREAD CUTTING THE GRASS.
A MOM MIGHT DREAD CHANGING A DIRTY DIAPER.
YOU MIGHT DREAD DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY THINGS THAT WE CAN DREAD, BUT REALLY,
IF YOU DREAD IT, IT JUST KINDA TAKES THE LIFE OUT OF IT, AND WE
CAN WORK IT OUT TO BE SOMETHING IN OUR MIND THAT'S SO MUCH WORSE
THAN WHAT IT'S ACTUALLY GONNA BE IF WE WOULD JUST BE IN FAITH
UNTIL WE GOT THERE AND THEN JUST TRUST GOD'S GRACE TO MOVE US
THROUGH IT.
SO, ONE OF THE THINGS FOR ME--AND I NOTICE THIS ALL THE
TIME, BUT THIS IS JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED AGAIN THIS
MORNING, SO I THOUGHT I'D TALK ABOUT IT.
I'M COMMITTED TO EXERCISING.
I KNOW THAT I WILL NOT BE STRONG FOR THE REST OF MY JOURNEY WITH
GOD AND TO DO THE MINISTRY THAT HE'S CALLED ME TO IF I DON'T GET
ENOUGH PHYSICAL EXERCISE.
SO, I WORK OUT WITH A TRAINER 3 DAYS A WEEK, AND I ALSO WALK,
GENERALLY, 5 MILES EVERY DAY, UNLESS FOR SOME REASON
I JUST CAN'T DO IT.
WELL, I WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND I REALLY FELT LIKE I COULD'VE
STAYED IN BED FOR QUITE A WHILE LONGER, AND IT WASN'T THAT
I DIDN'T GET ENOUGH SLEEP.
I ACTUALLY SLEPT 8 1/2 HOURS, BUT IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE
MORNINGS WHERE I THINK I COULD'VE SLEPT 10 HOURS IF I
WOULD'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY.
I WAS HAVING A REAL HARD TIME WANTING TO GET UP.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOUR FLESH LOVES TO TRY TO TALK TO YOU REAL
EARLY IN THE MORNING AND KIND OF SET YOU UP FOR A BAD DAY.
SO, YOU GOTTA BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE THOUGHTS THAT GO THROUGH
YOUR MIND, ESPECIALLY REAL EARLY.
AND SO, THE THING THAT I FELT, "OH MY GOSH,
THIS IS A WORKOUT DAY."
AND I HAD TO START EXTRA EARLY SO I COULD GET TO THE TV STUDIO
TODAY TO DO EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING RIGHT NOW.
SO, THIS DREAD CAME, AND I'VE LEARNED, THANK GOD, AND I HOPE
HE ALWAYS CONTINUES TO REMIND ME, THAT DREADING IT IS ONLY
GOING TO MAKE IT WORSE.
AND SO, WHEN YOU FEEL DREAD COMING ON, WHY NOT JUST OPEN
YOUR MOUTH AND SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
I CAN DO WHATEVER I NEED TO DO THROUGH CHRIST WHO IS
MY STRENGTH.
HE WILL GIVE ME THE GRACE TO DO WHAT I NEED TO DO WHEN I'M
ACTUALLY AT THE POINT OF NEEDING TO DO IT."
THERE'S NO POINT IN DREADING GOING TO THE DENTIST.
YOU KNOW, I HAVE A MEDICAL APPOINTMENT THIS AFTERNOON, AND
IT'S GONNA INVOLVE SOME KIND OF PROCEDURE THAT COULD BE A LITTLE
PAINFUL, AND I'M NOT JUST JUMPING UP AND DOWN ABOUT THAT.
I MEAN, I'VE FOUND MYSELF A FEW TIMES THINKING, "UGH," BUT YOU
KNOW, AS SOON AS I FEEL MY EMOTIONS GOING INTO THAT, "UGH,"
I'VE LEARNED TO SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
GOD'S GONNA GIVE ME THE GRACE I NEED WHEN I GET TO IT."
