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Speaker 1: Hi, this is Jorlan's Victoria. Thanks so much for listening

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Speaker 1: to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We

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Speaker 1: believe you're going to have an awesome twenty twenty four, healthy, productive,

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Speaker 1: and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. Well,

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Speaker 1: God bless you said joy to come into your homes.

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Speaker 1: We love you, and we know God has great things

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Speaker 1: in store for each one of you. He rewards the

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Speaker 1: people that seek after him. I know that's you. You

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Speaker 1: wouldn't be watching today or you wouldn't have taken time

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Speaker 1: to come out. But thank you so much, and we're

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Speaker 1: just believing two thousand and seven, it's going to be

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Speaker 1: a great year in your life. Amen. I like to

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Speaker 1: start with something funny each week. And I heard about

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Speaker 1: this college professor. He was going to prove to his

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Speaker 1: class that God wasn't real, And so he said, God,

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Speaker 1: if you're real, knock me off of this platform, and

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Speaker 1: I'll give you fifteen minutes to do it. With every

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Speaker 1: minute that went by, he kind of laughed and said, God,

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Speaker 1: I'm still waiting here. I am the last minute. A

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Speaker 1: three hundred pound football player walking down the hall heard

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Speaker 1: what he was saying. He came charging into the room,

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Speaker 1: lowd his shoulder with full force. He hit the professor

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Speaker 1: and he went flying off the platform. The professor got up,

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Speaker 1: kind of dazed and confused, that what in the word

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Speaker 1: you do that for? The football player replied, God said

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Speaker 1: he was busy, so he sent me, all right, hold

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Speaker 1: up your bible. Say it like you mean it. This

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Speaker 1: is my Bible. I am what it says I am.

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Speaker 1: I have what it says I have. I can do

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Speaker 1: what it says I can do. Today I will be

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Speaker 1: taught the word of God. I boldly confess. My mind

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Speaker 1: is alert, my heart is receptive. I will never be

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Speaker 1: the same. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible,

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Speaker 1: ever living seed of the Word of God. I'll never

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Speaker 1: be the same, never, never, never, I'll never be the same.

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Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk

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Speaker 1: to you today about how to deal with your weaknesses.

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Speaker 1: Every one of us has areas that we struggle in.

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Speaker 1: There may be a lot right with us, but we

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Speaker 1: all have things that are trying to hold us back.

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Speaker 1: Things in our character, things in our behavior that just

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Speaker 1: won't go away. It's a weakness. You could even call

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Speaker 1: it a persistent temptation. It's something that just keeps coming back,

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Speaker 1: and it's different with every person. It may be something

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Speaker 1: seemingly small, being impatient, being jealous, having to control everything,

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Speaker 1: a lack of focus. Or maybe it's a weakness with

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Speaker 1: your temper, a weakness with alcohol, a weakness with the

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Speaker 1: opposite sex, a weakness with what you watch. We all

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Speaker 1: have things that just won't go away. You can't defeat

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Speaker 1: a weakness one time and then you're done. It keeps

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Speaker 1: coming back again and again. And this is where so

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Speaker 1: many people just give in and say, well, I've tried,

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Speaker 1: I've failed so many times. This is just who I am. No,

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Speaker 1: we just have to learn to deal with our weaknesses

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Speaker 1: in the correct way. And I don't know so much

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Speaker 1: that we even overcome a weakness as much as we

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Speaker 1: learn to control them. I know one of my weaknesses

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Speaker 1: is being impatient. I've dealt with this practically my whole lifetime,

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Speaker 1: and I'm pretty good at controlling it now, but I

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Speaker 1: still have the temptation. I still have a tendency to

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Speaker 1: want to be impatient. In fact, last week, two lanes

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Speaker 1: of the freeway were closed, and what normally would take

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Speaker 1: me five minutes took me thirty minutes. I must have

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Speaker 1: had a thousand negative thoughts come to my mind, telling me,

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Speaker 1: get upset, this isn't right, You're going to be late,

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Speaker 1: this is ruining your day. See, the temptation to be

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Speaker 1: impatient still comes, and I've learned that's an area where

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Speaker 1: I have to stay on guard, with prayer, with discipline,

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Speaker 1: with the right attitude. I know I can control it

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Speaker 1: and not let it control me. But what I want

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Speaker 1: you to see is it's not realistic to think I'm

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Speaker 1: going to get rid of this once and for all

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Speaker 1: and never have to deal with it again. No, most

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Speaker 1: of the time, a weakness doesn't totally go away. You

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Speaker 1: may still we'll have the desire, the temptation may come

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Speaker 1: your whole lifetime. But our attitude should be I know

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Speaker 1: I can control this weakness and not let it control me. Now,

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Speaker 1: I would encourage you to know what your weaknesses are.

