What Will You Do Next? | Joyce Meyer | Enjoying Everyday Life

With a heart to share Christ and love people, Joyce’s messages help people in all walks of life to grow in their faith, learn to study the Bible, find healing from the wounds of life, get answers to life’s questions and encounter the love of God in a powerful way.

ANNOUNCER: THIS PROGRAM
HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE

BY THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.

[MUSIC]

JOYCE: WELL, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US TODAY

ON “ENJOYING EVERYDAY LIFE,”
WHERE I TEACH THE WORD OF GOD.

AND I BELIEVE IT WILL
BE SOMETHING THAT WILL

HELP YOU NOT ONLY TODAY,
BUT EVERY DAY OF YOUR LIFE.

AND I ALSO WANNA MENTION
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE

AVAILABLE, THAT I WOULD LIKE
YOU TO SIGN UP FOR,

AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL
A 30/30 CHALLENGE.

I REALLY WANT PEOPLE
TO STUDY THE WORD.

AND A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO,
GOD GAVE ME THIS IDEA:

IF I COULD GET PEOPLE TO STUDY
THE WORD FOR 30 MINUTES A DAY,

FOR 30 DAYS, THAT IT WOULD
BE LIFE-CHANGING FOR THEM.

AND THEY WOULD GET TO THE POINT
WHERE THEY ENJOYED IT SO MUCH,

THAT THEY’D WANT TO KEEP IT UP,
AND MAYBE EVEN GO LONGER

THAN THE 30 MINUTES.

WE’VE HAD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE
TAKE THIS CHALLENGE, AND I’VE

HAD MANY OF THEM TELL
ME IT CHANGED THEIR LIFE.

SO, SIGN UP TODAY AT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG/3030CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE STUDY GUIDES, VIDEOS,
DOWNLOADS, TIPS FROM ME,

AND MORE.

NOW, FOR TODAY’S TEACHING,
WHICH I BELIEVE YOU’RE

GONNA ENJOY.

I WANNA TALK TO YOU TODAY ABOUT,
“WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE REST

OF YOUR LIFE?”
YOU KNOW, WE ALL ONLY GET

ONE LIFE AND IT’S IMPORTANT
HOW WE LIVE IT.

AND IF YOU LOOK BACK AND YOU’VE
MADE MISTAKES, YOU’RE

NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY
OF THE REST OF US,

WE’VE ALL MADE MISTAKES.

BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE KINDA
PARK AT THOSE MISTAKES,

AND THEY FEEL LIKE THAT THEY
CAN’T GO ON.

BUT I WANNA TELL YOU THAT GOD
ONLY HAS ONE GEAR,

AND IT’S FORWARD.

HE DOESN’T WANT US LIVING
IN THE PAST,

HE WANTS US MOVING FORWARD.

EVERYTHING BEHIND US IS DEAD.

LUKE 9:59-62, “HE SAID
TO ANOTHER MAN, ‘FOLLOW ME.’

BUT HE REPLIED, ‘LORD, FIRST LET
ME GO AND BURY MY FATHER.’

AND JESUS SAID TO HIM,
‘LET THE DEAD BURY THEIR OWN

DEAD, BUT YOU GO AND PROCLAIM
THE KINGDOM OF GOD.'”

NOW, IT REALLY WASN’T THAT JESUS
WAS AGAINST HIM GOING TO HIS

FATHER’S FUNERAL.

BUT THERE’S A MUCH DEEPER
POINT BEING MADE HERE,

THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO SPEND
TIME ON THINGS THAT NO LONGER

HAVE ANY LIFE IN THEM FOR US.

SOMETIMES WE MAY HAVE DONE
SOMETHING FOR 10 YEARS,

AND IT BROUGHT A LOT OF FRUIT
INTO OUR LIFE.

BUT NOW, WE’RE JUST DOING
IT BECAUSE IT’S A HABIT.

AND IT’S REALLY–WE’RE NOT
ENJOYING IT, IT’S ACTUALLY

DRAINING US.

BUT BECAUSE WE’RE SO USED
TO DOING IT,

WE JUST KEEP DOING IT.

