Joel Osteen Podcast - The Sound That Opens Heaven | Joel Osteen

Episode Date: August 2, 2026

Don’t use your words to describe the situation, use your words to change it. Your praise opens the doors of Heaven. In just a few focused minutes each day, our August offer can help you renew your strength, quiet anxiety, and experience God's presence. Request 3-Minute Moments with God and make room for Him to move in your life.    https://bit.ly/4yye0FP See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get Bell Pure Fiber Internet with Crave, Netflix, and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on Internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. Hi, it's Joel and Victoria. What a joy to be with you today. We always counted an honor. Know that we're praying for you and your family.

We sure hope you enjoy this podcast today. And we just are praying for you and know that God is for you. So enjoy today's message. God bless you. 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, and you can come visit us in person. We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services. I'd like to start with something funny. And I heard about this lady. She surprised a burglar in her house late one night. She was home alone, didn't have any kind of weapon. She didn't know what to do. Finally, she decided, I'll quote a scripture verse.

She shouted out, axe, 238. The burglar froze in his tracks, wouldn't move, and the police soon arrived, and were amazed that a woman with no weapon could do this. They asked the burglar, what was it about that scripture that had such an effect on you? He said scripture, what scripture? I thought she said she had an axe and 238s.

All right, y'all 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 the sound that opens heaven. Every person has a sound. With our words, we're creating an atmosphere. Some people's sound is worried. What if it doesn't work out? other people, their sound is discouragement. It's never going to change. Or a sound of not enough.

I can't get ahead. Those sounds will keep you limited. That atmosphere will bring defeat and lack. But there is a sound that heaven responds to. A sound that brings healing, favor, and breakthroughs. It's the sound of praise. The scripture says, God inhabits our praises. God shows up, not when you complain. Not when you talk about how big the problem is, but when you talk about how big our God is. One version says, God is enthroned when we praise him. When you go around thanking God for his goodness and bragging on what he's done, you're putting God on the throne. Not the worry, not the discouragement, not the problem. You're making him bigger than anything that comes against you. That's the sound that causes angels to go to work.

That's the sound that opens prison doors in the midnight hour, just as Paul and Silas. That's the sound that turns enemies into footstools that takes that stumbling block and makes it into a stepping stone. What sound are you creating? Oh, Joel, man, it's been rough. Doesn't look like my child will ever get back on course. I lost a big client. I don't see how I can make it. That's the wrong sound.

Don't use your words to describe the situation. Use your words to change the situation. Start thanking God for what He promised you. Lord, I thank you that as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Father, I thank you that you're supplying all of my needs. You said even in famine, I would have more than enough. That's the sound that gets God's attention. You can't talk defeat and have victory.

You can't talk sickness and have health. a new sound. You have to change your atmosphere. You're creating an environment for either God to work, to open to heavens, bring good breaks, influence, turnarounds, or for the enemy to work, to steal, to kill, to destroy. Pay attention to your sound. Paul said in Ephesians, be continually filled with the spirit, making melody in your heart to the Lord. We're supposed to be making making melody in our heart. That means joyful, cheerful, a song of praise, always thanking God for what he's done, talking about his goodness. It says to do this continually. One version says to be ever filled. This is not something you do ever once in a while. When things are going your way, you have a good

attitude. When your boss is treating your right, then you'll thank God. When this medical report changes, then you'll be grateful. This should be a lifestyle. under your breath all through the day, you're constantly making melody. Lord, thank you for waking me up this morning. Thank you for strength to get out of bed. Making breakfast for your children. Not, oh, man, I'm so tired. Another meal.

No, how about, Lord, thank you for blessing me with these beautiful children. Not I got to go to work. Traffic is so bad. Lord, Lord, thank you for this job. Thank you for the gifts you've given me. Thank you for a car to drive. Lord, I'm grateful for this opportunity. Well, all the people at my office, they get on my nerves.

