Unclutter Your Mind

0:00:00.280 --> 0:00:04.040 Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for downloading our podcast. 0:00:04.320 --> 0:00:07.120 We enjoy spending this time with you. I hope you'll 0:00:07.160 --> 0:00:07.920 leave Inspire. 0:00:08.240 --> 0:00:11.160 Make sure you subscribe to get new messages every week. 0:00:11.360 --> 0:00:14.480 We appreciate your support. It helps keep the ministry going. 0:00:14.880 --> 0:00:27.040 Enjoy the message. 0:00:28.400 --> 0:00:30.960 God bless you, and thanks so much for letting us 0:00:31.000 --> 0:00:33.840 come into your homes. And if you're ever in our area, 0:00:34.080 --> 0:00:36.120 please stop by and be a part of one of 0:00:36.159 --> 0:00:39.839 our services. These are the finest people in all of Houston, Texas, 0:00:39.920 --> 0:00:42.680 right here in Lakewood. I promise you we will make 0:00:42.720 --> 0:00:44.960 you feel right at home. But thanks for tuning in, 0:00:45.000 --> 0:00:47.479 Thanks for coming out again. I like to start with 0:00:47.520 --> 0:00:51.280 something funny, and I heard about these three sisters, ages 0:00:51.400 --> 0:00:55.120 ninety six, ninety four, and ninety two, that lived together. 0:00:55.760 --> 0:00:58.200 One night, the ninety six year old draws a bath, 0:00:58.520 --> 0:01:02.360 She puts one foot in, and she hollers downstairs. I 0:01:02.360 --> 0:01:04.759 can't remember if I was getting in or getting out. 0:01:05.480 --> 0:01:07.679 The ninety four year old says, hang on, I'll come 0:01:07.760 --> 0:01:10.280 up and help you. She gets halfway up the stairs 0:01:10.280 --> 0:01:12.640 and stops, says, I can't remember if I was going 0:01:12.720 --> 0:01:15.679 up or coming down. The ninety two year old sugar 0:01:15.720 --> 0:01:18.479 head said boy, I hope I don't get that. Forgetful, 0:01:18.520 --> 0:01:21.720 and she knocked on wood for good luck. Then she said, 0:01:21.720 --> 0:01:23.640 hang on, I'll come help both of you as soon 0:01:23.680 --> 0:01:27.240 as I see who's at the door. Say it like 0:01:27.319 --> 0:01:30.120 you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what 0:01:30.240 --> 0:01:32.880 it says I am. I have what it says I have. 0:01:33.440 --> 0:01:36.040 I can do what it says I can do. Today 0:01:36.160 --> 0:01:39.520 I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 0:01:39.959 --> 0:01:43.360 My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 0:01:43.400 --> 0:01:47.200 never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 0:01:48.360 --> 0:01:51.720 I want to talk to you today about unclutter your mind. 0:01:52.400 --> 0:01:56.120 It's easy to go around worried about our future, stressed 0:01:56.120 --> 0:02:00.720 over our finances, frustrated with our boss, tempted to live, 0:02:00.760 --> 0:02:04.920 guilty because of past mistakes, and bitter over what didn't 0:02:05.000 --> 0:02:08.880 work out. We wonder why we don't enjoy life, why 0:02:08.919 --> 0:02:12.280 we're not passionate about dreams, why we can't sleep at night. 0:02:12.880 --> 0:02:17.360 It's because our mind is cluttered. You weren't created to 0:02:17.400 --> 0:02:22.040 live worried, guilty, bitter, upset. If you're going to reach 0:02:22.080 --> 0:02:26.040 your destiny, you have to clear out the clutter. You 0:02:26.080 --> 0:02:30.000 can't stop negative things from coming, but you can keep 0:02:30.040 --> 0:02:33.160 them from staying. You don't have to hold on to it. 0:02:33.680 --> 0:02:38.200 When we make mistakes, guilt will come, condemnation telling us 0:02:38.200 --> 0:02:41.320 how we don't measure up. You can hold on to it, 0:02:41.560 --> 0:02:44.520 go around down on yourself, or you can let it 0:02:44.600 --> 0:02:47.639 go and say Father, thank you that I am forgiven, 0:02:48.160 --> 0:02:51.080 thank you that I am redeemed. The past is over, 0:02:51.320 --> 0:02:54.840 this is a new day. I'm moving forward. When you 0:02:54.919 --> 0:02:58.399 go through a disappointment, something doesn't work out, you can 0:02:58.440 --> 0:03:01.880 hold on to it lived discourage, or you can let 0:03:01.919 --> 0:03:05.280 it go and say God, I know you have something better. 