Stay Positive Toward Yourself

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This is not an 0:01:28.000 --> 0:01:29.759 offer to buy your self securities sn or is it investment, 0:01:29.840 --> 0:01:30.760 legal or tax advice. 0:01:30.920 --> 0:01:34.720 God accepts and approves you right where you are, faults 0:01:34.800 --> 0:01:39.919 and all mistakes, shortcomings, not when you overcome, but right now. 0:01:40.680 --> 0:01:44.199 He knows you're on a journey. He's changing you little 0:01:44.240 --> 0:01:44.800 by little. 0:01:45.120 --> 0:01:48.680 He accepts you. Now you have to accept yourself. He 0:01:48.760 --> 0:01:52.200 approves you. You have to approve yourself. Hi, this is 0:01:52.280 --> 0:01:53.520 Joel and Victoria. 0:01:53.560 --> 0:01:56.560 Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting 0:01:56.600 --> 0:01:57.280 the ministry. 0:01:57.400 --> 0:01:59.640 If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 0:01:59.680 --> 0:02:01.320 blessed and share it with a friend. 0:02:01.640 --> 0:02:04.360 We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 0:02:04.400 --> 0:02:06.880 your life. 0:02:09.440 --> 0:02:12.000 Well, God bless you. It's great to be with. 0:02:11.880 --> 0:02:14.760 You today, and I hope you'll stay connected with us 0:02:14.760 --> 0:02:15.520 throughout the week. 0:02:15.680 --> 0:02:18.400 We have a daily podcast that you can download. 0:02:18.840 --> 0:02:22.160 You can go to our YouTube channel watch the messages anytime, 0:02:22.440 --> 0:02:24.600 or of course, you can follow us on social medium. 0:02:24.880 --> 0:02:27.800 I promise you this, We'll keep you encouraged and inspired. 0:02:28.080 --> 0:02:31.200 Thanks for tuning in, Thanks again for coming out in person. 0:02:31.680 --> 0:02:34.040 I like to start with something funny, and I heard 0:02:34.080 --> 0:02:37.760 about this reporter. He was visiting churches across the nation. 0:02:38.400 --> 0:02:41.320 While in the Northeast, he saw a gold phone on 0:02:41.360 --> 0:02:44.560 the wall with a sign that said calls ten thousand 0:02:44.639 --> 0:02:45.680 dollars per minute. 0:02:46.160 --> 0:02:47.680 He asked the pastor what it meant. 0:02:48.040 --> 0:02:51.000 The pastor explained that it was a direct line to Heaven. 0:02:51.280 --> 0:02:53.280 If you were willing to pay the price, you could 0:02:53.320 --> 0:02:57.520 talk directly to God. He continued visiting different churches, seeing 0:02:57.560 --> 0:03:00.959 the same gold phone, same sign. When he finally made 0:03:00.960 --> 0:03:03.960 it to Texas, he saw the phone, but the sign 0:03:04.040 --> 0:03:08.360 said calls twenty five cents per minute. Intrigued, he asked 0:03:08.400 --> 0:03:11.440 the pastor why it was so much cheaper. The pastor said, 0:03:11.520 --> 0:03:16.600 you're in Texas. Now, it's a local call, and all 0:03:16.639 --> 0:03:20.640 the Texans said, Amen, here we go, y'all. This is 0:03:20.720 --> 0:03:23.680 my Bible. I am what it says I am. I 0:03:23.760 --> 0:03:26.040 have what it says I have. I can do what 0:03:26.080 --> 0:03:28.760 it says I can do. Today I will be taught 0:03:28.840 --> 0:03:32.880 the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind is alert, 0:03:33.280 --> 0:03:36.160 my heart is receptive. I will never be the same. 0:03:36.560 --> 0:03:40.920 In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk 0:03:40.960 --> 0:03:45.920 to you today about staying positive toward yourself. The most 0:03:45.920 --> 0:03:51.000 important relationship you have is the relationship with yourself. Too 0:03:51.080 --> 0:03:54.680 many people don't like who they are. They focus on 0:03:54.760 --> 0:03:59.360 their faults and weaknesses. They relive their mistakes and failures. 0:04:00.000 --> 0:04:02.800 I wish they were different, if they were taller, had 0:04:02.840 --> 0:04:07.400 a better personality, look like their cousin. Instead of accepting 0:04:07.440 --> 0:04:11.120 themselves as a masterpiece made in the image of God. 0:04:11.520 --> 0:04:15.640 They're critical toward themselves and they wonder why they're not happy, 0:04:16.080 --> 0:04:18.080 why they don't have good relationships. 0:04:18.440 --> 0:04:20.960 It's because they don't like themselves. 0:04:21.640 --> 0:04:24.320 If you don't get along with you, you're not going 0:04:24.360 --> 0:04:28.400 to get along with other people. Jesus said, love your neighbor. 0:04:28.760 --> 0:04:32.320 As you love yourself, you can't love others if you 0:04:32.360 --> 0:04:35.720 don't first love yourself. The best thing you can do 0:04:35.800 --> 0:04:39.480 for your family, for your friends is be good to you. 0:04:40.200 --> 0:04:44.320 Be kind to you, Be merciful to you, be forgiving 0:04:44.400 --> 0:04:48.320 to you, be loving to you. You're good to others. 0:04:48.680 --> 0:04:51.960 Why aren't you good to you? You don't criticize your friend. 