Joel Osteen Podcast - Improving Your Self-Image With Your Words | Joel Osteen

Episode Date: April 19, 2024

One of the best ways we can improve our self-image is with our words. Use your words to make positive declarations over your life. 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 visitJoelOsteen.com/GiveHope.Your words have the power to change your life. When youSpeak the Blessing,you wake up dreams and unleash divine favor. Our April offer will show you the keys to speaking faith-filled words that invite the transformation you are looking for. Request your copy today, https://bit.ly/3TSkDQU. 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.

Hey, it's so great to have you with us on the podcast today. We love you guys. We're praying for you and just believe you'll be blessed and encouraged. So all the best to you. God bless you. It is always a joy to come into your home. We come with good news. We know that God is on your side.

And God rewards the people that seek after him. And I believe that's you or you wouldn't be watching this today or you guys wouldn't be here. So that's why I come with just a message of hope, a message of faith, knowing that, you know, when we draw on out of God, God draws and die unto us. And so we're believing that 2006 is going to be a great year of victory in your life. But thanks for tuning in today. Listen, come out and see us. If you're ever in this area, please don't come to Houston without stopping by and seeing us.

We'd love to meet you one-on-one. But I like to get started each week with something kind of funny. And I heard about this mechanic. He was working on the engine of this car. And he had it all torn apart there in his mechanic shop and in-walk this famous heart surgeon. And he said, doctor, tell me this. I, too, open up hearts, and I replace valves, and I put in new parts. And when I get finished, this car will be as good as new.

And I just don't understand why you make so much more money when we basically do the same kind of work. And that heart surgeon smiled, and he said, try doing it with the engine running. All right, hold up your Bibles. Say it like you mean it. Are you ready? 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. We've been talking about how we are the seed of Almighty God, and we have been created to live a life of victory. God didn't make any of us to be average.

He didn't make us to barely get by. We were created to excel. It says before the foundation of the world, God is not only chosen us, but he has equipped us with everything we need to live his abundant life. You have seeds of greatness on the inside of you right now. But it's up to us to believe this and act on it. And I see too many people today going around with low self-esteem, feeling inferior like they don't have what it takes. But as long as we have that poor self-image, we're not going to experience God's best. And I've found you will never rise above the image that you have of yourself.

And that's why it's so important that we see ourselves as God sees us. And I want you to have this image of a champion on the inside. You may not be there yet. You may have some areas to overcome. But you need to know deep down in here beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are a victory. and not a victim. And one of the best ways that we can improve our self-image is with our words.

Words are like seeds. They have created power. It says in Isaiah that we will eat the fruit of our words. In other words, our words are going to produce exactly what we're saying. And so every day, we should make positive declarations over our lives. We should say things like, I am blessed.

I am prosperous. I am healthy. I am talented. I am creative. I am wise. When we do that, we are building up our self-image. Those words are going to get down on the inside. And eventually, they'll begin to change the way we see ourselves. And the scripture says there in James 3, verse 10, with our tongue, we can either bless our life or we can curse our life. And I know people going around cursing their future. They say things like, I don't have what it takes. I'm so clumsy, I can't get anything right. I'm so undisciplined. I'll probably never lose this weight. They don't realize it, but they just curse their future. Now, we've got to be extremely careful what we allow out of our mouth. Our words are setting the direction for our lives.

Let me ask you, which direction are you going? Are you declaring good things? Are you blessing your life, speaking words of faith over your future? Or are you going around saying negative things? Nothing good ever happens to me. I'll probably never get out of dead. I'll never break this addiction. No, when you talk like that, you are setting the limits for your life. Too many people today have a poor self-image all because of their own words.

They've gone around for years putting themselves down. And now they've developed these wrong mindsets. it's keeping them from rising higher. Well, you say, Joel, I've made so many mistakes. I don't see how God could bless me. I just don't feel like I deserve it. No, the best thing you could do is all through the day, start saying to yourself, I am a new creature, I am forgiven, I am valuable to God, he has made me worthy.

You keep saying that long enough, you're going to put your shoulders back. You'll start expecting good things. You may be lonely today, but you shouldn't go around talking about it all the time. I'm so lonely, I'm discouraged. Nobody ever likes to be around me. I'll probably never get married. No, you've got to get up every day and say, I am fun to be around, I am attractive, I am friendly, I have a good personality, people are drawn to me. You say that day after day, and it'll begin to change your self-image. You'll go out and not only have more confidence, but you'll be more friendly, and you'll in turn attract new people. And I know some of you today, you've had other people speak negative, destructive words over you. And unfortunately, you've heard it so long, it's kind of affecting your self-image.

