1 00:00:00,409 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Hey, thanks again for being with us today. Always my 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: honor to be able to share God's word with you 3 00:00:05,380 --> 00:00:08,160 Speaker 1: and hopefully inspire you and encourage you. If you're enjoying 4 00:00:08,180 --> 00:00:10,289 Speaker 1: the podcast, I hope you'll share it with a friend, 5 00:00:10,470 --> 00:00:13,250 Speaker 1: pass it along. Let's inspire some other people as well, 6 00:00:13,289 --> 00:00:14,990 Speaker 1: but know that we love you. It's going to be 7 00:00:15,010 --> 00:00:16,070 Speaker 1: a blessed day for you. 8 00:00:17,350 --> 00:00:20,170 Speaker 2: Well, God bless you. It's always a joy to come 9 00:00:20,210 --> 00:00:22,950 Speaker 2: into your homes. We love you. And we know God 10 00:00:22,989 --> 00:00:26,010 Speaker 2: has great things in store. He rewards the people that 11 00:00:26,050 --> 00:00:28,530 Speaker 2: seek after him. If you're ever in our area, I 12 00:00:28,590 --> 00:00:30,210 Speaker 2: hope you'll stop by and be a part of one 13 00:00:30,230 --> 00:00:33,490 Speaker 2: of our services. Give you a personal invitation. I promise 14 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,279 Speaker 2: you we'll make you feel right at home. But thank 15 00:00:35,300 --> 00:00:37,640 Speaker 2: you so much for tuning in. Again, thanks for coming 16 00:00:37,700 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 2: out today. I'd like to start with something funny. I 17 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,660 Speaker 2: heard about this minister that was out bear hunting. He 18 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:47,019 Speaker 2: searched and searched all through the woods without any sign 19 00:00:47,100 --> 00:00:50,140 Speaker 2: of a bear. After several hours, he finally threw his 20 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 2: gun down in frustration and went to the stream to 21 00:00:53,260 --> 00:00:57,020 Speaker 2: cool off. About that time, he sees a huge grizzly 22 00:00:57,060 --> 00:01:00,940 Speaker 2: bear running toward him a couple hundred yards away. He 23 00:01:01,020 --> 00:01:03,660 Speaker 2: falls down on his knees and says, God, I need 24 00:01:03,700 --> 00:01:07,580 Speaker 2: your protection. God, I'm asking you to convert this bear 25 00:01:07,770 --> 00:01:12,150 Speaker 2: into a Christian. miraculously, the bear froze in his tracks, 26 00:01:12,470 --> 00:01:15,450 Speaker 2: put up both paws toward the heavens and said, thank you, Lord, 27 00:01:15,569 --> 00:01:19,709 Speaker 2: for this food I'm about to eat. All right, hold 28 00:01:19,750 --> 00:01:22,390 Speaker 2: up your Bible. Say it like you mean it. This 29 00:01:22,500 --> 00:01:25,100 Speaker 2: is my Bible. I am what it says I am. 30 00:01:25,740 --> 00:01:28,100 Speaker 2: I have what it says I have. I can do 31 00:01:28,140 --> 00:01:30,660 Speaker 2: what it says I can do. Today, I will be 32 00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:34,380 Speaker 2: taught the Word of God. I boldly confess my mind 33 00:01:34,459 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 2: is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be 34 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:43,090 Speaker 2: the same. In Jesus' name, amen. God bless you. I 35 00:01:43,130 --> 00:01:45,650 Speaker 2: want to talk to you today about not having a 36 00:01:45,730 --> 00:01:50,190 Speaker 2: critical spirit. Too many people go through life focused on 37 00:01:50,230 --> 00:01:54,510 Speaker 2: what's wrong rather than what's right. They've developed a habit 38 00:01:54,910 --> 00:01:58,490 Speaker 2: of seeing the negative. They can walk into a brand 39 00:01:58,630 --> 00:02:02,620 Speaker 2: new house that's beautifully decorated. You couldn't ask for a 40 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 2: nicer place. But instead of seeing a thousand things that 41 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,900 Speaker 2: are right, they'll point out the one small scratch on 42 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:12,460 Speaker 2: the floor. They're drawn to the negative. They don't see 43 00:02:12,500 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 2: the beautiful rose, they see the thorn. And in life, 44 00:02:16,620 --> 00:02:19,810 Speaker 2: no matter how much good there is, you can always 45 00:02:19,910 --> 00:02:23,410 Speaker 2: find something bad if you look for it. Some fault, 46 00:02:23,930 --> 00:02:27,470 Speaker 2: some weakness, something that we don't understand. And we can 47 00:02:27,550 --> 00:02:30,490 Speaker 2: either develop an eye for the good or we can 48 00:02:30,530 --> 00:02:35,470 Speaker 2: develop a critical eye. This is especially important in relationships. 49 00:02:36,160 --> 00:02:39,810 Speaker 2: You can train yourself to see people's strengths or you 50 00:02:39,850 --> 00:02:43,850 Speaker 2: can train yourself to see their weaknesses. You can focus 51 00:02:44,010 --> 00:02:47,460 Speaker 2: on what you like about your spouse and magnify their 52 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: good qualities or you can focus on what you don't 53 00:02:50,540 --> 00:02:54,089 Speaker 2: like and magnify the things that annoy you. And this 54 00:02:54,150 --> 00:02:57,970 Speaker 2: is why some relationships are in such trouble. People have 55 00:02:58,010 --> 00:03:01,630 Speaker 2: developed this habit of being negative. Now they can't see 56 00:03:01,730 --> 00:03:04,930 Speaker 2: anything good. It's like this man I heard about. His 57 00:03:05,010 --> 00:03:07,910 Speaker 2: wife was making breakfast and he asked for two eggs, 58 00:03:08,290 --> 00:03:11,590 Speaker 2: one scrambled and one fried. She made them and put 59 00:03:11,610 --> 00:03:13,910 Speaker 2: them on a plate. When he saw them, he shook 60 00:03:13,950 --> 00:03:16,310 Speaker 2: his head. She said, what did I do wrong now? 61 00:03:16,370 --> 00:03:18,950 Speaker 2: That's exactly what you asked for. He said, I should 62 00:03:18,970 --> 00:03:24,310 Speaker 2: have known it. You fried the wrong egg. Some people 63 00:03:24,570 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: have become so critically minded that no matter what you do, 64 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,420 Speaker 2: it's not going to be right. They never see the 65 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:35,530 Speaker 2: good their spouse does. They've forgotten the reasons they fell 66 00:03:35,590 --> 00:03:39,350 Speaker 2: in love and got married. It's because they're magnifying the 67 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 2: wrong things. If you struggle in this area, I would 68 00:03:43,040 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 2: encourage you to make a list of the qualities that 69 00:03:46,860 --> 00:03:50,550 Speaker 2: you like about your spouse. Write down the things that 70 00:03:50,570 --> 00:03:53,730 Speaker 2: they do right. He may not be a good communicator, 71 00:03:54,170 --> 00:03:56,470 Speaker 2: but he's a hard worker. Put that on your list. 72 00:03:57,050 --> 00:04:00,050 Speaker 2: She may have some weaknesses, but she's a great mother. 