0:04:52.240 --> 0:04:56.680 Why are you criticizing you? You compliment your coworker. When's 0:04:56.720 --> 0:05:00.760 the last time you complimented yourself their talent? 0:05:01.120 --> 0:05:04.800 Why don't you admire your talent? Start being good to you. 0:05:05.400 --> 0:05:08.960 That's not being selfish, that's not arrogant, that's loving yourself. 0:05:10.040 --> 0:05:13.919 Too many people go through life against themselves, feeling wrong 0:05:14.080 --> 0:05:18.760 on the inside. I heard someone say I discovered the enemy. 0:05:19.400 --> 0:05:24.080 It was me. Are you your enemy? Are you defeating yourself? 0:05:24.640 --> 0:05:29.560 Limiting your dreams, sabotaging your relationships all because you don't 0:05:29.680 --> 0:05:34.039 like you. You have enough people and circumstances against you. 0:05:34.600 --> 0:05:37.880 Don't be against yourself when you wake up in the morning. 0:05:38.120 --> 0:05:40.920 Don't lie in bed and think of everything wrong with you, 0:05:41.440 --> 0:05:44.800 what you don't like about your looks, Relive your mistakes. 0:05:45.200 --> 0:05:48.400 Why didn't I finish college? I should be more disciplined. 0:05:48.560 --> 0:05:52.080 I lost my temper yesterday. Instead of focusing on what's 0:05:52.120 --> 0:05:54.720 wrong with you, start focusing. 0:05:54.240 --> 0:05:56.320 On what's right with you. 0:05:56.320 --> 0:05:59.599 You may have weaknesses, you've made mistakes, we all have, 0:06:00.279 --> 0:06:02.960 but there's a lot more right with you than there 0:06:03.040 --> 0:06:06.800 is wrong with you. Dwelling on the negative doesn't help 0:06:06.839 --> 0:06:11.200 you to do better. Beating yourself up from past mistakes. 0:06:10.839 --> 0:06:13.600 Doesn't move you forward. The better you. 0:06:13.520 --> 0:06:17.080 Feel about yourself, the better you'll do. The more you 0:06:17.240 --> 0:06:21.560 like yourself, the further you'll go. You can't give away 0:06:21.920 --> 0:06:25.680 what you don't have. If you're in turmoil on the inside, 0:06:26.120 --> 0:06:30.560 mad at yourself, critical, condemned, that's what you have to give. 0:06:31.279 --> 0:06:34.200 If you're hard on yourself, you'll be hard on others. 0:06:34.839 --> 0:06:38.520 If you don't forgive yourself, you won't forgive others. If 0:06:38.560 --> 0:06:41.240 you don't get along with you, how can you get 0:06:41.279 --> 0:06:44.360 along with your family. The best thing you can do 0:06:44.800 --> 0:06:48.719 is start being for you. When you love yourself, then 0:06:48.760 --> 0:06:51.880 you can love others. When you're kind to yourself, then 0:06:51.960 --> 0:06:53.239 you can be kind to others. 0:06:53.560 --> 0:06:55.720 It starts with you, well. 0:06:55.680 --> 0:06:59.760 Joel, I have all these faults, these weaknesses. Once I overcome, 0:07:00.200 --> 0:07:03.320 once I learned to control my temper, be more disciplined. 0:07:03.600 --> 0:07:06.240 Quit saying things that I shouldn't. Then I won't be 0:07:06.279 --> 0:07:10.920 down on myself. If you're waiting to perform perfectly before 0:07:10.960 --> 0:07:14.040 you feel good about who you are, you'll be waiting 0:07:14.120 --> 0:07:18.240 your whole life. You have to accept yourself while you're 0:07:18.280 --> 0:07:19.920 in the process of changing. 0:07:20.600 --> 0:07:24.000 God knew you would have weaknesses. He made you. You're 0:07:24.000 --> 0:07:25.520 not a surprise to him. 0:07:25.840 --> 0:07:28.840 He's not in heaven scratching his head thinking I didn't 0:07:28.880 --> 0:07:29.559 see that coming. 0:07:30.040 --> 0:07:32.520 They're a mess. What am I going to do? He 0:07:32.640 --> 0:07:34.720 knew there would be things you struggle with. 0:07:35.400 --> 0:07:38.480 You're not supposed to beat yourself up because you haven't 0:07:38.600 --> 0:07:42.520 arrived yet. I don't know one person that has arrived. 0:07:43.200 --> 0:07:46.480 There will always be some area we need to improve in. 0:07:47.120 --> 0:07:50.640 In fact, I believe God will leave weaknesses on purpose, 0:07:51.160 --> 0:07:54.640 so we'll have to depend on him. He's changing you 0:07:54.680 --> 0:07:58.720 from glory to glory. Learn to enjoy the glory that 0:07:58.760 --> 0:08:01.720 you're in right now. You may not be where you 0:08:01.800 --> 0:08:04.000 want to be, but you're not where you used to be. 0:08:04.800 --> 0:08:06.800 Instead of looking at how far you have to go, 0:08:07.080 --> 0:08:09.600 you need to look back and thank God for how 0:08:09.680 --> 0:08:11.000 far He's already brought you. 0:08:12.160 --> 0:08:14.040 It takes a mature person. 0:08:13.680 --> 0:08:17.480 To say I'm okay with where I am while I'm 0:08:17.520 --> 0:08:19.560 on the way to where God is taking me. 0:08:20.680 --> 0:08:23.080 One time, someone asked me what was. 0:08:23.040 --> 0:08:26.000 The one thing that I would change about myself if 0:08:26.000 --> 0:08:28.840 I could. And I don't mean this to sound arrogant, 0:08:29.200 --> 0:08:32.280 but I couldn't think of anything. And sure there are 0:08:32.320 --> 0:08:35.640 plenty of areas I need to improve, I need to change, 0:08:35.720 --> 0:08:39.480 I need to grow. My point is my weaknesses are 0:08:39.520 --> 0:08:42.640 not on the forefront of my mind. I'm not focused 0:08:42.679 --> 0:08:46.280 on my shortcomings, relive in my failures. 