AND I HEARD SOMEONE SAY ONE
TIME, “IF THE HORSE HAS BEEN

DEAD FOR TEN YEARS, DISMOUNT,
IT’S TIME TO GET OFF

AND DO SOMETHING ELSE.”
“JESUS SAID TO HIM,

‘LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD,
BUT YOU GO AND PROCLAIM

THE KINGDOM OF GOD.’
STILL, ANOTHER MAN SAID,

‘I WILL FOLLOW YOU, LORD;
BUT FIRST LET ME GO BACK

AND SAY GOODBYE TO MY FAMILY.’
AND JESUS REPLIED, ‘NO ONE WHO

PUTS A HAND TO THE PLOW
AND LOOKS BACK IS FIT

FOR SERVICE IN THE KINGDOM
OF GOD.'”

WHEN YOU LOOK BEHIND YOU,
WHETHER WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING

AT WAS GOOD, OR WHETHER
IT WAS BAD, IT’S STILL

A DEAD THING.

IT’S DONE AND FINISHED,
AND IT HAS NO LIFE

IN IT FOR YOU ANYMORE.

YOU KNOW A LOT OF TIMES
WE LIKE TO TALK ABOUT

THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

AND I’VE DONE THINGS WE–I HAD
A WEEKLY BIBLE STUDY HERE

IN ST. LOUIS AT A CHURCH
FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

AND IT WAS SEVERAL HUNDRED
WOMEN AT THE TIME, AND WE JUST

HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME.

AND FOR A LONG TIME AFTER
I STOPPED DOING THAT BIBLE

STUDY, PEOPLE WOULD TALK
TO ME ALL THE TIME ABOUT

THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I HOPE YOU’VE
ALL HAD GOOD OLD DAYS.

BUT I’D MUCH RATHER YOU LOOK
AT THE GOOD FUTURE THAT GOD

HAS PLANNED FOR YOU.

GOOD MEMORIES ARE GREAT.

BUT DON’T BE SO IMPRESSED
WITH WHAT YOU HAVE DONE,

THAT YOU DON’T PRESS FORWARD
TO WHAT YOU CAN DO.

GOD HAS GOT A PLAN FOR YOUR
LIFE, AND HE WANTS YOU

TO GO AND DO EVERYTHING THAT
HE HAS FOR YOU IN THE FUTURE.

IF THERE WERE BAD THINGS,
FORGET THEM.

IF THERE WERE GOOD THINGS,
THANK GOD THAT YOU GOT

TO PARTICIPATE IN THEM,
BUT REALIZE THAT IT’S TIME

TO PRESS ON TO THE NEW THINGS.

NOW, THERE’S A SCRIPTURE
IN THE BIBLE THAT’S ONLY

THREE WORDS, IT SIMPLY SAYS,
“REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.”

SO, I GUESS WE NEED TO TAKE
A LOOK AT LOT’S WIFE AND SEE

WHAT SHE DID.

LUKE 17:29-32, “BUT THE DAY THAT
LOT LEFT SODOM, FIRE AND SULFUR

RAINED DOWN FROM HEAVEN
AND DESTROYED THEM ALL.

IT WILL BE LIKE THAT ON THE DAY
THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED.

ON THAT DAY NO ONE WHO
IS ON THE HOUSETOP,

WITH POSSESSIONS INSIDE,
SHOULD GO DOWN TO GET THEM.

LIKEWISE, NO ONE IN THE FIELD
SHOULD GO BACK FOR ANYTHING.

REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.”
SHE LOOKED BACK

AND WAS FINISHED, BECAUSE SHE
TURNED INTO A PILLAR OF SALT.

NOW, YOU KNOW, I REALLY CAN’T
IMAGINE WHEN JESUS COMES

AGAIN IN THE CLOUDS,
AND THE TRUMPET BLOWS,

TALKING ABOUT HIS ARRIVAL,
THAT ANY OF US WOULD WANNA

RUN BACK IN OUR HOUSE, AND GET
OUR FAVORITE PIECE OF JEWELRY

OR OUR FAVORITE OUTFIT.

BUT GOD WANTS TO SAY TO US,
“LET THINGS GO THAT ARE

NO LONGER VALUABLE,
AND MOVE ON TO THE THINGS

THAT ARE AHEAD.”
AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, WHAT YOU

NEED TO DO, AND I THINK THIS
IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US.

WE ALL NEED TO TAKE AN INVENTORY
ONCE AWHILE, OF EVERYTHING

WE ARE DOING, AND SEE IF IT’S
STILL BEARING GOOD FRUIT FOR US.

YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE SOMETHING
BROUGHT GOOD FRUIT INTO YOUR

LIFE TEN YEARS AGO, IT DOESN’T
MEAN IT’S STILL DOING IT TODAY.

AND A LOT OF TIMES WE JUST
WASTE OUR TIME WITH STUFF,

AND WE NEED TO JUST LET THEM GO.

I WONDER, ARE THERE ANY THINGS
RIGHT NOW, THAT YOU JUST NEED

TO LET GO, BECAUSE THEY’RE
PREVENTING YOU FROM DOING

THE THINGS THAT GOD HAS FOR
YOU NOW.

STOP CRYING OVER YOUR SITUATIONS
AND LET’S GO FORWARD.

EXODUS 14:15, “THE LORD SAID
TO MOSES, ‘WHY DO YOU CRY TO ME?

TELL THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
TO GO FORWARD.'”

“WELL, I WAS ABUSED.”
“SOMEONE HURT ME.”

“I WAS REJECTED.”
“I GOT FIRED FROM

A JOB ONE TIME.”
“LIFE ISN’T FAIR.”

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT’S REALLY ABSOLUTELY TRUE,
LIFE IS NOT FAIR.

WE ALL HAVE THINGS HAPPEN
TO US THAT ARE UNJUST.

AND BAD THINGS DO HAPPEN
TO GOOD PEOPLE.

THE WORLD IS NOT FAIR,
BUT GOD IS FAIR.

AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
ABOUT GOD’S CHARACTER IS,

HE IS A GOD OF JUSTICE.

AND THAT MEANS THAT GOD ALWAYS
MAKES ALL THINGS RIGHT.

THERE MAY BE SOMETHING THAT
HAS HAPPENED TO YOU THAT

IS TOTALLY UNFAIR,
WASN’T RIGHT AT ALL.

BUT IF YOU DO WHAT GOD WANTS
YOU TO DO, PART OF WHICH IS,

FORGIVE WHOEVER HURT YOU,
LET GO OF IT, AND BE READY

TO MOVE ON.

GOD WILL BRING JUSTICE INTO
YOUR LIFE, I KNOW THAT HE WILL.

FORGET IT, STOP REMEMBERING
WHAT GOD HAS FORGOTTEN.

FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR SINS.

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HE NOT ONLY
FORGIVES US, BUT HE FORGETS

OUR SINS, AND HE REMOVES THEM
AS FAR AS THE EAST

IS FROM THE WEST.

AND I REMEMBER ONE NIGHT,
I WAS BESIDE MY BED, BOWED DOWN.

AND I WAS ASKING GOD TO FORGIVE
ME FOR SOMETHING, AND IT WAS

SOMETHING FROM A LONG TIME AGO.

AND HE SAID, “WILL YOU STOP
ASKING ME TO FORGIVE YOU

FOR THAT?

I FORGAVE YOU THE FIRST TIME
YOU ASKED ME.”

SO, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE’RE
TALKING ABOUT PAST THINGS

TO GOD, THAT WE’VE ALREADY
REPENTED FOR, HE DOESN’T–

HE DOESN’T WANT US DOING THAT,
BECAUSE THEY’RE THINGS THAT

HE HAS ALREADY FORGOTTEN.

FORGET EVEN THE GOOD THINGS
THAT YOU’VE DONE.

YOU KNOW, I’VE GOT TO DO A LOT
OF REALLY GOOD THINGS

IN MY LIFE.

A LOT OF THINGS THAT HAVE JUST
BEEN AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL

AND QUITE A PRIVILEGE.

BUT THE BIBLE SAYS WHEN YOU’RE
DOING GOOD, DON’T LET YOUR

LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR
RIGHT HAND IS DOING.

AND I WONDERED ABOUT THAT
FOR A LONG TIME.

BUT I BELIEVE WHAT THAT MEANS
IS, DON’T SIT AND JUST THINK

ABOUT, “OH, HOW GOOD THAT WAS,”
AND “HOW GOOD YOU WERE.”

AND YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO JUST,
“THANK YOU, GOD, THAT YOU

LET ME PARTICIPATE,”
AND GO ON TO THE NEXT THING.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE DONE 67 MISSION
TRIPS OUT OF THE COUNTRY,

BUT IT’S SOMETHING THAT
I CAN’T DO ANYMORE.

MY BODY DOESN’T ADJUST WELL
TO THE JET LAG ANYMORE.

