Make God a Part Of Your Everyday Life

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That's code iheard fifty 0:00:54.000 --> 0:00:57.160 When you sign up at unest dot co for fifty 0:00:57.200 --> 0:00:59.880 dollars bonus see terms and conditions at UNS dot c. 0:01:00.840 --> 0:01:03.560 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:01:03.640 --> 0:01:05.720 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:01:05.720 --> 0:01:08.440 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:01:08.440 --> 0:01:11.039 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:01:11.080 --> 0:01:13.520 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:01:13.560 --> 0:01:16.360 today and where your money can work harder? Now you 0:01:16.480 --> 0:01:19.440 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:01:19.480 --> 0:01:24.080 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:01:24.080 --> 0:01:26.040 This add a sponsored by Facet. Facet Wealth in Corporated 0:01:26.120 --> 0:01:27.959 is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:01:28.000 --> 0:01:29.759 offer to buy your self securities, nor is it investment, 0:01:29.840 --> 0:01:30.760 legal or tax advice. 0:01:31.240 --> 0:01:32.800 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 0:01:33.040 --> 0:01:36.080 Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 0:01:36.080 --> 0:01:36.759 the ministry. 0:01:36.920 --> 0:01:39.240 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:39.280 --> 0:01:40.800 blessing and share it with a friend. 0:01:41.120 --> 0:01:43.840 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:01:43.920 --> 0:01:54.040 your life. 0:01:56.840 --> 0:01:57.760 God bless you. 0:01:58.320 --> 0:02:00.800 It's always a joy to come into your homes and 0:02:01.120 --> 0:02:03.720 if you're ever in our area, please stop buy and 0:02:03.800 --> 0:02:05.920 be a part of one of our services. These are 0:02:05.920 --> 0:02:08.839 the finest people in all of Houston, Texas, right here 0:02:08.880 --> 0:02:11.440 at Lakewood Church. So come out and be a part. 0:02:11.520 --> 0:02:14.320 But thanks for tuning in. Thank you again for coming out. 0:02:14.919 --> 0:02:17.160 I like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:02:17.160 --> 0:02:20.200 about this group of elderly ladies. They were way up 0:02:20.240 --> 0:02:23.960 in their eighties. As they were driving down the freeway together, 0:02:24.360 --> 0:02:25.520 they got pulled over. 0:02:25.520 --> 0:02:26.600 By a police officer. 0:02:27.040 --> 0:02:30.079 The officer said to the driver, ma'am, do you realize 0:02:30.120 --> 0:02:34.120 you're only going thirty five miles an hour? She said, yes, officer, 0:02:34.160 --> 0:02:36.360 I do realize that. He said, well, why are you 0:02:36.400 --> 0:02:40.040 going so slow? She said, the sign says thirty five. 0:02:40.600 --> 0:02:43.360 The officer kind of laughed. He said, no, ma'am, that's 0:02:43.360 --> 0:02:44.640 the number of the freeway. 0:02:44.760 --> 0:02:46.240 This is Highway thirty five. 0:02:47.400 --> 0:02:49.680 By the way, why are these other ladies in your 0:02:49.760 --> 0:02:51.280 car so terrified looking? 0:02:51.720 --> 0:02:53.799 She smiled and said, because we just. 0:02:53.800 --> 0:02:59.280 Got off Highway ninety five. Hold up your Bible, say 0:02:59.320 --> 0:03:02.280 it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I 0:03:02.320 --> 0:03:04.600 am what it says, I am. I have what it 0:03:04.600 --> 0:03:06.960 says I have. I can do what it says I 0:03:07.000 --> 0:03:09.960 can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. 0:03:10.360 --> 0:03:14.600 I boldly confess. My mind is alert, my heart is receptive, 0:03:14.919 --> 0:03:15.799 I will never. 0:03:15.600 --> 0:03:19.320 Be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 0:03:20.480 --> 0:03:23.239 I want to talk to you today about making God 0:03:23.600 --> 0:03:27.600 a part of your everyday life. God wants to help you, 0:03:28.000 --> 0:03:31.239 not just in the big things. God wants to help 0:03:31.280 --> 0:03:35.160 you cooking dinner, driving in the traffic. He wants to 0:03:35.160 --> 0:03:38.119 help you with your schoolwork, help you be more productive 0:03:38.160 --> 0:03:38.840 at the office. 0:03:39.280 --> 0:03:40.040 But here's the key. 0:03:40.160 --> 0:03:43.160 God will only be involved in as much of your. 0:03:43.080 --> 0:03:44.760 Life as you allow him to. 0:03:45.480 --> 0:03:47.760 Now, a lot of people have God in a Sunday 0:03:47.800 --> 0:03:51.320 morning box. That's when they come to church, pray, think 0:03:51.360 --> 0:03:54.560 about God. Then they go out during the week and 0:03:54.600 --> 0:03:56.560 they don't really include. 0:03:56.160 --> 0:03:57.560 God in their life. 0:03:57.680 --> 0:04:01.360 They love God, they reverence him, but they think there's 0:04:01.360 --> 0:04:04.200 nothing spiritual about going to the grocery store. 0:04:04.440 --> 0:04:06.480 Cooking dinner, or meeting with a client. 