Set Your Mind | Joel Osteen | Lakewood Church Service

You fight the battle. You give the glory. 
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 Here come the angels. Here comes the victory. The enemies 
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 Come on church, let's sing this out this morning. Mercy's 
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 on you every morning. Said my soul will never end. 
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 This hope won't fade in the evening. Lord, how 
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 great is your faithfulness?

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 Lord, how great is 
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 your faithfulness? Yeah. 
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 Every hour, every minute of 
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 my life has been part of your design. Lord, the 
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 whole world's in your hand. Every 
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 trial, every battle 
[singing]
 that I face, God, you've met me there 
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 with grace. Every part has served your plan. 
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 Through it all, you've been so 
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 so good.

Kept your word 
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 like you said you would. Oh, your mercies on you every morning. 
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 Step by this hope. 
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 Lord, how great is your faithfulness? Lord, how great is your faithfulness? Lord, 
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 how great is your faithfulness? 
[singing]
 
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 Hey, good morning everyone. Welcome to Lakewood today. And how many of you ready to worship the Lord this morning?

And God's been good to us and brought us through another week. And what an honor it is to have you all with us today. Thanks for coming out. Yeah, we're going to have a great service. And I don't know if anything's trying to weigh you down, but what a perfect time to say, "God, I'm turning that over to you today.

Can I remind you, God has you in the palm of your of his hand and God woke us up this morning and gave us strength to get out of bed." And I don't believe any of us are here by accident. So, we're just going to speak blessings and faith over you.

And I've learned this. When when you empty out the negative, the worry, the discouragement, the guilt, if you'll empty that out, God will fill you a fresh and a new with peace and joy and just fresh vision. And that's what we believe and that's what we want to happen for every one of us.

That, you know, it's always my declaration, my prayer that not one of us will leave the same way that we came in. But I do believe we have to do our part because, you know, the whole reason we start this service off with praise and thanksgiving this next 20 minutes or so is just to, you know, get our mind back on the right things that God, you're on you're in control.

Your mercies are new every morning. God, you're you're you're you're working in my life. And, you know, even when you don't see anything happening, that doesn't mean God doesn't God is not working behind the scenes. So, let me encourage you. God saw you take time to come today.

Let's empty out that negative. Let's let's have an attitude of faith and praise. And just like I declared, you're not going to go home the same way you came. You're going to go out of here with more joy, more faith, more victory. Thanks for coming out. Amen. Good morning, church.

Isn't it good to gather together? We're not here just to gather together out of habit or out of obligation or even routine. We're here together to tell the Lord Jesus that we love him, that he is faithful, to show our gratitude for what he's done in our life.

And so that's what we want to do today. We want to just give him our highest praise in worship. And sometimes, you know, it takes a little bit to ease into worship. You know, it's like, okay, there's a lot going on, but I want to tell you something.

God is listening to you. He sees you as an individual. He knows every hair on your head and he loves you just the way you are. So this morning, I am grateful that I don't have to perform for God. All I have to do is be me. All I have to do is show up and God will change me from the inside out.

So this morning, I just want you to know that you're dearly loved by our father. And so as we worship him, have that mindset of just freedom to say, you know, it doesn't matter how I sing. Doesn't matter what I did 15 minutes ago. What matters is this moment right now.

And and being in his presence right now because he's with us. He hears us. And he wants to do something special in each one of us right now. Amen. Father, we thank you for this day. We thank you that we can gather together, Father, and we can rejoice in who you are.

And Father, we thank you for all that you're going to do in our lives and all that you've already done. And so, Father, as we step into this place of worship, Lord, let the freedom come. Let our voices rise. 
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 And Father, let our faith be known that you are a good and mighty God.

And it's in Jesus' name we pray. And everyone said, "Amen." 
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 here and now. Looking back on 
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 where I've been, still as good as you 
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 were then. There's no limit 
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 to your love. Through it all, 
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 through it all, you've been so so good. Oh, you've been so so 
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 good like you said you would.

Your mercies 
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 on the mercies on you every morning 
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 will never end. This hopeful 
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 how great is your name. Oh, how great is your people name? 
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 Oh, how great. Oh, 
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 how great Lord, 
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 how great is your faithful name. 
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 Oh, how great. Oh, how great. 
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 Lord, how great 
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 is your faithfulness?

Your faithfulness. 
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 Cuz through it all, you've 
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 been so so good. He's so faithful. Kept your word like you said you would. Through it all, you've been so 
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 so good. Kept your word like you said you 
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 would love and your mercies on you every morning. 
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 Said my love forever.

This hope won't 
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 fade 
[singing]
 evening. Love how great is your faithfulness. 
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 Every morning will never end 
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 in the evening. Lord, how great is your faithfulness? Lord, how great is your faithfulness? 
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 Lord, how great is your faithfulness? 
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 This is my story. I'll testify. Blessings 
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 on blessings. You poured on my life.

When I start remembering 
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 how could you be fear 
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 turns to worship, tears turn to praise. Chains of depression, broken by 
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 grace. When I start remembering how 
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 good you been. Come on, we sing it out. Yeah. You been so so so so 
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 good to me. You 
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 been so so so 
[singing]
 so good to me.

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 Oh yes you. Come on. We declare 
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 the enies weapons fall to the ground. Armies of heaven always 
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 around when I start remembering 
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 how you carry the cross. Call me by love 
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 but you didn't leave me that way. I want 
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 you there. Yeah. You so so so so good 
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 to me.

Yeah. You so so so so 
[singing]
 good to me. 
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 From morning to night, the low and the high. I look back 
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 on my life and all that I see. You been so so so so 
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 so good to me. Come on, we pray. 
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 When I say God is good, you say all 
[singing]
 the time.