0:03:05.720 --> 0:03:08.200 I know your plans for me are for good. I 0:03:08.280 --> 0:03:12.040 know you're directing my steps. When the medical report is 0:03:12.080 --> 0:03:15.200 not good, when the contract doesn't go through, when you're 0:03:15.200 --> 0:03:18.240 in a legal situation, you can hold on to it, 0:03:18.720 --> 0:03:21.880 live worried, thinking what am I going to do? Or 0:03:21.919 --> 0:03:24.480 you can let it go and say God, I know 0:03:24.600 --> 0:03:27.760 you're fighting my battles. I know what's meant for harm. 0:03:28.000 --> 0:03:30.960 You're turning to my advantage. I may not see away, 0:03:31.200 --> 0:03:34.480 but God, I know you have a way. You can 0:03:34.600 --> 0:03:37.840 clear out the clutter. You can get rid of the 0:03:37.920 --> 0:03:41.440 negative things that are stealing your peace, taking your joy 0:03:41.760 --> 0:03:46.680 draining your energy. The scripture tells us to guard our minds. 0:03:47.200 --> 0:03:50.480 You have to be proactive when it comes to keeping 0:03:50.720 --> 0:03:54.760 your mind in peace, because all through the day there's clutter, 0:03:55.440 --> 0:03:58.920 there's noise, there's jealousy, there's hurts. There's a fence. They 0:03:59.000 --> 0:04:01.520 may come, but it don't have to hold on to it. 0:04:02.320 --> 0:04:06.000 I saw a documentary about hoarders. These are people that 0:04:06.120 --> 0:04:10.120 never throw anything away. And this one lady lived by 0:04:10.120 --> 0:04:14.200 herself in a two story house, but you couldn't get upstairs. 0:04:14.760 --> 0:04:18.839 She had it so piled full of trash, old newspapers, 0:04:19.200 --> 0:04:23.320 empty cereal boxes, cans from food that she had eaten 0:04:23.400 --> 0:04:27.040 thirty years ago. There was a small path to the kitchen, 0:04:27.360 --> 0:04:29.960 to the bathroom and to a little place to sleep, 0:04:30.400 --> 0:04:34.440 big walls of trash on each side. You can imagine 0:04:34.480 --> 0:04:38.279 how it smelled, how unhealthy it was. It got so 0:04:38.440 --> 0:04:42.480 bad the authorities came to do an intervention. They knocked 0:04:42.480 --> 0:04:44.760 on the front door, but she couldn't open it. They 0:04:44.800 --> 0:04:48.360 went around to the side door, barely squeezed in. At 0:04:48.360 --> 0:04:51.839 one point, this man picked up an old popsicle wrapper. 0:04:52.279 --> 0:04:54.840 Looked like there were thousands piled up in the corner. 0:04:55.320 --> 0:04:57.440 He asked if he could get rid of it. The 0:04:57.520 --> 0:05:00.520 lady told how that belonged to her children, that it 0:05:00.640 --> 0:05:03.440 meant something to her, and to put it back. It 0:05:03.520 --> 0:05:08.200 seemed obvious to everyone all she was doing was keeping trash, 0:05:08.640 --> 0:05:11.880 but she couldn't see it. She was so focused on 0:05:12.080 --> 0:05:17.960 holding onto everything she didn't realize it was limiting her life. Now, 0:05:17.960 --> 0:05:21.720 I wonder how many of us are hoarders in our minds. 0:05:22.320 --> 0:05:25.840 We're not letting anything go. There's so much clutter we 0:05:25.880 --> 0:05:30.359 can enjoy our life. God has you hearing this because 0:05:30.400 --> 0:05:33.520 he wants to do an intervention. He wants to help 0:05:33.560 --> 0:05:37.800 you clear out the worry, the offense, the guilt, the bitterness, 0:05:38.200 --> 0:05:42.320 those things that are cluttering your life. What's interesting is 0:05:42.360 --> 0:05:46.000 the authorities didn't make her throw away the trash. It 0:05:46.120 --> 0:05:49.360 was her choice, and eventually she decided to do it. 0:05:49.839 --> 0:05:53.359 But it wasn't easy. Everything in her said to hold 0:05:53.480 --> 0:05:56.640 on to it. That's all she had known for years. 0:05:57.040 --> 0:06:02.600 Living cluttered had become normal to her. Sometimes living worried 0:06:02.920 --> 0:06:05.960 has become normal to us. We've done it for years. 0:06:06.480 --> 0:06:10.000 Living guilty is what we're used to. We've gone around 0:06:10.040 --> 0:06:13.080 thinking we don't deserve to be blessed. We've made too 0:06:13.120 --> 0:06:17.200 many mistakes. We've let that recording place so long that 0:06:17.279 --> 0:06:22.200 we've accepted it. Or maybe living inferior, feeling less than. 0:06:22.800 --> 0:06:26.200 Perhaps that's how you were raised. Thoughts have always told 0:06:26.240 --> 0:06:29.760 you you're not that talented, you're not attractive, you don't 0:06:29.800 --> 0:06:33.200 have a good personality. We didn't know any better. We 0:06:33.320 --> 0:06:37.440 believe those lies, and now our mind is cluttered. The 0:06:37.480 --> 0:06:40.960 good news is this is your day for an intervention. 