Unconditional Trust

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It's time 0:01:00.120 --> 0:01:02.200 to get the recognition you deserve and earn a degree 0:01:02.200 --> 0:01:04.840 you'll be proud of, one that employers will trust and 0:01:04.920 --> 0:01:07.119 respect when you take the next step in your life 0:01:07.120 --> 0:01:10.280 and career. Make it count with Purdue Global Produce online 0:01:10.360 --> 0:01:14.920 University for working adults. Start your comeback at Purdueglobal dot edu. 0:01:27.880 --> 0:01:30.680 Well, God bless you. It's a joy to come into 0:01:30.720 --> 0:01:33.720 your homes. And if you're ever in our area, please 0:01:33.760 --> 0:01:36.360 stop buying. Be a part of one of our services. 0:01:36.520 --> 0:01:38.920 I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. 0:01:39.640 --> 0:01:41.920 I like to start with something funny, and heard about 0:01:41.959 --> 0:01:45.080 this man that called the church office. He said, I 0:01:45.120 --> 0:01:47.840 want to speak to the head hog at the trough. 0:01:48.560 --> 0:01:52.040 The secretary was offended. She said, if you mean the pastor, 0:01:52.320 --> 0:01:54.720 you're going to have to call him pastor, but you 0:01:54.800 --> 0:01:57.080 may not call him the head hog at the trough. 0:01:57.800 --> 0:01:59.640 He said, well, that's fine, but I was thinking about 0:01:59.640 --> 0:02:03.360 making a five thousand dollars donation to your church. She said, 0:02:03.400 --> 0:02:07.480 hang on, poor Ky just walked in. Say it like 0:02:07.520 --> 0:02:10.440 you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what 0:02:10.560 --> 0:02:13.040 it says, I am, I have what it says I have. 0:02:13.639 --> 0:02:16.240 I can do what it says I can do. Today, 0:02:16.400 --> 0:02:19.840 I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess. 0:02:20.240 --> 0:02:23.679 My mind is alert, my heart is receptive. I will 0:02:23.720 --> 0:02:27.520 never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. 0:02:28.880 --> 0:02:32.160 I want to talk to you today about unconditional trust. 0:02:33.000 --> 0:02:35.920 It's easy to trust God when things are going our way. 0:02:36.520 --> 0:02:40.600 We're getting good breaks, our business is blessed, our children 0:02:40.639 --> 0:02:44.440 are healthy. That doesn't take much faith. Life is good. 0:02:45.240 --> 0:02:48.560 But what about when things aren't going our way? Our 0:02:48.560 --> 0:02:52.799 prayers aren't being answered. The problem isn't turning around. We're 0:02:52.840 --> 0:02:57.320 not seeing favor. Too often we get discouraged. Think God, 0:02:57.480 --> 0:03:00.760 why aren't you doing something? You can see them mistreated? 0:03:01.280 --> 0:03:04.120 My health isn't good. I worked hard, but I didn't 0:03:04.120 --> 0:03:08.200 get the promotion. We think when it changes, we'll be 0:03:08.320 --> 0:03:12.279 happy when I meet the right person, when my health improves, 0:03:12.560 --> 0:03:16.120 when we have this baby, then we'll have a good attitude. 0:03:16.240 --> 0:03:21.000 That's conditional trust. God. If you meet my demands, if 0:03:21.000 --> 0:03:24.279 you answer my prayers the way I want on my timetable, 0:03:24.520 --> 0:03:28.440 then I'll be my best. The problem with conditional trust 0:03:28.919 --> 0:03:33.040 is there will always be things we don't understand. Something 0:03:33.080 --> 0:03:36.080 that's not happening fast enough. It didn't work out the 0:03:36.120 --> 0:03:39.480 way we wanted. We prayed just as hard for my 0:03:39.600 --> 0:03:42.920 father when his health went downhill as we did for 0:03:43.040 --> 0:03:46.880 my mother. We quoted the same scriptures. We asked God 0:03:46.920 --> 0:03:49.760 to restore his health, to let him live, But my 0:03:49.880 --> 0:03:53.000 father went to be with the Lord. It didn't happen 0:03:53.160 --> 0:03:57.360 the way I wanted. If I would have had conditional trust, 0:03:57.840 --> 0:04:00.040 I would have gotten upset bitter God, What didn't you 0:04:00.160 --> 0:04:04.400 answer my prayers? The truth is God did answer my prayer, 0:04:04.800 --> 0:04:08.240 it just wasn't the way I wanted. Are you mature 0:04:08.360 --> 0:04:12.120 enough to accept God's answers even though they're not what 0:04:12.200 --> 0:04:16.600 you were hoping for. God is a sovereign God. We're 0:04:16.600 --> 0:04:21.200 not going to understand everything that happens. Faith is trusting God. 0:04:21.480 --> 0:04:26.200 When life doesn't make sense, there will always be unanswered questions. 