Joel Osteen Podcast - God Is A Rewarder | Joel Osteen

Episode Date: July 17, 2025

God promises to reward those who diligently seek Him. When you make Him a priority, He will fill you with His strength, wisdom and favor. Your best days are still ahead, and together we can make a difference in this world with the message of God's hope and love. To give visit JoelOsteen.com/GiveHope.Your life is marked for distinction. Our July offer will help you silence doubt, shake off rejection, and reach the destiny God has already prepared for you. Request the new Chosen devotional and step forward with confidence—you’ve been chosen for more, https://bit.ly/4dVacnV! Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of the Joel Osteen Podcast ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Victoria and I believe in you're going to have a blessed summer praying for you guys every day. And thanks for being with us today. Hey, I'm excited. Victoria's got a new book out. It's called Grace to Go. And I know it's going to bless you. I'm excited because in this book, you will see how you are strengthened, that you are prepared, and you are ready for anything that's in front of you.

You are Grace to Go. Enjoy today's message. Well, God bless you. It's always a joy to come into your homes. We love you. If you're ever in our area, please stop by and be a part of one of our services. I promise you it we'll make you feel right at home. But thanks so much for tuning in.

And thank you again for coming out today. I'd like to start with something funny. And I'd take no credit for this joke. It was given to me by my brother Paul. I heard about this blonde lady. She was already not starting good, is it? She was out in the yard doing some work with the weed eater when she had. accidentally cut off her cat's tail. He was in the bushes and she didn't see him and she felt so bad

she grabbed the cat, grabbed the tail, told her friend she's going to Walmart. She said Walmart, why Walmart? She said, hello, they're the largest retailer in the world. Paul's cell number is 713. Say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today I will be taught the word of God. I boldly confess, my mind is alert, my heart is receptive, I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you.

I want to talk to you today about how God is a rewarder. When you put God first place and you make it your highest priority to please him, then you can expect to live a blessed, fulfilled life. That's what it says in Hebrews 11, 6. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Notice who God rewards, not people that half-heartedly seek him, people that only think about him when they're having a problem, people that only come to church when something special is going on.

No, God rewards people that diligently seek him. People like you that get up every morning and thank him for his goodness. people that go through the day meditating on his promises. People that give him praise in the good times and in the tough times. People that are always growing, learning, striving

to do better. When you diligently seek God, he promises a reward is coming. God will give you strength, wisdom, favor, good breaks, promotion, healing, restoration. You won't be able to outrun

the good things of God when you seek him with your whole heart. And what's interesting about a reward is it's put in place before anyone claims it. Right now, there are rewards for certain fugitives that are on the loose. The money is already in a fund just waiting for someone to step up and claim it. The only thing you have to do is find that fugitive, and then the money would be released in that fund. In the same way, God has a reward that's already been put.

put in place. It's just waiting to be released. The only catch is we have to meet the demands of the reward. Now the amazing thing about God is he says, you don't even have to find me. If you'll just seek me, I'll give you the reward. If you'll just make an effort to please me, if you'll just get up in the morning and thank me. If you'll just read the scripture, you may not even understand it. But God says that's okay. I'll give you the reward for just making the effort. I was driving out of my neighborhood the other day and I saw a sign on a telephone pole. It said lost dog. It had a picture of the dog and at the bottom in big letters it read reward $500. Imagine I went to the house, knocked on the door. Said, hey, I've been looking for your

dog the last two hours. I've searched this whole section of the neighborhood. Now I'm here for the reward. Their first question would be, hey, where's the dog? Well, sorry, I didn't find the dog, but I promise you, I've been looking. They would say, sir, no dog, no reward. This is what's so great about God. He says, I'll pay you just for looking. I'll bless you just for seeking me. I'll reward you just for coming to church. I'll show you favor just for getting up in the morning and meditating on my promises. The reward. The reward. is not in having it all figured out. The reward is in the seeking. The reward is in making the effort. My father came from a family that didn't have anything to do with God. They were good people,

but he didn't have any kind of spiritual upbringing. At the age of 17, Daddy gave his life to Christ. First one in the family. God called him to preach. As a teenager, he started ministering in the prisons, in the senior citizens' homes, on the street corners. He didn't know anything about the Bible. He'd never been to seminary. He called Job Job. One time he preached a whole sermon on Samson and realized at the end he'd been calling him Tarzan.