0:06:41.560 --> 0:06:45.200 It is time to clear out the clutter those thoughts 0:06:45.279 --> 0:06:47.600 that are telling you you're not up to par. You 0:06:47.640 --> 0:06:50.599 need to say no, thank you. I am fearfully and 0:06:50.800 --> 0:06:54.960 wonderfully made. I have royal blood flowing through my veins. 0:06:55.120 --> 0:06:58.560 I'm wearing a crown of favor. Clear out the negative. 0:06:58.960 --> 0:07:02.719 You have enough peace. People in life against you, don't 0:07:02.720 --> 0:07:06.680 be against yourself. You've been made in the image of 0:07:06.839 --> 0:07:11.280 Almighty God. God doesn't make any mistakes. He didn't make 0:07:11.320 --> 0:07:15.720 you faulty. He calls you a masterpiece, a prized possession. 0:07:16.520 --> 0:07:22.080 My challenge, don't say another negative word about yourself. Quit 0:07:22.280 --> 0:07:25.400 dwelling on those thoughts telling you what you're not. You 0:07:25.440 --> 0:07:28.680 are exactly how you're supposed to be. You have been 0:07:28.880 --> 0:07:33.600 wonderfully made. Now get in agreement with God. All through 0:07:33.640 --> 0:07:36.920 the day, this recording should be playing in our mind. 0:07:37.360 --> 0:07:41.440 I'm a masterpiece, I'm one of a kind. I'm talented, 0:07:41.760 --> 0:07:47.160 I'm attractive, I'm favored, I'm empowered. I have seeds of greatness. 0:07:48.000 --> 0:07:51.080 When you dwell on what God says about you, it 0:07:51.120 --> 0:07:55.640 will automatically clear out the clutter. Fear can't stay where 0:07:55.680 --> 0:08:00.240 faith is. Discouragement can't stay where hope is. Guilt can't 0:08:00.120 --> 0:08:04.480 stay where forgiveness is. Mediocrity can't stay where greatness is. 0:08:05.200 --> 0:08:08.920 Program your mind with what God says about you. But 0:08:09.000 --> 0:08:12.280 this lady had a beautiful house. She couldn't enjoy it. 0:08:12.760 --> 0:08:16.360 She couldn't get upstairs because of the trash. In the 0:08:16.440 --> 0:08:19.880 same way, if you don't clear out the clutter, it 0:08:19.920 --> 0:08:23.760 will keep you from going to new levels. Worry we'll 0:08:23.840 --> 0:08:27.560 keep you from rising higher. Living guilty will keep you 0:08:27.640 --> 0:08:32.160 from pursuing dreams. Going around defended. Bitter will keep you 0:08:32.200 --> 0:08:35.800 from new opportunities, won't you? All these people hurt me, 0:08:36.320 --> 0:08:38.760 they did me wrong. That's why I'm bitter. That's why 0:08:38.760 --> 0:08:42.679 I'm upset. That happened twenty seven years ago. Why are 0:08:42.720 --> 0:08:45.360 you still holding on to it? Why are you still 0:08:45.440 --> 0:08:48.920 sour over the person that walked away, still upset over 0:08:48.960 --> 0:08:51.920 how you were raised, still bitter over that company that 0:08:52.000 --> 0:08:55.880 lets you go. Don't be a hoarder. Don't let that 0:08:56.120 --> 0:09:00.000 poison your future. They hurt you once, don't let them 0:09:00.360 --> 0:09:04.760 continue to hurt you by holding onto it. Recognize that's 0:09:04.840 --> 0:09:09.480 cluttering your mind, that's limiting your vision. And I'm not 0:09:09.679 --> 0:09:14.559 saying what they did wasn't hurtful. I'm not making excuses 0:09:14.679 --> 0:09:17.880 for their behavior. But as long as you hold on 0:09:17.920 --> 0:09:21.600 to it, you're giving them your power. You're letting them 0:09:21.679 --> 0:09:26.760 control you. We only have so much emotional energy each day. 0:09:27.440 --> 0:09:29.960 Do you know how much energy it takes to hold 0:09:30.000 --> 0:09:33.320 a grudge, to be bitter, to go around trying to 0:09:33.360 --> 0:09:37.320 pay people back. That is valuable energy you need for 0:09:37.440 --> 0:09:42.040 your dreams, for your goals, for your children. God said 0:09:42.520 --> 0:09:46.200 he will give you beauty for ashes. But here's the key. 0:09:46.800 --> 0:09:49.560 You have to let go of the ashes before you 0:09:49.679 --> 0:09:54.520 receive the beauty. You can't go around hurt, living, offended, 0:09:54.840 --> 0:09:57.760 upset and see the new things God has in store. 0:09:58.400 --> 0:10:01.240 You have to clear out the club. That's what makes 0:10:01.320 --> 0:10:04.760 room for God to give you the beauty. The mistake 0:10:04.840 --> 0:10:08.240 we make sometimes is we think we have to get even, 0:10:08.640 --> 0:10:12.240 we have to pay people back. No, that's not your job. 0:10:12.600 --> 0:10:15.760 If you'll turn it over to God, he'll be your vindicator. 