Transcription
In her book, The Mind Connection, Joyce explores the undeniable connection between your mind, mouth, moods, and attitudes, and gives biblical keys to developing the right mindset to overcome life's challenges. Along with the book, you'll receive Joyce's three-part audio teaching series, Life-Changing Attitudes. Learn the importance of having a good attitude no matter the circumstances and practical ways to help you change your attitudes. These resources are available for your gift to the ministry of thirty dollars or more. Connect with us today. Visit online at joycemeyer.org or call 1-800-709-2895. This program has been made possible by the friends and partners of Joyce Meyer Ministries.
Sometimes you learn what you thought was your greatest enemy is actually your greatest friend. Yeah, a few people get that. [Music] Some of the things that hurt you the most teach you the most. [Music] This morning, I want to talk about having a humble attitude. Go ahead and say, "Ouch." Now, humility. A lot of people, I think, have the wrong idea about humility. They think it means to just let people walk all over you, and that's, that's really not what it is. Yeah, man. Humility, of all the virtues, is the hardest one to gain and maintain because we all want to be first. We all want to be noticed. We all want to be important. And we can be all those things, but it has to be in Christ, not in ourselves. And, uh, I like to say that we're everything, nothing's everything in Christ, nothing in ourselves. Everything in Christ, nothing in ourselves. I hate that. Well, I'm a self-made man. Well, you might, maybe if you are, but you won't last long, and you won't be happy at it. And, um, I don't deserve in the natural to be doing what I'm doing. I don't have the right education for it. I probably don't even have the right personality. My voice is a little unique. And, but here I am, and God, God can do anything with anybody. But humility is a large part of it, whether you will have it or whether you won't. And I started 45 years ago with a Bible study with 12 people, and that grew to 25. And I had that Bible study for five years in my home every Tuesday night. And boy, those were five long years. And I had a big vision and a little reality. Does anybody know what I mean by that? Well, we always think we're waiting on God, but to be honest, he's usually waiting on us. And I had a problem with pride. I had a problem with pride because I was insecure. And people that are insecure want to feel important. I was abused growing up, and so I always felt like I was no good, like something's wrong with me. And my dad always told me I would not amount to anything. And so I wanted more than anything to be great, to be important. And God really couldn't do much else with me until I got rid of that attitude. God really can only use humble people. It's the humble people that get the help. The Bible says, "God resists the proud." [Applause] "But he gives grace to the humble." God resists the proud, and he gives grace to the humble. Now, pride is very good at hiding, and it's almost impossible to sell a book on pride because the person that needs it is too proud to go pick it up because they don't want anybody to think that they have a problem in that area. I used to have a series on pride and humility. I finally gave it up because nobody would buy it. The only way you can sell the stuff that people really need is to hide it under a different title. Philippians 2:5. This is our goal. This is going to take a while. "Let this same attitude and purpose and humble mind be in you, which was in Christ Jesus." Let him be your example in humility. What kind? What depth of humility did it take for God to come down here and take on human flesh? I mean, the only thing I could even begin to relate it to would be like God asking me to go be a bug so I could save all the bugs in the world. Jesus not only took on human flesh, he never tried to defend himself. He never tried to get people back for anything they did to him. He loved everybody, even the people that mistreated him because he didn't, he didn't think about what they were doing to him. He always thought about what they were doing to themselves. And see, when somebody mistreats you or me, we usually think about, well, you shouldn't treat me this way. But really, we should be more concerned about what they're doing to themselves because God will take care of you if you trust him too. And, uh, Jesus prayed on the cross, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." They didn't really understand what they were doing. And to be honest, a lot of people that mistreat you, they don't, they don't really understand what they're doing. Do you know when you mistreat one of God's children, you're putting yourself in a kind of a dangerous position? And I want to tell you, and I'm going to say this a lot today, one of the most important things that reveals our level of pride, our humility, is how we treat people. And especially how we treat people that us or the world might deem unimportant. We're pretty good about treating people good that we want to impress, treating people good that we want to get something from. But it's the people that don't mean that much to us. God cares about the little person. [Applause] You know, there's a world full of people that feel invisible. They just really feel like nobody sees them, and nobody knows them, and nobody cares. Well, you know, I'm here on the platform, and everybody thinks it's me. Well, I mean, this is me. But do you know that there are people that are hidden back there that we couldn't do this without? We have a conference department. This works so hard for months ahead of time. I mean, we've already got every venue booked for next year. It takes a lot of work to do this. And we have people who do all that. There's a room in the back that's full of very talented men that are filming this for TV. And so what we're doing here today can be broadcast around the world in over a hundred languages. They're important. You know who else is important? That helps. People can't do this without people that help you. This isn't, this room doesn't look like this when they show up. You, you should see what a place like this looks like when we show up. I mean, there's no lights, there's no chairs. Somebody's got to set up every one of these chairs. And I don't think people, I really don't think, and it's really just a lack of knowledge. I don't think people really appreciate what they're being offered