0:08:46.200 --> 0:08:48.239 Down on myself for past mistakes. 0:08:48.559 --> 0:08:53.040 I know I'm forgiven, I'm redeemed, I'm a masterpiece. 0:08:53.160 --> 0:08:55.439 I'm made in the image of Almighty God. 0:08:56.760 --> 0:08:59.959 Life is too short to go through it against your self. 0:09:01.000 --> 0:09:02.280 I say this with humility. 0:09:02.480 --> 0:09:04.960 I like myself. I like my looks. 0:09:05.400 --> 0:09:08.320 I like my personality. I like my sense of humor. 0:09:08.800 --> 0:09:11.520 I like my taste, I like my physique. I like 0:09:11.720 --> 0:09:15.080 who God made me to be. It's very powerful when 0:09:15.080 --> 0:09:20.080 you can say you like yourself, not I like myself. 0:09:20.400 --> 0:09:23.280 After I lose twenty pounds, after I learned to keep 0:09:23.280 --> 0:09:27.439 my mouth closed, after I've become more patient, God accepts 0:09:27.559 --> 0:09:32.800 and approves you right where you are, faults and all mistakes, shortcomings, 0:09:33.200 --> 0:09:35.560 not when you overcome, but right now. 0:09:36.280 --> 0:09:39.400 He knows you're on a journey. He's changing you. 0:09:39.480 --> 0:09:42.720 Little by little. He accepts you. Now you have to 0:09:42.760 --> 0:09:46.840 accept yourself. He approves you. You have to approve yourself. 0:09:47.679 --> 0:09:51.160 When our son Jonathan was fourteen years old, we were 0:09:51.160 --> 0:09:55.000 out playing basketball one day. We had played one on one, 0:09:55.520 --> 0:09:59.040 him against me for many years. I could always beat him, 0:09:59.400 --> 0:10:02.079 but he kept getting better and getting bigger. 0:10:02.559 --> 0:10:04.920 This game, for the first time, he beat me. 0:10:05.559 --> 0:10:08.120 I played hard, I did my best, but he won. 0:10:08.800 --> 0:10:10.960 I gave him a high five and told him he 0:10:11.040 --> 0:10:14.960 was grounded. But during that game, during that game, he 0:10:15.040 --> 0:10:17.160 got around me and went up for a shot. 0:10:17.760 --> 0:10:19.040 I timed it perfectly. 0:10:19.520 --> 0:10:22.440 I came from behind, jumped with all my might and 0:10:22.520 --> 0:10:25.680 blocked his shot. I mean I swatted it over into 0:10:25.720 --> 0:10:29.040 the bushes. I felt like Lebron James. It would have 0:10:29.040 --> 0:10:32.520 been a top ten on Sports Center. A few days later, 0:10:33.000 --> 0:10:35.280 we were in the gym playing with some other guys. 0:10:35.880 --> 0:10:39.520 Jonathan said, Dad, tell everyone what happened last week. 0:10:39.920 --> 0:10:42.439 I said, oh yeah. Jonathan went up for the shot, 0:10:42.640 --> 0:10:44.200 timed it perfectly. I blocked it. 0:10:44.320 --> 0:10:47.400 He said, no, Dad, tell them about how I beat you. 0:10:49.200 --> 0:10:52.840 The funny thing is that defeat wasn't on the front 0:10:52.840 --> 0:10:56.040 of my mind, that failure wasn't taking up the most 0:10:56.040 --> 0:10:59.080 spaced My victory, my accomplishment. 0:10:59.720 --> 0:11:03.440 Success is what stood out. It's all in how we 0:11:03.520 --> 0:11:04.440 train ourselves. 0:11:05.040 --> 0:11:09.600 Some people are focused on their losses, their flaws, their mistakes, 0:11:09.800 --> 0:11:13.040 the times they didn't measure up. That's why they're negative 0:11:13.080 --> 0:11:17.480 toward themselves. The wrong images are always playing. You need 0:11:17.520 --> 0:11:21.400 to focus on your victories. Focus on the times you succeeded. 0:11:21.920 --> 0:11:25.680 You resisted the temptation, You were disciplined, You felt like 0:11:25.760 --> 0:11:26.440 telling them. 0:11:26.320 --> 0:11:27.720 All, but you bit your tongue. 0:11:28.200 --> 0:11:30.960 You with the extra mile at work, you excelled in 0:11:31.000 --> 0:11:35.320 that presentation. Don't let the negative take up the most space. 0:11:35.679 --> 0:11:39.280 You can't become who you're created to be if you're 0:11:39.360 --> 0:11:43.640 negative towards yourself. And yes, there are forces trying to 0:11:43.640 --> 0:11:47.640 stop us. But I wonder if you are your enemies. 0:11:48.400 --> 0:11:52.520 Circumstances may be against you, people will come against you. 0:11:52.520 --> 0:11:56.200 You can overcome those things. The problem is if you 0:11:56.520 --> 0:11:58.320 are against you, if. 0:11:58.160 --> 0:12:02.520 You're negative towards yourself, that can keep you from your destiny. 0:12:02.840 --> 0:12:07.880 God has given us different gifts, different personalities, different temperaments. 