JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU!
IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU
TODAY. I HOPE YOU'LL STAY
CONNECTED WITH US THROUGHOUT
THE WEEK. WE HAVE A DAILY
PODCAST THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD.
YOU CAN GO TO OUR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL, WATCH THE MESSAGES
ANYTIME OR, OF COURSE, YOU
CAN FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL
MEDIA. I PROMISE YOU THIS:
WE'LL KEEP YOU ENCOURAGED
AND INSPIRED.
THANKS FOR TUNING IN.
THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING
OUT IN PERSON.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS REPORTER.
HE WAS VISITING CHURCHES
ACROSS THE NATION.
WHILE IN THE NORTHEAST, HE
SAW A GOLD PHONE ON THE WALL
WITH A SIGN THAT SAID,
"CALLS TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS
PER MINUTE."
HE ASKED THE PASTOR WHAT IT
MEANT. THE PASTOR EXPLAINED
THAT WAS A DIRECT LINE TO
HEAVEN. IF YOU WERE WILLING
TO PAY THE PRICE, YOU COULD
TALK DIRECTLY TO GOD.
HE CONTINUED VISITING
DIFFERENT CHURCHES, SEEING
THE SAME GOLD PHONE, SAME
SIGN.
WHEN HE FINALLY MADE IT
TEXAS, HE SAW THE PHONE
BUT THE SIGN SAID, "CALLS
25 CENTS PER MINUTE."
INTRIGUED, HE ASKED THE
PASTOR WHY IT WAS SO MUCH
CHEAPER. THE PASTOR SAID,
"YOU'RE IN TEXAS,
NOW IT'S A LOCAL CALL."
(LAUGHTER)
AND ALL THE TEXANS SAID
AMEN! HERE WE GO Y'ALL!
THIS IS MY BIBLE.
I AM WHAT IT SAYS I AM.
I HAVE WHAT IT SAYS I HAVE.
I CAN DO WHAT IT SAYS I CAN
DO. TODAY, I WILL BE TAUGHT
THE WORD OF GOD.
I BOLDLY CONFESS: MY MIND IS
ALERT. MY HEART IS RECEPTIVE.
I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME IN
JESUS' NAME. GOD BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU TODAY
ABOUT STAYING POSITIVE
TOWARD YOURSELF.
THE MOST IMPORTANT
RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE IS THE
RELATIONSHIP WITH YOURSELF.
TOO MANY PEOPLE DON'T LIKE
WHO THEY ARE.
THEY FOCUS ON THEIR FAULTS
AND WEAKNESSES.
THEY RELIVE THEIR MISTAKES
AND FAILURES.
THEY WISH THEY WERE
DIFFERENT.
IF THEY WERE TALLER, HAD A
BETTER PERSONALITY, LOOKED
LIKE THEIR COUSIN.
INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING
THEMSELVES, AS A
MASTERPIECE, MADE IN THE
IMAGE OF GOD, THEY'RE
CRITICAL TOWARD THEMSELVES.
THEY WONDER WHY THEY'RE NOT
HAPPY, WHY THEY DON'T HAVE
GOOD RELATIONSHIPS.
IT'S BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE
THEMSELVES.
IF YOU DON'T GET ALONG WITH
YOU, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET
ALONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE.
JESUS SAID, "LOVE YOUR
NEIGHBOR AS YOU LOVE
YOURSELF."
YOU CAN'T LOVE OTHERS IF YOU
DON'T FIRST LOVE YOURSELF.
THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO
FOR YOUR FAMILY, FOR YOUR
FRIENDS IS BE GOOD TO YOU,
BE KIND TO YOU, BE MERCIFUL
TO YOU, BE FORGIVING TO YOU,
BE LOVING TO YOU.
YOU'RE GOOD TO OTHERS, WHY
AREN'T YOU GOOD TO YOU?
YOU DON'T CRITICIZE YOUR
FRIEND, WHY ARE YOU
CRITICIZING YOU?
YOU COMPLIMENT YOUR
COWORKER, WHEN'S THE LAST
TIME YOU COMPLIMENTED
YOURSELF?
YOU ADMIRE THEIR TALENT, WHY
DON'T YOU ADMIRE YOUR
TALENT.
START BEING GOOD TO YOU.
THAT'S NOT BEING SELFISH,
THAT'S NOT ARROGANT, THAT'S
LOVING YOURSELF.
TOO MANY PEOPLE GO THROUGH
LIFE AGAINST THEMSELVES,
FEELING WRONG ON THE INSIDE.
I HEARD SOMEONE SAY, "I
DISCOVERED THE ENEMY, IT WAS
ME."
ARE YOU YOUR ENEMY?
ARE YOU DEFEATING YOURSELF,
LIMITING YOUR DREAMS,
SABOTAGING YOUR
RELATIONSHIPS, ALL BECAUSE
YOU DON'T LIKE YOU?
YOU HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE AND
CIRCUMSTANCES AGAINST YOU,
DON'T BE AGAINST YOURSELF.
WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE
MORNING, DON'T LIE IN BED
AND THINK OF EVERYTHING
WRONG WITH YOU, WHAT YOU
DON'T LIKE ABOUT YOUR LOOKS,
RELIVE YOUR MISTAKES.
"WHY DIDN'T I FINISH
COLLEGE?