when we invite you to come to something like this, free. Who does this free? The only conference we charge is, as far as our Women's Conference. And to be honest, I, there may be one or two other people, but there's not very many people that are doing conferences free anymore. That's why it hurts me sometimes when people get aggravated about even being asked to give an offering. I mean, it's like, really? But I, you know, I get the credit, but I want to give them credit because I can't, I can't do this without all the people that helped me. Amen. Well, what is humility? Well, number one, it's the opposite of pride. And pride means to boast or to be high-minded, to think more highly of yourself than you ought to. Now, God doesn't want us to have a low opinion of ourselves, but he doesn't want us to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. And he certainly doesn't want us to think down on other people. Every time we judge somebody, it's a fruit of pride. Every single time. Every time we criticize somebody, it's the fruit of pride because we only criticize people who don't do it the way we do it, or don't do it the way we think we would do it. Well, I would never do that. Well, honey, you don't know what you'd do until you're put in that situation. And then, and how pitiful is it when you come to something like this and you leave, and all you can do is think about what was wrong with it? The lights were too bright, the music was too loud. You know, I've had people write us, "Joyce's earrings were too long." I mean, my gosh, is that all you can tell me? As hard as I work to do this, is that my earrings are too long? Well, I, I had that Bible study for five years, and then for a year, I did nothing. I thought God wanted me to stop the Bible study, and he said, "Behold, I do a new thing." Well, I didn't get what I was expecting. I thought I was gonna, now I'm ready, I'm gonna go to the world. Well, I did nothing for a year, but God did something in me that had to be done and needed to be done before I could go to the next level. And God promotes us in level, just levels, just like you go through school, kindergarten, one, two, three, four. And you always have to pass tests. And God will test you on every level before he'll let you go to the next level. And if you don't pass the test on that level, you'll still be on that level when Jesus comes to get you. Some of us are going to still be in the sandbox when we get to heaven. Thank you. [Applause] And so then a new church started in our town, and we started going there, and I ended up being on staff there for five years. And boy, did I learn a lot there. The man who was the pastor was 26, and I was 36, and we both thought we knew everything, and neither one of us knew anything. You know, you really don't know much of anything here about 40 or 50. I don't care how many degrees you've got. I'm talking about life. Amen. It's so funny. It's just hilarious when you got an 18-year-old that thinks they know everything, don't you just love that one? They won't listen to a thing you say because they know they got it all figured out, and they know a lot more than you do. All you can do is just smile and say, "Well, wait and see." Amen. Because we were the same way. And, uh, one of the things is that God has to do for us if we're going to be in authority is we have to learn how to be under authority and have a proper attitude about it. And so anytime you're under authority, you are going to be told or asked to do certain things that you don't agree with or don't want to do. And God wants us to learn how to do that without complaint, without gossip. Yeah. And I finally got pretty good about not saying anything to anybody else at the church, but then I'd go home and yakety-yak-yak to my husband. And God said, "No, it's not who you talk to. It's the words you're putting out in the atmosphere. I don't want to be hearing that. I want you to zip your lip and just do what you're asked to do." Hmm. Man, that was hard. And there were so many things that I had in my heart that I wanted to do, so many things. And I would ask my pastor, "Can I write a book?" And he'd say, "No." And those were the most awful years that I've ever had. You know what I mean? You can have something that's just wonderful and awful at the same time. And sometimes you learn that what you thought was your greatest enemy is actually your greatest friend. Yeah, a few people get that. Some of the things that hurt you the most teach you the most. There's a scripture that says that God will give us treasures of darkness, and I love that. So if you're in a dark time in your life right now, if you'll handle yourself right, God's going to give you some treasures out of this. And if you're going through something hard right now, you're learning more than those of us who are not. And especially if you want God to use you, you might as well buckle your seatbelt. Oh, we pray such spiritual prayers. "God, I surrender myself to you. Do what you want to with me." Oh my gosh, are you in for it? Come on. Well, I wish I had a ministry like Joyce's. Well, sweetheart, I didn't get it wishing. [Music] So then God finally told me it was time for me to leave the church and take my ministry and go north, south, east, and west. Except by the time he told me I could go, I didn't want to go. And nobody knew me north, south, east, or west. So what was I supposed to do? I left the church with a dented desk and a calculator and no money. And I had a women's ministry there that about 450 people attended. So they did let me have the mailing list from, from that. And so I started just writing my own little letters and asking people to help us. And I had a meeting in North St. Louis, South St. Louis, East St. Louis, and West St. Louis. I went north, south, east, and west. And it's too long of a story for me to tell you the whole thing. But I tell you, when God called me, I had no idea it was going to take this long. No idea. Sometimes I use the example of, you know, if you go out and buy a thousand-piece puzzle, you'd buy it because the picture on the box is pretty. That's kind of what it's like getting a vision from God. And then when you go dump that thing out and see those thousand pieces, it's like, and most pictures, most of it is blue sky and green grass. And then there'll maybe be a little cottage here. And sometimes you get so sick of putting together blue sky pieces that you could just scream. Now, if you're in the spirit with me, you know what I'm talking