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Speaker 1: You cannot conquer something that you don't confront. You need

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Speaker 1: to examine your life, know the areas that you struggle in.

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Speaker 1: What are the things that are consistently trying to hold

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Speaker 1: you back? Do you have persistent temptation in a particular area,

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Speaker 1: could be with your temper you're constantly tempted to lose

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Speaker 1: your coup, could be in your morals you're consistently tempted

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Speaker 1: to be unfaithful, to compromise, or maybe even in your

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Speaker 1: self image. You have to consistently deal with thoughts of

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Speaker 1: low self esteem and inferiority. Well, get to know yourself.

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Speaker 1: Be familiar with your weaknesses, not in a condemning way,

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Speaker 1: but so you can be aware of what you need

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Speaker 1: to work on. I mean, too many people today live

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Speaker 1: and deny. One of the main reasons why a person

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Speaker 1: with a drug or alcohol addiction never gets any help

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Speaker 1: is because they don't think they really have a problem,

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Speaker 1: and we tend to overlook the obvious and to downplay things.

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Speaker 1: But if you really want to be your best, you

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Speaker 1: need to know the areas that you struggle in. Take

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Speaker 1: an honest look at your life and just call it

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Speaker 1: like it is. For instance, if every time I see

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Speaker 1: someone that's more successful than me, instead of being happy

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Speaker 1: for them, I start to find fault and to be critical,

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Speaker 1: then I need to be honest enough to say, you

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Speaker 1: know what, I'm just jealous. That's a weakness. I need

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Speaker 1: to work on it. If I'm always giving into pure

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Speaker 1: pressure and just doing what my friends want me to do.

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Speaker 1: I need to be honest enough to say I'm a

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Speaker 1: people pleaser. I've got to work on that. I know

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Speaker 1: people that have a weakness when it comes to sweets.

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Speaker 1: If they eat one chocolate, they got to eat the

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Speaker 1: whole box. A lady told me, Joe, I'm so undisciplined

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Speaker 1: in my spending. If I go to the mall and

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Speaker 1: see something on sale, I can't help it. I just

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Speaker 1: buy it. We have to recognize those are all weaknesses.

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Speaker 1: That's an area you have to stay on guard and

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Speaker 1: really fight the good fight of faith and understand you

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Speaker 1: are not a bad person just because you struggle with something.

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Speaker 1: We all have things to deal with. Don't sit there

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Speaker 1: feeling condemned, thinking, man, if they only knew what I

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Speaker 1: struggled with. No, I don't know of too many perfect people,

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Speaker 1: just myself and Johnny, and lately I've been having my

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Speaker 1: doubts about him. But when I say, know what your

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Speaker 1: weakness is are, it's not so you'll feel bad about yourself,

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Speaker 1: but rather this is an area I know I need

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Speaker 1: to work on. This is an area where I have

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Speaker 1: to stay on guard. One of the main keys to

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Speaker 1: controlling a weakness. A key to overcoming temptation is you

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Speaker 1: have to learn to pray ahead of time to not

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Speaker 1: give in to that temptation. That's what the scripture says

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Speaker 1: here Matthew twenty six, forty one. The spirit is willing,

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Speaker 1: but the flesh is weak. Pray that you don't come

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Speaker 1: into the temptation. Notice the spirit is willing. That means

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Speaker 1: we all have good intentions. I have no doubt. If

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Speaker 1: you could, you'd give up that addiction, you give up

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Speaker 1: a bad attitude, you'd give up being impatient. We all

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Speaker 1: want to do what's right down in here. But it's

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Speaker 1: not enough to just have the desire. It's saying you

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Speaker 1: have to pray so that your spirit man will become

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Speaker 1: strong in that area. You have to get your inner

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Speaker 1: man stronger than your outer man. And the only way

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Speaker 1: that's going to happen is through prayer. It's through asking

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Speaker 1: God to help you. This means if you have a

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Speaker 1: weakness with your temper, then you need to pray every

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Speaker 1: morning before you leave the house. God, I'm asking you

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Speaker 1: to help me not get upset, help me to not

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Speaker 1: give in to the temptation to lose my core. See,

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Speaker 1: don't wait until you're already in the situation. Your emotions

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Speaker 1: are running high, everything's out of Contrykra. The key is

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Speaker 1: to pray ahead of time. You've got to get your

