joel osteen

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Invest in Other People When we hear the word "invest", we often think of investing in the stock market, in real estate, or for retirement. While it's good to invest that way, the truth is, those investments will eventually fade away. The best inheritance we can leave our children and others around us is what we invested in them, not what we left for them. When we're not taking time to share what we know with the next generation, then we are not being faithful with what God has given us. God expects us to impart to others. The next generation should not have to start over. They shouldn't have to re-learn what we've already learned. We should be pouring everything we know into our children, into a young person, into that co-worker in the office. We're all leaving a legacy. Let's make sure it's an intentional legacy. The only investments that are going to last are the investments we make in other people. We didn't get to where we are on our own. Somebody invested in us. Make it a goal to invest in someone else. You can leave a mark that cannot be erased. If you will take time to invest in people; mentoring, teaching, training and modeling, then those seeds that you sow will be multiplied back to you. Your Time Is Coming God has placed dreams and desires in each of our hearts. Are you believing for something that seems to be taking a long time? Are you tempted to quit? Maybe you’ve already given up on that dream. Today is a new day—it’s time for you to get your fire back! It may be taking a long time, but God is faithful! He promises to complete the work He began in your life. Don’t fall into the temptation to get complacent and think it’s never going to happen. Right now, whether you see it or not, God is working behind the scenes and arranging things in your favor. When you develop an attitude of expectancy, you open the door to His miracle-working power in your life. Decide today to declare His Word and speak

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Page 1: Joel Osteen

Invest in Other PeopleWhen we hear the word "invest", we often think of investing in the stock market, in real estate, or for retirement. While it's good to invest that way, the truth is, those investments will eventually fade away. The best inheritance we can leave our children and others around us is what we invested in them, not what we left for them.

When we're not taking time to share what we know with the next generation, then we are not being faithful with what God has given us. God expects us to impart to others.

The next generation should not have to start over. They shouldn't have to re-learn what we've already learned. We should be pouring everything we know into our children, into a young person, into that co-worker in the office.

We're all leaving a legacy. Let's make sure it's an intentional legacy. The only investments that are going to last are the investments we make in other people. We didn't get to where we are on our own. Somebody invested in us. Make it a goal to invest in someone else. You can leave a mark that cannot be erased. If you will take time to invest in people; mentoring, teaching, training and modeling, then those seeds that you sow will be multiplied back to you.

Your Time Is ComingGod has placed dreams and desires in each of our hearts. Are you believing for something that seems to be taking a long time? Are you tempted to quit? Maybe you’ve already given up on that dream. Today is a new day—it’s time for you to get your fire back! It may be taking a long time, but God is faithful! He promises to complete the work He began in your life. Don’t fall into the temptation to get complacent and think it’s never going to happen. Right now, whether you see it or not, God is working behind the scenes and arranging things in your favor. When you develop an attitude of expectancy, you open the door to His miracle-working power in your life. Decide today to declare His Word and speak words of victory. Start declaring today, “My time is coming...God is working behind the scenes on my behalf…I will fulfill my destiny…I will fulfill the plan God has for my life!” As you declare and expect God to move, your faith will grow. Your hope will grow. Keep expecting and waiting for the appointed time. As you do, you’ll step into the victorious destiny God has planned for you!

You Are EquippedGod has equipped you with everything you need to fulfill your destiny. The Scripture tells us that as believers in Jesus Christ, we are anointed. The word anointing is the power of God which gives you courage, strength, and ability. That means you are well-able to do what He has called you to do. You can accomplish your goals. You have the ideas, the creativity and talent to be successful. You can overcome any obstacle! You've been armed with strength for every battle! The forces that are with you are greater than the forces that are against you!

Being anointed means that you are fully equipped for everything God has called you to. God has already lined up the right people to come across your path. Hes already lined up

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the right breaks. You have everything you need to live a victorious life. You were created to excel! You have seeds of greatness on the inside of you. You may not have seen it in the past but if you'll stay in faith its just a matter of time. Its on its way. Don't settle where you are. Don't have weak, defeated mentality. No, put your shoulders back. Have the attitude, I am anointed. I can accomplish my dreams. I can overcome any obstacle. Ive been equipped and empowered by the Creator of the universe! I am fully equipped to live the abundant life God as in store!