0:12:08.440 --> 0:12:12.040 Sometimes we're fighting who we are, trying to be like 0:12:12.120 --> 0:12:12.839 someone else. 0:12:13.720 --> 0:12:16.200 You have to accept who God has made you to be. 0:12:16.960 --> 0:12:20.000 And sure, there are areas we can improve, in areas 0:12:20.040 --> 0:12:23.080 where we can grow, but there are certain things that 0:12:23.160 --> 0:12:27.600 are who we are. I'm naturally more quiet and reserved. 0:12:28.160 --> 0:12:31.200 My personality is laid back and easy going. I don't 0:12:31.240 --> 0:12:34.440 lose my temper I don't get upset often. That's all 0:12:34.559 --> 0:12:37.360 natural to me. Well, when my father went to be 0:12:37.440 --> 0:12:39.520 with the Lord, I knew I was supposed to step 0:12:39.640 --> 0:12:40.839 up and pastor. 0:12:40.520 --> 0:12:44.280 The church, but I didn't feel qualified. I had never ministered. 0:12:44.440 --> 0:12:48.199 I didn't have the training. I could get past those things. 0:12:48.720 --> 0:12:53.360 What I struggled with was my father had a strong personality. 0:12:53.480 --> 0:12:57.600 He was dynamic, forceful. I would see other ministers that 0:12:57.640 --> 0:13:01.160 were loud and excite the audience. I thought, I don't 0:13:01.160 --> 0:13:05.120 have those strengths. I can't minister like my father. When 0:13:05.160 --> 0:13:08.360 we compare, think we have to be like someone else. 0:13:08.760 --> 0:13:12.280 We can feel shortchanged, like we're at a disadvantage. 0:13:12.600 --> 0:13:15.520 I'm not as talented as they are. Here's the key. 0:13:16.040 --> 0:13:20.480 God has given you what you need to fulfill your destiny. 0:13:20.559 --> 0:13:22.800 If you needed a different personality. 0:13:23.160 --> 0:13:24.280 He would have given you one. 0:13:24.880 --> 0:13:29.920 If you needed different gifts, different strengths, different looks, different parents, 0:13:30.200 --> 0:13:33.600 it would have happened. Quit comparing and run your race. 0:13:34.600 --> 0:13:38.000 I was tempted to feel inferior, not strong enough. 0:13:38.520 --> 0:13:39.720 I had to tune. 0:13:39.400 --> 0:13:42.240 All that out and use what God had given me. 0:13:43.080 --> 0:13:48.120 I discovered my gifts fit me. My personality, my talent, 0:13:48.360 --> 0:13:53.280 my strengths, my temperament is right for my assignment. I 0:13:53.320 --> 0:13:57.160 didn't have to be loud, dynamic, forceful. That worked for 0:13:57.320 --> 0:13:59.560 my father, that's who he was. 0:14:00.120 --> 0:14:02.160 But God makes us individuals. 0:14:02.920 --> 0:14:06.480 You have to be comfortable in your own skin, comfortable 0:14:06.480 --> 0:14:07.800 in who God made you to be. 0:14:08.600 --> 0:14:10.920 Don't covet what someone else has. 0:14:11.200 --> 0:14:14.559 If you had their gifts, their personality, their looks, it 0:14:14.559 --> 0:14:15.560 wouldn't help you. 0:14:15.679 --> 0:14:19.320 It would hinder you. You are equipped for your race. 0:14:20.000 --> 0:14:23.800 You have the right personality, the right gifts, the right looks. 0:14:24.040 --> 0:14:27.040 You're the right height, you come from the right family. 0:14:27.520 --> 0:14:31.240 You weren't shortchanged. You're not at a disadvantage. You've been 0:14:31.320 --> 0:14:36.640 fearfully and wonderfully made. Walk in your anointing. Be confident 0:14:36.720 --> 0:14:39.680 with your gifts, Let your personality shine. 0:14:40.000 --> 0:14:42.640 It's not another person in this world. Like you. 0:14:43.440 --> 0:14:45.960 The enemy would love for you to go through life 0:14:46.040 --> 0:14:49.720 trying to be an imitation, copying someone else that you 0:14:49.840 --> 0:14:53.360 think is more attractive, more gifted, more successful. 0:14:53.640 --> 0:14:55.120 No, be you. 0:14:55.200 --> 0:14:58.640 Nobody can do you like you can do you. You're 0:14:58.680 --> 0:15:02.440 not annoying to be someone else. The anointing on your life, 0:15:02.520 --> 0:15:04.120 the favor, the blessing. 0:15:04.000 --> 0:15:07.040 Is to be you. You want activate the favor. 0:15:07.400 --> 0:15:09.800 You won't see the abundance if you're trying to be 0:15:09.960 --> 0:15:13.720 something that, you're not feeling wrong on the inside. 0:15:13.560 --> 0:15:17.400 Because you're not like someone else. I stepped up to minister, 0:15:17.920 --> 0:15:21.600 I wasn't like my father. I'm more calm, more laid back. 0:15:22.280 --> 0:15:25.560 What I thought was a weakness was actually a strength. 0:15:26.320 --> 0:15:29.840 People started watching and attending in record numbers. 0:15:30.280 --> 0:15:31.400 Half the people watch. 0:15:31.680 --> 0:15:33.960 They say they've never been to church, never listen to 0:15:34.000 --> 0:15:38.600 a minister on television. I wonder if you're fighting what 0:15:38.800 --> 0:15:40.360 makes you unique? 0:15:40.440 --> 0:15:42.880 Are you frustrated over what you think. 