0:04:07.280 --> 0:04:10.240 Because they keep God in this box, they're missing the 0:04:10.320 --> 0:04:14.320 blessings in favor that God wants to give them. Proverbs 0:04:14.360 --> 0:04:19.080 three to six says acknowledge God in all of your ways, 0:04:19.880 --> 0:04:22.799 not some of your ways, not just the big things. 0:04:23.440 --> 0:04:27.039 If you'll start acknowledging God in all of your ways, 0:04:27.320 --> 0:04:30.719 he will crown your efforts with success. One way to 0:04:30.839 --> 0:04:35.440 acknowledge God is simply ask for his health on the 0:04:35.480 --> 0:04:38.640 way to the grocery store under your breath, God, help 0:04:38.680 --> 0:04:41.000 me to find what I'm looking for. Help this to 0:04:41.040 --> 0:04:46.559 be a productive trip. That's acknowledging God. You're saying, in effect, God, 0:04:46.600 --> 0:04:50.120 I need you, I want you in my life. That 0:04:50.400 --> 0:04:54.760 simple acknowledgment allows the creator of the universe to direct 0:04:54.760 --> 0:04:58.080 your steps. God will help you find what you may 0:04:58.120 --> 0:05:01.320 not have found. He'll put you at the right place at. 0:05:01.200 --> 0:05:02.000 The right time. 0:05:02.640 --> 0:05:05.640 And sure you can do this without God's help. You 0:05:05.720 --> 0:05:08.599 can do it in your own strength. But life will 0:05:08.600 --> 0:05:12.719 go so much better. There will be less frustration, You'll 0:05:12.760 --> 0:05:15.760 accomplish more when you develop this habit. 0:05:15.760 --> 0:05:17.080 Of acknowledging God. 0:05:18.000 --> 0:05:22.680 When you acknowledge God, he breathes his favor on your life. 0:05:22.720 --> 0:05:26.440 You'll come into an anointing of ease. What should have 0:05:26.440 --> 0:05:30.160 been a struggle won't be a struggle. That's God crowning 0:05:30.240 --> 0:05:33.400 your efforts with success. And it doesn't have to be 0:05:33.600 --> 0:05:38.120 some long drawn out thing. Brushing your teeth in the morning, Lord, 0:05:38.200 --> 0:05:40.080 thank you for another beautiful day. 0:05:40.279 --> 0:05:41.560 You just acknowledge God. 0:05:42.400 --> 0:05:45.240 Driving into traffic, Lord, thank you for a safe trip. 0:05:45.640 --> 0:05:49.240 That's acknowledging God. Before you go into the restaurant. 0:05:49.760 --> 0:05:52.719 Under your breath, God, help us to have a good dinner. 0:05:53.160 --> 0:05:54.560 Bless this time together. 0:05:55.440 --> 0:05:59.680 When God sees you showing your dependency on Him like that, 0:06:00.200 --> 0:06:01.520 relying on Him in. 0:06:01.480 --> 0:06:03.599 Your everyday life, that's what will. 0:06:03.520 --> 0:06:06.719 Cause him to make your life easier. Well, Joel, I 0:06:06.720 --> 0:06:10.320 don't think I need to pray about that, something so small. 0:06:10.040 --> 0:06:12.120 So routine. You don't have to. 0:06:12.800 --> 0:06:15.440 But if you want God to help you, if you 0:06:15.480 --> 0:06:18.720 want him to direct your steps and cause things to 0:06:18.760 --> 0:06:22.320 fall into place, you have to invite Him into. 0:06:22.120 --> 0:06:24.119 Your everyday life. 0:06:24.200 --> 0:06:27.479 Years ago, I was in another city, leaving a hotel 0:06:27.560 --> 0:06:30.200 room early in the morning, and I had a large 0:06:30.240 --> 0:06:33.560 suitcase and a big binder under this arm, and a 0:06:33.600 --> 0:06:34.720 heavy suit bag. 0:06:34.560 --> 0:06:36.080 And my computer under this arm. 0:06:36.640 --> 0:06:39.440 And normally we travel together as a team, but this 0:06:39.560 --> 0:06:42.359 day I was coming down by myself, and I was 0:06:42.400 --> 0:06:44.680 making it okay, but it was a. 0:06:44.600 --> 0:06:45.800 Struggle to carry. 0:06:45.560 --> 0:06:48.360 All the luggage, plus I was running a little late. 0:06:49.240 --> 0:06:51.919 Under my breath, I was doing what I'm asking you 0:06:52.000 --> 0:06:55.240 to do, thanking God for the day and thanking him 0:06:55.240 --> 0:06:56.360 for a safe trip. 0:06:56.120 --> 0:06:58.240 Home, thanking him that it would all work out. 0:06:59.040 --> 0:07:04.160 Nothing deep, nothing complicated, just acknowledging God, making him a 0:07:04.240 --> 0:07:08.520 part of my everyday life. And about halfway down the hallway, 0:07:09.200 --> 0:07:12.200 a young man that worked for the hotel showed up 0:07:12.200 --> 0:07:15.520 out of nowhere and said, let me carry those bags. 0:07:16.160 --> 0:07:18.680 He didn't take part of them, he took all of them. 0:07:19.120 --> 0:07:22.120 He wouldn't let me carry anything. We got down to 0:07:22.200 --> 0:07:25.480 the elevator. There's a bunch of people waiting. Looked like 0:07:25.520 --> 0:07:28.720 a big sports group. He said, come with me. He 0:07:28.800 --> 0:07:31.760 took me to a service elevator. It opened right up, 0:07:31.920 --> 0:07:34.760 didn't wait one second. We went down, put the bags 0:07:34.760 --> 0:07:38.280 in the car. I got to the airport. The line 0:07:38.280 --> 0:07:41.760 for security was very long. I could take at least 0:07:42.040 --> 0:07:45.080 half an hour. As I was standing there, a man 0:07:45.120 --> 0:07:47.240 came up wearing a badge and said, come with me. 0:07:48.200 --> 0:07:50.000 I didn't know if I was in trouble or seeing 0:07:50.000 --> 0:07:54.520 God's favor. He opened a new line, took my bags 0:07:54.560 --> 0:07:58.280 through security for me. Never asked him to. He ordered 0:07:58.280 --> 0:08:01.240 a cart and drove me to my gap. I got 0:08:01.240 --> 0:08:04.240 home and sat in my favorite green chair, put my 0:08:04.320 --> 0:08:07.400 legs up in the air. About that time, Victoria brought 0:08:07.400 --> 0:08:11.640 my dinner in on a trail. At that point I 0:08:11.680 --> 0:08:16.480 knew the day of miracles was not over. If you'll 0:08:16.520 --> 0:08:19.520 acknowledge God, he'll go before you. 0:08:19.440 --> 0:08:20.920 And make crooked places straight. 