73 00:04:00,510 --> 00:04:04,690 Speaker 2: She's smart. She's intelligent. Write that down. And every day, 74 00:04:04,910 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 2: go over it. Start focusing on their good qualities. If 75 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 2: you're negative toward your spouse and you operate out of 76 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:16,540 Speaker 2: this critical spirit, it's going to poison your whole outlook. 77 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,779 Speaker 2: You won't communicate properly. You won't want to do things together. 78 00:04:21,290 --> 00:04:24,150 Speaker 2: It will affect you in every area. You have to 79 00:04:24,190 --> 00:04:29,190 Speaker 2: make a switch. Start appreciating that person's strengths and learn 80 00:04:29,230 --> 00:04:33,310 Speaker 2: to downplay their weaknesses. We all have faults and things 81 00:04:33,350 --> 00:04:36,430 Speaker 2: that can get on people's nerves. The key is, what 82 00:04:36,490 --> 00:04:40,409 Speaker 2: are we magnifying? When we let this critical spirit rise up, 83 00:04:40,870 --> 00:04:44,070 Speaker 2: we start magnifying the wrong things. That's when we start 84 00:04:44,110 --> 00:04:48,250 Speaker 2: complaining that the wrong egg got fried. When we're critical, 85 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 2: we begin to nag and we exaggerate and make big 86 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 2: deals out of things that are not big deals. Will 87 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,420 Speaker 2: you never take out the trash? Will you never spend 88 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:02,410 Speaker 2: any time with me? You're always late. I've discovered people 89 00:05:02,470 --> 00:05:06,580 Speaker 2: respond to praise more than they respond to criticism. The 90 00:05:06,620 --> 00:05:08,960 Speaker 2: next time you want your husband to mow the lawn, 91 00:05:09,580 --> 00:05:13,039 Speaker 2: instead of nagging, saying you lazy thing, when are you 92 00:05:13,100 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 2: ever going to mow our lawn? It looks so bad. No, 93 00:05:15,350 --> 00:05:17,790 Speaker 2: just say, did I ever tell you when you're out 94 00:05:17,830 --> 00:05:22,850 Speaker 2: there mowing the lawn, you look really good. When I 95 00:05:22,910 --> 00:05:26,669 Speaker 2: see your muscles bulging out of your shirt, that sweat 96 00:05:26,710 --> 00:05:31,029 Speaker 2: dripping down in your face, you look so handsome, so attractive. 97 00:05:32,130 --> 00:05:34,170 Speaker 2: You praise him like that and he'll mow the lawn 98 00:05:34,230 --> 00:05:40,359 Speaker 2: every day. People respond to praise more than criticism. And 99 00:05:40,380 --> 00:05:44,250 Speaker 2: when we're constantly critical, we have to realize the problem 100 00:05:44,370 --> 00:05:47,170 Speaker 2: is not with our spouse. It's not with our boss, 101 00:05:47,270 --> 00:05:50,510 Speaker 2: not even with our circumstances. The problem is with us. 102 00:05:51,580 --> 00:05:54,420 Speaker 2: I heard about this couple that moved into a new neighborhood. 103 00:05:54,820 --> 00:05:57,620 Speaker 2: One morning, early while they were eating, the lady looked 104 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:01,260 Speaker 2: out the window and saw the neighbor hanging her wash 105 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,049 Speaker 2: out on the line to dry. And she noticed that 106 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,650 Speaker 2: the wash was so dirty and so dingy. She said 107 00:06:07,690 --> 00:06:10,810 Speaker 2: to her husband, that neighbor doesn't know how to wash. 108 00:06:11,290 --> 00:06:14,990 Speaker 2: Her clothes aren't clean. I wonder if she even uses detergent. 109 00:06:15,529 --> 00:06:19,000 Speaker 2: Day after day, she made these same comments. Can't believe 110 00:06:19,060 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 2: she lets her family wear those dirty, dingy clothes. Several 111 00:06:23,050 --> 00:06:26,349 Speaker 2: weeks later, she looked out that window and the clothes 112 00:06:26,390 --> 00:06:29,790 Speaker 2: were just as bright and clean and beautiful as could be. 113 00:06:30,310 --> 00:06:33,190 Speaker 2: She was so surprised. She called her husband, said, honey, look, 114 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,140 Speaker 2: the lady finally learned how to wash. I wonder what happened. 115 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:40,860 Speaker 2: The husband smiled and said, honey, I got up early 116 00:06:40,900 --> 00:06:47,390 Speaker 2: this morning and cleaned our window. The problem was not 117 00:06:47,450 --> 00:06:50,950 Speaker 2: that the neighbor had dirty laundry. The problem was the 118 00:06:51,029 --> 00:06:54,680 Speaker 2: window she was looking through was not clean. She was 119 00:06:54,690 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 2: seeing everything through a tainted filter. It's the same way 120 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:02,300 Speaker 2: in life. How dirty our neighbor's laundry is depends greatly 121 00:07:02,460 --> 00:07:05,380 Speaker 2: on how clean our own window is. Here's how the 122 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,670 Speaker 2: scripture puts it. To the pure, all things are pure. 123 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 2: If you can't ever see anything right, you drive down 124 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,820 Speaker 2: the freeway and only see the traffic and construction and potholes, 125 00:07:16,220 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 2: never the beauty. You only see the scratch in the floor, 126 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 2: never the amazing house. You never see what people do right, 127 00:07:23,420 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 2: only what they do wrong. My encouragement is clean your window. 128 00:07:28,540 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 2: The problem is not with somebody else. It's an internal issue. 