1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,160 Speaker 1: Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: If you enjoy today's message, why don't you be a 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 2: blessing and share it with a friend. 5 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:13,040 Speaker 1: We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in 6 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: your line. 7 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 2: Thank you for me here. You may be cheated. So 8 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,639 Speaker 2: good to be in the house of the Lord. I'll 9 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 2: never forget. One Saturday afternoon, when I was sixteen years old, 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 2: I walked in the kitchen and my father was grilling 11 00:00:27,920 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 2: hamburgers at Saturday afternoon. I was like, yeah, I'm hungry. Dad. 12 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 2: He said great. He said, can you run to the 13 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 2: store for me and pick up a few little items? 14 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,480 Speaker 2: I just need some mustard, some pickles, just a couple 15 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 2: of little items. I said absolutely. I mean I was 16 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 2: sixteen years old, just waiting to get behind the wheel, 17 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: any excuse to drive, and I was right there. So 18 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 2: he went to give me his keys, and as he 19 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 2: was giving me the keys, he said, now look, Victoria, 20 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 2: he said, I want you to go straight to the 21 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 2: grocery store. I want you to come straight back and 22 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 2: don't open the passenger side window. Don't roll it down 23 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 2: because it's off the tracks, and he said, I have 24 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 2: to get it repaired next week, so don't open the window. 25 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:12,800 Speaker 2: I took the keys from his hand and I rushed 26 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 2: out the back door, jumped in the car, cranked it up, 27 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 2: drove down the street to my best girlfriend's house and 28 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 2: picked her up. I said, we're going to the grocery store. 29 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 2: As we were on our way to the grocery store, 30 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 2: about to leave the neighborhood, we saw some of our 31 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: friends who lived in the neighborhood walking down the sidewalk, 32 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 2: so we started waving. I said, let's pull over so 33 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 2: they can see us driving. So we pull over. I said, 34 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,080 Speaker 2: roll down the window so we can say hi. She 35 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 2: looks at me and she says, I thought she said 36 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 2: the window was broken. I said, it's okay, it'll be 37 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: fine this time, This one time won't hurt anything. So 38 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 2: she rolls the window down, and we talked to our friends, 39 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 2: and I'll never forget. As I was driving all she 40 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 2: was rolling that window back up, and it was as 41 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 2: if time stood still. That window shattered in one million pieces. 42 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:12,079 Speaker 2: I looked at that window. I couldn't believe it, millions 43 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 2: of pieces. I looked at my girlfriend. I said you're 44 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 2: going home with me. Listen. I'll never forget driving that 45 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 2: car home, thinking what am I going to tell my father? 46 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 2: Drove up the driveway, walked in the back door, and 47 00:02:27,240 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 2: there he stood in the kitchen. With the biggest knot 48 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:33,400 Speaker 2: in my throat. I said, Dad, I got to tell 49 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:37,239 Speaker 2: you something. I did everything you told me not to do, 50 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:43,000 Speaker 2: I said, Dad, I shattered your window. Please forgive me. 51 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 2: I couldn't believe what I had done. But you know, 52 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 2: that Saturday afternoon, as a sixteen year old girl, I'll 53 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:53,400 Speaker 2: never forget my dad's response to me. As I looked 54 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,840 Speaker 2: at my father and he looked back at me, and 55 00:02:55,919 --> 00:03:00,520 Speaker 2: I'm sure he was disappointed. He looked at me with 56 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 2: eyes of compassion. It was as if he looked past 57 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 2: my failure, past my mistake. Somehow he saw a daughter 58 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 2: on a journey, and he showed me unconditional love that day. 59 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 2: He didn't brake me, he didn't tell me how terrible 60 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 2: I was. Somehow he found it in himself to look 61 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 2: over my faults and show me his love. Can I 62 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:33,959 Speaker 2: tell you, if an earthly father can do such a thing, 63 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 2: how much more does our heavenly father look at us 64 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 2: today through eyes of compassion and love. So often we 65 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 2: feel like he's looking at our mistakes, counting our failures 66 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 2: against us. But can I tell you The scripture says 67 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: when we were yet sinners, before we even knew what 68 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 2: was right and what was wrong, he looked down through 69 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 2: the corridors of time and he said, I love you unconditionally. 70 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 2: That is the heart of the Father. Now your story 71 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 2: might not be the same with your earthly father. I 72 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 2: don't know, but I can tell you it has helped 73 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 2: me understand the love of my heavenly father. You see, 74 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 2: that day I had to do something. I had ton't 75 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: meet what I did, and then I had to ask 76 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 2: for forgiveness. Then I took it one step further. I 77 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: had to receive his forgiveness because see it was up 78 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:36,640 Speaker 2: to me at that point. Was I going to make 79 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 2: a decision that my father loved me and that he 80 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: indeed forgave me and I could shake off the shame, 81 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: shake off the guilt, because see, there was something real 82 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 2: important that I needed to do. I needed to have 83 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 2: a relationship with this father in my life. And if 84 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:55,719 Speaker 2: I was going to draw back and not feel like 85 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 2: I was good enough, I would have never come and 86 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 2: asked him for the keys again. But guess what I did. 87 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 2: I asked him for the keys again, and he gave 88 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: them to me. I'm saying all that to say some 89 00:05:12,520 --> 00:05:18,039 Speaker 2: of you have shrunk back. You're not asking God for 90 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 2: the keys again. You're saying he couldn't possibly want that 91 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 2: for me. How could I possibly achieve that? Man, I'm 92 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 2: make a mistake all the time. I can't get to 93 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 2: where God