Release Control

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That's code iHeart fifty when 0:01:24.319 --> 0:01:27.280 you sign up at unest dot co for a fifty 0:01:27.319 --> 0:01:30.120 dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.120 --> 0:01:34.880 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 0:01:35.120 --> 0:01:37.920 We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 0:01:38.000 --> 0:01:41.360 leave inspire. Make sure you subscribe to get new messages 0:01:41.400 --> 0:01:44.440 every week. We appreciate your support. It helps keep the 0:01:44.480 --> 0:01:45.280 ministry going. 0:01:45.720 --> 0:01:56.320 Enjoy the message. 0:02:00.000 --> 0:02:00.480 Bless you. 0:02:00.840 --> 0:02:03.160 It's always the joy to come into your homes, and 0:02:03.440 --> 0:02:06.040 if you're ever in our area, please stop by and 0:02:06.080 --> 0:02:07.760 be a part of one of our services. 0:02:07.920 --> 0:02:10.280 I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 0:02:10.600 --> 0:02:12.880 But thanks so much for tuning in, and thank you 0:02:12.919 --> 0:02:16.040 again for coming out. I like to start with something funny, 0:02:16.080 --> 0:02:20.400 and one day Adam was feeling very lonely. God said Adam, 0:02:20.440 --> 0:02:22.280 I'm going to make you a companion. 0:02:22.800 --> 0:02:24.640 This is going to be called a woman. 0:02:25.480 --> 0:02:29.240 This person will cook for you and wash your clothes. 0:02:29.720 --> 0:02:32.600 She will bear you children and never ask you to 0:02:32.639 --> 0:02:34.000 get up in the middle of the night. 0:02:34.360 --> 0:02:37.520 She will not nag you. She will always. 0:02:37.080 --> 0:02:39.800 Agree with you, and if you ever have a disagreement, 0:02:40.000 --> 0:02:41.680 she'll be the first to admit that. 0:02:41.600 --> 0:02:42.280 She was wrong. 0:02:43.800 --> 0:02:47.000 Adam said, Wow, God, what will a woman like this cost? 0:02:47.320 --> 0:02:51.320 God said an arm and a leg. Adam said, what 0:02:51.400 --> 0:02:55.359 can I get for a rib? And the rest is history. 0:02:56.560 --> 0:02:59.000 Hold up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. 0:02:59.480 --> 0:03:02.800 This is I am what it says I am. I 0:03:02.880 --> 0:03:05.120 have what it says I have. I can do what 0:03:05.200 --> 0:03:07.919 it says I can do. Today I will be taught 0:03:07.919 --> 0:03:11.880 the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, 0:03:12.320 --> 0:03:15.120 my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. 0:03:15.520 --> 0:03:18.120 In Jesus' name, God bless you. 0:03:19.320 --> 0:03:22.400 I want to talk to you today about releasing control. 0:03:23.440 --> 0:03:25.440 It's easy to get so focused on. 0:03:25.440 --> 0:03:28.320 Our goals, our dreams that we're not going to be 0:03:28.400 --> 0:03:31.400 happy until it happens. When we put God in a 0:03:31.480 --> 0:03:34.280 box and we tell him what we want when we 0:03:34.320 --> 0:03:36.800 want it, how to do it, who to use, We've 0:03:36.800 --> 0:03:40.440 got it all figured out. But the scripture says God's 0:03:40.480 --> 0:03:42.120 ways are not our ways. 0:03:42.440 --> 0:03:44.080 They are better than our ways. 0:03:44.680 --> 0:03:47.000 And if you're only going to be happy if it 0:03:47.080 --> 0:03:52.160 happens your way, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. God 0:03:52.240 --> 0:03:55.480 can see the big picture for our lives. He knows 0:03:55.600 --> 0:04:00.320 what's around every curve. He can see the detours, the dead, 0:04:00.760 --> 0:04:03.080 the shortcuts, things that we cannot see. 0:04:03.760 --> 0:04:03.840 Now. 0:04:03.880 --> 0:04:05.240 A better approach is. 0:04:05.200 --> 0:04:07.720 To say, God, this is what I want, this is 0:04:07.720 --> 0:04:08.760 what i'm believing for. 0:04:09.080 --> 0:04:11.880 But God, you know what's best for me. I don't 0:04:11.920 --> 0:04:14.440 have to have it my way. God, I trust you. 0:04:15.360 --> 0:04:19.520 When you release control, it takes the pressure off. Life 0:04:19.560 --> 0:04:20.839 gets so much more free. 0:04:21.440 --> 0:04:24.479 You're not always fighting trying to make your plans work out. 0:04:25.360 --> 0:04:28.680 And sometimes we're so focused on what we want that 0:04:29.000 --> 0:04:32.800 it's out of balance. Anything you have to have in 0:04:32.880 --> 0:04:35.960 order to be happy, the enemy can use against you. 0:04:36.839 --> 0:04:39.919 If you think I have to have this promotion, my 0:04:40.040 --> 0:04:42.919 spouse has to change, I've got to get married to 0:04:42.960 --> 0:04:45.359 be happier. I've got to have good weather. I've got 0:04:45.400 --> 0:04:46.600 a big outdoor event plan. 0:04:47.000 --> 0:04:47.040 No. 0:04:47.200 --> 0:04:50.800 A mature attitude, says even if it doesn't work out 0:04:50.839 --> 0:04:54.680 my way, Even if my plans don't happen, God, I'm 0:04:54.760 --> 0:04:57.600 still going to enjoy my life knowing that you're on 0:04:57.640 --> 0:04:58.200 the throne. 