WEBVTT - Bless Yourself 0:00:00.200 --> 0:00:02.880 No one likes to talk about money. Am I saving enough? 0:00:02.960 --> 0:00:05.040 Can I buy a house? Am I paying too much 0:00:05.040 --> 0:00:07.760 in taxes? Will I be able to retire? What if 0:00:07.760 --> 0:00:10.360 you could unlock insights about your finances in less than 0:00:10.400 --> 0:00:12.840 five minutes, with a clear picture of where you stand 0:00:12.880 --> 0:00:15.720 today and where your money can work harder. Now you 0:00:15.760 --> 0:00:18.759 can visit facet dot com to take the free quiz 0:00:18.800 --> 0:00:23.400 and get your financial wellness score today. That's Facet dot com. 0:00:23.400 --> 0:00:25.360 This ad is sponsored by Facet. Fast Wealth in Corporated 0:00:25.440 --> 0:00:27.280 is an sec registered investment advisor. This is not an 0:00:27.320 --> 0:00:29.080 offer to buy your self securities or is it investment, 0:00:29.160 --> 0:00:30.080 legal or tax advice. 0:00:30.760 --> 0:00:33.960 You're ready for a comeback, and with Purdue Global you 0:00:34.000 --> 0:00:37.200 can do more than take classes. You can take charge 0:00:37.520 --> 0:00:41.520 of your story, of your career, of your life, Earn 0:00:41.560 --> 0:00:43.559 a degree you can be proud of, and get an 0:00:43.680 --> 0:00:48.559 education employer's respect. 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Download the uns stap and use the 0:01:18.800 --> 0:01:20.840 code I heeart fifty at sign up to receive a 0:01:20.880 --> 0:01:23.400 fifty dollars bonus when you find your account. That's code 0:01:23.400 --> 0:01:26.400 iHeart fifty when you sign up at unest dot co 0:01:26.760 --> 0:01:29.319 for a fifty dollars bonus. See terms and conditions at 0:01:29.440 --> 0:01:30.120 UNEs dot co. 0:01:31.200 --> 0:01:34.720 You believe what you say about yourself more than what 0:01:34.800 --> 0:01:38.559 anyone else says about you. When you hear yourself day 0:01:38.600 --> 0:01:42.560 after day, I am healthy, I am talented, I am confident, 0:01:42.640 --> 0:01:47.480 I am valuable. It's changing how you see yourself Over time, 0:01:47.760 --> 0:01:51.080 You're going to become what you're saying. You are who 0:01:51.160 --> 0:01:54.560 you are in part today because of what you've been 0:01:54.640 --> 0:01:59.560 speaking over your life. Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. 0:01:59.600 --> 0:02:03.000 Thanks for we're downloading our podcast. We enjoy spending this 0:02:03.120 --> 0:02:05.880 time with you. I know you're going to leave encouraged 0:02:05.920 --> 0:02:06.640 and inspired. 0:02:06.920 --> 0:02:09.880 Make sure you subscribe to get new messages every week 0:02:10.000 --> 0:02:12.639 and follow us on social media to stay connected. 0:02:12.840 --> 0:02:16.240 We appreciate your support. It helps keep the ministry going. 0:02:16.680 --> 0:02:17.799 Enjoy the message. 0:02:18.560 --> 0:02:20.960 God bless you, and thanks so much for letting us 0:02:21.000 --> 0:02:23.640 come into your homes. We are praying for you and 0:02:23.680 --> 0:02:27.400 your family for God's very best. I like to start 0:02:27.440 --> 0:02:30.000 with something funny, and I heard about this pastor and 0:02:30.320 --> 0:02:33.480 he bought a new horse. He trained it to respond 0:02:33.840 --> 0:02:38.280 to praise the Lord meaning giddy up, and Hallelujah meaning woe. 0:02:38.880 --> 0:02:41.600 Every time he said praise the Lord, the horse took 0:02:41.600 --> 0:02:45.160 off running. When he said Hallelujah, it would quickly stop. 0:02:45.800 --> 0:02:48.720 One day he was out riding, the horse got spooked 0:02:48.880 --> 0:02:52.359 took off running straight toward a cliff, go in full blast. 0:02:52.919 --> 0:02:55.520 In the panic, he couldn't remember what he had taught 0:02:55.560 --> 0:02:58.640 the horse. He said, Bless God, Glory, Amen. 0:02:58.840 --> 0:02:59.720 Nothing happened. 