They don't treat me right. They play politics. It's tempting to complain. Don't let them take your song. You can make melody in the midst of a difficult situation. Lord, I thank you that you're my vindicator, that you're fighting my battles. Lord, thank you that you're preparing that table in the presence of my enemies. Start speaking his promises, declaring what he says about you.

that's what heaven responds to, a sound of praise, a sound of thanksgiving. When God hears that melody coming from your heart, he sends angels with answers, favor, peace, and breakthroughs. That's how you're going to overcome adversity. That's how you'll outlast the opposition. Not by complaining, not by begging God, telling him how bad it is. The more you talk about the problem, the more it weighs you down. The longer you dwell on it, the more discouraged you'll get. Change your sound.

Get in tune with God. He's looking for that song of praise. That's what he inhabits. When he hears you praising through the pain and worshiping in the wilderness, a good attitude when it's not fair, all the forces of darkness cannot stop you. I've heard it said, complain and remain or praise and be raised. Are you making melody or are you making noise?

Do you have a song of praise or are you complaining? Talking about the problem, that's going to keep you where you are. I went out in my backyard the other day and there were all these crows, hundreds of them. Everywhere you looked on the ground, in the trees, on my roof, it was so loud. All this squawking and screeching. There was nothing pleasant about it. It was in fact irritating, just a bunch of noise. But at the same time, in the midst of all this clamor, I could hear some cardinals and robins singing, whistling back and forth, so cheerful and happy, like they were having a conversation celebrating the morning.

I thought about the contrast. Those crows, no offense, but you're irritating. You're getting on my nerves. The sooner you leave, the better it will be. But these cardinals, they're making melody. They lift your spirit. spirit. They have a joyful song, a bright outlook. That's the way it is in life. You can be a crow or you can be a cardinal. Both birds were in the same environment, same backyard, same weather, same circumstances, but one squawking and one singing. The difference is the crow doesn't have a choice. That's the voice he was given, but you and I do have a choice. You can choose your sound. You can go through the day, crowing, complaining, focused on what's wrong, or you can be a cardinal, go through the day singing and thanking God for what he's done, declaring his promises. When you're a crow, you're making it difficult on your relationships.

Can I tell you something your friends may not tell you? Nobody wants to be around a crow. Somebody's always complaining, negative, talking about their problems. you're pushing away the good people in your life. You're making it harder on your spouse and children. Not only that, it's keeping you from opportunity and promotion. Do yourself a favor. Tell the crow in you, you're done.

You're not welcome here. You're not going to run my life. Let the cardinal in. How do you do it? You get up in the morning and the crow shows up. I don't want to go to work. I can't stand my ball. These kids get on my nerves.

That's the crow. And let me come in. Let me dictate your attitude. You have to say no thanks. Mr. Crow, you're in retirement. You are permanently done. I don't need you anymore. Let the Cardinal come out.

Father, thank you for another day to be alive. For this is the day you have made. I'm going to live it happy. Lord, I'm grateful for my family. Father, thank you for choosing me before I could even choose you. That's making melody in your heart. That's the sound heaven responds to. Not growing about it.

Complaining will keep you stuck. But when you're a cardinal and making melody, a joyful spirit, that's what activates God's goodness. Get Bell, Pure Fiber Internet with Crave, Netflix, and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. It's interesting that crows gravitate toward what's dead. They're scavengers. They feed on carcasses and animals that are decaying and rotting. It's symbolic that they make that swacking sound.

If you're focused on what's dead in your life, you're going to crow too. If you're dwelling on relationships that didn't make it, who hurt you, mistakes you've made, you're not going to have a song, you're going to have a squawk. You can't stay ever filled dwelling on your disappointments. Who let you down? Quit feeding off the dead things. It's poisoning your spirit.

It's sour in your attitude. It's limiting your vision. Nothing that's happened to you has stopped God's purpose for your life. No mistake you've made has canceled your destiny. God has seen every injustice, every hurt, every person that walked away. He knows how to take what was meant for harm and turn it to your advantage.

Now, quit dwelling on what didn't work out and move forward with your life. Get your song back. Get your joy back. Start making melody, not making noise. You can't always change your circumstances, but you can change your sound. When you're making melody despite the disappointments and you're thanking God for what's right, instead of focusing on what's wrong, that's the sound that gets heaven's attention. That's when God will step in and make the wrongs right and pay you back for the injustice. No more complaining, self-pity, it's not fair. Bitterness, they did me wrong, defeat, I'll never get ahead.