129 00:07:32,650 --> 00:07:35,090 Speaker 2: It's like this man that had an accident driving to work. 130 00:07:35,430 --> 00:07:36,990 Speaker 2: He got out of the car and yelled at the 131 00:07:37,050 --> 00:07:39,670 Speaker 2: other driver. He said, lady, you need to learn how 132 00:07:39,690 --> 00:07:44,500 Speaker 2: to drive. You're the fourth person that's hit me today. No, 133 00:07:44,540 --> 00:07:46,920 Speaker 2: at some point we need to look inside and say, 134 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,490 Speaker 2: maybe I'm the one that needs to change. If I'm 135 00:07:50,550 --> 00:07:54,510 Speaker 2: critical all the time, maybe I've developed the habit of 136 00:07:54,550 --> 00:07:58,750 Speaker 2: seeing the bad rather than the good. If I'm constantly skeptical, 137 00:07:59,250 --> 00:08:03,590 Speaker 2: maybe I've trained myself to be cynical and sarcastic rather 138 00:08:03,630 --> 00:08:08,220 Speaker 2: than believe the best. If I'm constantly finding fault, perhaps 139 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,640 Speaker 2: my own filter is dirty. Maybe I've become judgmental and 140 00:08:12,680 --> 00:08:16,140 Speaker 2: condemning rather than giving people the benefit of the doubt. 141 00:08:16,820 --> 00:08:19,660 Speaker 2: And one thing I've learned is a critical spirit will 142 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,910 Speaker 2: follow you everywhere you go. You can't get away from it. 143 00:08:23,270 --> 00:08:27,670 Speaker 2: You can leave one job angry, upset, bitter. They didn't 144 00:08:27,710 --> 00:08:30,450 Speaker 2: treat me right. But if you don't deal with the 145 00:08:30,510 --> 00:08:33,950 Speaker 2: root issue, you'll have the same problem at the next job. 146 00:08:34,570 --> 00:08:38,370 Speaker 2: You'll think everybody's against you. Nobody can do anything right. 147 00:08:38,710 --> 00:08:42,209 Speaker 2: My boss doesn't know what he's doing. It's because that 148 00:08:42,290 --> 00:08:46,070 Speaker 2: window is tainted. I knew a young lady growing up. 149 00:08:46,590 --> 00:08:49,450 Speaker 2: For as long as I've known her, she has always 150 00:08:49,530 --> 00:08:53,730 Speaker 2: been critical. Even as a teenager at high school, she 151 00:08:53,770 --> 00:08:57,100 Speaker 2: would complain about things at school that I didn't even 152 00:08:57,130 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 2: think about. I never knew I had it so bad 153 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:03,580 Speaker 2: until she told me. I got word just the other day, 154 00:09:03,900 --> 00:09:07,439 Speaker 2: this would be some 30 years later that she just 155 00:09:07,540 --> 00:09:11,910 Speaker 2: left another job, upset, angry, thinking people didn't treat her right. 156 00:09:12,790 --> 00:09:15,469 Speaker 2: The sad thing is she'll go her whole life like 157 00:09:15,530 --> 00:09:19,550 Speaker 2: that unless she learns to clean her window. She's looking 158 00:09:19,710 --> 00:09:22,770 Speaker 2: out of a window that's been tainted through a filter 159 00:09:22,790 --> 00:09:27,470 Speaker 2: that's gone through years of judgment, years of criticism. Parents, 160 00:09:27,530 --> 00:09:30,820 Speaker 2: it's so important that We deal with these issues and 161 00:09:31,260 --> 00:09:35,050 Speaker 2: we learn to break a critical fault-finding spirit so we 162 00:09:35,070 --> 00:09:37,930 Speaker 2: don't pass it down to our children. That's what happened 163 00:09:37,950 --> 00:09:41,170 Speaker 2: to this young lady. I remember growing up, being at 164 00:09:41,230 --> 00:09:44,819 Speaker 2: her home, her parents were the exact same way. They 165 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 2: were critical about everything. Critical toward their neighbors, critical toward 166 00:09:49,620 --> 00:09:53,140 Speaker 2: the city. The man was always complaining about how bad 167 00:09:53,420 --> 00:09:58,250 Speaker 2: his employer was. A critical spirit will taint everything. What's 168 00:09:58,270 --> 00:10:02,980 Speaker 2: the solution? Number one. one, recognize your window is dirty. 169 00:10:03,740 --> 00:10:06,820 Speaker 2: Number two, just as you've developed a habit of seeing 170 00:10:07,000 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 2: the worst, train yourself to see the good. Don't go 171 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,400 Speaker 2: to work every day focused on what you don't like 172 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:18,339 Speaker 2: about your employer. Focus on something that's right. Be grateful 173 00:10:18,380 --> 00:10:21,400 Speaker 2: that you have a job. Be grateful that you're not unemployed. 174 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:24,540 Speaker 2: Don't drive up and down the freeway and just see 175 00:10:24,590 --> 00:10:28,449 Speaker 2: the traffic and the potholes and the construction. No, look 176 00:10:28,570 --> 00:10:31,330 Speaker 2: out at the beauty of God's creation. Look out at 177 00:10:31,350 --> 00:10:34,330 Speaker 2: the trees. Look up at the sky. Breathe in the 178 00:10:34,450 --> 00:10:38,510 Speaker 2: goodness of God. When that critical spirit comes, you have 179 00:10:38,550 --> 00:10:41,910 Speaker 2: to deal with it one thought at a time. If 180 00:10:41,950 --> 00:10:46,750 Speaker 2: you see someone or something that you don't understand, you 181 00:10:46,790 --> 00:10:50,510 Speaker 2: don't agree with, don't be quick to judge. Don't let 182 00:10:50,570 --> 00:10:53,530 Speaker 2: that critical spirit rise up. Just say, you know what? 183 00:10:53,929 --> 00:10:57,120 Speaker 2: I may not understand this. I may not agree, but 184 00:10:57,140 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 2: I'm not going to be a fault finder. I'm going 185 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:09,660 Speaker 2: to give them the benefit of the doubt. few months ago, 186 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,860 Speaker 2: I met a young man and his girlfriend after the service. 187 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 2: They had more tattoos and more piercings than anybody I'd 188 00:11:17,950 --> 00:11:22,170 Speaker 2: ever seen. The man had tattoos up his arm, to 189 00:11:22,210 --> 00:11:25,469 Speaker 2: his neck, even on his face. The young lady must 190 00:11:25,510 --> 00:11:30,290 Speaker 2: have had a hundred different piercings. They definitely were unusual looking. 