He didn't have it all together, but Daddy had a desire to please God. He was seeking him, making the effort. God doesn't say, if you know all the scriptures, if you understand all the theology, I'll give you the reward. No, God says, I'll pay you for making the effort. I'll pay you for trying. I'll pay you for seeking me. From the time I was a little boy, my parents taught me the importance of honoring God. Now, I wasn't perfect. I made mistakes, but for as long back as I could remember, I would get up every morning and thank God for the day and ask him for wisdom and guidance. Every day, I would read a chapter in my Bible.

Bible. Didn't always understand it. Still don't. I'm the pastor of a big church. God hasn't blessed me because I'm the smartest, the most qualified, the most talented. God has blessed me because I've made it a goal to seek him, to honor him, to please him. Every morning, I still get up and take the first half hour of the day to thank God for his goodness, to acknowledge him as my Savior, to ask him for wisdom. I pray every day, Lord, let everything I do today bring honor to your name. And God has taken me places that I've never dreamed of. It's blessed our family more than I could imagine.

I'd love to tell you, I'm just that smart. I'm just that talented. I'm just an overachiever. No, I have done my part to develop what God's given me, but I know the promotion, the favor, the blessing has come because I've kept God first place. I've done my best to diligently. seek him. I'm asking you to do the same thing. Make pleasing God your highest priority. Get up every morning

and thank God for what he's done. Take time to read the scripture. All through the day, meditate on God's promises. When you have a major decision, ask God for wisdom. If you live like that, God will take you places that you've never dreamed of. Think about David. He wasn't the biggest, strongest, most qualified, how did he make it to the palace? How did he surpass others that had more natural ability? The scripture says, David was a man after God's own heart.

David was constantly seeking God. He was always writing songs of praise, telling God how much he loved him, how much he needed him, how great God was. When you diligently seek God, you will go places that your natural ability, could not have taken you. My sister Lisa met a lady in Atlanta last week. She and her husband were in the oil business. At one time, they'd been very successful, but over the last few years, the business

had really gone down. In fact, they were about to go bankrupt. They had laid off all their employees. They were close to losing their own home. Now it was starting to affect their marriage. They weren't getting along. One thing after another. One day they were flipping through the channels. and they saw us on television. They started listening each week. Faith began to rise in their hearts. They heard me talking about how God is a God of restoration,

how he can do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond. Those words of encouragement were like cool water to their dry, thirsty souls. It impacted them so much they wanted to be here in person. They lived in Mississippi,

but every week they would find the cheapest airfare they could find, and they would fly to Houston on Saturday and attend Lakewood and then fly home after the service. Week after week, month after month. I'm talking about diligently seeking him. It's funny, some people won't go across the street to honor God. They're busy, they're tired, they don't want to be inconvenienced. But this couple was flying from another state. Friends, God sees every sacrifice you make. He sees when you get up in the morning to seek him. He sees when you take time to pray before you make the decision. He sees you getting your children dressed, driving down the freeway to come to church. Your effort has not gone unnoticed.

Let me assure you a reward is coming. You cannot give God something without him giving you more back in return. You've given God your time by coming today, by watching. God is going to help you to get more done this week. many of you gave in the offering. You spent gas money. God's going to cause what you have left over to go further than if you had kept it all for yourself. That's just the way God is. When you seek him, he rewards you.

This couple kept flying in Saturday after Saturday, week after week, a journey of faith. The husband felt very strongly about drilling for oil on this certain piece of property. He drilled with no success. He drilled at the same property. Again, no success.

Ten times, twenty times, thirty times, forty times. His wife said, honey, don't drill on this property anymore. You've already done that. Drill somewhere else. Something down in here kept telling him, drill right where you are. His crew thought he had lost his mind. They thought he was far off, but when you honor God, he will give you inside information.

He'll lead you and direct you. He drilled the 46th time, nothing. 47th time nothing, but on the 48th time they struck oil. Today they're not struggling anymore. When they want to come see us, they don't go buy a cheap ticket. They'll go get on their own airplane. God has blessed them more than they could even imagine. And they are being a bigger blessing more than they ever imagined.

Friends, when you diligently seek God, he promises a reward is coming. Many of you have been faithful. You've honored God. You've gotten up early to spend time with them. You come every time the doors are open. God is saying, get ready. A reward is coming. God's going to give you inside information.

