ANNOUNCER: THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
JOYCE: YOUR SIN HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BEG GOD TO FORGIVE YOU, ALL YOU NEED TO DO
IS SAY, "I'M SORRY FOR MY SIN, AND I WANT TO ENTER ON A BETTER
COURSE OF LIFE.
I WANT TO TURN AROUND AND GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION."
GINGER: AS WE WALK THROUGH EACH NEW DAY,
WE ALL HAVE QUESTIONS.
THEY'RE JUST PART OF LIFE, BUT DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE
ANSWERS FOR YOU?
GOD SAYS WHEN WE LOOK, WE'LL FIND HIM.
HE'S NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING.
SO, TOGETHER, WE ARE DISCOVERING LIFE'S EVERYDAY ANSWERS.
GINGER: A SIMPLE PRAYER OF ACCEPTING JESUS INTO YOUR LIFE,
WHAT WE CALL SALVATION, IS HOW WE BECOME A CHRISTIAN,
BUT WHAT'S NEXT?
WE SOMETIMES REFER TO OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AS A WALK
OR IT COULD SOMETIMES BE DESCRIBED AS A ROLLER COASTER OR
CASCADING DOWN WATERFALLS, RAPID WATER, CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN,
RUNNING A RACE.
THE POINT IS ONCE YOU START THIS JOURNEY, IT DOES BECOME
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.
SO, JOYCE IS GOING TO JOIN ME HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PRACTICAL
STEPS OF A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.
BUT FIRST, HERE'S A BEAUTIFULLY UNDERSTANDABLE ANSWER TO THE
QUESTION, "WHAT IS SALVATION?" JOYCE: "THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN
WHO DISHONORED HIS FATHER'S NAME AND HE DISGRACED HIS FAMILY, AND
HE DECIDED TO LEAVE HOME BECAUSE HE WANTED TO ESCAPE THE DULLNESS
OF ORDINARY VILLAGE FAMILY LIFE.
HE WAS BORED WITH IT.
SO, HE LEFT HOME, HE FOUND EXCITEMENT FOR A WHILE.
HE PROSPERED IN HIS SINFUL LIFESTYLE."
AND, YOU KNOW, SIN WILL ALWAYS LOOK ATTRACTIVE FOR A WHILE,
DO YOU KNOW THAT?
IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE JUST WHAT YOU WANT FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
"HE VISITED A HOTEL WERE GIRLS WERE KEPT IN EVERY ROOM.
SOME WERE OLDER, SOME WAS AS YOUNG AS TEN.
HE BECAME INVOLVED IN PROSTITUTION.
HE EVENTUALLY STARTED SELLING DRUGS AND EVEN LURING OTHER MEN
INTO THE HOTEL.
HE FINALLY GOT INVOLVED IN KIDNAPPING AND SELLING GIRLS.
THAT'S HOW LOW THAT HE SUNK.
IT WAS A NASTY BUSINESS BUT HE BECAME ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
BUSINESSMEN IN THE AREA, AND HE HAD ALL KINDS OF MONEY BUT
EVENTUALLY THE BOTTOM DROPPED OUT."
HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT'S ALWAYS WHAT HAPPENS EVENTUALLY?
MAYBE MOST OF US WHO CAME TO CHRIST CAME BECAUSE IN SOME WAY,
SHAPE, OR FORM, THE BOTTOM DROPPED OUT.
"HE WAS ROBBED, ARRESTED, AND FINALLY ENDED UP LIVING IN
A VERY DANGEROUS PART OF TOWN NEAR THE CITY DUMP.
AS HE SAT THERE, DAY AFTER DAY IN HIS MISERY, BEGAN TO THINK
ABOUT HIS FATHER AND THE SIMPLE, QUIET, PEACEFUL LIFE HE HAD WHEN
HE LIVED AT HOME IN HIS VILLAGE.
HE REMEMBERED HIS FATHER'S PARTING WORDS WHEN HE LEFT,
WHICH HAD BEEN ABOUT 15 YEARS PRIOR, "SON, I'LL BE WAITING
FOR YOU."
HE BEGAN TO WONDER IF HIS FATHER WOULD STILL BE WAITING, BUT HE
KNEW THAT THE WORD ABOUT HIS LIFESTYLE HAD MADE IT BACK TO
THE VILLAGE, AND SO HOW WOULD HIS FATHER FEEL ABOUT HIM NOW
AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HE'D DONE?
SURELY, HE WOULDN'T WANT HIM BACK NOW?
BUT HE DECIDED TO TAKE A CHANCE AND WRITE A LETTER TO HIS FATHER
AND HE SAID, 'FATHER, I WANT TO COME HOME BUT I DON'T KNOW IF
YOU'LL HAVE ME BACK BECAUSE I'VE SINNED GREATLY.
FATHER, PLEASE FORGIVE ME.