0:04:59.120 --> 0:04:59.760 Here's the key. 0:05:00.440 --> 0:05:04.599 When our dreams and goals start to frustrate us, when 0:05:04.600 --> 0:05:08.159 we're not at peace, not enjoying where we are because 0:05:08.200 --> 0:05:11.560 we're so focused on what we want, that's a sign 0:05:11.839 --> 0:05:15.560 that we're holding on too tightly. When you hold on 0:05:15.640 --> 0:05:19.279 to what you want so tightly, it can almost become 0:05:19.360 --> 0:05:22.280 like an idol. You're so focused on it, that's all 0:05:22.279 --> 0:05:25.799 you think about, all you pray about, consumes your time 0:05:25.880 --> 0:05:26.440 and energy. 0:05:26.600 --> 0:05:27.560 That's out of balance. 0:05:28.200 --> 0:05:30.960 One of the best prayers that we can ever pray 0:05:31.400 --> 0:05:34.440 is God, not my will, but let your will be done. 0:05:35.080 --> 0:05:39.560 When you release control, you're showing God by your actions 0:05:39.720 --> 0:05:43.840 that you trust him. There are times in life God 0:05:43.920 --> 0:05:44.640 will ask you. 0:05:44.640 --> 0:05:48.080 To release the thing that you want the most. It's 0:05:48.080 --> 0:05:48.600 a test. 0:05:49.240 --> 0:05:52.760 If you will pass that test, at some point, God 0:05:52.839 --> 0:05:55.400 will either give you back what you want it or 0:05:55.400 --> 0:05:57.839 bring something better into your life. 0:05:57.880 --> 0:05:59.480 This is what happened with Abraham. 0:06:00.080 --> 0:06:03.560 His son Isaac, the child he had dreamed about year 0:06:03.640 --> 0:06:07.800 after year, finally showed up. Abraham loved him more than 0:06:07.880 --> 0:06:11.800 anything in the world. One day, God told Abraham to 0:06:11.839 --> 0:06:15.680 put Isaac on the altar, to sacrifice the thing that 0:06:15.800 --> 0:06:18.920 meant the most to him. And it wasn't easy, but 0:06:19.000 --> 0:06:23.680 Abraham made this decision to release control. He said, God, 0:06:24.160 --> 0:06:26.719 you know, this is what I've dreamed about, this is 0:06:26.760 --> 0:06:30.240 what I've wanted more than anything else. But God, I 0:06:30.400 --> 0:06:34.080 trust you. I can be happy even if it doesn't 0:06:34.120 --> 0:06:38.240 work out my way. When God saw his willingness to 0:06:38.320 --> 0:06:41.520 put on the altar the thing that meant most to him, 0:06:41.839 --> 0:06:43.400 then God said, no, don't do it. 0:06:43.640 --> 0:06:45.039 He gave him his son back. 0:06:45.839 --> 0:06:49.560 The question is, can you be happy if it doesn't 0:06:49.560 --> 0:06:52.640 work out your way? Will you keep a good attitude 0:06:52.680 --> 0:06:56.919 if the business slows down, the medical report isn't good. 0:06:57.960 --> 0:07:00.760 Maybe you're believing standing on a prom for your health 0:07:00.800 --> 0:07:04.880 to get better. When you have the attitude, even if 0:07:04.920 --> 0:07:07.400 I don't get better, I'm still going to have a smile, 0:07:07.960 --> 0:07:10.160 I'm still going to be good to people. I'm still 0:07:10.200 --> 0:07:13.480 going to give God praise. You're doing what Abraham did. 0:07:13.840 --> 0:07:17.520 You're putting that dream on the altar. When you can 0:07:17.600 --> 0:07:20.440 pass the test that you don't have to have the 0:07:20.520 --> 0:07:22.840 problem turn around to be happy. 0:07:22.920 --> 0:07:23.920 You don't have to have the. 0:07:23.960 --> 0:07:27.600 Dream come to pass to enjoy your life. You're proving 0:07:27.640 --> 0:07:30.840 to God that you trust him. That's when God will 0:07:30.880 --> 0:07:34.200 give you the desires of your heart. When we were 0:07:34.200 --> 0:07:38.000 trying to acquire this facility, the former Compact Center, I 0:07:38.040 --> 0:07:41.320 wanted it so badly that it consumed me. I was 0:07:41.360 --> 0:07:45.600 constantly thinking about it, praying about it, talking about it. 0:07:45.600 --> 0:07:48.960 It seemed like the harder I tried, the worse things got. 0:07:49.520 --> 0:07:54.040 More people came against us, lawsuits were filed. I would 0:07:54.080 --> 0:07:55.680 wake up in the middle of the night in a 0:07:55.720 --> 0:07:59.800 cold sweat, wondering if it was going to happen. One day, 0:07:59.880 --> 0:08:03.320 I realized that I was so set on having it 0:08:03.400 --> 0:08:07.800 my way. I wasn't enjoying where I was. I wasn't 0:08:07.840 --> 0:08:11.200 going to be happy if we didn't acquire it. I 0:08:11.240 --> 0:08:13.440 had to do what I'm asking you to do, I 0:08:13.480 --> 0:08:17.080 said God. I believe that this facility is supposed to 0:08:17.080 --> 0:08:20.440 be ours. Deep down, God, I believe You've saved it 0:08:20.600 --> 0:08:24.720 just for us. But even if it doesn't happen, I'm 0:08:24.760 --> 0:08:27.120 going to still be my best at the other location. 0:08:27.680 --> 0:08:30.280 I'm still going to be happy and enjoy my life. 0:08:30.720 --> 0:08:34.559 I release control. God, do it your way. It wasn't 0:08:34.600 --> 0:08:37.480 long after that that things started falling into place. 