0:10:16.280 --> 0:10:20.520 He'll bring justice into your life. He saw every hurt, 0:10:21.200 --> 0:10:25.120 every wrong, every person that took advantage of you. I've 0:10:25.200 --> 0:10:29.960 learned God will vindicate you better than you can vindicate yourself. 0:10:30.920 --> 0:10:35.240 David said, God will prepare a table before you in 0:10:35.360 --> 0:10:39.720 the presence of your enemies. That means when God brings 0:10:39.760 --> 0:10:43.120 you out those people that did you wrong, the people 0:10:43.120 --> 0:10:47.240 that tried to hold you back, they will see you promoted, honored, 0:10:47.440 --> 0:10:50.720 in a position of influence. God is not going to 0:10:50.800 --> 0:10:54.280 vindicate you in private. He's going to do it in public, 0:10:54.880 --> 0:10:59.719 so your enemies see you blessed, favored, successful. When my 0:10:59.800 --> 0:11:02.120 dad went to be with the Lord and I stepped 0:11:02.160 --> 0:11:06.000 up to pastor the church, I was very insecure. I 0:11:06.080 --> 0:11:10.240 had never ministered before. One Sunday, right after I first 0:11:10.280 --> 0:11:14.240 started speaking, I was walking through the front lobby and 0:11:14.320 --> 0:11:18.760 I overheard these two older ladies talking. One said he's 0:11:18.800 --> 0:11:21.840 not as good as his father. The other answered, yeah, 0:11:21.920 --> 0:11:24.480 I don't think he's going to make it. That was 0:11:24.559 --> 0:11:27.080 the last thing I needed to hear. It was like 0:11:27.160 --> 0:11:31.120 my worst nightmare. I was tempted to shrink back and 0:11:31.200 --> 0:11:33.840 think I can't do this, Nobody's going to listen to me. 0:11:34.559 --> 0:11:37.880 But I felt something rise up in me so strongly, 0:11:38.320 --> 0:11:40.880 I thought, who are they to tell me what I 0:11:40.920 --> 0:11:45.440 can't do? They didn't breathe life into me. They don't 0:11:45.480 --> 0:11:49.000 determine my destiny. They didn't know me before I was 0:11:49.120 --> 0:11:52.559 formed in my mother's wound. I don't need their approval. 0:11:52.920 --> 0:11:55.120 I don't have to have them to be for me. 0:11:55.840 --> 0:11:58.240 I did what I'm asking you to do. I cleared 0:11:58.280 --> 0:12:02.440 out the clutter. Their voices came to my mind. I said, 0:12:02.520 --> 0:12:05.360 no thanks. I am well able, I am strong in 0:12:05.400 --> 0:12:07.960 the Lord. God being for me is more than the 0:12:08.000 --> 0:12:12.080 world being against me. And they still may not like me, 0:12:12.480 --> 0:12:15.280 but that's okay. When they turn on the television, they 0:12:15.320 --> 0:12:18.760 probably see me. When they're flipping through serious acim they 0:12:18.840 --> 0:12:22.360 might hear me. What was that God preparing a table 0:12:22.760 --> 0:12:27.600 in the presence of my enemies When we were trying 0:12:27.640 --> 0:12:32.199 to acquire this building, the former Compact Center. A well 0:12:32.240 --> 0:12:35.520 known business leader in Houston told a friend of mine 0:12:35.800 --> 0:12:38.760 that it would be a cold day in hell before 0:12:38.840 --> 0:12:42.320 Lakewood got the Compact Center. He was very against us. 0:12:42.920 --> 0:12:46.640 The company we were up against was much bigger, had 0:12:46.720 --> 0:12:50.640 many more resources. But God stepped in and made things 0:12:50.679 --> 0:12:52.880 happen that we never could make happen. And here we 0:12:52.920 --> 0:12:57.560 are today. But I can imagine every time that man 0:12:57.679 --> 0:13:01.200 drives down the freeway sees our building with the big 0:13:01.280 --> 0:13:04.560 lakewood sign, he must think it's a cold day in hell, 0:13:04.640 --> 0:13:09.720 because here we are. What was that God honoring us 0:13:10.000 --> 0:13:13.600 in front of the opposition. Now I'm not gloating over it, 0:13:14.040 --> 0:13:18.040 not too much anyway, But here's my point. God knows 0:13:18.160 --> 0:13:21.760 how to vindicate you. It would be one thing if 0:13:21.760 --> 0:13:24.960 he did it in private, we would be grateful. But 0:13:25.080 --> 0:13:28.280 God is going to do it in public. He's preparing 0:13:28.320 --> 0:13:32.720 a table in the presence of your enemies. That means 0:13:33.040 --> 0:13:36.440 when you have opposition, when you have trouble and things 0:13:36.520 --> 0:13:40.200 come against you, God has a table there. The key 0:13:40.320 --> 0:13:44.240 is to don't fight with the opposition. Don't live worried, upset, 0:13:44.559 --> 0:13:48.360 stressed out. No, take a seat at the table God 0:13:48.400 --> 0:13:52.480 has prepared. If you will stay in rest, then God 0:13:52.559 --> 0:13:56.120 will go to work. But when you work, God rest 0:13:56.720 --> 0:14:00.480 as long as you're uptight, worried, trying to make it happen. 