Being Happy Where You Are

0:00:00.400 --> 0:00:03.160 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 0:00:03.200 --> 0:00:06.360 our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you 0:00:06.440 --> 0:00:09.040 enjoy today's message, why don't you be a blessing and 0:00:09.080 --> 0:00:11.760 share it with a friend. We appreciate you and pray 0:00:11.800 --> 0:00:14.760 for God's very best in your life. God bless you. 0:00:14.880 --> 0:00:17.400 It's great to be with you today, and I hope 0:00:17.400 --> 0:00:19.760 you'll stay connected with us during the week through our 0:00:19.920 --> 0:00:23.760 daily podcast, YouTube channel, social media, and you can come 0:00:23.840 --> 0:00:26.000 visit us in person. We'd love to have you be 0:00:26.040 --> 0:00:28.560 a part of one of our services. I'd like to 0:00:28.560 --> 0:00:31.280 start with something funny, and I heard about these four 0:00:31.480 --> 0:00:35.240 Catholic mothers. They were bragging on their sons. The first 0:00:35.240 --> 0:00:37.880 one said, my son is a priest. When he walks 0:00:37.880 --> 0:00:41.520 in the room, everyone calls him father. The second one said, 0:00:41.520 --> 0:00:44.040 my son is a bishop. When he walks in the room, 0:00:44.360 --> 0:00:47.920 everyone calls him your Grace. The third said, my son 0:00:48.000 --> 0:00:50.720 is a cardinal. When he walks in the room, everyone 0:00:50.800 --> 0:00:54.320 calls him your Imminence. The fourth one said, my son 0:00:54.400 --> 0:00:58.080 is six foot three, has broad shoulders, and is incredibly handsome. 0:00:58.640 --> 0:01:01.160 When he walks in the room, all the ladies say, 0:01:01.520 --> 0:01:06.119 oh my God, say it like you mean it. This 0:01:06.200 --> 0:01:08.720 is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 0:01:09.160 --> 0:01:11.560 I have what it says I have. I can do 0:01:11.640 --> 0:01:14.200 what it says I can do. Today I will be 0:01:14.280 --> 0:01:18.119 taught the word of God. I'll boldly confess. My mind 0:01:18.240 --> 0:01:21.520 is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be 0:01:21.600 --> 0:01:26.560 the same. In Jesus's name, God bless you. I want 0:01:26.560 --> 0:01:29.640 to talk to you today about being happy where you are. 0:01:30.680 --> 0:01:33.720 We can always find a reason to put off our happiness. 0:01:34.000 --> 0:01:37.399 When my business grows, then I'll be happy when I 0:01:37.440 --> 0:01:40.800 lose ten pounds, when I have a baby, when my 0:01:40.840 --> 0:01:44.800 health improves, or maybe if I was married, i'd be happy. 0:01:45.440 --> 0:01:49.120 Another person, if I wasn't married, i'd be happy. If 0:01:49.160 --> 0:01:52.760 you're putting conditions on your happiness, you're going to live 0:01:52.800 --> 0:01:56.160 a lot of your life unhappy because there will always 0:01:56.200 --> 0:01:59.280 be something you don't like that bothers you, that you 0:01:59.320 --> 0:02:04.320 wish was different. There are blessings and burdens in every season. 0:02:05.080 --> 0:02:07.640 There are great things in your life that you could 0:02:07.640 --> 0:02:10.320 be happy with right now. If you have your health, 0:02:10.800 --> 0:02:14.960 your family, have a job opportunity, and there are things 0:02:15.000 --> 0:02:18.520 you could be discouraged over. You get to choose what 0:02:18.600 --> 0:02:22.000 you're going to focus on. If you focus on the burdens, 0:02:22.160 --> 0:02:24.560 you're going to put off your happiness. I've got to 0:02:24.560 --> 0:02:27.160 fix this problem before i can be happy, or I've 0:02:27.160 --> 0:02:29.560 got to move into a better house, or i can't 0:02:29.600 --> 0:02:32.560 be happy with this coworker. He gets on my nerves. 0:02:32.639 --> 0:02:35.680 And when he leaves, when God moves him out of 0:02:35.720 --> 0:02:38.480 my life, then I'll be happy. But here's the truth. 0:02:38.480 --> 0:02:40.839 And I don't want to depress you, but he may 0:02:40.880 --> 0:02:45.119 never leave. What if some of those burdens never change. 0:02:45.400 --> 0:02:48.440 Are you going to spend your life unhappy, waiting for 0:02:48.560 --> 0:02:52.080 people and circumstances to do what you want, then you'll 0:02:52.160 --> 0:02:55.239 enjoy your life. It's the wrong way to live. You're 0:02:55.280 --> 0:02:59.280 putting your happiness in other people's hands. You're letting your 0:02:59.400 --> 0:03:03.320 joy be dependent on the circumstances. You have to take 0:03:03.400 --> 0:03:08.360 control of your happiness. You are responsible to keep yourself happy. 0:03:08.639 --> 0:03:12.200 It's not up to other people enjoy. My spouse, my boss, 0:03:12.400 --> 0:03:15.959 my neighbor. They're the problem. They aggravate me, they leave 0:03:16.040 --> 0:03:20.160 me out. You can't control all that. They may not change, 0:03:20.360 --> 0:03:23.399 but you can change. You can be happy right where 0:03:23.440 --> 0:03:27.200 you are. You can enjoy your life despite what's not 0:03:27.280 --> 0:03:31.640 going your way. Paul said, in Philippians chapter four. I 0:03:31.720 --> 0:03:35.520 have learned how to be content whatever state I'm in, 0:03:35.920 --> 0:03:39.360 whether I'm a based or a bounding. He was saying, 0:03:39.720 --> 0:03:42.840 whether I have a lot or a little, whether people 0:03:42.840 --> 0:03:45.760 are treating me right or wrong, whether my plans have 0:03:45.840 --> 0:03:48.640 worked out or they haven't, I'm still going to be happy. 