191 00:11:30,890 --> 00:11:33,870 Speaker 2: At first, that critical spirit tries to rise up. Why 192 00:11:33,890 --> 00:11:35,910 Speaker 2: do they look like that? Boy, they must have a 193 00:11:35,970 --> 00:11:38,670 Speaker 2: lot of problems, a lot of issues. But instead of 194 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:42,000 Speaker 2: staying there, I took out my critical eyes and I 195 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 2: put in God's eyes. When I did, I had a 196 00:11:44,860 --> 00:11:49,679 Speaker 2: different perspective. I was glad that they felt comfortable coming 197 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:52,820 Speaker 2: to church. I was glad that they took time to 198 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 2: honor God. They were not anything like I expected. They 199 00:11:56,820 --> 00:11:59,679 Speaker 2: were some of the kindest, most genuine people you could 200 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:03,530 Speaker 2: ever meet. On the outside, there was a thousand reasons 201 00:12:03,610 --> 00:12:07,199 Speaker 2: to be judgmental, to be critical. That religious spirit tries 202 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,620 Speaker 2: to rise up. Why do they dress like that? What's 203 00:12:10,660 --> 00:12:13,929 Speaker 2: their problem? But no, really, what better place for them 204 00:12:13,970 --> 00:12:16,970 Speaker 2: to be at church? Come to find out, he was 205 00:12:17,030 --> 00:12:21,640 Speaker 2: the leader of a very successful heavy metal band. They 206 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 2: just had a big concert in the arena the night before. 207 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,740 Speaker 2: He looked to be about 30 years old. He said, Joel, 208 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,900 Speaker 2: I have never been in church one day in my 209 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 2: life before. This is the first time I've ever set 210 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:39,180 Speaker 2: foot in a house of worship. He gave me one 211 00:12:39,210 --> 00:12:41,990 Speaker 2: of their CDs and said, listen to track number seven. 212 00:12:42,270 --> 00:12:46,189 Speaker 2: That's a song I wrote after listening to you. Don't 213 00:12:46,250 --> 00:12:49,110 Speaker 2: judge people by the outside. When you're tempted to be 214 00:12:49,390 --> 00:12:53,370 Speaker 2: critical and find fault, remember the enemy is called the 215 00:12:53,429 --> 00:12:57,790 Speaker 2: accuser of the brethren. Recognize where the source is coming from. 216 00:12:58,270 --> 00:13:00,730 Speaker 2: He's the one that's wanting you to be critical. I 217 00:13:00,750 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 2: don't know about you, but I'm not going to go 218 00:13:02,170 --> 00:13:04,800 Speaker 2: over to that side. I'm going to stay on God's side. 219 00:13:05,140 --> 00:13:07,620 Speaker 2: I'm going to believe the best. There may be a 220 00:13:07,700 --> 00:13:10,579 Speaker 2: thousand things that I can see that's wrong with them, 221 00:13:10,940 --> 00:13:13,260 Speaker 2: but I'm going to look and look and look until 222 00:13:13,300 --> 00:13:16,300 Speaker 2: I find at least one thing that is right. I've 223 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,870 Speaker 2: been forgiven much, so I'm going to love much. And 224 00:13:19,900 --> 00:13:21,790 Speaker 2: if I err, I'm not going to err on the 225 00:13:21,850 --> 00:13:24,150 Speaker 2: side of judgment. I'm going to err on the side 226 00:13:24,170 --> 00:13:27,910 Speaker 2: of mercy. After all, where would we be without the 227 00:13:27,950 --> 00:13:30,890 Speaker 2: mercy of God? If I hadn't had good parents and 228 00:13:31,170 --> 00:13:33,709 Speaker 2: been raised in a good church, who knows where I 229 00:13:33,730 --> 00:13:36,310 Speaker 2: would be today? I'm not going to be condemning. I'm 230 00:13:36,330 --> 00:13:38,329 Speaker 2: not going to be a fault finder. I'm going to 231 00:13:38,370 --> 00:13:41,930 Speaker 2: keep my windex handy. I'm going to keep my windows clean. 232 00:13:42,570 --> 00:13:45,490 Speaker 2: But people today, they're so quick to judge and quick 233 00:13:45,530 --> 00:13:48,559 Speaker 2: to find fault and quick to be critical. If somebody's 234 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:52,060 Speaker 2: not just like them, they're a little bit different. Instead 235 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:54,719 Speaker 2: of giving them the benefit of the doubt, they look 236 00:13:54,740 --> 00:13:57,559 Speaker 2: them up and down and start to pick them apart. Well, 237 00:13:57,660 --> 00:14:00,859 Speaker 2: I would never dress like that. I would never drive 238 00:14:00,900 --> 00:14:03,540 Speaker 2: that car. Well, if I were them, I wouldn't have 239 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,540 Speaker 2: taken a vacation in this economy. If I were them, 240 00:14:06,620 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 2: I wouldn't send my kids to that school. If I 241 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,210 Speaker 2: were them, I wouldn't wear that much jewelry. No, here's 242 00:14:11,250 --> 00:14:14,089 Speaker 2: the key. You're not them. You don't really know what 243 00:14:14,130 --> 00:14:16,330 Speaker 2: you would do because you haven't walked in their shoes. 244 00:14:18,390 --> 00:14:20,650 Speaker 2: I had a man tell me after last week's service, 245 00:14:20,710 --> 00:14:24,270 Speaker 2: a visitor, how his pastor just took six weeks off 246 00:14:24,750 --> 00:14:28,250 Speaker 2: to go on a round-the-world cruise. And this man just 247 00:14:28,290 --> 00:14:31,850 Speaker 2: couldn't understand it. He went on and on complaining to 248 00:14:31,890 --> 00:14:34,700 Speaker 2: me and telling me how wrong that was. The whole 249 00:14:34,740 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 2: time I'm thinking to myself, the reason your pastor left 250 00:14:38,180 --> 00:14:42,650 Speaker 2: was to get away from people like you. How somebody 251 00:14:42,670 --> 00:14:45,750 Speaker 2: spends their money and where they go on vacation, how 252 00:14:45,810 --> 00:14:48,190 Speaker 2: they raise their children, what kind of car they drive, 253 00:14:48,590 --> 00:14:51,730 Speaker 2: I've learned that is none of my business. I don't 254 00:14:51,770 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 2: know about you, but I have a hard enough time 255 00:14:54,860 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 2: trying to run my own life without trying to run 256 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:02,060 Speaker 2: somebody else's life. One of the best ways that we 257 00:15:02,100 --> 00:15:05,770 Speaker 2: can keep our window clean is to learn to mind 258 00:15:06,010 --> 00:15:09,850 Speaker 2: our own business. If somebody takes four vacations a year, 259 00:15:10,010 --> 00:15:12,690 Speaker 2: that's none of my business. If they drive around town 260 00:15:12,730 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 2: in a limousine or come to church in a boat, 261 00:15:15,220 --> 00:15:18,140 Speaker 2: that's none of my business. If they wear rings on 262 00:15:18,180 --> 00:15:20,460 Speaker 2: every finger and rings on every toe, that's none of 263 00:15:20,500 --> 00:15:26,020 Speaker 2: my business. Don't be nosy. Nosy people are critical people. 