AND I’VE COME TO THE POINT
IN MY LIFE, WHERE I’VE HAD

TO CHOOSE THE THINGS THAT I KNOW
THAT I’M GOOD AT, THAT’S NOT

GONNA MAKE ME TOO TIRED,
AND THE THINGS THAT ONLY

I CAN DO IN THE MINISTRY.

I DO THE TEACHING.

I DO THE WRITING.

I PRAY.

I DEAL WITH CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

I DO INTERVIEWS.

BUT I JUST–I CAN’T MAKE THESE
LONG TRIPS TO INDIA,

OR TO AFRICA, OR SOME OTHER
PLACE HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD.

WELL, I MISS ‘EM.

AND SOMETIMES I REALLY WISH
THAT I COULD DO THEM.

AND I CAN SIT BACK AND THINK
ABOUT THE LARGE CRUSADES THAT

WE DID IN THESE OTHER COUNTRIES,
AND THE DIFFERENT OUTREACHES,

THE DIGGING OF THE WELLS,
AND THE FEEDING PROGRAMS,

AND ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

GOD’S DONE WITH THAT,
WHERE I’M CONCERNED.

AND HE’S RAISED UP OTHER
PEOPLE IN OUR MINISTRY NOW,

THAT GO AND DO IT.

OUR MINISTRY IS VERY COMMITTED
AND VERY INVOLVED IN OUTREACH.

AND WE ALWAYS WILL BE,
BUT IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE

THE SAME PERSON THAT CAN DO IT.

DON’T BE AFRAID OF CHANGE.

CHANGE IS NOT A BAD THING,
IT ALWAYS BRINGS SOMETHING

GOOD, IF YOU WILL LET IT.

FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE DONE,
AND FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE

NOT DONE.

FORGET WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE
TO YOU, AND FORGET WHAT PEOPLE

HAVE NOT DONE FOR YOU.

BOY, THAT CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS
IN RELATIONSHIPS.

“WELL, YOU DIDN’T DO THIS,”
AND “YOU DIDN’T DO THAT.”

“YOU DID DO THIS,”
“YOU DID DO THAT.”

PART OF FORGIVING IS JUST
LEAVE IT, LET IT GO, DROP IT,

AND DON’T SIT AROUND
AND THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

WELL, I’M SURE YOU’VE HAD A LOT,
YOU’VE DONE A LOT OF GOOD THINGS

IN YOUR LIFE, AND I’M SURE
YOU’VE DONE SOME BAD THINGS.

BUT WHAT I WANNA ASK YOU TODAY,
AND I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT

THIS IS, “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO
DO WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?”

YOU KNOW, I TAKE TIME
OCCASIONALLY, AND JUST THINK

ABOUT THAT, “JOYCE, WHAT ARE
YOU GONNA DO WITH THE REST

OF YOUR LIFE?”
I KNOW I’M GONNA KEEP WRITING.

I KNOW I’M GONNA KEEP TEACHING
AND PREACHING GOD’S WORD.

I WANNA BE OBEDIENT TO ANYTHING
THAT HE ASKS ME TO DO.

I WANNA KEEP GIVING AND REACHING
OUT TO THE POOR.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD MAY ASK
ME TO DO IN THE FUTURE,

BUT WHATEVER IT IS,
I’M SAYING, “YES,” ALREADY.

BECAUSE I WANT TO DO WHATEVER
GOD WANTS ME TO DO.

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE REST
OF YOUR LIFE?

PERHAPS YOU DON’T REALIZE HOW
POWERFUL YOU ARE.

YOU MIGHT SAY, “WELL JOYCE,
I DON’T FEEL VERY POWERFUL.”

WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE POWER
OF ONE.

IT IS AMAZING, I MEAN, TOTALLY
JAW-DROPPING AMAZING, WHAT ONE

PERSON CAN ACCOMPLISH,
IF THEY’RE TOTALLY COMMITTED

AND SUBMITTED TO GOD.

IN ROMANS 5:17-19 IT SAYS,
“FOR IF, BY THE TRESPASS

OF THE ONE MAN–” WHICH MEANT
ADAM, “DEATH REIGNED THROUGH

THAT ONE MAN.”
WHEN ADAM SINNED,

DEATH CAME TO HIM.

NOT A PHYSICAL DEATH,
HE DIDN’T FALL OVER DEAD

AND STOP BREATHING RIGHT THEN.