0:08:38.240 --> 0:08:40.960 We won the votes from the city council members, the 0:08:41.040 --> 0:08:43.520 lawsuits were settled. Here we are today. 0:08:44.120 --> 0:08:49.040 When you release control, you are passing a very important test, 0:08:49.520 --> 0:08:50.520 the trust test. 0:08:51.000 --> 0:08:54.400 You're saying, God, I believe you know what's best for me. 0:08:55.400 --> 0:08:59.280 Many times, like with Abraham, like with this facility, that's 0:08:59.320 --> 0:09:01.200 when God will release back. 0:09:01.000 --> 0:09:03.439 To you the very thing that you're believing for. 0:09:04.520 --> 0:09:07.160 I know this lady that had a husband that wouldn't 0:09:07.160 --> 0:09:09.600 come to church with her, and he was a nice man, 0:09:09.720 --> 0:09:11.040 he just wasn't interested. 0:09:11.600 --> 0:09:13.120 She was praying and believing that. 0:09:13.080 --> 0:09:15.960 It would change. And this went on year after year. 0:09:16.400 --> 0:09:19.400 She did everything she could think of. She put scripture 0:09:19.520 --> 0:09:22.640 verses up all over her house, and she was always 0:09:22.720 --> 0:09:25.400 encouraging him to come. But in spite of all of that, 0:09:25.880 --> 0:09:29.520 he wouldn't come. After about a year, she began to 0:09:29.520 --> 0:09:33.319 get frustrated. She lost her joy. She used to come 0:09:33.360 --> 0:09:37.040 down to the front for prayer, very discouraged and upset. Joel, 0:09:37.080 --> 0:09:40.120 I don't understand it. I'm doing everything that I can. 0:09:40.760 --> 0:09:43.760 I told her what I'm telling you. The best thing 0:09:43.840 --> 0:09:46.000 you can do is release control. 0:09:46.600 --> 0:09:50.719 Turn it over to God. You've prayed, you believed, you're 0:09:50.760 --> 0:09:51.720 standing in faith. 0:09:52.240 --> 0:09:55.760 Now put it on the altar. Have the attitude if 0:09:55.800 --> 0:09:58.320 he never comes. God, I'm still going to trust you. 0:09:58.840 --> 0:10:01.280 If it never changes, I'm still going to be happy. 0:10:02.000 --> 0:10:05.000 When you show God that you don't have to have 0:10:05.080 --> 0:10:07.680 it in order to be happy, that's when God goes 0:10:07.720 --> 0:10:11.800 to work. There may be things that are frustrating you 0:10:11.920 --> 0:10:15.320 right now because they're not changing. You know, God put 0:10:15.360 --> 0:10:17.840 the dream in your heart, but doesn't look like it's 0:10:17.840 --> 0:10:20.600 going to happen. You have to do what she did 0:10:21.160 --> 0:10:24.199 and say, God, I've done everything I can. I Am 0:10:24.240 --> 0:10:27.320 not going to live my life upset, not going to 0:10:27.360 --> 0:10:30.120 go around worried, wondering, frustrated. 0:10:30.360 --> 0:10:33.520 God. I'm putting this on the altar. I'm giving it 0:10:33.559 --> 0:10:35.960 to you. And that's what this lady did. 0:10:36.280 --> 0:10:39.160 She got her joy back, she got that spring in 0:10:39.240 --> 0:10:43.120 her step. By her actions, she was saying, God, I 0:10:43.200 --> 0:10:46.280 trust you. I know you're still on the throne. I 0:10:46.320 --> 0:10:49.440 don't have to have anyone or anything. 0:10:49.000 --> 0:10:51.240 To make me happy. I'm will be happy right where 0:10:51.240 --> 0:10:52.160 I am. 0:10:52.800 --> 0:10:57.880 About two years later, one Sunday morning, her husband asked. 0:10:57.360 --> 0:10:59.600 If he could come to church with her. It was 0:10:59.679 --> 0:11:00.360 his idea. 0:11:01.280 --> 0:11:04.520 They came that Sunday that was over eight years ago. 0:11:04.840 --> 0:11:07.040 Now he hardly ever misses a Sunday. 0:11:07.600 --> 0:11:12.320 That's what happens. When you release control. God will make 0:11:12.400 --> 0:11:15.240 things happen that you could never make happen on your own. 0:11:15.800 --> 0:11:18.839 Now, I'm not saying to release the promise, to give 0:11:18.920 --> 0:11:23.600 up on a dream. No, release the worries, release the frustration, 0:11:24.320 --> 0:11:25.319 release having. 0:11:25.080 --> 0:11:26.679 To have it your way. 0:11:27.000 --> 0:11:31.320 Psalm one says God will work out his plan for 0:11:31.440 --> 0:11:34.680 your life. God knows how to get you to where 0:11:34.679 --> 0:11:35.480 you're supposed to be. 0:11:35.960 --> 0:11:40.400 You don't have to live worried, frustrated if you'll trust him. 0:11:40.600 --> 0:11:44.079 God will bring the right people. He'll open the right doors, 0:11:44.280 --> 0:11:48.720 He'll turn problems around. He promises he will work out 0:11:48.760 --> 0:11:49.599 his plan. 0:11:49.440 --> 0:11:50.880 For your life. 0:11:50.960 --> 0:11:54.040 When we all have goals and dreams, and it's easy 0:11:54.080 --> 0:11:57.760 to be frustrated when they're not happening as fast as 0:11:57.800 --> 0:12:01.760 we would like, we think. God, I'm working hard, I'm 0:12:01.760 --> 0:12:04.800 being my best, I'm honoring you. When am I going 0:12:04.840 --> 0:12:07.080 to get that good break? When am I going to 0:12:07.120 --> 0:12:10.599 meet the right person? Why is it taking so long? No, 0:12:10.760 --> 0:12:14.800 you can't control the timetable. You can plant the seed, 0:12:15.480 --> 0:12:19.000 you can water it, but only God can bring the sunshine. 