264 00:15:26,560 --> 00:15:29,500 Speaker 2: They want to know all the details and all the 265 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,540 Speaker 2: latest scoop, not so they can pray for the person, 266 00:15:33,180 --> 00:15:37,310 Speaker 2: not because they're genuinely interested, but because they know they'll 267 00:15:37,350 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 2: hear something juicy that'll feed their flesh and And they 268 00:15:41,420 --> 00:15:44,290 Speaker 2: can run, tell their friends, did you hear what I heard? 269 00:15:44,810 --> 00:15:47,910 Speaker 2: Did you know what they did? Did you hear the latest? No, 270 00:15:47,930 --> 00:15:50,670 Speaker 2: your attitude should be, I didn't hear and I don't 271 00:15:50,710 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 2: want to hear. I don't want to be poisoned. My 272 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 2: ears are not garbage cans to fill with a bunch 273 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:01,380 Speaker 2: of trash. If somebody is trying to tell you something 274 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:05,350 Speaker 2: bad about somebody else, don't sit there and be passive. 275 00:16:06,100 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 2: You say, Joel, I couldn't help it. They wanted to 276 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:10,060 Speaker 2: tell me. Sure you can. Just say, you know what? 277 00:16:10,140 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 2: I just remembered I've got an important appointment I've got 278 00:16:13,260 --> 00:16:15,340 Speaker 2: to go to. I'm going to have to excuse myself. 279 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:18,780 Speaker 2: If you can't leave, well, you know, instead of talking 280 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:21,780 Speaker 2: about this person, why don't we pray for them? Stay 281 00:16:21,820 --> 00:16:25,100 Speaker 2: on the offensive. Don't let people poison you. If your 282 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:29,980 Speaker 2: friends are critical, fault finders, gossips, back biters, you need 283 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,040 Speaker 2: to find some new friends. Those spirits can rub off 284 00:16:33,140 --> 00:16:36,119 Speaker 2: on you. You shouldn't go to lunch every day at 285 00:16:36,180 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 2: work with people that sit around and bad mouth the 286 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:44,150 Speaker 2: company and criticize the boss and gossip and complain. You say, Joel, 287 00:16:44,170 --> 00:16:45,790 Speaker 2: if I don't go to lunch with them, I may 288 00:16:45,830 --> 00:16:49,750 Speaker 2: be lonely. Yes, but I'd rather be lonely than poisoned. 289 00:16:50,370 --> 00:16:53,210 Speaker 2: I would rather be lonely than allow people that are 290 00:16:53,250 --> 00:16:56,350 Speaker 2: not going anywhere in life to keep me from my 291 00:16:56,410 --> 00:16:59,490 Speaker 2: God-given destiny. Amen. Well, Joel, if I don't go with them, 292 00:16:59,610 --> 00:17:02,380 Speaker 2: they may start talking about me. Now, let me tell 293 00:17:02,390 --> 00:17:05,740 Speaker 2: you a secret. Most likely, they're already talking about you. 294 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 2: If they'll talk about others in front of you, then 295 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:15,370 Speaker 2: when you're not there, they'll talk about you. I have 296 00:17:15,430 --> 00:17:17,970 Speaker 2: a friend, when he was a young man, he worked 297 00:17:18,010 --> 00:17:22,030 Speaker 2: for this well-known minister. One night they were in another 298 00:17:22,109 --> 00:17:26,070 Speaker 2: city on the road holding this conference. And after the service, 299 00:17:26,450 --> 00:17:30,210 Speaker 2: the two main staff members for this well-known minister, they 300 00:17:30,250 --> 00:17:33,390 Speaker 2: invited this young man to come to their hotel room 301 00:17:33,450 --> 00:17:36,590 Speaker 2: after service and watch the ball game and have some snacks. 302 00:17:36,670 --> 00:17:39,490 Speaker 2: And so this young man went over there and they 303 00:17:39,530 --> 00:17:41,889 Speaker 2: were having a good time just hanging out. But all 304 00:17:41,910 --> 00:17:45,060 Speaker 2: of a sudden, these two main staff members begin to 305 00:17:45,140 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 2: talk about their boss. They were so negative and so 306 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 2: critical and judgmental toward him. This young man was shocked. 307 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:55,260 Speaker 2: Here he was just new on staff and these other 308 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:58,159 Speaker 2: two men had been with this minister for over 20 years. 309 00:17:58,740 --> 00:18:01,470 Speaker 2: When he heard how bad they were talking, something just 310 00:18:01,510 --> 00:18:03,850 Speaker 2: stirred on the inside that said, this is not right. 311 00:18:04,310 --> 00:18:06,609 Speaker 2: You need to go. You need to leave. And he 312 00:18:06,650 --> 00:18:10,899 Speaker 2: very politely excused himself. He never said anything else about it. 313 00:18:11,359 --> 00:18:14,750 Speaker 2: But a couple of weeks later, that well-known minister called 314 00:18:14,869 --> 00:18:17,609 Speaker 2: these two staff members in and said, I was praying 315 00:18:17,630 --> 00:18:20,189 Speaker 2: this morning and I just feel like you're no longer 316 00:18:20,330 --> 00:18:22,250 Speaker 2: on board with me. So I'm going to ask you 317 00:18:22,270 --> 00:18:26,250 Speaker 2: to leave. They were both dismissed. Today, this young man, 318 00:18:26,530 --> 00:18:29,810 Speaker 2: he's a very well-known minister. He goes all over the world. 319 00:18:30,290 --> 00:18:33,530 Speaker 2: But he said, I know if I had not left 320 00:18:33,630 --> 00:18:36,550 Speaker 2: that night, if I would have allowed them to poison 321 00:18:36,609 --> 00:18:40,300 Speaker 2: me and become critical and judgmental, I would not be 322 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 2: where I am today. Those other two men were just 323 00:18:44,300 --> 00:18:47,820 Speaker 2: as gifted. They had all kinds of potential, but for 324 00:18:47,900 --> 00:18:51,340 Speaker 2: years and years, all they've done is floundered around. They've 325 00:18:51,420 --> 00:18:54,290 Speaker 2: never walked in the fullness of what God has in store. 