0:08:21.520 --> 0:08:24.720 He'll cause the right people to show up. He'll open 0:08:24.760 --> 0:08:28.080 doors that you could not open. He'll crown your efforts 0:08:28.080 --> 0:08:31.880 with success. And this is something we shouldn't do. Every 0:08:31.880 --> 0:08:36.200 once in a while. On Sundays we'll pray. Maybe before dinner, 0:08:36.280 --> 0:08:38.560 we'll thank God for the food. Before we go to bed, 0:08:38.640 --> 0:08:39.560 we'll say a prayer. 0:08:39.720 --> 0:08:40.480 That's all good. 0:08:40.679 --> 0:08:43.560 But what I'm saying today is God wants to help 0:08:43.600 --> 0:08:48.520 you all through the day. One translation says, in everything 0:08:48.600 --> 0:08:51.760 you do, acknowledge God. That means when you get up 0:08:51.800 --> 0:08:54.640 in the morning, acknowledge God. Good morning. 0:08:54.720 --> 0:08:56.520 Lord. I love you today. 0:08:56.920 --> 0:09:00.240 Lord, I wouldn't be alive without your goodness. When you 0:09:00.320 --> 0:09:03.280 see your children, God, thank you for these amazing children 0:09:03.840 --> 0:09:04.559 at the office. 0:09:04.559 --> 0:09:06.000 Lord, thank you for your favor. 0:09:06.240 --> 0:09:08.320 Thank you that I excel at what you've called me 0:09:08.360 --> 0:09:11.240 to do, even mowing the lawn. Lord, thank you that 0:09:11.280 --> 0:09:16.000 I'm healthy and strong. The scripture says to pray without ceasing. 0:09:16.679 --> 0:09:18.839 That doesn't mean twenty four hours a day, to get 0:09:18.880 --> 0:09:21.240 on our knees and never do anything else, never. 0:09:21.080 --> 0:09:24.000 Go to work. It's talking about an attitude. 0:09:24.200 --> 0:09:28.679 Under our breath, in our thoughts, we're constantly thinking about God, 0:09:28.880 --> 0:09:33.000 thanking him for his goodness, meditating on his promises, asking 0:09:33.120 --> 0:09:37.240 for his health. This should be a lifestyle where it's 0:09:37.320 --> 0:09:41.480 so ingrained in us, it's automatic. Anything you do you 0:09:41.600 --> 0:09:46.000 include God. You've developed that habit of acknowledging Him. That's 0:09:46.040 --> 0:09:49.160 when God will fight your battles. That's when God will 0:09:49.160 --> 0:09:53.120 make the crooked places smooth. Now, don't go the next 0:09:53.200 --> 0:09:57.800 twenty years doing everything on your own. If you'll acknowledge 0:09:57.800 --> 0:10:00.680 God before you go to the mall, he'll help you 0:10:00.720 --> 0:10:01.880 to find the best deals. 0:10:02.559 --> 0:10:05.080 Victoria, be sure you're listening here. Save me some money. 0:10:06.400 --> 0:10:09.959 If you'll acknowledge God before you go to the gym, 0:10:10.120 --> 0:10:13.440 he'll help you get a better workout. If you'll acknowledge 0:10:13.480 --> 0:10:17.440 God before you go into that meeting, ten seconds under 0:10:17.480 --> 0:10:21.360 your breath, God, give me your favor. God, I need 0:10:21.400 --> 0:10:24.880 your blessing. That meeting will go better. God will give 0:10:24.920 --> 0:10:28.680 you the words to speak. He'll give you ideas, creativity. 0:10:28.800 --> 0:10:30.719 He could even cause those people to like. 0:10:30.720 --> 0:10:32.920 You when you need to clean the house. 0:10:33.200 --> 0:10:37.360 Instead of complain in getting negative, acknowledge God and he'll 0:10:37.360 --> 0:10:39.920 give you more strength he'll help you to get it 0:10:39.960 --> 0:10:41.040 done in less time. 0:10:42.080 --> 0:10:43.280 Jesus put it this way. 0:10:43.800 --> 0:10:48.199 Without me, you can do nothing, he was saying. Without 0:10:48.480 --> 0:10:52.520 inviting me into every area of your life, that day 0:10:52.960 --> 0:10:54.640 is not going to be what it could have been. 0:10:55.679 --> 0:10:59.480 We should live with this attitude. God, I realize this 0:10:59.600 --> 0:11:03.200 day is not going to be as productive, as successful, 0:11:03.480 --> 0:11:07.400 nor as easy without your blessing and your favor. So 0:11:07.520 --> 0:11:10.520 I'm going to make it a priority to acknowledge you 0:11:10.720 --> 0:11:11.720 in all of my ways. 0:11:13.080 --> 0:11:15.160 When you acknowledge God, that's. 0:11:15.000 --> 0:11:19.200 A sign of humility. You're saying, God, I know you 0:11:19.320 --> 0:11:23.160 created the whole universe. You flung the stars into space, 0:11:23.960 --> 0:11:27.400 you tell every raindrop where to fall. I'm not here 0:11:27.440 --> 