I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WE DREAD THINGS OR EVEN BECOME AFRAID OF
THEM BECAUSE WE'RE LOOKING WAY AHEAD AT SOMETHING THAT HASN'T
HAPPENED YET, AND GOD DOESN'T ALWAYS GIVE US GRACE TO PUT IN
THE BANK TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED.
HE WANTS US TO TRUST HIM AND TO DO THINGS IN FAITH, BELIEVING
THAT WHEN WE ACTUALLY GET TO IT THAT HE'LL GIVE US THE GRACE,
THE CONFIDENCE, THE STRENGTH, THE WISDOM, THE CREATIVITY.
WHATEVER IT IS THAT WE NEED, HE'LL GIVE US WHAT WE NEED AT
THE MOMENT THAT WE ARRIVE TO DO IT.
SO YOU KNOW WHAT?
DON'T ALLOW DREAD TO RUN YOUR LIFE AND YOU'LL HAVE A MUCH
BETTER DAY.
GOD BLESS YOU.
[MUSIC]
[MUSIC]
JOYCE: WE HEAR GOD'S VOICE THROUGH HIS WORD,
THROUGH INNER PEACE.
GOD SAYS, "I WILL SPEAK PEACE TO MY PEOPLE."
THROUGH WISDOM AND COMMON SENSE.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS THAT WE HEAR FROM GOD.
YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT NOT BE THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED,
BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, IF YOU'VE GOT COMMON SENSE--
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I MEAN, 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE
A STRING OF DEGREES A MILE LONG AND THEY DON'T HAVE 1 OUNCE OF
COMMON SENSE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETIMES THE MORE EDUCATION
PEOPLE GET, THE DUMBER THEY ARE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: AND THEN, GOD SPEAKS TO US THROUGH THE INTERNAL,
STILL SMALL VOICE THAT CAN OFTEN SOUND LIKE YOUR OWN VOICE,
BUT YET YOU HAVE A KNOWING, A KNOWING THAT IT'S GOD.
I WAS WALKING AROUND THE OTHER DAY, JUST--I'D HAD MY TIME WITH
GOD AND THIS WAS A COUPLE HOURS LATER, AND I WAS JUST WALKING
AROUND DOING SOMETHING, AND I JUST HEARD CLEARLY THE LORD SAY,
"I LOVE YOU."
YOU SAY, "WELL, HOW DO YOU KNOW IT WAS GOD?"
WELL, FOR ONE THING, IT CAME FROM HERE.
IT DIDN'T COME FROM HERE.
AND IF I WAS JUST WANTING TO MAKE STUFF UP, I MEAN,
I COULD'VE MADE THAT UP AN HOUR BEFORE THEN.
I WASN'T LOOKING FOR ANYTHING.
I WASN'T EXPECTING ANYTHING.
AND LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, WHEN GOD SPEAKS THINGS LIKE THAT
TO YOU, YOU NEED TO NOT BE IN SUCH A BIG HURRY THAT YOU DON'T
TAKE A MOMENT TO ENJOY THAT.
I MEAN, I JUST STOPPED AND THOUGHT, "OH!"
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND THEN A LITTLE BIT LATER, IT WASN'T EVEN 5 MINUTES,
I HEARD HIM SAY A SECOND THING, "TRUST ME."
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, ONE WORD FROM GOD CAN CHANGE
YOUR LIFE FOREVER.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: YOU'RE THINKING, "WELL, I WISH I HEARD FROM GOD
LIKE THAT..."
THAT'S NOT WHY WE'RE HERE.
WE'RE HERE FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN HAVE
A CONVERSATIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
NOW, I'M NOT ENCOURAGING YOU TO LISTEN TO VOICES.
SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE THAT IN LIFE AND GOT YOURSELF
IN A LOT OF TROUBLE.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, YOU MIGHT BE IN COUNSELING NOW FOR HEARING
VOICES, I DON'T KNOW.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: ANYTHING THAT WE HEAR MUST LINE UP WITH THE WRITTEN
WORD OF GOD.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: IT MUST LINE UP WITH THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD.