I'M GONNA COME ON THE TRAIN ON SATURDAY NIGHT AND IF YOU'LL
STILL LET ME COME HOME, WOULD YOU TIE A WHITE RIBBON IN THE
TREE OUT IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE?
AND I'LL KNOW IF I SEE THAT RIBBON THAT YOU'LL HAVE
ME BACK.' AND ON THE TRIP HOME,
HE BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT HIS LIFE AND WHAT HE THOUGHT HIS
FATHER MIGHT SAY AND HE JUST GOT SO NERVOUS, AND SO ANXIOUS, AND
SO AFRAID THAT HE WAS GONNA GET REJECTED THAT IT BECAME OBVIOUS
TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE SITTING AROUND HIM THAT HE WAS HAVING
A PROBLEM.
SO, ONE MAN ASKED HIM, 'SON, WHAT'S WRONG?'
AND SO, HE BEGAN TO SHARE WITH HIM THE DILEMMA
THAT HE WAS IN AND HOW FRIGHTENED HE WAS THAT HIS
FATHER WOULDN'T HAVE HIM BACK AND SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND SO, THEY WERE GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO WHAT WAS GONNA BE
THE BOY'S HOUSE AND THE BOY WAS JUST SO SCARED, HE COULDN'T EVEN
LOOK SO HE SAID TO THE MAN THAT WAS TALKING TO HIM,
'I'M--I JUST CAN'T EVEN LOOK.
I'M SO AFRAID THAT HE WON'T HAVE ME BACK.
I CAN'T EVEN LOOK.
WILL YOU WATCH FOR ME AND IF YOU SEE A RIBBON IN THE TREE, WOULD
YOU TELL ME THAT IT'S THERE?' SO, HE PUT HIS FACE BETWEEN HIS
KNEES AND HE SAID, 'SIR, DO YOU SEE THE RIBBON?
DO THE SEE THE RIBBON?
IS THERE A RIBBON IN THE TREE?
IS THERE A RIBBON IN THE BRANCH OF TREE?'
AND THE MAN SAID, 'SON, THERE'S NOT A RIBBON IN
THE TREE ON ONE BRANCH, THERE IS A RIBBON TIED ON EVERY BRANCH.'"
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: "'THAT TREE IS COMPLETELY FULL OF RIBBONS.'
AND THE YOUNG MAN LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW
AND COULD HARDLY BELIEVE HIS EYES BECAUSE RUNNING
ALONGSIDE THE TRAIN THAT WAS BEGINNING TO
SLOW DOWN WAVING A PIECE OF WHITE CLOTH WAS HIS ELDERLY
FATHER SAYING, 'SON, I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU.'"
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
JOYCE: NOW, YOUR SIN HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID FOR.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BEG GOD TO FORGIVE YOU, ALL YOU NEED TO DO
IS SAY, "I'M SORRY FOR MY SIN, AND I WANT TO ENTER ON
A BETTER COURSE OF LIFE.
I WANT TO TURN AROUND AND GO IN ANOTHER DIRECTION."
IF YOU'RE HERE TONIGHT OR YOU'RE WATCHING BY TV, I'M GONNA INVITE
YOU TO PRAY WITH ME.
YOU KNOW, RECEIVING CHRIST IS SO SIMPLE.
YOU DON'T REALLY HAVE TO DO ANYTHING EXCEPT JUST SURRENDER,
JUST SAY, "YES, YES, I WANT A BETTER LIFE.
I WANT JESUS."
WATCHING BY TV, THERE ARE PEOPLE YOU'RE TRACKING RIGHT WITH US.
YOU GOTTA PRAY THIS SAME PRAYER.
GOD'S COMING INTO YOUR LIFE.
I WANT YOU ALL JUST TO PRAY THIS WITH ME RIGHT NOW.
LET'S ALL PRAY TOGETHER.
"FATHER GOD, I LOVE YOU.
JESUS, I BELIEVE IN YOU.
I BELIEVE YOU DIED FOR ME.
YOU PAID FOR MY SINS.
I'VE LIVED A SINFUL LIFE AND I'M SORRY FOR MY SINS.
FORGIVE ME.
I WANT TO TURN MY LIFE AROUND, BUT I NEED YOU TO HELP ME.
COME INTO MY LIFE.
LIVE IN ME.
I GIVE MYSELF TO YOU RIGHT NOW AND I RECEIVE YOU AS MY
VERY OWN.
THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME.
THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME.
I BELIEVE THAT I'M ON MY WAY TO HEAVEN AND I'M GONNA ENJOY MY
JOURNEY WITH YOU, AMEN, AMEN!" WHOO!
GINGER: WELL, JOYCE, I HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
JUST DID SOMETHING VERY EXCITING IN THEIR LIFE.