0:11:30.920 by accident. You breathe your life into me. You made 0:11:30.960 --> 0:11:34.680 me in your image, You crown me with your favor. Now, God, 0:11:35.040 --> 0:11:38.280 I can't do this without you. I can't make. 0:11:38.160 --> 0:11:41.679 It on my own. I need you in my life. 0:11:41.840 --> 0:11:45.200 When you show that kind of dependency on God, there 0:11:45.320 --> 0:11:47.040 is nothing he won't do for you. 0:11:47.559 --> 0:11:50.560 God will move heaven and earth to get you to 0:11:50.600 --> 0:11:51.600 where you're supposed to be. 0:11:53.080 --> 0:11:55.240 You may struggle in a certain area. It's been that 0:11:55.280 --> 0:11:58.000 way year after year again. Instead of complaining instead of 0:11:58.040 --> 0:12:00.199 getting negative all through the day. 0:12:00.280 --> 0:12:04.160 God, I need your help. God. I'm asking for your strength. 0:12:04.559 --> 0:12:08.560 When you humble yourself and admit that you cannot do 0:12:08.640 --> 0:12:12.000 it on your own, that's when God can exalt you. 0:12:12.720 --> 0:12:14.280 That's when he can turn it around. 0:12:15.160 --> 0:12:19.800 The dependency on God is not a weakness, it's a strength. 0:12:20.360 --> 0:12:23.400 It activates God's power in our weakness. 0:12:23.559 --> 0:12:25.360 God shows up the strongest. 0:12:25.720 --> 0:12:29.560 But when we don't acknowledge God, really, that's a sign 0:12:29.760 --> 0:12:33.720 of pride. We're saying God, I don't really need you 0:12:33.800 --> 0:12:35.720 to help me run my life. I'm doing okay, I 0:12:35.760 --> 0:12:38.640 got it all figured out. God will step back and 0:12:38.720 --> 0:12:41.640 let us do it on our own. God is a gentleman. 0:12:41.800 --> 0:12:45.559 He will not force his way into your life. Jesus said, 0:12:45.760 --> 0:12:49.320 if you abide in Me, you will bear much fruit. 0:12:50.240 --> 0:12:54.680 One translation says, if you will depend on me. The 0:12:54.720 --> 0:13:00.440 word depend indicates continual action. You don't depend one and 0:13:00.480 --> 0:13:01.679 then you're done. 0:13:01.840 --> 0:13:02.120 Joel. 0:13:02.200 --> 0:13:04.880 I went to church on Sunday. I spent a couple hours. 0:13:04.920 --> 0:13:07.199 I did my duty. Now, if you're going to depend 0:13:07.240 --> 0:13:10.280 on God all through the day, God, I need you. 0:13:11.000 --> 0:13:13.679 God helped me to understand this subject in school. 0:13:14.120 --> 0:13:17.120 God help me to raise these children. That's what it 0:13:17.160 --> 0:13:18.400 means to depend on God. 0:13:18.440 --> 0:13:22.160 And I've learned the more you depend on God, the 0:13:22.240 --> 0:13:23.440 better things will work out. 0:13:23.880 --> 0:13:25.480 You will bear much fruit. 0:13:26.520 --> 0:13:30.040 But I wonder how many times we don't have as 0:13:30.120 --> 0:13:35.120 fruitful or productive day as we could have because we're 0:13:35.160 --> 0:13:40.480 not taking time to acknowledge God simple things. Driving in 0:13:40.520 --> 0:13:43.520 the car, Lord, thank you that your angels have charge 0:13:43.559 --> 0:13:48.160 over me. You just invited God into your car. At school, 0:13:48.360 --> 0:13:49.160 God helped. 0:13:48.920 --> 0:13:50.360 Me to understand this lesson. 0:13:50.400 --> 0:13:55.320 Today, you invited God into your studies, working out, mowing 0:13:55.320 --> 0:13:58.240 the lawn, cooking dinner. Lord, thank you for your health, 0:13:58.440 --> 0:14:02.719 your strength. You invited the creator of the universe to 0:14:02.880 --> 0:14:06.280 help you. We can take the opposite of what Jesus said. 0:14:06.679 --> 0:14:09.160 If we don't depend on him, we're not going to 0:14:09.160 --> 0:14:11.400 be as productive as we could have been. 0:14:11.760 --> 0:14:14.160 We've all had one of those days where you drive 0:14:14.200 --> 0:14:15.160 across town. 0:14:15.040 --> 0:14:17.920 To pick something up. When you get there, you find 0:14:17.920 --> 0:14:21.240 out they just closed, or you work all day long 0:14:21.400 --> 0:14:24.840 and then your computer crashes, you lose the information. You 0:14:24.920 --> 0:14:27.720 go to the gym and realize you forgot your tennis shoes, you. 0:14:27.680 --> 0:14:28.400 Can't work out. 0:14:29.440 --> 0:14:32.760 Little things can cause us to be unproductive and not 0:14:33.080 --> 0:14:37.320 every time, of course, But I believe sometimes it's because 0:14:37.840 --> 0:14:40.200 we're not asking God for his health. 0:14:40.680 --> 0:14:43.680 We're doing it all on our own. God has politely 0:14:43.920 --> 0:14:44.640 stepped away. 0:14:45.480 --> 0:14:49.960 Make sure that you're acknowledging God Hebrews eleven six SSS. 0:14:50.240 --> 0:14:54.080 God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him. 0:14:55.240 --> 0:14:56.840 Notice who God rewards. 0:14:57.560 --> 0:15:01.000 Not people that half heartedly seek him, people that just 0:15:01.080 --> 0:15:03.960 think about him on Sundays, people that just pray once 0:15:04.000 --> 0:15:04.440 a week. 0:15:04.800 --> 0:15:04.840 No. 0:15:05.040 --> 0:15:08.440 God rewards people like you that get up every morning 0:15:08.520 --> 0:15:09.880 and thank Him for his goodness. 