A WOMAN GOT UP IN ONE OF MY CONFERENCES.
SHE WAS OVER IN THAT SECTION OF THE BUILDING OVER THERE.
BUT I KNOW NONE OF YOU ARE LIKE THIS.
AND WHILE I'M TALKING, SHE GETS UP AND DECIDES TO START TALKING.
SO, SHE'S YELLING, YELLING.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, SHE'S SAYING THINGS THAT WEREN'T EVEN TRUE.
"JESUS IS NOT THE WORD OF GOD!" AND I'M LIKE--YOU JUST HAVE
NO IDEA HOW MUCH FUN IT IS TO BE TRYING TO LEAD SOMETHING LIKE
THIS AND SOMEBODY DOES THAT.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU JUST LIKE EVERYBODY...YOU KNOW.
AND OF COURSE, SHE WOULDN'T STOP, WOULDN'T STOP,
WOULDN'T STOP.
I SAID, "WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU ARE NOT HEARING FROM GOD.
YOU ARE OUT OF ORDER BECAUSE GOD IS NOT GONNA TALK THROUGH ME
AND YOU AT THE SAME TIME."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AND SHE JUST KEPT GOING ON AND ON.
WELL, THEN WE FINALLY HAD TO ACTUALLY REMOVE HER FROM
THE MEETING.
AND HERE'S THE SAD THING, THAT WOMAN THOUGHT SHE WAS
HEARING FROM GOD.
BUT SEE, YOU CAN'T THINK THAT IF YOU KNOW THE WORD.
NOBODY WHO'S EVER READ THE WORD IS GONNA STAND UP AND START
TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING THEY THINK IS FROM GOD IN THE MIDDLE
OF WHEN THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE MEETING IS TEACHING.
THAT JUST DOES NOT HAPPEN.
"WELL, I JUST COULDN'T HELP IT.
I JUST COULDN'T HELP IT.
GOD JUST CAME OVER ME.
I COULDN'T HELP IT."
WELL, THAT'S NOT SCRIPTURAL EITHER, 'CAUSE THE BIBLE SAYS
THAT WE'RE IN CONTROL OF WHAT WE SAY.
SO, ANYWAY, MOVING ON PAST THAT.
GOD SPEAKS THROUGH PEOPLE.
HE'D RATHER SPEAK TO YOU HIMSELF, BUT IF YOU DON'T
LISTEN--
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: HE SPEAKS THROUGH NATURE, THROUGH THE CONVICTION
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THROUGH CONFIRMATION IN YOUR SPIRIT.
YOU JUST--IT'S LIKE, "YEP, THAT'S RIGHT.
THAT'S RIGHT."
THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND GOD SPEAKS THROUGH SIMPLY GUIDING US.
HE JUST GUIDES US.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU WAIT FOR GOD TO SPEAK TO YOU, HE DOESN'T
ALWAYS SAY SOMETHING.
THAT'S WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THEY'RE NOT HEARING FROM GOD.
I THINK IF YOU LIVE WITH ONE EAR TUNED TOWARD GOD, ALWAYS WANTING
TO HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY, AND YOU ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE DAY, THEN LIKE PROVERBS 3 SAYS, "ACKNOWLEDGE
HIM IN ALL YOUR WAYS AND HE WILL DIRECT YOUR STEPS."
SO, WHAT THAT MEANS IS YOU MAY DO SOMETHING DURING THE DAY.
YOU MAY HAVE PRAYED FOR GOD TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING.
AND YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE PRAY ABOUT THINGS, WE FORGET WE EVEN
PRAYED, DON'T WE?
AND THEN, MAYBE A DAY OR TWO LATER, OR 3 DAYS LATER, YOU
GET--YOU'RE JUST LIKE, "I KNOW!" AND YOU THINK YOU GOT
A GOOD IDEA.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WELL, LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION.