0:04:26.520 --> 0:04:28.719 Why didn't my loved one make it? Why am I 0:04:28.800 --> 0:04:32.240 not getting better? Why did this person leave? Some things 0:04:32.320 --> 0:04:35.440 are not going to make sense, But God wouldn't have 0:04:35.520 --> 0:04:38.400 allowed it if he wasn't going to bring good out 0:04:38.400 --> 0:04:40.960 of it. You may not see it at the time, 0:04:41.520 --> 0:04:45.120 but God knows what he's doing. He has your best 0:04:45.160 --> 0:04:48.159 interest at heart. It's not random. It's a part of 0:04:48.200 --> 0:04:51.880 his plan. Dare to trust him. I didn't want to 0:04:51.920 --> 0:04:54.320 lose my father. Of course, he was one of my 0:04:54.400 --> 0:04:57.360 best friends. I'd worked with him here at Lakewood for 0:04:57.400 --> 0:05:00.240 seventeen years. We had traveled the world to get other 0:05:01.000 --> 0:05:02.880 I didn't know what I would do when my dad 0:05:03.000 --> 0:05:06.920 was gone, But I found God had another plan. He 0:05:06.960 --> 0:05:09.760 had something else for me to do. I couldn't see 0:05:09.760 --> 0:05:12.240 it at the time. I wanted God to do it 0:05:12.320 --> 0:05:16.040 my way, but God had a better way. I thought 0:05:16.200 --> 0:05:19.279 I would spend my life behind the scenes, doing production, 0:05:19.839 --> 0:05:22.920 running the cameras. I didn't think I could get up 0:05:22.920 --> 0:05:25.520 here in front of people. I didn't know this ability 0:05:25.640 --> 0:05:28.640 was in me. But God can see things in you 0:05:29.080 --> 0:05:32.200 that you can't see in yourself. His plan for your 0:05:32.240 --> 0:05:36.080 life is bigger than your plan, but it may not 0:05:36.320 --> 0:05:40.000 happen the way you thought. God doesn't take us in 0:05:40.080 --> 0:05:45.520 a straight line. There'll be twist turns, the disappointments, the loss, 0:05:45.640 --> 0:05:48.520 the bad breaks. They're all a part of his plan. 0:05:49.320 --> 0:05:53.040 But if you have conditional trust, you'll get discouraged and think, 0:05:53.080 --> 0:05:56.279 why is this happening. I'm going the wrong way? But 0:05:56.440 --> 0:06:00.359 God is still directing your steps. Trust him when you 0:06:00.400 --> 0:06:04.279 don't understand, trust them, even when it feels like you're 0:06:04.320 --> 0:06:07.919 going the wrong direction. What I thought would be my 0:06:08.080 --> 0:06:12.360 darkest hour, the loss of my father. I say this respectfully. 0:06:12.720 --> 0:06:15.840 In one sense, it turned out to be my brightest hour. 0:06:16.480 --> 0:06:19.839 It launched me into what I'm doing today, into a 0:06:19.880 --> 0:06:24.159 new level of my destiny. But sometimes we want things 0:06:24.200 --> 0:06:27.280 so bad we're not going to be happy unless it 0:06:27.320 --> 0:06:30.880 happens our way. I can't be happy unless I get 0:06:30.920 --> 0:06:33.880 the house, unless I meet the right person, unless we 0:06:33.960 --> 0:06:37.839 have the baby. That's out of balance. Anything you have 0:06:37.920 --> 0:06:41.120 to have in order to be happy, the enemy can 0:06:41.200 --> 0:06:45.159 use against you. And it's good to be honest with God. 0:06:45.760 --> 0:06:49.040 Tell them your dreams, tell them what you're believing. For God, 0:06:49.080 --> 0:06:51.720 this is what I want. I'm asking you to heal 0:06:51.760 --> 0:06:55.000 my loved one, turn this problem around. God, open these 0:06:55.040 --> 0:06:59.080 new doors. It's fine to ask, but then be mature 0:06:59.200 --> 0:07:02.440 enough to say, but God, if it never happens, if 0:07:02.520 --> 0:07:05.160 I don't get the promotion, if my loved one doesn't 0:07:05.160 --> 0:07:08.520 make it, if my health doesn't improve, I'm still going 0:07:08.600 --> 0:07:12.640 to trust you. See, we can get so consumed with 0:07:12.800 --> 0:07:15.840 what we want that it can become like an idol. 0:07:16.480 --> 0:07:19.080 That's all we think about, all we pray about. It's 0:07:19.120 --> 0:07:22.160 always on the forefront of our minds. Turn it over 0:07:22.200 --> 0:07:26.920 to God, pray, believe, then leave it in God's hands. 0:07:27.640 --> 0:07:31.000 Don't get so focused on what you want that you 0:07:31.160 --> 0:07:35.400 miss the beauty of this day. Everything may not be perfect, 0:07:35.800 --> 0:07:38.720 there are things that need to change, but God has 0:07:38.800 --> 0:07:43.120 given you the grace to be happy today. It's very 0:07:43.160 --> 0:07:45.880 freeing when you can say God is in your hands. 