0:03:00.160 --> 0:03:04.000 At the last moment, he shouted Hallelujah, and the horse 0:03:04.160 --> 0:03:07.240 came to a screeching halt, just inches before. 0:03:07.000 --> 0:03:08.160 The edge of the cliff. 0:03:08.680 --> 0:03:11.799 He breathed a sigh of relief and said, Praise the Lord. 0:03:12.680 --> 0:03:15.440 Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. 0:03:15.960 --> 0:03:18.440 I am what it says I am, I have what 0:03:18.480 --> 0:03:20.880 it says I have, I can do what it says 0:03:20.919 --> 0:03:22.440 I can do today. 0:03:22.560 --> 0:03:24.400 I will be taught the word of God. 0:03:24.880 --> 0:03:29.120 I boldly confess my mind is alert, my heart is receptive. 0:03:29.400 --> 0:03:33.160 I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God 0:03:33.200 --> 0:03:33.680 bless you. 0:03:34.880 --> 0:03:37.840 I want to talk to you today about blessing yourself. 0:03:38.520 --> 0:03:42.080 We hear a lot about blessing others, being good to friends, 0:03:42.360 --> 0:03:45.000 complimenting a family member, helping a neighbor. 0:03:45.440 --> 0:03:46.280 That's all good. 0:03:46.680 --> 0:03:51.240 We should bless others, but it's also important to bless yourself. 0:03:51.880 --> 0:03:54.680 When we hear bless yourself, that can sound odd and 0:03:54.960 --> 0:03:58.640 self centered. I can't bless myself. I want somebody else 0:03:58.640 --> 0:04:01.640 to bless me. Importantly, I want God to bless me. 0:04:02.320 --> 0:04:05.920 But the scripture says in Isaiah, he who invokes a 0:04:06.000 --> 0:04:09.800 blessing on himself shall do so by saying. 0:04:10.560 --> 0:04:11.680 The way you bless. 0:04:11.480 --> 0:04:15.120 Yourself is to say what God says about you. I 0:04:15.160 --> 0:04:19.920 am strong, I am talented, I am forgiven, I am healthy, 0:04:20.240 --> 0:04:24.039 I am valuable, I am a masterpiece. Those are not 0:04:24.520 --> 0:04:29.120 just positive affirmations. You just invoked a blessing on yourself. 0:04:29.839 --> 0:04:32.600 When you speak it out, you give life to what 0:04:32.640 --> 0:04:33.240 you're saying. 0:04:33.720 --> 0:04:35.320 It's not enough to just think this. 0:04:35.760 --> 0:04:39.039 You don't bless yourself by just dwelling on positive thoughts. 0:04:39.400 --> 0:04:44.120 Nothing happens until you speak. When you say I am blessed, 0:04:44.480 --> 0:04:48.480 blessings come looking for you. When you say I am prosperous, 0:04:48.760 --> 0:04:51.719 good break start heading your way. When you say I 0:04:51.760 --> 0:04:55.720 am healthy, health starts tracking you down. You can't wait 0:04:55.800 --> 0:04:58.400 until you feel that way. Then you're going to say it. 0:04:58.880 --> 0:05:02.159 When the medical report turns around, then I'll say I'm healthy. 0:05:02.279 --> 0:05:03.360 It's just the opposite. 0:05:03.760 --> 0:05:06.880 You have to declare you're healthy before the health is 0:05:06.880 --> 0:05:09.760 going to show up. You have to say I am 0:05:09.880 --> 0:05:13.760 confident before you're going to feel confident. If you'll say 0:05:13.800 --> 0:05:17.200 it long enough, what happens is those words get down 0:05:17.240 --> 0:05:21.320 in your spirit. You believe what you say about yourself 0:05:21.640 --> 0:05:24.880 more than what anyone else says about you. When you 0:05:24.960 --> 0:05:28.960 hear yourself day after day, I am healthy, I am talented, 0:05:29.240 --> 0:05:33.040 I am confident, I am valuable. It's changing how you 0:05:33.120 --> 0:05:37.320 see yourself. Over time, You're going to become what you're saying. 0:05:38.040 --> 0:05:41.480 You are who you are in part today because of 0:05:41.520 --> 0:05:45.000 what you've been speaking over your life now all through 0:05:45.040 --> 0:05:48.760 the day. You need to develop this habit of blessing yourself. 