IF YOU HAD A GOOD IDEA THAT NOW SOLVED YOUR PROBLEM, WHY DIDN'T
YOU HAVE IT 4 DAYS AGO BEFORE GOD HAD TO GET INVOLVED?
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I JUST THINK OUR LIFE WOULD BE SO MUCH MORE EXCITING
IF WE REALLY REALIZED HOW MUCH GOD IS INVOLVED.
AMEN?
ALL RIGHT, NUMBER TWO, 'CAUSE WE'RE NOT GETTING VERY FAR.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: WHICH IS PRETTY NORMAL FOR ME.
IF YOU WANNA IMPROVE A BAD DAY, HAVE A BIG DREAM.
AND I DON'T MEAN GO TO SLEEP, AND HAVE A NAP, AND HAVE THAT
KIND OF DREAM.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I MEAN SEE SOMETHING BEYOND WHERE YOU'RE AT
RIGHT NOW.
SEE SOMETHING BEYOND WHERE YOU'RE AT RIGHT NOW.
HAVE A HOPE.
HAVE AN EXPECTANCY.
BELIEVE THAT THINGS ARE GOING TO CHANGE.
BELIEVE THEY'RE GOING TO GET BETTER.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WHEN WE WERE YOUNG AND WE DIDN'T HAVE HARDLY ANY
MONEY--WHICH BY THE WAY, LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, WHEN YOU'RE
YOUNG, IT'S KINDA GOOD FOR YOU TO GO THROUGH THAT.
YOU PROBABLY DON'T LIKE ME SAYING THAT, BUT IT'S THE TRUTH,
BECAUSE YOU APPRECIATE WHAT YOU HAVE SO MUCH MORE IF YOU HAD TO
SPEND PART OF YOUR LIFE NOT HAVING IT.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: WE MAKE IT TOO EASY FOR PEOPLE TODAY AND THEY DON'T
HAVE TO WANT FOR ANYTHING FOR VERY LONG.
AND SADLY, THEN THEY END UP WITH AN ENTITLEMENT ATTITUDE THINKING
EVERYTHING IS DUE THEM INSTEAD OF FEELING LIKE THAT THEY
ACTUALLY SHOULD WORK FOR IT FOR AWHILE, WHICH IS
A BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE.
SO, DON'T EVER JUST BE TOO AGGRAVATED AT GOD IF HE MAKES
YOU WAIT A LITTLE LONGER THAN YOU'D LIKE TO WAIT.
IT MIGHT END UP BEING REALLY GOOD FOR YOU.
BUT WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH MONEY, SO WHEN I WENT TO THE GROCERY
STORE, I MEAN, I HAD TO BE SUPER, SUPER CAREFUL.
COUPONS, CALCULATORS, JUST REALLY MAKING POSITIVE THAT I
DIDN'T GO OVER MY--BACK THEN WE HAD $70 FOR EVERY 2 WEEKS FOR
GROCERIES, AND THAT WOULDN'T GET YOU VERY FAR TODAY, BUT WHEN
DAVE AND I FIRST GOT MARRIED, THAT WAS--IF YOU SHOPPED
CAREFULLY.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, YOU BOUGHT A LOT OF CHICKEN
AND A LOT OF HAMBURGER.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THERE WAS NO BUYING STEAK.
THERE WAS NO BUYING THE TOP NAME BRAND, 'CAUSE IF IT WAS
10 OR 20 CENTS MORE, YOU NEEDED TO SAVE THAT 10 OR 20 CENTS.
AND I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED LEARNING ABOUT FAITH,
AND TRUSTING GOD, AND BELIEVING GOD FOR THINGS, AND HOW POWERFUL
MY WORDS WERE, I CAN REMEMBER GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE,
AND THINKING AND SAYING UNDER MY BREATH, "SOMEDAY, I'M GONNA BE
ABLE TO WALK IN THIS STORE, AND I'M GONNA BUY ANYTHING I WANT,
AND I'M NOT EVEN GONNA LOOK AT THE PRICES."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
SO, IT HELPS YOU, IF YOU'RE NOT IN A GREAT PLACE, TO THINK ABOUT
THE DAY WHEN THINGS ARE GOING TO GET BETTER, 'CAUSE YOU KNOW
WHAT?