I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE
DISCIPLINED.
I LOST MY TEMPER YESTERDAY."
INSTEAD OF FOCUSING ON
WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU, START
FOCUSING ON WHAT'S RIGHT
WITH YOU.
YOU MAY HAVE WEAKNESSES,
YOU'VE MADE MISTAKES, WE ALL
HAVE.
BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE RIGHT
WITH YOU THAN THERE IS WRONG
WITH YOU.
DWELLING ON THE NEGATIVE
DOESN'T HELP YOU TO DO
BETTER.
BEATING YOURSELF UP FOR PAST
MISTAKES DOESN'T MOVE YOU
FORWARD.
THE BETTER YOU FEEL ABOUT
YOURSELF, THE BETTER YOU'LL
DO.
THE MORE YOU LIKE YOURSELF,
THE FURTHER YOU'LL GO.
YOU CAN'T GIVE AWAY WHAT YOU
DON'T HAVE.
IF YOU'RE IN TURMOIL ON THE
INSIDE, MAD AT YOURSELF,
CRITICAL, CONDEMNED.
THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE TO
GIVE.
IF YOU'RE HARD ON YOURSELF,
YOU'LL BE HARD ON OTHERS.
IF YOU DON'T FORGIVE
YOURSELF, YOU WON'T FORGIVE
OTHERS.
IF YOU DON'T GET ALONG WITH
YOU, HOW CAN YOU GET ALONG
WITH YOUR FAMILY?
THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS
START BEING FOR YOU.
WHEN YOU LOVE YOURSELF, THEN
YOU CAN LOVE OTHERS.
WHEN YOU'RE KIND TO
YOURSELF, THEN YOU CAN BE
KIND TO OTHERS.
IT STARTS WITH YOU.
"JOEL, I HAVE ALL THESE
FAULTS, THESE WEAKNESSES.
ONCE I OVERCOME, ONCE I
LEARN TO CONTROL MY TEMPER,
BE MORE DISCIPLINED, QUIT
SAYING THINGS I SHOULDN'T
THEN I WON'T BE DOWN ON
MYSELF."
IF YOU'RE WAITING TO PERFORM
PERFECTLY BEFORE YOU FEEL
GOOD ABOUT WHO YOU ARE,
YOU'LL BE WAITING YOUR WHOLE
LIFE.
YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT YOURSELF
WHILE YOU'RE IN THE PROCESS
OF CHANGING.
GOD KNEW YOU WOULD HAVE
WEAKNESSES.
HE MADE YOU.
YOU'RE NOT A SURPRISE TO
HIM.
HE'S NOT IN HEAVEN,
SCRATCHING HIS HEAD,
THINKING, "I DIDN'T SEE
THAT COMING.
THEY'RE A MESS.
WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?"
HE KNEW THERE WOULD BE
THINGS YOU STRUGGLE WITH.
YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO BEAT
YOURSELF UP BECAUSE YOU
HAVEN'T ARRIVED YET.
I DON'T KNOW ONE PERSON THAT
HAS ARRIVED.
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOME
AREA WE NEED TO IMPROVE IN.
IN FACT, I BELIEVE GOD WILL
LEAVE WEAKNESSES ON PURPOSE,
SO WE'LL HAVE TO DEPEND ON
HIM.
HE'S CHANGING YOU FROM GLORY
TO GLORY.
LEARN TO ENJOY THE GLORY
THAT YOU'RE IN RIGHT NOW.
YOU MAY NOT BE WHERE YOU
WANT TO BE, BUT YOU'RE NOT
WHERE YOU USED TO BE.
INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT HOW
FAR YOU HAVE TO GO, YOU NEED
TO LOOK BACK AND THANK GOD
FOR HOW FAR HE'S ALREADY
BROUGHT YOU.
IT TAKES A MATURE PERSON TO
SAY, "I'M OKAY WITH WHERE I
AM, WHILE I'M ON THE WAY TO
WHERE GOD IS TAKING ME."
ONE TIME SOMEONE ASKED ME
WHAT WAS THE ONE THING I
WOULD CHANGE ABOUT MYSELF IF
I COULD.
I DON'T MEAN THIS TO SOUND
ARROGANT, BUT I COULDN'T
THINK OF ANYTHING.
SURE, THERE ARE PLENTY OF
AREAS I NEED TO IMPROVE, I
NEED TO CHANGE, I NEED TO
GROW.
MY POINT IS MY WEAKNESSES
ARE NOT ON THE FOREFRONT OF
MY MIND.
I'M NOT FOCUSED ON MY
SHORTCOMINGS, RELIVING MY
FAILURES, DOWN ON MYSELF FOR
PAST MISTAKES.
I KNOW I'M FORGIVEN, I'M
REDEEMED, I'M A MASTERPIECE,
I'M MADE IN THE IMAGE OF
ALMIGHTY GOD.
LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO GO
THROUGH IT AGAINST YOURSELF.
I SAY THIS WITH HUMILITY, I
LIKE MYSELF.
I LIKE MY LOOKS, I LIKE MY
PERSONALITY, I LIKE MY SENSE
OF HUMOR, I LIKE MY TASTE, I
LIKE MY PHYSIQUE.
I LIKE WHO GOD MADE ME TO
BE.