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Speaker 1: inner man built up. Maybe you struggle with depression discouragement

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Speaker 1: where you can't wait till you've been depressed three days

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Speaker 1: before you decide to ask God to help you. Now

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Speaker 1: stay on the offensive on your good days, when you're happy,

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Speaker 1: when you're encouraged. You need to be praying God, help

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Speaker 1: me to control my thought life, help me to resist

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Speaker 1: the temptation to dwell on negative, discouraging thoughts. When you

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Speaker 1: do that, you're building your inner man up. For instance,

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Speaker 1: if you know every Monday tends to be a more

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Speaker 1: difficult day for you at the office, You've got more

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Speaker 1: to do and your traffic is worse, and normally you

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Speaker 1: come home more stressed out, you tend to be short

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Speaker 1: with your family, then you need to pray ahead of

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Speaker 1: time on Thursday, on Friday, on Saturday. God, I know

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Speaker 1: Monday's about to roll around and that same temptation to

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Speaker 1: be stressed and uptight is going to come. So I'm

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Speaker 1: asking you right now in advance, to give me the

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Speaker 1: grace to resist it, give me the strength to stay

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Speaker 1: in peace. What's happening. You're strengthening your spirit man. Remember,

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Speaker 1: the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak. If you

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Speaker 1: can get your spirit man built up to where it's

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Speaker 1: stronger than that temptation, then you will be much more

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Speaker 1: likely to overcome. Now, I'm not saying the temptation won't come,

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Speaker 1: but because you took time to pray, because you acknowledge God,

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Speaker 1: he will give you the strength to not give into it.

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Speaker 1: This is just what Jesus did when he was about

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Speaker 1: to be crucified. He knew what was up ahead, He

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Speaker 1: knew there were difficult days, how he was going to

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Speaker 1: be mocked and ridiculed. So what did he do. He

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Speaker 1: took time to pray. He said, Father, if you will

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Speaker 1: take this cup away from me, but not my will,

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Speaker 1: your will be done. Notice he was asking his father

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Speaker 1: for his help. Here he was the son of God,

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Speaker 1: yet he was saying, God, I can't do this on

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Speaker 1: my own. I'm tempted to give in. To not go

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Speaker 1: through with it, God, I need your strength. The scripture says,

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Speaker 1: after he prayed, an angel came and strengthened him. In

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Speaker 1: other words, God heard his prayer and gave him the

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Speaker 1: strength and the power he needed to not give in

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Speaker 1: to that temptation. God will do the same thing for

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Speaker 1: each one of us. If you'll pray ahead of time,

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Speaker 1: God will give you supernatural strength to overcome. But too

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Speaker 1: often we try to do things in our own ability.

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Speaker 1: I've had people tell me, Joel, I'm trying to break

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Speaker 1: this bad habit. I'm determined, I'm persistent, but I just

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Speaker 1: keep giving in no will, power and determination alone are

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Speaker 1: not enough. If desire was all we needed, we would

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Speaker 1: all be free. You got to start asking God for

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Speaker 1: his help every day. Pray about the areas you struggle in.

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Speaker 1: Pray about that temper, Pray about a negative attitude, Pray

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Speaker 1: about a critical spirit. Ask God to help you not

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Speaker 1: give in to that temptation. I was talking to a

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Speaker 1: high school student. She told how she does very well

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Speaker 1: in school all through the year. It's very smart, she

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Speaker 1: makes good grades. But she said, Joel, every time finals

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Speaker 1: come around, it seems like I just panic. I get

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Speaker 1: all up tight, and I can't remember the things I've studied.

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Speaker 1: It's just pulling my grades down. I told her what

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Speaker 1: I'm telling you today, you need to start praying right now,

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Speaker 1: a couple of months in advance. God, I'm asking you

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Speaker 1: to help me resist that temptation to panic, to get

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Speaker 1: up tight. God, I'm asking you to bring back to

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Speaker 1: my memory everything that I've studied, give me clarity of thought. See,

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Speaker 1: you've got to learn to pray ahead of time, get

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Speaker 1: your inner man built up. I know an area that

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Speaker 1: I struggle in is it's easy for me to get

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Speaker 1: up tight and to feel pressured. This is a persistent temptation,

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Speaker 1: especially toward the end of the week when I'm going

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Speaker 1: to be preparing my sermon. Of course, I want it

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Speaker 1: to be good, I want it to be helpful. And

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Speaker 1: so every week when Thursday or Friday rolls around, I

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Speaker 1: can feel this same temptation to be pressured, to be stressed,

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Speaker 1: to not have the joy and peace that I should have.