0:07:46.440 --> 0:07:50.800 I trust you, not conditionally. If it works out my way. 0:07:51.120 --> 0:07:55.360 I trust you unconditionally, even when I don't understand it. 0:07:56.080 --> 0:07:59.040 In the Scripture of the Apostle, Paul had what he 0:07:59.160 --> 0:08:02.840 described as a thorn in his flesh. It was something 0:08:02.920 --> 0:08:06.560 either physically or spiritually that he didn't like. It was 0:08:06.640 --> 0:08:10.720 bothering him. Three times he asked God to take it away, 0:08:11.320 --> 0:08:15.680 but God didn't remove it. Paul was honoring God, he 0:08:15.840 --> 0:08:18.840 was being his best. He wrote half of the books 0:08:18.840 --> 0:08:22.040 in the New Testament. You would think God would fix 0:08:22.200 --> 0:08:25.320 what was bothering him, but God said to him, Paul, 0:08:25.840 --> 0:08:30.000 my grace is sufficient for you. He was saying, in effect, 0:08:30.440 --> 0:08:33.360 I may not remove it just yet, but I will 0:08:33.400 --> 0:08:37.000 give you the grace to handle it. If God is 0:08:37.040 --> 0:08:40.560 not removing what you want removed. If he's not changing 0:08:40.640 --> 0:08:43.960 what you want changed, don't use that as an excuse 0:08:44.040 --> 0:08:47.960 to live sour, bitter. God has given you the grace 0:08:48.120 --> 0:08:51.200 to be where you are with a good attitude, you 0:08:51.240 --> 0:08:55.239 can enjoy your life in spite of what's not working out. 0:08:55.559 --> 0:08:58.680 And sometimes the reason our prayers aren't answered the way 0:08:58.679 --> 0:09:02.520 we want is because it's not the right time, or 0:09:02.600 --> 0:09:06.280 God has something better that we can't see, or perhaps 0:09:06.360 --> 0:09:09.240 he's using the difficulty to do a work in us 0:09:09.559 --> 0:09:14.480 to help us grow to get stronger. Unconditional trust says God. 0:09:14.520 --> 0:09:18.520 I don't like it. I'm uncomfortable, but I'm smart enough 0:09:18.559 --> 0:09:22.640 to recognize you're God and I'm not. You're on the throne, 0:09:23.000 --> 0:09:27.080 You're in control of my life. You said your plans 0:09:27.120 --> 0:09:30.120 for me are for good. You said you would leave 0:09:30.200 --> 0:09:33.200 me down the best path for my life. And even 0:09:33.240 --> 0:09:36.960 though I don't understand it right now, God, I trust you. 0:09:37.720 --> 0:09:42.160 Are you living frustrated, unhappy because something is not going 0:09:42.240 --> 0:09:46.760 your way? That's conditional trust. You'll live a lot freer, 0:09:47.160 --> 0:09:51.160 a lot happier if you'll quit fighting what God is 0:09:51.160 --> 0:09:55.640 not changing, quit being upset over what he's not removing. 0:09:56.559 --> 0:10:00.640 Paul said, I have learned how to be content. Didn't 0:10:00.679 --> 0:10:04.760 happen automatically. He made this decision. I'm not going to 0:10:04.800 --> 0:10:08.800 live sour because God hasn't removed this thorn. When he 0:10:08.880 --> 0:10:12.040 wants to remove it, he'll remove it. But until then, 0:10:12.440 --> 0:10:15.880 I'm going to be happy where i am foreign in all. 0:10:16.920 --> 0:10:21.600 The truth is, we all have some thorns things that 0:10:21.679 --> 0:10:24.840 God is not changing. He could if he wanted to, 0:10:25.280 --> 0:10:28.600 He's God. All he'd have to do is speak, and 0:10:28.640 --> 0:10:31.640 that problem would turn around. That person would treat you right. 0:10:31.720 --> 0:10:35.079 Wouldn't be any big deal. But since he's not doing 0:10:35.120 --> 0:10:38.800 it yet, will you do like Paul and be happy 0:10:38.920 --> 0:10:42.840 where you are foreign and all trouble and all loneliness 0:10:42.840 --> 0:10:46.800 and all. It takes a mature person to say, even 0:10:46.880 --> 0:10:49.920 though God is not removing this, I'm still going to 0:10:49.960 --> 0:10:52.720 have a smile. I'm still going to be good to people. 0:10:53.000 --> 0:10:56.280 I'm still going to give God praise. This is what 0:10:56.400 --> 0:11:00.280 happened with the three Hebrew teenagers in the scripture. They 0:11:00.280 --> 0:11:03.720 wouldn't bow down to the king's golden idol. The king 0:11:03.880 --> 0:11:06.760 was furious. He was going to have them thrown into 0:11:06.800 --> 0:11:10.240 a fiery furnace. They said, King, we're not going to 0:11:10.280 --> 0:11:14.800 bow down. We know our God will deliver us, but 0:11:15.080 --> 0:11:18.120 even if he doesn't, we're still not going to bow down. 0:11:19.000 --> 0:11:23.000 That's unconditional trust. I believe God's going to turn this 0:11:23.120 --> 0:11:26.839 situation around, but even if he doesn't, I'm still going 0:11:26.880 --> 0:11:29.920 to be happy. I believe I'm going to get the promotion, 0:11:30.480 --> 0:11:33.800 believe my health is improving. I believe the right person 0:11:33.840 --> 0:11:37.400 that is coming. But if it doesn't happen, I'm not 0:11:37.440 --> 0:11:40.920 going to get bitter sour. I know God is still 0:11:40.960 --> 0:11:44.040 on the throne. If he's not changing it, he has 0:11:44.080 --> 0:11:47.840 a reason. My life is in his hands. Dare to 0:11:47.960 --> 0:11:51.240 trust him, not just when things will go in your way, 0:11:51.440 --> 0:11:55.240 but even when you don't understand it. The Psalmist said, 0:11:55.640 --> 0:11:59.640 God will work out his plan for your life. You 0:11:59.679 --> 0:12:02.080 don't have to work it all out. You don't have 0:12:02.160 --> 0:12:04.920 to make it happen in your own strength, try to 