IT'S VERY POWERFUL WHEN YOU
CAN SAY YOU LIKE YOURSELF.
NOT, "I'LL LIKE MYSELF AFTER
I LOSE TWENTY POUNDS, AFTER
I LEARN TO KEEP MY MOUTH
CLOSED, AFTER I BECOME MORE
PATIENT."
GOD ACCEPTS AND APPROVES YOU
RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE, FAULTS
AND ALL, MISTAKES,
SHORTCOMINGS, NOT WHEN YOU
OVERCOME, BUT RIGHT NOW.
HE KNOWS YOU'RE ON A
JOURNEY.
HE'S CHANGING YOU LITTLE BY
LITTLE.
HE ACCEPTS YOU, NOW YOU HAVE
TO ACCEPT YOURSELF.
HE APPROVES YOU; YOU HAVE TO
APPROVE YOURSELF.
WHEN OUR SON JONATHAN WAS
FOURTEEN YEARS OLD, WE WERE
OUT PLAYING BASKETBALL ONE
DAY.
WE HAD PLAYED ONE ON ONE,
HIM AGAINST ME FOR MANY
YEARS.
I COULD ALWAYS BEAT HIM, BUT
HE KEPT GETTING BETTER AND
GETTING BIGGER, THIS GAME
FOR THE FIRST TIME HE BEAT
ME.
I PLAYED HARD, I DID MY
BEST, BUT HE WON.
I GAVE HIM A HIGH FIVE, THEN
TOLD HIM HE WAS GROUNDED.
BUT DURING THAT GAME, HE GOT
AROUND ME AND WENT UP FOR A
SHOT.
I TIMED IT PERFECTLY, I CAME
FROM BEHIND, JUMPED WITH ALL
MY MIGHT AND BLOCKED HIS
SHOT.
I MEAN I SWATTED IT OVER
INTO THE BUSHES.
I FELT LIKE LEBRON JAMES.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOP TEN
ON SPORTS CENTER.
A FEW DAYS LATER, WE WERE IN
THE GYM PLAYING WITH SOME
OTHER GUYS.
JONATHAN SAID, "DAD, TELL
EVERYONE WHAT HAPPENED LAST
WEEK."
I SAID, "OH YEAH, JONATHAN
WENT UP FOR THIS SHOT; I
TIMED IT PERFECTLY AND
BLOCKED IT."
HE SAID, "NO DAD, TELL THEM
ABOUT HOW I BEAT YOU."
THE FUNNY THING IS THAT
DEFEAT WASN'T ON THE FRONT
OF MY MIND.
THAT FAILURE WASN'T TAKING
UP THE MOST SPACE.
MY VICTORY, MY
ACCOMPLISHMENT, MY SUCCESS
IS WHAT STOOD OUT.
IT'S ALL IN HOW WE TRAIN
OURSELVES.
SOME PEOPLE ARE FOCUSED ON
THEIR LOSSES, THEIR FLAWS,
THEIR MISTAKES, THE TIMES
THEY DIDN'T MEASURE UP.
THAT'S WHY THEY'RE NEGATIVE
TOWARD THEMSELVES, THE WRONG
IMAGES ARE ALWAYS PLAYING.
YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON YOUR
VICTORIES, FOCUS ON THE
TIMES YOU SUCCEEDED, YOU
RESISTED THE TEMPTATION, YOU
WERE DISCIPLINED.
YOU FELT LIKE TELLING THEM
OFF, BUT YOU BIT YOUR
TONGUE.
YOU WENT THE EXTRA MILE
AT WORK.
YOU EXCELLED ON THAT
PRESENTATION.
DON'T LET THE NEGATIVE
TAKE UP THE MOST SPACE.
YOU CAN'T BECOME WHO YOU
WERE CREATED TO BE IF YOU'RE
NEGATIVE TOWARD YOURSELF.
YES, THERE ARE FORCES TRYING
TO STOP US, BUT I WONDER IF
YOU ARE YOUR ENEMY.
CIRCUMSTANCES MAY BE AGAINST
YOU, PEOPLE WILL COME
AGAINST YOU, YOU CAN
OVERCOME THOSE THINGS.
THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU ARE
AGAINST YOU.
IF YOU'RE NEGATIVE TOWARD
YOURSELF, THAT CAN KEEP YOU
FROM YOUR DESTINY.
GOD HAS GIVEN US DIFFERENT
PERSONALITIES, DIFFERENT
GIFTS, DIFFERENT
TEMPERAMENTS.
SOMETIMES WE'RE FIGHTING WHO
WE ARE TRYING TO BE LIKE
SOMEONE ELSE.
YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT WHO GOD
HAS MADE YOU TO BE.
SURE, THERE ARE AREAS WE CAN
IMPROVE IN, AREAS WHERE WE
CAN GROW BUT THERE ARE
CERTAIN THINGS THAT ARE WHO
WE ARE.
I'M NATURALLY MORE QUIET AND
RESERVED.
MY PERSONALITY IS LAID BACK,
EASY GOING.
I DON'T LOSE MY TEMPER.
I DON'T GET UPSET OFTEN.
THAT'S ALL NATURAL TO ME.
WHEN MY FATHER WENT TO BE
WITH THE LORD, I KNEW I WAS
SUPPOSED TO STEP UP AND
PASTOR THE CHURCH, BUT I
DIDN'T FEEL QUALIFIED.