0:14:00.679 --> 0:14:03.800 Only in your own strength. It will limit what God 0:14:03.840 --> 0:14:08.240 will do. The Psalms said, be still and know that 0:14:08.320 --> 0:14:12.160 he is God. Clear out the worry, clear out the negativity. 0:14:12.400 --> 0:14:15.120 Live from a place of faith, a place of peace. 0:14:15.640 --> 0:14:18.720 God has you in the palm of his hand. Nothing 0:14:18.760 --> 0:14:21.800 you're facing is a surprise to him. He said that 0:14:21.840 --> 0:14:26.160 the Israelites stand still, and you will see the deliverance 0:14:26.200 --> 0:14:29.520 of the Lord. He wasn't just talking about physically. He's 0:14:29.560 --> 0:14:33.240 talking about in their mind, in their attitude, in their spirit. 0:14:34.080 --> 0:14:38.600 You may have plenty of good reasons to live upset, worried, 0:14:38.840 --> 0:14:42.000 not able to sleep at night. But when you're in peace, 0:14:42.400 --> 0:14:45.920 that's a position of power. When you're in peace, you're 0:14:46.000 --> 0:14:49.920 showing God that you trust him. Anyone can stay in 0:14:49.960 --> 0:14:54.160 faith when everything's going our way. The test comes when 0:14:54.200 --> 0:14:57.720 the contract doesn't go through, when your child is off course, 0:14:58.000 --> 0:15:01.120 when the medical report is not good. It's easy to 0:15:01.240 --> 0:15:05.320 let the clutter in. No, be still, that's the time 0:15:05.640 --> 0:15:08.600 to show God that you trust him, not just with 0:15:08.680 --> 0:15:12.760 your words, but with your actions. See, the enemy's main 0:15:12.960 --> 0:15:17.360 target is our mind. That's the control center for our life. 0:15:17.560 --> 0:15:21.200 If he can keep it cluttered filled with doubt, what 0:15:21.240 --> 0:15:23.840 if it doesn't work out, Joel, What if my health 0:15:23.880 --> 0:15:26.520 doesn't improve, What if I don't meet the right person. 0:15:27.080 --> 0:15:30.320 As long as our mind is cluttered, it keeps God 0:15:30.360 --> 0:15:34.440 from turning it around. God works where there's faith. In 0:15:34.520 --> 0:15:37.840 Second Chronicles thirty two, the king of Syria had a 0:15:37.960 --> 0:15:42.680 huge army. They had invaded that whole region, conquering all 0:15:42.720 --> 0:15:46.680 these large fortified cities by tearing down the walls and 0:15:46.800 --> 0:15:51.120 capturing the people. The city of Jerusalem was next in line. 0:15:51.840 --> 0:15:56.120 Word quickly spread throughout the Israelite camp. The people begin 0:15:56.240 --> 0:15:59.280 to panic, so worried, thinking what are we going to do? 0:16:00.000 --> 0:16:04.200 So much bigger than us. King Hezekiah said to the 0:16:04.280 --> 0:16:09.520 Israelites in verse seven, don't be afraid of this mighty army, 0:16:09.960 --> 0:16:14.080 for there is a power far greater on our side. 0:16:14.200 --> 0:16:17.240 They may have a great army, but they are just men. 0:16:17.720 --> 0:16:20.880 We have the Lord, our God, to fight our battles 0:16:20.880 --> 0:16:26.240 for us. When you face big enemies, big oppositions, you 0:16:26.360 --> 0:16:30.280 have to remind yourself our God is bigger than the cancer. 0:16:30.920 --> 0:16:34.040 He's bigger than the addiction. He's bigger than the people 0:16:34.120 --> 0:16:36.800 that are trying to stop you. The way to stay 0:16:36.920 --> 0:16:40.520 in faith is don't talk about how big the problem is. 0:16:40.920 --> 0:16:44.240 Talk about how big your God is. He flung stars 0:16:44.240 --> 0:16:48.400 into space, He spoke worlds into existence. He healed my 0:16:48.520 --> 0:16:52.360 mother of terminal cancer. He gave us the compact center. 0:16:52.720 --> 0:16:56.720 The good news is right now, he's breathing in your direction. 0:16:57.360 --> 0:17:01.120 He's pushing back forces of darkness. He's lining up the 0:17:01.120 --> 0:17:05.040 breaks that you need. Don't let fear clutter your mind. 0:17:05.560 --> 0:17:08.840 Don't let doubt keep you from your miracle. Don't let 0:17:08.880 --> 0:17:12.359 people talk you out of your dreams. The King of 0:17:12.440 --> 0:17:16.639 Syria sent a letter to the Israelites threatening them. It's said, 0:17:17.000 --> 0:17:20.479 we've conquered all these cities, We've captured all these people. 