Joel Osteen Podcast - Kind Words Work Wonders | Joel Osteen

Episode Date: October 14, 2024

Your words have the power to call out greatness in others. When you're generous with your compliments, your kind words will bring healing to those around you.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.Good things are en route to you! But if you’re holding on to the old, there’s no room for the new. Our October offer will teach you how to make room for God to bless you in ways you never thought possible! It's time to Empty Out the Negative and be filled with blessings! https://bit.ly/3XE45Nf 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.

Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks so much for listening to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to have an awesome 2024, healthy, productive, and favor-filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message. God bless you. It's great to be with you today and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media. We'll keep you encouraged and inspired.

I like to start with something funny and I heard about the, this burglar that broke into a house one night. And just as he was stealing the stereo, he heard a voice saying, Jesus is watching you. He froze in his tracks, shined his flashlight in the corner, and saw a parrot. He said, did you say that to me? The parrot said, yes, I'm just trying to warn you. The burglar said, warn me. What are you talking about? Who are you? The parrot said, my name is Moses. The burglar laughed. Said, what kind of crazy people would name a parrot, Moses? The parrot, The parents said the same kind of people that would name a 150-pound Rockweiler, Jesus. 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 kind words work wonders. When you say something kind, you give a compliment, you tell your spouse that you love them, you encourage your neighbor, it can seem like a simple thing, no big deal, but those words have incredible power. Proverbs 16 says, kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. you can make someone healthier by speaking kind words. Just a simple compliment, you look beautiful today, you did great on that presentation.

That's not just being nice, you're nourishing their soul. When you tell your spouse, I love you. I'm blessed to have you in my life. That's not only going to keep your relationship stronger, but it's making the other person more secure, more confident. It's nourishing them. when you call the friend this down, say, I'm thinking about you. I care about you. You mean the world to me.

That's not just encouraging them. It's bringing healing to their body. Don't miss opportunities to bring nourishment. The people around you need what you have. Your kind words can be what pushes them into their destiny. Your compliments, your encouragement, that's making them healthier, stronger. That's how they're going to become. all they were created to be.

Now maybe you weren't raised like this. With people saying nice things, telling your family you love them, giving compliments, you didn't see that model growing up. You can be the one to start it. Without your nourishment, it will make it more difficult on your family,

on your children. The reason some people aren't flourishing is no one is nourishing them. They never hear any compliments, any encouragement. But God created it. us to need each other. You have something that will cause your spouse to blossom, your children to bloom, your loved one to feel more secure. It's not your money. It's not your hard work,

not your accomplishments, it's your kind words. They need to hear how much you love them, how much you believe in them, how great you think they are. Don't let a day go by that you don't say something kind to the people God put in your life. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's not. It's a day go by that you don't say something kind to the people God put in your life. It's not enough to just think it. Your thoughts don't nourish anyone. A blessing is not a blessing

until it's spoken. They need to hear it. I love you. I'm proud of you. You're beautiful. You're going to do great things. Make it a habit of speaking good at. These days, it's more needed than ever. So many voices trying to push down. People say in harsh

things. Be in rude, demeaning. They have no problem speaking their mind in a negative way. We need to be just as bold and speak our mind in a positive way. God is counting on us to be healers, to be lifters, to be encouragers. Let's make it our business to nourish people's souls, to bring healing and wholeness. I've told Victoria thousands of times how beautiful she is. I realize she already knows that she's beautiful. People have been telling her that her whole life. But you know what's funny? She's never once said, Joel, stop telling me I'm beautiful. You know why we like to hear good things over and over? Because it's nourishing our soul. It's keeping us strong and healthy. When I was growing up,

I would hear my parents tell me how proud they were of me again and again. Every night before bed, Joel, we loved you and we're proud of you. Those words brought confidence. security because they believed in me, I believed in myself. There are people in your life when they know you believe in them, they'll start believing in themselves in a new way. They need your validation, your encouragement, your blessing. That's what will push them into their destiny. This should start with your family.

