1 00:00:00,540 --> 00:00:02,740 Speaker 1: It's another great day to be alive, and we are 2 00:00:02,779 --> 00:00:05,399 Speaker 1: so blessed to be here with you today, Victoria, my 3 00:00:05,420 --> 00:00:08,020 Speaker 1: beautiful wife, and we're just praying for you guys to 4 00:00:08,060 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: have a blessed summer. 5 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:11,880 Speaker 2: I sure hope you enjoy the podcast. I know I 6 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:16,250 Speaker 2: always enjoy these messages. They're so uplifting and encouraging and inspiring, 7 00:00:16,630 --> 00:00:19,290 Speaker 2: so we hope you enjoy the message today. Your faith 8 00:00:19,329 --> 00:00:23,790 Speaker 2: is amazing. Go out and tell people about this saving 9 00:00:23,850 --> 00:00:25,330 Speaker 2: power of Jesus Christ. 10 00:00:25,450 --> 00:00:25,890 Speaker 1: Amen. 11 00:00:25,950 --> 00:00:28,200 Speaker 2: And that he can do what no one else can do. 12 00:00:28,750 --> 00:00:31,580 Speaker 2: You are his light in all the world. You see, 13 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:35,100 Speaker 2: we're all on this journey of faith together. And if 14 00:00:35,140 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 2: we're going to experience the fullness of God's promises, we're 15 00:00:39,220 --> 00:00:42,659 Speaker 2: going to have to develop the ability to see beyond 16 00:00:42,979 --> 00:00:45,690 Speaker 2: where we are right now. See, it's so easy to 17 00:00:45,729 --> 00:00:48,850 Speaker 2: get stuck in a problem. It's so easy to see 18 00:00:49,090 --> 00:00:53,410 Speaker 2: what didn't work out, what didn't happen, the mistakes we've made, 19 00:00:53,950 --> 00:00:56,940 Speaker 2: maybe what someone else did to us. And then we think, 20 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 2: what's our next step, God? How are we gonna get 21 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 2: out of this? It becomes difficult to see the next 22 00:01:04,420 --> 00:01:08,090 Speaker 2: step sometimes. But when we take our eyes off of 23 00:01:08,150 --> 00:01:11,470 Speaker 2: the circumstances, off of the problems that are trying to 24 00:01:11,510 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 2: weigh us down and hold us back, That's when we 25 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:18,290 Speaker 2: can put our eyes on the promises of God, not 26 00:01:18,350 --> 00:01:21,270 Speaker 2: the problems. We can't set our eyes on the problems. 27 00:01:21,550 --> 00:01:24,570 Speaker 2: We have to set our eyes on the promises. That's 28 00:01:24,590 --> 00:01:28,550 Speaker 2: how we're going to rise above where we are right now. 29 00:01:28,910 --> 00:01:31,670 Speaker 2: We have to look beyond where we are. and lift 30 00:01:32,020 --> 00:01:36,740 Speaker 2: our eyes. In the book of Genesis, Abraham was called 31 00:01:36,780 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 2: by God to go on a journey of faith with him. 32 00:01:39,780 --> 00:01:42,279 Speaker 2: He spoke to Abraham and said, leave your father's house. 33 00:01:42,940 --> 00:01:46,220 Speaker 2: Abraham did. The Bible says he believed God and it 34 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:51,300 Speaker 2: was credited unto him as righteousness. He left his father's land. 35 00:01:51,980 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 2: He took his family and his nephew Lot and they 36 00:01:55,170 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 2: went on this journey. But there was a point in 37 00:01:57,700 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 2: his journey where Lot, his nephew, and himself had acquired 38 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:06,470 Speaker 2: so many possessions that they had to part ways. The 39 00:02:06,510 --> 00:02:09,669 Speaker 2: land could not sustain both of them. So Abraham looked 40 00:02:09,830 --> 00:02:13,140 Speaker 2: at Lot and said, you pick first. Which way do 41 00:02:13,180 --> 00:02:15,220 Speaker 2: you want to go? What direction do you want to go, Lot? 42 00:02:15,300 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 