WHEN WE TAKE THAT STEP, THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS,
"WHAT DO I DO NOW?
WHAT DO I DO NEXT?" AND THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT
WE'RE GOING TO ADDRESS NOW.
THIS IS A QUESTION THAT I THINK MANY PEOPLE WOULD RELATE TO
FROM JEREMY.
"DO YOU HAVE TO CONFESS EVERY SIN TO BE SAVED?
I CAN'T REMEMBER EVERYTHING."
JOYCE: WELL, I CAN TOTALLY RELATE BECAUSE I DON'T REMEMBER
EVERYTHING EITHER.
AND, YOU KNOW, JUST AS PART OF MY PRAYER TIME WITH GOD,
I PROBABLY, EVERY DAY, RECEIVE FORGIVENESS FOR ALL MY SINS.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE HAVE TO BEG FOR, AND PLEAD FOR, AND GIVE
A COMPLETE LIST OF EVERYTHING THAT WE DID WRONG.
THE BIBLE SAYS THAT SIN IN THOUGHT, WORD, OR DEED, AND SO I
DON'T KNOW HOW ANY OF US GET THROUGH ANY ONE DAY
AND DO IT ALL PERFECTLY.
BUT JESUS HAS FORGIVEN OUR SINS AND IT'S GOOD FOR ALL TIMES.
WE JUST RECEIVE IT BY FAITH.
SO, IF I'VE DONE SOMETHING SPECIFICALLY WRONG THAT I'M
AWARE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY FOR, CERTAINLY I CONFESS
THAT SIN SPECIFICALLY BUT THE SHORT ANSWER TO JEREMY'S
QUESTION IS NO, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO CONFESS EVERY SIN.
YOU CONFESS SINS, YOU KNOW, "FORGIVE ME FOR MY SINS."
GINGER: THERE IT GOES BACK TO THE HEART.
JOYCE: RIGHT, THE HEART ATTITUDE.
THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
GOD SEES YOUR HEART, HE KNOWS YOU'RE SORRY.
PEOPLE ASK SOMETIMES, "WELL, WHAT IF I DIE AND, YOU KNOW,
BEFORE I GET TO A CHANCE TO CONFESS A SIN?"
WELL, DON'T LET THE DEVIL DECEIVE YOU WITH THAT BECAUSE
THE POINT IS IS YOU'RE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
HE KNOWS THAT YOU LOVE HIM.
HE LOVES YOU.
IT'S NOT SOME KIND OF A LEGALISTIC,
YOU KNOW, DEBIT AND CREDIT ACCOUNT WHERE NOW YOU GOT
SOMETHING ON YOUR RECORD THAT, YOU KNOW, UNTIL YOU CONFESS IT,
IT STAYS ON THERE.
WE'RE IN RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
GINGER: THAT'S GOOD.
THIS GOES EXACTLY TO WHAT YOU WERE SAYING.
DON'T LET THE DEVIL STEAL THIS FROM YOU.
JANICE ASKS, "HOW DO I KNOW FOR SURE THAT I'M SAVED?"
JOYCE: WELL, IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO KNOW BY FAITH.
I'M KIND OF GLAD THAT CAME UP BECAUSE I WAS THINKING EARLIER,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO PRAYED THAT PRAYER
TODAY AND, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY NOT FEEL ANYTHING.
BUT WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THEY WILL BEGIN TO NOTICE MAYBE EVEN
JUST LITTLE DIFFERENCES IN THEIR LIFE, BUT THEY WILL BEGIN
TO NOTICE CHANGES.
THEY MAY HAVE MORE PEACE.
THEY MAY HAVE MORE HOPE.
YOU KNOW, THEY MAY FIND THEMSELVES TALKING TO GOD,
WHICH IS WHAT PRAYER IS WHEREAS THEY DID NOT DO THAT BEFORE.
THERE'S A SENSING OF SOMEBODY BEING WITH YOU.
AND SO, YOU CAN'T--THE DEVIL WOULD LOVE IT IF WE BASED IT ALL
ON FEELINGS, YOU KNOW?
WHAT, YOU DON'T FEEL SAVED.
YOU DON'T ACT SAVED.
NOTHING'S DIFFERENT.
NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
YOU--EVERYTHING COMES BY FAITH AND FAITH IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN
WHAT YOU SEE OR WHAT YOU FEEL.
IT'S BASED ON WHAT'S IN YOUR HEART.
AND SO, GOD IS FAITHFUL AND HE SAYS THAT IF WE BELIEVE AND WE
REPENT OF OUR SINS, THAT HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORGIVE US
FOR ALL OF OUR SINS AND TO CONTINUOUSLY CLEANSE US FROM
ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS AND HE IS NOT A LIAR.
HE WILL DO WHAT HE SAID THAT HE WILL DO.
SO, NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL, YOU BELIEVE.