0:05:49.360 --> 0:05:51.440 You don't have to do it in front of other people, 0:05:51.680 --> 0:05:54.400 but when you're in the shower. Father, thank you that 0:05:54.480 --> 0:05:58.520 I am creative, I am attractive, I am a great father. 0:05:58.920 --> 0:06:02.440 I have a good person driving to work. Lord, thank 0:06:02.480 --> 0:06:06.720 you that I'm forgiven. I'm redeemed that your mercy is bigger. 0:06:06.400 --> 0:06:07.360 Than my mistakes. 0:06:07.880 --> 0:06:10.960 Before you go to bed, I am valuable. I am 0:06:11.000 --> 0:06:14.839 one of a kind. I have seeds of greatness. Every 0:06:14.920 --> 0:06:17.679 time you say that, it's getting deeper in your spirit. 0:06:18.040 --> 0:06:21.960 It's becoming more ingrained in your thinking, and studies tell 0:06:22.040 --> 0:06:25.960 us that we move toward what's in our subconscious mind 0:06:26.400 --> 0:06:29.680 without even thinking about it. You're being pulled toward what 0:06:29.720 --> 0:06:33.720 you're saying. That's why it's so important to pay attention 0:06:34.160 --> 0:06:38.320 to what you're speaking over yourself. Other people may say 0:06:38.400 --> 0:06:42.480 things about you, but nothing is more powerful. 0:06:42.080 --> 0:06:44.240 Than what you say about yourself. 0:06:45.080 --> 0:06:47.640 I can tell you all day long you're a victor 0:06:47.960 --> 0:06:49.160 and not a victim. 0:06:49.560 --> 0:06:50.119 That's good. 0:06:50.400 --> 0:06:54.159 That's helping your thinking, but it's nothing compared to when 0:06:54.200 --> 0:06:57.400 you say I am a child of the Most High God. 0:06:57.800 --> 0:07:01.719 I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am a masterpiece, 0:07:02.040 --> 0:07:06.240 handpicked by the creator of the universe. You keep declaring 0:07:06.279 --> 0:07:09.880 that and you can't stay insecure, feeling unworthy. 0:07:10.200 --> 0:07:11.760 That will get down in your spirit. 0:07:12.200 --> 0:07:14.800 You'll put your shoulders back, hold your head up, hie, 0:07:15.120 --> 0:07:18.640 and you'll go places that you've never dreamed. Are you 0:07:18.720 --> 0:07:22.360 blessing yourself or you're just waiting for God to bless you, 0:07:22.880 --> 0:07:25.800 waiting for your spouse to make you feel valuable, waiting 0:07:25.840 --> 0:07:29.560 for that addiction to go away. Maybe the reason it's 0:07:29.600 --> 0:07:33.520 not happening is you're not invoking the blessing on yourself. 0:07:33.760 --> 0:07:37.280 You're not declaring what God says about you in the 0:07:37.360 --> 0:07:38.560 face of that addiction. 0:07:38.920 --> 0:07:42.480 You need to declare, I am free, I am whole. 0:07:43.040 --> 0:07:45.720 Greater is he that's in me than what's trying to 0:07:45.760 --> 0:07:49.200 stop me, Not just one time, but all through the day, 0:07:49.440 --> 0:07:53.400 week after week, month after month. Keep blessing yourself, keep 0:07:53.440 --> 0:07:57.520 declaring your free, keep speaking victory. As you do that, 0:07:58.040 --> 0:08:00.200 you may not be able to see it, but eat 0:08:00.240 --> 0:08:04.240 them is coming your way. The scripture says you will 0:08:04.280 --> 0:08:06.240 eat the fruit of your words. 0:08:06.920 --> 0:08:11.520 Whatever you're saying, that fruit is developing. The fruit is growing. 0:08:11.960 --> 0:08:16.000 It's significant that God uses fruit as the example because 0:08:16.000 --> 0:08:17.800 fruit doesn't develop overnight. 0:08:18.120 --> 0:08:18.960 It takes time. 0:08:19.680 --> 0:08:22.360 This is showing us you have to keep speaking it, 0:08:22.840 --> 0:08:26.520 keep blessing yourself. Don't be moved by what's not changing. 0:08:26.800 --> 0:08:29.280 You may not see results in a week, but things 0:08:29.320 --> 0:08:32.040 are happening that you can't see. 0:08:32.160 --> 0:08:34.439 We have some lemon trees in our backyard. 