BUT DEATH CAME TO HIS SPIRIT.

HE DIDN’T HAVE THE SPIRITUAL
LIFE IN HIM THAT HE ONCE HAD.

AND THAT PASSED ON TO ALL MEN.

WE INHERITED A SIN NATURE
FROM ADAM.

“HOW MUCH MORE WILL THOSE WHO
RECEIVE GOD’S ABUNDANT PROVISION

OF GRACE AND THE GIFT
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS REIGN

IN THE LIFE THROUGH THE ONE MAN,
JESUS CHRIST!”

SO, ADAM GAVE US DEATH,
BUT JESUS GAVE US LIFE.

YOU KNOW, “ONE TRESPASS
RESULTED IN CONDEMNATION

FOR ALL MEN, AND ONE ACT
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS RESULTED

IN JUSTIFICATION AND LIFE
FOR ALL PEOPLE.”

YOU ARE ONE, YOU’RE ONLY ONE,
BUT YOU ARE ONE.

AND STOP THINKING,
“WELL, NOBODY’S EVER DONE THAT

BEFORE,” OR “I DON’T KNOW
IF I COULD DO THAT,” YOU KNOW.

“I’M GONNA NEED A LOT OF HELP.”
AND “I DON’T HAVE A LOT

OF HELP.”
WELL, YOU KNOW, TAKE THE FIRST

STEPS, AND WHATEVER YOU NEED
GOD WILL BRING IT TO YOU.

I HAVE SEEN GOD PROVIDE
FOR US FOR 45 YEARS:

THE PEOPLE WE NEED,
THE FINANCES WE NEED,

HE OPENS RIGHT DOORS,
HE CLOSES WRONG DOORS.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT ALL
THE PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE WHO

WERE JUST ONE, BUT WHO DID
SUCH AMAZING THINGS.

LET’S THINK ABOUT ADAM, MOSES,
JOSEPH, RUTH, ESTHER, ABRAHAM,

ELIJAH, ELISHA, MATTHEW, PETER,
MARK, LUKE, PAUL, JOHN, AND MARY

MAGDALENE, AND OF COURSE, JESUS.

JESUS ACCOMPLISHED MORE THAN
WE CAN POSSIBLY EVEN IMAGINE

WITH THAT ONE ACT OF OBEDIENCE,
TO GO TO THE CROSS.

AND IT WASN’T SOMETHING
HE WANTED TO DO.

YOU KNOW, WE DON’T HAVE TO WANT
TO DO EVERYTHING WE DO.

BUT WE DO NEED TO BE OBEDIENT
TO GOD, WHETHER WE WANT

TO OR NOT.

WHEN HE WAS IN THE GARDEN
OF GETHSEMANE IN THE BOOK

OF MATTHEW, IT SAYS THAT
THREE TIMES HE ASKED GOD,

“IF POSSIBLE, REMOVE THIS CUP
FROM ME; NEVERTHELESS, YOUR WILL

BE DONE, AND NOT MINE.”
IS THERE ANYTHING RIGHT NOW,

THAT GOD IS ASKING YOU TO DO,
THAT YOU’RE NOT DOING IT BECAUSE

IT’S GOING TO BE HARD,
OR BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO,

OR YOU THINK YOU DON’T KNOW HOW?

OBEDIENCE IS A WONDERFUL THING.

AND WHEN WE BEGIN TO REALLY
GET OBEDIENT TO GOD, HE DOES

SOME AMAZING THINGS IN OUR LIFE.

WELL, EACH OF THESE PEOPLE THAT
WE TALKED ABOUT, THEY MADE

MISTAKES, THEY DID THINGS
THAT WERE WRONG.

MOSES AND DAVID WERE
BOTH MURDERERS.

JEREMIAH WAS AFRAID.

RUTH WAS AT ONE TIME
AN IDOL WORSHIPER.

MARY MAGDALENE WAS A PROSTITUTE.

ELIJAH WAS SUICIDAL
AND DEPRESSED.

AND PETER DENIED EVEN KNOWING
CHRIST THREE DIFFERENT TIMES.

PAUL WAS A PERSECUTOR
OF CHRISTIANS.

AND WE DON’T JUST HAVE TO TALK
ABOUT PEOPLE OUT OF THE BIBLE.

WE COULD TALK ABOUT SAY SOMEBODY
LIKE BILLY GRAHAM.