GINGER: THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS.
LET ME JUST RATTLE A FEW OFF AND YOU CAN TELL US WHAT YOU
FEEL IS IMPORTANT.
SHAMIN SAYS, "WHAT BOOKS OF THE BIBLE SHOULD I READ FIRST?"
DEBRA SAYS, "HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT CHURCH?"
PEOPLE ASK ABOUT BAPTISM.
SO, WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS THAT FOLLOW THAT SALVATION MOMENT?
JOYCE: WELL, BAPTISM IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S AN OUTWARD SIGN OF THIS INWARD COMMITMENT THAT YOU HAVE
MADE TO FOLLOW CHRIST.
AND SO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE BAPTIZED IN A CHURCH, BUT THAT'S
A GOOD PLACE TO GET BAPTIZED.
YOU KNOW, JOHN THE BAPTIST TOOK PEOPLE TO THE RIVER
AND BAPTIZED HIM.
AND SO, I'VE BAPTIZED PEOPLE IN SWIMMING POOLS AND, YOU KNOW,
ALL KINDS OF THINGS.
SO, BUT IT IS GOOD TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT BELIEVES, THAT'S
LIKE MINDED WITH YOU TO DO THE BAPTISM FOR YOU.
SO, BAPTISM IS VERY IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK THAT BEING IN CHURCH IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IT'S NOT
BECAUSE CHURCH SAVES YOU, BUT YOU GO TO CHURCH TO LEARN,
TO HAVE NEW FRIENDS, TO MAKE--TO GET IN RELATIONSHIP WITH PEOPLE
THAT ARE GONNA BELIEVE LIKE YOU AND BE LIKE MINDED WITH YOU.
YOU WANT TO HEAR THE WORD.
YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN CORPORATE WORSHIP, YOU KNOW,
THE SINGING OF SONGS, AND PRAISE, AND WORSHIPING GOD.
AND IF YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT CHURCH, THERE'S MANY GOOD
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THROUGH THAT CHURCH, WHICH IS SOMETHING
ELSE THAT'S IMPORTANT.
SO, HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT CHURCH?
WELL, YOU WANT TO BE IN ONE THAT YOU KNOW IS TEACHING
THE PROPER DOCTRINE.
AND WHAT I TELL PEOPLE A LOT OF TIMES IS, DON'T GET DISCOURAGED
WITH TRYING TO FIND A CHURCH.
YOU MIGHT GO TO TEN THAT YOU DON'T FEEL RIGHT ABOUT AND THEN
YOU'LL GO TO ONE WHERE YOU JUST FEEL LIKE YOU'RE HOME.
IT'S JUST RIGHT.
YOU JUST FEEL RIGHT ABOUT IT.
AND SO MANY PEOPLE, IF THEY TRY CHURCH AND THEY GET HURT,
OR THEY TRY CHURCH AND THEY FEEL LIKE PEOPLE WEREN'T FRIENDLY, OR
YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE CASE MIGHT BE, THEN THEY JUST WANT TO
DITCH IT ALL AND FORGET IT AND GIVE UP.
BUT IT'S NOT--YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, CHURCH DOESN'T SAVE YOU.
I DON'T REALLY LIKE IT WHEN I SAY TO SOMEBODY,
"ARE YOU A CHRISTIAN?" AND THEY TELL ME WHAT RELIGION
THEY ARE.
YOU KNOW, JESUS DIDN'T DIE SO WE CAN HAVE A RELIGION.
HE DIED SO WE CAN HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
THROUGH HIM.
HE COMES TO LIVE ON THE INSIDE OF US, PROMISES TO NEVER LEAVE
US, NOR FORSAKE US.
BUT IT IS IMPORTANT, I THINK, TO BE IN CHURCH AND THE OTHER THING
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IS THE STUDY OF GOD'S WORD.
AND I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT PEOPLE BEGIN IN
THE NEW TESTAMENT, PSALMS AND PROVERBS
ARE ALSO VERY GOOD.
PSALMS ARE VERY COMFORTING.
PROVERBS ARE FULL OF LITTLE WISDOM POINTS.
YOU CAN ONE CHAPTER OF PROVERBS AND THERE MIGHT BE 20 OR 30
DIFFERENT POINTS IN THERE OF, I MEAN, THINGS LIKE BE HONEST,
DON'T GOSSIP, DON'T SLANDER.
JUST THINGS THAT-- GINGER: VERY PRACTICAL.
JOYCE: JUST VERY PRACTICAL ADVICE.
ANYWHERE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IS GOOD, HOWEVER I WOULD PROBABLY
GO ALONG WITH, YOU KNOW, THE BEGINNING WITH ONE OF THE
GOSPELS, MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, OR JOHN, BECAUSE IT TAKES YOU FROM
THE BIRTH OF CHRIST ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE DEATH AND
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, WHICH YOU NEED TO HAVE A GOOD BASIC
UNDERSTANDING OF THOSE THINGS.