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Speaker 1: And I didn't really realize it was happening just the

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Speaker 1: way it was. One day, Victoria said something out of

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Speaker 1: the blue. She said, boy Joel, toward the end of

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Speaker 1: the week, you sure do bring a lot of pressure

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Speaker 1: into the house. And that day it was like a

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Speaker 1: light turned on. I thought, she is exactly right. I'm

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Speaker 1: allowing myself to get up tight and stressed, and I'm

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Speaker 1: not going to live this way. And so I started

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Speaker 1: praying ahead of time early in the week. God, help

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Speaker 1: me resist that temptation. Help me to not get stressed

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Speaker 1: and uptight. I started making plans on Monday, on Tuesday,

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Speaker 1: on Wednesday, to enjoy the rest of the week, to

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Speaker 1: be calm, to be relaxed. Every morning, Father, thank you

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Speaker 1: that your yoke is easy and your burden is light.

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Speaker 1: Thank you that I have a calm and relax, easy

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Speaker 1: going attitude. Do you know today I hardly ever get stressed.

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Speaker 1: I don't even worry about it, and sure the temptation

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Speaker 1: still comes. This is something I've got to do on

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Speaker 1: a regular basis. I found some weaknesses will not go away.

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Speaker 1: I believe God even leaves us with certain things, so

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Speaker 1: we'll always have to depend on him. So I can't

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Speaker 1: just say, well I beat it one time, that's it. No.

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Speaker 1: I know still every day in the morning, God helped

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Speaker 1: me to resist that temptation to be stressed. Something we

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Speaker 1: have to do on a regular basis needs to be

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Speaker 1: an ongoing process. We've all heard the same We're only

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Speaker 1: as strong as our weakest link. Normally that's talking about

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Speaker 1: a team, but it's also true even individually. You can

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Speaker 1: be a kind, loving person. You can control your temper,

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Speaker 1: be disciplined, be focused, and yet you struggle with being jealous,

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Speaker 1: or you struggle with low self esteem. That's a weak link.

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Speaker 1: And I found most of the times it's not the

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Speaker 1: big things that keep people back in life, it's just

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Speaker 1: the small things. I would encourage you to find your

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Speaker 1: weakest links and start really praying and asking God to

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Speaker 1: help you come up higher in those areas. Many times,

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Speaker 1: if you'll make a small adjustment, correct a wrong attitude,

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Speaker 1: not hang out with a bad influence, develop better eating

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Speaker 1: or spending habits. Very often, if you'll make a minor

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Speaker 1: adjustment and correct your weak link, you'll see a major improvement.

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Speaker 1: Your whole life will come up higher, and some of

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Speaker 1: you are so close to go into a new level.

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Speaker 1: If you'll really get serious and start being diligent to

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Speaker 1: control these weaknesses and to overcome that temptation, you'll begin

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Speaker 1: to see great things in your life and understand we're

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Speaker 1: always tempted in the area of our greatest weakness. I'm

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Speaker 1: not tempted to be lazy, I'm not tempted with drugs

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Speaker 1: and alcohol. That's not a weakness for me. But I

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Speaker 1: am tempted to be impatient. I am tempted to live

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Speaker 1: stressed out. It's because that weakness is an open door

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Speaker 1: to the enemy. It's what the scripture calls a foothold

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Speaker 1: that indicates it may not be something big, just something

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Speaker 1: small that we haven't been diligent to deal with and

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Speaker 1: get under control. You need to be aware of your

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Speaker 1: weak links. Any area where you're having persistent temptation, that's

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Speaker 1: a weakness, that's a possible foothold. And again I would

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Speaker 1: encourage you to really concentrate on those areas because that's

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Speaker 1: what's going to hold you back. I know people they're

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Speaker 1: very faithful in their marriage, they're excellent in their career,

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Speaker 1: they're patient, they're giving, They've got all these great qualities,

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Speaker 1: yet they can't control their mouth. They go around saying negative, critical,

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Speaker 1: hurtful things. That's the weakness. They really need to focus

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Speaker 1: on all these great qualities. Yet we're only as strong

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Speaker 1: as our weakest link. The mistake we make many times

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Speaker 1: is we just keep strengthening our strengths and we ignore

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Speaker 1: our weaknesses. We overlook the problem areas, but where in

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Speaker 1: fact those are the things instead of going to try

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Speaker 1: to take us back. I know in my life I

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Speaker 1: don't have any problem being focused, being disciplined. That's easy.