0:08:35.000 --> 0:08:38.160 The lemon start off as a little white flower, no 0:08:38.320 --> 0:08:42.080 resemblance of a lemon. Over time, that flower changes into 0:08:42.080 --> 0:08:44.680 a little round ball, about the size of a pea. 0:08:45.120 --> 0:08:46.800 Month after month, it grows. 0:08:47.240 --> 0:08:50.760 In a year or so, it's a big, beautiful yellow lemon. 0:08:51.480 --> 0:08:54.640 As you keep saying what God says about you, those 0:08:54.720 --> 0:08:59.280 words are taking root. That freedom you're speaking is developing. 0:08:59.679 --> 0:09:03.840 That health you're declaring, the talent, the confidence, the discipline, 0:09:03.880 --> 0:09:06.800 it's growing. You're going to come to a point where 0:09:06.800 --> 0:09:10.160 you see what you've been saying. You're not speaking it 0:09:10.280 --> 0:09:13.920 by faith anymore. Now it's a reality. You're going to 0:09:13.960 --> 0:09:18.040 eat the fruit of your words. That's why every day 0:09:18.400 --> 0:09:22.440 you need to spend time blessing yourself. It's good when 0:09:22.480 --> 0:09:25.280 others encourage you, it's good when they pray for you, 0:09:25.840 --> 0:09:29.600 but their words don't have the authority as your words. 0:09:29.920 --> 0:09:32.920 What you say about yourself, you're giving it the right 0:09:33.080 --> 0:09:36.400 to come to pass. When we wake up Each morning, 0:09:36.920 --> 0:09:40.720 most of us brush our teeth, take a shower, pick 0:09:40.720 --> 0:09:43.880 out our clothes, get dressed. We may spend half an 0:09:43.920 --> 0:09:47.400 hour getting our physical body ready for the day, but 0:09:47.559 --> 0:09:51.559 often we don't spend any time getting our inner person 0:09:51.880 --> 0:09:55.760 ready for the day. Our mind, our spirit, our emotions. 0:09:56.240 --> 0:09:59.079 What if you took a couple of minutes every morning 0:09:59.360 --> 0:10:02.520 before you leave the house and say what God says 0:10:02.559 --> 0:10:05.640 about you, make this declaration of faith. 0:10:05.880 --> 0:10:09.240 You can download it on our website. I am blessed, 0:10:09.840 --> 0:10:11.000 I am prosperous. 0:10:11.440 --> 0:10:31.080 I am redeemed, forgiven, talented, creative, disciplined, focused, confident, secure, prepared, qualified, motivated, valuable, free, determined, equipped, empowered, anointed, 0:10:31.360 --> 0:10:36.000 accepted and approved. Not average, not mediocre. I am a 0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:40.160 child of the Most High God. We say that every 0:10:40.280 --> 0:10:44.720 service at Lakewood. It's because it's easy to forget who 0:10:44.800 --> 0:10:48.400 we are. Life tries to push us down, tell us 0:10:48.440 --> 0:10:51.600 what we're not, what we can't do, how we failed. 0:10:52.280 --> 0:10:55.240 Sometimes our own thoughts tell us we're not attractive. 0:10:55.640 --> 0:10:57.200 Nothing good is in our future. 0:10:57.880 --> 0:11:00.720 If you let those lives play, it will keep you 0:11:00.840 --> 0:11:04.960 from your purpose. But if you'll make this declaration several 0:11:05.040 --> 0:11:08.480 times a day, month after month, it will get down 0:11:08.480 --> 0:11:12.199 in your spirit, and you will become who God created 0:11:12.200 --> 0:11:15.880 you to be. When you're constantly saying what God says 0:11:15.920 --> 0:11:20.120 about you, it will bring down strongholds. 0:11:19.200 --> 0:11:20.280 That are keeping you back. 0:11:20.679 --> 0:11:23.920 It will get rid of impurities that are contaminating your 0:11:23.960 --> 0:11:30.839 self image. You'll begin to see yourself the right way, redeemed, forgiven, strong, victorious. 