Don't take for granted the people that are closest to you. You may think, oh, they're strong. They don't need my blessing. They know I'm proud of them. They know they're beautiful. You know, something happens when they hear you say it. Those kind words get down into their spirit, bring a new level of confidence, talent, boldness. When I worked in the television department here at Lakewood, my father would bring guests by it during the week.

He would tell them, you have to meet my son, Joel. He's so talented, so much better looking than his brother Paul. He can produce television like, no. nobody else. He would brag on me so much, I'd be embarrassed. But Daddy knew the power of kind words. He didn't grow up with people encouraging him. He had loving parents, but they weren't vocal about their love. They expressed themselves when they saw something negative, something they were displeased with. And yes, we have to correct our children, but they shouldn't only hear what they're doing wrong. They need to hear words of affirmation, how valuable they are, how much you love them,

talk to them about what they're good at. All those times my father bragged on me, I may have acted like I didn't like it. The truth is, I did like it. It made me believe in myself in a greater way. You have to call out the seeds of greatness in the people God put in your life. Most of the time that greatness won't come out on its own. They have to hear it again and again. My mother sent me a birthday card the other day. Said, Joel, I am so proud of you and I know daddy would be so proud too. 88 years old and she's still speaking the blessing over her children. No wonder I've been able to go places I've never dreamed.

I didn't think this was in me, but people around me kept calling it out telling me what I could become. Their kind words nourished my soul, made me more confident, more secure, helped me to step into my destiny. I wouldn't be half of who I am today without Victoria. She saw things

in me that I couldn't see. Here's the key. She took time to tell me. She spoke words of faith, words of victory not once, but over and over. Joel, you can do anything. You're amazing. You're so talented. did. One time we bought this old house, had it torn down, we're going to build a new one. I called

the builder we had used a couple of years earlier. He built a house we really liked for us. She said, why are you calling him? We don't need a builder. You can build a house. I said, Victoria, I am not a builder. I don't know how to build a house. She said, sure you do. You just watched him build our last house. You're as smart as he is. You can build this house. I said, Victoria, I had surgery on my knee. I watched the surgeon, but I can't do surgery. She said, that's different. She taught me into it.

I built the house and turned out pretty good. I forgot the plumbing, but other than that, it was great. Ten years before my father went to be with the Lord, we would sit on the front row when Daddy was up there ministering on Sunday nights. Victoria would lean over and say, Joel, one day, you're going to pastor the church. I thought, I have her so fooled. I may be able to build a house, but I cannot get up and speak in front of people. I would tell her there's no way.

She'd say, yes, I can see it. I know you can do it. When my father passed, one reason I believe I was able to step up and pastor, even though I had never ministered, is because I had heard Victoria tell me I could do it hundreds and hundreds of times. Those words nourished my soul, gave me confidence, brought talent out that I didn't know I had. how much further will the people that God put in your life go if you will speak kind words, if you will tell them what they can become, if you will call out their seeds of greatness.

Thinking about it doesn't do them any good. Speak it over them. And here's a key. Be generous with your compliments and be stingy with your complaints. We can all focus on things we don't like about someone, how they don't measure up, how they should do better. Don't spend more time telling people what you don't like, what they can't do, than you do telling them what you do like, what they can do. You have the power to push them into their destiny.

Many times you can see things in people that they can't see in themselves. Your kind words can be the seed that causes them to blossom. Because you spoke faith. You encourage, you lifted, they'll step into levels that they couldn't get to on their own. Now there may be people in your life now and you kind of put out with, why can't they be more disciplined? Why won't they go further? Maybe all they need is some nourishment. Maybe your kind words. Your encouragement is going to give them the strength, the confidence, the faith, to rise up and blossom into who they were created to be. We have this small plant in a pot

on our back porch and we were out of town for a couple of weeks and didn't water it. When we came back, the plant was all wilted over. Leaves were brown, dried up. Looked like it was dead. I was about to take it to the trash. Victoria said, no, Joy, it's not dead. Just put some water in it. I thought, man, she has more faith than me

because there's nothing in this plant that looks alive. I watered it the next morning the plant had stood up tall. I thought, this is a miracle. This is a resurrection. Two days later, the leaves had turned green. A couple of weeks later, there were beautiful flowers. The whole plant was blossoming, blooming, prettier than ever. I thought it was dead. All it needed was some nourishment. And the reason some people are wilted,