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Speaker 1: And if I'm not careful, I'll pour all my energy

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Speaker 1: into improving in those areas, which is fine. But the

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Speaker 1: problem is if I have this weak link that I'm

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Speaker 1: not dealing with. All these good qualities are trying to

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Speaker 1: take me higher. But this weak link could be jealousy,

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Speaker 1: could be in patience, how I treat people, compromise, a

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Speaker 1: negative attitude. That weak link is always going to hold

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Speaker 1: us back. So important that we deal with our weaknesses.

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Speaker 1: This is what David did twice in the Book of Psalms.

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Speaker 1: He prayed that God would help him control his mouth.

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Speaker 1: I don't know, he must have had a problem with

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Speaker 1: saying the wrong things. And here David was a great leader.

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Speaker 1: He was disciplined, focused, wise, yet he knew this simple

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Speaker 1: secret that we're only as strong as our weakest link.

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Speaker 1: So he prayed in Psalm one one, God set a

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Speaker 1: guard over my mouth. Notice he was doing just what

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Speaker 1: we're talking about, praying ahead of time. He was basically saying, God,

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Speaker 1: I'm not gonna allow this weakness to keep me from

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Speaker 1: your best I'm asking you to help me control my tongue.

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Speaker 1: Help me to speak words that are loving and kind,

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Speaker 1: words that build up, not words that tear down. See,

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Speaker 1: don't ignore your weaknesses. Stay on the offensive, and every

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Speaker 1: day ask God to help you not give in in

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Speaker 1: those areas. Remember we're only as strong as our weakest link.

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Speaker 1: Maybe you have a problem with your weight and you

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Speaker 1: have a weakness when it comes to overeating. You want

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Speaker 1: to stop, you know you should, but normally you just

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Speaker 1: give in. Then you feel guilty, go around condemned for

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Speaker 1: three days, think of well, I've already blown it, might

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Speaker 1: as well eat everything in sight. No, start asking God

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Speaker 1: to help you. You got to get your inner man

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Speaker 1: built up. If you know Friday afternoon they're having a

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Speaker 1: big party at the office with cake and ice cream,

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Speaker 1: all kinds of desserts. You cannot wait until you're standing

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Speaker 1: in front of that feast with your mouth watering to pray,

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Speaker 1: God help me. That's too late. You better start Monday morning. God,

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Speaker 1: do you know what's coming Friday afternoon. I'm asking you

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Speaker 1: to help me stand strong. I'm asking you to help

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Speaker 1: me resist that temptation. When you pray, what happens. Here

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Speaker 1: comes the angel with the strength that you need. Sometimes

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Speaker 1: when the food really looks good, you better pray. God

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Speaker 1: send me a big angel. This is gonna be serious.

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Speaker 1: This may take Gabrael. The way you keep your inner

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Speaker 1: man strong after you pray is all through the day.

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Speaker 1: Meditate on God's word. Don't go around thinking I can't

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Speaker 1: do it thoughts. Learn to think power thoughts. In other words, God,

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Speaker 1: I pray, God, I ask you for your help. Now

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Speaker 1: I just want to declare I can do all things

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Speaker 1: through Christ. I am more than a conquer I am

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Speaker 1: a victor. Nothing's too hard for me. When you do that,

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Speaker 1: your inner man is getting stronger. You're preparing for victory.

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Speaker 1: I found a lot of times we'll take a minute

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Speaker 1: to pray to overcome, but then we'll spend the next

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Speaker 1: three days negative. Well, I can't do this. I know

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Speaker 1: I'll give in on Friday. Just can't control my appetite. No,

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Speaker 1: that's just draining all your strength. That's weakening your inner man.

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Speaker 1: Stay in an atmosphere of faith and victory. Keep that

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Speaker 1: inside man strong. I think about Peter. He had weaknesses.

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Speaker 1: He was kind of hot headed, and from time to

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Speaker 1: time he would say things that he shouldn't. And one

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Speaker 1: day Jesus was talking to his disciples about what was

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Speaker 1: going to happen in the days ahead and how he's

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Speaker 1: going to be crucified, and he said, you're gonna be

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Speaker 1: tempted to deny me and tempted to go the wrong way.

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Speaker 1: So here's what you need to do. Pray that you

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Speaker 1: don't give into this temptation. And you would think Peter,

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Speaker 1: since he had some weaknesses, would be the first one

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Speaker 1: to say, you're right, Jesus, I'm going to take a

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Speaker 1: few extra minutes to pray. But no, Peter was proud.