HOW MANY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS
OF SOULS ARE GONNA BE IN HEAVEN,

BECAUSE OF THAT ONE MAN’S
OBEDIENCE TO DO WHAT GOD

ASKED HIM TO DO?

THE POWER OF ONE.

NONE OF THESE WERE MORE
THAN ONE.

AND NONE OF THEM WERE MORE
THAN YOU.

THEY WERE JUST COMMITTED
AND SUBMITTED.

AND YOU KNOW, YOU MAY NOT DO
THE SAME THINGS THAT THEY DID.

I DON’T KNOW, MAYBE YOUR JOB
IS TO RAISE TWO GREAT

CHILDREN THAT ARE GONNA
BE LIFE-CHANGERS.

EVERYTHING WE DO IS IMPORTANT,
IF IT’S WHAT GOD WANTS US TO DO.

AND YOU KNOW, THIS IS ALL
ABOUT CHOICE.

AND I THINK TODAY IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE CHOICES.

WILL YOU CONTINUE TO MOURN
OVER WHAT YOU’VE LOST,

OR WILL YOU USE WHAT IS LEFT?

LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.

ARE YOU GONNA CONTINUE TO MOURN
OVER WHAT YOU’VE LOST,

OR ARE YOU GONNA USE WHAT
YOU STILL HAVE?

WILL YOU KEEP DOING NOTHING
AND BE ANGRY WITH YOURSELF

BECAUSE YOU DO NOTHING?

MY BROTHER DID THAT.

HE’S NO LONGER WITH US ON THIS
EARTH, BUT HE SEEMED LIKE HE WAS

ALWAYS DOING THE WRONG THING.

OR HE JUST DID ALMOST
NOTHING WITH HIS LIFE.

AND THEN HE WAS ALWAYS
ANGRY AT HIMSELF BECAUSE

HE WASN’T DOING ANYTHING.

BUT THAT’S FRUITLESS.

WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO WAS SHAKE
OFF THE PAST, AND BEGIN

TO FOLLOW GOD, AND DO WHAT
GOD WANTED HIM TO DO.

IT’S A TRAP THAT THE DEVIL
WANTS TO BRING US INTO.

WHAT GOOD DOES GUILT DO?

YOU KNOW WHAT GUILT IS?

IT’S OUR WAY OF TRYING TO PAY
FOR OUR SINS.

AND YOU CANNOT PAY A DEBT
THAT’S ALREADY BEEN PAID.

JESUS PAID FOR OUR SINS.

AND HE DOESN’T NEED US TO GET
INVOLVED, AND PAY AGAIN

FOR SOMETHING THAT HE HAS
ALREADY COMPLETELY AND FULLY

PAID FOR.

HE WANTS YOU TO RECEIVE
THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS,

SHAKE OFF THE PAST,
AND GO ON AND DO GREAT THINGS.

THE MISTAKES THAT YOU’VE MADE
CAN BECOME EXPERIENCE FOR YOU,

THAT WILL KEEP YOU OUT
OF TROUBLE IN THE FUTURE,

AND THAT CAN ALSO BE SHARED
WITH OTHER PEOPLE, AND KEEP

THEM OUT OF TROUBLE.

I ASKED A MAN THREE DAYS AGO,
“WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE YOU

TOOK THIS JOB?”
AND HE SAID, “I MURMURED,

COMPLAINED, POUTED,
HAD A BAD ATTITUDE,

AND FELT SORRY FOR MYSELF.”
HE SAID, “I WAS FULL OF PITY

AND ANGER.”
WELL, I’M GLAD THAT THE MAN

WAS HONEST, AND I’M GLAD HE HAD
FINALLY MADE A DECISION TO NOW

DO SOMETHING WITH HIMSELF.

YOU KNOW, 1 KINGS 19:9 AND 13
ARE VERY INTERESTING.

BUT IF YOU WANNA GET THE FULL
STORY, YOU REALLY HAVE TO GO

TO CHAPTER 18, WHICH I DON’T
HAVE TIME TO READ, BUT I’M GONNA

TELL YOU PRETTY QUICKLY.

ELIJAH HAD CHALLENGED
400 BAAL PROPHETS.

AND THE CHALLENGE WAS THAT THEY
WOULD PUT A BULL AS A SACRIFICE

ON A FIRE AND ON AN ALTAR,
AND THEY WOULD POUR WATER

ALL OVER IT, AND THEN PRAY
FOR GOD TO SEND FIRE,

AND SEE IF IT BURNED UP
THE SACRIFICE OR NOT.