0:03:49.040 --> 0:03:52.600 I'm still going to keep my joy. His happiness wasn't 0:03:52.640 --> 0:03:57.040 dependent on his conditions, wasn't dependent on what people said 0:03:57.200 --> 0:04:00.080 or if they did what he wanted. Or if he 0:04:00.120 --> 0:04:03.720 is in a blooming season seeing growth and promotion, then 0:04:03.800 --> 0:04:08.480 he'd be happy. Seasons change, plans don't always work out. 0:04:09.120 --> 0:04:12.840 People can let us down, doors can close. A mark 0:04:12.880 --> 0:04:16.560 of maturity is that you're happy whatever state you're in. 0:04:17.320 --> 0:04:21.000 Your happiness is not based on your circumstances. It's based 0:04:21.040 --> 0:04:24.279 on a decision, the fact that you're a child or 0:04:24.279 --> 0:04:27.960 the most high God. You recognize He's given you another 0:04:28.080 --> 0:04:30.440 day to be alive and the strength to get out 0:04:30.480 --> 0:04:34.440 of bed, breath to breathe. So you focus on the good. 0:04:35.040 --> 0:04:38.320 You thank God for the blessings. You choose, like David, 0:04:38.480 --> 0:04:42.960 to rejoice and be glad. See, happiness is not a feeling. 0:04:43.279 --> 0:04:45.920 It's a decision that we make If you're going to 0:04:46.000 --> 0:04:50.440 be happy, you have to be happy on purpose. Paul said, 0:04:50.839 --> 0:04:54.039 I have learned how to be content. He didn't say 0:04:54.360 --> 0:04:58.960 I woke up content. I'm just naturally content. It's easy 0:04:59.000 --> 0:05:02.200 for me to stay happy no matter what. This took practice. 0:05:02.680 --> 0:05:07.080 This took training, ruling over his emotions, getting up in 0:05:07.120 --> 0:05:10.720 the morning when he didn't feel joy, things weren't going 0:05:10.760 --> 0:05:14.360 his way, and people weren't treating him right, prayers not 0:05:14.520 --> 0:05:18.279 being answered. Yet he made the decision, I'm gonna be 0:05:18.320 --> 0:05:22.279 happy today. I'm gonna enjoy where I am. He learned 0:05:22.279 --> 0:05:26.039 to do it. My question is, have you learned how 0:05:26.040 --> 0:05:29.760 to be content? Have you trained yourself to be happy? 0:05:30.400 --> 0:05:34.240 To see the good, focus on the blessings, to start 0:05:34.279 --> 0:05:38.360 each day positive and full of joy. The enemy would 0:05:38.440 --> 0:05:43.200 love for us to go through life discontent, unhappy. Discover 0:05:43.400 --> 0:05:46.800 is always something to keep us from enjoying where we are. 0:05:47.440 --> 0:05:50.960 Don't fall in that trap. This day is a gift. 0:05:51.360 --> 0:05:54.840 It dishonors God to go through it sour and offended, 0:05:55.160 --> 0:05:59.159 no passion. Everything may not be perfect. We all have 0:05:59.320 --> 0:06:02.840 things that come against us. The key is to enjoy 0:06:02.960 --> 0:06:05.880 where you are while God is in the process of 0:06:06.000 --> 0:06:09.320 changing things. If you don't get happy where you are, 0:06:09.600 --> 0:06:11.760 you probably won't get to where you want to be. 0:06:12.600 --> 0:06:17.000 It's easy to complain, live sour. When this changes, I'll 0:06:17.040 --> 0:06:20.120 be happy. No, you can be happy right where you are. 0:06:20.600 --> 0:06:23.680 What are you focused on? The blessings or the burdens? 0:06:24.279 --> 0:06:27.400 If you focus on what's wrong, how long it's taken, 0:06:27.600 --> 0:06:30.880 who hurts you, You're going to be discouraged. Change your 0:06:30.920 --> 0:06:35.520 focus to the blessings. You're alive, you're healthy, you have 0:06:35.640 --> 0:06:38.320 people to lie see. You never get to the place 0:06:38.360 --> 0:06:40.520 where all the burdens are gone and all you have 0:06:40.600 --> 0:06:45.640 her blessings. With the blessings come burdens. If you're waiting 0:06:45.680 --> 0:06:48.840 for the burdens to leave, then you'll be happy. You'll 0:06:48.880 --> 0:06:52.440 be waiting your whole life. In my situation, God has 0:06:52.480 --> 0:06:55.240 taken me further than I've ever imagined. I have the 0:06:55.279 --> 0:06:57.640 honor to speak to you, guys, and many people. He's 0:06:57.640 --> 0:07:01.880 given me influence and resources, have a beautiful family, good health, 0:07:01.920 --> 0:07:07.040 and extremely good looks. But with all these why you're laughing, 0:07:07.120 --> 0:07:11.680 but anyway, but with all these incredible blessings come some burdens. 0:07:12.280 --> 0:07:14.960 There are two or three things I could be worried 0:07:15.000 --> 0:07:19.280 about and discouraged, over offended. How's this gonna work out? 0:07:19.520 --> 0:07:21.520 If I dwell on the burdens, I'm not gonna have 0:07:21.560 --> 0:07:25.040 any joy. I'm gonna go through the day discourage and worry. 