0:15:10.200 --> 0:15:11.840 People that go through the day. 0:15:12.040 --> 0:15:14.440 Meditating on his promises, people that. 0:15:14.360 --> 0:15:16.440 Acknowledge Him in all of their ways. 0:15:17.600 --> 0:15:21.520 When you diligently seek God, there will be a reward. 0:15:22.280 --> 0:15:25.960 Your life will go better. God will take you where 0:15:26.000 --> 0:15:27.800 you could not go on your own. 0:15:28.680 --> 0:15:32.200 The amazing thing about God is he says, you don't 0:15:32.240 --> 0:15:32.800 even have. 0:15:32.800 --> 0:15:36.120 To find me. If you just seek me, I'll give 0:15:36.160 --> 0:15:36.800 you the reward. 0:15:37.520 --> 0:15:40.280 If you just make an effort to please me, if 0:15:40.320 --> 0:15:43.360 you just take time to thank me, if you just 0:15:43.520 --> 0:15:47.960 acknowledge Me throughout the day, then I'll reward you for. 0:15:48.040 --> 0:15:49.000 Just making the effort. 0:15:50.000 --> 0:15:52.440 My father was raised in a family that knew nothing 0:15:52.480 --> 0:15:55.840 about God, and at the age of seventeen, when he 0:15:55.920 --> 0:15:59.280 gave his life to Christ, he started preaching on the 0:15:59.320 --> 0:16:03.680 street corner in the prisons, in the seniors' homes. He'd 0:16:03.720 --> 0:16:07.040 never been to seminary, he didn't know much about the Bible. 0:16:07.760 --> 0:16:10.920 One time he preached a whole message on Samson and 0:16:10.960 --> 0:16:13.560 realized at the end he had been calling him Tarzan 0:16:15.560 --> 0:16:18.280 at seventeen, that he didn't have it all figured out, 0:16:19.000 --> 0:16:20.280 but one thing he. 0:16:20.280 --> 0:16:24.920 Had was a desire to please God. He was seeking him, 0:16:25.120 --> 0:16:26.400 he was making the effort. 0:16:26.720 --> 0:16:30.560 See, God doesn't say, as long as you can quote 0:16:30.560 --> 0:16:33.920 all the scriptures, as long as you understand all the theology, 0:16:33.960 --> 0:16:37.760 I'll reward you. Now, God says, I'll pay you for 0:16:37.880 --> 0:16:41.280 seeking me. I'll pay you for simply making the effort. 0:16:42.720 --> 0:16:45.400 From the time I was a little boy, my parents 0:16:45.440 --> 0:16:48.520 taught me the importance of honoring God. 0:16:48.640 --> 0:16:49.440 I wasn't perfect. 0:16:49.480 --> 0:16:52.400 I made plenty of mistakes, But for as long as 0:16:52.440 --> 0:16:55.880 I can remember, I would get up every morning and 0:16:56.000 --> 0:16:58.880 take a moment and thank God for that day and 0:16:59.440 --> 0:17:03.440 ask Him for wisdom and production. Every day I would 0:17:03.440 --> 0:17:07.880 read a chapter in my Bible. Didn't always understand it, 0:17:07.960 --> 0:17:10.240 still don't, and I'm the pastor of a big church. 0:17:10.960 --> 0:17:13.919 God has not blessed me because I'm the smartest, the 0:17:13.960 --> 0:17:17.840 most talented, the most skilled. God has blessed me because 0:17:17.840 --> 0:17:21.120 I've made it a goal to seek Him, to please Him, 0:17:21.280 --> 0:17:25.960 to honor him. I still take the first half hour 0:17:26.080 --> 0:17:29.440 of every day to thank God for his goodness, read 0:17:29.480 --> 0:17:32.840 my Bible, and pray. I ask every day, God, let 0:17:32.920 --> 0:17:36.840 everything I do today bring honor to your name. God 0:17:36.880 --> 0:17:39.520 has taken me places that I've never dreamed of. He's 0:17:39.560 --> 0:17:42.440 blessed our family more than I can imagine. 0:17:42.520 --> 0:17:44.520 Now. I'd love to tell you I'm just that smart, 0:17:44.920 --> 0:17:47.360 I'm just that talented. I'm just an overachiever. 0:17:48.280 --> 0:17:48.359 Now. 0:17:48.440 --> 0:17:52.199 I've done my part to develop what God's put in me. 0:17:52.440 --> 0:17:55.640 But I know the blessings, the favor, the honor has 0:17:55.680 --> 0:17:59.000 come because I've done my best to diligently seek y'all 0:17:59.320 --> 0:18:01.440 to keep Him first place in my life. 0:18:02.320 --> 0:18:03.600 That's what I'm asking you to do. 0:18:05.400 --> 0:18:09.679 Jesus said in Matthew six, seek first the Kingdom of God. 0:18:10.240 --> 0:18:12.280 That word seek is a strong word. 0:18:12.920 --> 0:18:18.040 One definition is to require as a vital necessity. You 0:18:18.160 --> 0:18:21.920 have to see spending time with God as being vital 0:18:22.240 --> 0:18:25.600 to living a victorious life because some mornings we think, 0:18:25.720 --> 0:18:27.640 I don't want to get up early, I don't feel 0:18:27.680 --> 0:18:29.120 like reading my Bible, I don't feel like. 0:18:29.080 --> 0:18:30.080 Going to church today. 0:18:30.760 --> 0:18:34.040 But once you get in a habit and you see 0:18:34.119 --> 0:18:38.199 the benefits of how you feel refreshed and restored, you 0:18:38.280 --> 0:18:42.320 make better decisions, you're more creative, you have God's favor. 0:18:42.960 --> 0:18:45.840 Then you'll think, I can't afford not to do it. 0:18:46.160 --> 0:18:48.840 When I don't spend time with God, I don't feel right. 0:18:49.080 --> 0:18:52.520 Something's missing. It says seek first. 