0:17:20.960 --> 0:17:24.040 None of their God saved them. What makes you think 0:17:24.080 --> 0:17:27.440 your God is going to save you. The enemy will 0:17:27.480 --> 0:17:31.600 always try to defeat you first in your thoughts, things 0:17:31.640 --> 0:17:34.399 like you'll never get well. Your grandmother died of the 0:17:34.440 --> 0:17:38.000 same thing. You'll never break the addiction, that problem will 0:17:38.040 --> 0:17:41.720 never turn around. Don't believe those lies. He wouldn't be 0:17:41.800 --> 0:17:44.720 telling you that unless he knew it was on the way. 0:17:45.560 --> 0:17:49.280 Do like Hezekiah. Yes, this problem may be big, but 0:17:49.400 --> 0:17:52.440 I know a secret. My God is much bigger. He's 0:17:52.480 --> 0:17:56.080 on the throne, he has the final say. What he's 0:17:56.119 --> 0:18:02.000 started in my life, he will finish. Hezekiah not been 0:18:02.160 --> 0:18:05.959 proactive to guard his mind and to speak victory to 0:18:06.000 --> 0:18:10.359 the people. They were to all panic, lived in fear. Instead, 0:18:10.760 --> 0:18:14.680 they stayed in peace. Verse twenty one says God sent 0:18:14.760 --> 0:18:19.640 an angel that destroyed the whole enemy army. That king 0:18:19.720 --> 0:18:24.600 went home in disgrace, returned to his land. God knows 0:18:24.880 --> 0:18:27.960 how to vindicate you. He knows how to turn the 0:18:28.080 --> 0:18:32.400 problem around. One angel wiped out the whole bunch. Now 0:18:32.480 --> 0:18:35.719 stay in faith. When you're attempted to worry, turn it 0:18:35.760 --> 0:18:39.080 into worship. Father, Thank you that your angels are working 0:18:39.160 --> 0:18:41.960 in my life. Thank you that no weapon formed against 0:18:42.040 --> 0:18:45.080 me will prosper. Thank you that the trap the enemy 0:18:45.160 --> 0:18:48.679 set for me, they will fall in themselves. If we're 0:18:48.720 --> 0:18:50.960 going to keep the clutter out, we have to know 0:18:51.240 --> 0:18:56.480 what's our job and what's God's job. Sometimes we're frustrated 0:18:56.840 --> 0:18:59.640 because we're trying to do what only God can do. 0:19:00.480 --> 0:19:04.160 You can't make yourself get well, Make somebody do what's right, 0:19:04.440 --> 0:19:08.520 make a door open. Our part is to believe. Our 0:19:08.600 --> 0:19:11.639 part is to stay in faith and then let God 0:19:11.720 --> 0:19:15.800 do his part. Trust him to work it out. Hezekiah 0:19:15.840 --> 0:19:18.560 could have thought I know God's on my side. I'm 0:19:18.600 --> 0:19:21.680 going to go attack this army, show them who they're 0:19:21.680 --> 0:19:25.080 dealing with. We wouldn't be reading about it. I'm not 0:19:25.160 --> 0:19:28.320 saying to always sit back and be passive, but there 0:19:28.320 --> 0:19:32.119 are some battles you're not supposed to find. Let God 0:19:32.320 --> 0:19:35.800 fight them for you. Even with the Compact Center, we 0:19:35.920 --> 0:19:39.200 had a three year legal battle, and yes we did 0:19:39.240 --> 0:19:43.360 what we could, but we recognize God, this is too 0:19:43.359 --> 0:19:46.960 big for us. Only you can make this happen. So 0:19:47.080 --> 0:19:50.399 we're going to be still and know that you are God. 0:19:51.280 --> 0:19:55.040 Like with Hezekiah, God stepped in and made things happen 0:19:55.160 --> 0:19:58.240 that we could have never made happen. But while you're 0:19:58.280 --> 0:20:02.280 waiting for things to change, that's a test. It's easy 0:20:02.320 --> 0:20:05.919 to live worried, focused on your problem, thinking about how 0:20:05.960 --> 0:20:09.439 it's never going to work out or clear out that clutter. 