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Speaker 1: He thought he could overcome in his own strength, and

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Speaker 1: he said, in effect, Jesus, what are you talking about.

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Speaker 1: I don't need to pray. I'm not gonna deny you.

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Speaker 1: I know better than that. Jesus looked at him and said, Peter,

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Speaker 1: before the rooster crows, you'll deny me three times. You

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Speaker 1: know the story. He did just that, He not only

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Speaker 1: denied Christ, but he started cursing, having a fit, had

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Speaker 1: to lead their all guilty and condemned. And I don't know,

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Speaker 1: maybe this could have been avoided if Peter would have

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Speaker 1: just had a more humble attitude and said, you know what, Jesus,

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Speaker 1: You're right, this is gonna be difficult. I can't do

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Speaker 1: this in my own strength. I'm gonna take your advice

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Speaker 1: and ask God to help me. I'm gonna spend an

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Speaker 1: extra few minutes in prayer. Think about it. If Jesus

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Speaker 1: prayed for what he was facing, if he encouraged us

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Speaker 1: to pray that we don't give into temptation. That lets

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Speaker 1: me know this should be a part of our everyday life,

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Speaker 1: especially in the areas that we struggle in. If you

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Speaker 1: struggle with a negative attitude every morning before you leave

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Speaker 1: the house, God helped me to not dwell on these

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Speaker 1: negative thoughts today. Maybe somebody at works not treating you right.

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Speaker 1: You're getting all upset and offended well before you leave

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Speaker 1: the house each morning. God help me resist the temptation

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Speaker 1: to be offended. God help me to keep my cool today.

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Speaker 1: When you pray, just imagine, here comes the angel with

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Speaker 1: the strength you need. Some of you today are not

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Speaker 1: seeing the victory that you should simply because like Peter,

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Speaker 1: you're not taking time to ask God for his health.

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Speaker 1: I know in my life when I consistently give in

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Speaker 1: to things that I know are not God's best and

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Speaker 1: just lets me know I'm not staying prayed up. I'm

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Speaker 1: not keeping my inner man strong enough. Because God has

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Speaker 1: promised there's not a temptation that will come to us

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Speaker 1: that we cannot overcome. I was talking to a gentleman

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Speaker 1: last week. He had been addicted to cocaine for eleven years,

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Speaker 1: and today he has been cleaned for ninety two days.

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Speaker 1: This is as long as he's ever stopped during this

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Speaker 1: eleven year period, and I was kind of curious. I

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Speaker 1: asked him how he did it. He said, Your first

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Speaker 1: thing is I quit telling myself that I couldn't and

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Speaker 1: I started saying I can do all things through Christ.

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Speaker 1: Second thing is I've got a group of friends to

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Speaker 1: support me. They call me and encourage me. And the

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00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:13,919
Speaker 1: third thing is every day I started praying God, I

403
00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:17,359
Speaker 1: need your help. God. I'm asking for your strength. God,

404
00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:21,160
Speaker 1: give me the grace to resist this temptation. He said,

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Speaker 1: I've been amazed at how I've been able to resist

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Speaker 1: things that I could not resist before. I started praying

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Speaker 1: what he couldn't do in his own strength for years. Now,

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Speaker 1: all of a sudden, he's able to do That's what

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Speaker 1: happens when you go to God with your weaknesses. That's

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Speaker 1: what happens when you take time to pray. Now, I'm

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Speaker 1: not saying that that temptation won't come back to him.

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Speaker 1: He may have to face it his whole lifetime. But

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Speaker 1: I know this, if he stays prayed up, if he

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Speaker 1: stays on guard, he will be able to resist it

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Speaker 1: and live a life of victory. You can too, but

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Speaker 1: you've got to keep your inner man strong. Now, I

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Speaker 1: would encourage you. Don't leave the house every morning without it, beast,

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Speaker 1: spend it a few minutes of quiet time with God,

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Speaker 1: read the scriptures, meditate on his promises, thank him for

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Speaker 1: his goodness in your life, and then ask him for

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Speaker 1: the help that you need. You got to keep that

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Speaker 1: inside man built up. Do you know your inner man

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Speaker 1: is more important than your outer man. Sometimes we feed

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Speaker 1: our outer man three hot meals a day, we only

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Speaker 1: feed our inner man one cold snack a week. You're

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Speaker 1: not going to defeat persistent temptation. We're not going to

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Speaker 1: control our weaknesses if we're not taking steps to actively

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00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:39,560
Speaker 1: keep our inner man strong. That means drive into work,

429
00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:42,680
Speaker 1: put on a good praise CD all through the day.