BUT THEN, MOSES–I MEAN ELIJAH,
TOOK ALL THESE 400 BAAL

PROPHETS–I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE
THIS, AND HE SLEW ALL OF THEM

AND CUT THEM INTO PIECES.

I CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT
KIND OF A JOB THAT MUST’VE BEEN.

SO, HE WAS BOLD THAT DAY.

MAN, HE WAS…WHOO!

THERE WAS NO FEAR IN HIM.

BUT THEN, WHEN JEZEBEL FOUND OUT
WHAT HE HAD DONE, SHE SAID,

“YOU SEND A MESSAGE TO HIM
THAT I’M GONNA KILL HIM BEFORE

THIS DAY IS OVER.”
WELL, THEN HE BECAME FRIGHTENED,

AND HE WENT AND RAN OUT INTO
THE WILDERNESS AND HID.

NOW, HOW CAN YOU NOT BE AFRAID
OF 400 PROPHETS, AND YET

BE AFRAID OF ONE WOMAN?

WELL, WE ALL HAVE EMOTIONS,
DON’T WE?

AND HE WAS AFRAID THAT JEZEBEL
WAS GONNA KILL HIM.

AND HE RAN OUT IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE DESERT, AND HE SAID,

“GOD, TAKE MY LIFE;
I’M NO BETTER THAN–

I’M NOT EVEN WORTH LIVING.”
NOW, HERE’S THIS MAN WHO

WAS ON FIRE FOR GOD,
AND NOW HE’S WANTING TO DIE.

DO YOU EVER GET LIKE THAT?

ARE YOU ON FIRE FOR GOD,
AND THEN WHEN YOU HAVE

A LITTLE PROBLEM, YOU’RE LIKE,
“WELL, GOD, I JUST–YOU MIGHT

AS WELL JUST TAKE ME”?

“MY LIFE IS SO BAD YOU MIGHT
AS WELL JUST TAKE ME.”

WELL, THAT’S NOT THE WAY GOD
WANTS US TO BEHAVE.

SO, HE SAT OUT IN THE WILDERNESS
AND HE BECAME DEPRESSED,

AND WAS SAYING ALL THESE
NEGATIVE THINGS.

AND SO, GOD SENT AN ANGEL.

PUT HIM TO SLEEP.

GAVE HIM A CAKE AND SOME WATER.

I KINDA LIKE THAT HE GAVE
HIM CAKE.

AND THEN, HE DID IT AGAIN
AND HE REFRESHED HIM.

AND THEN, ELIJAH WENT
AND HID IN A CAVE.

AND GOD CAME TO HIM AND SAID,
“ELIJAH, WHAT ARE YOU

DOING HERE?”
WELL, I UNDERSTAND THAT, BECAUSE

AFTER WORKING AT THE CHURCH
THAT I WORKED AT FOR FIVE YEARS,

ONE NIGHT I WAS AT TUESDAY NIGHT
SERVICE, AND THE LORD SAID

TO ME VERY CLEARLY,
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?”

AND I THOUGHT, “WELL, WHAT
AM I DOING HERE?

IT’S TUESDAY NIGHT,
I’M GOING TO CHURCH,

THAT’S WHAT I ALWAYS DO.”
AND THE LORD SAID SOMETHING

TO ME THAT WAS ALMOST INSULTING,
HE SAID, “I DON’T NEED YOU

HERE ANYMORE.”
“WELL, WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU

DON’T NEED ME HERE?

I MEAN, I’VE HELPED BUILD
THIS PLACE FROM THE GROUND

FLOOR UP.”
AND GOD SAID, “I’M FINISHED

WITH YOU HERE, I HAVE OTHER
THINGS FOR YOU TO DO.”

AND THAT WAS THE TIME WHEN
GOD TOLD ME TO TAKE THE MINISTRY

THAT I HAD, AND TAKE IT NORTH,
SOUTH, EAST, AND WEST.

NOW, I WON’T GET INTO THAT WHOLE
STORY, THAT’S BEEN 40 YEARS AGO.

AND IF I WOULD NOT HAVE OBEYED
GOD AT THAT MOMENT IN TIME,

I WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY
TEACHING THIS MESSAGE TO PEOPLE

ALL OVER THE WORLD THROUGH TV.