326 00:18:54,790 --> 00:18:58,570 Speaker 2: It's because they have this critical spirit. If people are 327 00:18:58,630 --> 00:19:02,609 Speaker 2: stirring up things around you, talking about the leadership, talking 328 00:19:02,650 --> 00:19:06,310 Speaker 2: about your family, talking about your friends, don't sit there 329 00:19:06,630 --> 00:19:08,930 Speaker 2: and be a part of it. That can keep you 330 00:19:09,170 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 2: from your God-given destiny. God will not promote a critical spirit, 331 00:19:14,380 --> 00:19:19,100 Speaker 2: a gossip, a fault finder, someone that's sowing discord. If 332 00:19:19,140 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 2: you have a problem with someone, go to them face 333 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 2: to face, not behind their back. You may not agree 334 00:19:25,660 --> 00:19:28,609 Speaker 2: with everything. There may be things you don't understand, but 335 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,700 Speaker 2: don't be a gossip. Don't go around stirring up trouble. 336 00:19:32,450 --> 00:19:35,170 Speaker 2: And if you're not behind the company that you work for, 337 00:19:35,690 --> 00:19:38,270 Speaker 2: you need to go find another job. But as long 338 00:19:38,310 --> 00:19:41,290 Speaker 2: as you're taking their paycheck, you should not be critical 339 00:19:41,410 --> 00:19:44,910 Speaker 2: and condemning. You should support those people and that organization. 340 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:49,430 Speaker 2: I remember even years ago, this man was very critical 341 00:19:49,530 --> 00:19:52,460 Speaker 2: toward my father. He stood up in the middle of 342 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:56,859 Speaker 2: a service and said, John Osteen, this work is going downhill. 343 00:19:57,460 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 2: It will not continue. You are not of God. You 344 00:20:00,540 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 2: are in error. My father said, brother, I appreciate you 345 00:20:04,300 --> 00:20:06,739 Speaker 2: coming today, but don't let the door hit you when 346 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:10,140 Speaker 2: you leave. He said, you better listen to me. I'm 347 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 2: a prophet of God. My father said, brother, you're not 348 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:17,290 Speaker 2: a prophet. You're just a fault finder. You're just a complainer. 349 00:20:17,770 --> 00:20:21,570 Speaker 2: In fact, you're where we get the term non-profit organization. 350 00:20:23,510 --> 00:20:26,669 Speaker 2: Year after year, my father just kept being his best, 351 00:20:26,890 --> 00:20:29,570 Speaker 2: doing what God called him to do. A couple of 352 00:20:29,590 --> 00:20:32,950 Speaker 2: years after that, that man, he was only in his 40s. 353 00:20:33,230 --> 00:20:36,729 Speaker 2: He had a heart attack and suddenly died. And I'm 354 00:20:36,750 --> 00:20:40,369 Speaker 2: not saying that God is going around killing people, but 355 00:20:40,470 --> 00:20:44,790 Speaker 2: I am saying when we're judgmental and critical, we step 356 00:20:45,010 --> 00:20:48,490 Speaker 2: out of God's protection. We step out of his blessings 357 00:20:48,609 --> 00:20:52,169 Speaker 2: and favor. And we have to realize when we are critical, 358 00:20:52,730 --> 00:20:56,770 Speaker 2: we're not hurting the other person, we're hurting us. One 359 00:20:56,810 --> 00:21:00,990 Speaker 2: time in the scripture, Someone criticized Moses because she didn't 360 00:21:01,030 --> 00:21:04,330 Speaker 2: like the wife that Moses chose to marry. His wife 361 00:21:04,390 --> 00:21:09,740 Speaker 2: was another nationality. And this lady criticized and stirred up trouble, 362 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:13,220 Speaker 2: just went around gossiping about it. All the while, Moses 363 00:21:13,260 --> 00:21:15,699 Speaker 2: was as happy as could be. Didn't bother him, he 364 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 2: rose above it. But in the end, the lady that criticized, 365 00:21:19,340 --> 00:21:23,290 Speaker 2: she came down with leprosy. Her skin was full of disease. 366 00:21:24,090 --> 00:21:26,150 Speaker 2: I don't know about you, but I'm not gonna talk 367 00:21:26,190 --> 00:21:30,340 Speaker 2: about people. I may not understand them. I may not agree. 368 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 2: I may choose not to associate with them, but I'm 369 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,370 Speaker 2: not going to bad mouth them and try to ruin 370 00:21:36,410 --> 00:21:40,350 Speaker 2: their reputation. I need God's protection. I want to stay 371 00:21:40,490 --> 00:21:45,850 Speaker 2: under his coverings. The scripture says here, Matthew seven, verse one, 372 00:21:46,270 --> 00:21:50,540 Speaker 2: don't pick on people. Don't jump on their failures. Don't 373 00:21:50,619 --> 00:21:54,500 Speaker 2: criticize their faults. Unless of course you want the same 374 00:21:54,540 --> 00:21:58,379 Speaker 2: kind of treatment. That critical spirit has a way of 375 00:21:58,460 --> 00:22:01,939 Speaker 2: boomeranging back to you. This is saying when we are 376 00:22:02,020 --> 00:22:06,020 Speaker 2: critical and judgmental, we are sowing seeds for people to 377 00:22:06,060 --> 00:22:10,459 Speaker 2: be critical and judgmental back toward us. It's funny today, 378 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 2: there are some people that do nothing more than criticize 379 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:18,960 Speaker 2: other ministries. They built an organization. They built their whole 380 00:22:19,050 --> 00:22:23,850 Speaker 2: ministry on criticism, on judgment, on fault finding. They never 381 00:22:23,950 --> 00:22:26,870 Speaker 2: see the good the person is doing. They never see 382 00:22:26,890 --> 00:22:30,730 Speaker 2: the changed lives. They overlook all the fruit and they'll 383 00:22:30,770 --> 00:22:34,310 Speaker 2: find one thing they don't agree with. One statement out 384 00:22:34,350 --> 00:22:37,570 Speaker 2: of 25 years of ministry, they'll blow it up and 385 00:22:37,590 --> 00:22:40,050 Speaker 2: try to make a big deal about it. What they 386 00:22:40,090 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 2: don't realize is nobody is perfect. I certainly don't claim 387 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:48,580 Speaker 2: to have perfect doctrine, to be right 100% of the 388 00:22:48,619 --> 00:22:51,430 Speaker 2: time on every single issue. But I do know this, 389 00:22:51,910 --> 00:22:54,250 Speaker 2: my heart is right. And I'm doing to the best 390 00:22:54,310 --> 00:22:59,020 Speaker 2: of my ability what God wants me to do. And 391 00:22:59,060 --> 00:23:02,860 Speaker 2: I love what Jesus said to people that were critical 392 00:23:03,020 --> 00:23:07,020 Speaker 2: and judgmental. He said, get the telephone pole out of 393 00:23:07,060 --> 00:23:09,980 Speaker 2: your eye before you try to get the toothpick out 394 00:23:10,020 --> 00:23:13,810 Speaker 2: of your brother's eye. What he was saying was, clean 395 00:23:13,990 --> 00:23:18,290 Speaker 2: your window, look inside, deal with your own issues and 396 00:23:18,710 --> 00:23:21,470 Speaker 2: spend your time trying to improve your own life. And 397 00:23:21,510 --> 00:23:24,880 Speaker 2: you'll have a whole lot less time being critical and judgmental. 