0:12:04.960 --> 0:12:09.240 manipulate people, fight all your battles. Why don't you relax, 0:12:09.840 --> 0:12:13.880 take the pressure off yourself and let God work out 0:12:13.920 --> 0:12:17.160 his plan for your life. He can do it better 0:12:17.200 --> 0:12:20.760 than you can. He knows the best path. And that's 0:12:20.760 --> 0:12:24.000 what these teenagers were saying. We know God will deliver 0:12:24.120 --> 0:12:27.360 us from this fire. But even if he doesn't, we're 0:12:27.400 --> 0:12:31.040 not going to get upset and start panicking. We know 0:12:31.559 --> 0:12:35.120 we're not doing life on our own. The Most High God, 0:12:35.440 --> 0:12:38.839 the creator of the universe, is working out his plan 0:12:38.960 --> 0:12:43.520 for our lives. All the forces of darkness cannot stop 0:12:43.600 --> 0:12:47.800 what God has ordained. That sickness can't stop him. Trouble 0:12:47.840 --> 0:12:51.800 at work can't stop him, the disappointments, the setbacks. You 0:12:51.880 --> 0:12:54.600 may have a lot coming against you. You feel like 0:12:54.679 --> 0:12:57.440 you're about to be thrown into a fire. The good 0:12:57.480 --> 0:13:01.200 news is you're not going to go in there. You 0:13:01.240 --> 0:13:04.199 couldn't be put in that fire unless God allowed it. 0:13:04.920 --> 0:13:07.720 The enemy is not in control of your life. God 0:13:07.800 --> 0:13:12.559 is in control. He is working out his plan. Sometimes 0:13:12.760 --> 0:13:20.439 his plan includes fiery furnaces. Sometimes it includes giants, red seas, pharohs, 0:13:20.800 --> 0:13:25.200 people that don't like you, obstacles that seem insurmountable. You 0:13:25.280 --> 0:13:28.640 don't see away, But since you know the Lord is 0:13:28.720 --> 0:13:31.640 directing your steps, you don't try to figure it all out. 0:13:32.520 --> 0:13:36.079 It may look like the end, but like these teenagers, 0:13:36.240 --> 0:13:40.640 you have unconditional trust. I know God will deliver me, 0:13:41.040 --> 0:13:43.520 but even if he doesn't, I'm still going to have 0:13:43.559 --> 0:13:46.080 a song of praise. I'm still going to have an 0:13:46.080 --> 0:13:49.680 attitude of faith. I'm still going to live my life happy. 0:13:50.640 --> 0:13:54.160 The king had these teenagers thrown into the furnace. The 0:13:54.200 --> 0:13:57.360 fire was so hot. When the guards opened the door, 0:13:57.800 --> 0:14:01.160 they were killed in a few minutes. The king came 0:14:01.200 --> 0:14:03.600 to check on them. He looked through the window and 0:14:03.640 --> 0:14:07.120 couldn't believe his eyes. He said, didn't we throw in 0:14:07.480 --> 0:14:11.520 three men bound? I see four men loosed, and one 0:14:11.559 --> 0:14:15.800 looks like the son of God? What was that? God 0:14:15.960 --> 0:14:20.200 working out his plan for their lives? But I wonder 0:14:20.920 --> 0:14:23.400 what the outcome would have been if they would have 0:14:23.400 --> 0:14:27.960 had conditional trust God. If you deliver us from this fire, 0:14:28.320 --> 0:14:30.880 then we'll stay in faith. God, if you do it 0:14:30.920 --> 0:14:34.320 our way, we'll keep a good attitude. But when the 0:14:34.400 --> 0:14:38.720 king didn't change his mind, when God didn't remove the obstacle, 0:14:39.280 --> 0:14:42.760 if they would have gotten negative, complained God, we don't 0:14:42.840 --> 0:14:46.080 understand it. We prayed, we believed, we stood in faith. 0:14:46.240 --> 0:14:49.440 Why didn't you turn it around? Maybe the furnace would 0:14:49.440 --> 0:14:52.200 have been the end. Maybe we wouldn't be talking about 0:14:52.200 --> 0:14:56.240 them today. If you want to get God's attention, if 0:14:56.240 --> 0:14:58.280 you want him to take you where you've never dreamed, 0:14:58.320 --> 0:15:03.000 and turn impossible situation around. Do like these teenagers, I 0:15:03.120 --> 0:15:05.880 know God will deliver me from this fire, have a 0:15:05.920 --> 0:15:09.480 statement of faith, but then follow it up with but 0:15:09.720 --> 0:15:13.040 even if he doesn't, God, I'm still going to honor you. 0:15:13.360 --> 0:15:16.520 I'm still going to be my best. When you live 0:15:16.760 --> 0:15:21.760 like that, you take away all the enemy's power. He's 0:15:21.840 --> 0:15:25.680 expecting you to get upset, to be worried if it 0:15:25.720 --> 0:15:28.840 doesn't work out, to fall apart, live in self pity. 0:15:29.640 --> 0:15:34.480 When you have unconditional trust, you can't be defeated. You 0:15:34.560 --> 0:15:38.520 may have challenges that look bigger, stronger in the natural, 0:15:38.560 --> 0:15:42.360 you don't have a chance. Don't be intimidated. The forces 0:15:42.400 --> 0:15:45.240 that are for you are greater than the forces that 0:15:45.280 --> 0:15:48.960 are against you. The scripture says in job you will 0:15:48.960 --> 0:15:53.680 not be harvested before your time. You may get thrown 0:15:53.840 --> 0:15:56.600 into a fire, but if it's not your time to go, 0:15:57.040 --> 0:16:00.200 you're not going to go. God has the final say. 0:16:00.480 --> 0:16:04.680 Right now, he is working out his plan for your life. 0:16:04.840 --> 0:16:08.880 There may be some fiery furnaces. Are you only going 0:16:08.920 --> 0:16:11.560 to trust him if he delivers you from the fire, 0:16:12.120 --> 0:16:14.080 if he takes away all the thorns, if he does 0:16:14.120 --> 0:16:18.160 it your way? Or are you going to have unconditional trust. 