That's the crow sound. That's noise. Crows talk about the problem. Cardinals talk about the promises. crows make noise, cardinals make music. Crows react to the environment, cardinals rise above it. The truth is, there's a crow and a cardinal in each one of us.

You get to choose your voice. David put it this way, I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise will continually be in my mouth. David was saying, in effect, I'm going to be a cardinal. I'm going to choose to make melody. I'm going to focus on the greatness of my God. I'm going to declare his promises over my life.

Well, David had every reason to be a crumb. All kinds of unfair things came against him. Being overlooked by his father when Samuel came to choose the next king, he could have been offended. Man, my old father doesn't believe in me, but he didn't let the crow in. He knew people may leave you out, but God will call you in. They may discount you, but God will cause you to shine.

King Saul was jealous. tried to kill David, threw spears at him. David could have been angry. Man, I'm trying to help you, and you're trying to kill me. Saul chased him through the desert, made his life miserable. But out hiding in the caves, running for his life, some scholars say that's where he wrote some of the great songs, like sing a new song unto the Lord. Let us exalt his name together. Wait a minute, you're singing when this king is trying to kill you. You're blessed. You're blessed. the Lord when you could be complaining. You're being a cardinal when you have every reason to be a crow. David knew this secret. There is a sound that heaven responds to, a sound that keeps your enemies

from defeating you, a sound that brings protection, provision, favor. It's the sound of praise. It's the sound of magnifying our God talking about his greatness, declaring his promises. When you have that song of praise in your heart, the enemy cannot keep you down. When you do like David and keep making melody in your heart, Lord, I want to thank you that no weapon formed against me will ever prosper. You being for me is more than anything trying to stop me. Nothing can stand against you. That's the sound that gets heaven's attention.

Maybe today you need to change your sound. You need to tell that crow, go on vacation. No more complaining. being sour, begging God. Turn that worry into worship. Turn that pressure into praise. Start making melody. No more making noise.

Learn to bless the Lord at all times. The bigger you make God, the smaller your problems become. As you begin to do this, it's not only going to make you feel better. You're going to get your joy back and have more energy, but things are about to shift. what looked permanent like it could never change, God is going to suddenly turn around.

You can't explain it. There was no saw, no sign, but suddenly Saul is gone and you take the throne, so to speak. You get promoted. You're vindicated. Or suddenly Samuel shows up and anoint you as king. You go from being overlooked to being in charge, from borrowing to lending, from sickness to hell. How did that happen? You found the sound that opens heaven, the sound of praise, the sound of faith, making melody in your heart.

It's interesting how a cloud forms. The sun shines on water and produces an invisible vapor. You can't see it. You can't feel it. But those vapors rise up into the earth's atmosphere. They condense and eventually become clouds. When enough vapors go up, those clouds get too heavy to hold it all. and the water begins to release. First a mist, then a sprinkle. But if the condensation keeps building

up, those clouds will open up and begin to pour down rain. In the scripture, rain is symbolic of God's favor, his goodness and his blessing. Sometimes we find ourselves in a dry season, a drought, not getting any good breaks, dealing with these problems. The good news is you can create an atmosphere for rain in your life. Your praise is the vapors going up to form the clouds. You may not see anything happening. You don't feel any different. But as you go through the day, thanking God for his goodness and making melody in your heart, Lord, I think that I'm alive today. Thank you for my family. Father, thank you that you're fighting my battles and you're making my crooked places straight. Lord, God, I know you're all powerful and nothing can stand against you. That's

not just being grateful, that's creating clouds. Your praise is shifting things in the atmosphere. As you keep praising and keep making melody, there will be a time where those clouds open up and you will see the rain of God's blessing, favor, healing, abundance. It wasn't a coincidence. It wasn't a lucky break. You sent the praises up. You created that atmosphere for God to work. But sometimes we're complaining about what's not happening and why isn't this changing and when is this problem going to resolve? My question is, what are you sending up? What you send up is going to come back down. If you send up complaints, negativity, it's not fair, you're going to get back defeat, lack, struggle.