2: I'm giving you first choice. Well, Lot looked around and 43 00:02:18,780 --> 00:02:21,459 Speaker 2: he found a place that he thought would be perfect 44 00:02:21,500 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 2: for he and his family. The Bible calls it, it 45 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,060 Speaker 2: was east. It was towards the Jordan. It was lush 46 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,000 Speaker 2: in foliage. It was a city that was bustling. It 47 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:35,419 Speaker 2: was places of opportunity. So Lot chose that part of 48 00:02:35,460 --> 00:02:40,420 Speaker 2: the land. When Abraham looked the other direction, what he 49 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:47,510 Speaker 2: saw was dirt. He saw was dust. No development. just land. 50 00:02:48,710 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 2: And he thought to himself, wow, what in the world 51 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,140 Speaker 2: have I gotten myself into? But you see, it was 52 00:02:55,200 --> 00:03:00,419 Speaker 2: at that point that God spoke to Abraham and he said, Abraham, 53 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 2: lift up your eyes now. Lift up your eyes now. 54 00:03:05,660 --> 00:03:06,290 Speaker 1: Look out. 55 00:03:07,870 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: As far as you can see from the north, the south, 56 00:03:10,620 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 2: the east, and the west. He said, what you can see, 57 00:03:14,100 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 2: the land that you can see, I will give it 58 00:03:17,060 --> 00:03:20,769 Speaker 2: to you. I will give it to you. You see, 59 00:03:20,810 --> 00:03:25,049 Speaker 2: it was this point that Abraham had to lift his eyes. 60 00:03:25,510 --> 00:03:30,070 Speaker 2: I love that phrase, lift your eyes, because this lifted 61 00:03:30,350 --> 00:03:35,450 Speaker 2: eyes became the theme of Abraham's life. You see, God 62 00:03:35,510 --> 00:03:38,740 Speaker 2: knew that Abraham could easily get his eyes on the 63 00:03:38,780 --> 00:03:41,540 Speaker 2: wrong thing. He could have easily said, why didn't I 64 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:44,520 Speaker 2: choose first? Why did he get the best? Now I'm 65 00:03:44,540 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 2: just stuck in the dirt and the dust and he's 66 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:51,210 Speaker 2: over there prospering. Why did I make that mistake? But see, 67 00:03:51,260 --> 00:03:54,250 Speaker 2: God wanted him to lift his eyes so he could 68 00:03:54,450 --> 00:03:57,450 Speaker 2: see beyond the dust and the dirt and begin to 69 00:03:57,610 --> 00:04:01,850 Speaker 2: see his destiny unfold, begin to see what God wanted 70 00:04:01,930 --> 00:04:05,430 Speaker 2: to do in his life. Do you know the name 71 00:04:05,570 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 2: Lot means veil? And when he separated from Lot, it 72 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:14,780 Speaker 2: was as if God lifted the veil from his eyes 73 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 2: and he was able to see God in new ways. 74 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: You see, God wanted to reveal himself to Abraham in 75 00:04:22,260 --> 00:04:26,310 Speaker 2: unseen ways. You see, it may have looked like Lot 76 00:04:26,330 --> 00:04:30,310 Speaker 2: got paradise, but Abraham, he got the promise. 77 00:04:30,470 --> 00:04:30,710 Speaker 1: Yes. 78 00:04:34,020 --> 00:04:37,990 Speaker 2: And you do too. You have the promises of God. 79 00:04:38,610 --> 00:04:41,410 Speaker 2: In fact, the veil has been lifted from your eyes. 80 00:04:41,770 --> 00:04:45,010 Speaker 2: It has been torn in two by the power of Christ. 