0:20:10.320 --> 0:20:14.320 Isaiah said, if you'll keep your mind stayed on him, 0:20:14.880 --> 0:20:18.480 God will keep you in perfect peace. Our part is 0:20:18.520 --> 0:20:20.960 to keep our mind on him. God. Thank you that 0:20:21.000 --> 0:20:23.720 you're in control. Thank you that you are for me. 0:20:24.119 --> 0:20:26.800 Thank you that your destiny for my life will come 0:20:26.840 --> 0:20:29.879 to pass. If we do our part, God will do 0:20:30.000 --> 0:20:33.159 his part. He'll not only keep you in peace, but 0:20:33.240 --> 0:20:36.679 he'll get you to where you're supposed to be. In 0:20:36.760 --> 0:20:40.760 the scripture, there were three Hebrew teenagers that were about 0:20:40.800 --> 0:20:44.400 to be thrown into a fiery furnace because they wouldn't 0:20:44.440 --> 0:20:48.160 bow down to the king's golden idol. The king threatened 0:20:48.200 --> 0:20:51.560 them one last time. They said, King, we're still not 0:20:51.640 --> 0:20:55.160 going to bow down. We know our God will deliver us. 0:20:55.680 --> 0:20:59.200 They had this attitude of faith, but what they said 0:20:59.320 --> 0:21:02.320 next was the real key. They went on to say, 0:21:02.520 --> 0:21:06.440 even if he doesn't deliver us, we're still not going 0:21:06.480 --> 0:21:11.120 to bow down. That's a powerful position. When you can 0:21:11.160 --> 0:21:14.480 say I'm going to stay in peace if it works 0:21:14.480 --> 0:21:17.200 out my way, and I'm going to stay in peace 0:21:17.359 --> 0:21:20.440 if it doesn't work out my way, then you take 0:21:20.480 --> 0:21:24.480 away all the power of the enemy. If you're only 0:21:24.560 --> 0:21:27.840 going to be happy if it happens your way, you're 0:21:27.880 --> 0:21:31.399 setting yourself up for disappointment. Why don't you take this 0:21:31.520 --> 0:21:34.640 next step? God, This is what i'm believing for, this 0:21:34.720 --> 0:21:37.320 is what I want. But God, you know what's best 0:21:37.320 --> 0:21:40.200 for me. And if it doesn't happen my way, I'm 0:21:40.240 --> 0:21:42.639 still going to stay in peace. I'm still going to 0:21:42.720 --> 0:21:44.919 have a song of praise. I'm still going to be 0:21:44.960 --> 0:21:49.040 good to people. That's what allows God to do amazing things. 0:21:49.680 --> 0:21:52.240 But there's a lot of noise these days. There's a 0:21:52.280 --> 0:21:58.159 lot of drama things that we can get pulled into. Worry, conflict, jealousy. 0:21:59.040 --> 0:22:02.119 That may be all around us, but it doesn't have 0:22:02.240 --> 0:22:06.240 to get in us. Pay attention to what you're allowing 0:22:06.400 --> 0:22:11.000 in your spirit. Just because there's conflict with your relatives 0:22:11.359 --> 0:22:15.120 doesn't mean it has to get in you. Don't take that, babe, 0:22:15.200 --> 0:22:18.359 Stay on the high road. Maybe at the office you 0:22:18.440 --> 0:22:22.840 could be frustrated people are playing politics, not treating you right. 0:22:23.320 --> 0:22:27.280 It's easy to let that sour your day. Come home negative, 0:22:27.560 --> 0:22:31.800 no clear out that clutter. Your time is too valuable 0:22:32.160 --> 0:22:35.879 to live it upset, bitter. This day is a gift 0:22:36.040 --> 0:22:38.720 from God. Once we live it, we can never get 0:22:38.760 --> 0:22:43.160 it back. And sometimes we've become so hooked on drama, 0:22:43.880 --> 0:22:48.240 so used to living uptight, worrying about this situation, putting 0:22:48.280 --> 0:22:52.080 out this fire, fighting with this relative. We've forgotten what 0:22:52.160 --> 0:22:55.440 it's like to be in peace, to not have all 0:22:55.480 --> 0:22:59.080 that clutter. That is not the way God created us. 0:23:00.080 --> 0:23:03.480 In the garden of Eden, before they ate the forbidden fruit, 0:23:03.760 --> 0:23:10.160 there wasn't any noise, any drama, any jealousy, backstabbing politics. 0:23:10.320 --> 0:23:14.359 It was peaceful, joyful, And no it's not like that now. 0:23:14.600 --> 0:23:17.560 But you can choose to live from a place of peace. 0:23:18.119 --> 0:23:22.160 You don't have to let the outside get on the inside. 0:23:22.359 --> 0:23:26.439 Maybe you've become comfortable with the clutter like this lady. 0:23:26.480 --> 0:23:30.000 You don't recognize that it's limiting your vision, that it 0:23:30.080 --> 0:23:33.960 is blocking your potential. Not only that it doesn't smell good. 0:23:34.680 --> 0:23:39.320 Worry doesn't look good on you. Living guilty, bitter, offended, angry. 0:23:39.840 --> 0:23:43.159 That is not your style. Clear out that clutter and 0:23:43.240 --> 0:23:47.040 you'll step into new levels. I read where a sheep 0:23:47.440 --> 0:23:51.280 won't give birth in a noisy place. When it's about 0:23:51.280 --> 0:23:54.360 to go into labor, it will leave the flock, get 0:23:54.359 --> 0:23:57.800 away from all the commotion, all the busyness, and find 0:23:57.840 --> 0:24:02.120 a quiet place. In that peace full atmosphere, it will 0:24:02.119 --> 0:24:06.119 give birth. In the same way, you won't give birth 0:24:06.160 --> 0:24:09.840 to your dreams in a noisy place. You won't give 0:24:09.880 --> 0:24:13.200 birth to that breakthrough you're believing for. If you're worried, 0:24:13.359 --> 0:24:16.560 if your mind is stressed, you won't give birth to 0:24:16.600 --> 0:24:21.879 your potential. If your mind is full of hurts, regrets, bitterness. 