not blossoming, not reaching their potential, is their lacking nourishment. They need someone to speak life into them. You have what they need. If you'll encourage them, let them know that you believe in them, call out their seeds of greatness, just like this plant, you'll see them come to life. Gifts will come out that they didn't know they had. Their passion will come back. Before long, they'll be blossoming, blooming, stepping into new levels. It wasn't something they could do on their own. They needed what you have. Your kind words are nourishment to their soul. And this is not something that's complicated. It doesn't take a lot of time. In 20 seconds, you can give a compliment. You can send a text. I'm thinking about you. I appreciate your friendship.

You're really amazing. You just nourish their soul. You just lighten their load, made their life a little easier. You don't know what people are going through. They may smile on the outside. Everything seems fine, but on the inside, they're hurting. They're trying to keep it together. One thing I've learned is everyone is fighting a battle. everyone is dealing with something. They may not show it, but there's a load they're carrying. There are thoughts telling them how it's not going to work out. They're concerned about a child, worried about their health, struggling in their career.

If they were sick and we had the medicine, we had the cure, none of us would withhold it. We'd be quick to give it to them. We want to see them get better. What I'm saying is, we have some medicine. We have something that will not only nourish their soul, soothe their emotions, calm their fears, but our kind words bring healing to the body. When you tell someone, it's going to be okay, it's going to work out.

God has you in the palm of his hand. That just made them stronger. Their immune system will function better. Their cells will work more efficiently. Their blood pressure will improve, all because you took time to be a healer. Proverbs says, a word of encouragement works wonders. We often pray for signs and wonders, and I believe in that. But what if some of those wonders are in our kind words?

What if the miracle was in something simple? Telling someone that they're going to make it. Telling your spouse every day, I love you. Giving your co-worker, your friend a compliment, encouraging them. Don't discount the power of a kind word. It can work wonders. My mother had polio as a child. One of her legs is much smaller than the other.

She's always walked with a limp. That used to really bother her. She was self-conscious about it, thinking people are looking at me, thinking what's wrong with you? She'd try to cover up the small leg, wearing longer dresses. One day, a minister friend was speaking for us

at the old church. He and my father were walking together, and my mother was a few feet in front of them. He saw my mother walking. He turned to my father and said, John, look at Doty. She walks like a princess. My mother had never heard anything positive about how she walked. But when she heard that, it changed her whole perspective. She stopped being embarrassed by it. She started walking with confidence, knowing that she's made in the image of Almighty God. That was over 40 years ago, but she remembers it like it was yesterday.

One compliment, one kind word can have an impact for a lifetime. What if that minister would have just thought about it, never said it? Maybe my mother would still be bothered by it. But a word of encouragement works wonders. Your kind words can break strongholds in people's mind. Your encouragement can set their dreams into motion. Don't withhold the healing. Like my plant that needed water,

it couldn't water itself. I had to step in. Someone needs your water. God is counting on us to bring the nourishment. You don't know how a simple act of kindness can impact a person. Seems ordinary to us, but to that person is something that will affect them

for the good for years to come. When I first started ministering, I was so insecure. I hadn't been trained to do this. I'm naturally more quiet and reserved. and all these thoughts said to me, nobody's going to listen to you, Joel. It's a big mistake. You better change your mind and go back behind the scenes.

I was fighting all these internal battles, trying to keep moving forward, unsure of myself. One day, about two months in, when I was at a critical point, I received a letter in the mail from a very well-known and well-respected minister and business leader. I'd never met him. I didn't know that he knew who I was. I started reading the letter so nervously, not knowing what to expect.

He said, Joel, I want you to know I've been watching you and I can't tell you how great you're doing. Listen, all these things I was doing right on and on. So encouraging and so uplifting. When he sent that letter, he had no idea what I was fighting. He had no way of knowing what kind of impact it would have. But he took time to nourish my soul. He took time to let me know that he cared, that it was for me, that he believed in me.