0:16:18.640 --> 0:16:21.640 Trust him like these teenagers, even if he takes you 0:16:21.720 --> 0:16:25.920 through the fire. Looking back over my life, things haven't 0:16:25.920 --> 0:16:28.960 turned out the way I thought. I had a plan, 0:16:29.600 --> 0:16:32.480 I had it all figured out. I told God what 0:16:32.640 --> 0:16:36.240 to do, when to do it, what I needed, who 0:16:36.280 --> 0:16:38.760 to use, how to get me there. I gave him 0:16:38.840 --> 0:16:43.000 good information, my very best. The funny thing is God 0:16:43.040 --> 0:16:47.760 didn't take my advice. He had his own plan. What 0:16:47.840 --> 0:16:51.880 I found is God's plan has always been better than 0:16:51.880 --> 0:16:58.840 my plan. His ways have always been more rewarding, more fulfilling, 0:16:59.440 --> 0:17:03.320 bigger than my ways. If God would have done everything 0:17:03.360 --> 0:17:06.879 I ask, answered my prayers the way I wanted on 0:17:07.000 --> 0:17:11.320 my timetable, it would have limited my destiny. I wouldn't 0:17:11.320 --> 0:17:14.080 be where I am. I couldn't see it at the time, 0:17:14.600 --> 0:17:18.080 didn't make sense, seemed like a good thing. But one 0:17:18.160 --> 0:17:21.920 day I learned what Isaiah said that God's ways are 0:17:22.080 --> 0:17:26.280 higher than our ways. His plans are better than our plans. 0:17:27.200 --> 0:17:30.960 Quit being discouraged over something that didn't work out the 0:17:31.040 --> 0:17:35.919 way you wanted. Don't live frustrated because maybe somebody left 0:17:36.119 --> 0:17:38.960 that you wanted to stay, a door closed that you 0:17:39.040 --> 0:17:43.080 wanted open. God knows what he's doing. You may not 0:17:43.200 --> 0:17:46.160 see it now, but one day, when you see what 0:17:46.200 --> 0:17:49.200 God was up to, you'll be glad he closed the doors. 0:17:49.480 --> 0:17:53.480 You'll thank him for not answering those prayers. The longer 0:17:53.560 --> 0:17:57.360 I live, the more I pray, God, not my will, 0:17:57.600 --> 0:18:01.840 but let your will be done. Fight the closed doors anymore. 0:18:02.480 --> 0:18:05.639 I don't get frustrated when things aren't changing as fast 0:18:05.640 --> 0:18:09.679 as I would like. I know that God is in control. 0:18:10.359 --> 0:18:13.720 As long as you're honoring Him, being your best at 0:18:13.760 --> 0:18:16.640 the right time, God will get you to where you're 0:18:16.680 --> 0:18:19.480 supposed to be. It may not be where you thought. 0:18:19.880 --> 0:18:23.600 God is going to take you further than you ever imagine. 0:18:23.800 --> 0:18:26.959 And I believe in praying for our dreams and praying 0:18:27.040 --> 0:18:30.679 bold prayers, believing for big things. But I've learned to 0:18:30.800 --> 0:18:35.520 let God do it his way. Hold tightly to what 0:18:35.600 --> 0:18:39.080 God put in your heart, but hold loosely to how 0:18:39.119 --> 0:18:42.080 it's going to happen. Don't get set in your ways. 0:18:42.440 --> 0:18:45.560 Don't be discouraged because it hasn't happened the way you thought. 0:18:45.960 --> 0:18:49.760 God is working out his plan for your life. A 0:18:49.800 --> 0:18:52.399 couple of years after Victoria and I were married, we 0:18:52.520 --> 0:18:55.879 sold our townhouse. We were going to buy our first 0:18:55.880 --> 0:18:59.520 home We were so excited. We looked for months and 0:18:59.640 --> 0:19:02.600 months and we found this house that we really loved. 0:19:02.800 --> 0:19:07.280 It's in a beautiful lot, big trees, so picturesque. It 0:19:07.320 --> 0:19:10.960 was like our dream house. We made an offer, not 0:19:11.200 --> 0:19:14.360 much less than they were asking. We didn't hear back 0:19:14.400 --> 0:19:16.920 for a couple of weeks, and the house was empty. 