0:12:19.600 --> 0:12:23.240 Only God can cause it to grow. Don't be frustrated 0:12:23.480 --> 0:12:27.040 because it's not happening on your timetable. As long as 0:12:27.040 --> 0:12:31.040 you're being your best, honoring God, you can rest assured 0:12:31.480 --> 0:12:33.480 God will get you to where you're supposed to be. 0:12:34.280 --> 0:12:37.200 It's the same principle in our health. You can't make 0:12:37.240 --> 0:12:42.520 yourself get well. You can pray and believe, you can eat, ride, exercise, 0:12:42.640 --> 0:12:45.920 take medicine, but only God can bring the healing. 0:12:46.640 --> 0:12:48.640 Only He can restore health. 0:12:49.280 --> 0:12:52.680 And the scripture says to cast your cares on the Lord. 0:12:53.480 --> 0:12:57.440 The care is the worry, those thoughts that bring anxiety 0:12:57.480 --> 0:13:00.280 and fear. What if you don't get well, what if 0:13:00.280 --> 0:13:03.680 the treatment doesn't work, What if the medical report isn't good. 0:13:04.720 --> 0:13:09.360 Worry ties the hands of Almighty God. Living stressed out, 0:13:10.040 --> 0:13:13.240 trying to change things that you can't change, will keep 0:13:13.240 --> 0:13:17.240 you from God's best. You have to release control. It's 0:13:17.320 --> 0:13:21.000 not your job to heal yourself. You don't control the sunshine. 0:13:21.679 --> 0:13:25.760 The right attitude is God. My life is in your hands. 0:13:26.360 --> 0:13:29.240 I know you're the healer. You said the number of 0:13:29.280 --> 0:13:32.240 my days you would fulfill, So I'm not gonna live 0:13:32.320 --> 0:13:34.800 worried and stressed out. Lord, I want to thank you 0:13:34.880 --> 0:13:37.720 for the sunshine, thank you for doing what only you 0:13:37.720 --> 0:13:41.160 can do. Then, all through the day, instead of trying 0:13:41.160 --> 0:13:44.880 to make yourself get well, just relax, stay in peace, 0:13:45.320 --> 0:13:49.000 keep a smile on your face. God is not asking 0:13:49.040 --> 0:13:53.840 you to control everything. Take the pressure off yourself. He's saying, 0:13:54.360 --> 0:13:58.840 cast your cares, release the control. See, you can't make 0:13:58.880 --> 0:14:02.640 yourself get well. You can't make people like you. You 0:14:02.679 --> 0:14:05.760 can't make a dream come to pass. God has to 0:14:05.800 --> 0:14:06.920 give you the sunshine. 0:14:07.240 --> 0:14:10.720 He has to breathe in your direction. Maybe you're believing 0:14:10.760 --> 0:14:11.960 for a promotion today. 0:14:12.520 --> 0:14:14.400 Well, you say, Joel Auld, you said I have to 0:14:14.440 --> 0:14:16.600 do is just trust I can't make it happen. 0:14:16.920 --> 0:14:17.040 Now. 0:14:17.120 --> 0:14:22.480 The scripture says cast your cares, not your responsibilities. I'm 0:14:22.480 --> 0:14:24.560 not saying to just sit back and don't do anything. 0:14:24.800 --> 0:14:27.920 No, do your part. Then take your hands off of 0:14:27.960 --> 0:14:30.600 it and trust God to do what you can't do. 0:14:31.320 --> 0:14:35.120 In other words, get your work on time, produce more 0:14:35.160 --> 0:14:38.000 than you have to have a spirit of excellence. Then 0:14:38.040 --> 0:14:41.600 if for some reason you don't get the promotion, maybe 0:14:41.640 --> 0:14:45.160 they give it to somebody less deserving. You can't control that, 0:14:45.640 --> 0:14:49.160 but you can control your response. God, I trust you. 0:14:49.680 --> 0:14:53.040 I'm not going to be offended start complaining. God, I 0:14:53.160 --> 0:14:56.680 know you have something better in store. In the meantime, 0:14:56.800 --> 0:14:59.120 I'm going to enjoy my life right where I am 0:15:00.120 --> 0:15:04.520 being frustrated by things that you cannot change. God has 0:15:04.600 --> 0:15:08.440 you in the palm of his hand. Nothing is happening 0:15:08.680 --> 0:15:12.240 that he is not completely aware of. When you start 0:15:12.280 --> 0:15:15.680 releasing control and trusting him to get you to where 0:15:15.720 --> 0:15:19.160 you're supposed to be, that's when you'll see new doors open, 0:15:19.560 --> 0:15:24.560 new opportunities, new friendships. But much of our frustration in 0:15:24.640 --> 0:15:28.400 life is because we're trying to control things we were 0:15:28.400 --> 0:15:31.720 never meant to control. We try to control what people 0:15:31.760 --> 0:15:36.000 think about us, control what our spouse does, control when 0:15:36.000 --> 0:15:39.000 a dream comes to pass, and if it's not happening 0:15:39.000 --> 0:15:42.120 on our timetable the way we want, we go to 0:15:42.160 --> 0:15:43.280 work and try to change it. 0:15:43.760 --> 0:15:45.239 Thinking, Man, I got to change. 