THERE'S MANY, MANY, MANY, DIFFERENT TRANSLATIONS
OF THE BIBLE AVAILABLE TODAY SO FIND ONE
THAT YOU UNDERSTAND, AND YOU KNOW WHAT WE SUGGEST,
A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE JUST NEED A DIRECTION.
SO, I WOULD JUST SAY IF YOU START WITH 30 MINUTES A DAY,
IF YOU CAN DEDICATE 30 MINUTES OF YOUR DAY,
AND TO BE HONEST IF THAT'S TOO MUCH THEN START WITH
15 MINUTES, BUT START SOMEWHERE AND SPEND SOME TIME STUDYING
THE WORD.
I LIKE TO SAY STUDY RATHER THAN READ BECAUSE YOU CAN GLOSS OVER
SOMETHING VERY QUICK AND NOT REALLY GET ANYTHING IN IT.
I WOULD STUDY THE WORD EACH DAY UNTIL YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE AT
LEAST ONE POINT THAT YOU CAN LOCK INTO AND SAY, "WOW, THAT'S,
YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT OR THAT'S REALLY GOOD OR--"
GINGER: AND SOMETHING TO CHEW ON THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
JOYCE: SOMETHING TO MEDITATE ON AND THINK ABOUT.
I MEAN LIKE, SO MANY PEOPLE DON'T FEEL LIKE ANYBODY
LOVES THEM.
AND JUST TO KNOW THAT GOD IS LOVE, AND THAT HE LOVES YOU, AND
HE LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY, I MEAN FOR SOME PEOPLE, THAT
VERY ONE THING WOULD BE LIFE CHANGING.
SO, THE WORD OF GOD IS THE FOOD THAT WE NEED FOR OUR SPIRIT MAN
TO HELP IT GROW AFTER WE BECOME SPIRITUAL BABIES IN CHRIST.
SO, BAPTISM, GETTING IN A GOOD CHURCH, A GOOD WORD-BASED CHURCH
WHERE YOU REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU'RE GROWING.
DON'T JUST GO SOMEWHERE JUST FOR THE SAKE OF GOING, BUT MAKE SURE
THAT IT'S HELPING YOU, THAT YOU'RE LEARNING, THAT YOU'RE
GROWING, AND THAT YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S HELPING YOU CHANGE.
AND GET INVOLVED ENOUGH IN SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY KNOWS
YOU'RE THERE AND THAT SOMEBODY'S GONNA MISS YOU IF YOU'RE
NOT THERE.
WE NEED SOME KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT JUST GO SIT ON THE
BACK ROW OF A CHURCH.
THEY DON'T WANT TO BE INVOLVED.
THEY DON'T WANT ANYBODY TO BOTHER WITH HIM IF THEY'RE
NOT THERE.
BUT TO BE IN COMMUNITY WITH PEOPLE REQUIRES SOME
ACCOUNTABILITY AND IT'S GOOD FOR US.
IT'S NOT A MATTER OF SOMEBODY SPYING ON YOU OR BEING NOSEY,
BUT IT'S JUST IT'S GOOD FOR US IF SOMEBODY SAYS, "HEY, WE
HAVEN'T SEEN YOU FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS, IS EVERYTHING OKAY?"
EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW THAT SOMEBODY CARES ABOUT THEM.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING, VERY IMPORTANT, AND THESE ARE NOT
LIKE I'M NOT SAYING THIS FOURTH BECAUSE IT'S FOURTH IN
IMPORTANCE BUT IS PRAYER, BUT LET ME SAY THAT PRAYER IS
REALLY JUST TALKING TO GOD.
IT'S TALKING TO GOD ABOUT EVERYTHING.
IT'S TALKING AND LISTENING.
IT'S--YOU'RE NOT GONNA HEAR GOD LIKE YOU HEAR FROM
ANOTHER HUMAN BEING BUT YOU ARE GOING TO--HE'S
GONNA GIVE YOU UNDERSTANDING.
HE'S GONNA SPEAK TO YOU.
THE BIBLE TALKS ABOUT THE STILL, SMALL VOICE, AND GOD USES HIS
WORD TO SPEAK TO YOU.
GOD WILL BEGIN TO LEAD YOU AND GUIDE YOU AND YOU'LL HAVE
KNOWING ON THE INSIDE OF WHAT'S RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG, BUT YOU
NEED TO JUST BEGIN TO TALK HIM.
"GOD, HELP ME WITH MY DAY TODAY.
FORGIVE MY SINS.
USE ME TO BE A BLESSING TO SOMEBODY TODAY.
YOU KNOW, HELP ME DRIVE IN TRAFFIC THIS MORNING WITHOUT
HAVING ACCIDENTS."