I HAD NEVER MINISTERED, I
DIDN'T HAVE THE TRAINING.
I COULD GET PAST THOSE
THINGS, WHAT I STRUGGLED
WITH WAS MY FATHER HAD A
STRONG PERSONALITY, HE WAS
DYNAMIC, FORCEFUL.
I WOULD SEE OTHER MINISTERS
THAT WERE LOUD, EXCITE THE
AUDIENCE.
I THOUGHT, "I DON'T HAVE
THOSE STRENGTHS.
I CAN'T MINISTER LIKE MY
FATHER."
WHEN WE COMPARE AND THINK WE
HAVE TO BE LIKE SOMEONE
ELSE, WE CAN FEEL
SHORTCHANGED, LIKE WE'RE AT
A DISADVANTAGE, "I'M NOT AS
TALENTED AS THEY ARE."
HERE'S THE KEY, GOD HAS
GIVEN YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO
FULFILL YOUR DESTINY.
IF YOU NEEDED A DIFFERENT
PERSONALITY, HE WOULD HAVE
GIVEN YOU ONE.
IF YOU NEEDED DIFFERENT
GIFTS, DIFFERENT STRENGTHS,
DIFFERENT LOOKS, DIFFERENT
PARENTS, IT WOULD HAVE
HAPPENED.
QUIT COMPARING AND RUN YOUR
RACE.
I WAS TEMPTED TO FEEL
INFERIOR, NOT STRONG ENOUGH,
I HAD TO TUNE ALL THAT OUT
AND USE WHAT GOD HAD GIVEN
ME.
I DISCOVERED MY GIFTS FIT
ME.
MY PERSONALITY, MY TALENT,
MY STRENGTHS, MY TEMPERAMENT
IS RIGHT FOR MY ASSIGNMENT.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO BE LOUD,
DYNAMIC, FORCEFUL; THAT
WORKED FOR MY FATHER, THAT'S
WHO HE WAS BUT GOD MAKES US
INDIVIDUALS.
YOU HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE
IN YOUR OWN SKIN,
COMFORTABLE IN WHO GOD MADE
YOU TO BE.
DON'T COVET WHAT SOMEONE
ELSE HAS.
IF YOU HAD THEIR GIFTS,
THEIR PERSONALITY, THEIR
LOOKS, IT WOULDN'T HELP YOU,
IT WOULD HINDER YOU.
YOU ARE EQUIPPED FOR YOUR
RACE.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT
PERSONALITY, THE RIGHT
GIFTS, THE RIGHT LOOKS.
YOU'RE THE RIGHT HEIGHT, YOU
COME FROM THE RIGHT FAMILY.
YOU WEREN'T SHORTCHANGED,
YOU'RE NOT AT A
DISADVANTAGE.
YOU'VE BEEN FEARFULLY AND
WONDERFULLY MADE.
WALK IN YOUR ANOINTING, BE
CONFIDENT WITH YOUR GIFTS,
LET YOUR PERSONALITY SHINE.
THERE'S NOT ANOTHER PERSON
IN THIS WORLD LIKE YOU.
THE ENEMY WOULD LOVE FOR YOU
TO GO THROUGH LIFE TRYING TO
BE AN IMITATION, COPYING
SOMEONE ELSE THAT YOU THINK
IS MORE ATTRACTIVE, MORE
GIFTED, MORE SUCCESSFUL.
NO BE YOU.
NOBODY CAN DO YOU LIKE YOU
CAN DO YOU.
YOU'RE NOT ANOINTED TO BE
SOMEONE ELSE.
THE ANOINTING ON YOUR LIFE,
THE FAVOR, THE BLESSING IS
TO BE YOU.
YOU WON'T ACTIVATE THE
FAVOR, YOU WON'T SEE THE
ABUNDANCE IF YOU'RE TRYING
TO BE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE
NOT, FEELING WRONG ON THE
INSIDE BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
LIKE SOMEONE ELSE.
I STEPPED UP TO MINISTER, I
WASN'T LIKE MY FATHER.
I'M MORE CALM, MORE LAID
BACK.
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A
WEAKNESS WAS ACTUALLY A
STRENGTH.
PEOPLE STARTED WATCHING AND
ATTENDING IN RECORD NUMBERS.
HALF THE PEOPLE THAT WATCH
SAY THEY'VE NEVER BEEN TO
CHURCH AND NEVER LISTENED TO
A MINISTER ON TELEVISION.
I WONDER IF YOU'RE FIGHTING
WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE.
ARE YOU FRUSTRATED OVER WHAT
YOU THINK IS A WEAKNESS,
WHEN IN FACT IT'S A
STRENGTH?
QUIT WISHING YOU WERE
DIFFERENT AND STEP IN TO WHO
GOD MADE YOU TO BE.
HE DIDN'T ACCIDENTLY GIVE
YOU THE WRONG PERSONALITY,
MAKE YOU TOO QUIET, TOO
OUTGOING, THE WRONG GIFTS.
HE MATCHED YOU WITH YOUR
WORLD.
YOU HAVE EXACTLY WHAT YOU
NEED TO FULFILL YOUR
DESTINY.
I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS A
VERY STRONG PERSONALITY.