Staying Alive Your Whole LifeAre you living every day filled with hope and expectancy? Are you living life to the fullest? So many people today have simply lost their enthusiasm for life. At one time, they were excited about their future. They were pursuing their dream, but along the way, they hit some roadblocks. Things didn’t work out, and now they’re just going through the motions of life. They quit dreaming. They quit pursuing their goals. They lost their purpose. Don’t let that be you! Make the choice to stay alive your whole life by keeping your dreams in front of you. Remember, you have a purpose. You have a destiny. You didn’t just accidentally show up on planet earth. God knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb, and He has an assignment for you. You were created to make a difference—to impact our society—to make this world a better place.

On the inside of you right now, there are dreams and desires put there by the Creator of the universe. Don’t let the pressures of life push those dreams down. Stir up those dreams. Stir up those gifts. Shake off every disappointment and press forward. This is a new day. Get a new vision. Make up your mind that no matter what comes your way, you’re going to keep pressing forward. You’re going to keep growing. You’re going to keep learning. You’re going to stay active. If you will stay passionate about life, knowing what your purpose is and being your best every day, God will pour out His blessings and favor on you, and you will live the life of victory He has in store!

Make Plans to SucceedSuccess is not accidental. You don’t accidentally have good relationships. You don’t accidentally accomplish your dreams. You won’t accidentally lose twenty pounds. If you’re going to get to your desired destination, you have to know where you are going and how to get there. You have to have a plan. What are you doing to bring your dreams to pass? Are you getting prepared? Do you have clear direction? Are you taking steps of faith? Success is intentional. You may not know what steps to take right now, but God knows the plan, and if you’ll do your part to seek Him and begin to make plans to succeed, God will guide you. It says in the scriptures, “The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” You don’t have to vaguely go through life. God wants to direct your steps. He wants to show you His plan. Decide today to make plans to succeed. Write down your goals. Make time to evaluate where you are in life. Evaluate your finances, your career and your relationships. Don’t go another week without having a plan for your future. Evaluate how you're spending your time and money. If you’ll go beyond dreaming, and start making plans to succeed, God promises He’s going to direct your steps. He will lead you down the path of

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His favor. He’ll lead you into increase. He’ll lead you into promotion, and you’re going to see your dreams come to pass and walk in success in every area of your life!

Reaching Your Highest PotentialIt’s easy to get stuck in life thinking you’ve reached your limits, or that you’ve gone as far as you can go. But the truth is, as long as you’re breathing, you have potential inside of you that you haven’t tapped into yet. There are gifts and talents that you haven’t discovered. You can rise higher in life! You can go further in your career. You can have better relationships. You can experience greater success in every area of your life. When God created you, He not only breathed His life into you, He deposited a part of Himself inside of you. He placed within you everything you need to fulfill your destiny. Right now you have seeds of greatness inside waiting to take root and blossom.

In order to tap into this hidden treasure, you have to have a pioneering spirit. It doesn’t matter where you were raised, or what anyone in your family has accomplished—you can rise higher! You can accomplish things that you once thought were impossible. You have talent and ability that has not yet come to fruition. Don’t die with the treasure still buried inside! Start taking steps of faith and believe that you can rise higher. Get up every morning and declare that your best days are ahead of you. As you develop an attitude of expectancy, the seeds of faith inside will grow stronger. You will begin to accomplish things you never thought were possible. You’ll tap into that potential inside and live the life of victory God has in store for you!

Don’t be Limited by the SystemDo you ever feel like you are limited by the system of this world? You go to work, get a paycheck, and that determines your limits. Maybe you have dreams and desires, but you don’t feel like you have the right connections. Or maybe you don’t have the right education.

It’s tempting to think, “I’ll never rise any higher. I’m limited to the system that I’m in.” But you have to remember, God likes to go outside the system! He likes to do unusual, extraordinary things. You may have a dream in your heart that’s bigger than your finances. It’s bigger than your education, bigger than anything that your family has ever done. And it’s easy to think, “Well, I don’t have the expertise. I don’t have the connections. I don’t have the right people behind me.”