I MEAN, YOU DON'T--GOD IS NOT JUST FOR DISASTERS
AND EMERGENCIES OF WHEN WE THINK WE'RE OVER OUR HEAD BECAUSE TO
BE HONEST, WE'RE ALL OVER OUR HEAD EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY.
GINGER: THAT'S VERY TRUE.
JOYCE: WITHOUT GOD, WE'RE NOT GONNA DO VERY MUCH.
AND SO, IT'S ONE THING'S FOR CERTAIN, IF YOU HAVE A SINCERE
HEART, YOU DON'T HAVE TO FOLLOW SOME KIND OF A FORMULA.
YOU JUST GO TO GOD LIKE A LITTLE CHILD.
YOU COME TO HIM AS A LITTLE CHILD AND THAT'S WHAT HE WANTS.
GINGER: THAT'S SUCH A GOOD WAY TO DESCRIBE IT BECAUSE
I KNOW AS YOU'RE WATCHING, YOU MAY FEEL LIKE THERE'S SO
MANY QUESTIONS.
IF YOU MAY EVEN FEEL A LITTLE OVERWHELMED, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE
TO WALK IN THAT.
GOD WANTS TO HELP YOU THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO GIVE YOU JOY
THROUGH IT AND IT'S REALLY A WONDERFUL JOURNEY.
AND SO, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THIS BOOK FROM JOYCE THAT WILL REALLY
HELP AS WELL.
THIS IS CALLED, "A NEW WAY OF LIVING,"
AND THIS LITTLE FREE BOOKLET WILL ANSWER A LOT OF
THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
AND IF YOU JUST TAKE IT A STEP ONE AT A TIME, EVERY DAY AND
YOU'LL SEE YOURSELF GROWING CLOSER AND CLOSER TO GOD, AND IT
WILL REALLY ALL COME INTO FOCUS.
IT WILL BEGIN TO MAKE MORE SENSE AND THOSE THINGS THAT YOU ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT WILL BEGIN TO FADE AWAY.
AND IT DOESN'T MEAN YOUR PROBLEMS ARE GONE, IT JUST MEANS
THAT YOUR LIFE IS NEW BECAUSE YOU ARE NO LONGER ON YOUR OWN.
SO, WE WANT TO GET THIS BOOK IN YOUR HAND.
YOU CAN CALL US RIGHT NOW.
YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE AND LIKE WE SAID, IT'S ABSOLUTELY
FREE JUST BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
THAT YOU WILL EVER DO.
SO, JOYCE, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
REALLY GOOD STUFF.
VERY, VERY HELPFUL, REALLY PRACTICAL.
JOYCE: I'M EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I BELIEVE MADE A
DECISION TODAY TO INVITE CHRIST INTO THEIR LIFE, AND I KNOW THAT
THEY'RE GONNA SEE BIG CHANGES IN THE FUTURE.
GINGER: YEAH, ME TOO.
CALL AND LET US KNOW.
WE WANT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU AND GET THIS BOOK TODAY.
GINGER: WELL, WE ALL LOVE BEFORE AND AFTER KIND OF
MAKEOVER STORIES SO RECENTLY, WE ASKED YOU TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF
BEFORE AND AFTER CHRIST.
THIS IS RICK FROM MISSISSIPPI, RICK SAYS, "I WAS AN EXTREME
DRINKER AND SINNER, A DEPRESSED, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO
CONSTANTLY HAD SUICIDE ON MY MIND.
IN FEBRUARY 2009, WHILE SICK IN BED, I STARTED WATCHING JOYCE
ON TV.
I BECAME INTRIGUED AND CONVICTED.
I STARTED READING MY BIBLE AND EVENTUALLY I GAVE MY LIFE
TO CHRIST.
I NOW ATTEND AND VOLUNTEER AT MY CHURCH IN MISSISSIPPI AND I HAVE
TRULY BEEN TURNED AROUND."
HERE'S ANOTHER ONE, AMANDA FROM MISSOURI.
AMANDA SAYS, "BEFORE I MET CHRIST, I WAS A LIAR, THIEF,
INTRAVENOUS METHAMPHETAMINE ABUSER, BAD MOTHER, BAD WIFE,
AND A CRIMINAL.
MY CHILDREN WERE TAKEN FROM ME BECAUSE I WAS TOO HIGH TO
PROPERLY TAKE CARE OF THEM.
MY HUSBAND LEFT AND GOT A RESTRAINING ORDER.
THAT WAS THE LAST DAY I USED DRUGS.
IN THE BEGINNING OF MY RECOVERY, I SIMPLY WENT THROUGH
THE MOTIONS THE PEOPLE SAID I HAD TO TO GET MY KIDS BACK.
I WAS PLACED IN A FAITH-BASED RECOVERY PROGRAM.