Change what you're sending up. If you have a child that's off course, it's easy to talk about the problem. call your friends tell them what's wrong how he's never going to change those are the wrong vapors they're forming the wrong clouds try a different approach lord thank you that my seed is blessed father you said that my children will be mighty in the land thank you that what you have purpose for them will come to pass you keep thanking god you don't see anything happening that's okay the vapors are going up the cloud is getting fuller there will be a time of When the heavens open, the rain comes down.

Breakthroughs, deliverance, your child back on course. Or maybe you're fighting a battle in your health, or perhaps you had a setback in your finances. Be careful what you're sending up. It's important what you're saying in difficult times. No more, I'll never get well, Joel. You should see the medical report. Or all the odds are against me.

I'll never get out of debt. Zip that up. That's forming the wrong clouds. That's going to bring me. defeat, negativity, struggle, send up some new vapors. Lord, I thank you that you're restoring health back into me, that I will live and not die and declare the works of the Lord. Instead of complaining about the finances, how about, Father, I want to thank you that you're Jehovah Jara, the Lord my provider, that you're pouring out blessings that I cannot contain.

Well, Joel, I tried that for a week, but nothing happened. Your cloud didn't get full enough. you need to keep sending up those praises. Keep thanking God for what he promised. Every time you do, the cloud is getting heavier. It's just a matter of time before you see the downpour, the goodness of God. Another interesting thing about rain is scientists tell us that there's the same amount of water on the earth today as there has always been. There's no new water.

Everything's recycled. I used to think when it rained, that was new water for, warming, but actually it's the same water. The sun hit it, it condensed, went back into the clouds, and came back down again. Well, the scripture talks about how God has blessings stored up for the righteous. There are blessings that have your name on them, good breaks, opportunity, maybe that baby you've been dreaming about, they belong to you. How do you get it out of storage? Praise is one of the ways, God releases what he has already prepared for you. Your healing is already there.

Your freedom, your abundance, but it needs your voice, your sound, your thanksgiving to form those clouds. So God will release what's been stored up. You don't have to beg God. It's already in place. Just thank him in advance. All through the day, thank him for your healing. Thank him for your dream.

Thank him for the provision. Thank him that he's working even when you don't see anything happening. Keep those vapors going up, continually making melody, and you will see the heavens open up, pour down blessings that you cannot contain. When I was in my early 20s, I worked here at Lakewood, the other location. There was this man that did the landscaping and some repairs around the property. He was in his 40s. He was always so never.

and always something going wrong. And I would see him and just in passing, being friendly, hey, good morning, how you doing? He would say, oh, Joel, it's so hard. I'm having such a struggle. He would tell me how he had a leak in his roof and some of his equipment broke. His wife was sick.

He didn't know if he could pay his bills. It was always such a sad, depressing story. I just wanted to say hi. I didn't know the world was coming to. an end. And I understand, you know, if that happens at times, we all go through difficult seasons, but this was every time year after year. His first line was always, it's so hard. Well, here's the problem. What you're sending up, you're going to get back down. You send up defeat long enough. It's going to rain defeat. You send up can't do it. Bad breaks, always struggle. You're going to see just that.

you're creating the clouds. Those vapors are forming what you're declaring. When this man was in his early 50s, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He struggled for a few months and soon passed away. I thought to myself, you know, it's sad, but that's all he ever talked about. Defeat, struggle, so hard, not going to make it. Don't send those things up. It's going to come back down. The scripture says in Hosea, sow to the heaven's righteousness, and God will rain down righteousness on you. Notice that principle. What you sow upward will rain back down on you. But some people sow complaints, so discouragement, so bitterness,

they wonder why nothing is changing, why they're still struggling. You have to change what you're sowing. When you sow praise and you sow the promises of God, and you're always thanking him for who he is, magnifying his greatness, then you're going to reap the blessing and favor of God. Keep the right vapors going up. Let it become a lifestyle