HE'S VERY KIND, VERY
TALENTED, BUT HE'S TYPE A,
STRAIGHT TO THE POINT,
AGGRESSIVE, GET IT DONE.
ONE DAY HE AND HIS WIFE WERE
HAVING A DISAGREEMENT, THEY
WERE DEBATING SOMETHING.
SHE FINALLY SAID, "WHY CAN'T
YOU BE MORE LIKE JOEL?"
HE SAID, "EXCUSE ME, I THINK
I'M SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE
JESUS."
SHE SAID, "THAT'S FINE, BUT
WHY DON'T YOU START WITH
JOEL?"
WE CAN ALWAYS GROW AND
IMPROVE BUT YOU CAN'T FIGHT
WHO GOD MADE YOU TO BE.
DON'T GO YOUR WHOLE LIFE
WISHING YOU WERE SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, WISHING YOU HAD A
BETTER PERSONALITY, WISHING
YOU WERE MORE TALENTED,
WISHING YOU WERE LIKE YOUR
NEIGHBOR, WHEN IN FACT,
YOU'RE EXACTLY WHO YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE.
WHAT YOU DON'T REALIZE IS
HALF THE TIME, YOUR NEIGHBOR
IS WISHING THEY COULD BE
YOU.
THEY SEE ALL THE GOOD THINGS
ABOUT YOU, DO YOU?
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU
WOULD START LOVING YOURSELF,
ACCEPTING YOUR GIFTS, NOT
BEATING YOURSELF UP FOR
MISTAKES, NOT DOWN ON
YOURSELF BECAUSE OF
WEAKNESSES?
STAY POSITIVE TOWARD
YOURSELF.
MOST OF US, WOULDN'T
CRITICIZE OTHER PEOPLE.
YOU WOULDN'T GO UP TO THAT
PERSON SITTING NEXT TO YOU
AND SAY, "YOU SURE DON'T
LOOK GOOD TODAY, THOSE
CLOTHES DON'T DO ANYTHING
FOR YOU."
YOU MAY THINK IT, BUT YOU
WOULDN'T SAY IT.
WHY ARE YOU CRITICIZING
YOURSELF?
WHEN YOU CRITICIZE YOU, YOU
ARE CRITICIZING GOD'S
CREATION.
YOU MIGHT AS WELL LOOK UP
AND SAY, "GOD, YOU DIDN'T DO
A VERY GOOD JOB ON ME."
HE DOESN'T MAKE MISTAKES.
DON'T SAY ANOTHER NEGATIVE
THING ABOUT YOURSELF.
"I'M SO UNDISCIPLINED, I
CAN'T DO ANYTHING RIGHT.
I DON'T HAVE A GOOD
PERSONALITY, I'LL NEVER LOSE
THIS WEIGHT, I'LL NEVER
BREAK THIS ADDICTION."
ZIP THAT UP.
QUIT BEING AGAINST YOURSELF.
YOU DON'T NEED ANOTHER
ENEMY.
BE AS GOOD TO YOURSELF AS
YOU ARE TO OTHERS.
BE KIND TO YOURSELF, BE
MERCIFUL TO YOURSELF, BE
LOVING TO YOURSELF.
WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE
MORNING, LOOK IN THE MIRROR,
INSTEAD OF SAYING, "I'M
GETTING SO OLD, LOOK AT ALL
THESE WRINKLES, IT'S ALL
DOWNHILL FROM HERE."
TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
"GOOD MORNING YOU GOOD
LOOKING THING.
I'M MADE IN THE IMAGE OF
GOD.
I'M A MASTERPIECE, I HAVE
ROYAL BLOOD FLOWING THROUGH
MY VEINS."
A FRIEND OF MINE PASTORS A
CHURCH IN ANOTHER STATE.
FOR YEARS, EVERY SUNDAY
AFTER SERVICE, HE WOULD CALL
ME AND TELL ME HOW GOOD MY
MESSAGE WAS.
HE'S VERY ENCOURAGING.
HE WOULD GO ON AND ON.
"IT WAS SO EFFECTIVE HERE,
AND THIS PART IS GOING TO
HELP SO MANY PEOPLE."
ONE COMPLIMENT AFTER
ANOTHER.
SEVERAL YEARS LATER, HE CAME
WITH ME TO THIS INTERVIEW I
WAS DOING.
IT WAS A NATIONAL PROGRAM,
LIVE FOR AN HOUR, A REALLY
BIG DEAL.
I WAS YOUNG AND NERVOUS,
HADN'T DONE MUCH OF THAT
BEFORE.
WHEN I FINISHED, WE GOT IN
THE CAR AND THE FIRST THING
I SAID WAS, "I DID REALLY
GOOD.
I KNEW EXACTLY WHAT TO SAY,
I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE
DONE IT ANY BETTER."
HE TOLD ME LATER HOW THAT
CONVERSATION CHANGED HIS
LIFE.
WHEN HE SAW HOW POSITIVE I
WAS TOWARD MYSELF, HE
REALIZED WHAT HIS PROBLEM
WAS.
HE HAD NEVER ONCE TOLD
HIMSELF THAT HE HAD DONE
GOOD.