0:15:42.720 --> 0:15:46.240 Is a weakness when in fact it's a strength. Quit 0:15:46.320 --> 0:15:49.320 wishing you were something different and step in to who 0:15:49.400 --> 0:15:53.000 God made you to be. He didn't accidentally give you 0:15:53.040 --> 0:15:57.240 the wrong personality, make you too quiet, too outgoing, the 0:15:57.280 --> 0:16:00.840 wrong gifts. He matched you with your word, you have 0:16:01.000 --> 0:16:05.280 exactly what you need to fulfill your destiny. I have 0:16:05.320 --> 0:16:09.600 a friend that has a very strong personality. He's very kind, 0:16:09.880 --> 0:16:13.480 very talented, but he's type A, straight to the point, 0:16:13.760 --> 0:16:17.440 aggressive get it done. One day, he and his wife 0:16:17.520 --> 0:16:21.880 were having a disagreement. They were debating something. She finally said, 0:16:22.200 --> 0:16:25.760 why can't you be more like Joel? He said, excuse me, 0:16:25.960 --> 0:16:27.800 I think I'm supposed to be like Jesus. 0:16:28.320 --> 0:16:30.920 She said, that's fine, but why don't you start with Joel. 0:16:32.720 --> 0:16:35.560 We can always grow and improve. 0:16:35.360 --> 0:16:37.880 But you can't fight who God made you to be. 0:16:38.840 --> 0:16:40.560 Don't go your whole life. 0:16:40.600 --> 0:16:43.200 Wishing you were something different, wishing. 0:16:42.960 --> 0:16:46.040 You had a better personality, wish and you were more talented, 0:16:46.400 --> 0:16:49.640 wishing you were like your neighbor, when in fact, you're 0:16:49.680 --> 0:16:53.560 exactly who you're supposed to be. What you don't realize 0:16:53.640 --> 0:16:56.760 is half the time your neighbor is wishing they could 0:16:56.760 --> 0:17:00.400 be you. They see all the good things about about you. 0:17:00.920 --> 0:17:05.119 Do you what would happen if you would start loving yourself, 0:17:05.720 --> 0:17:09.800 accepting your gifts, not beating yourself up for mistakes, not 0:17:10.000 --> 0:17:14.720 down on yourself because of weaknesses, stay positive towards yourself. 0:17:15.760 --> 0:17:19.679 Most of us wouldn't criticize other people. You wouldn't go 0:17:19.800 --> 0:17:23.000 up to that person sitting next to you say you sure. 0:17:22.760 --> 0:17:26.240 Don't look good today. Those clothes don't do anything for you. 0:17:26.240 --> 0:17:27.959 You may think it, but you wouldn't say it. 0:17:29.080 --> 0:17:33.520 Why are you criticizing yourself? When you criticize you, you 0:17:33.560 --> 0:17:37.359 are criticizing God's creation. You might as well look up 0:17:37.400 --> 0:17:39.600 and say, God, you didn't do a very good job 0:17:39.640 --> 0:17:39.919 on me. 0:17:40.960 --> 0:17:42.280 He doesn't make mistakes. 0:17:42.840 --> 0:17:45.960 Don't say another negative thing about yourself. 0:17:46.680 --> 0:17:47.879 I'm so undisciplined. 0:17:48.160 --> 0:17:51.480 I can't do anything right. I don't have a good personality. 0:17:52.000 --> 0:17:54.400 I'll never lose this way. Never break the addiction. 0:17:54.680 --> 0:17:55.360 Zip that up. 0:17:56.119 --> 0:18:00.520 Quit being against yourself. You don't need another enemy. Be 0:18:00.640 --> 0:18:03.760 as good to yourself as you are to others. Be 0:18:03.960 --> 0:18:09.000 kind to yourself, Be merciful to yourself, Be loving to yourself. 0:18:09.600 --> 0:18:11.679 When you wake up in the morning and look in 0:18:11.680 --> 0:18:14.280 that mirror, instead of saying, oh man, I'm getting so old, 0:18:14.680 --> 0:18:17.480 look at all these wrinkles. It's all downhill from here. 0:18:17.840 --> 0:18:21.240 Try a different approach. Good morning, you, good looking thing. 0:18:21.760 --> 0:18:25.040 I'm made in the image of God. I'm a masterpiece. 0:18:25.440 --> 0:18:29.800 I have royal blood flowing through my Veins, friend of mine, 0:18:29.840 --> 0:18:34.840 pastors at church in another state. For years, every Sunday 0:18:35.160 --> 0:18:38.080 after service, he would call me and tell me how. 0:18:37.960 --> 0:18:40.639 Good my message was. He's very encouraging. 0:18:41.000 --> 0:18:43.960 He would go on and on, it was so effective here, 0:18:44.000 --> 0:18:46.359 and this part is going to help so many people, 0:18:46.640 --> 0:18:50.960 one compliment after another. Several years later, he came with 0:18:51.040 --> 0:18:53.760 me to this interview I was doing. It was a 0:18:53.880 --> 0:18:58.679 national program, live for an hour, really big deal. I 0:18:58.800 --> 0:19:01.760 was young and nervous and hadn't done much of that before. 0:19:02.440 --> 0:19:05.080 When I finished, we got in the car and the 0:19:05.080 --> 0:19:08.320 first thing I said was I did really good. I 0:19:08.400 --> 0:19:11.040 knew exactly what to say. I don't think I could 0:19:11.040 --> 0:19:14.640 have done it any better. He told me later that 0:19:14.720 --> 0:19:19.199 conversation changed his life. When he saw how positive I 0:19:19.440 --> 0:19:23.239 was toward myself, he realized what his problem was. 0:19:23.840 --> 0:19:27.040 He had never once told himself that he had done good. 0:19:27.880 --> 0:19:28.840 After his service. 