0:15:44.960 --> 0:15:48.040 My spouse, I got to change these people's opinion of me. 0:15:48.680 --> 0:15:51.440 This problem's not turning around fast enough. I got to 0:15:51.480 --> 0:15:55.160 get in there and change that. Many people are working 0:15:55.280 --> 0:15:59.040 over time trying to change things that they cannot change. 0:16:00.160 --> 0:16:04.400 To accept the fact you can't control everything. The only 0:16:04.520 --> 0:16:08.200 thing you can control. One hundred percent of the time 0:16:08.640 --> 0:16:13.440 is your attitude. Life is ten percent what happens to you, 0:16:14.040 --> 0:16:16.160 and ninety percent how you respond. 0:16:17.280 --> 0:16:19.440 If somebody hurts you, you can't. 0:16:19.160 --> 0:16:23.240 Control that it's over and done, but you can control 0:16:23.440 --> 0:16:26.240 whether or not you get offended or if you were 0:16:26.240 --> 0:16:29.640 to get a negative medical report. You can't control that 0:16:29.760 --> 0:16:33.600 life happens, but you can control whether or not you 0:16:33.680 --> 0:16:39.040 live upset and discouraged. I'm simply asking you today focus 0:16:39.200 --> 0:16:42.320 on what you can control, not on what you can 0:16:43.080 --> 0:16:46.240 If you live in Houston during the summers, it's very 0:16:46.280 --> 0:16:49.880 hot here. I know people that have complained for the 0:16:49.960 --> 0:16:51.920 last thirty years about the heat. 0:16:52.640 --> 0:16:55.400 It's so hard. I can't take it, Joe. The fact 0:16:55.520 --> 0:16:59.320 is you can't change the heat. I don't mean to depress. 0:16:58.880 --> 0:17:00.720 You, but it's gonna be hot in the summers for 0:17:00.760 --> 0:17:04.600 the next thirty years. You can either dread it and 0:17:04.680 --> 0:17:07.479 let that sour the rest of your life, or you 0:17:07.480 --> 0:17:10.919 can say this is where God has me. I believe 0:17:10.960 --> 0:17:13.760 I have the grace to handle it. Yes, it's hot, 0:17:13.840 --> 0:17:16.560 but thank god I have an air conditioner, thank God 0:17:16.600 --> 0:17:18.879 I have a job here, thank God I have friends 0:17:18.880 --> 0:17:22.560 and family. Thank God I can come to Lakewood. You 0:17:22.600 --> 0:17:27.200 can't control the heat, but you can control your attitude. 0:17:27.880 --> 0:17:32.280 Why be unhappy about something that you cannot change. If 0:17:32.359 --> 0:17:34.399 you have to sit in traffic every day on the 0:17:34.440 --> 0:17:37.480 way to work, why let that steal your joy? Being 0:17:37.600 --> 0:17:39.520 upset about it is not going to make it go 0:17:39.560 --> 0:17:43.919 any faster. You can't control the traffic. Why don't you 0:17:44.040 --> 0:17:47.520 change what you can control. Use that time to thank 0:17:47.600 --> 0:17:50.040 God for what he's done in your life. Look out 0:17:50.080 --> 0:17:52.840 at the beauty of his creation. Put on some good 0:17:52.920 --> 0:17:55.480 praise music, Turn on serious XM. 0:17:55.520 --> 0:17:56.600 Listen to our messages. 0:17:56.960 --> 0:18:00.160 The traffic may not ever change, but you can change, 0:18:00.560 --> 0:18:04.000 and some of the things that are frustrating you right now. 0:18:04.359 --> 0:18:07.920 If you don't make these simple adjustments, twenty years from now, 0:18:08.080 --> 0:18:11.679 thirty years, forty years, those same things will still be 0:18:11.720 --> 0:18:12.480 frustrating you. 0:18:13.480 --> 0:18:15.040 Life happens to all of us. 0:18:15.520 --> 0:18:20.439 We have delays, interruptions, unfair situations. We can't control that. 0:18:21.040 --> 0:18:24.480 Don't use it as an excuse to get upset. A 0:18:24.560 --> 0:18:28.719 few Christmases ago, I was driving around a crowded parking lot, 0:18:29.200 --> 0:18:31.520 up and down the roads, again and again, trying to 0:18:31.560 --> 0:18:34.520 find someplace to park. In a few minutes. This young 0:18:34.560 --> 0:18:37.200 couple came out and they were parked right up close 0:18:37.240 --> 0:18:39.679 to the building. I said, well, Lord, thank you for 0:18:39.720 --> 0:18:42.080 your favor, and I put my blinker on and I 0:18:42.200 --> 0:18:44.399 was waiting for them to pull out, and took them 0:18:44.440 --> 0:18:46.600 a long time. They had to put their packages in 0:18:46.640 --> 0:18:49.600 the trunk and buckle up a child in the safety seat. 0:18:50.280 --> 0:18:53.399 Finally they backed out just as I was about to 0:18:53.440 --> 0:18:53.880 pull in. 0:18:54.119 --> 0:18:55.400 They still had me blocked. 0:18:55.800 --> 0:18:59.119 This car came from the wrong direction and pulled in 0:18:59.200 --> 0:19:02.240 right in front of me. My first thought was to 0:19:02.280 --> 0:19:05.080 haunt my horn and give them a piece of my mind. 0:19:05.880 --> 0:19:10.360 Then I remembered I'm a pastor, and a happy pastor 0:19:10.400 --> 0:19:14.959 at that. But one of the most important things that 0:19:15.080 --> 0:19:19.560 I've learned is life is too short to be frustrated 0:19:19.840 --> 0:19:23.760 by things you cannot control. You can't control what other 0:19:23.840 --> 0:19:27.800 people do. He can't control the traffic, can't control the weather. 