0:07:25.960 --> 0:07:28.920 Part of learning to be content is to focus on 0:07:29.000 --> 0:07:32.640 the blessings and not the burdens. What you focus on 0:07:32.760 --> 0:07:36.880 gets bigger. You're always thinking about the person at work 0:07:37.040 --> 0:07:40.520 that gets on your nerves. How that's not fair. You 0:07:40.560 --> 0:07:43.440 need to pay them back. You make it it bigger, 0:07:44.000 --> 0:07:47.280 and the blessings are getting smaller. The fact is you 0:07:47.360 --> 0:07:50.480 have a job, you have talent, you have health. Change 0:07:50.480 --> 0:07:54.200 your focus. When Paul wrote this passage, I've learned to 0:07:54.240 --> 0:07:57.400 be content, he was in a prison cell. He'd been 0:07:57.480 --> 0:08:00.720 arrested for sharing his faith and was a waiting trial. 0:08:01.560 --> 0:08:05.120 If anyone had a reason to be discontent unhappy at 0:08:05.160 --> 0:08:07.600 least in the natural, would have been Paul. He was 0:08:07.680 --> 0:08:11.480 beaten three times for teaching you about Jesus. He was 0:08:11.520 --> 0:08:16.400 falsely accused and misunderstood by the believers. They wouldn't accept him. 0:08:16.640 --> 0:08:20.280 He was opposed by the religious leaders. He'd been shipwrecked 0:08:20.320 --> 0:08:23.880 and bitten by a poisonous snake. This was all while 0:08:23.920 --> 0:08:27.040 he was fulfilling his purpose, doing what God called him 0:08:27.040 --> 0:08:31.000 to do. But his attitude was, these prison walls aren't 0:08:31.000 --> 0:08:34.240 gonna take my joy. These bad breaks are not gonna 0:08:34.240 --> 0:08:37.760 cause me to be sour. I'm not focused on the burdens. 0:08:38.000 --> 0:08:41.400 I'm focused on the blessings. I'm still alive. I still 0:08:41.480 --> 0:08:43.400 have a purpose to fulfill. I still am in the 0:08:43.480 --> 0:08:47.320 palm of God's hand. He couldn't leave the prison, he 0:08:47.320 --> 0:08:50.439 couldn't go out and share his faith anymore. They thought 0:08:50.480 --> 0:08:53.400 they had him stopped, but Paul got his pen out 0:08:53.520 --> 0:08:57.319 and started writing. He wrote much of the New Testament 0:08:57.480 --> 0:09:01.120 from a prison cell. The enemy thought he was shutting 0:09:01.120 --> 0:09:03.920 Paul up. But God knows how to take what was 0:09:03.960 --> 0:09:07.839 meant for harm and use it to your advantage. In 0:09:07.880 --> 0:09:11.720 that cell, Paul wrote, Rejoice in the Lord always Again, 0:09:11.800 --> 0:09:14.559 I say rejoice. He wrote, May the God of Hope 0:09:14.920 --> 0:09:19.439 fill you with all joy. He wrote, I think myself happy. 0:09:19.520 --> 0:09:23.360 He was telling us the location doesn't have to determine 0:09:23.360 --> 0:09:27.400 your happiness. How you're being treated, what's not working out. 0:09:27.679 --> 0:09:32.160 That doesn't dictate your joy. You determine your happiness. You 0:09:32.200 --> 0:09:35.800 can think yourself happy, or you can think your self depressed. 0:09:36.559 --> 0:09:40.320 You can think yourself grateful, or you can think yourself sour. 0:09:41.320 --> 0:09:44.520 When you focus on the blessings and magnify the good 0:09:44.559 --> 0:09:47.520 things in your life and thank God for where He's 0:09:47.520 --> 0:09:51.280 brought you to his favor, his protection, then you're going 0:09:51.320 --> 0:09:55.080 to enjoy where you are despite what's coming against you. 0:09:55.640 --> 0:09:58.520 And after Paul wrote that passage, I've learned to be content. 0:09:59.040 --> 0:10:01.559 The next verse is the one we quote all the time. 0:10:01.920 --> 0:10:04.880 I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. 0:10:05.679 --> 0:10:08.120 He wrote it in the context of keeping your joy 0:10:08.800 --> 0:10:12.520 stay in content when things come against us. How can 0:10:12.559 --> 0:10:15.840 I be happy in a hard place through Christ, who 0:10:15.880 --> 0:10:19.160 gives you strength? How can I enjoy my life, Joey, 0:10:19.280 --> 0:10:22.680 despite these burdens through Christ? How can I keep a 0:10:22.720 --> 0:10:27.080 good attitude with this cranky coworker? Through Christ? You're not 0:10:27.160 --> 0:10:29.720 doing it on your own. When you choose to be 0:10:29.880 --> 0:10:33.040 happy where you are, God will breathe on your life 0:10:33.120 --> 0:10:37.640 and strengthen you and empower you. See, Paul wasn't happy 0:10:37.679 --> 0:10:41.000 about being in prison, but he was happy in prison. 0:10:41.800 --> 0:10:45.480 He didn't let the circumstances stop his happiness. You're not 0:10:45.640 --> 0:10:48.720 happy about being in the hospital, but you can be 0:10:48.840 --> 0:10:52.160 happy in the hospital just because you're in a difficult 0:10:52.280 --> 0:10:55.480 place doesn't mean you have to be unhappy. You can 0:10:55.520 --> 0:10:58.960 count it all joy. You're not happy with that person 0:10:59.000 --> 0:11:02.199 at work that's trying to make you look bad, but 0:11:02.240 --> 0:11:06.120 you can be happy despite what they're doing. There is 0:11:06.240 --> 0:11:10.080 grace for every season. When you're happy in a place 0:11:10.120 --> 0:11:13.280 where you should be discouraged, you are passing the test, 0:11:13.400 --> 0:11:16.640 and at the right time, God will vindicate you. He'll 0:11:16.679 --> 0:11:20.400 promote you, He'll turn it around. But Paul could have thought, Man, 0:11:20.440 --> 0:11:22.800 when I get out of this prison, then I'll be happy. 