AFTER HIS SERVICE, HE'D
ALWAYS DRIVE HOME
DISCOURAGED, THINKING ABOUT
HOW HE COULD HAVE DONE IT
BETTER, HOW HE WASN'T
FOCUSED ENOUGH, HOW HE COULD
HAVE EXPLAINED IT MORE
CLEARLY.
IN YEARS OF PASTORING, HE
NEVER LEFT THE CHURCH
FEELING GOOD, HE ALWAYS
THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT HE DIDN'T
DO RIGHT.
WHEN HE HEARD ME COME OUT
AND SAY, "I DID GOOD," A
STRONGHOLD WAS BROKEN IN HIS
THINKING.
HE WAS GREAT AT
COMPLIMENTING OTHERS, BUT HE
HAD NEVER COMPLIMENTED
HIMSELF.
HE'D TRAINED HIMSELF TO SEE
THE FLAWS, THE STUMBLES,
WHEN HE DIDN'T DO HIS BEST.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS, "OUR
FAITH IS MADE EFFECTIVE WHEN
WE ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYTHING
GOOD."
YOU CAN'T GO AROUND
ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEGATIVE,
YOUR WEAKNESSES, THE TIMES
YOU DIDN'T MEASURE UP, HOW
YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE
DISCIPLINED.
YOUR FAITH IS NOT GOING TO
BE EFFECTIVE.
YOU NEED TO RETRAIN YOUR
MIND TO SEE THE GOOD, FOCUS
ON WHAT YOU DID RIGHT.
YOU DIDN'T GET EVERYTHING
DONE AT THE OFFICE, BUT YOU
GOT SOMETHING DONE.
YOU HAVEN'T TOTALLY BROKEN
THE ADDICTION, BUT YOU'RE
BETTER THAN YOU WERE LAST
YEAR.
YOU DIDN'T SPEND ALL THE
TIME YOU WANTED TO WITH YOUR
CHILDREN, BUT YOU GOT THEM
READY FOR SCHOOL, YOU GOT
THEM DRESSED, YOU COOKED
THEIR DINNER.
IF YOU'RE ACKNOWLEDGING THE
NEGATIVE, YOU'RE NOT GOING
TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF.
START ACKNOWLEDGING ALL THE
GOOD THINGS YOU'RE DOING.
THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO HELP
YOU DO BETTER.
BEING DOWN ON YOURSELF, NOT
ONLY KEEPS YOU FROM ENJOYING
LIFE, BUT IT KEEPS YOU FROM
RISING HIGHER.
WHEN I WALK OFF THIS
PLATFORM, EVERY TIME UNDER
MY BREATH, I SAY, "LORD,
THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME DO
GREAT TODAY."
I KNOW I DON'T DO GREAT
EVERY TIME, BUT IN MY MIND I
DO GREAT.
I WALKED OFF THE OTHER DAY,
AND MY CHILDREN WERE BACK
THERE.
THE FIRST THING I SAID WAS,
"I NAILED IT."
THEY STARTED LAUGHING.
I DON'T MEAN THIS ARROGANT,
BUT I CELEBRATE MYSELF, I
COMPLIMENT MYSELF, I
ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT GOD HAS
ENABLED ME TO DO.
I RECOGNIZE IT'S HIS FAVOR,
HIS ANOINTING, HIS BLESSING
ON MY LIFE.
I HAVE PLENTY OF AREAS TO
IMPROVE IN, I KNOW PEOPLE
THAT CAN DO IT MUCH BETTER,
THAT'S OKAY, I'M NOT RUNNING
THEIR RACE.
I FEEL GOOD ABOUT ME.
YOU HAVE ENOUGH ENEMIES IN
LIFE, DON'T BE AGAINST
YOURSELF.
YOU SHOULD BE YOUR BIGGEST
FAN.
NOBODY SHOULD THINK BETTER
OF YOU THAN YOU.
SOMETIMES WE'RE TAUGHT,
"DON'T THINK GOOD OF
YOURSELF, BE HUMBLE, BE
LOWLY."
NO, YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE
THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE
BREATHED HIS LIFE INTO YOU.
HE'S ENTRUSTED YOU WITH
GIFTS, TALENTS, ABILITIES.
HE'S CROWNED YOU WITH FAVOR.
DON'T GO THROUGH LIFE
THINKING LITTLE OF YOURSELF,
FOCUSED ON YOUR WEAKNESSES,
DWELLING ON YOUR FAILURES.
START ACKNOWLEDGING THE
GOOD, STEP INTO YOUR
POTENTIAL, SHOW OFF THAT
TALENT.
DON'T BE YOUR ENEMY, BE
YOU'RE ASSET.
WHEN YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE
GOOD, WHEN YOU SAY, "LORD
THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME
SHINE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
GIFTS, THANK YOU FOR TAKING
ME WHERE I'VE NEVER
DREAMED," THEN YOUR FAITH IS
MADE EFFECTIVE.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE NEW
DOORS OPEN, NEW
OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU MAY BE GOOD AT
COMPLIMENTING OTHERS, YOU
NEED TO GET GOOD AT
COMPLIMENTING YOURSELF.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT OUT
LOUD, BUT IN YOUR MIND, YOU
NEED TO SAY, "THAT WAS GOOD.
GOT TO WORK ON TIME, THAT
WAS GOOD.
I DID EXCELLENT ON THAT
PRESENTATION.
THAT WAS GOOD.