He's going to cause you to be at the right place, at the right time. Like this couple, God has something big coming your way. Here's the key. If you don't realize God is a rewarder, then you won't expect his goodness. Your expectation is your faith. being released. That's what allows God to do amazing things. Well, you say, Joel, you're saying to just

serve God, just to seek him, to get something from him. No, we serve God because we love him, but I understand the nature of God. When you honor God, he says, in effect, you don't work for me for free. I'll pay you for seeking me. Our attitude should be, I've put God first. I've done my best to please him, so I know payday is coming. I know that. I know that. We're going. I know that reward is on its way. Jesus said in Matthew 633, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. Notice the key. Seek first the kingdom. In other words, don't seek the blessing, seek the bless or. Don't be consumed by things. Don't chase after money, fame, fortune, bigger this, bigger that. Chase after God. Chase after God.

If you will seek the blessor, then all these blessings will be added unto you. This is where many people miss it. When we seek things, life is very shallow. We're always struggling, trying to make it happen. Got to have something bigger. But when you seek the blessor and say, God, my highest priority is to please you, help me to honor you. When you live that way, instead of chasing blessings, blessings will chase you. And I'm all for having goals, dreams, pursuing what God's put in our heart.

But I've seen over and over in my own life, when I'm just doing my best to please God, to honor him, focused on his principles, then out of the blue, a good break, unexpected favor. I'm at the right place, at the right time. I didn't have to manipulate things. I didn't have to struggle to make it happen. It was a reward. It was something God blessed me with because I was on his. payroll. I was diligently seeking him. I love how it says all these things will be added under you.

Not a few things, not a half a dozen. God is a God of abundance. When you keep him first place, you won't be able to contain all the good things that God brings across your path. And our main mission in life should not be making money. Our main mission should be honoring God. Here's what I've learned. When you honor God, the money will come. When you honor God, he'll open the right doors. He'll bring the right people. He'll cause you to be at the right place, at the right time.

Victoria and I have never had money as a goal. Our goal is to please God. Victoria could say she has sought the blessing and the bling has come. All these things have been added. Now here's my challenge. Don't fall in love with the blessing. fall in love with the bless or. Don't be so

consumed that you've got to have that bigger house. You've got to have that promotion, working night and day trying to make it happen. No, you're not called to make money. You're called to make a difference. You're called to honor God. Sure, work hard, develop

your talents, be your best, but don't chase money, chase God. If you will seek the blessor, God will give you what money cannot buy. You can work 24-7, but you can't buy health. You can't buy strength. You can't buy a good night's rest.

Seek first the kingdom, and God will reward you with all these things. That word seek is a strong word. One definition says, to require as a vital necessity. You need to see spending time with God as being vital to living a victorious life. because sometimes we get up in the morning we think, I don't want to read my Bible today. I don't feel like going to church. I'm tired.

But once you develop the habit and you see the benefit of how you feel refreshed and restored and how you make better decisions and how you have God's favor, then you'll think, I can't afford not to do this. Without spending time, it just doesn't feel right. People tell me again and again,

Joel, when I don't come to church each week, I just don't have that boost that I need. It says, seek first the kingdom. In other words, honor God at the start of your day. Make it a part of your routine. Last few months of my father's life, he was on dialysis. Three times a week, for four hours a day, he would go to the clinic to have his blood cleansed.

There were times that he didn't feel like going. He was tired. He was busy. Wanted to do something else. Didn't matter. win anyway. Why? His life depended on it. It wasn't an option. It was vital. My father loved to travel

all over the world, but when he started dialysis, he had to change his plans and rearrange his priorities. He knew how important dialysis was to him. That's the way we need to see seeking God. Require it as a vital

necessity. When things get busy, the children need you. It's hectic at the office. You got a thousand things to do. You've got to put your foot down and say, no, this is not an option. If I'm going to be strong, if I'm going to be productive today, if I'm going to have God's favor, then I've got to rearrange some priorities so I can spend time with God. You may have to get up earlier before the children need you, before the email goes off,

before the phone starts ringing. You draw strength, encouragement, wisdom when you're in God's presence. that's what's going to keep your life fresh. Just like we feed our physical man, we need to feed our spiritual man. Learn to invest in yourself. Sometimes we feed the outer person three hot meals a day,

but we only feed our inner person one cold snack a week. We wonder why we don't have energy and favor and wisdom and creativity is because we're not taking time to get filled back up. the scripture says in God's presence

is fullness of joy fullness of peace, fullness of victory that's where you're refreshed and restored. Every day you need to take time to read your Bible all through the day meditate on God's promises. Put on some good praise music.