That letter was a big part of me moving forward and pushing through the doubt, through the naysayers, through my own negative thoughts. Proverbs says, when it's in your power, don't withhold the good. This has taught me to live my life as a healer, to be free with kind words, to lift people, to speak life to their dreams, to tell them what they can become. several times a week when I'm at home, instead of watching television, I'll get my cell phone out and think, who can I encourage tonight? Who can I bless? Who can I nourish? Like that man did for me, God will cause you to speak a word in due season. There are people all around us at work, the grocery store, the mall, the gym, they need nourishment. Life has pushed them down. They're trying to decide like I was, should I go back?

give up on this dream, this marriage, this child. They're starting to wilt to dry up. The good news is you have the water. You have the nourishment. Your kind words. Your encouragement. Your text, your compliment can be what causes them to come back to life. Well, Joel, I need someone to nourish me, man.

I have all these challenges. I'm carrying a heavy load. The scripture says, your own soul is nourished when you're kind. When you're kind to others, you're not only nourishing them, but you're being nourished. You're going to get stronger. You're going to get healthy. You're going to have more favor.

Isaiah said, say to the righteous, all will be well with you. It didn't say, go pray for the righteous, although that's good. Go tell the righteous how to get out of their problems. It simply says, say to the righteous, it's going to work out. everything's going to be okay. Just a word of encouragement. Just let them know that you care. Just remind them that God's still on the throne.

You don't have to have all the answers. I used to be intimidated because sometimes the situation was so complicated, different people involved, there's been loss. I'm not sure what to tell them. I've learned I don't have to solve the problem. That's God's job. My part is to just nourish their soul.

Just let them know, I care about you. I'm standing with you. You're going to make it. Those kind words are what put people back on their feet. Years ago, a minister friend of mine went through a tough time. He was accused of doing things that weren't true. People blew them out of proportion and made it a really big deal. His ministry and reputation went down to nothing.

He's a good man. He just made mistakes. He got a little off course. It's easy to be judgment. he knew better. It's his own fault. He's getting what he deserves. But a true friend doesn't run away when people are in trouble. You run to them. You pour oil on their wounds. You help them to get better. They have enough people pushing them down. Their own thoughts are making them feel badly enough. Why don't you be a healer? Why don't you use your words to nourish their soul? You can help love them

back into wholeness. And the mercy we show others is the mercy. see, God's going to show us. I don't want to be a condemner, a fault finder. I told you so. I'm going to live my life as a healer. The scripture says the enemy is the accuser of the brethren. Anytime you're tempted to be harsh, judgmental, condemning, recognize you're on the wrong side.

I hadn't spoken to this friend in several months since all the news hit, and it's like the whole world had turned against him. I called him on his cell phone. He answered in the weekend. most faint voice you could imagine. I could barely hear him say hello. He's a very outgoing, dynamic person. I told him how much I loved him, how this is not the end, and how God knows how to restore. The line went silent, could tell he was weeping. He said, Joel, I don't have any fight left in me. I said, that's okay. We're going to fight for you. I didn't have the solution. I didn't know how it's going to work out,

but I let him know that God still had a purpose for him, that he was not finished, and that we're going to keep praying for him. It was a five-minute phone call. I couldn't tell it made any difference, but at least he knew that we cared. Two months later, he called me and told how he had already made up his mind to get out of the ministry. He's going to formally resign and go do something else. But he said, Joel, when I heard your voice that day, something came alive on the inside. I kept hearing what you told me that God said, still has a purpose for me. He quit dwelling on his failures. He quit listening to the accusing voices. He got his passion back. Today he's back in the ministry stronger than ever, making a greater difference than before. On your journey in life, you're going to meet people like this,

people that are wilted. Life has thrown them a curve. They feel overwhelmed. People are judging them. God put them in your path so you can nourish them. Your kind words can put them back. You can put them on their feet. They don't need more judgment. They need a healer. They need someone that will pour oil on the wounds. There are a lot of tears in our world today. A lot of heartache, a lot of pain. When we get to heaven, the scripture talks about how God will wipe away the tears. There will be no more tears, no more loss, no more pain. But while we're here on earth, God is counting on us to wipe away the tears, to lift the fallen, to nourish the the wilted to encourage those that are down. You can breathe life back into their spirits.