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00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:46,040
Speaker 1: Keep your mind filled with thoughts of hope. Don't go

431
00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:49,200
Speaker 1: around worried, go around thinking about how God has you

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00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:51,200
Speaker 1: in the palm of his hand, and how He has

433
00:23:51,280 --> 00:23:55,280
Speaker 1: great things in store. When you're positive and hopeful, your

434
00:23:55,320 --> 00:23:58,920
Speaker 1: inner man is getting stronger, then when that temptation comes,

435
00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:02,399
Speaker 1: you'll be much more likely to resist it. Why because

436
00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,439
Speaker 1: you're preyed up because you took time to honor God.

437
00:24:05,920 --> 00:24:09,439
Speaker 1: The scripture says when you acknowledge God, he will crown

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00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:13,520
Speaker 1: your efforts with success. Keeping our inner man strong should

439
00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:16,439
Speaker 1: be a priority. That's the only way we will defeat

440
00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:21,920
Speaker 1: persistent temptation. Another important key is don't focus on the temptation.

441
00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:25,960
Speaker 1: Don't let it dominate your thoughts, what you think about

442
00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,280
Speaker 1: you're drawn toward. If you've ever been standing at the

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00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,560
Speaker 1: edge of a cliff overlooking it, it's almost like a

444
00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:35,320
Speaker 1: force is wanting to pull you over. Makes me want

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00:24:35,359 --> 00:24:38,520
Speaker 1: to back up, and that's not unusual. That's a law

446
00:24:38,600 --> 00:24:41,879
Speaker 1: in human psychology. It says we move toward what we

447
00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:45,560
Speaker 1: focus on. The Other day, I was out running way

448
00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:47,639
Speaker 1: off in the distance. I could see a stop sign

449
00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,479
Speaker 1: must have been about five hundred yards away, and at

450
00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:52,960
Speaker 1: this time I wasn't even tired. I still had another

451
00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:56,320
Speaker 1: mile to go. But for some reason, I started really

452
00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,439
Speaker 1: focusing on the stop sign, and that word stop just

453
00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:01,640
Speaker 1: jumped out me in my mind like a blinking red

454
00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:05,840
Speaker 1: light saying stop, stop, stop. And it's funny. The more

455
00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:07,879
Speaker 1: I focused on it, the more I begin to think,

456
00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:10,560
Speaker 1: I'm tired. I don't know if I can keep going.

457
00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:12,920
Speaker 1: I'm win it. I need to stop. I was drawn

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00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:15,679
Speaker 1: toward what I was thinking about. Finally I realized I

459
00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:18,439
Speaker 1: have to change my focus. You cannot run forward with

460
00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,880
Speaker 1: the word stop blinking in your mind. I heard somebody

461
00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:26,600
Speaker 1: say what gets your attention will eventually get you. That

462
00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:30,399
Speaker 1: means you can't control a weakness by going around saying

463
00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:33,080
Speaker 1: I'm not gonna eat these donuts. God, please help me

464
00:25:33,119 --> 00:25:35,280
Speaker 1: not eat these donuts. I confess I will not eat

465
00:25:35,320 --> 00:25:38,359
Speaker 1: these donuts. So if you have donuts on your mind

466
00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:41,000
Speaker 1: all day long, you'll probably down about a dozen of them.

467
00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:45,640
Speaker 1: Change your focus. You won't control the weakness if it's

468
00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,600
Speaker 1: dominating your thought life. Yes, pray about it, ask God

469
00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:53,280
Speaker 1: to help you, but then go out thinking positive, hopeful thoughts. Friends,

470
00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:55,480
Speaker 1: you can control your weakness is you don't have to

471
00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:58,640
Speaker 1: let them control. You know the areas that you struggle in,

472
00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,240
Speaker 1: and then learn to pray ahead of time for God

473
00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:04,960
Speaker 1: to help you, especially when you know something difficult coming out.

474
00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:08,680
Speaker 1: Remember we're only as strong as our weakest link. Don't

475
00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:12,119
Speaker 1: ignore your weaknesses. Be diligent to come up higher in

476
00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:15,280
Speaker 1: those areas. And if you'll do your part and keep

477
00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:18,240
Speaker 1: your inner man strong and keep asking God for his health,

478
00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:20,800
Speaker 1: then I know God will do his part. He'll not

479
00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,760
Speaker 1: only help you resist the temptation. He'll not only send

480
00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,160
Speaker 1: the angel with the strength you need, but God will

481
00:26:26,160 --> 00:26:29,240
Speaker 1: pour out his blessings his favor. You'll live the life

482
00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:31,760
Speaker 1: of victory he has in story. Amen, do you receive

483
00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:36,919
Speaker 1: it today? We never like to close our broadcast without

484
00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:39,600
Speaker 1: giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the lord of

485
00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:44,200
Speaker 1: your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus,

486
00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:49,399
Speaker 1: I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I

487
00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:53,440
Speaker 1: make you my lord and savior. Friends, if you prayed

488
00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:56,800
Speaker 1: that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get

489
00:26:56,800 --> 00:27:00,080
Speaker 1: in a good Bible based church, Keep God first. Play.