0:11:23.160 --> 0:11:26.320 When people stop attacking me, when they understand who I 0:11:26.360 --> 0:11:29.079 really am, then I'll be in a good mood. No, 0:11:29.240 --> 0:11:32.160 he said, I'm happy right where I am. I'm going 0:11:32.200 --> 0:11:34.760 to write some books. I'm going to leave my mark. 0:11:35.480 --> 0:11:39.200 It's very powerful when you are content in every situation, 0:11:40.080 --> 0:11:43.280 when you're not waiting to be happy one day, when 0:11:43.320 --> 0:11:46.200 I get through this trouble, when my health turns around, 0:11:46.440 --> 0:11:50.360 when my career takes off, even though it's not happening yet, 0:11:50.480 --> 0:11:54.680 you're still happy. You're still enjoying the day. You've learned 0:11:54.800 --> 0:11:58.000 how to be content. A lady came down for prayer 0:11:58.040 --> 0:12:01.200 one time, and she was very discovery is because her 0:12:01.280 --> 0:12:04.360 husband wouldn't come to church with her. She'd been trying 0:12:04.400 --> 0:12:06.880 for years to convince him, but he wouldn't do it. 0:12:07.559 --> 0:12:10.600 We prayed and asked God to change his heart, and 0:12:10.679 --> 0:12:13.280 she came down the next week, more frustrating. Same thing. 0:12:13.760 --> 0:12:17.319 Month later she was back, still worried, upset God, why 0:12:17.360 --> 0:12:21.319 won't you do anything? Six months later, same thing. She 0:12:21.480 --> 0:12:24.560 wasn't going to be happy until it worked out her way. 0:12:25.600 --> 0:12:28.920 She was putting her happiness on hold, basing it on 0:12:29.000 --> 0:12:32.200 what her husband did. Life is too short to live 0:12:32.280 --> 0:12:36.160 that way. You can't make people change, and you can't 0:12:36.240 --> 0:12:41.040 make situations turn around. Pray, believe, do what you can, 0:12:41.600 --> 0:12:45.520 then leave it in God's hands. Proverb says those who 0:12:45.559 --> 0:12:50.079 trust in the Lord will be happy when things aren't changing. 0:12:50.440 --> 0:12:52.840 The only way you're going to be happy is by 0:12:52.880 --> 0:12:57.320 trusting that God is working, believing that he's fighting your battles, 0:12:57.880 --> 0:13:01.959 making those crooked places strength, that he's your provider, your healer, 0:13:02.120 --> 0:13:06.960 your waymaker. When you're trusting, you can be happy while 0:13:07.000 --> 0:13:10.080 you're waiting, knowing that God is in the process of 0:13:10.200 --> 0:13:13.800 changing things. If you're dealing with an illness, you could 0:13:13.800 --> 0:13:17.400 be worried losing sleep. No way I can be content, Joe, 0:13:17.679 --> 0:13:21.199 you don't know what I'm facing. Try a different approach. Father, 0:13:21.280 --> 0:13:24.360 thank you that you're my healer, that you're restoring health, 0:13:24.440 --> 0:13:26.600 becking to me that the number of my days you 0:13:26.679 --> 0:13:30.520 will fulfill. When your trust is in him, you can 0:13:30.559 --> 0:13:34.000 be happy while you're waiting. Maybe you have a child 0:13:34.040 --> 0:13:38.319 off course, business is struggling her, you're dealing with an addiction. 0:13:38.960 --> 0:13:43.320 It's easy to put your happiness on hold, live worried, discourage. 0:13:43.679 --> 0:13:46.840 The right attitude is Father, I thank you that you're 0:13:46.840 --> 0:13:50.520 working behind the scenes doing things I can't see that 0:13:50.600 --> 0:13:53.160 what you have purpose from my life is on the 0:13:53.200 --> 0:13:58.719 way freedom, breakthroughs, the right people, abundance, declaring the greatness 0:13:58.760 --> 0:14:02.199 of God, and speak and his promises. That's going to 0:14:02.280 --> 0:14:05.439 build your faith. That's how you can enjoy where you 0:14:05.480 --> 0:14:09.640 are and not just endure where you are. When you 0:14:09.679 --> 0:14:12.800 don't have joy, you don't have strength. It's hard to 0:14:12.880 --> 0:14:16.200 keep a good attitude, hard to believe. But when you're 0:14:16.320 --> 0:14:20.480 happy where you are despite what's coming against you, you're 0:14:20.520 --> 0:14:22.520 going to have the strength you need to stay in 0:14:22.640 --> 0:14:26.080 faith while you're waiting for things to change. And the 0:14:26.120 --> 0:14:29.040 truth is most of our lives we're waiting for something 0:14:29.080 --> 0:14:32.040 to get better and waiting for a problem to turn around, 0:14:32.120 --> 0:14:35.200 or waiting to meet the right person, waiting to advance 0:14:35.240 --> 0:14:38.360 in our career. If you don't learn to enjoy the 0:14:38.440 --> 0:14:42.680 waiting seasons timeslck with Paul when you're in the prison, 0:14:42.760 --> 0:14:45.520 so to speak, then you'll live so much of your 0:14:45.560 --> 0:14:49.640 life unhappy. What a tragedy to come to the end 0:14:49.680 --> 0:14:55.320 of life and realize that we've lived way too long worried, discouraged, defended. 