81 00:04:45,460 --> 00:04:49,180 Speaker 2: And God wants to show you along this journey things 82 00:04:49,220 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 2: you haven't seen before. He wants to reveal himself in 83 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:58,150 Speaker 2: powerful ways. You see, when God spoke to Abraham and 84 00:04:58,210 --> 00:04:59,730 Speaker 2: told him that he was going to be a father 85 00:04:59,750 --> 00:05:02,410 Speaker 2: of many nations, said, Abraham, I want to show you 86 00:05:02,450 --> 00:05:04,730 Speaker 2: this land that I'm taking you. I want you to 87 00:05:04,830 --> 00:05:07,300 Speaker 2: inhabit it. I want you to possess it. I'm going 88 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,940 Speaker 2: to make your seed great and I'm going to bless 89 00:05:09,980 --> 00:05:14,060 Speaker 2: people all over the earth. His name was Abram. God 90 00:05:14,100 --> 00:05:17,339 Speaker 2: hadn't changed his name yet. to the father of many nations. 91 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 2: He was just Abram, a man that was believing God, 92 00:05:22,420 --> 00:05:25,780 Speaker 2: going on this journey of faith. In fact, he didn't 93 00:05:25,820 --> 00:05:30,669 Speaker 2: look anything like what God was saying about him. But 94 00:05:30,790 --> 00:05:38,490 Speaker 2: God's promises are spoken in the unseen realm. God's promises 95 00:05:38,870 --> 00:05:43,310 Speaker 2: are spoken but not seen yet. That's why the veil 96 00:05:43,350 --> 00:05:47,789 Speaker 2: was lifted so that Abraham could see into the supernatural realm. 97 00:05:48,130 --> 00:05:51,090 Speaker 2: So Abraham could get a glimpse of what God wanted 98 00:05:51,130 --> 00:05:53,470 Speaker 2: to do. He wanted to take the veil off of 99 00:05:53,589 --> 00:05:57,860 Speaker 2: Abraham's eyes so that he could see what God was doing. 100 00:05:58,700 --> 00:06:03,799 Speaker 2: You see, God's promises are progressive. They unfold in his timing. 101 00:06:04,420 --> 00:06:07,180 Speaker 2: They may not be seen yet, but it's only a 102 00:06:07,440 --> 00:06:11,049 Speaker 2: matter of time until God gets you to where you 103 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:14,370 Speaker 2: need to be. Until you start looking like God says 104 00:06:14,390 --> 00:06:17,250 Speaker 2: you're going to look. Until you start having what God 105 00:06:17,310 --> 00:06:21,510 Speaker 2: says you're going to have. It's progressive and it's in 106 00:06:21,570 --> 00:06:25,790 Speaker 2: God's timing. I have these beautiful lemon trees in my backyard. 107 00:06:25,810 --> 00:06:27,810 Speaker 2: I have two of them and they're full of fruit 108 00:06:27,870 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 2: right now. And a friend of mine we were in 109 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:33,419 Speaker 2: my backyard and we happened to be walking by the 110 00:06:33,460 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 2: lemon trees and she stopped and she paused for a 111 00:06:37,190 --> 00:06:39,870 Speaker 2: minute because they're beautiful, full of fruit. And she said, 112 00:06:39,890 --> 00:06:44,210 Speaker 2: those are the most amazing lime trees I have ever seen. 113 00:06:45,130 --> 00:06:47,110 Speaker 2: And I started to laugh and I said, those aren't 114 00:06:47,230 --> 00:06:50,870 Speaker 2: lime trees. Those are lemon trees. She said, those are 115 00:06:51,050 --> 00:06:56,150 Speaker 2: lime trees. They look like limes to me. And I said, oh, okay. 116 00:06:56,850 --> 00:07:01,429 Speaker 2: I said, the fruit on those trees are still in process. 117 00:07:02,330 --> 00:07:05,980 Speaker 2: They're not finished yet. They don't look right now the 118 00:07:06,010 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 2: way they're going to look. They're green now. Yeah, they 119 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 2: look like limes, but they're going to turn yellow in 120 00:07:13,580 --> 00:07:19,180 Speaker 2: just a matter of time. You see, Hebrews 11 says, 121 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:26,140 Speaker 2: we inherit the promises of God through faith and patience. You, 122 00:07:26,440 --> 00:07:30,670 Speaker 2: just like those lemons, are in process. You are becoming 123 00:07:31,090 --> 00:07:34,410 Speaker 2: everything God wants you to be. You may not look 124 00:07:34,470 --> 00:07:37,210 Speaker 2: like you want to look. You may not be where 125 00:07:37,250 --> 00:07:41,280 Speaker 2: you want to be, but don't devalue your journey. Don't 126 00:07:41,340 --> 00:07:44,900 Speaker 2: start thinking that the journey isn't worth it. The process 127 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:49,350 Speaker 2: is what builds your strength. The process is what develops you. 128 00:07:49,690 --> 00:07:53,090 Speaker 2: The process is what makes you become what God's called 129 00:07:53,130 --> 00:07:58,030 Speaker 2: you to be. You see, Abraham didn't despise the process. 