0:19:28.480 --> 0:19:31.200 If you're only going to be happy, if everything goes 0:19:31.240 --> 0:19:34.680 your way and everybody's nice and kind to you, you're 0:19:34.720 --> 0:19:38.440 probably going to live a very unhappy life. Them taking 0:19:38.520 --> 0:19:41.199 my parking spot was a part of the ten percent 0:19:41.960 --> 0:19:46.000 life happened. It wasn't fair, but the ninety percent is 0:19:46.040 --> 0:19:47.200 what really matters. 0:19:47.520 --> 0:19:49.119 How do we respond. 0:19:49.560 --> 0:19:56.000 Jesus said, stop allowing yourselves to be upset, agitated, and disturbed. 0:19:56.200 --> 0:19:59.000 It's a choice that we have to make at the 0:19:59.040 --> 0:20:02.359 start of the day. You should make a decision that, 0:20:02.480 --> 0:20:05.560 no matter what comes against you that day, you are 0:20:05.600 --> 0:20:06.680 not going to get upset. 0:20:07.520 --> 0:20:09.480 You have to decide ahead of time. 0:20:10.080 --> 0:20:12.679 That way, if you get to work and your boss 0:20:12.760 --> 0:20:15.600 is in a grouchy mood, you think that's okay. I 0:20:15.640 --> 0:20:18.639 can't control him. I can't make him be in a 0:20:18.680 --> 0:20:22.400 good mood. That's his choice. My choice is to be happy. 0:20:22.720 --> 0:20:26.560 I've already decided to enjoy this day. Traffic is worse 0:20:26.600 --> 0:20:29.720 than normal. If your child forgets his homework at school, 0:20:29.760 --> 0:20:32.240 you got to go back up. If the Texans don't win, 0:20:32.560 --> 0:20:35.840 that's all right. I've already decided I'm not gonna be frustrated. 0:20:35.880 --> 0:20:38.960 I'm not gonna get upset today. Back when I first 0:20:39.000 --> 0:20:42.360 started ministering nineteen ninety nine, one day I was at 0:20:42.359 --> 0:20:46.520 home working on my computer writing the message for that weekend. 0:20:46.920 --> 0:20:50.119 Was a perfectly sunny day, not a cloud in the sky. 0:20:50.640 --> 0:20:54.439 Out of nowhere, the power went off for some reason. 0:20:54.560 --> 0:20:57.920 I had not saved my material, had five or six 0:20:57.960 --> 0:21:01.000 pages of notes, been working most of the day, and 0:21:01.320 --> 0:21:04.800 I was hoping, pray and believing that somehow it had 0:21:04.840 --> 0:21:08.199 been automatically saved. It was hard enough back then to 0:21:08.200 --> 0:21:10.960 write one message. I said, God, please don't make me 0:21:11.000 --> 0:21:14.760 write it again. Power came back on and I searched 0:21:14.760 --> 0:21:17.320 and searched, trying to find it, but it wasn't there. 0:21:17.920 --> 0:21:20.760 I got technicians to come out from the office. They 0:21:20.760 --> 0:21:23.720 looked and looked, but the material was gone. 0:21:23.880 --> 0:21:27.840 I was so frustrated. I lost the whole day's worth 0:21:27.840 --> 0:21:31.280 of work. I felt like calling the power. 0:21:31.040 --> 0:21:33.520 Company, what are you doing turning my power off in 0:21:33.560 --> 0:21:34.280 the middle of the day. 0:21:34.440 --> 0:21:36.040 Don't you know that's causing problem? 0:21:36.720 --> 0:21:40.080 No matter how much I've vented, no matter how frustrated 0:21:40.160 --> 0:21:44.720 I became, the material was not coming back. We waste 0:21:44.760 --> 0:21:48.160 a lot of time and energy trying to change things 0:21:48.240 --> 0:21:52.600 that we cannot change. The scripture says in life, you'll 0:21:52.640 --> 0:21:57.439 have trials, difficulties, interruptions. We're all going to have our 0:21:57.480 --> 0:22:01.320 ten percent. Things we don't like, things that are not fair, 0:22:01.400 --> 0:22:05.320 things we don't understand. We can't control that. You have 0:22:05.400 --> 0:22:09.080 to focus on what you can control. I finally shook 0:22:09.080 --> 0:22:12.760 off the self pity. I shook off the discouragement, sat 0:22:12.840 --> 0:22:16.600 back down at my computer. I said, God, this power 0:22:16.680 --> 0:22:19.680 going off is not a surprise to you. 0:22:19.680 --> 0:22:22.439 You said, what's meant for my harm? You would use 0:22:22.480 --> 0:22:25.320 it to my advantage. You said all things would work 0:22:25.359 --> 0:22:27.840 together for my good. So Lord, I want to thank you. 0:22:27.920 --> 0:22:30.680 The second time I write this message will be better 0:22:30.720 --> 0:22:33.159 than the first time. I went to work there at 0:22:33.160 --> 0:22:37.120 my computer and ideas started coming from out of nowhere. 