It may be bigger than your system but be encouraged today. You may not have the right connections but you have God—you and God are a majority! Your dream is not dependent on other people. God loves to take ordinary people and use them to do extraordinary things. You have not seen your best days yet. No matter where you are in life, no matter what environment you’re in, no matter how impossible your dreams may seem. You need to know God already has a plan. He already has a way. If you will stay in faith God will go outside the system and take you places that you never thought possible! He’ll take you way beyond your system and you live the life of victory He has in store!

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Have The Right Image on the InsideDid you know that how you see yourself determines what kind of life you going to live? Too many people go around with low self-esteem and a poor self-image. Society has a way of conditioning people to lose through failures, rejection, and past mistakes. Don’t let society distort the true image of who you really are, you were born to win! You were created for more than just average. You were created for more than just barely getting by. God created you in His own image! You have the blood of a champion on the inside! You didn’t come from ordinary stock. You came from the best of the best. God breathed His life into you and you have His royal blood flowing through your veins. He has equipped you with everything you need to succeed. You can overcome any obstacle and accomplish every goal in your heart because you have the DNA of Almighty God! No matter where you are, no matter what you’ve done, nothing can change your DNA. If you’ll develop the right image on the inside and see yourself as a champion, God says you will become what you believe and you will live the life of victory He has in store for you!

Praying Bold PrayersGod’s dream for your life is so much bigger than your own! God wants to bless you indeed and enlarge your territory. When you prayer bold prayers you open the door for God’s plan to unfold in your life. The Scripture says, “You have not because you ask not.” In other words, if you want God’s favor, blessings, and increase, you have to release your faith through prayer. Jesus put it this way, “According to your faith it will be done unto you.” That means if you pray little you’ll receive little. If you’ll learn to pray boldly, and have a bold expectations, your faith will allow God to do big things in your life. Will you be bold enough to ask? Wake up every morning and ask for more influence. Ask God to help you be a greater blessing. Ask Him to bring your dreams and desires to pass. That’s not being selfish. We have not because we ask not. Make the decision to take a step of faith towards the dreams in your heart. If you’ll learn to pray bold prayers and ask God for big things, your faith will be released and God will pour out His blessings and favor. You’ll rise higher and higher and you’ll see every dream and desire, come to pass in your life!

Embracing ChangeOne thing is certain, change is inevitable. People change, jobs change, styles change, and seasons change. Change is part of God’s plan for us, but so many people resist change and try to hold on to the familiar. But God brings change in order to keep us from getting stuck in a rut. Change causes us to stretch and grow; it causes us to use our faith and tap into the potential on the inside of us.

Sometimes the very things we fight against, the very things we think are trying to pull us down are actually part of God’s plan to launch us into a new season. Sometimes God stirs us out of comfortable situations and puts us in situations in order to stretch us and cause us to use our faith. We may not like it, and it may be uncomfortable, but God loves us too much to just leave us alone! We have to stay open for change. Don’t approach change from a negative point of view or automatically assume it’s going to be bad. You may not

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like the change, but God would not allow it if He didn’t have a purpose for it. If you’ll learn to not only accept change but to embrace it, God promises He will do a new thing in your life, and His “new” is always much better than the old! You may have had great victories in your past, but your greatest victories are still ahead of you. God wants to take you higher and higher so you can live the life of victory He has in store for you!

Freedom From Wrong MindsetsGod is constantly trying to plant new seeds in your hearts, telling you that you can accomplish your dreams, you can break any addiction, and overcome the past. But too often, because of the “wrong software” in our minds, those seeds cannot take root. Instead of agreeing with God and thinking positive, empowering thoughts, we do just the opposite. We think, “I can’t do that. I’m not talented. I’m too old. I’ve been through too much.” Our “mental software” is contaminated.

Have you allowed strongholds to convince you that this is as good as it gets and you’re never going to go any further? Quit listening to those lies that are telling you you’ve reached your limits. There is still time for you to fulfill your destiny and leave your mark. You wouldn’t be here today if God didn’t have something else for you to accomplish. You have an assignment, you have someone to impact, you have a new mountain to climb…you are a person of destiny. You were created to make a difference!

If you’ll learn to get rid of these wrong mindsets and start thinking thoughts of possibility, positive thoughts of faith, then your life is going to follow your thoughts. That’s when God is going to pour out His blessings and favor on you. You’re going to overcome every obstacle and defeat every enemy, and you’re going to see every dream, and every desire God has put in your heart, come to pass!