IF YOU STICK WITH GOD, THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY CANNOT
GET BETTER.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: IT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.
"THE PATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS GROWS BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER
EVERY DAY."
AND GOD DELIVERS US FROM OUR ENEMIES LITTLE BY LITTLE.
DON'T THROW IN THE TOWEL JUST YET.
A MAN OVERHEAD SEVERAL CHILDREN WHO WERE PLAYING TOGETHER,
ASKING ONE ANOTHER, "WHAT DO YOU WANNA BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?"
AND THEY ALL HAD AN ANSWER.
ONE SAID, "I WANNA BE A VETERINARIAN."
ANOTHER WANTED TO BE A VIDEO PROGRAMMER.
ANOTHER, A NURSE.
ANOTHER, A HOCKEY PLAYER.
ONE EVEN WANTED TO BE A WORSHIP LEADER.
NOW, WE KNOW, WITH CHILDREN, WHAT THEY WANNA BE CHANGES FROM
DAY TO DAY, BUT I HAVE 11 GRANDCHILDREN, AND YOU KNOW,
YOU ASK THEM ALL WHEN THEY'RE LITTLE.
I MEAN, WE'VE GOT ONE THAT'S 2, AND YOU KNOW, BOY THAT'S 7,
AND ONE THAT'S 9.
AND SO, I SAY, "WHAT DO YOU WANNA BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?"
AND IT MIGHT BE DIFFERENT EVERY MONTH, BUT THEY'VE GOT SOMETHING
THEY WANNA BE.
VERY FEW CHILDREN WILL SAY, "PROBABLY NOTHING."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "PROBABLY NOT MUCH OF ANYTHING.
NAH."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW, DON'T LET LIFE MAKE YOU SOUR.
DON'T LET IT CAUSE YOU TO LOSE YOUR ABILITY TO DREAM BIG.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: I STILL REMEMBER WHEN MY FATHER WAS SEXUALLY ABUSING
ME, AND I WOULD LAY IN MY BED AS A TEENAGER, NEVER KNOWING WHEN
HE MIGHT COME THROUGH THE DOOR AGAIN.
I REMEMBER LAYING IN MY BED THINKING, "SOMEDAY, I'M GONNA DO
SOMETHING GREAT."
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "SOMEDAY, I'M GONNA DO SOMETHING GREAT."
[AUDIENCE CHEERING]
JOYCE: NOW YOU'RE GONNA MAKE ME CRY.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: BUT SEE, I'M TELLING YOU THAT BECAUSE I WANT YOU TO
HAVE THE SAME DREAM.
GOD DOESN'T HAVE FAVORITES.
HIS PROMISES ARE FOR WHOSOEVER WILL BELIEVE THOSE PROMISES
AND WALK THEM OUT IN THEIR LIFE.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: PLEASE DO NOT DISCOUNT YOURSELF AND THINK BECAUSE YOU
HAD SOMETHING BAD HAPPEN TO YOU THAT NOW YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO
ALWAYS HAVE A SECOND-RATE LIFE.
BUT IT WILL BE THAT WAY IF YOU DON'T HAVE A DREAM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: A LOT OF ADULTS STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.
A 1-YEAR-OLD THINKS THEY KNOW WHAT THEY WANT.
IT MAY CHANGE FROM DAY TO DAY, BUT THEY'VE GOT SOMETHING.
A LOT OF ADULTS, YOU CAN SAY, "WELL, YOU KNOW, WHAT DO YOU
WANNA DO WITH YOUR LIFE?" "I DUNNO."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "I DON'T KNOW.