0:14:56.320 --> 0:15:00.760 Jesus said he came that you might enjoy life. This 0:15:00.840 --> 0:15:03.240 is gonna happen. You have to put your foot down 0:15:03.480 --> 0:15:06.320 and say that's it. I'm gonna start being happy where 0:15:06.320 --> 0:15:09.560 I am. Yes, I have some problems at work, but 0:15:09.640 --> 0:15:13.240 that's okay. I'm gonna be happy today. Yes I'm dealing 0:15:13.240 --> 0:15:16.040 with this health issue, but I'm not gonna spend another 0:15:16.160 --> 0:15:18.840 minute worried about it. God, my trust is in you. 0:15:19.920 --> 0:15:23.560 Or doors haven't opened for my dreams yet, still haven't 0:15:23.600 --> 0:15:26.600 met the right person, still have this legal problem. I'm 0:15:26.640 --> 0:15:29.600 not putting my happiness on hold. This is the day 0:15:29.640 --> 0:15:33.440 the Lord has made. I'm gonna be happy today. But 0:15:33.560 --> 0:15:37.160 sometimes we're waiting for the destination to be happy. You know, 0:15:37.480 --> 0:15:40.400 when I accomplish the dream, when I meet the right person, 0:15:40.720 --> 0:15:44.320 when we get that breakthrough, or how about enjoying the journey, 0:15:45.160 --> 0:15:48.200 how about enjoying where God has you? Right now, this 0:15:48.280 --> 0:15:51.480 is a great day to be alive. There are blessings 0:15:51.480 --> 0:15:54.120 God has given every one of us, and sure we 0:15:54.160 --> 0:15:57.680 all have some burdens. But don't let the burdens keep 0:15:57.720 --> 0:16:01.160 you from seeing the blessings. Let what you don't have 0:16:01.680 --> 0:16:05.000 keep you from appreciating what you do have. Don't let 0:16:05.040 --> 0:16:08.360 what hasn't worked out keep you from enjoying what has 0:16:08.440 --> 0:16:12.760 worked out. This day is a gift from God. One 0:16:12.800 --> 0:16:16.440 way we honor him is by being content in every situation, 0:16:17.120 --> 0:16:19.800 being happy in the good times and happy in the 0:16:19.840 --> 0:16:23.800 tough times. Several years later, that lady that was believing 0:16:23.800 --> 0:16:26.440 for her husband, she came back and I saw her 0:16:26.480 --> 0:16:29.480 out in the lobby after service, and she was so happy. 0:16:29.960 --> 0:16:32.400 She had a big smile. She came over and gave 0:16:32.440 --> 0:16:35.600 me a hug, and I thought she must have good news. 0:16:35.800 --> 0:16:38.080 I said, Wow, it's so great to see you again. 0:16:38.280 --> 0:16:41.880 Seemed like you're so excited, so cheerful. I've only seen 0:16:41.880 --> 0:16:45.080 her when she was down this girls complaining. I said, 0:16:45.120 --> 0:16:48.600 your husband must be coming with you now, she said, no, joy, 0:16:49.000 --> 0:16:52.920 he still won't come. He hasn't changed, but I've changed. 0:16:53.480 --> 0:16:56.480 I don't let that take my joy anymore. I'm not 0:16:56.600 --> 0:17:00.360 discouraged over it. I don't complain. I know it's in 0:17:00.400 --> 0:17:05.040 God's hands. I wonder if, like her, you're unhappy about 0:17:05.080 --> 0:17:09.359 something you can't control. You're not enjoying where you are 0:17:09.400 --> 0:17:13.000 because someone won't do what you want. You're not content 0:17:13.080 --> 0:17:16.800 because the door hasn't open her, the medical report hasn't improved, 0:17:16.880 --> 0:17:20.040 the child is still off course. That's in God's hands. 0:17:20.600 --> 0:17:24.919 That's not your responsibility. You pray, believe, do your best. 0:17:25.160 --> 0:17:29.040 Then you have to trust, trust God's timing and trust 0:17:29.080 --> 0:17:32.679 his ways. If you're only gonna be happy if it 0:17:32.720 --> 0:17:36.320 happens your way, you may be frustrated, it may take 0:17:36.400 --> 0:17:39.159 longer than you thought. But when you've made up your 0:17:39.200 --> 0:17:43.000 mind to be happy where you are, content in every situation, 0:17:43.760 --> 0:17:46.960 then life's not a drag. You're still enjoying the day, 0:17:47.560 --> 0:17:51.199 being good to your family, thanking God for his blessings. 0:17:51.800 --> 0:17:54.800 That's a freeing way to live. Happy while you're waiting, 0:17:55.400 --> 0:17:59.240 joyful despite what's not working out. I don't want to 0:17:59.240 --> 0:18:01.000 come to the end of life, life, and look back 0:18:01.000 --> 0:18:04.440 and thy man. I wasted a lot of years being worried, 0:18:04.880 --> 0:18:08.800 so much time stressed over that situation, and so long 0:18:08.960 --> 0:18:11.680 wondering about how that is going to resolve. Let's make 0:18:11.720 --> 0:18:16.320 adjustments now. Once we lived this day, we can't get 0:18:16.359 --> 0:18:19.359 it back. I've learned that you're as happy as you 0:18:19.480 --> 0:18:23.920 want to be. You determine your happiness. It's not the circumstances, 0:18:24.320 --> 0:18:27.840 it's not other people. You get to choose whether you 0:18:28.000 --> 0:18:32.159 enjoy this day or endure this day, whether you focus 0:18:32.160 --> 0:18:35.879 on the blessings or focus on the burdens. When I 0:18:35.920 --> 0:18:39.840 first started pastoring, I had never ministered before, and it 0:18:39.880 --> 0:18:43.040 was very difficult for me to write a message. I 0:18:43.119 --> 0:18:47.200 had no experience doing it. And on Wednesdays and Thursdays 0:18:47.240 --> 0:18:50.119 I would listen to teaching CDs and read books and 0:18:50.200 --> 0:18:52.720 it was like cramming for a test. I felt this 0:18:52.840 --> 0:18:56.199 pressure to come up with something good for Sundays. I 0:18:56.200 --> 0:18:59.320 would write my messages on Fridays and Saturdays and deliver 0:18:59.400 --> 0:19:03.440 it on Sunday. Driving home from church, I'd be so relieved, 0:19:03.560 --> 0:19:06.879 thank God, and then that thought would come, what are 0:19:06.880 --> 0:19:09.919 you gonna speak on next Sunday? It's six days away. 0:19:10.920 --> 0:19:15.400 I got to where I dreaded Wednesday, Thursday, Friday every week. 0:19:15.440 --> 0:19:18.680 I thought, oh, here we go again. I was planning 0:19:18.680 --> 0:19:22.240 on it being hard. I was expecting it to be difficult. 