0:18:53.280 --> 0:18:56.919 That indicates take time for God at the start of 0:18:56.960 --> 0:19:00.000 the day. Make him a part of your normal routine. 0:19:00.920 --> 0:19:03.920 My father was on dialysis the last few months of 0:19:03.960 --> 0:19:07.600 his life. Three times a week, for four hours a day. 0:19:07.880 --> 0:19:09.520 He would have to go up to the clinic and 0:19:09.760 --> 0:19:13.240 have his blood cleaned. There were days he didn't feel 0:19:13.240 --> 0:19:16.520 like doing it. He was tired, he was busy, he 0:19:16.560 --> 0:19:20.080 had other things to do, didn't matter. He went up anyway. 0:19:20.840 --> 0:19:24.600 Why his life depended on it. It wasn't an option. 0:19:25.160 --> 0:19:29.560 It was vital in life. Things get busy, technic at 0:19:29.560 --> 0:19:30.600 the office. 0:19:30.480 --> 0:19:33.400 Your children need you, You've got a thousand things to do. 0:19:33.960 --> 0:19:37.080 But you got to see spending time with God. Like 0:19:37.200 --> 0:19:40.960 my father on dialysis. It's not an option. If you're 0:19:40.960 --> 0:19:43.479 going to stay strong, if you're going to have God's 0:19:43.520 --> 0:19:47.359 wisdom and favor, you may have to rearrange. 0:19:46.720 --> 0:19:48.560 Some things so you can make it a. 0:19:48.560 --> 0:19:53.600 Priority to spend time with God. You draw strength, encouragement, 0:19:53.840 --> 0:19:57.520 wisdom from spending time with God. That's what's going to 0:19:57.600 --> 0:20:01.240 keep your life fresh. It's like we have to feed 0:20:01.320 --> 0:20:05.480 our physical person, we need to feed our spiritual person. 0:20:06.280 --> 0:20:08.360 Learn to invest in yourself. 0:20:09.240 --> 0:20:13.160 Sometimes we feed our physical man three hot meals a day, 0:20:13.880 --> 0:20:17.280 but we only feed our spiritual man one cold snack 0:20:17.359 --> 0:20:21.159 a week. And then we wonder why we don't have energy, 0:20:21.600 --> 0:20:25.879 God's favor, wisdom. It's because we're not taking time to 0:20:25.880 --> 0:20:32.040 get filled back up in God's presence is fullness of joy, peace, victory. 0:20:32.160 --> 0:20:34.600 That's where you get refreshed and re energized. 0:20:35.400 --> 0:20:39.359 Every day. You ought to take time to read the scripture. 0:20:39.640 --> 0:20:43.320 Meditate on God's promises, put on good praise music. 0:20:43.359 --> 0:20:46.800 When you can have a quiet time with you and God. 0:20:47.520 --> 0:20:51.280 Everything's so busy, hectic, noisy these days. But when you 0:20:51.359 --> 0:20:55.600 get quiet and say God, I love you today, Lord, 0:20:55.720 --> 0:20:59.359 thank you for my life, my family, my dreams. Lord, 0:20:59.400 --> 0:21:02.160 I realize Every good thing comes from you. 0:21:02.880 --> 0:21:04.439 That's what's going to keep you strong. 0:21:05.440 --> 0:21:09.119 Jesus said, I am the living water. If you drink 0:21:09.160 --> 0:21:13.600 of me, you'll never thirst again. During the day, things 0:21:13.600 --> 0:21:14.280 come against you. 0:21:14.560 --> 0:21:17.080 It's easy to get upset, may be stressed out. 0:21:17.359 --> 0:21:19.840 You need to take a two minute break and go 0:21:19.960 --> 0:21:23.440 drink of the living water. Get quiet and say God, 0:21:23.480 --> 0:21:25.919 I need you. I'm asking your God, help me to 0:21:25.960 --> 0:21:27.960 stay strong, help me to stay in peace. 0:21:28.359 --> 0:21:32.000 When you do that, you're taking a drink. You're strengthening 0:21:32.080 --> 0:21:32.760 your inner man. 0:21:33.680 --> 0:21:35.679 When the boss has giving you a hard time, just 0:21:35.720 --> 0:21:38.400 tell him I got to go get a drink. I'm 0:21:38.400 --> 0:21:41.800 talking about the living water now. 0:21:41.080 --> 0:21:42.040 In our quiet time. 0:21:42.359 --> 0:21:44.520 People tell me, Joe, I don't know how to pray. 0:21:44.640 --> 0:21:48.719 I'm not a religious person, but prayer is simply talking 0:21:48.760 --> 0:21:54.120 to God. Sometimes religion makes things complicated, makes us think 0:21:54.160 --> 0:21:58.560 we had to pray these long, fancy these and Thow's prayers. No, 0:21:58.800 --> 0:22:03.280 talk to God in your everyday language. If you talk country, 0:22:03.480 --> 0:22:07.520 The good news is God talks country. If you talk 0:22:07.600 --> 0:22:11.280 New York, God talks New York. He understands you. We don't, 0:22:11.320 --> 0:22:16.359 but he does. When you pray, talk to God like 0:22:16.400 --> 0:22:21.080 you're talking to your best friend, telling your needs, your concerns, 0:22:21.560 --> 0:22:24.879 ask him for help, and then thank him for what 0:22:25.000 --> 0:22:30.760 he's already done. Our praise should outweigh our petitions. Don't 0:22:30.760 --> 0:22:34.200 spend your whole quiet time telling God your problems your needs. 0:22:34.480 --> 0:22:37.880 He already knows your needs. Take time to thank him. 0:22:38.520 --> 0:22:42.520 And when you read the scripture, you may not understand everything, 0:22:43.040 --> 0:22:46.439 but that's okay. Just read it and move on. The 0:22:46.520 --> 0:22:50.520 Holy Spirit is called our teacher. He'll make sure you 0:22:50.720 --> 0:22:52.679 understand what you need to understand. 