0:19:29.080 --> 0:19:32.440 He'd always drive home discouraged, thinking about how he could 0:19:32.480 --> 0:19:35.720 have done it better, how he wasn't focused enough, how 0:19:35.720 --> 0:19:36.200 he could have. 0:19:36.200 --> 0:19:37.640 Explained it more clearly. 0:19:38.359 --> 0:19:42.359 In years of pastoring, he never left the church feeling good. 0:19:42.760 --> 0:19:46.080 He always thought about what he didn't do right. When 0:19:46.119 --> 0:19:48.480 he heard me come out and say I did good. 0:19:48.840 --> 0:19:52.800 A stronghold was broken in his thinking. He was great 0:19:52.800 --> 0:19:56.480 at complimenting others, but he never complimented himself. 0:19:57.119 --> 0:19:58.600 He trained himself. 0:19:58.200 --> 0:20:01.000 To see the flaws, the stumbles, what he didn't do 0:20:01.080 --> 0:20:01.680 his best. 0:20:02.359 --> 0:20:03.560 The scripture says. 0:20:03.560 --> 0:20:08.160 Our faith is made effective when we acknowledge everything good. 0:20:08.960 --> 0:20:13.520 You can't go around acknowledging the negative, your weaknesses, the 0:20:13.560 --> 0:20:16.120 times you didn't measure up, how you should have been 0:20:16.119 --> 0:20:19.480 more disciplined. Your faith is not going to be effective. 0:20:20.040 --> 0:20:22.960 You need to retrain your mind to see the good. 0:20:23.600 --> 0:20:26.480 Focus on what you did right. You didn't get everything 0:20:26.560 --> 0:20:29.439 done at the office, but you got something done. You 0:20:29.480 --> 0:20:32.320 haven't totally broke the addiction, but you're better than you 0:20:32.359 --> 0:20:35.320 were last year. You didn't spend all the time you 0:20:35.359 --> 0:20:38.040 wanted to with your children, but you got them ready 0:20:38.080 --> 0:20:39.560 for school, You got them. 0:20:39.480 --> 0:20:40.840 Dressed, you cook their dinner. 0:20:41.560 --> 0:20:44.400 If you're acknowledging the negative, you're not going to feel 0:20:44.440 --> 0:20:48.240 good about yourself. Start acknowledging all the good things that 0:20:48.280 --> 0:20:48.840 you're doing. 0:20:49.160 --> 0:20:50.919 That's what's going to help you do better. 0:20:51.800 --> 0:20:55.600 Being down on yourself not only keeps you from enjoying life, 0:20:55.760 --> 0:20:59.000 but it keeps you from rising higher. When I walk 0:20:59.040 --> 0:21:02.960 off this platform every time. Under my breath, I say, Lord, 0:21:03.200 --> 0:21:06.760 thank you for helping me to do great today. I 0:21:06.800 --> 0:21:09.800 know I don't do great every time, but in my mind, 0:21:09.920 --> 0:21:12.840 I do great. I walked off the other day and 0:21:13.080 --> 0:21:16.040 my children were back there. First thing I said was 0:21:16.240 --> 0:21:20.120 I nailed it. They started laughing. I don't mean this arrogant, 0:21:20.320 --> 0:21:24.720 but I celebrate myself. I compliment myself. I acknowledge what 0:21:24.880 --> 0:21:29.840 God has enabled me to do. I recognize it's his favor, 0:21:30.520 --> 0:21:34.159 his anointing, his blessing on my life. I have plenty 0:21:34.160 --> 0:21:36.879 of areas to improve in I know people that can 0:21:36.920 --> 0:21:37.760 do it much better. 0:21:37.920 --> 0:21:40.000 That's okay. I'm not running their race. 0:21:40.359 --> 0:21:44.719 I feel good about me. You have enough enemies in life. 0:21:45.400 --> 0:21:49.320 Don't be against yourself. You should be your biggest fan. 0:21:50.040 --> 0:21:54.399 Nobody should think better of you than you. Sometimes we're talking, 0:21:54.440 --> 0:21:56.520 Oh no, no, don't think good of yourself. 0:21:56.880 --> 0:21:58.240 Be humble, lowly. 0:21:58.520 --> 0:22:01.880 No. You have to recognize the creator of the universe 0:22:02.040 --> 0:22:07.600 breathed life into you. He's entrusted you with gifts, talents, abilities, 0:22:07.840 --> 0:22:11.160 He's crowned you with favor. Don't go through life thinking 0:22:11.280 --> 0:22:15.720 little of yourself, focused on your weaknesses, dwelling on your failures. 0:22:16.040 --> 0:22:20.760 Start acknowledging the good. Step into your potential, show off 0:22:20.760 --> 0:22:25.200 that talent. Don't be your enemy, be your asset. When 0:22:25.240 --> 0:22:28.520 you acknowledge the good. When you say, Lord, thank you 0:22:28.600 --> 0:22:31.440 for helping me to shine, thank you for your gifts, 0:22:31.680 --> 0:22:34.040 thank you for taking me where I've never dreamed, then 0:22:34.080 --> 0:22:35.879 your faith is made effective. 0:22:36.440 --> 0:22:39.320 You go to see new doors open and new opportunities. 0:22:39.760 --> 0:22:42.600 You may be good at complimenting others, but you need 0:22:42.640 --> 0:22:43.640 to get good. 0:22:43.440 --> 0:22:44.640 At complimenting your souf. 0:22:45.520 --> 0:22:47.399 You don't have to do it out loud, but in 0:22:47.440 --> 0:22:50.400 your mind. You need to say, that was good, got 0:22:50.400 --> 0:22:53.920 to work on time. That was good, I did excellent. 0:22:53.560 --> 0:22:57.000 On that presentation. That was good. Help my neighbor last night? 