And the only way that's going to change is for you to get on the offensive and start speaking these faith-filled words over your own life. Maybe it was a parent or a coach or a teacher growing up. Somebody that said things like, you don't have what it takes. You're never going to be successful. You can't go to that college. You're not smart enough. And now those words have taken root, and it's setting the limits for your life.

But let me tell you, the best eraser you can ever find is God's word. You need to quit dwelling on that junk and start saying out of your own mouth what God says about you. You should go around all day long saying, I am anointed, I am approved, I am equipped, I've been chosen, I've been set apart, I am destined to live in victory. When you do that, you just blessed your life.

Not only that, your self-image will begin to improve. There is creative power in your words. And I found you believe your words more than you believe anybody else's. Think about it. Your words go out of your mouth, and they come right back into your own ears. And if you hear it long enough, it'll drop down into your spirit. And those words will produce exactly what you're saying. And that's why it's so important that we get in a habit,

every day of declaring good things over our lives. When you get up in the morning, instead of looking at that mirror and saying, oh, man, I can't believe I look like this. I'm getting so old. I'm so wrinkled. No, you need to just smile and say, good morning, you good-looking thing. It's like that guy I heard about. He told his wife, I can't wait to get up in the morning.

She said, why? He said, because I get better looking every day, and I can't wait to see what I'm going to look like tomorrow. But no matter how you feel, when you get up in the morning and you look at that mirror, you need to say, I am strong. I am healthy. God is renewing my youth like the Eagles, and I am excited about this day. And in the natural, it may not be true. You may not feel up to part that day. You may have a lot of obstacles. But the scripture tells us in Romans 417 that we are to call the things that are not as if they already were. In other words, don't talk about the way you are. Talk about the way you want to be.

That's what faith is all about. See, in the world, you have to see it to believe it, but God says you have to believe it, and then you'll see it. And for instance, you may be very undisciplined in a certain area, but instead of going around complaining about it and talking bad about yourself, you need to start calling in what you need. You say, Joel, I just can't seem to resist this temptation. I'm so undisciplined.

I don't think I'm ever going to change. No, unfortunately, you're not going to change talking like that. You're just feeding yourself a bunch of defeat, and your image is getting lower and lower. You've got to change what you're saying. You need to start saying every day, I am disciplined. I have self-controlled. I make good decisions. I'm an overcomer.

This thing didn't come to stay. It came to pass. And all through the day, When you're driving to work, when you're taking a shower, when you're cooking dinner, under your breath, you should be saying, I am more than a conquer. I can do what I need to do. I'm a child of the most high God. And as you do that, you're getting stronger and stronger, and that image on the inside is changing. I know some of you are students here today, and you kind of don't really think that you could ever make good grades. Well, Joel, I'm just a C student. That's the best I've ever done. I don't understand math. And this teacher, he's the hardest one around. No, quit limiting yourself with those words.

You need to say every day, I excel in school. I am a quick learner. I have good study habits. I am full of God's wisdom. You've got to call in what you need. Or maybe you're here and you're naturally kind of critical and judgmental toward people. But don't just sit back and think that's the way I am.

No, you need to look in that mirror and say every day, I am compassionate, I am kind, I am understanding, I believe the best in people. And as you consistently make these positive declarations, they're going to get down on the inside of you, and things are going to begin to change. You remember the story of Abraham and Sarah? When God told them they were going to have a child,

they were both well beyond the child-bearing years, close to 100 years old. In fact, when Abraham told Sarah, first thing she did was to laugh. She said, Abraham, me have a child, I'm an old woman. I don't think so. And God knew he had to change the image they had of themselves

before they could ever have that child. Well, how did God do it? He changed their names. In other words, he changed the words they were hearing. It says in Genesis, he changed Sarai to Serra, which means princes. He changed Abram to Abraham, which means father of many nations.