0:19:17.280 --> 0:19:19.600 So we would go out at night and pray over 0:19:19.680 --> 0:19:22.720 it and thank God that it was ours dream about 0:19:22.760 --> 0:19:26.400 living there. Here's where we'll put our furniture, Here's where 0:19:26.440 --> 0:19:29.280 we'll put a swing set. One day, we were sure 0:19:29.440 --> 0:19:32.640 it was going to happen, but they called back and 0:19:32.680 --> 0:19:36.399 said they weren't going to accept our offer. We knew 0:19:36.560 --> 0:19:38.920 that was the devil trying to take our house, because 0:19:38.920 --> 0:19:41.680 that's supposed to be ours. Have you noticed the devil 0:19:41.720 --> 0:19:43.720 gets blamed for a lot of things he had nothing 0:19:43.760 --> 0:19:46.639 to do with. We went back to that house and 0:19:46.680 --> 0:19:50.320 we started marching around it, praying, binding loose, and doing 0:19:50.400 --> 0:19:54.000 everything we could. A few days later, they sold it 0:19:54.040 --> 0:19:58.040 to somebody else. Have you ever felt like God let 0:19:58.119 --> 0:20:01.760 you down? He could have changed so easily. We were 0:20:01.880 --> 0:20:05.560 right there, but the door closed. We said, God, where 0:20:05.600 --> 0:20:09.080 were you? This was our dream house? But if You're 0:20:09.119 --> 0:20:12.320 only going to be happy if God does it your way. 0:20:13.040 --> 0:20:17.680 That's not trusting, that's giving God orders. You'll be frustrated. 0:20:18.400 --> 0:20:21.280 Why don't you put your life in his hands. He 0:20:21.400 --> 0:20:24.240 knows what's best for you. He can see things that 0:20:24.280 --> 0:20:27.840 we can't see. A couple of months later, we found 0:20:27.840 --> 0:20:31.880 another house in close to the city. We purchased that place. 0:20:32.160 --> 0:20:35.800 Two years after that, we sold half of that property 0:20:36.119 --> 0:20:38.760 for more than we paid for the whole property. We 0:20:38.880 --> 0:20:41.600 ended up building a new house there. God blessed us 0:20:41.640 --> 0:20:45.600 in ways greater than we ever imagined. But now sometimes 0:20:46.040 --> 0:20:49.040 I'll drive back by that other house I wanted so 0:20:49.200 --> 0:20:52.240 bad and say, Lord, thank you for closing this door. 0:20:52.680 --> 0:20:56.040 Thank you that it didn't work out. Some of the 0:20:56.080 --> 0:20:58.919 things that are not working out in your life. Now, 0:20:59.359 --> 0:21:02.480 one day you'll be doing like I did. Lord, thank 0:21:02.520 --> 0:21:05.160 you that it didn't work out my way. You could 0:21:05.200 --> 0:21:08.320 save yourself a lot of frustration if you'd learned to 0:21:08.359 --> 0:21:13.600 have unconditional trust. The closed doors, the disappointments, the delays, 0:21:14.000 --> 0:21:16.919 it's all working for you. And yes, it's good to 0:21:16.960 --> 0:21:20.840 be determined, be persistent, But let God do it his way. 0:21:21.640 --> 0:21:25.280 If he's not changing it, not removing it, not opening it, 0:21:25.720 --> 0:21:30.000 don't fight it. Learn to embrace where you are. He's 0:21:30.040 --> 0:21:32.719 given you the grace not to just be there, but 0:21:32.760 --> 0:21:35.840 to be there with a good attitude. If you're going 0:21:35.880 --> 0:21:38.560 to pass the test, keep a smile on your face, 0:21:39.040 --> 0:21:42.360 keep a song in your heart, keep passion in your spirit. 0:21:42.880 --> 0:21:46.040 Don't drag through the day disappointed. This is the day 0:21:46.160 --> 0:21:49.600 the Lord has made. He's still on the throne. He's 0:21:49.640 --> 0:21:53.480 working out his plan for your life. He's going to 0:21:53.520 --> 0:21:59.720 get you to where you're supposed to be. But living worried, frustrated, disappointed. 0:22:00.080 --> 0:22:03.320 That takes our passion, It steals our joy, and it 0:22:03.359 --> 0:22:08.120 can keep us from seeing God's favor. Sometimes, the closed doors, 0:22:08.480 --> 0:22:12.879 the disappointments, they are simply a test God wants to 0:22:12.920 --> 0:22:16.160 see if we'll trust him when we don't understand it, 0:22:16.440 --> 0:22:20.320 when life doesn't make sense. This is what happened with Abraham. 0:22:20.680 --> 0:22:24.480 He waited twenty years to have his son Isaac. He 0:22:24.520 --> 0:22:27.879 and his wife Sarah were way up there in their eighties. 0:22:28.119 --> 0:22:31.840 They prayed, believed, stood in faith. They finally saw the 0:22:31.880 --> 0:22:35.560 promise come to pass. They were so excited. You can 0:22:35.640 --> 0:22:40.120 imagine how Abraham must have felt years later when God 0:22:40.200 --> 0:22:43.000 told him to take Isaac on top of a mountain 0:22:43.320 --> 0:22:48.040 and sacrifice him. That didn't make sense. Isaac was what 0:22:48.160 --> 0:22:52.280 Abraham loved the most. This was the fulfillment of the promise. 0:22:53.000 --> 0:22:56.280 Now God was asking him to put his dream on 0:22:56.359 --> 0:23:01.280 the altar. Abraham didn't understand it. It didn't seem fair, 0:23:01.880 --> 0:23:06.240 but he was obedient. He passed the trust test. Just 0:23:06.280 --> 0:23:09.040 as he was about to follow through, God stopped him 0:23:09.280 --> 0:23:10.760 and said, Abraham, don't do it. 0:23:11.240 --> 0:23:11.440 Now. 0:23:11.480 --> 0:23:16.879 I can see you trust me more than anything. Like Abraham. 