I WISH I COULD HEAR FROM GOD."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: OR THEY DO KNOW, WHICH IS EVEN WORSE, AND AS SOON AS IT
GETS A LITTLE TOUGH, THEY GIVE UP.
THE BIBLE TELLS US IN MATTHEW 18 TO BECOME LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN.
I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD HURT ANY OF US JUST TO BECOME
A LITTLE BIT MORE CHILD-LIKE.
I THINK WE NEED TO PLAY A LITTLE MORE.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO RECESS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: I DON'T GET IT.
IN GRADE SCHOOL, WE GOT A RECESS.
SOON AS YOU GOT TO HIGH SCHOOL, RECESS WAS OVER.
SEEMS TO ME LIKE THE OLDER YOU GET, THE MORE RECESS YOU NEED.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: OKAY, TO SEE DREAMS COME TRUE, WE HAVE TO HAVE
GOALS.
ACTUALLY, I'LL TELL ABOUT MY FRIEND, PENNY.
SHE'S BEEN LOSING A LOT OF WEIGHT AND DAVE SAID TO HER
TONIGHT COMING OVER HERE, "WHAT'S YOUR GOAL?"
AND SHE SAID, "OH, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ONE."
I SAID, "YOU WILL AFTER YOU HEAR ME TONIGHT."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: HERE'S THE THING.
IMAGINE YOU'RE A WORLD-CLASS OLYMPIC ARCHER, AND YOU'VE BEEN
PRACTICING FOR YEARS PERFECTING YOUR CRAFT.
WHEN YOU HAVE A TARGET IN FRONT OF YOU AND A BOW IN YOUR HAND,
THERE'S NOBODY BETTER THAN YOU ARE.
YOU FINALLY MADE IT TO THE OLYMPICS.
THE GOLD MEDAL IS WITHIN YOUR GRASP.
YOU STEP UP TO COMPETE.
THE CAMERAS ARE ON YOU.
YOU HAVE YOUR BOW IN ONE HAND, AN ARROW IN THE OTHER, AND
THERE'S NO TARGET TO SHOOT AT.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: THE JUDGE SAYS, "OH, NO TARGETS NECESSARY.
JUST SHOOT AT WHATEVER YOU'D LIKE."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S THE WAY A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE THEIR LIFE.
YOU GET UP EVERY DAY, YOU'RE JUST SHOOTING AT ANYTHING.
NOT YOU.
I KNOW IT'S NOT YOU.
WE'RE JUST-- WE'RE JUST TALKING
IN GENERAL TERMS.
MAYBE THERE'S SOMEBODY WATCHING TELEVISION THAT NEEDS THIS.
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: YOU'LL END UP WITH A WASTED, FRUITLESS,
MISERABLE LIFE.
EVERY DAY, YOU GOTTA SHOOT AT SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW, YOUR GOAL MAY CHANGE AS TIME GOES BY, BUT YOU NEED
TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE AIMING AT EVERY DAY.
IF YOU DON'T ALWAYS HIT THE MARK, YOU DON'T HAVE
TO GET DISCOURAGED.
BUT I HAVE GOT SOME KIND OF A PLAN EVERY DAY.
I LET GOD CHANGE MY PLAN WHEN HE WANTS TO.
I'M NOT LEGALISTIC AND RIGID ABOUT IT.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, IF I REST ALL DAY, IT'S BECAUSE
I PLAN TO REST ALL DAY.
I'M NOT GONNA BE CONTROLLED BY THE COUCH WHERE I'VE GOTTA PLAN
TO CLEAN MY HOUSE, AND I WALK BY THE COUCH AND THINK,
"OH, I'M JUST GONNA LAY--" I LAY DOWN HERE
AND THEN I NEVER GET UP.
OKAY, MOVING ON.
JOHN MAXWELL SAYS, "A DREAM WITHOUT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE
PRODUCES A DAYDREAMER.
A POSITIVE ATTITUDE WITHOUT A DREAM PRODUCES A PLEASANT PERSON
WHO NEVER MAKES ANY PROGRESS."