Have that quiet time which is you and God. You know these days everything is so noisy so hectic, so busy but when you get alone and say God I love you today. Thank you for my life, for my family, for the opportunities you've given me. Lord, I know every good thing comes from you. When you live like that, you will have fresh oil to keep your light burning brightly. It's easy to take care of everyone else, but your first priority

is to take care of yourself. Sometimes we're always giving, taking care of the children, working overtime at the office, helping that friend that's struggling, and that's all good. But if we're not careful, we're always giving and we end up run down. You have to take time every day to get filled back up.

When you're in God's presence, like today, you're being refreshed, restored, re-energized. Proverbs 3.6 says, In all your ways, acknowledge God, and he will crown your efforts, with success. All through the day we should be acknowledging God, asking for his health, seeking his wisdom, thanking him for his goodness. In the morning, Father, thank you for another beautiful day. I commit this day, my plans, my future into your hands. You just acknowledge God. He promises

he'll crown that day with success. Driving on the freeway, Father, thank you for getting me there safely. At the office, Lord, help me to be productive today. At home, Father, bless my children. Before you go to bed, Lord, thank you for a good night's rest. When you're constantly acknowledging God, you're seeking him. He says a reward is coming. I wonder how much more of God's favor we would see if we would acknowledge God more often. Friends, God is a gentleman. He's not going to bud into your life, you have to invite him in. Not just once when you commit your life to him.

I'm talking about all through the day in all your ways, acknowledge God. Even things that we can do on our own. If you will acknowledge God, it will go better. It will be easier. At the grocery store. Father, help me to find good deals today. In a crowded parking lot.

Lord, help me to find a parking spot. Before you play that ballgame, Lord, help my skills, my gifts, my talent, to come out to the full. So often we think we can only talk to God about major problems, major obstacles. But God wants to be involved in every part of our lives. That's why he said, in all your ways, if you'll acknowledge me, if you'll put me first, I'll give you a reward. See, when we acknowledge God, we're showing our dependency on him. We're putting away our pride, and in humility we're saying,

God, I need you today. I'm counting on your strength, your favor. It's this attitude of dependency that God responds to. That's what causes him to show up and crown that day with success. On the other hand, when we don't ask for God's help,

we're showing our self-reliance. We're saying, in effect, God, I got this covered today. I don't need you. I can do it on my own. That's when God will step back and take away his blessing. It doesn't mean that we want to accomplish things, but my point is this, how much more could we accomplish?

How much easier would it be? How much less of a headache, stress, and strain if we had the creator of the universe breathing in our direction? In all of your ways, learn to acknowledge God. A few years ago, one of our rabbits got out of the cage. We have this fenced off area in our backyard and somebody left the little gate open. and this has happened several times before. This particular rabbit that got out was almost impossible to catch.

A few months earlier, he got out and I spent over two and a half hours in my backyard with my children trying to catch this rabbit. He gets along the fence line in the bushes and runs up and down. He is so fast. I took some food out there to bribe him

and I gave him the food, but he got away before I could grab him. Then I got my children, Jonathan and Alexandra, they got a big blanket. and I had a blanket. And we were on that fence line, very strategically closing in. Right when we threw our blankets, though, he was able to get away. After two and a half hours, I was so frustrated, I went in the house. About a half hour later, our daughter Alexandra, she was about seven at that time.

She caught the rabbit. But this particular morning, it was very early. I was in my office at home, preparing my message. The children were about to go to school. They came running up the stairs and said, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, the rabbit is out, and he's in the front yard. To me, that was the worst possible news I could have received. You could have said the house was on fire. And I thought, okay, I can deal with that, but I did not want to deal with this stinking rabbit. I mean, this beautiful rabbit. It took me two and a half hours in the backyard. I thought, man, alive in the front yard, he can run all the way down the street. We're going to

be here forever. I went out there in Victoria and some neighbors and our children. They were looking at the rabbit in the bushes, just as calm as can be. This time I decided a different approach. I thought I'm going to pray. I remembered Proverbs 3, 6. I said, Father, you said, if I would acknowledge you in all my ways, you would crown my efforts with success.