0:11:31.880 --> 0:11:33.920 I talked to a man that was raised in a 0:11:33.960 --> 0:11:37.679 dysfunctional home. He was told by his father that he 0:11:37.720 --> 0:11:40.720 would never amount to anything, that he wasn't smart enough, 0:11:41.040 --> 0:11:45.520 he'd never be successful. For forty years he believed those lies. 0:11:45.920 --> 0:11:49.040 He stayed at the lowest level position at the company 0:11:49.040 --> 0:11:52.640 where he worked, never thought he could rise higher. After all, 0:11:52.720 --> 0:11:55.920 he was told that he didn't have the talent. One 0:11:55.960 --> 0:11:59.319 day he heard what I'm telling you. Instead of agreeing 0:11:59.440 --> 0:12:02.680 with what people said about him, he started speaking what 0:12:02.760 --> 0:12:06.920 God said about him. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 0:12:07.280 --> 0:12:10.680 I have seeds of greatness. I am full of potential. 0:12:11.520 --> 0:12:14.640 As he spoke what God said about him, he began 0:12:14.800 --> 0:12:18.440 to see himself in a new way. He became more confident, 0:12:18.960 --> 0:12:22.679 New gifts started to come out. Other people started to notice. 0:12:23.040 --> 0:12:27.240 He got promoted again and again. After thirty years of 0:12:27.280 --> 0:12:31.160 being stuck at that low level position. Today he's running 0:12:31.160 --> 0:12:32.280 his whole department. 0:12:32.520 --> 0:12:33.360 He has several. 0:12:33.240 --> 0:12:37.080 Hundred people under him. Now, people may tell you that 0:12:37.120 --> 0:12:41.000 your average nothing special about you. The good news is 0:12:41.559 --> 0:12:45.480 what you say about yourself overrides what other people say. 0:12:46.080 --> 0:12:46.960 Don't let once. 0:12:46.880 --> 0:12:50.120 Someone spoke over you keep you from becoming who you 0:12:50.160 --> 0:12:53.800 were created to be. Don't go around repeating those lies. 0:12:53.960 --> 0:12:57.480 I'm not that talented. I've reached my limits. I'll never 0:12:57.520 --> 0:13:01.720 accomplish my dreams. Zip that up and speak blessings over 0:13:01.760 --> 0:13:05.760 your life. The Scripture says, with our words, we can 0:13:05.840 --> 0:13:07.480 bless or we can curse. 0:13:07.840 --> 0:13:10.040 We can lift up, or we can push down. 0:13:10.760 --> 0:13:14.480 My question is, are you blessing yourself or are you 0:13:14.600 --> 0:13:19.040 cursing yourself? Are you speaking words of faith, life victory, 0:13:19.640 --> 0:13:22.040 or are you speaking defeat mediocrity. 0:13:22.679 --> 0:13:24.000 I'm so undisciplined. 0:13:24.480 --> 0:13:27.840 I'll never lose this weight, I'll never break this addiction. 0:13:28.280 --> 0:13:32.120 I'm unattractive, I'll never meet the right person. You may 0:13:32.160 --> 0:13:36.600 not realize it, but you're cursing yourself. You're speaking defeat 0:13:36.640 --> 0:13:41.120 into your future. You have enough people in life against you. 0:13:41.640 --> 0:13:45.839 Don't be against yourself. There are forces of darkness. Trying 0:13:45.840 --> 0:13:49.440 to keep you from your destiny. Don't give them any fuel. 0:13:50.080 --> 0:13:54.040 Pay attention to what you're saying about yourself. You can't 0:13:54.080 --> 0:13:57.920 talk defeat and have victory. You can't talk lack and 0:13:58.000 --> 0:14:02.360 have abundance. You can't talk sickness and have help. You 0:14:02.440 --> 0:14:06.040 may be undisciplined right now, but the way to change 0:14:06.200 --> 0:14:09.720 is not by telling how bad you are putting yourself down. 0:14:10.320 --> 0:14:15.960 That's inviting more difficulties. Start speaking victory. Don't curse yourself anymore. 0:14:16.160 --> 0:14:20.560 Start blessing yourself. I am disciplined, I am determined, I 0:14:20.600 --> 0:14:21.320 am strong. 0:14:21.720 --> 0:14:25.000 I will break this addiction. I will get back in shape. 0:14:25.600 --> 0:14:28.600 A friend of mine struggled with smoking for many years. 