0:22:37.560 --> 0:22:40.600 A couple of hours, I had more notes and better 0:22:40.680 --> 0:22:44.320 notes than I had before. Next time you're tempted to 0:22:44.400 --> 0:22:49.120 be frustrated, offended, stressed out, remind yourself that's a part 0:22:49.160 --> 0:22:52.679 of the ten percent. You can't control that, but you 0:22:52.800 --> 0:22:58.200 can control how you respond. Start passing the test. Don't 0:22:58.240 --> 0:23:01.359 keep letting the same things up set you year after year. 0:23:01.760 --> 0:23:05.119 The same people get on your nerves. Every day is 0:23:05.160 --> 0:23:08.560 a gift from God. We're not always going to be here. 0:23:09.240 --> 0:23:11.800 Once this day is over, we can never get it back. 0:23:12.440 --> 0:23:16.680 Your time is too valuable to waste it. Upset in traffic, 0:23:17.240 --> 0:23:20.960 offended at a neighbor, frustrated at a child, worried about 0:23:20.960 --> 0:23:23.520 your health, Discourage because a dream is. 0:23:23.480 --> 0:23:26.800 Taking so long. You can't control those things. 0:23:27.119 --> 0:23:29.399 If that was going to keep you from your destiny. 0:23:29.640 --> 0:23:33.000 God would have never permitted it. Start passing the test. 0:23:33.240 --> 0:23:37.680 Don't allow yourself to be upset. I was in Australia 0:23:37.800 --> 0:23:41.280 last year and they used the phrase no worries all 0:23:41.320 --> 0:23:45.280 the time. They say no worries, like we say you're. 0:23:45.080 --> 0:23:46.440 Welcome here in the States. 0:23:46.960 --> 0:23:49.200 If you're at dinner and the waiter brings you the food, 0:23:49.400 --> 0:23:52.800 you say thank you. They answer back, no worries. I 0:23:52.880 --> 0:23:55.040 dropped my fork on the ground. They came running over, 0:23:55.119 --> 0:23:55.640 pick it up. 0:23:55.640 --> 0:23:56.320 No worries. 0:23:56.560 --> 0:24:02.200 They're so relaxed, easy going, nothing them, building's on fire, 0:24:02.280 --> 0:24:02.920 No worries. 0:24:04.359 --> 0:24:06.160 Robbery in progress, no worries. 0:24:07.440 --> 0:24:11.400 I must have heard that phrase twenty thirty times a day. 0:24:11.920 --> 0:24:14.200 And even though they use it in a different. 0:24:13.920 --> 0:24:17.080 Way, I love the fact that it reminds you not 0:24:17.119 --> 0:24:21.040 to worry. Puts it is that should be our motto. 0:24:21.359 --> 0:24:24.680 No worries. Traffic is backed up, no worries. 0:24:24.880 --> 0:24:27.760 God has directed my steps. I'm at the right place 0:24:27.800 --> 0:24:30.200 at the right time. Somebody's rude to us. 0:24:30.359 --> 0:24:33.560 No worries. They're having a bad day. I've already decided 0:24:33.600 --> 0:24:36.399 to have a good day. Business is a little slow. 0:24:36.600 --> 0:24:40.000 No worries. God is my provider. He's supplying all of 0:24:40.040 --> 0:24:40.600 my needs. 0:24:41.240 --> 0:24:45.159 If we would develop this no worries mentality, I wonder 0:24:45.560 --> 0:24:49.119 not only how much more we'd enjoy life, but how 0:24:49.160 --> 0:24:53.920 much longer we would live. Proverb says a relaxed attitude 0:24:54.280 --> 0:24:55.280 lengthens life. 0:24:55.960 --> 0:24:57.399 The opposite is true. 0:24:57.600 --> 0:25:01.520 If you're living upset, offended world, worried, you're taking time 0:25:01.680 --> 0:25:03.359 off of your life. 0:25:03.400 --> 0:25:04.359 We need you here. 0:25:05.040 --> 0:25:10.880 Don't leave before your time is up. If you'll start trusting, relaxing, 0:25:11.200 --> 0:25:15.000 going with the flow, you can add time to your life. 0:25:15.240 --> 0:25:18.439 We're always looking for that fountain of youth. Ways to 0:25:18.480 --> 0:25:22.240 look younger, to live longer. One way is to develop 0:25:22.320 --> 0:25:27.320 this no worries mentality. Quit being upset over things that 0:25:27.359 --> 0:25:30.920 you have no control over. Quit trying to change things 0:25:31.080 --> 0:25:36.719 that you cannot change. Worry less, trust more, stress less, 0:25:37.200 --> 0:25:38.880 laugh more, love. 0:25:38.760 --> 0:25:40.480 More, enjoy more. 0:25:41.320 --> 0:25:45.000 When our daughter Alexandra was about five years old, one night, 0:25:45.080 --> 0:25:47.000 I needed to run up to the store to pick 0:25:47.040 --> 0:25:50.159 something up. It was going to close in thirty minutes. 0:25:50.640 --> 0:25:53.240 Victoria said, we'll never make it, Joel, I said, sure, 0:25:53.280 --> 0:25:55.520 we will. Just help me get the kids ready and 0:25:55.600 --> 0:25:58.520 let's go. She got them dressed real fast, and I 0:25:58.600 --> 0:26:01.159 grabbed their shoes, and we took to the store and 0:26:01.400 --> 0:26:01.800 it was. 0:26:01.760 --> 0:26:03.439 Like I was on a mission from God. 0:26:03.920 --> 0:26:06.240 I was so sad. I needed to get what I wanted. 0:26:06.280 --> 0:26:07.919 I did not want to have to come back the 0:26:07.960 --> 0:26:11.040 next day. We arrived at the store's parking lot with 0:26:11.119 --> 0:26:13.440 about eight minutes left to go, and I knew I 0:26:13.480 --> 0:26:15.840 could still make it, but I had to put little 0:26:15.880 --> 0:26:19.520 Alexandra's shoes on now. I got her left shoe on, 0:26:20.000 --> 0:26:22.119 went to put the right one on, but I couldn't 0:26:22.119 --> 0:26:25.000 get it to fit. I worked and worked and struggled, 0:26:25.000 --> 0:26:27.160 but it just wouldn't go on right. And I took 0:26:27.200 --> 0:26:31.400 it off and noticed that it was another left shoe. 0:26:31.560 --> 0:26:33.879 I thought that couldn't be right, and I compared it 0:26:33.920 --> 0:26:34.480 with the other one. 0:26:34.520 --> 0:26:36.600 Sure enough, we had two left shoes. 