wants me to be. If I even ask him, 94 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 2: will even hear me? Can I tell you your heavenly 95 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,120 Speaker 2: Father is not looking at what you're doing wrong. He's 96 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: looking at what you're doing right. He sees your two 97 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 2: good moves. Yeah, you may have blown it. You may 98 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 2: have even blown it yesterday. But can I tell you 99 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 2: when you come and you say, God forgive me, he 100 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,480 Speaker 2: sees us as a work in progress. We are sons 101 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 2: and daughters in progress, and he's not holding that again 102 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 2: us say, They'll tell you something. When I asked my 103 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 2: dad for the keys again, he didn't say to me, well, 104 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:10,479 Speaker 2: don't forget what you did, don't forget how you wronged me. 105 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 2: He didn't come at me with guilt and condemnation. And 106 00:06:15,200 --> 00:06:17,600 Speaker 2: I want to remind you today if if you're not 107 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 2: asking for the keys because you feel guilty, maybe a 108 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:25,039 Speaker 2: little ashamed, Maybe you can't even believe God would do that. 109 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: That is not of God, that is the accuser. And 110 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 2: those are the things you're gonna have to shake off 111 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 2: and make a decision today. When I ask God for forgiveness, 112 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 2: he freely forgives me, He pardons me. Luke twelve says, 113 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:45,039 Speaker 2: he takes great pleasure in giving you the kingdom. That 114 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 2: tells me He's got some keys for you today. You 115 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 2: gotta ask him. Don't walk timid before God. He likes boldness, 116 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 2: he likes tenacity. Listen, God says, come boldly before the 117 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,120 Speaker 2: throne of grace so you can obtain mercy and find 118 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 2: help in your time of need. See there's the key 119 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 2: right there. You've got to be bold. You got to 120 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:10,920 Speaker 2: ask for forgiveness, you got to receive it. You got 121 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 2: to forgive yourself, and then you got to know that 122 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 2: God's going to help you get to where you need 123 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 2: to be. Amen. He's a good father. He is an 124 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 2: amazing father. 125 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 1: Today it's easy to feel stuck in life, wondering why 126 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: things aren't changing, and worrying if it'll ever happen, but 127 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: there's a better way to wait. I'd love to send 128 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: you my new resource called Pray It Forward. This book 129 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: is a collection of prayers and promises from the Scripture 130 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: to help you pray boldly to strengthen your faith and 131 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,320 Speaker 1: while you're waiting, it's important to keep your mind filled 132 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: with hope and expectancy. When you pray in faith, believe 133 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: in what God promised. That's what moves the hands of God, 134 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: and that's when you'll see doors open, healing begins to come, 135 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:57,239 Speaker 1: breakthroughs in your family. Don't let doubt hold you back. 136 00:07:57,520 --> 00:07:58,840 Speaker 1: Pray it Forward. 137 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:01,239 Speaker 3: As our way of saying thank you for your gift 138 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 3: of any amount, we'd love to send you a copy 139 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 3: of Pray It Forward. Guided prayers for faith and breakthrough, 140 00:08:08,200 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 3: inspired by real life answered prayers. Pray It Forward will 141 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 3: help you speak God's promises over your life and over 142 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 3: the people you love, trusting that when you ask in faith, 143 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 3: God is already at work preparing victory ahead of you. 144 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:26,520 Speaker 3: You can take these prayers and scriptures and pray them forward. 145 00:08:26,920 --> 00:08:30,119 Speaker 3: They'll build a momentum of faith that carries you past 146 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:34,559 Speaker 3: obstacles and into the promises God has spoken over your life. 147 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 3: As you meditate on these truths, you won't be tossed 148 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 3: back and forth by finances, health challenges, or relationship struggles. Instead, 149 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 3: you'll be able to boldly pray with faith that is 150 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 3: immovable and strong, and you'll be filled with peace, assurance, 151 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 3: and joy. Don't let circumstances control your future. Pray the 152 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 3: truth of God's word forward and faith, and watch them 153 00:08:59,840 --> 00:09:02,560 Speaker 3: mountains in your life begin to move. 154 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: When you pray the promises what God has spoken over 155 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:09,200 Speaker 1: your life. Those are powerful prayers and that's when God 156 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: shows up and does what only he can do. Thanks 157 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 1: so much for being with us between I pray for 158 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:18,080 Speaker 1: you and your family every day, and we appreciate your 159 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,959 Speaker 1: prayer and support. Your generosity helps us take this message 160 00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 1: of hope to people around the world. And a special 161 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: thank you to our champion of Hope partners for all 162 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 1: you do to make the ministry possible. If you're not 163 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. But until 164 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: we meet again Meid the Lord bless you and keep you. 165 00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of Pray It Forward 166 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 3: Guided Prayers for Faith and Breakthrough, available this month by 167 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 3: simply visiting us at joeloasting dot com or call eight 168 00:09:47,960 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 3: eight eight five six seven Joel. You can also receive 169 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:55,440 Speaker 3: the Pray It Forward Companion prayer journal designed to help 170 00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 3: you engage in scripture, personalize faith filled prayers, and put 171 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 3: God's promises into action. With an additional gift, you can 172 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 3: receive the Pray It Forward Prayer's Essential Collection that centers 173 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 3: around a prayer bowl with scripture cards design to help 174 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 3: you physically release what's been weighing on your heart. This 175 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:18,400 Speaker 3: collection creates a powerful prayer rhythm for your life, helping 176 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 3: you focus your thoughts, speak God's word boldly, and stay 177 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 3: anchored in hope when circumstances try to shake you. You 178 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:30,280 Speaker 3: can request these inspiring resources by calling eight eight eight 179 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 3: five six seven Joel or logging on to Joelostein dot 180 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 3: com today call or click any time, twenty four hours 181 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 3: a day.