0:19:22.760 --> 0:19:25.359 After about two years of doing that, it dawned on 0:19:25.480 --> 0:19:29.639 me that I'm dreading half my week. That means half 0:19:29.680 --> 0:19:32.680 my year. I'm not enjoying, and if I don't make 0:19:32.720 --> 0:19:37.159 a change half my life, I'm gonna be unhappy. I 0:19:37.200 --> 0:19:39.280 had to do what I'm asking you to do. I 0:19:39.359 --> 0:19:43.480 put my foot down and said, that's it. No more dreading. God, 0:19:43.560 --> 0:19:45.880 I trust you to give me the words to speak. 0:19:46.119 --> 0:19:49.800 You said, your yo, kaseasy, your burden's life. You've given 0:19:49.880 --> 0:19:53.200 me grace for every season. I'm gonna enjoy what you've 0:19:53.240 --> 0:19:57.040 called me to do. I shifted my mindset from enduring 0:19:57.520 --> 0:20:01.119 to enjoying. From I have to write a message to 0:20:01.280 --> 0:20:03.879 I get to write a message. From what a big 0:20:04.000 --> 0:20:07.119 challenge this is, to what a big opportunity this is. 0:20:08.119 --> 0:20:11.520 With that simple shift, not only it got easier, my 0:20:11.600 --> 0:20:14.640 message not only got better, but now I look forward 0:20:14.680 --> 0:20:17.280 to getting to write now. It's a joy to be 0:20:17.320 --> 0:20:20.080 able to do this. I don't think it would be 0:20:20.200 --> 0:20:24.080 this way if I had not changed my mindset. I 0:20:24.080 --> 0:20:27.359 had conditioned myself. It's going to be hard. I don't 0:20:27.480 --> 0:20:31.440 like this. When we dread things, we're inviting the negative. 0:20:32.000 --> 0:20:35.120 We're giving permission for it to be harder, more stress, 0:20:35.280 --> 0:20:39.160 take longer. God has given you the grace for everything 0:20:39.200 --> 0:20:43.160 that you face, not to endure it, but to enjoy it, 0:20:43.840 --> 0:20:47.800 to be happy even in hard places. How much of 0:20:47.840 --> 0:20:51.480 your life are you enjoying and how much are you enduring? 0:20:52.200 --> 0:20:55.320 Have you learned to be content? Are you happy where 0:20:55.359 --> 0:20:59.640 you are? Or you're letting the circumstances and people determine 0:20:59.640 --> 0:21:03.120 your happiness, doing like I used to do, dreading things. 0:21:03.520 --> 0:21:05.879 I don't want to go to work today, and I 0:21:05.920 --> 0:21:08.639 don't want to have to deal with these children. I 0:21:08.640 --> 0:21:12.200 don't like having to take this treatment. That's making it harder, 0:21:12.840 --> 0:21:16.679 that's giving away your power. If you'll approach it with faith, 0:21:17.200 --> 0:21:20.600 with joy, knowing that you're well able, then you're going 0:21:20.680 --> 0:21:24.040 to have the strength that you didn't have ability favor, 0:21:24.640 --> 0:21:27.840 not just to excel, but to be happy where you are. 0:21:28.560 --> 0:21:31.960 It says in Ecclesiastes that you are to enjoy the 0:21:32.000 --> 0:21:34.920 fruit of your work. This is a gift that God 0:21:34.960 --> 0:21:37.800 has given you. You're not supposed to. Dread your work, 0:21:38.440 --> 0:21:41.879 dread cleaning your house, Dread going to the grocery store, 0:21:42.119 --> 0:21:46.359 dread writing that proposal. There's grace for it. Quit telling 0:21:46.400 --> 0:21:49.359 yourself it's going to be hard. Quit planning on having 0:21:49.400 --> 0:21:53.880 a difficult day. Change your mindset. I'm grateful to get 0:21:53.920 --> 0:21:56.520 to go to work today. I'm blessed to be able 0:21:56.560 --> 0:21:59.119 to raise these children. God, I thank you for the 0:21:59.320 --> 0:22:02.960 strength to this house. I'm gonna enjoy this day. I'm 0:22:02.960 --> 0:22:05.720 gonna live it to the full. If you're going to 0:22:05.800 --> 0:22:09.920 be happy, you have to be proactive, because dread's gonna 0:22:09.960 --> 0:22:13.280 show up, and discouragement is gonna come knocking on your door, 0:22:13.359 --> 0:22:16.440 and worry is gonna text you what about this situation? 0:22:17.080 --> 0:22:19.720 What if it doesn't work out? Tell them no thanks. 0:22:19.800 --> 0:22:23.960 I've already decided. I'm gonna live this day happy. Mary 0:22:24.040 --> 0:22:28.200 the mother of Jesus, was a teenager engaged to Joseph 0:22:28.560 --> 0:22:30.760 was one of the best times of her life. She 0:22:30.880 --> 0:22:34.359 was planning her wedding, lining up the bridesmaid, picking out 0:22:34.400 --> 0:22:37.760 the flowers, the food, when an angel appeared and said 0:22:37.760 --> 0:22:40.960 she was highly favored. She's gonna have a baby without 0:22:41.000 --> 0:22:44.280 knowing a man and he would be the Messiah. Mary 0:22:44.359 --> 0:22:48.080 was excited, she said, let it happen. But what she 0:22:48.200 --> 0:22:50.720 didn't know was all of her plans were about to 0:22:50.760 --> 0:22:55.120 be interrupted when Joseph found out she was pregnant. He's 0:22:55.160 --> 0:22:58.800 gonna call off the wedding and quietly walk away. Angel 0:22:58.840 --> 0:23:02.199 appeared to him and told him the baby was the Messiah. 