0:22:57.119 --> 0:23:00.600 That was good. Why don't you start giving yourself the 0:23:00.680 --> 0:23:03.840 credit that you give others. You told that friend they 0:23:03.880 --> 0:23:06.840 look good. Have you told yourself that you look good? 0:23:07.359 --> 0:23:12.040 You complimented your coworker, have you complimented yourself? Well, Joel, 0:23:12.119 --> 0:23:15.639 I would feel good about myself, but I've made these mistakes. 0:23:15.920 --> 0:23:19.639 If I had been more disciplined, the mistake didn't change 0:23:19.680 --> 0:23:20.280 your purpose. 0:23:21.119 --> 0:23:22.880 Don't let failures and. 0:23:22.920 --> 0:23:26.240 Times you got off course cause you to be against yourself. 0:23:26.880 --> 0:23:29.720 Be as merciful to you as you are to others. 0:23:30.359 --> 0:23:34.360 You have to learn to forgive yourself. The accuser will 0:23:34.359 --> 0:23:36.399 bring condemnation, guilt. 0:23:36.800 --> 0:23:37.840 You don't deserve it. 0:23:38.359 --> 0:23:41.600 He would love for you to feel not worthy, down 0:23:41.680 --> 0:23:46.120 on yourself. Don't fall into that trap, Paul sitting Colossians. 0:23:46.400 --> 0:23:47.400 God sees you. 0:23:47.400 --> 0:23:53.000 As holy, blameless, as without fault, not me, Joel. 0:23:53.160 --> 0:23:55.199 I have a lot of faults. I've made a lot 0:23:55.240 --> 0:23:56.439 of mistakes. We all have. 0:23:57.240 --> 0:23:59.880 But when you ask God to forgive you, he clear 0:24:00.160 --> 0:24:04.679 your record. He sees you without fault, and that's all good. 0:24:04.960 --> 0:24:09.480 But the real question is can you see yourself without fault? 0:24:09.640 --> 0:24:12.919 As long as you're beating yourself up, living condemned. 0:24:13.160 --> 0:24:15.760 The problem is you are your enemy. 0:24:16.400 --> 0:24:19.840 God has already said you're blameless, You're without fault. 0:24:20.440 --> 0:24:24.399 Get in agreement with him. Nothing you've done has stopped 0:24:24.440 --> 0:24:25.119 your destiny. 0:24:26.240 --> 0:24:29.600 Jesus knew that Peter would deny him, yet he still 0:24:29.680 --> 0:24:31.240 chose him as his disciple. 0:24:31.880 --> 0:24:33.480 Why didn't he just pick someone else. 0:24:34.040 --> 0:24:36.199 He knew he was going to fail, he knew he 0:24:36.280 --> 0:24:39.400 was hot tempered, he knew he used bad language. But 0:24:39.480 --> 0:24:43.080 God doesn't disqualify you because you have weaknesses. 0:24:43.640 --> 0:24:46.080 If he did, none of us would have a chance. 0:24:46.840 --> 0:24:50.120 When Jesus rose from the dead, he told Mary at 0:24:50.119 --> 0:24:53.720 the tomb, go tell the disciples that he was alive, 0:24:53.960 --> 0:24:56.160 and he specifically said, tell Peter. 0:24:57.240 --> 0:25:00.560 Peter could have lived, defeated, condemned. What was with me? 0:25:01.280 --> 0:25:04.000 But he made this choice that we all have to make. 0:25:04.480 --> 0:25:09.120 He forgave himself. He had mercy on himself. He didn't live. 0:25:09.480 --> 0:25:12.199 Looking in the rear view mirror thinking about how he 0:25:12.240 --> 0:25:16.440 had blown it. Peter went on to give the inaugural address. 0:25:16.640 --> 0:25:19.840 When the church was birthed, three thousand people came to 0:25:19.880 --> 0:25:20.520 know the Lord. 0:25:21.440 --> 0:25:24.879 All through the scripture, God used people that made mistakes. 0:25:25.640 --> 0:25:29.240 Abraham had a baby out of wedlock. David took a 0:25:29.280 --> 0:25:32.880 man's wife and had the man killed. Jonah ran from 0:25:32.920 --> 0:25:35.199 God wouldn't go to the city of Nineveh. 0:25:35.440 --> 0:25:36.399 What did God do. 0:25:36.600 --> 0:25:39.360 Rescue him and send him to the city of Nineveh. 0:25:40.119 --> 0:25:44.080 God doesn't disqualify us. The mistake we make is we 0:25:44.160 --> 0:25:49.399 disqualify ourselves. When Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the 0:25:49.440 --> 0:25:52.879 Ten Commandments, he left his brother erin in charge of 0:25:52.920 --> 0:25:56.800 the Israelites. He was gone so long the people said, 0:25:57.040 --> 0:25:59.320 we need a god to worship well. 0:25:59.440 --> 0:26:01.399 Erin knew that they worshiped Jehovah. 0:26:01.600 --> 0:26:04.239 He spoke for Moses when he told Pharaoh to let 0:26:04.320 --> 0:26:07.160 the people go. He had seen God delivered them from 0:26:07.200 --> 0:26:10.679 slavery part the Red Sea. But he told the people 0:26:10.840 --> 0:26:13.880 to bring their gold. He melted it down and they 0:26:13.920 --> 0:26:18.119 made a golden calf. The people started partying all kinds 0:26:18.119 --> 0:26:22.280 of revelry. When Moses came down the mountain, he saw 0:26:22.520 --> 0:26:25.440 Erin and all the people dancing. 