0:14:29.080 --> 0:14:31.800 He tried to quit again and again wasn't able to 0:14:31.840 --> 0:14:35.480 do it. He was constantly saying, it's too hard, I'll 0:14:35.520 --> 0:14:38.480 never break it. I don't have the will power. He 0:14:38.560 --> 0:14:41.720 came down for prayer and he was very hard on himself, 0:14:42.160 --> 0:14:45.440 very critical. He told me how he was undisciplined, and 0:14:45.680 --> 0:14:48.200 how he had quit for a few months and went back, 0:14:48.240 --> 0:14:50.520 and how he wasn't going to be able to break it. 0:14:51.120 --> 0:14:55.440 He didn't realize he was cursing himself. I told him 0:14:55.560 --> 0:14:58.680 what I'm telling you. You have to change what you're saying. 0:14:59.080 --> 0:15:02.520 You have to start bl blessing yourself every day, start 0:15:02.600 --> 0:15:07.160 saying I am strong, I am disciplined. This addiction doesn't 0:15:07.200 --> 0:15:12.000 control me. He tried this different approach. While he was smoking. 0:15:12.240 --> 0:15:14.880 He would say Lord, thank you that I am free. 0:15:15.680 --> 0:15:18.200 Hats would tell him, are you kidding? You're not free, 0:15:18.240 --> 0:15:21.880 You're just as addicted as you were before. The scripture says, 0:15:22.240 --> 0:15:26.160 let the weak say I'm strong. Don't describe the weakness. 0:15:26.280 --> 0:15:30.520 Call in strength, call in freedom, call in favor. About 0:15:30.560 --> 0:15:34.760 six months later, something interesting happened. He started to not 0:15:35.080 --> 0:15:37.640 like the taste of the cigarette. He thought it was 0:15:37.680 --> 0:15:40.960 a bad batch. The taste got worse and worse. He 0:15:41.040 --> 0:15:43.640 got to the point where he couldn't stand it. He 0:15:43.760 --> 0:15:44.640 stopped smoking. 0:15:45.040 --> 0:15:47.760 Today, he's been free for over eight years. 0:15:48.520 --> 0:15:52.040 It all started when he stopped cursing himself and he 0:15:52.120 --> 0:15:53.600 started blessing himself. 0:15:54.360 --> 0:15:56.600 Are you speaking negative over yourself? 0:15:57.040 --> 0:16:00.200 Are you putting yourself down, talking about how you don't 0:16:00.200 --> 0:16:03.800 measure up, what you can't do, how you'll never be free. 0:16:04.200 --> 0:16:05.440 Do yourself a favor. 0:16:06.000 --> 0:16:10.800 Quit cursing yourself and start blessing yourself. If you keep 0:16:10.840 --> 0:16:14.760 being negative, towards yourself. It will keep you from your destiny. 0:16:15.680 --> 0:16:19.400 In the Book of Numbers, the king of Moab hired Balim, 0:16:19.480 --> 0:16:23.040 the prophet, to go curse the Israelites. The king knew 0:16:23.120 --> 0:16:26.720 the Israelites were stronger and more powerful. He thought if 0:16:26.720 --> 0:16:29.800 he could get Balim to curse them, then the Moabites 0:16:29.840 --> 0:16:31.320 would be able to defeat the. 0:16:31.280 --> 0:16:32.720 People of Israel. 0:16:33.000 --> 0:16:36.200 But God told Balim to only say what the Lord says. 0:16:36.800 --> 0:16:41.480 When Balim arrived, instead of cursing the Israelites, he blessed them. 0:16:41.880 --> 0:16:44.960 The king was so upset, he said, you don't understand. 0:16:45.160 --> 0:16:46.800 I'm paying you to curse them. 0:16:47.200 --> 0:16:51.160 This happened three times, but every time Balem blessed them. 0:16:51.480 --> 0:16:55.040 He told the king, I cannot curse what God has 0:16:55.080 --> 0:16:59.400 already blessed. One thing God was showing us is the 0:16:59.560 --> 0:17:04.320 enemy cannot curse you. You are God's property. He's already 0:17:04.359 --> 0:17:08.320 put a blessing on you. People bad breaks how you 0:17:08.359 --> 0:17:12.399 were raised. What's coming against you? Cannot stop your destiny. 0:17:12.760 --> 0:17:17.320 You've already been set apart, favored, equipped, empowered by the 0:17:17.400 --> 0:17:19.000 creator of the universe. 