Think about it. Before Abraham had a single child, God called him by faith the Father of many nations. Every time somebody said, hey, Abraham, how you doing? They were saying, hello, Father of many nations. He heard that, no doubt, thousands and thousands of times. It began to get down on the inside. Think about Sarah. She was an older woman who had never had any children. She probably didn't have too good of a self-image. She probably didn't feel much like a princess. But every time somebody said, hello Sarah, they were saying, hello, princess. She heard that day in and day out. Good morning, princess, good afternoon, princess.

Over time, that changed herself image. Now she no longer saw herself as an older, barren woman. She began to see herself as a princess. You know the story. Eventually, she gave birth to that child. That's what words can do. That's what can happen when you have the right image on the inside. I know some of you today, like Sarah,

God has put something in your heart that seems totally impossible. It may seem impossible for you to ever be well again, or impossible for you to get out of death, to get married, to lose weight, to start that new business. In the natural, all the odds are against you, you don't see how it could happen. If you're going to see those dreams come to pass, You have to get your mouth going in the right direction, and you need to develop a new image on the inside.

No matter how impossible something looks, no matter how you feel, you need to just start boldly declaring day in and day out, I'm strong in the Lord. I can do all things through Christ. I am well able to fulfill my destiny. You've got to call in what God has promised you. That's what the scripture says. Let the weak say I am strong. You may not feel well today, but don't you dare go around saying, I don't think I'm ever going to get over this sickness, Joel. No, you need to start boldly declaring God is restoring health unto me.

I am getting better and better every day in every way. Or maybe even in your financial situation. It doesn't look very good. Well, you need to start saying, I'm blessed, I'm prosperous. I'm the head, not the tail. I will lend and not borrow. What I'm saying today is don't use your words. to describe your situation, use your words to change your situation. We have these friends that live in

Dallas, and for years they were trying to have another child. They had a daughter, but they really wanted to have a son. But this wife, every time she got pregnant, she had a miscarriage. This happened five times over a nine-year period. They were getting up there in age, and they were very discouraged and very frustrated. And this husband's name was Joe. He'd gone by Joe his whole lifetime. but one day it came to his attention what his full name meant. Of course, his full name was Joseph, and that means God will add. And when he heard that, something just clicked on the inside. He knew that God was speaking to him.

And so he decided, kind of like this story, to go back and start using his full name. And so he told his friends, his family, his coworkers, don't call me Joe anymore. Start calling me Joseph. they didn't know what he was doing. They thought he was having some kind of midlife crisis, but he didn't care. He knew every time somebody said, hello Joseph, they were saying God will add.

They were speaking faith into his life. And he took that as them saying, God is going to add to us a son. And do you know, it wasn't more than several months after he started doing that, that his wife became pregnant with a baby boy. And for the first time in 10 years, she was able to carry the child full term.

Not too long ago, that little boy was born healthy and whole. And as a testimony to what God had done, they named him Joseph as well. God will add. I was reading not too long ago, this magazine article in it, talked about these doctors that found a new way to treat patients with depression. Instead of using a traditional approach and just giving them medication, they started having their patients make positive. declarations, just like I'm talking about. They had them say things like, I have a bright future.

People like me. Good things are in store. They told how they had remarkable results, much better than with traditional medication. In fact, some of these patients were facing life-threatening diseases. They didn't feel like there was any hope. And the first thing the doctor would do was ask the patient, has anyone ever survived from this disease? Has one person ever made it? And of course the answer was always yes. And he said, well, I want you to start saying, I will be one of the ones to make it. I will be one of the ones to beat the odds. They begin to do this day in and day out.

I'm getting better. I'm recovering. I'm going to make it. And it's amazing how many of them not only came out of that depression, but many of them did make full physical recoveries. See, there's power in what we're saying. With our words, we are prophesying our future. too many people go around prophesying defeat, failure, lack, mediocrity. No, use your words to declare good things.