[AUDIENCE LAUGHING]
JOYCE: "A DREAM TOGETHER WITH A POSITIVE ATTITUDE PRODUCES
A PERSON WITH UNLIMITED POSSIBILITY AND POTENTIAL."
YOU KNOW, YOUR ATTITUDE DETERMINES HOW FAR YOU CAN GO
IN LIFE.
DREAMS BECOME REALITY WHEN WE GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH WITH GOD.
NUMBER THREE, DECIDE TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
ANY TIME THAT YOU'RE HAVING A BAD DAY, HONESTLY AND TRULY,
IF YOU'RE HAVING A BAD DAY, THE MORE YOU SIT AROUND AND THINK
ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR PROBLEM, THE WORSE YOUR DAY IS GOING
TO GET.
PRAY FOR SOMEBODY YOU KNOW THAT'S HURTING.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT, WHEN YOU'RE SICK OR YOU GOT PAIN IN
YOUR BODY, PRAY FOR EVERYBODY YOU KNOW THAT'S SICK OR GOT
ANYTHING WRONG WITH 'EM.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: AMEN?
NOW, IF YOU'RE GONNA HELP SOMEBODY WHEN YOU'RE HAVING
A BAD DAY, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IT ON PURPOSE.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA DO IT 'CAUSE YOU FEEL LIKE IT.
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE BEHIND
WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT HERE.
IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.
IT'S MORE BLESSED TO REACH OUT AND HELP SOMEBODY ELSE EVEN THAN
IT IS TO GET WHAT WE WANT.
YOU'RE THINKING, "WELL, HOW CAN THAT BE POSSIBLE?"
I DON'T KNOW, BUT IT WORKS.
AND NOT ONLY THAT, I'M SO FOND--TWO SCRIPTURES
IN THE BIBLE I JUST LOVE TO TALK ABOUT
WHEN I TALK ABOUT THIS ISSUE, AND ONE OF 'EM IS PSALM 37:3,
"TRUST IN THE LORD, AND DO GOOD, AND YOU'LL BE DELIVERED."
NOT JUST "TRUST GOD," BUT "TRUST GOD, AND DO GOOD."
AND THEN SECONDLY, ROMANS 12:21, "WE OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD."
ALWAYS CARE FOR OTHERS.
IT'S AN INTERESTING BIBLE STUDY JUST TO LOOK UP IN A CONCORDANCE
EVERYTHING THAT THE NEW TESTAMENT--EVERY PLACE
IT USES THE WORD "OTHERS."
HELP OTHERS, ENCOURAGE OTHERS, GIVE TO OTHERS, SERVE OTHERS.
IT DOESN'T SAY NEARLY AS MUCH ABOUT SELF, SELF, SELF.
HOW MANY OF YOU BELIEVE THAT IF YOU HELP OTHER PEOPLE,
GOD'LL TAKE CARE OF YOU?
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: ACTS 20:35, PAUL SAID, "IN EVERYTHING I HAVE POINTED
OUT TO YOU [BY EXAMPLE] THAT, BY WORKING DILIGENTLY IN THIS
MANNER, WE OUGHT TO ASSIST THE WEAK, BEING MINDFUL OF THE WORDS
OF THE LORD JESUS, HOW HE HIMSELF SAID, IT IS MORE BLESSED
(MAKES ONE HAPPIER AND MORE TO BE ENVIED) TO GIVE THAN TO
RECEIVE."
SO, IF I'M HAVING A BAD DAY, HERE'S A SCRIPTURE THAT TELLS ME
I CAN BE MADE HAPPIER IF I WILL GET MYSELF OFF MY MIND AND THINK
ABOUT SOMEBODY ELSE.
MAYBE YOU COULD PICK YOUR PHONE UP AND CALL SOMEBODY THAT YOU
KNOW HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH A ROUGH TIME AND JUST SAY, "I WANT
YOU TO KNOW I'M PRAYING FOR YOU TODAY."