0:17:19.480 --> 0:17:20.320 But here's the key. 0:17:20.960 --> 0:17:24.480 Since the enemy can't curse you, he'll try to deceive 0:17:24.600 --> 0:17:28.800 you into cursing yourself. He'll do his best to try 0:17:28.800 --> 0:17:32.480 to get you to go through life speaking defeat over yourself. 0:17:33.040 --> 0:17:34.280 I'm not that talented. 0:17:34.720 --> 0:17:38.080 I'll never meet the right person. I've made too many mistakes. 0:17:38.480 --> 0:17:42.000 He can't curse you. Don't you dare do it for him? 0:17:42.359 --> 0:17:46.120 Don't you dare curse yourself The next time you're tempted 0:17:46.160 --> 0:17:50.080 to say something negative about yourself, your future, your looks, 0:17:50.200 --> 0:17:54.960 your abilities, Zip it up. When you're against yourself, you're 0:17:55.000 --> 0:17:58.600 in agreement with the enemy. When you bless yourself, you're 0:17:58.600 --> 0:18:02.840 in agreement with God. You were created in his image. 0:18:03.119 --> 0:18:06.560 He didn't make any mistakes. You didn't get short changed. 0:18:06.880 --> 0:18:09.080 He wasn't having a bad day when he made you. 0:18:09.600 --> 0:18:12.280 He knew every fault you would have. He knew the 0:18:12.359 --> 0:18:17.360 areas you would struggle in. Quit beating yourself up, living unworthy, 0:18:17.720 --> 0:18:21.800 receive his mercy, and move forward with your life. You 0:18:21.840 --> 0:18:25.160 have the talent you need. You come from the right family. 0:18:25.520 --> 0:18:29.040 You are well able to reach your destiny. Now start 0:18:29.080 --> 0:18:33.120 blessing yourself. When you're tempted to say something negative, turn 0:18:33.160 --> 0:18:38.240 it around. You're not attractive. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 0:18:38.680 --> 0:18:42.439 You've made too many mistakes. I am forgiven, I am redeemed, 0:18:42.560 --> 0:18:46.320 I am restored. You'll never be successful, you'll never reach 0:18:46.359 --> 0:18:50.159 your limits. I am surrounded by favor. God is taking 0:18:50.200 --> 0:18:53.399 me from glory to glory. My latter days will be 0:18:53.440 --> 0:18:57.680 better than my former days. Are you blessing yourself or 0:18:57.720 --> 0:19:02.360 are you cursing yourself? A destiny to fulfill, there's a 0:19:02.400 --> 0:19:06.920 calling on your life, an assignment that only you can accomplish. 0:19:07.280 --> 0:19:08.560 We need what you have. 0:19:09.240 --> 0:19:12.840 We need your gifts, we need your talent, we need 0:19:12.880 --> 0:19:16.600 your smile, we need your love. This world won't be 0:19:16.640 --> 0:19:20.200 as bright a place as it should be without you shining, 0:19:20.640 --> 0:19:23.360 living the full, abundant life. 0:19:22.920 --> 0:19:24.400 That you were created to live. 0:19:25.280 --> 0:19:28.480 There was a young man in the scripture named Jeremiah. 0:19:28.800 --> 0:19:31.119 God gave him the promise that he would be a 0:19:31.160 --> 0:19:35.399 great prophet and he would speak to nations. Jeremiah was young. 0:19:35.840 --> 0:19:38.480 He didn't see himself as a leader. He came from 0:19:38.520 --> 0:19:42.280 an average family, didn't have a great education, wasn't trained 0:19:42.280 --> 0:19:45.399 to speak in front of people. But God never asked 0:19:45.400 --> 0:19:47.960 you to do something and then doesn't give you the 0:19:48.040 --> 0:19:51.760 ability to do it. You may not feel qualified, you 0:19:51.760 --> 0:19:55.280 don't think you have the talent, the odds are against you. 0:19:55.280 --> 0:19:56.159 You wouldn't have. 0:19:56.040 --> 0:20:00.960 That opportunity if you weren't already equipped you. But you 0:20:01.040 --> 0:20:04.560 have to call it out. You have to start blessing yourself. 