0:24:22.520 --> 0:24:26.320 You may wonder why God is not doing anything. Perhaps 0:24:26.359 --> 0:24:29.960 He's waiting for you to find a quiet place. And 0:24:30.040 --> 0:24:33.000 it may be noisy all around you, but in your 0:24:33.119 --> 0:24:36.320 mind you can be in peace when you know God 0:24:36.400 --> 0:24:39.880 is in control, when you know he's directing your steps, 0:24:40.119 --> 0:24:43.479 when you know nothing can stand against him, then you 0:24:43.520 --> 0:24:48.000 can live out of a quiet place. David said, God 0:24:48.080 --> 0:24:52.040 makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads 0:24:52.119 --> 0:24:55.679 me by the still waters. You could think David had 0:24:55.720 --> 0:24:59.239 an easy life. Everything must have gone his way he 0:24:59.280 --> 0:25:02.800 lived in the green pastures. It was just the opposite. 0:25:02.920 --> 0:25:07.040 David's life was full of difficulties. People trying to stop him, 0:25:07.560 --> 0:25:10.600 armies trying to defeat him. His own family didn't believe 0:25:10.600 --> 0:25:14.199 in him. Yet he said I lie down in green 0:25:14.400 --> 0:25:19.240 pastures by still waters. He wasn't just talking about physically, 0:25:19.680 --> 0:25:23.280 he was talking about in his mind. Despite all that 0:25:23.400 --> 0:25:26.840 came against him, he chose to live in a place 0:25:26.920 --> 0:25:30.919 of peace. God is saying to you, come into the 0:25:30.960 --> 0:25:35.280 green pastures, come by the still waters. You don't have 0:25:35.400 --> 0:25:38.640 to carry all that clutter. It's time to get rid 0:25:38.680 --> 0:25:43.200 of the offense, the hurts, the guilt, the anger. There 0:25:43.240 --> 0:25:46.520 are some new things God wants you to birth. You 0:25:46.600 --> 0:25:49.600 know where You're going to birth them, by the still waters. 0:25:50.040 --> 0:25:53.639 If you'll be still, you will know he is God. 0:25:53.960 --> 0:25:57.080 You will see him show out in your life. I'm 0:25:57.119 --> 0:26:01.960 asking us to unclutter our minds. Living guilty is not 0:26:02.119 --> 0:26:06.400 your destiny. Going around down on yourself, thinking problems are 0:26:06.400 --> 0:26:09.560 too big is not who you were created to be. 0:26:10.440 --> 0:26:13.800 Empty out the negative and program your mind with what 0:26:13.840 --> 0:26:17.200 God says about you. If you'll do this, I believe 0:26:17.440 --> 0:26:21.840 and declare You're going to give birth to dreams, to promotion, 0:26:22.480 --> 0:26:26.600 to healing, to breakthroughs. God is going to defeat enemies 0:26:26.760 --> 0:26:30.400 much bigger open doors that you couldn't open, and take 0:26:30.440 --> 0:26:34.040 you to the fullness of your destiny. In Jesus' name, 0:26:34.640 --> 0:26:38.960 if you receive it. Can you say men today, I'd 0:26:39.040 --> 0:26:42.040 like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the 0:26:42.080 --> 0:26:46.320 lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord, Jesus, 0:26:47.640 --> 0:26:52.560 I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I'll 0:26:52.640 --> 0:26:56.600 make you my lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed 0:26:56.600 --> 0:26:59.840 that simple prayer, we believe you got born again a 0:27:00.160 --> 0:27:04.400 good Bible based church. Keep God first place, Victorian. I'll 0:27:04.400 --> 0:27:06.840 be right back to speak a blessing over you. 0:27:08.880 --> 0:27:12.320 Thank you for listening to the Joel Osteine podcast. Help 0:27:12.400 --> 0:27:15.119 us continue to share the message of hope with those 0:27:15.240 --> 0:27:19.120 all over the world. Visit joelostin dot com slash give 0:27:19.200 --> 0:27:20.879 Hope to give a gift today. 0:27:22.160 --> 0:27:25.080 Thanks so much for listening to today's message. I hope 0:27:25.080 --> 0:27:28.480 you'll subscribe so you can receive the latest podcast to 0:27:28.560 --> 0:27:31.760 keep you inspired all through the week. We're praying for you. 0:27:31.920 --> 0:27:34.399 I know God's best is still ahead. We'll see you 0:27:34.440 --> 0:27:34.920 next time.