Declare victory over your life. Declare health, declare joy. All through the day, we should go around saying, I have the favor of God. I can do what I need to do. When we do that, we are blessing our life and we are strengthening our self-image. And if you struggle with depression today, you too can use your words to change things. You may have been through a lot of disappointments. You may have gone through some setbacks in the past,

but you more than anybody need to get up every day and just boldly declare this is going to be a great day. I may have been defeated in the past, but this is a new day. God is on my side. Things are changing in my favor. When those old negative discouraging thoughts come back, and I'm sure they will, instead of complaining and expecting the worst,

you need to just say it again and again, something good is going to happen to me. I am a victor and not a victim. You've got to talk to yourself. Not enough to just think it. You need to hear it over and over again. Good things are in store. God is fighting my battles for me. New doors of opportunity are opening. As you do that, you are developing a new image on the inside and things will begin to change in your favor. Now I wonder what would happen if we'd all take at least five minutes a day and just declare good things over our lives. There's no telling how how high we would all rise. Why don't you

start? I'm talking about getting alone before you leave the house or even driving to work and just speaking the blessing over your life. You may even want to write it down. It says in Habakkuk to write down your vision. Why don't you make a list

of your dreams, your goals, the areas you want to improve, the things you want to see changed. And always make sure you can back it up with God's word. And then just take a few minutes alone every day and just declare that over your life. It's not enough to read it, it's not enough to think about it, something supernatural happens when we speak it out. That's how we give life to our faith. Maybe you struggle with condemnation. You feel guilty because of your past mistakes and that black cloud tries to follow you around all day. Well, no, you need to just start boldly declaring all through the day and the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. God is pleased with me. He's smiling down on me. I am a a friend of God. You do that consistently and guilt and condemnation can't stay around you. Or maybe you struggle with worrying. You're always upset and your mind's going 90 to nothing.

Well, you need to just start declaring, I have the peace of God. My mind is at rest. I have a relaxed and easy-going attitude. Declare it by faith. You can use your words to change that situation. I know this lady, she had tried to quit smoking for years and years. She had good intentions. She had good intentions. She did her best, but she just couldn't seem to do it. And she was always saying, I just don't have what it takes. This is just too hard for me, and I'll never break this addiction. She even told her friends, even if I ever do quit smoking, I know I'm going to gain so much weight. She was constantly speaking negative words over her life, and this went on for years. She was so frustrated about it. But one day, somebody told her what I'm telling you, to change what she was

saying to call the things that are not as if they already were. She didn't know any better. She just started saying, I don't like to smoke. I can't stand the taste of this nicotine. And when I do quit smoking, I'm not going to gain one bit away. She said that day after day, month after month. It's funny. She told me, Joel, I'd be sitting there smoking a cigarette and just enjoying it, yet I'd say out of my mouth, I can't stand to smoke. I can't stand this nicotine. See, she wasn't talking about the way she was. She was talking about the way she wanted to be. She did that month after month, and she said one day she woke up and lit up that cigarette,

and it tasted kind of different. Tasted a little bit strange, a little bit bitter. Well, month after month, it got worse and worse and worse. And one day, that tasted so bad she couldn't stand it anymore, and she was able to lay it down. And do you know, she never did gain one bit of weight. Today she's totally free from that. She broke that addiction in part by the power of her words. She prophesied her future.

But some of you today, like this lady, you have spent years saying negative things about yourself. Man, I can't break this addiction. I can't lose weight. I'll never get out of debt. I'll never get married. Now those words have created a stronghold. You have the wrong image on the inside. And unless you change that image and start seeing yourself with the victory, you're going to stay right where you are.

And I'm asking you today to not say another negative thing about yourself. You may be the most undisciplined person in here. You may have a thousand bad habits, but I'm asking you to not let another critical word come out of your mouth toward yourself. Use your words to bless your life. Use your words to declare the victory. Look in that mirror and call in what you need. It's got to change on the inside before it's going to happen on the outside. Some of you don't see yourself rising high enough.

You don't see yourself leading the company in sales. You don't see yourself being promoted, increasing. You need to start saying every day, I'm excelling in my career. I have the favor of God. I make good decisions. I'm a hard worker, and I'm going to rise to new heights. Do you hear that long enough? It'll create a new image on the inside, an image of victory, an image of success.

That's why I say every single day, Whether I feel like it or not, I am anointed. My gifts and talents are coming out to the full. Every message gets better and better. People are drawn to me. People want to listen to me. And do you know, I get letters all the time from people that say, Joel, I never watch TV preachers.