0:23:02.359 --> 0:23:05.680 Go through with it well. King Herod called a senses. 0:23:06.400 --> 0:23:11.000 They had to travel to Bethlehem, to Joseph's hometown. Mary 0:23:11.320 --> 0:23:16.359 was nine months pregnant. Riding a donkey eighty miles, bouncing 0:23:16.520 --> 0:23:20.560 up and down a difficult assignment. But you never read 0:23:20.600 --> 0:23:23.960 where Mary complained. You never read where she got upset. 0:23:24.840 --> 0:23:28.040 They arrived in Bethlehem looking for a place to have 0:23:28.119 --> 0:23:31.400 the baby, but no hotel abatable. They were turned down 0:23:31.440 --> 0:23:35.560 again and again. They found a stable where they kept animals. 0:23:36.200 --> 0:23:39.480 She gave birth to Jesus our Savior. Well a few 0:23:39.480 --> 0:23:44.480 months they had to flee to Egypt, another interruption, disappointment. 0:23:45.440 --> 0:23:48.600 Mary could have been discouraged. This is not what I 0:23:48.680 --> 0:23:52.400 had planned. God, where are you? So? She was content 0:23:52.480 --> 0:23:57.119 at every stage, even things she didn't understand. She trusted 0:23:57.400 --> 0:24:02.520 in the difficult times. She was happy in the hard places. Now, 0:24:02.640 --> 0:24:05.480 I'm gonna be happy when I'll get off this lousy donkey. 0:24:06.119 --> 0:24:09.080 Get me an escalade next time. I'm gonna be happy 0:24:09.080 --> 0:24:12.800 when I have this baby, happy when Herod quits chasing us. 0:24:13.359 --> 0:24:16.920 I'll be happy when these people quit gossiping talking bad 0:24:17.000 --> 0:24:21.240 about me. She learned to be content in whatever state 0:24:21.359 --> 0:24:24.760 she was in. That's why God could trust her with 0:24:24.880 --> 0:24:28.679 something so important. God may have assigned you to a 0:24:28.760 --> 0:24:34.119 difficult task, something you didn't see coming, raising a difficult child, 0:24:34.800 --> 0:24:37.959 dealing with an illness, a tough season in your career, 0:24:38.440 --> 0:24:42.480 it's because he can trust you. He's counting on you 0:24:42.880 --> 0:24:46.320 to carry out his purpose so you can go where 0:24:46.359 --> 0:24:50.919 you've never been. Don't let the difficulty sour your life, 0:24:51.520 --> 0:24:56.080 take your passion. God won't put you somewhere without the 0:24:56.160 --> 0:25:00.040 grace to be there. With the good attitude. Can be 0:25:00.119 --> 0:25:05.120 happy even in hard places. When you choose to be content, 0:25:05.440 --> 0:25:08.320 to stay full of joy. God breathes on your life 0:25:08.359 --> 0:25:11.639 and he'll make things happen that you couldn't make happen. 0:25:12.640 --> 0:25:15.600 Mary could have focused on the burdens and look at 0:25:15.600 --> 0:25:19.000 all these things coming against me, but she focused on 0:25:19.080 --> 0:25:22.920 the blessing, the promise God gave her. What you focus 0:25:23.040 --> 0:25:26.919 on in the hard seasons will determine whether you endure 0:25:26.920 --> 0:25:30.679 it or you enjoy it. God has not brought you 0:25:30.840 --> 0:25:33.800 this far to leave you. What's gonna help you get 0:25:33.800 --> 0:25:37.440 through the tough seasons is the joy. That's what gives 0:25:37.480 --> 0:25:41.440 you the strength. I'm asking you to quit putting off 0:25:41.480 --> 0:25:45.720 your happiness. Quit waiting till the challenge is over, till 0:25:45.800 --> 0:25:48.440 you get married, you get the promotion, till you see 0:25:48.440 --> 0:25:51.800 the healing. How about being happy right where you are? 0:25:52.400 --> 0:25:56.600 How about being content in every season whatever comes your way. 0:25:57.200 --> 0:26:02.800 Friend's life is short, time flying by. If you're gonna 0:26:02.840 --> 0:26:05.560 be happy, you're gonna have to do it on purpose, 0:26:06.200 --> 0:26:09.399 because there will always be something to take your joy. People, 0:26:09.760 --> 0:26:13.720 traffic delays, turn on the news that'll depress you. You 0:26:13.840 --> 0:26:17.520 have to choose joy each morning, choose to be content 0:26:17.600 --> 0:26:20.880 whatever comes your way. If you'll do this, I believe 0:26:20.960 --> 0:26:25.600 and declare, like Paul, you will flourish, you will excel, 0:26:25.840 --> 0:26:29.760 You will leave your mark. Favor is coming, healing the 0:26:29.880 --> 0:26:34.440 right people, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus's name, 0:26:34.920 --> 0:26:39.560 And if you receive it, can you say amen? I'd 0:26:39.600 --> 0:26:42.280 like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the 0:26:42.320 --> 0:26:46.480 Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 0:26:47.160 --> 0:26:50.960 I repent of my sins, Come into my heart. I 0:26:51.119 --> 0:26:54.159 make you my Lord and Savior. If you've prayed that 0:26:54.240 --> 0:26:57.520 simple prayer, we believe you got born again. We'd love 0:26:57.560 --> 0:26:59.880 to send you some free information on your new walking 0:27:00.160 --> 0:27:02.960 the Lord. You can go to the website or check 0:27:03.000 --> 0:27:05.440 the number out on the screen. But I hope you'll 0:27:05.440 --> 0:27:08.720 get into a good Bible based church and keep God 0:27:09.000 --> 0:27:12.919 first place. It's easy to feel stuck in life, wondering 0:27:12.960 --> 0:27:16.159 why things aren't changing and worrying if it'll ever happen. 