0:23:17.280 --> 0:23:20.359 There will be times God asked us to put our 0:23:20.440 --> 0:23:24.040 dream on the altar. We have to show him that 0:23:24.119 --> 0:23:26.400 we don't have to have the house to be happy. 0:23:27.040 --> 0:23:29.040 If we don't have the baby, we're not going to 0:23:29.080 --> 0:23:32.240 live bitter and sour. You believe in for your health 0:23:32.280 --> 0:23:35.159 to improve, But when you can say, if it doesn't 0:23:35.200 --> 0:23:38.000 get better, God, I'm still going to honor you. I'm 0:23:38.040 --> 0:23:40.760 still going to be my best. You are doing what 0:23:40.880 --> 0:23:44.439 Abraham did. You are putting your dream on the altar. 0:23:45.400 --> 0:23:47.880 When God sees that you don't have to have it. 0:23:48.480 --> 0:23:51.840 Many times like him, God will give you back what 0:23:51.960 --> 0:23:55.160 you were willing to give up. During World War Two, 0:23:55.720 --> 0:23:59.080 there was a young soldier in a library in Florida. 0:24:00.000 --> 0:24:02.840 He was reading a book. He noticed all the handwritten 0:24:02.920 --> 0:24:06.840 notes in the margin. They were very thoughtful and heartwarming. 0:24:07.480 --> 0:24:09.040 He turned to the front of the book. It just 0:24:09.040 --> 0:24:12.920 so happened it had the previous owner's name and address. 0:24:13.680 --> 0:24:16.240 It was a lady named Holly that lived in New 0:24:16.320 --> 0:24:20.359 York City. He wrote her a letter, introducing himself and 0:24:20.840 --> 0:24:24.280 telling how he was about to be shipped off overseas 0:24:24.400 --> 0:24:28.040 to Europe. The next day, he invited her to respond 0:24:28.280 --> 0:24:31.720 and they could talk about the book. Much to his surprise, 0:24:32.000 --> 0:24:36.280 he received a letter in return. For the next thirteen months, 0:24:36.440 --> 0:24:40.480 they wrote back and forth, again and again, getting closer 0:24:40.520 --> 0:24:44.719 and closer. They were actually falling in love. Yet they 0:24:44.760 --> 0:24:48.320 had never seen each other. He had requested a picture, 0:24:48.680 --> 0:24:51.840 but she refused. A year and a half later, he 0:24:51.960 --> 0:24:55.199 was coming back home through New York City. This was 0:24:55.240 --> 0:24:57.720 their big opportunity. They were going to meet for the 0:24:57.760 --> 0:25:01.080 first time and go out to dinner. She said, I'll 0:25:01.119 --> 0:25:03.600 be waiting for you when you get off the ship. 0:25:03.800 --> 0:25:06.679 You'll know it's me by the pink rose I'll be 0:25:06.760 --> 0:25:11.480 wearing sailing back across the ocean. He was so excited 0:25:11.840 --> 0:25:15.240 and so nervous at the same time. He stepped off 0:25:15.280 --> 0:25:19.800 the ship. The big moment finally arrived. This beautiful young 0:25:19.920 --> 0:25:24.359 lady came walking toward him. She took his breath away. 0:25:24.920 --> 0:25:30.280 She was stunning, tall, gorgeous features, in great shape. She 0:25:30.359 --> 0:25:33.520 looked like a movie star. He couldn't believe what he 0:25:33.640 --> 0:25:37.199 was seeing. He was so taken aback by it. He 0:25:37.240 --> 0:25:42.119 didn't realize she wasn't wearing a pink rose as she 0:25:42.280 --> 0:25:45.600 passed on by. He finally came back down to earth. 0:25:46.040 --> 0:25:50.159 About that time, this lady in her forties walked up 0:25:50.200 --> 0:25:54.280 to him. She wasn't necessarily attractive, had graying hair, and 0:25:54.800 --> 0:25:59.080 just so happened she was wearing the pink rose. Disappointed, 0:25:59.359 --> 0:26:02.119 but not owing it, he walked up to her with 0:26:02.160 --> 0:26:06.520 a smile. He saluted and said, hello, ma'am. You must 0:26:06.600 --> 0:26:09.720 be Holly. I'm so glad to meet you. Can I 0:26:09.800 --> 0:26:13.080 take you to dinner? The lady said, son, I'm not 0:26:13.240 --> 0:26:16.240 sure what's going on, but the young lady that just 0:26:16.359 --> 0:26:21.000 passed you asked me to wear this pink rose. She said, 0:26:21.520 --> 0:26:24.080 if you invited me to dinner, to tell you, she'll 0:26:24.119 --> 0:26:26.560 be waiting for you in the restaurant across the way. 0:26:28.600 --> 0:26:32.320 It was simply a test Will you do the right 0:26:32.359 --> 0:26:35.920 thing when it's hard. Will you trust God when it's 0:26:35.960 --> 0:26:39.320 not what you thought? When you don't understand it, God 0:26:39.400 --> 0:26:43.560 said to Abraham, because you did not withhold your only son, 0:26:44.000 --> 0:26:47.560 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as 0:26:47.680 --> 0:26:51.159 numerous as the sand on the sea shore. When you 0:26:51.240 --> 0:26:54.720 do like Abraham, you do like this young soldier, and 0:26:54.760 --> 0:26:58.360 you pass the trust test, God will not only give 0:26:58.400 --> 0:27:01.320 you the desires of your heart, He'll do more than 0:27:01.359 --> 0:27:05.080 you can ask or think. Are you living frustrated because 0:27:05.119 --> 0:27:08.400 your prayers aren't being answered the way you want, your 0:27:08.440 --> 0:27:12.439 plans aren't working out. Take the pressure off. God is 0:27:12.520 --> 0:27:15.919 in control. He knows what's best for you. You're not 0:27:16.040 --> 0:27:19.440 always going to understand it. If you did, it wouldn't 0:27:19.440 --> 0:27:24.080 take any faith. I'm asking you to trust him unconditionally. 