Broaden Your LifeThe Scripture says in Psalm 24, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” God wants us to live a full life—a life where we’re continually exploring new things, new hobbies, new cultures, new personalities, and new ways of thinking. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut to doing the same thing again and again—eating the same foods, listening to the same music, hanging around the same type of people. If we’re not careful life can become very narrow.

The reason many people have lost their enthusiasm and excitement for each day is because they are underexposed. They won’t try anything new. They won’t go anywhere different. There’s no freshness to their life.

But when you get outside of your community, when you get outside your culture you open the door for God to reveal Himself to you in a fresh, new way. When you get around people that are not just like you: people that don’t have your sense of humor, people that have different interests, people that grew up in another environment, people that don’t have your same skin color, it makes your life broader.

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New experiences make your life richer, fuller, and more enjoyable. When you open yourself to new things, you open the door for God to bring you new opportunities, and you open yourself to enjoy the full life the Lord has prepared for you.

Developing A Growth PlanDo you have a plan for personal growth? Are you doing anything intentionally and strategically to better yourself? Understand today that growth is not automatic. You can have success but that doesn’t mean you’ve reached your highest potential. There is always room for increase. There are greater mountains to climb and new frontiers to be explored in life!

So many people fall into "destination disease" where they think they have arrived just because they reached a certain goal. They think that since they accomplished something, or got their degree, or a certain position, that they can just kick back and coast on what they’ve already learned. But, in order to continue advancing in life, we have to take responsibility for our own growth.

We have to have the attitude, “How can I improve. What can I do to make myself better?” We have to stir up that desire to learn. We should have a goal to grow and learn something new everyday. It can be as simple as, “I’m going to get up every morning and spend the first twenty minutes meditating on God’s Word and thanking Him for what He’s done.” “I’m going to listen to a teaching CD on the way to work.” “At night, I’m going to turn the TV off a little bit earlier and read a book for twenty minutes.” “I’m gong to hook up with my mentor twice a month and go out to lunch.” “I’m going to be at church every weekend.” That’s a growth plan.

As you take responsibility for your personal growth, God will honor your efforts. He’ll give you the right breaks. He’ll give you the right opportunities and He’ll help you rise higher and higher. As you continue to grow, you’ll see every dream and desire God has put in your heart, come to pass!

Tuning in to Voices of VictoryThere are all kinds of voices and thoughts we can tune in to each day. Just like a radio station, there are hundreds of different frequencies that are available. There is the negative frequency that says, “You’ll never accomplish your dreams”, You’ll never get well, You’ll never get married. Then, there is the Voice of Victory frequency.

The Voice of Victory is found in God’s Word. It says, You are blessed. You are prosperous, You can do all things, Your best days are still ahead. Despite the many voices you hear today, the key is to keep the negative voices from getting deposited into your spirit. The scripture says in Philippians 4:8 to Think on things that are pure, things that are wholesome, things that are of a good report. Friends, when you latch on to the Voice of Victory and let these faith-filled thoughts take deep root in your hearts, your faith will produce a positive harvest, and you will live that victorious life!

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Thriving, not SurvivingYou're not a survivor. You are more than a conqueror.

It's easy to get into a survival mode. When times get tough and things aren't going our way, it's tempting to just settle where we are, not believe for increase and not believe to go any further. It's tempting to think, "If I can just hold on. If I can just make it through another year." If we're not careful, we'll develop a survival mentality to where we're not releasing our faith. We're not believing to rise any higher. We're just hoping to maintain. We'd be satisfied if we could just break even. But we're not supposed to break even. We're supposed to break through to a new level, to more of God's favor, increase and promotion.

God says in the book of Jeremiah that if we'll keep the Lord as our trust and confidence, God will prosper us even in the desert. He'll prosper us even in difficult times. That means when others are going under God says you'll go over!

God can prosper us even in the desert if we'll just be bold enough to believe. You were created to thrive in life! Won't you believe that for your life today?

Living Under The Rain Of GodGod longs for us to be like a well watered garden, flourishing, full of joy, always in blossom. Yet many times, due to situations that are happening in our lives, we don't necessarily feel like we are in full blossom, rather we feel like we're in a dry spell. When this happens, instead of giving up and accepting your present circumstance as your lot in life, decide to praise God more than you ever have. In the Bible, the psalmist said, "I will keep on hoping for You to help me. I will praise You more and more." When we decide to give God praise, something powerful and supernatural happens. Peace, joy and divine favor begin to rain down over our lives.