130 00:07:58,930 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 2: He proved God to be faithful and true. Abraham went 131 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:07,140 Speaker 2: from test to test to test of his faith. He 132 00:08:07,180 --> 00:08:10,980 Speaker 2: went through challenges. He didn't even have his promised child 133 00:08:11,020 --> 00:08:14,940 Speaker 2: till he was a hundred years old, but he saw 134 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 2: the character of God You see, someone else may look 135 00:08:19,540 --> 00:08:23,260 Speaker 2: like they have paradise, but don't forget, you have the promise. 136 00:08:23,780 --> 00:08:28,060 Speaker 2: You're in the process and you are becoming everything God 137 00:08:28,100 --> 00:08:31,190 Speaker 2: wants you to be. If you find yourself consumed with 138 00:08:31,250 --> 00:08:34,709 Speaker 2: a problem today, you're going through a transition in your life. 139 00:08:35,130 --> 00:08:37,190 Speaker 2: You're wondering, how is this going to work out? 140 00:08:37,950 --> 00:08:38,449 Speaker 3: It's time. 141 00:08:39,250 --> 00:08:42,349 Speaker 2: It's time. It's time to lift your eyes from the problem. 142 00:08:42,740 --> 00:08:44,339 Speaker 2: and set your eyes on the promises. 143 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:45,660 Speaker 3: You got to. 144 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:52,150 Speaker 2: Realize beyond this place is greater heights, greater victories, greater strength, 145 00:08:52,530 --> 00:08:56,670 Speaker 2: greater anointing. It is time to shift your perspective to 146 00:08:56,710 --> 00:09:00,650 Speaker 2: God's promises. Listen, I believe if you won't get stuck, 147 00:09:01,330 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 2: if you won't settle where you are, if you'll continue 148 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 2: the process, you will become just like Abraham and you 149 00:09:08,420 --> 00:09:11,900 Speaker 2: will see God's faithfulness. You will see his provision. You 150 00:09:11,940 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 2: will see his promises and you will become everything that 151 00:09:15,820 --> 00:09:19,270 Speaker 2: God intended you to be. Amen. He's a faithful God. 152 00:09:20,809 --> 00:09:21,830 Speaker 2: He's a faithful God. 153 00:09:30,030 --> 00:09:33,320 Speaker 3: Don't wait for the perfect time. Don't wait for things 154 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 3: to change. Don't wait another day. Start believing and taking 155 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:39,079 Speaker 3: action now. 156 00:09:39,920 --> 00:09:42,900 Speaker 1: The scripture says, write the vision and make it plain 157 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:46,500 Speaker 1: to see. There's something powerful about writing down what you're 158 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:49,090 Speaker 1: believing for. That's why I'd love to send you my 159 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:52,230 Speaker 1: new I Believe Planner. It's a place to write down 160 00:09:52,250 --> 00:09:55,790 Speaker 1: your dreams, your prayers, and the promises you're standing on. 161 00:09:56,390 --> 00:09:59,190 Speaker 1: What stays before your eyes has a way of staying 162 00:09:59,230 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 1: in your heart. Every time you see what you've written, 163 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: let it be a reminder to thank God that it's 164 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,580 Speaker 1: already at work behind the scenes, even when you can't 165 00:10:07,660 --> 00:10:09,979 Speaker 1: see it. As you keep your faith in front of 166 00:10:10,020 --> 00:10:14,150 Speaker 1: you day after day, you'll be encouraged, your expectation will grow, 167 00:10:14,650 --> 00:10:17,410 Speaker 1: and you'll begin to see God bring those dreams to pass. 168 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,620 Speaker 3: The I Believe Planner is a beautiful new resource designed 169 00:10:21,660 --> 00:10:24,620 Speaker 3: to help you believe God for more in your health, 170 00:10:24,900 --> 00:10:28,830 Speaker 3: your family, your future. Inside, you'll find a weekly I 171 00:10:28,890 --> 00:10:32,730 Speaker 3: Believe Declaration to frame your mindset and shift the atmosphere 172 00:10:32,790 --> 00:10:37,070 Speaker 3: with God's Word, daily planning, to-dos, and prayer prompts, and 173 00:10:37,150 --> 00:10:40,600 Speaker 3: space to reflect and record God's faithfulness in your life. 174 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 3: Each month brings a fresh scripture and theme, plus a 175 00:10:43,940 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 3: QR code linking to an exclusive message from Joel, to 176 00:10:47,700 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 3: keep you encouraged all year long. This 15-month planner will 177 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:54,580 Speaker 3: inspire you for the rest of this year and set 178 00:10:54,620 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 3: you on a course for breakthrough throughout 2027. It's yours 179 00:10:59,140 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 3: as a thank you for your gift to the ministry today. 180 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,740 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of The I Believe Planner, 181 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:12,979 Speaker 3: available this month by visiting us at joelosteen.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 182 00:11:13,780 --> 00:11:16,240 Speaker 1: Don't just carry your dreams in your heart. Put them 183 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,050 Speaker 1: on paper. And as you read them each day, keep 184 00:11:19,110 --> 00:11:22,410 Speaker 1: thanking God that he's working. Victoria and I are praying 185 00:11:22,450 --> 00:11:25,309 Speaker 1: for you and your family every day. Thanks so much 186 00:11:25,330 --> 00:11:29,150 Speaker 1: for your prayer and support. Your generosity helps us take 187 00:11:29,210 --> 00:11:32,250 Speaker 1: this message of hope to people around the world. A 188 00:11:32,270 --> 00:11:35,030 Speaker 1: special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for 189 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,300 Speaker 1: all you do to make the ministry possible. Until we 190 00:11:38,340 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: meet again, may the Lord keep you and bless you. 191 00:11:42,150 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of The I Believe Planner, 192 00:11:45,780 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 3: available this month by visiting us at joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 193 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:56,020 Speaker 3: With an additional gift, you can also receive the I 194 00:11:56,080 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 3: Believe in His Word collection, featuring the Passion Translation New 195 00:12:00,220 --> 00:12:04,429 Speaker 3: Testament Reader's Edition, alongside the I Believe Planner, so you 196 00:12:04,470 --> 00:12:08,130 Speaker 3: can carry God's Word with you every single day, right 197 00:12:08,190 --> 00:12:12,220 Speaker 3: alongside the promises you're standing on. Don't wait until 2027 198 00:12:12,220 --> 00:12:16,580 Speaker 3: to believe God for more. This is your moment. You 199 00:12:16,620 --> 00:12:22,570 Speaker 3: can request these inspiring resources by calling 888-567-JOEL or logging 200 00:12:22,690 --> 00:12:27,070 Speaker 3: on to joelosteen.com today. Call or click anytime, 24 hours 201 00:12:27,130 --> 00:12:27,270 Speaker 3: a day.