398 00:23:25,820 --> 00:23:27,600 Speaker 2: And when I come to the end of my days 399 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 2: and stand before God, and he says, Joel, what'd you 400 00:23:30,560 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 2: do with the time that I entrusted you with? How 401 00:23:33,580 --> 00:23:36,369 Speaker 2: did you use the gifts that I gave you? I 402 00:23:36,390 --> 00:23:38,870 Speaker 2: would hate to have to say, God, I spent my 403 00:23:38,930 --> 00:23:43,950 Speaker 2: life criticizing other ministries, knocking people down, trying to make 404 00:23:43,970 --> 00:23:47,680 Speaker 2: them look bad, stirring everything up. Have a hard time 405 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:51,179 Speaker 2: believing that God's gonna say, well done, you good and 406 00:23:51,220 --> 00:23:54,000 Speaker 2: faithful servant. You did just what I asked. You stirred 407 00:23:54,020 --> 00:23:57,300 Speaker 2: it all up. I imagine God's going to hand them 408 00:23:57,440 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 2: a bottle of Windex and say, do me a favor, 409 00:24:00,340 --> 00:24:03,180 Speaker 2: clean your window before you come up here. If not, 410 00:24:03,220 --> 00:24:06,700 Speaker 2: before long, you'll be finding fault with me. And in life, 411 00:24:06,859 --> 00:24:10,300 Speaker 2: at times, you'll have to pass the test of not 412 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,920 Speaker 2: being critical toward people that are critical of you. Maybe 413 00:24:14,940 --> 00:24:17,810 Speaker 2: at the office, somebody is trying to make you look bad, 414 00:24:18,350 --> 00:24:21,570 Speaker 2: talking behind your back, taking things out of context. It's 415 00:24:21,630 --> 00:24:25,010 Speaker 2: very tempting to be critical back. and think two can 416 00:24:25,050 --> 00:24:27,670 Speaker 2: play at this game. They said this about me. Well, 417 00:24:27,710 --> 00:24:30,390 Speaker 2: let me tell you what I know about them. No, 418 00:24:30,410 --> 00:24:33,649 Speaker 2: don't sink down to their level. Don't let their poison 419 00:24:33,770 --> 00:24:38,550 Speaker 2: cloud your window. Learn to bless your enemies. Understand the 420 00:24:38,619 --> 00:24:42,860 Speaker 2: higher you go, the more haters will come out. Everything 421 00:24:42,900 --> 00:24:46,140 Speaker 2: may be fine with your coworkers as long as you're 422 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:49,580 Speaker 2: at the same level, but the moment you get promoted 423 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:52,940 Speaker 2: and and they see you being blessed, and you get married, 424 00:24:52,980 --> 00:24:55,119 Speaker 2: and you moved into that new house, and you've got 425 00:24:55,140 --> 00:24:58,580 Speaker 2: a healthy family, don't be surprised if they start talking, 426 00:24:59,060 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 2: spreading rumors, trying to make you look bad. Unfortunately, not 427 00:25:04,100 --> 00:25:07,900 Speaker 2: all of your friends will celebrate your victories. Not all 428 00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:10,940 Speaker 2: of your co-workers will be happy when you get promoted. 429 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:16,130 Speaker 2: Some will be jealous. Some will be intimidated. thinking you 430 00:25:16,190 --> 00:25:19,169 Speaker 2: succeeding is making them look bad, so they'll try to 431 00:25:19,210 --> 00:25:22,230 Speaker 2: tear you down. Well, I don't know why he got promoted. 432 00:25:22,430 --> 00:25:25,180 Speaker 2: He's not even that talented. Or why did he marry 433 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:28,180 Speaker 2: that girl? She's not even attractive. She doesn't even have 434 00:25:28,220 --> 00:25:31,920 Speaker 2: a good personality. It'll be tempting to try to set 435 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:35,500 Speaker 2: the record straight and be critical back toward them. But 436 00:25:35,540 --> 00:25:38,840 Speaker 2: don't fall into that trap. Let God fight your battles 437 00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,399 Speaker 2: for you. If you will stay on the high road, 438 00:25:41,859 --> 00:25:44,869 Speaker 2: God will take what they mean for harm and he 439 00:25:44,900 --> 00:25:48,030 Speaker 2: will use it to your advantage. They mean it as 440 00:25:48,090 --> 00:25:50,870 Speaker 2: a stumbling block to stop you, but God will use 441 00:25:50,910 --> 00:25:54,390 Speaker 2: it as a stepping stone to thrust you higher. Every 442 00:25:54,410 --> 00:25:58,710 Speaker 2: day I say, God, bless my enemies. Those people that criticize, 443 00:25:58,950 --> 00:26:01,170 Speaker 2: talk about me, try to make me look bad. God, 444 00:26:01,230 --> 00:26:04,270 Speaker 2: give them a great day today. When you do that, 445 00:26:04,630 --> 00:26:07,150 Speaker 2: the more they talk, the higher you're going to go. 446 00:26:08,090 --> 00:26:10,230 Speaker 2: Sometimes I feel like I don't even need to thank 447 00:26:10,300 --> 00:26:13,100 Speaker 2: my enemies. If it had not been for them, I 448 00:26:13,130 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 2: wouldn't be where I am today. They meant it to 449 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:17,899 Speaker 2: bring me down, but God used it to push me 450 00:26:17,980 --> 00:26:24,170 Speaker 2: up higher. Now I'm asking you today, to make a 451 00:26:24,210 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 2: decision that you are not going to have a critical spirit. 452 00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:31,260 Speaker 2: Train yourself to see the best. There's good in every 453 00:26:31,300 --> 00:26:34,679 Speaker 2: situation if you'll look for it. Make a list of 454 00:26:34,700 --> 00:26:38,719 Speaker 2: the qualities you like in your spouse, your children, your friends. 455 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:42,619 Speaker 2: Learn to magnify those things, the good things. I believe 456 00:26:42,660 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 2: today that windows are getting clean. We are wiping away judgment, criticism, 457 00:26:48,100 --> 00:26:50,840 Speaker 2: fault finding, maybe things that have even held us back 458 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:53,660 Speaker 2: for years, but this is a new day. I declare 459 00:26:53,760 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 2: it's no longer going to cloud our vision. We're gonna 460 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:59,919 Speaker 2: go out of here with clean windows, believing the best, 461 00:27:00,180 --> 00:27:03,770 Speaker 2: seeing the good, minding our own business. When we do that, 462 00:27:03,850 --> 00:27:07,110 Speaker 2: God promises he will fight our battles for us. He 463 00:27:07,150 --> 00:27:09,810 Speaker 2: will make our wrongs right. We're going to rise higher. 