By praising God at all times, what happens in the natural with rain, will be the same spiritually over your lives; a cloud can only hold so much condensation, so many vapors, before it releases. In the same way, when you keep sending up praise, you keep singing, "God is good all the time," that cloud can only hold so much before the blessings come bursting back down. When you stay full of praise, God's blessing will begin raining down, making sure that you are always in blossom; causing you to bloom where you're currently planted, even if you're in a dry spell!

Recognizing What Battles To FightWe all have battles we can choose to engage in each day. There are small petty battles and then there are battles that come across our path that can launch us into our God given destinies. The difference between the two is one type of battle will distract and drain you from the strength you'll need for the real battle that's important to fight.

Many people miss out on God's best because they are distracted by battles that really don't matter; trying to prove themselves to people, trying to be right all of the time, fighting about small insignificant matters with your spouse and children. Engaging in

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these battles do not do any good, rather they stir up dissension and cause strife which will rob you and the people around you of peace. The Bible says in Proverbs 20:3, "Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor." We're not supposed to be in fight mode all the time. When we learn the difference between which battles to fight, and learn to practice self control, we will have strength for when we really need to fight the battle that matters; the battle standing between you and your God given destiny. You'll have enough strength and discernment, and you will find yourself blessed, ready and assured; ready for all that God has for you to be!

You Are Closer Than You ThinkIt's easy to be tempted to give up on a goal, prayer or desire when it seems as if the answer isn't coming as quickly as you would like. Yet, at these times, dare to learn how to hope even more in God. Usually, our battles seem the darkest just before the dawn. Just like a woman experiences birth pains right before the birth of her child, we too experience intense moments before breakthrough. Yet, we must not give up prematurely during these heated times. In Hebrews 10:35 it says, "Do not cast away your confidence for it will be richly rewarded."

As faith-filled believers, we must keep hoping, keep believing and staying faithful. Many times, we are closer than we think to victory. God is faithful to His promises. When God says we will be richly rewarded for keeping our confidence in Him, that should give us a second wind, giving us fuel to keep up the faith. Don't give up today on your dreams and your hope in God. By developing the attitude, "I've come too far to stop now" and learning how to be full of hope, expecting God's favor daily, you'll see God begin to do amazing things, even in the midst of trying times! You are closer than you think to victory. Dare to hope in God and His promises. You will not be disappointed!

God Wants To Surprise YouGod wants to surprise and bless you. Just like a surprise in our every day lives from a loved ones causes much delight and joy, making us feel special, God wants to surprise us with His goodness. When we take the time to realize the small surprises that show up in our lives, this will create an attitude of faith and joy. He even wants to take what seems to be a setback or distraction in our lives, and turn it around to bless us; surprising us!

The Scripture says in Deuteronomy 28, "If we will keep God first place, if we will walk in His ways, all these blessings will overtake us." That means you won't be able to outrun the good things of God. One translation of the word "overtake" means "to catch by surprise." Our Heavenly Father wants to be good to us. He wants to amaze us with His goodness. We should get up every morning with the attitude, "I can't wait to see what God is going to do!" And you may have had some victories in the past, but you haven't seen anything yet; God is about to super size your dreams and surprise you by accomplishing more than you can ask or think.

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Your Ancestral Blessings are Coming Your WayThere have been many people in the past who failed to walk in all God had for them. Don't miss all that God has for you. God has many opportunities and blessings for you. Just be bold, step out and accept all that He has.

There have been family members in your past that failed to walk in all God had for them. There was potential, favor and opportunities ready, yet never experienced simply because of one thing: they didn't step out. Today, you can break the former mindsets that have been passed down to you and release ancestral blessings in your life in return. God wants to make you a thousand times greater than what you are. He wants to pour over your life ancestral blessings. That's all the blessings, dreams, potential and favor that are stored up in your family line. There are things that have been stolen from your family because relatives failed to walk in what belonged to them. They are all stored up waiting to be released on those who will rise up and believe for God to return to them what belongs to their family.

Step out today into all God has for you. Dare to believe that you can have all that God has for you and leave a legacy for your family to follow.