0:27:16.600 --> 0:27:18.840 But there's a better way to wait. I'd love to 0:27:18.880 --> 0:27:22.200 send you my new resource called Pray It Forward. This 0:27:22.240 --> 0:27:24.879 book is a collection of prayers and promises from the 0:27:24.880 --> 0:27:28.520 Scripture to help you pray boldly to strengthen your faith. 0:27:29.000 --> 0:27:31.480 And while you're waiting, it's important to keep your mind 0:27:31.520 --> 0:27:35.159 filled with hope and expectancy. When you pray in faith, 0:27:35.440 --> 0:27:38.439 believe in what God promised. That's what moves the hands 0:27:38.440 --> 0:27:40.800 of God, and that's when you'll see doors open and 0:27:41.160 --> 0:27:44.720 healing begins to come breakthroughs in your family. Don't let 0:27:44.760 --> 0:27:47.320 doubt hold you back Pray It Forward. 0:27:47.440 --> 0:27:49.720 As our way of saying thank you for your gift 0:27:49.760 --> 0:27:52.520 of any amount, we'd love to send you a copy 0:27:52.560 --> 0:27:56.280 of Pray It Forward Guided prayers for faith and break through, 0:27:56.680 --> 0:28:00.480 inspired by real life answer prayers. Pray It Forward will 0:28:00.520 --> 0:28:03.840 help you speak God's promises over your life and over 0:28:03.920 --> 0:28:07.439 the people you love, trusting that when you ask in faith, 0:28:07.920 --> 0:28:11.840 God is already at work preparing victory ahead of you. 0:28:11.840 --> 0:28:15.000 You can take these prayers and scriptures and pray them forward. 0:28:15.400 --> 0:28:18.639 They'll build a momentum of faith that carries you past 0:28:18.680 --> 0:28:23.040 obstacles and into the promises God has spoken over your life. 0:28:23.400 --> 0:28:26.680 As you meditate on these truths, you won't be tossed 0:28:26.760 --> 0:28:32.160 back and forth by finances, health challenges, or relationship struggles. Instead, 0:28:32.520 --> 0:28:35.520 you'll be able to boldly pray with faith that is 0:28:35.560 --> 0:28:40.200 immovable and strong, and you'll be filled with peace, assurance, 0:28:40.400 --> 0:28:44.960 and joy. Don't let circumstances control your future. Pray the 0:28:45.040 --> 0:28:48.400 truth of God's word forward in faith and watch the 0:28:48.480 --> 0:28:50.520 mountains in your life begin to. 0:28:50.560 --> 0:28:54.280 Move when you pray the promises what God has spoken 0:28:54.320 --> 0:28:57.440 over your life. Those are powerful prayers, and that's when 0:28:57.480 --> 0:28:59.840 God shows up and does what only he can do. 0:29:00.440 --> 0:29:03.160 Thanks so much for being with us between I pray 0:29:03.280 --> 0:29:06.320 for you and your family every day and we appreciate 0:29:06.400 --> 0:29:09.920 your prayer and support. Your generosity helps us take this 0:29:10.080 --> 0:29:12.800 message of hope to people around the world. And a 0:29:12.880 --> 0:29:15.600 special thank you to our champion of Hope partners for 0:29:15.760 --> 0:29:18.440 all you do to make the ministry possible. If you're 0:29:18.480 --> 0:29:21.360 not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. But 0:29:21.480 --> 0:29:24.000 until we meet again Meid the Lord bless you and 0:29:24.120 --> 0:29:24.520 keep you. 0:29:25.440 --> 0:29:28.320 Be sure to request your copy of Pray It Forward 0:29:28.560 --> 0:29:32.520 Guided Prayers for Faith and Breakthrough, available this month by 0:29:32.560 --> 0:29:36.440 simply visiting us at Joelosting dot com or call eight 0:29:36.480 --> 0:29:40.240 eight eight five six seven Joel. You can also receive 0:29:40.360 --> 0:29:43.960 the Pray It Forward Companion prayer journal, designed to help 0:29:44.000 --> 0:29:48.120 you engage in scripture, personalize faith filled prayers, and put 0:29:48.200 --> 0:29:52.000 God's promises into action. With an additional gift, you can 0:29:52.080 --> 0:29:55.920 receive the Pray It Forward Prayers Essential Collection that centers 0:29:55.960 --> 0:29:59.480 around a prayer bowl with scripture cards designed to help 0:29:59.520 --> 0:30:02.760 you physic release what's been weighing on your heart. This 0:30:02.920 --> 0:30:06.880 collection creates a powerful prayer rhythm for your life, helping 0:30:06.960 --> 0:30:10.960 you focus your thoughts speak God's word boldly, and stay 0:30:11.040 --> 0:30:14.800 anchored in hope when circumstances try to shake you. You 0:30:14.880 --> 0:30:18.760 can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight eight 0:30:19.000 --> 0:30:22.960 five six seven Joel or logging on to joelostein dot 0:30:22.960 --> 0:30:26.800 com today call or click any time, twenty four hours 0:30:26.800 --> 0:30:27.160 a day