God, I know you made this rabbit. You're in complete control. To God, I'm asking you to cause this rabbit to be still so I can catch him and go on about my business. You laugh, but it turns out good. I went over to that rabbit, and he turned, like he's going to take off running, like he always does, but for some reason, it was like something put the brakes on him.

He didn't twitch, he didn't sniff, he didn't wiggle, he was frozen in his tracks. I was able to pick up that rabbit. Listen, we've had that rabbit six years. I've never caught that rabbit that easily before. When I got that rabbit, he started going wild trying to get loose. It's like God said, Joel, I gave him to you, but good luck now. that rabbit was so mad

he was snarling at me like he was thinking how in the world did I let you catch me I thought don't get mad at me God did it to you let me encourage you acknowledge God in all your ways in big things in little things at home at the office the Little League field the grocery store

God I need you today God I recognize you're the source of my strength That's seeking God. He promises a reward is coming. Proverbs 22.4 says, the reward of true humility and fear of the Lord is wealth, honor, and a long life. That's my prayer for each of you, that you will have God's favor, that you will live a long life, and that you will see all your dreams come to pass. How does this happen by honoring God? Make pleasing God your highest priority. Get up every day. morning and thank God for his goodness. All through the day, acknowledge God. Keep your inner

man filled up by spending time with God. See it as a vital necessity. Remember, don't seek the blessing. Seek the bless or. And the blessing will come. All these things will be added under you. Now, I believe today, because you are diligently seeking God, a reward is coming. Get ready for God's goodness. He's going to turn negative situations around. He's going to open up new doors. God's going to give you inside information. He's going to pour out his favor in ways greater than you ever imagine. God is saying, I'm going to pay you for seeking me with favor, with honor, and with a long, blessed,

satisfied, productive, prosperous, faith-filled, healthy life. I declare it, and I believe it over each one of you. If you receive it, can you say amen today? We never like to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you, my Lord and Savior.

Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in a good Bible-based church. Keep God first place. He's going to take your places you've never dreamed of. Sometimes in life, people don't choose us. We've all felt overlooked and like we're not good enough. It's easy to live inferior thinking we don't measure up. People may have left you out.

The good news is God has chosen you. He's the one that matters. And in my new book, Chosen, Your Life is marked for distinction. You'll discover, before you were born, God not only knew you, but he handpicked you and placed a calling on your life. You are equipped and empowered to fulfill your destiny. When you understand that you're chosen, fear and doubt can't stay, you'll live with a boldness to step into the greatness God put in you.

I love to send you my new book, Chosen, plus the Chosen T-shirt from our friends at Copperfield. As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount this month, we would like to send you a copy of Joel's book, Chosen. Your life is marked for distinction. In the scriptures, Jesus encouraged us by saying, You didn't choose me, I chose you. This powerful guide will help you discover the abundant life you were designed to live. As a child of God, you have a calling, a purpose, a destiny still to be fulfilled.

When you request your copy, we also want to send you our exclusive chosen t-shirt from CopperFit that will remind you that you've been chosen by Almighty God every time. you wear it. Please request these gifts today and discover that God is moving on your behalf. Your next days are going to be your best days. You're not average. You're not ordinary. You've been chosen by Almighty God. Victoria and I want you to know how much we love you. We pray for you and your family every day. Thanks so much for your prayer and support. Your generosity is helping people all over the world. A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly gifts. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember, you can watch the services online, live

every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube, the new Joel Osteen Network, social media, listen on SiriusXM. We'll keep you encouraged and inspired. Until we see you next time, may the Lord bless you and keep you. Be sure to request your copy of Chosen. Your life is marked for distinction, plus our exclusive chosen t-shirt from CopperFit. Visit Joel Osteen.com or call 888-567 Joel. For an additional donation this month, we are also offering the NLT Large Print Thinline Reference Bible. This Bible also enables you to connect through your smartphone or tablet to a vast, power-packed array of study notes, devotionals, interactive maps, videos, and worship music.

You can request these inspiring resources by calling 888-567, Joel, or logging on to Joelosteen.com today. Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day. Yes, God has chosen you for a reason, for a purpose. Request your copies today.