0:20:05.240 --> 0:20:07.960 You'll be tempted to talk about all the reasons why 0:20:08.000 --> 0:20:12.000 you're not able. It's too big, you don't have the resources, 0:20:12.119 --> 0:20:13.600 you come from the wrong family. 0:20:13.920 --> 0:20:15.240 Or don't curse yourself. 0:20:16.200 --> 0:20:19.320 Jeremiah said, God, I can't speak to nations. 0:20:19.480 --> 0:20:23.080 I'm too young. I wouldn't know what to say. God 0:20:23.080 --> 0:20:24.280 didn't say that's fine. 0:20:24.600 --> 0:20:29.399 Understand God said Jeremiah, say not that you're too young. 0:20:30.080 --> 0:20:32.960 God immediately stopped his negative words. 0:20:33.200 --> 0:20:35.359 He stopped him from cursing himself. 0:20:35.960 --> 0:20:39.280 God knew if Jeremiah would have gone around saying I 0:20:39.320 --> 0:20:41.639 can't do this, I don't have what it takes. 0:20:41.720 --> 0:20:44.520 I'm afraid he would have missed his destiny. 0:20:45.280 --> 0:20:49.760 Be careful what you're saying about yourself. You are prophesying 0:20:49.840 --> 0:20:53.720 your future. The odds may be against you, but God 0:20:53.920 --> 0:20:57.520 is for you. Say not, I'll never break the addiction. 0:20:58.160 --> 0:21:01.280 Say not, I'll never meet the right place person. Say not, 0:21:01.560 --> 0:21:03.080 I can't start my business. 0:21:03.400 --> 0:21:07.439 Zip that up and get an agreement with God. Psalm 0:21:07.480 --> 0:21:08.000 thirty four. 0:21:08.080 --> 0:21:12.240 Says, do you want a long, good life, then watch 0:21:12.240 --> 0:21:16.480 your tongue, keep your lips from telling lies. We think 0:21:16.560 --> 0:21:19.760 that only means don't tell lies to other people, don't 0:21:19.800 --> 0:21:25.040 be dishonest, but it also means don't tell lies about yourself. 0:21:25.520 --> 0:21:29.000 Don't go around saying things that contradict what God says 0:21:29.040 --> 0:21:33.240 about you. I'm just average. I don't have a good personality. 0:21:33.600 --> 0:21:37.400 I'll never do anything great. Can I say this respectfully? 0:21:37.800 --> 0:21:42.439 That's telling lies. God didn't create anyone average. When he 0:21:42.560 --> 0:21:46.200 breathed life into you, he put greatness on the inside. 0:21:46.520 --> 0:21:50.560 He's destined you to leave your mark, to overcome that challenge, 0:21:50.720 --> 0:21:54.199 to outlast the opposition, to take your family to a 0:21:54.240 --> 0:21:59.000 new level. Now, if you're going to see this good, long, 0:21:59.400 --> 0:22:04.280 prosper amazing life, then you have to do something very important. 0:22:04.800 --> 0:22:09.159 Watch your tongue, be careful what you say about yourself. 0:22:09.760 --> 0:22:13.479 You can't curse yourself and live a blessed life. You 0:22:13.520 --> 0:22:16.520 can't put yourself down and rise up to who. 0:22:16.480 --> 0:22:19.760 You were created to be. When my father went to 0:22:19.800 --> 0:22:20.120 be with. 0:22:20.119 --> 0:22:22.640 The Lord, I knew I was supposed to step up 0:22:22.640 --> 0:22:26.080 and pastor the church, but I didn't feel qualified. I 0:22:26.119 --> 0:22:29.639 had never ministered before, hadn't been a seminary. I was 0:22:29.680 --> 0:22:34.320 afraid and insecure. My father had this big personality, strong 0:22:34.480 --> 0:22:35.160 and confident. 0:22:35.680 --> 0:22:37.480 I'm more quiet and reserved. 0:22:38.000 --> 0:22:41.080 I had plenty of opportunities to talk about what I 0:22:41.200 --> 0:22:43.920 was not, what I couldn't do, and how I didn't 0:22:43.920 --> 0:22:47.640 measure up, and how intimidated I was. But one thing 0:22:47.760 --> 0:22:50.720 I learned growing up is to not speak the negative. 0:22:51.200 --> 0:22:55.000 You may think it, but don't verbalize it. Instead of 0:22:55.040 --> 0:22:57.840 saying what I felt, I said what God said about me. 0:22:58.280 --> 0:23:01.120 I am strong in the Lord. I can do all 0:23:01.200 --> 0:23:04.399