0:27:24.640 --> 0:27:28.480 If you'll do this, I believe and declare. God is 0:27:28.520 --> 0:27:31.480 going to work out his plan for your life. He's 0:27:31.520 --> 0:27:34.159 going to open the right doors, bring the right people, 0:27:34.400 --> 0:27:38.000 turn negative situations around, and take you to the fullness 0:27:38.040 --> 0:27:41.520 of your destiny. In Jesus's name, if you receive it, 0:27:41.680 --> 0:27:45.200 can you say him in today? I'd like to give 0:27:45.240 --> 0:27:48.240 you an opportunity to make Jesus, the Lord of your life. 0:27:48.520 --> 0:27:52.840 Would you pray with me, Just say, Lord, Jesus, I 0:27:53.000 --> 0:27:57.720 repent of my sins, Come into my heart. I make 0:27:57.800 --> 0:28:02.080 you my Lord and savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, 0:28:02.160 --> 0:28:04.680 we believe you got born again. Get in a good 0:28:04.720 --> 0:28:07.960 Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's going to 0:28:08.000 --> 0:28:10.400 take your place as you've never dreamed. Victor, and I'll 0:28:10.440 --> 0:28:12.600 be right back to speak a blessing over you. 0:28:14.040 --> 0:28:16.480 As a thank you for your support of our ministry 0:28:16.480 --> 0:28:19.080 this month, Joel and Victoria would like to send you 0:28:19.160 --> 0:28:22.679 a copy of Joel's new three message series, Victory in 0:28:22.760 --> 0:28:26.240 the Storm. In this new series, you'll learn you don't 0:28:26.240 --> 0:28:28.560 have to stay stuck in defeat when the winds and 0:28:28.600 --> 0:28:32.560 storms come. You have the power to stay strong regardless 0:28:32.600 --> 0:28:36.160 of what comes against you. Request your copy of Victory 0:28:36.160 --> 0:28:39.680 in the Storm today at Joeloustein dot com or call 0:28:39.960 --> 0:28:42.240 eight eight eight five six seven Joel. 0:28:44.240 --> 0:28:46.640 In difficult times, we don't have to get upset. 0:28:46.960 --> 0:28:50.480 We can stay in peace knowing that God promised all 0:28:50.560 --> 0:28:52.560 things are going to work out for our goods. 0:28:52.840 --> 0:28:55.520 That difficulty is not going to defeat you, it's going 0:28:55.600 --> 0:28:58.680 to promote you. Request this resource it will help you 0:28:58.720 --> 0:29:01.400 live the victorious life, life that belongs to you. 0:29:02.040 --> 0:29:04.440 Ten years ago, I was messing with drugs and having 0:29:04.520 --> 0:29:07.760 severe panic attacks. But through this ministry and Joel's message 0:29:07.800 --> 0:29:10.480 of hope, I discover that God's a God of new beginnings. 0:29:10.800 --> 0:29:12.680 It's been ten years and I haven't had a panic 0:29:12.720 --> 0:29:15.800 attack since today. I'm married, I have two beautiful children. 0:29:16.080 --> 0:29:20.440 I feel God's peace. This ministry changed my life. 0:29:20.480 --> 0:29:23.760 Your support is changing lives. Thank you so much for 0:29:23.840 --> 0:29:27.120 your prayer and your generosity. If you'd like to partner 0:29:27.160 --> 0:29:29.160 with us to take Hope around the world, we'd love 0:29:29.200 --> 0:29:31.080 to have you do it. Go to the website and 0:29:31.120 --> 0:29:33.680 find out how Victoria and I pray for you and 0:29:33.760 --> 0:29:36.760 your family. Every day. Twenty seventeen is going to be 0:29:36.800 --> 0:29:40.640 a blessed dear for you. Keep believing, keep expecting. We 0:29:40.760 --> 0:29:43.160 just declare right now you're going to have a blessed, 0:29:43.320 --> 0:29:46.360 prosperous week. We loved you very much. Until next time, 0:29:46.520 --> 0:29:47.280 God bless you. 0:29:48.400 --> 0:29:51.520 Become a champion of hope. Partner today at Joe Lustein 0:29:51.600 --> 0:29:53.760 dot com slash partner. 0:29:55.640 --> 0:30:00.720 Nice Buns, Soft Fluffy and Ultralow, Neet Carbs, Discovery, Hero Bread, 0:30:00.800 --> 0:30:05.400 The Delicious ultralow neetcrbread with incredible taste and texture. Hero 0:30:05.600 --> 0:30:08.120 Bread has zero grams of sugar and is under one 0:30:08.160 --> 0:30:11.040 hundred calories per serving, plus high end fiber and up 0:30:11.080 --> 0:30:14.360 to ten grams of protein per serving. Available on Amazon 0:30:14.400 --> 0:30:15.960 dot com, Walmart dot com, and. 0:30:16.080 --> 0:30:16.800 Hero dot Co. 0:30:17.320 --> 0:30:21.160 That's hro dot Co. 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