where you're always making melody in your heart. When you saw righteousness, Josea said, God will reign righteousness. That means right opportunities, right people, the right breaks. This is what Elijah did. First King's Chapter 18, the people of Israel had been in a famine for three and a half years. No rain, no growth. But in verse 41, Elisha said, I hear the sound of the abundance of rain. He heard something in

his spirit, a sound from heaven, a promise from God. He didn't wait till he saw the rain. He went on top of Mount Carmel and began to thank God for the rain. He let that sound in his spirit become a sound of praise to God. When God gives you a sound, when he gives you a promise, turn that promise into praise. Start thanking God for what he said and thank him that he's working in your life. Every time you do, those vapors are going up. Your clouds getting heavier. Well, Elijah told his assistant to go out and see if there was any sign of rain. The young man came back, sorry Elijah, not a cloud in the sky. It's perfectly clear. Elijah didn't get discouraged. He didn't start sending up complaints.

God, where are you? Why didn't this happen? He just kept sending up more praise. Lord, I thank you that the rain is coming. Thank you that abundance is on the way. The assistant went back, checked again, again and again, six times, still nothing. Thoughts told Elijah, you're wasting your time. You heard wrong.

Elijah just kept on praising, sending up more things. God, I know that you're faithful. and I know things are happening behind the scenes. The seventh time the assistant came back and said this time, I saw a little cloud starting to form. Don't be fooled. A little cloud can bring a big blessing. Before long, the heavens opened up, the drought came to an end.

There was a downpour of rain. Maybe you've been in a drought. Things not improving. It feels like you're stuck. But like Elijah, you've been sending up. your praise, thanking God for his goodness. When you don't see any sign, you could be crowing

but you keep singing, making melody. Like God did for him, the heavens are about to open up. You're going to see the reign of God's favor, the abundance, the breakthrough, the healing. You are closer than you think.

Don't stop now. You may be on time number five, time number six, but seven is coming. God is working. That cloud is getting fuller. Keep sending up the right vapor. The praise, the thanksgiving. Remember when that old crow comes, wanting to complain, tell him, you're not welcome here. That's not the right sound. You know the sound that opens heavens, the sound of praise. Now keep making melody in your heart, keep sowing to the heavens, faith, hope, the promises of God. I believe and declare the heavens are about to

so back to you. Rain is coming, healing, freedom, the right people, 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. You can text the number on the screen or go to the website. But I hope you'll get into a good Bible-based church and keep God first place.

Get Bell Pure Fiber Internet with Crave, Netflix, and Disney Plus from $94 a month. Price guaranteed for two years on internet with a two-year term and auto pay credit. Visit bell.ca for details and to check availability. Bell, connection is everything. It's amazing what happens when you take a few moments throughout the day to connect with God. A moment to thank him for his goodness, a moment to declare his promises, a moment to remember that he's working. I'd love to send you my new resource, three-minute moments with God. These short readings will help you refocus your thoughts, gain a fresh perspective, knowing that God is ordering your steps.

You don't need hours to connect with God. In just a few minutes, you can turn your thoughts toward him and be encouraged. by his promises. As you make time for him, you'll have greater peace and strength, and you'll step into the favor that belongs to you. Three-minute moments with God is a powerful new devotional designed to meet you right where you are. Inside, you'll find topical readings for whatever you're facing. Whether you need peace, wisdom, healing, or hope. Each one is filled with scripture, an encouraging thought, a heartfelt prayer, and faith-building declarations. So in just a few focused minutes, you can quiet the noise, turn your heart toward God, and set the atmosphere for

him to move. It's yours as a thank you for your gift to the ministry today. Be sure to request your copy of three-minute moments with God available this month by visiting us at Joelosteen.com or call 888-567 Joel. Know today that God has you in the palm of his hand. As you take time to acknowledge him throughout the day, he's going to fight your battles and get you to where you're supposed to be. Victoria and I are praying for you and your family every day. Thank you so much for your prayer and support. Your generosity takes this message of hope to people all over the world who need their

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A rich, empowering study drawn from the Passion Translation, it opens up who you already are in Christ, what's already yours, and the authority you already carry because your next moment with God could change everything. Know who you are.

Walk in what's yours. Step into every moment with confidence. 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.