464 00:27:10,230 --> 00:27:13,630 Speaker 2: I believe and declare every dream, every promise, every desire 465 00:27:13,690 --> 00:27:15,570 Speaker 2: God's put in your heart. You're going to see that 466 00:27:15,609 --> 00:27:18,129 Speaker 2: come to fulfillment. Amen. Do you receive it today? I 467 00:27:19,410 --> 00:27:23,870 Speaker 2: know you do. We never like to close our broadcast 468 00:27:23,970 --> 00:27:26,710 Speaker 2: without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord 469 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:29,500 Speaker 2: of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, 470 00:27:29,540 --> 00:27:34,570 Speaker 2: Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. 471 00:27:35,450 --> 00:27:38,890 Speaker 2: I make you my Lord and Savior. Friends, if you 472 00:27:38,910 --> 00:27:41,450 Speaker 2: prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. 473 00:27:41,890 --> 00:27:44,929 Speaker 2: Get in a good Bible-based church. Keep God first place. 474 00:27:45,250 --> 00:27:47,469 Speaker 2: He's going to take you places you've never dreamed of. 475 00:27:56,090 --> 00:27:58,270 Speaker 2: A few years ago, I stood in a forest of 476 00:27:58,330 --> 00:28:02,149 Speaker 2: giant redwoods, trees hundreds of feet tall and thousands of 477 00:28:02,210 --> 00:28:05,920 Speaker 2: years old. I remember thinking every one of them started 478 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:09,149 Speaker 2: as a single seed, something you could hold in your hand. 479 00:28:09,770 --> 00:28:12,640 Speaker 2: But I was amazed at what they had become. That's 480 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,680 Speaker 2: not just true of trees. It's true of you. There 481 00:28:15,700 --> 00:28:18,330 Speaker 2: are seeds God has already placed in you that are 482 00:28:18,410 --> 00:28:21,410 Speaker 2: waiting to come to life. You haven't seen all that 483 00:28:21,450 --> 00:28:23,990 Speaker 2: you can become. I'd love to send you my new 484 00:28:24,010 --> 00:28:28,110 Speaker 2: 90-day devotional called Super Bloom. It's designed to help you 485 00:28:28,210 --> 00:28:31,790 Speaker 2: water what God has already planted in your life. Each 486 00:28:31,830 --> 00:28:35,550 Speaker 2: day's reading will strengthen your faith, remind you of God's promises, 487 00:28:35,850 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 2: and encourage you to keep believing. As you do this, 488 00:28:39,100 --> 00:28:42,640 Speaker 2: you'll see new confidence, new joy, and new growth. Those 489 00:28:42,720 --> 00:28:45,760 Speaker 2: seeds of greatness will begin to flourish and you'll discover 490 00:28:45,800 --> 00:28:48,620 Speaker 2: a life more rewarding than you've ever imagined. 491 00:28:49,680 --> 00:28:53,350 Speaker 3: Super Bloom, 90 days of growth, encouragement, and hope for 492 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,930 Speaker 3: all seasons of life is Joel's brand new devotional designed 493 00:28:56,950 --> 00:29:00,790 Speaker 3: to help you water what God has already planted in you. Inside, 494 00:29:00,970 --> 00:29:04,570 Speaker 3: you'll find 90 days of scripture, encouragement, and a simple 495 00:29:04,690 --> 00:29:08,850 Speaker 3: daily practice. Whatever season you're walking through, whatever you're believing 496 00:29:08,930 --> 00:29:13,020 Speaker 3: God for, because what you water today is what blooms tomorrow. 497 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:15,560 Speaker 3: It's yours as a thank you for your gift to 498 00:29:15,600 --> 00:29:19,530 Speaker 3: the ministry today. Be sure to request your copy of Superbloom, 499 00:29:19,790 --> 00:29:24,310 Speaker 3: available this month by visiting us at joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 500 00:29:27,150 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 2: Keep watering what God has planted. I believe you're going 501 00:29:30,100 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 2: to come into your super bloom season. Victoria and I 502 00:29:33,340 --> 00:29:36,090 Speaker 2: love you. We're praying for you and your family every day. 503 00:29:36,130 --> 00:29:39,890 Speaker 2: And thanks so much for your prayer and support, your generosity. 504 00:29:40,020 --> 00:29:42,660 Speaker 2: helps take this message of hope to people all over 505 00:29:42,720 --> 00:29:46,020 Speaker 2: the world who need their own moment with God. And 506 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:48,390 Speaker 2: a special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners. 507 00:29:48,710 --> 00:29:51,530 Speaker 2: Your monthly support makes a difference every single day. If 508 00:29:52,030 --> 00:29:54,510 Speaker 2: you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. 509 00:29:54,970 --> 00:29:57,850 Speaker 2: Until next time, may the Lord bless you and keep you. 510 00:29:58,690 --> 00:30:01,760 Speaker 3: Be sure to request your copy of Super Bloom, available 511 00:30:01,780 --> 00:30:05,850 Speaker 3: this month by visiting us at joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL. 512 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,060 Speaker 3: With an additional gift, you can also receive the Super 513 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:14,520 Speaker 3: Bloom devotional together with the Planted in God journal, a 514 00:30:14,580 --> 00:30:17,700 Speaker 3: place to capture your prayers, your dreams, and all the 515 00:30:17,780 --> 00:30:20,660 Speaker 3: good things God is doing in your life. We are 516 00:30:20,700 --> 00:30:24,470 Speaker 3: also making available to you this month the Bloom Expanded Collection, 517 00:30:24,770 --> 00:30:28,970 Speaker 3: the devotional and journal together with the NLT Spiritual Growth Bible, 518 00:30:29,330 --> 00:30:32,510 Speaker 3: one of the most comprehensive study Bibles available to help 519 00:30:32,530 --> 00:30:35,850 Speaker 3: you go even deeper in God's Word. What you water 520 00:30:35,910 --> 00:30:40,090 Speaker 3: today is what blooms tomorrow. You can request these inspiring 521 00:30:40,150 --> 00:30:46,930 Speaker 3: resources by calling 888-567-JOEL or logging on to joelosteen.com today. 522 00:30:47,590 --> 00:30:50,630 Speaker 3: Take the step today and watch what God planted in 523 00:30:50,670 --> 00:30:53,830 Speaker 3: you break open into your own super bloom, a season 524 00:30:53,870 --> 00:30:57,830 Speaker 3: of joy, hope, and growth you never imagined. Call or 525 00:30:57,870 --> 00:30:59,190 Speaker 3: click anytime, 24 hours a day.