0:26:25.080 --> 0:26:27.160 Naked, worshiping that idol. 0:26:27.840 --> 0:26:30.439 Here he's up there, having this holy moment, and in 0:26:30.480 --> 0:26:33.160 a few days the people have already fallen away. 0:26:34.160 --> 0:26:36.600 You would think God would be done with Erin. 0:26:37.160 --> 0:26:39.560 If you can't lead my people for a couple of weeks, 0:26:39.800 --> 0:26:42.760 if you're going to compromise that easily given to temptation, 0:26:43.080 --> 0:26:44.040 then good riddance. 0:26:44.680 --> 0:26:48.480 But God doesn't write us off. He chose Erin to 0:26:48.560 --> 0:26:50.040 be the first high priest. 0:26:50.960 --> 0:26:53.440 I can hear God saying to an angel, you see 0:26:53.440 --> 0:26:56.600 that guy down there that's dancing naked, the one that 0:26:56.720 --> 0:26:59.320 made the golden calf, He's going to be the one 0:26:59.359 --> 0:27:02.760 I choose to go into the Holy of Holies, the 0:27:02.800 --> 0:27:06.760 most sacred place of the Temple. Don't judge your life 0:27:07.080 --> 0:27:10.360 based off of one mistake, off of one season where 0:27:10.359 --> 0:27:14.520 you gave into temptation, one season where you compromise that 0:27:14.560 --> 0:27:17.879 didn't stop your destiny. The only way it will hold 0:27:17.920 --> 0:27:19.160 you back is if you. 0:27:19.119 --> 0:27:22.080 Live guilty, condemned, feeling washed up. 0:27:22.760 --> 0:27:26.240 God has forgiven you, but you have to forgive yourself. 0:27:26.840 --> 0:27:29.600 He's given you his mercy, but you have to have 0:27:29.720 --> 0:27:30.919 mercy on yourself. 0:27:31.760 --> 0:27:33.800 Well, Joel, you don't know what I did. 0:27:34.640 --> 0:27:38.359 You probably weren't dancing naked in public last week. You 0:27:38.440 --> 0:27:42.000 probably weren't worshiping a golden calf. Why are you writing 0:27:42.040 --> 0:27:45.200 yourself off? You don't know where God is taking you. 0:27:45.680 --> 0:27:48.760 Who would have thought Aaron would become the High Priest 0:27:49.160 --> 0:27:50.080 in a position of. 0:27:50.040 --> 0:27:51.280 Honor and influence. 0:27:51.600 --> 0:27:54.400 God has something still awesome in your future. 0:27:55.160 --> 0:27:57.520 Here's the question? Are you for you? 0:27:58.240 --> 0:28:01.800 Are you kind to yourself? Are you merciful to yourself? 0:28:02.320 --> 0:28:05.080 I know you love God, but do you love yourself? 0:28:05.760 --> 0:28:09.560 I know you'll forgive others, will you forgive yourself? I 0:28:09.600 --> 0:28:13.359 know you'll compliment your friends, but will you compliment yourself? 0:28:14.200 --> 0:28:15.880 How much further will you go? 0:28:16.320 --> 0:28:20.840 If you'll stay positive towards yourself? Quit beating yourself up 0:28:21.000 --> 0:28:25.240 for past mistakes. Quit dwelling on your falls, over analyzing 0:28:25.280 --> 0:28:26.120 your weaknesses. 0:28:26.400 --> 0:28:29.479 You are not a finished product. God is still working 0:28:29.520 --> 0:28:29.880 on you. 0:28:30.480 --> 0:28:35.280 I believe and declare today is a breakthrough day. Strongholds 0:28:35.320 --> 0:28:39.320 are coming down, Guilt is leaving poor self. Images are 0:28:39.360 --> 0:28:43.680 going You are holy, you are blameless, You are without faults. 0:28:43.920 --> 0:28:46.360 Now get ready, You're about to rise higher. 0:28:46.720 --> 0:28:51.880 Overcome obstacles, accomplish dreams, and become everything God created you 0:28:51.920 --> 0:28:52.280 to be. 0:28:52.760 --> 0:28:57.640 In Jesus' name, if you receive it, can you say amen? Today? 0:28:58.200 --> 0:29:01.360 I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus. 0:29:01.000 --> 0:29:03.400 The Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? 0:29:04.040 --> 0:29:07.720 Just say it, Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. 0:29:08.880 --> 0:29:12.880 Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. 0:29:14.120 --> 0:29:16.520 If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got 0:29:16.560 --> 0:29:19.680 born again. We'd love to send you some information on 0:29:19.720 --> 0:29:21.840 your new walk with the Lord. Just text the number 0:29:21.880 --> 0:29:24.480 on the screen or go to the website. I hope 0:29:24.480 --> 0:29:27.520 you'll get into a good Bible based church and keep 0:29:27.560 --> 0:29:28.800 God first place. 0:29:29.280 --> 0:29:31.880 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. 0:29:31.960 --> 0:29:34.760 I hope you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest 0:29:34.800 --> 0:29:38.280 podcast to keep you encouraged and inspired all through the week. 0:29:38.440 --> 0:29:40.680 Help us to continue to share the message of hope 0:29:40.680 --> 0:29:44.120 with those all around the world. Visit Joelosting dot com 0:29:44.240 --> 0:29:46.840 or click the link in the description to partner with 0:29:46.920 --> 0:29:47.480 us today. 0:29:47.720 --> 0:29:50.160 We hope you'll share this message with a friend and 0:29:50.240 --> 0:29:52.240 be sure to follow us on social media. 0:29:52.480 --> 0:29:55.800 We're praying for you. 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