HELPED MY NEIGHBOR LAST
NIGHT, THAT WAS GOOD."
WHY DON'T YOU START GIVING
YOURSELF THE CREDIT THAT YOU
GIVE OTHERS?
YOU TOLD THAT FRIEND THAT
THEY LOOK GOOD, HAVE YOU
TOLD YOURSELF THAT YOU LOOK
GOOD?
YOU COMPLIMENTED YOUR
CO-WORKER, HAVE YOU
COMPLIMENTED YOURSELF?
"JOEL, I WOULD FEEL GOOD
ABOUT MYSELF BUT I'VE MADE
THESE MISTAKES, IF I HAD
BEEN MORE DISCIPLINED."
THE MISTAKE DIDN'T CHANGE
YOUR PURPOSE.
DON'T LET FAILURES AND TIMES
YOU GOT OFF COURSE CAUSE YOU
TO BE AGAINST YOURSELF.
BE AS MERCIFUL TO YOU AS YOU
ARE TO OTHERS.
YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO FORGIVE
YOURSELF.
THE ACCUSER WILL BRING
CONDEMNATION, GUILT, "YOU
DON'T DESERVE IT."
HE WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO
FEEL NOT WORTHY, DOWN ON
YOURSELF.
DON'T FALL INTO THAT TRAP.
PAUL SAID IN COLOSSIANS,
"GOD SEES YOU AS HOLY,
BLAMELESS, AS WITHOUT
FAULT."
"NOT ME JOEL, I HAVE A LOT
OF FAULTS, I'VE MADE A LOT
OF MISTAKES."
WE ALL HAVE.
BUT WHEN YOU ASKED GOD TO
FORGIVE YOU, HE CLEARED YOUR
RECORD.
HE SEES YOU WITHOUT FAULT.
THAT'S ALL GOOD, BUT THE
REAL QUESTION IS CAN YOU SEE
YOURSELF WITHOUT FAULT.
AS LONG AS YOU'RE BEATING
YOURSELF UP, LIVING
CONDEMNED, THE PROBLEM IS
YOU ARE YOUR ENEMY.
GOD HAS ALREADY SAID YOU'RE
BLAMELESS, YOU'RE WITHOUT
FAULT.
GET IN AGREEMENT WITH HIM.
NOTHING YOU'VE DONE HAS
STOPPED YOUR DESTINY.
JESUS KNEW PETER WOULD DENY
HIM, YET HE STILL CHOSE HIM
AS HIS DISCIPLE.
WHY DIDN'T HE JUST PICK
SOMEONE ELSE?
HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO
FAIL; HE KNEW HE WAS HOT
TEMPERED; HE KNEW HE USED
BAD LANGUAGE, BUT GOD
DOESN'T DISQUALIFY YOU
BECAUSE YOU HAVE WEAKNESSES.
IF HE DID, NONE OF US WOULD
HAVE A CHANCE.
WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE
DEAD, HE TOLD MARY AT THE
TOMB, GO TELL THE DISCIPLES
HE WAS ALIVE AND HE
SPECIFICALLY SAID, TELL
PETER.
PETER COULD HAVE LIVED
DEFEATED, CONDEMNED, "WHAT
WAS WRONG WITH ME?"
BUT HE MADE THIS CHOICE THAT
WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE, HE
FORGAVE HIMSELF, HE HAD
MERCY ON HIMSELF.
HE DIDN'T LIVE LOOKING IN
THE REARVIEW MIRROR,
THINKING ABOUT HOW HE HAD
BLOWN IT.
PETER WENT ON TO GIVE THE
INAUGURAL ADDRESS WHEN THE
CHURCH WAS BIRTHED, THREE
THOUSAND PEOPLE CAME TO KNOW
THE LORD.
ALL THROUGH THE SCRIPTURE
GOD USED PEOPLE THAT MADE
MISTAKES.
ABRAHAM HAD A BABY OUT OF
WEDLOCK, DAVID TOOK A MAN'S
WIFE AND HAD THE MAN KILLED,
JONAH RAN FROM GOD, WOULDN'T
GO TO THE CITY OF NINEVEH.
WHAT DID GOD DO, RESCUE HIM
AND SEND HIM TO THE CITY OF
NINEVEH.
GOD DOESN'T DISQUALIFY US.
THE MISTAKE WE MAKE IS WE
DISQUALIFY OURSELVES.
WHEN MOSES WAS ON THE MOUNT
SINAI, RECEIVING THE TEN
COMMANDMENTS, HE LEFT HIS
BROTHER AARON IN CHARGE OF
THE ISRAELITES.
HE WAS GONE SO LONG, THE
PEOPLE SAID, "WE NEED A GOD
TO WORSHIP."
AARON KNEW THEY WORSHIPPED
JEHOVAH.
HE SPOKE FOR MOSES WHEN HE
TOLD PHARAOH TO LET THE
PEOPLE GO.
HE HAD SEEN GOD DELIVER THEM
FROM SLAVERY, PART THE RED
SEA.
BUT HE TOLD THE PEOPLE TO
BRING THEIR GOLD, HE MELTED
IT DOWN AND THEY MADE A
GOLDEN CALF.
THE PEOPLE STARTED PARTYING,
ALL KINDS OF REVELRY.