0:22:53.640 --> 0:22:56.760 God's word is like a seed. Once you put it 0:22:56.800 --> 0:22:58.600 in you, it will never die. 0:22:59.160 --> 0:23:01.480 You may not unders stand it now, but at the 0:23:01.600 --> 0:23:04.320 right time, when you need it, God will cause it 0:23:04.359 --> 0:23:07.240 to come alive. I read about a young man in 0:23:07.320 --> 0:23:10.600 junior high He didn't have any kind of spiritual upbringing. 0:23:11.080 --> 0:23:13.679 One summer, all of his friends invited him to a 0:23:13.760 --> 0:23:15.120 camp put on by. 0:23:15.080 --> 0:23:15.920 The local church. 0:23:16.680 --> 0:23:18.840 When he got there, he noticed on the platform there 0:23:18.880 --> 0:23:23.600 was a big trophy. He was very competitive, great in sports, 0:23:23.640 --> 0:23:26.479 great in academics. He made up his mind right then 0:23:26.520 --> 0:23:29.400 and there he was going to win that trophy. Come 0:23:29.440 --> 0:23:31.760 to find out, it was going to be given to 0:23:31.840 --> 0:23:36.760 the person who could memorize the most scripture verses. This 0:23:36.880 --> 0:23:39.960 young man had never picked up the Bible, never been 0:23:40.000 --> 0:23:43.880 to church before, but he was so competitive. In two days, 0:23:44.119 --> 0:23:48.040 he memorized thirty verses of scripture, and he won the trophy. 0:23:49.160 --> 0:23:52.639 Fifteen years later, he was an All American football player, 0:23:53.040 --> 0:23:57.160 headed to the NFL, very bright future when one day 0:23:57.520 --> 0:23:59.879 he felt a terrible pain in his chest. 0:24:00.440 --> 0:24:03.000 Didn't know what was happening. He soon passed out. 0:24:03.680 --> 0:24:06.240 At twenty two years of age, he had a massive 0:24:06.280 --> 0:24:10.359 heart attack. Laying there, he woke up in the emergency room, 0:24:10.600 --> 0:24:14.520 tubes coming out of everywhere, scared to death, didn't know 0:24:14.520 --> 0:24:18.880 what to do. Laying on that emergency room table, all 0:24:18.960 --> 0:24:22.040 of the sudden, from right down in here, all those 0:24:22.080 --> 0:24:26.120 scriptures he had memorized fifteen years earlier begin to come 0:24:26.200 --> 0:24:30.760 up once again. Friends, God's word is full of power. 0:24:31.160 --> 0:24:33.600 When you need it, It's gonna take root, and God's 0:24:33.600 --> 0:24:36.880 gonna cause it to come alive. He started quoting scripture 0:24:36.920 --> 0:24:39.960 after scripture. Though I walk through the valley of the 0:24:40.000 --> 0:24:43.040 shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you 0:24:43.080 --> 0:24:45.880 are with me. The doctors didn't think he was going 0:24:45.920 --> 0:24:48.440 to make it. But today that young man is healthy 0:24:48.520 --> 0:24:51.880 and holy. In fact, he's a minister. He goes all 0:24:51.960 --> 0:24:53.240 over telling people. 0:24:53.000 --> 0:24:54.560 What God has done for him. 0:24:54.960 --> 0:24:57.919 But it all started when he put the seed of 0:24:58.000 --> 0:25:01.879 God's word on the inside. You may not understand it now, 0:25:02.040 --> 0:25:05.000 but you can rest assured when you need it, God's 0:25:05.040 --> 0:25:07.399 going to cause it to come alive in your own life. 0:25:08.480 --> 0:25:12.600 In Malachi, chapter three, verse sixteen, it talks about how 0:25:12.640 --> 0:25:15.120 God has a book of remembrance. 0:25:15.840 --> 0:25:16.639 In this book. 0:25:17.400 --> 0:25:20.760 Every time we talk about God, we thank him for 0:25:20.800 --> 0:25:23.760 his goodness, we meditate on his promises, we ask for 0:25:23.840 --> 0:25:28.280 his help. God has the angels write that down in 0:25:28.400 --> 0:25:32.440 this Book of Remembrance on your behalf. When you even 0:25:32.520 --> 0:25:36.680 think about God, the angels record it. In fact, this moment, 0:25:36.800 --> 0:25:39.200 right now, the angels are writing it down in the 0:25:39.200 --> 0:25:41.800 Book of Remembrance. They're at Lakewood honoring God. 0:25:42.760 --> 0:25:43.800 This book is. 0:25:43.680 --> 0:25:46.879 Not up in a storeroom shelf in heaven somewhere. The 0:25:46.920 --> 0:25:52.600 scripture says, it stays constantly before God, wide open, as 0:25:52.640 --> 0:25:54.119 a reminder. 0:25:53.800 --> 0:25:57.480 Of those who are thinking of him. Imagine with me. 0:25:58.080 --> 0:26:00.520 God sees the Angel start to write in the Book 0:26:00.560 --> 0:26:04.520 of Remembrance. God asks the Angel, who are you writing about? 0:26:04.800 --> 0:26:08.840 The angel says, I'm writing about Julie she's attending Lakewood again. 0:26:09.359 --> 0:26:12.400 She's down there singing praises, listening to your word. I'm 0:26:12.400 --> 0:26:15.440 gonna make a record of it. A couple of hours later, 0:26:16.040 --> 0:26:18.440 God ask again, who are you writing about now? 0:26:18.920 --> 0:26:21.240 The Angel says, I'm still writing about Julie. 