IT’S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE LET
GO OF THINGS THAT GOD

IS FINISHED WITH, AND TAKE
HOLD OF THE NEW THINGS

THAT HE HAS FOR US.

THE BIBLE SAYS, “I SET BEFORE
YOU LIFE AND DEATH, CHOOSE LIFE

THAT YOU AND YOUR DESCENDANTS
MAY LIVE.”

DON’T LIVE IN REGRET,
AND DON’T LIVE IN DREAD.

DON’T BE PASSIVE, BE ACTIVE.

DO GOD’S WILL,
NOT YOUR OWN WILL.

BE A GOD-PLEASER,
NOT A PEOPLE-PLEASER.

EVERYTHING IN OUR LIFE
IS A CHOICE.

AND I’M ASKING YOU TODAY,
TO MAKE THE CHOICE TO LET

GO OF ALL THE THINGS THAT LIE
BEHIND, AND ASK GOD TO USE YOU

TO DO SOMETHING AWESOME
IN THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

YOU’VE GOT A LOT BEFORE YOU,
AND YOUR PAST DOES NOT HAVE

TO HOLD YOU BACK IN ANY WAY.

ALL YOU NEED DO IS LET GO OF IT,
AND SAY, “GOD, HERE

I AM I’M YOURS, DO WHATEVER
YOU WANT TO WITH ME.

I LOVE YOU WITH MY WHOLE LIFE.”
AND TODAY WE’RE

OFFERING YOU
A BOOK CALLED,

“LIVING A LIFE
THAT YOU LOVE,”

BECAUSE SO MANY
PEOPLE ARE NOT

LIVING A LIFE
THAT THEY LOVE.

I’M GETTIN’ READY TO TAKE
A TRIP, WHERE I’LL BE BY MYSELF

FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS TO DO SOME
WRITING, BUT I’VE ALREADY

DETERMINED THAT ONE
OF THE THINGS I’M GONNA

DO IS REALLY TAKE AN INVENTORY
OF MY LIFE, AND MAKE SURE THAT

I’M DOING THE THINGS THAT
I REALLY ENJOY AND WANT TO DO.

AND ASK GOD IF THERE’S ANY
CHANGES HE WANTS ME TO MAKE

IN MY LIFE.

I’M SO GLAD YOU JOINED ME TODAY.

AND YOU CAN HAVE THIS BOOK
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY

OF ANY AMOUNT.

SO MANY PEOPLE SAY,
“I HATE MY LIFE.”

“I HATE MY JOB.”
“I HATE THE WAY I LOOK.”

WELL, LEARN HOW
TO LOVE YOUR LIFE.

LEARN HOW TO DO WORK
THAT YOU LOVE.

LET’S ENJOY THE REST OF OUR
LIFE, AND AT THE SAME TIME,

BE VERY FRUITFUL FOR GOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING
WITH ME TODAY.

I LOVE YOU AND I WANT YOU
TO LET GO OF WHAT LIES BEHIND,

AND PRESS ON TO THE GOOD
THINGS THAT ARE AHEAD.

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE DAY.

GINGER: NEED A GIRLS TRIP?

REGISTER NOW
FOR THE LOVE LIFE

WOMEN’S CONFERENCE,
SEPTEMBER 22nd-24th

IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

C’MON, REGISTER NOW,
AND JOIN US!

LADIES: WHOO!

ANNOUNCER: THE JOYCE MEYER
CONFERENCE IS BACK!

JOYCE: IF YOU WILL
START CRYING OUT TO GOD

ON A REGULAR BASIS,
“I NEED MORE OF YOU IN MY LIFE,”

YOU BETTER PUT ON YOUR
SEAT BELTS AND GET READY

FOR THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE.

ANNOUNCER: COMING
TO AUSTIN, TX,

AUGUST 19th AND 20th
WITH WORSHIP BY PAT BARRETT.

AND HERSHEY, PA,
NOVEMBER 4th AND 5th

WITH WORSHIP BY MACK BROCK.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
AND A COMPLETE

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE,
VISIT JOYCEMEYER.ORG,

OR CALL…

ANNOUNCER: WE HOPE YOU
ENJOYED TODAY’S PROGRAM.

PLEASE CONTACT US OR VISIT
JOYCEMEYER.ORG TO SHARE

YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS,
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.