I DIDN'T ACTUALLY EXPECT TO FIND ANYTHING REAL BUT I DID.
I FOUND CHRIST.
THROUGHOUT MY RECOVERY, I'VE BEEN GLUED TO THE BIBLE AND I
USUALLY ALWAYS HAVE A JOYCE BOOK ON MY NIGHT STAND.
THROUGH GOD MOVING MOUNTAINS, I NOW GO INTO COUNTY JAIL TO
SHARE WITH THE GIRLS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN RECOVERY.
MY HUSBAND CAME BACK AND GOD RESTORED OUR MARRIAGE.
WE NOW HAVE FULL CUSTODY OF OUR CHILDREN AGAIN.
TODAY, I AM CLEAN AND SOBER, PRAISING GOD AND THANKING JESUS
EVERY DAY FOR MY SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE."
THOSE ARE PRETTY GREAT BEFORE AND AFTER STORIES.
IT'S ALWAYS SO ENCOURAGING TO HEAR WHAT GOD DOES IN PEOPLE'S
LIVES, WHAT HE DOES IN YOUR LIFE, WHAT HE'S DONE IN MINE,
AND THERE'S SO MUCH MORE THAT HE WANTS TO DO IN ALL OF OUR LIVES.
MAYBE YOU'RE AT THAT POINT WHERE YOU'RE NOT TO THE AFTER AND ALL
OF US STILL HAVE A WAYS TO GO, BUT DON'T GIVE UP.
ONE KEY TO HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS TO REALLY TRUST
IN HIM.
SO, TODAY, LET'S ENCOURAGE THOSE WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THAT BY
SHARING HOW TRUSTING GOD HAS HELPED YOU.
YOU CAN USE oOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS, DON'T FORGET, #EA.
AND RIGHT NOW, HERE IS A LOOK AT WHAT'S COMING UP NEXT TIME ON
"EVERYDAY ANSWERS."
YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS IT.
JOYCE: THE MORE YOU WALK IN OBEDIENCE, THE LESS THE ENEMY
CAN DO ANYTHING TO YOU EXCEPT MAYBE TRY TO ANNOY YOU.
GINGER: WE INVITE YOU TO CALL US TODAY, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'VE
RECENTLY OR IF YOU'VE JUST RECEIVED CHRIST BECAUSE WE HAVE
A FREE BOOK FOR YOU THAT IS REALLY GOING TO BE HELPFUL.
IT'S CALLED, "A NEW WAY OF LIVING,"
AND JOYCE WROTE THIS BOOK TO HELP NEW CHRISTIANS,
TO HELP PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT WALK WITH
CHRIST REALLY MEANS AND TO GET THEM FROM DAY ONE, ALL OF THOSE
DIFFERENT STEPS THAT WE HAVE TO GO TO--GO THROUGH, TO REALLY GET
TO THE FULLNESS OF WHAT GOD WANTS FOR US.
THIS IS FULL OF GREAT INFORMATION TO HELP YOU OR
SOMEONE ELSE YOU KNOW TO BEGIN THEIR WALK WITH CHRIST.
SO, MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONTACT US TODAY.
WE WOULD LOVE TO GET THIS FOR YOU.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY FREE AND IT WILL REALLY, REALLY HELP.
TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE YOU WITH A STORY ABOUT A YOUNG WOMAN
WHO FOUND HER NEW WAY OF LIVING WHEN SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS
BEYOND SAVING.
AND AS WE GO, REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM GOD.
HE HAS SUCH LOVE FOR YOU AND A GREAT PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE.
HANNAH: MY LIFE WAS SO DARK.
I ACTUALLY WOULD SIT IN MY BEDROOM, CLOSE ALL THE BLINDS
AND JUST SIT IN THE DARK.
I WAS JUST ON A VERY SELF-DESTRUCTIVE PATH FOR SURE
AND IT WAS PRETTY SCARY.
JON: AS I GOT TO KNOW HER MORE AND WE STARTED TALKING
ABOUT HER PAST AND THE PAIN THAT STARTED COMING UP, AND THAT'S
WHEN THINGS GOT REALLY DIFFICULT.
I'D COME OVER AND SHE WOULD HAVE CUT HERSELF AND THEN TRYING
TO HIDE IT.
SHE SAID THAT SHE WANTED TO DIE.
SHE WANTED TO KILL HERSELF.
HANNAH: MY DAD WASN'T AROUND MUCH BECAUSE OF WORK.
HE WAS ALWAYS TRAVELING AND THAT WAS PRETTY PAINFUL FOR ME
GROWING UP.
AND THEN LATER ACTUALLY IN HIGH SCHOOL,
MY PARENTS GOT A DIVORCE AND HE ACTUALLY MOVED AWAY SO I
SAW HIM EVEN LESS.