I don't even like them. But for some reason, when I turn you on, I just can't turn you all. See, I've called that in. That's a favor of God. I had somebody write a while back this man, and he said that his wife had been trying to get him to watch for years, but he wouldn't do it. He is very cynical and sarcastic toward the things of God, but he said one day he's flipping through the channels, and he came across our program, and he normally just turns it off real quickly, but for some reason,

his remote control quit working, and he got stuck on our channel. He was so frustrated, so aggravated, he finagled that remote control, changed the battery, still couldn't get it to work. And he said, Joel, even though I acted like I wasn't listening, what you were saying was talking directly to me. And he said, the funny thing was, the minute the program was over, my remote control started walking again. And now he never misses a Sunday. And God works in mysterious ways, doesn't he? But you need to declare good things over your own life. Do you know if you are negative and critical toward yourself, your own words can stop God's best plan from coming to pass in your life?

This is what almost happened to the prophet Jeremiah. God said, Jeremiah, I saw you before you were ever formed in your mother's womb, and I have chosen you to be a prophet to the nations. Well, Jeremiah was very young. He didn't have much confidence, and when he heard this, he was afraid. He said, God, I can't do that. I can't speak to the nations. I'm too young.

I wouldn't even know what to say. God answered him back and said, Jeremiah, say not that you are. or too young. Notice God immediately stopped his negative words. Why was that? It's because God knew, if he went around saying, I can't do this, I don't have what it takes, I'm too young, God knew he would get exactly what he was saying. He knew those negative words would stop his best plan from coming to pass. And so God simply said, Jeremiah, do not say that anymore. Don't use those words to curse your future. And it goes on to tell how Jeremiah changed what he was saying. And God has called every one of us to do great things.

He's put dreams and desires in your heart. There are areas where you want to improve things that you want to accomplish. But it's so easy to do like Jeremiah and just make these excuses. God, I can't do it. I've made too many mistakes. I'm too young. I'm too old. God, I come from the wrong side of the tracks.

No, God is saying to us the same thing he said to Jeremiah. Stop saying that. Those negative words can keep you out of God's best plan. I believe for some of you today, this can be a turning point in your life. You never say anything good about yourself. Really, it's not enough to just not say anything negative. You need to get on the offensive and start making these positive declarations over your own life. Every day, you need to say things like, I am blessed, I am prosperous, I am healthy, I am called, I'm anointed, I'm creative, I'm talented, I'm well able to fulfill my destiny.

speak that out. Your words have created power. You want to know where you're going to be five years from now? Just listen to your words. You are prophesying your future. Do you want to be stronger, healthier, happier?

If you want to break addictions, you've got to start declaring it right now. Remember, you're going to eat the fruit of your own words. And so I challenge you again, don't ever say another negative thing about yourself. Don't curse your future

Bless your future You are a child of the most high God You've been called, you've been chosen You've got everything you need to live in victory Why don't you get in agreement with God Learn to speak words of faith and victory Over your own life If you'll get your mouth going in the right direction

Then those words are going to take root on the inside You'll have a better self-image You'll rise higher And I believe you'll become all that God's created you to be Amen. Do you receive that 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. When God created the world, he did it specifically with you in mind. He used his words. He spoke everything into existence. Light. Oceans and dry land. Plants. Sun and stars.

Animals. Man and woman. Your words have that same creative power. If you want to know what you're going to be like five years from now, listen to what you're saying about yourself. You are prophesying your future. Too often, we don't realize we're defeating ourselves with our words. I'll never get healthy.

I'm not attractive. This dream's impossible. Instead of limiting your future, why don't you start blessing your future? If you'll change your words, you can change your world. I have a new book called Speak the Blessing. It will help you to speak positive, faith-filled words. There are declarations in it that you can make. make over your family, your health, your finances, and your future. When you get your words aligned

with what God says, you'll see his favor in greater ways. Asar, thank you for your gift of any amount to the ministry this month. We want to send you speak the blessing. Send your words in the direction you want your life to go. You can begin to enjoy a life filled with freedom, joy, health, success, and creativity as you discover the authority and power. of speaking God's word. Yes, speak the blessing will unlock life-changing possibilities that are unlimited. When you declare what God says about you, I'm strong, I'm healthy, I'm favored, you are blessing your life. I hope you'll request your copy today. Remember, you can watch the services live online every Sunday, download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube, listen on

SiriusXM. We'll keep you encouraged and inspired. Be sure to request your copy, of Speak the Blessing today. Visit Joel Osteen.com or call 888-567, Joel. Our homecoming weekend is this Saturday and Sunday. Some of you have never been to Lakewood. This is a perfect time. We'd love to meet you.

We'd be honored to have you and your family.