Your kind words can set their dreams into motion. Your encouragement can be what causes them to step into their purpose. Read about a five-year-old little boy named Michael. His mother had just found out that she was pregnant with the little girl. He was so excited. He couldn't wait to see his little sister. All through the day, Michael would come over to his mother's tummy and sing to his baby sister. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Week after week after week, month after month, hundreds of times, he kept singing. The mother finally went into labor. There were complications with the delivery. She had to be rushed to the operating room for an emergency C-section. Unfortunately, the baby didn't fare well. She was alive, but doctors told the parents

there was very little chance she would survive. The baby was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit. All the while Michael kept asking, when can I see my baby sister? Several days went by. Word came that the baby would probably not make it through the night. The mother knew if Michael didn't see his sister right away, he may not ever see her alive. When the head nurse wasn't watching, she snuck Michael into intensive care. He was taken aback by all the tubes and monitors on his little sister. About that time, the nurse saw me, Michael told the mother that he had to leave right now. Without his mother saying a word, Michael started singing, you are my sunshine. My only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray.

The nurse noticed the baby's rapid breathing begin to slow down to normal. She looked at little Michael and said, keep singing. As he stood there and sang for a few minutes, the nurse watched in amazement as the baby's heart rate became normal. The baby's, blue-colored begin to go away. Instead of being shaky and jittery, there was a calmness over the baby. It was like those words from a five-year-old boy were releasing healing and wholeness into his baby sister.

Against all odds, the baby got better. Today she's perfectly healthy and whole. Kind words work wonders. Are you using your healing powers? Are you nourishing anyone's souls? Don't let the day go by without, encouraging someone, giving a compliment, telling your family that you love them, develop the habit of speaking kind words. The scripture says, encourage one another daily. This is not a one-time

thing and you're done. This should be a lifestyle. Be on the lookout. Who can I encourage today? Who can I text? Who can I call? There are people God has put in your path that need your nourishment. Remember, when you're kind to others, your own soul is nourished. If you'll do this, I believe and declare as you help them, you're going to rise higher. New doors are going to open. Healing will come. Favor, breakthroughs, the fullness of your destiny. In Jesus' name.

And if you receive it, can you say amen? I'd like to give 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 if you prayed that simple prayer we believe you got born again

we'd love to send you some free information on your new walk with the Lord just text the number or go to the website I hope you'll get into a good Bible-based church and keep God first place sometimes the circumstances of life can be overwhelmingly negative what should we do when we experience

these kinds of negative and realities. Our life is like a container. It can only hold so much. When we allow negative things in like worry, guilt, and unforgiveness, that's taking up space for the good things that belong to you. That's why I wrote my book, Empty Out the Negative. I'll show you how to get rid of what's limiting you so you can live a victorious, fulfilled life. When you make room for joy, peace, and faith, God will feel you afresh and anew. As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount to the ministry this month, Joel and Victoria would like to send you this powerful book, Empty Out the Negative, Empty Out Fear, and Replace It With Faith.

My doctor, he said, I went in there, and there is no cancer in your body. Empty out a hurt-filled childhood and replace it with confidence. So I took what Joel said, and I physically replaced them with, I am strong. I am worthy. I started saying those over and over and over. Empty out broken relationships and find renewed love. In a world that's just so full of so much noise and negativity and hatred and just to come and have so much encouragement filled into you, you know, is something I've never had in my whole life.

Are you holding on to things that are weighing you down? It's time to empty that out so you can live a positive, faith-filled life. Joel and I pray for you every day. We're believing for God's very best for you and your family. You know, we appreciate your prayers and your support. Your generosity is impacting so many lives. Remember, you can watch the services online every Sunday morning. Download our daily podcast. Listen on Sirius XM. Watch the new Joel Osteen Network streaming on television. But until we see you next week, may the Lord bless you and keep you. Be sure to request your copy of Empty Out the Negative today.

Visit joel Osteen.com or call 888-567 Joel.