0:26:37.119 --> 0:26:39.280 I said, Victoria, why do we have two of the 0:26:39.359 --> 0:26:43.159 exact same shoes? She said, oh, Joel, her little cousin 0:26:43.320 --> 0:26:45.400 was over at the house playing today and she has 0:26:45.440 --> 0:26:46.560 the same pair of shoes. 0:26:46.720 --> 0:26:49.720 We must have grabbed the wrong ones. I thought, oh great. 0:26:50.119 --> 0:26:52.240 Now I had about four minutes to go, and I 0:26:52.240 --> 0:26:56.480 was really stressed out. And Alexandra was a daddy's girl. 0:26:56.600 --> 0:26:58.919 She would do anything in the world for me. So 0:26:59.000 --> 0:27:01.920 I got this idea, said Alexandra. It may be a 0:27:02.000 --> 0:27:04.800 little tight, but will you put this left shoe on 0:27:04.880 --> 0:27:07.720 your right foot and wear it for daddy? She looked 0:27:07.720 --> 0:27:09.919 at me, I'll never forget it, smile real big and 0:27:09.960 --> 0:27:11.600 said no, I won't. 0:27:14.880 --> 0:27:17.280 I knew right then and there it wasn't meant to be. 0:27:17.480 --> 0:27:19.439 Just go with the flow. That was a part of 0:27:19.480 --> 0:27:23.640 the ten percent. Daughter has two left shoes. No use 0:27:23.680 --> 0:27:27.240 getting upset over what you can't change. My plans didn't 0:27:27.280 --> 0:27:30.000 work out, No worries. I can come back the next day. 0:27:30.000 --> 0:27:32.720 God still directed my steps. Think of it this way. 0:27:33.359 --> 0:27:36.120 If you learned you only had three months to live, 0:27:36.760 --> 0:27:39.240 how many of the things that upset you last week 0:27:39.520 --> 0:27:42.359 would you let upset you this week. Would you be 0:27:42.440 --> 0:27:45.760 stressed because your computer died? Would you be frustrated because 0:27:45.760 --> 0:27:48.320 your daughter has two left shoes? Would you be upset 0:27:48.359 --> 0:27:51.160 because somebody got your parking spot, somebody. 0:27:50.920 --> 0:27:53.440 Was rude to get the grocery store? No, let it go. 0:27:53.880 --> 0:27:56.959 Life is too short to live that way. Some of 0:27:57.000 --> 0:27:59.399 you are carrying around way too much. 0:28:00.480 --> 0:28:04.720 You need to start releasing the worries, release the offense, 0:28:05.280 --> 0:28:08.680 release the struggles. You don't have to make your dreams 0:28:08.720 --> 0:28:12.040 come to pass. Take the pressure off of yourself. Only 0:28:12.119 --> 0:28:16.080 God can bring the sunshine. Trust him and he'll get 0:28:16.080 --> 0:28:18.840 you to where you're supposed to be. If you'll start 0:28:19.040 --> 0:28:23.400 releasing control, you'll not only enjoy life more, but you'll 0:28:23.440 --> 0:28:27.119 live longer. God promises he will work out his plan. 0:28:26.920 --> 0:28:29.520 For your life. I believe and declare he. 0:28:29.520 --> 0:28:32.320 Will open the right doors, He'll bring the right people. 0:28:32.520 --> 0:28:35.960 He'll turn negative situations around, and you'll step. 0:28:35.680 --> 0:28:37.840 Into the fullness of your destiny. 0:28:38.200 --> 0:28:41.080 In Jesus's name if you receive it, can you say 0:28:41.120 --> 0:28:41.720 him in today? 0:28:43.360 --> 0:28:44.680 We never like to close our. 0:28:44.560 --> 0:28:47.960 Broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the 0:28:48.000 --> 0:28:51.040 lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just 0:28:51.080 --> 0:28:54.680 say Lord, Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. 0:28:55.920 --> 0:28:59.840 Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:29:01.440 --> 0:29:03.840 Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you 0:29:03.920 --> 0:29:06.920 got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. 0:29:07.240 --> 0:29:10.080 Keep God first place. He's going to take your places 0:29:10.160 --> 0:29:11.240 that you've never dreamed. 0:29:12.120 --> 0:29:15.000 Thank you for listening to the Joel los Deine podcast. 0:29:15.320 --> 0:29:17.960 Help us continue to share the message of hope with 0:29:18.080 --> 0:29:22.080 those all over the world. Visit Joeloustein dot com slash 0:29:22.120 --> 0:29:24.160 give hope to give a gift today. 0:29:25.440 --> 0:29:27.880 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:28.000 --> 0:29:30.720 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:30.800 --> 0:29:34.280 podcast to keep you inspired all through the week. We're 0:29:34.320 --> 0:29:36.920 praying for you. I know God's best is still ahead. 0:29:37.160 --> 0:29:38.280 We'll see you next time. 0:29:45.200 --> 0:29:47.720 More than ever before, people are turning to the church 0:29:47.760 --> 0:29:51.520 for their mental health struggles. 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