0:26:21.560 --> 0:26:24.560 She's at lunch with some of her friends talking about you. 0:26:25.359 --> 0:26:28.280 A few hours later, same thing. Who you're writing about now? 0:26:28.440 --> 0:26:31.840 Angel says, I'm still writing about Julie. She's driving in 0:26:31.880 --> 0:26:35.480 her car. She's got some praise music on. Early the 0:26:35.520 --> 0:26:38.800 next morning, God ask again, who are you I'm still 0:26:38.840 --> 0:26:42.159 writing about Julie. She's up early, got her coffee, reading 0:26:42.160 --> 0:26:45.840 her Bible. A few hours later, God sees the angel 0:26:45.880 --> 0:26:49.280 start to write. God says, let me guess. Don't tell 0:26:49.280 --> 0:26:52.600 me you're writing about Julie, aren't you. The Angel says, 0:26:52.840 --> 0:26:53.800 you're exactly right. 0:26:54.200 --> 0:26:54.440 God. 0:26:54.520 --> 0:26:58.280 All through the day, she's acknowledging you, thanking you, depending 0:26:58.320 --> 0:27:02.280 on you. Now imagine with me. Julie has a need. 0:27:02.840 --> 0:27:05.880 She goes boldly to the throne, says God, I need 0:27:05.920 --> 0:27:09.560 your help. I've got this problem. Who is this, God asks, 0:27:10.000 --> 0:27:13.439 She says, it's Julie. God says, oh, yeah, I know you. 0:27:13.600 --> 0:27:17.560 Julie you're always talking about me, You've always got me 0:27:17.720 --> 0:27:18.439 on your mind. 0:27:18.880 --> 0:27:22.639 What can I do for you? That's the way we 0:27:22.680 --> 0:27:23.280 should live. 0:27:23.560 --> 0:27:27.399 We should keep God constantly in our thoughts, meditating on 0:27:27.520 --> 0:27:31.720 his promises, thanking him for his goodness, acknowledging him throughout 0:27:31.760 --> 0:27:32.160 the day. 0:27:32.880 --> 0:27:34.760 Our goal should be to give that. 0:27:34.800 --> 0:27:38.280 Angel a cramp in his hand from writing about us 0:27:38.320 --> 0:27:41.240 in that book of remembrance. If that's going to happen, 0:27:41.840 --> 0:27:44.760 you gotta let God out of your Sunday morning box. 0:27:45.480 --> 0:27:49.359 Include him in every part of your life. Take time 0:27:49.400 --> 0:27:52.600 each day to get your inner person filled up. If 0:27:52.600 --> 0:27:55.520 you will keep God first in everything you do, he 0:27:55.640 --> 0:28:00.240 promises he's going to crown your efforts with success because 0:28:00.359 --> 0:28:04.760 you diligently seek him. I believe and declare a reward 0:28:04.880 --> 0:28:08.960 is coming, Favored is coming, Good breaks are coming, promotion 0:28:09.200 --> 0:28:13.600 is coming, a shift is coming, healing's coming, Restoration is coming. 0:28:14.119 --> 0:28:15.080 You need to get ready. 0:28:15.280 --> 0:28:19.240 You're not going to live an average, ordinary life because 0:28:19.280 --> 0:28:22.719 you depend on him. God is going to increase you. 0:28:22.720 --> 0:28:25.080 You are going to bear much fruit. He's going to 0:28:25.119 --> 0:28:27.720 make you more productive. You're going to get more done 0:28:27.720 --> 0:28:30.480 in less time. He's going to make your life easier. 0:28:30.840 --> 0:28:33.520 Take you where you could not go on your own. 0:28:33.880 --> 0:28:36.720 It's going to be greater than you ever even dreamed of. 0:28:37.080 --> 0:28:38.960 I believe it in Jesus' name. 0:28:39.440 --> 0:28:44.200 If you receive it, can you say amen. We never 0:28:44.320 --> 0:28:47.320 like to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity 0:28:47.400 --> 0:28:49.440 to make Jesus the lord of your life. 0:28:49.680 --> 0:28:50.640 Would you pray with me? 0:28:51.320 --> 0:28:55.120 Just say, Lord, Jesus, I repent of my sins. 0:28:56.480 --> 0:29:00.080 Come into my heart. I make you my Lord, and say. 0:29:01.600 --> 0:29:04.000 Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 0:29:04.080 --> 0:29:07.080 got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 0:29:07.560 --> 0:29:08.840 Keep God first place. 0:29:09.160 --> 0:29:11.560 He's going to take you places that you've never dreamed of. 0:29:12.400 --> 0:29:15.840 Thank you for listening to the joel Ostein podcast. Help 0:29:15.920 --> 0:29:18.640 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:29:18.720 --> 0:29:22.640 all over the world. Visit Joelostin dot com slash give 0:29:22.720 --> 0:29:24.400 Hope to give a gift today. 0:29:25.680 --> 0:29:28.120 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:28.240 --> 0:29:31.000 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:31.040 --> 0:29:34.080 podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. 0:29:34.320 --> 0:29:37.160 We're praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 0:29:37.400 --> 0:29:38.440 We'll see you next time. 0:29:45.560 --> 0:29:47.560 Summer is here and our sleep is just as important 0:29:47.560 --> 0:29:49.720 as our weekend. Plans, so get the Sleep you Deserve 0:29:49.760 --> 0:29:51.840 with Lisa for a limited time, save up to seven 0:29:51.920 --> 0:29:54.800 hundred dollars off select mattresses plus two free pillows during 0:29:54.800 --> 0:29:57.480 our Summer sale. Check out our hybrid mattress designed to 0:29:57.520 --> 0:30:00.440 keep you cool during those hot summer nights. 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