WHEN MOSES CAME DOWN THE
MOUNTAIN, HE SAW AARON AND
ALL THE PEOPLE DANCING
NAKED, WORSHIPPING THAT
IDOL.
HERE HE'S UP THERE HAVING
THIS HOLY MOMENT AND IN A
FEW DAYS THE PEOPLE HAVE
ALREADY FALLEN AWAY.
YOU WOULD THINK GOD WOULD BE
DONE WITH AARON.
"IF YOU CAN'T LEAD MY PEOPLE
FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, IF
YOU'RE GOING TO COMPROMISE
THAT EASILY, GIVE IN TO
TEMPTATION, THEN GOOD
RIDDANCE."
BUT GOD DOESN'T WRITE US
OFF.
HE CHOSE AARON TO BE THE
FIRST HIGH PRIEST.
I CAN HEAR GOD SAYING TO AN
ANGEL, "YOU SEE THAT GUY
DOWN THEIR DANCING NAKED,
THE ONE THAT MADE THE GOLDEN
CALF, HE'S GOING BE THE ONE
I CHOOSE TO GO IN TO THE
HOLY OF HOLIES, THE MOST
SACRED PLACE OF THE TEMPLE."
DON'T JUDGE YOUR LIFE BASED
OFF OF ONE MISTAKE, OFF OF
ONE SEASON WHERE YOU GAVE IN
TO TEMPTATION, ONE SEASON
WHERE YOU COMPROMISED.
THAT DIDN'T STOP YOUR
DESTINY.
THE ONLY WAY IT WILL HOLD
YOU BACK IS IF YOU LIVE
GUILTY, CONDEMNED, FEELING
WASHED UP.
GOD HAS FORGIVEN YOU, BUT
YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE
YOURSELF.
HE'S GIVEN YOU HIS MERCY,
BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE MERCY
ON YOURSELF.
"JOEL, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I
DID."
YOU PROBABLY WEREN'T DANCING
NAKED IN PUBLIC LAST WEEK.
YOU PROBABLY WEREN'T
WORSHIPPING A GOLDEN CALF.
WHY ARE YOU WRITING YOURSELF
OFF?
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE GOD IS
TAKING YOU.
WHO WOULD OF THOUGHT, AARON
WOULD BECOME THE HIGH
PRIEST, IN A POSITION OF
HONOR AND INFLUENCE?
GOD HAS SOMETHING AWESOME
STILL IN YOUR FUTURE.
BUT HERE'S THE QUESTION, ARE
YOU FOR YOU?
ARE YOU KIND TO YOURSELF?
ARE YOU MERCIFUL TO
YOURSELF?
I KNOW YOU LOVE GOD, BUT DO
YOU LOVE YOURSELF?
I KNOW YOU'LL FORGIVE
OTHERS, BUT WILL YOU FORGIVE
YOURSELF?
I KNOW YOU'LL COMPLIMENT
YOUR FRIENDS, BUT WILL
COMPLIMENT YOURSELF?
HOW MUCH FURTHER WILL YOU GO
IF YOU'LL STAY POSITIVE
TOWARD YOURSELF?
QUIT BEATING YOURSELF UP FOR
PAST MISTAKES, QUIT DWELLING
ON YOUR FLAWS, OVERANALYZING
YOUR WEAKNESSES.
YOU'RE NOT A FINISHED
PRODUCT.
GOD IS STILL WORKING ON YOU.
I BELIEVE AND DECLARE TODAY
IS A BREAKTHROUGH DAY,
STRONGHOLDS ARE COMING DOWN.
GUILT IS LEAVING, POOR
SELF-IMAGES ARE GOING.
YOU ARE HOLY, YOU ARE
BLAMELESS, YOU ARE WITHOUT
FAULT.
GET READY, YOU'RE ABOUT TO
RISE HIGHER, OVERCOME
OBSTACLES, ACCOMPLISH DREAMS
AND BECOME EVERYTHING GOD
CREATED YOU TO BE, IN JESUS'
NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN TODAY?
I'D LIKE TO GIVE YOU AN
OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE JESUS
THE LORD OF YOUR LIFE.
WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?
JUST SAY, "LORD JESUS, I
REPENT OF MY SINS.
COME INTO MY HEART.
I MAKE YOU MY LORD AND
SAVIOR."
IF YOU PRAYED THAT SIMPLE
PRAYER, WE BELIEVE YOU GOT
BORN AGAIN.
WE'D LOVE TO SEND YOU SOME
INFORMATION ON YOUR NEW WALK
WITH THE LORD.
JUST TEXT THE NUMBER ON THE
SCREEN OR GO TO THE WEBSITE.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET INTO A
GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
> JOEL: THANKS FOR
WATCHING THIS
MESSAGE. I HOPE
YOU ENJOYED IT.
WE UPLOAD NEW
VIDEOS EVERY WEEK
TO KEEP YOU
INSPIRED AND
ENCOURAGED.
SO DON'T FORGET
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BUTTON AND MAKE
SURE YOU SUBSCRIBE
TO OUR CHANNEL.
> VICTORIA: LET US
KNOW IN THE
COMMENTS BELOW HOW
THIS MESSAGE HAS
ENCOURAGED YOU.
WE WOULD LOVE TO
HEAR FROM YOU.
WE'RE PRAYING FOR
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT TIME!
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