490
00:27:00,359 --> 00:27:02,800
Speaker 1: He's going to take your places that you've never dreamed of.

491
00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:08,840
Speaker 2: What if what you imagine came to pass what if

492
00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,280
Speaker 2: what you asked for turned out greater than what you

493
00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:13,680
Speaker 2: can see?

494
00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:14,960
Speaker 1: What if you.

495
00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:18,040
Speaker 2: Could plan for God's best in your life.

496
00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:21,240
Speaker 1: We all have hopes and dreams and things we're believing for,

497
00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:24,320
Speaker 1: but what God has in store for you is more

498
00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:27,120
Speaker 1: than you can imagine. When you start the year off

499
00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:30,600
Speaker 1: in faith, believing for greater things, that's when God will

500
00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:34,399
Speaker 1: exceed your expectations. We love to send you our twenty

501
00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:37,880
Speaker 1: twenty five More to Imagine planner. You can write down

502
00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:40,840
Speaker 1: your dreams and goals, plus use it for your everyday

503
00:27:40,880 --> 00:27:42,560
Speaker 1: activity and reminders.

504
00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:45,520
Speaker 3: It is so important to feed yourself hope and faith

505
00:27:45,600 --> 00:27:48,960
Speaker 3: on a daily basis. This planner is not only a calendar,

506
00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:52,040
Speaker 3: but it's filled with inspiration and scripture to help you

507
00:27:52,080 --> 00:27:55,160
Speaker 3: stay encouraged and keep believing for what God has put

508
00:27:55,160 --> 00:27:55,800
Speaker 3: in your heart.

509
00:27:56,080 --> 00:27:59,080
Speaker 1: He sees your faithfulness, how you're being your best each day.

510
00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:01,560
Speaker 1: You're going to see the goodness of God in new

511
00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:03,240
Speaker 1: ways in twenty twenty five.

512
00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:06,480
Speaker 2: As you support the ministry this month with a special

513
00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:09,119
Speaker 2: year end gift of any amount, we would like to

514
00:28:09,160 --> 00:28:12,440
Speaker 2: bless you with the More to Imagine twenty twenty five planner.

515
00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,680
Speaker 2: With a new planner, you can start each day writing

516
00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:19,440
Speaker 2: down the fresh vision God gives you, whether it's appointments,

517
00:28:19,600 --> 00:28:23,360
Speaker 2: daily tasks, or long term desires in your heart. Let

518
00:28:23,440 --> 00:28:27,399
Speaker 2: each note be a testament to your faith. Included our

519
00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:31,840
Speaker 2: handpicked scriptures end uplifting reflections to empower you as you

520
00:28:31,960 --> 00:28:35,600
Speaker 2: walk this faith journey with Jesus one day at a time.

521
00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:38,320
Speaker 3: Joel and I are standing in faith with you that

522
00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:40,760
Speaker 3: twenty twenty five will be a year of far and

523
00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:42,680
Speaker 3: beyond favor for you and your family.

524
00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:45,480
Speaker 1: We pray for you every day for God's very best,

525
00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:48,240
Speaker 1: and we want to thank you for your prayer and support,

526
00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:52,200
Speaker 1: especially your year in gifts. You are impacting people all

527
00:28:52,280 --> 00:28:55,760
Speaker 1: over the world. Remember you can watch the services online

528
00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:59,920
Speaker 1: every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, listen on Serious

529
00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,760
Speaker 1: We'll watch our YouTube channel and the new Joel Ostein

530
00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:07,560
Speaker 1: streaming television network twenty four hours a day until we

531
00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:10,800
Speaker 1: see you next time. Have a very merry Christmas.

532
00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:13,800
Speaker 2: Be sure to request your copy of the More to

533
00:29:13,880 --> 00:29:18,720
Speaker 2: Imagine twenty twenty five planner today. Visit Joelostein dot com

534
00:29:18,840 --> 00:29:29,920
Speaker 2: or call us toll free