MAYBE YOU COULD SEND A TEXT MESSAGE AND TELL SOMEBODY, "I
WAS THINKING ABOUT YOU TODAY AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU'RE
VALUABLE."
IT'S AMAZING WHAT JUST A FEW WORDS CAN CHANGE SOMEBODY'S
ENTIRE DAY, AND SOMETIMES THEIR LIFE.
JOYCE: WELL, THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO TURN A BAD DAY
AROUND.
ONE IS TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH GOD.
LEARN TO HEAR GOD'S VOICE AND BE GUIDED BY IT.
LEARN TO TRUST GOD.
AND ANOTHER ONE IS DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.
NOTHING TURNS A BAD DAY AROUND FASTER THAN DOING GOOD
FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
SO TODAY, OF COURSE, WE'RE OFFERING YOU THE BOOK, "20 WAYS
TO MAKE EVERY DAY BETTER," AND WE'RE OFFERING IT TO YOU TODAY
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY OF ANY AMOUNT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S JUST REALLY A GOOD THING FOR YOU TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
DO YOUR BEST, SEND IN THE BEST OFFERING THAT YOU CAN.
IF YOU CAN SEND MORE, DO THAT.
THAT'LL HELP PAY FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S BOOK THAT MAYBE COULDN'T
SEND IN AS MUCH.
WE WANT YOU TO HAVE GOOD DAYS, NOT BAD DAYS, AND LET GOD MAKE
THE NECESSARY CHANGES AND ENJOY YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE.
ANNOUNCER: ON A SCALE OF ONE TO TEN,
HOW WOULD YOU RATE TODAY?
WELL, WHETHER YOU'RE HAVING A GOOD DAY OR NOT, JOYCE MEYER
WANTS TO TEACH YOU "20 WAYS TO MAKE EVERY DAY BETTER."
PRACTICAL ADVICE THAT YOU CAN APPLY RIGHT NOW TO MAKE A BIG
DIFFERENCE, NO MATTER HOW YOUR DAY IS GOING.
PICK IT UP FOR YOU OR TO BRIGHTEN SOMEONE ELSE'S DAY.
THEN, WITH GOD'S HELP, TURN BAD DAYS INTO GOOD AND GOOD DAYS
INTO GREAT.
TODAY, WE'RE OFFERING JOYCE'S NEW BOOK, "20 WAYS TO MAKE EVERY
DAY BETTER," FOR YOUR GIFT OF...
CONTACT US NOW...
OR GO TO JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
GINGER: WE ALL GO THROUGH TIMES WHEN THE QUESTIONS
IN OUR LIFE SEEM TO OUTWEIGH THE ANSWERS.
JOYCE MEYER WANTS TO HELP WITH THAT.
CHECK OUT HER NEW SHOW, "EVERYDAY ANSWERS."
SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS AND JOIN US AS WE DISCOVER LIFE'S
EVERYDAY ANSWERS TOGETHER.
ANNOUNCER: MAKE PLANS NOW TO SPEND YOUR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
WITH JOYCE.
TWO UNIQUE SESSIONS OF INSPIRING TEACHING, HEARTFELT WORSHIP,
AND ENCOURAGING BEHIND-THE-SCENES MOMENTS AT
THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE.
COMING TO TULSA, OKLAHOMA, APRIL 21 AND 22,
WITH WORSHIP BY JESUS CULTURE.
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU SEE ON TV AT
THE JOYCE MEYER CONFERENCE.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG/CONFERENCE
OR CALL...
ANNOUNCER: THANK YOU FRIENDS AND PARTNERS.
TOGETHER, WE'RE SHARING THE LOVE OF CHRIST AROUND THE WORLD.
TO FIND OUT MORE, PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT US ONLINE AT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG.
JOIN US IN PARTNERSHIP AS WE SHARE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
AROUND THE GLOBE.
CC BY ABERDEEN CAPTIONING 1-800-688-6621 WWW.ABERCAP.COM
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING WAS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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