JON: SHE LOVED HER FATHER SO MUCH AND SHE WANTED TO BE WITH
HIM SO MUCH.
AND DURING THOSE FORMATIVE YEARS, THAT ACTION OF NOT BEING
THERE SAYS A LOT ABOUT HOW MEN CAN NOW TREAT YOU, AND WHAT THEY
CAN DO TO YOU, AND WHAT KIND OF MEN YOU'RE GONNA PURSUE.
HANNAH: I CRAVED MALE ATTENTION, VERY UNSTABLE GROUNDS
GOING INTO HIGH SCHOOL.
IT REALLY SET ME UP FOR SOME PRETTY TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS THAT
I GOT INTO LATER ON.
I WAS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED A NUMBER OF TIMES BY SOME
OLDER MEN.
I FELT LIKE I WAS UNWORTHY AND WORTHLESS.
THEN I GOT INTO ONE RELATIONSHIP IN PARTICULAR, IT WAS A LONGTERM
RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS ONE GUY AND IT QUICKLY BECAME THE MOST
DANGEROUS RELATIONSHIP THAT I HAD BEEN IN.
IT WAS ABUSIVE SEXUALLY, PHYSICALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY.
I MEAN, HE REALLY TORE ME DOWN SO IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT I GOT
OUT OF IT WHEN I DID.
YOU KNOW, I WOULD TAKE DRINKING AND PARTYING TO AN EXTREME.
ALL I CARED ABOUT WAS DRINKING TO NUMB THAT PAIN.
I MET MY NOW HUSBAND.
I STARTED SELF-HARMING AGAIN.
I DEVELOPED MY EATING DISORDER BUT WORSE THAN EVER.
EVERYTHING CAME BACK WORSE.
I WENT TO MERCY MINISTRIES, WHICH IS ACTUALLY NOW CALLED
MERCY MULTIPLIED.
AND I ENDED UP GOING TO THE ST. LOUIS HOME,
ACTUALLY, THE ONE THAT JOYCE MEYER HAD OPENED.
IT WAS LIFE CHANGING.
I WENT INTO THE HOME ONE PERSON AND LEFT A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
PERSON, WHICH I DIDN'T THINK WAS POSSIBLE FOR ME.
I HAD SEEN, YOU KNOW, THE TESTIMONIES AND THE STORIES
BUT I WAS LIKE, YOU DON'T KNOW.
LIKE, I HAD COUNSELOR AFTER COUNSELOR GIVE UP ON ME,
NOT REALLY KNOW HOW TO HELP ME AND SO I FELT LIKE I WAS THAT
CASE THAT WAS JUST DOOMED.
JON: AFTER A MONTH, I JUST SAW A COMPLETE SHIFT IN HER TONE
OF VOICE, HER CONFIDENCE.
AND SHE'S NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE.
THERE'S WAS A MOMENT THAT SHE HAD AT MERCY MINISTRIES THAT
CHANGED EVERYTHING FOR HER.
HANNAH: I WOULD SAY THE BIG HEALING MOMENT FOR ME WAS WHEN I
READ "BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND."
IT WAS MY BIG GOD MOMENT.
FOR ME, IT WAS INSTANT CHANGE.
IN THAT MOMENT LIKE DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, EVERYTHING, JUST LIFTED
AND MY OLD SELF-KIND OF CAME BACK.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW HOW IMPACTFUL YOUR THOUGHTS WERE UNTIL I READ
"BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND," AND IT REALLY SHOWED ME THAT
LIKE THE WAY YOU THINK IS THE DIRECTION OF YOUR LIFE.
JON: SHE GOT FREE AND SHE'S NEVER BEEN THE SAME SINCE.
THOSE THOUGHTS AND THOSE THINGS, THEY'RE GONE.
THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD HEALED MY WIFE AND SET HER FREE.
HANNAH: I JUST FEEL COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED.
IF YOU'RE OUT THERE AND YOU'RE GOING THROUGH ANY TYPES OF PAIN,
THERE'S ALWAYS HEALING AND THERE'S ALWAYS HOPE IN GOD.
HE WAS ALONG MY JOURNEY THE ENTIRE TIME PROTECTING ME EVEN
WHEN I DIDN'T EVEN REALIZE IT.
SO, JUST DRAW NEAR TO HIM AND IT'S WORTH THE DISCOMFORT
OF GOING THROUGH AND SORTING OUT ALL THOSE PAST THINGS THAT
YOU'RE TRYING TO RUN FROM OR NUMB AND MEDICATE.
IT'S WORTH FACING IN ORDER TO GET THE HEALING AND LIVE
A HEALTHY LIFE FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
[MUSIC]
ANNOUNCER: THE PRECEDING PROGRAM WAS PAID FOR BY
THE FRIENDS AND PARTNERS OF JOYCE MEYER MINISTRIES.
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