about. [Applause] And some of you have a call on your life, and you're so tired of blue sky and green grass. What I mean by that is you're just doing the same thing over and over and over, and nothing's happening, and nothing's growing, and you just like to throw in the towel and give up. And God won't let you. And sometimes you do give up for a week or two, but then you go right back to it because when you got a call on your life, you just can't get away from it. Amen. And we're all called to do something. Now, you're not all called to be on a platform somewhere, but we've all got a, we've all got a pulpit. It might be your backyard fence or your desk at work. But if you're alive and breathing and you're saved, then God wants to use you. [Applause] Pride means to be high-minded, to think more highly of yourself than you ought to, to take glory unto yourself. They had the Dove Awards recently, and, um, CeCe Winans won Artist of the Year, and she is just a wonderful person. Just, she's just, I mean, she's the real deal. I, I really love her. And, uh, I thought what she did was beautiful. And they called her up to give her the award. She stood there for just a second, and then she sang, "To God be the glory, to God be the glory, to God be the glory, for all He has done." And then she said, "Thank you," and walked off. Wow. And see, she's where she at. She's at. And I want you to listen to what I'm going to say. She is where she's at because she knows what she's not. And I might say the same thing about myself. I know what I'm not. And I know if God didn't help me, I'd make a fool out of myself every time I get up here. And don't think for one minute that I ever get up here without studying and without praying because I need God's help. Now, there's something on the internet that you can print out. It's called the 50 Fruits of Pride, in case you want to know whether you're proud or humble. And it's by a man named Brent Detwiler. I definitely want to give him credit because I didn't write this, but it's just very good. I'm just going to read a few of these. A person who's proud wants to be well-known or important. Well, when I worked at the church, I looked back now and I'm so embarrassed, but there were like five people that had their own parking space in the front of the building with their name on it. And when I got one of those spaces, I thought I had made it. And then the leadership, which I was part of, we all had our own name on our seats in the church. And I had my name on my seat, and I had my name on my office door, and my name on my parking place. And I thought I was so important. Made me feel so good every time I saw my name. When I'd say my name in the bulletin, "Director of Women's Ministries." [Applause] And, oh man, when I first went on television, and I'd get out somewhere and somebody would recognize me, that would just thrill me no end. And I can be honest and tell you that now when that happens, I'm happy for the people that they get to meet me, but I don't get any like kick out of that. You know, it's not like, "Oh boy, somebody recognized me." And what I'm trying to get across to you is that you'll go through things like that, but until, see, I realize now that all that stuff that I thought was so important when I worked in that church, we just didn't mean anything. I remember us interviewing somebody for a job, and one of the things they asked in the interview, pretty upfront in the interview, was, "What's my title going to be?" And I thought, "It's not going to be anything because I'm not going to hire you." I mean, if that's what you care about, what your title is going to be, you don't need to be working there. Amen. See, if you know who you are in Christ, then you don't care about all that silly stuff. The Bible says that God is not impressed with the positions that men hold. What God cares about is, do we love him? Are we hungering and thirsting after righteousness? Are we pure in heart? How are we treating people? How are we treating people that the world thinks are unimportant? Can I tell you something right now? There is nobody that's unimportant. God loves every single person just as much as he loves you and just as much as he loves me. And God watches how we treat people, and that tells him more about us than anything. I remember being at a doctor's office one time, my son had broken his arm, and we were there to have the cast taken off. And I brought my Bible with me, and I was going to use that time to read my Bible and pray a little bit. And this old man sat down next to me, and he had hurt his leg and had some kind of thingy on it. And so he wanted to tell me all about his leg. Well, I didn't care about his leg. I'm just, just telling you the truth. That's where, come on. I wanted him to be quiet so I could be spiritual. [Applause] That God would make him shut up. [Applause] And God asked me a question. He said, "If that was Billy Graham, would you listen?" [Music] Um, well, I tell you, God knows how to get your word.
Hurts. In her book, The Mind Connection, Joyce explores the undeniable connection between your mind, mouth, moods, and attitudes, and gives biblical keys to developing the right mindset to overcome life's challenges. Along with the book, you'll receive Joyce's three-part audio teaching series, Life-Changing Attitudes. Learn the importance of having a good attitude no matter the circumstances and practical ways to help you change your attitudes. These resources are available for your gift to the ministry of thirty dollars or more. Connect with us today. Visit online at joycemeyer.org or call 1-800-709-2895. At the 2023 Love Life Women's Conference, I'll teach you how to trust God and find calm in the chaos, featuring Joyce and her guests Bishop T.D. Jakes, Sadie Robertson Huff, Lisa Bevere, Natalie Grant, and Danny Gokey. October 19th through the 21st in San Antonio, Texas. Register today at joycemeyer.org. But I love that magazine she sends out. There's something in there for everybody. It's just brought about so much change in my life personally. It's always an encouragement for you to want to do more ministry. Get your free subscription to Enjoying Everyday Life Magazine today at joycemeyer.org. Read encouraging articles from Joyce, updates for Hand of Hope, and much more. Reading through the magazine confirms for me that God's at work. Hope you enjoyed today's program. For more information, visit joycemeyer.org. This program has been made possible by the friends and partners of Joyce Meyer Ministries.