When I say all the time, you say God is good. When I 
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 say God is good, you say all the 
[singing]
 time. When I say all the time, you say 
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 God is good. When I say good, you say all the time. When I say all the time, you say 
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 God is good.

When I say God is good, you say all the time. When I say all the 
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 time, you so so so so 
[singing]
 good to me. So good. 
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 So good. Oh, so so so so 
[singing]
 good to 
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 the lows and the high. I look back on my life and all that I see.

The morning 
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 tonight, the lows and the high. I look back on my life and 
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 all that I see. The morning, the lows and the high. I look 
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 back on my life and all that I see that you been 
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 so so so so good. 
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[applause and music]
 Oh, you've been 
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 so good.

So good. Been so good 
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 to me. 
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 I hear it in the wind. I rise to look again. The 
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 spirit stirring something up ahead. In faith, Lord, I believe. For 
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 rains 
[singing]
 are yet to see. before the clouds are forming. My God is faithful from 
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 age to age. And 
[singing]
 what he promised won't 
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 be delayed.

My eyes can see it. But through my faith, I hear the 
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 sound of heaven that abundance. 
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 I hear it when I pray. I hear it 
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 as a way. The miracle I see 
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 is all the way. So my rushing away. 
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 Come have your way. 
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 Your way never fail me.

My God is faithful from age 
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 to age and he promis 
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 We welcome the rain. 
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 Welcome your hope. Welcome provision. We welcome your peace. 
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 Welcome your joy. Welcome your freedom. 
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 Here comes the king mighty to save, reigning in power. We 
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 hear it in the sound of heaven pouring out.

Come on, let's declare 
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 together. We welcome the rain. Welcome your hope. Welcome 
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 provision. We welcome your peace. Welcome 
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 your joy. Welcome your freedom. Here comes the king. 
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 Heat. Heat. Heat. 
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 We hear the sound of 
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 my God is faithful for 
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 me. Heat. Heat. Heat. 
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 the rules 
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 my face. I hear the sound 
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 of we 
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 joy.

Welcome your freom. 
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 Here comes the king. 
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 Oh, 
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 we can hear. We can hear Holy Spirit. We hear the rain. Let it rain. So let it rain. Open 
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 the floodgates of heaven. Let 
[singing]
 it rain. Let it rain. Open the 
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 floodgates of heaven. Let 
[singing]
 it rain. 
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 Let it open that fire.

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 Let it rain. Let 
[singing]
 it rain. 
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 Open the Let 
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 it rain. Let 
[singing]
 it rain. Let it rain. 
[singing]
 
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 Let it rain. Oh, let it rain. 
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 Miracle 
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 after miracle, open door after 
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 open door, here it come. So get ready for another one, cuz another one is 
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 on the way. Miracle after miracle, 
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 open door after open door, here it comes.

So get 
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 ready for another one. Another one is on the way. 
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 Oh 
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 yes, Lord. 
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 You 
[singing]
 do everything on 
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 purpose. I can 
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 feel your spirit stiring. 
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 I've been praying. 
[singing]
 You've been working. You're working it all for good. Yes. Fan 
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 the flame and keep it 
[singing]
 burning. You're 
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 refining in the furnace.

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 All the waiting will be worth it cuz you're working it all for good. Here we go. Miracle 
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 after miracle, open door after open door, 
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 here it comes. So get ready for another one, 
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 cuz another one 
[singing]
 is on the way. Miracle after miracle, open door after open door, 
[singing and music]
 here it comes.

So get ready for another one, cuz 
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 another one is on the way. said, "Another 
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 one is on the way." 
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 Come on, say it today. Rushing wind 
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 and giving water. God of 
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 signs and God of wonder. Oh, 
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 if you will, then what can stop 
[singing]
 it? Cuz you're working it all.

You're 
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 working it all forever. Oh, 
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 m 
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 here it comes. So get ready. Oh yeah. Another one is on the way. Miracle. 
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 That's a miracle. Open up after. Here it comes. 
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 So you're ready. Another one is on the 
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 way. Another one. Another one. Yeah. Another one is on the way.

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 Another one. Another one. Another one 
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 is on the way. 
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 Woo. Do you believe that today church said 
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 it's on the way? This is right. Cuz if he told the sun when rise and it 
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 did, it will again. And if he told the storm to be still. And it did.

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 It will again. And if it's on the sea, when I swim, and 
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 it will again on the wall, 
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 when I fall, every day, he will again change. And I pray 
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 every day you will again 
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 roll away every day. He will again 
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 be for the grave. Let him go and he will again 
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 and again and again and again and again and again and again.

Oh yes 
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 you will again 
[singing]
 and again. Another one is on the way. receive a 
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 miracle today. 
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 So you're ready. your miracle 
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 after miracle open door after open door. 
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 Don't get ready for it. W 
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 to the chase when I pray. Yeah. 
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[singing]
 
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 And again 
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 and again and again. again. 
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 It's going to roll.

It's going to 
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 roll again. 
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 Lord God, we love you today. We thank you that you're on the throne, that you're a do it again God. Lord, we've all seen times in our lives where you've made ways and opened doors and parted red seas, brought the right people. Lord, we're grateful for all you've done.

We're not here with a sad song. We're here with a song of praise. Lord, we recognize it's your goodness, your mercy that has brought us to where we are. That you're the giver of all good things. And Father, you didn't bring us this far to leave us where we are.

That you have greater things even up ahead. And so Lord, today we release our faith and we tell you publicly that we love you. You're our Lord, our God, and our Savior. Make us and mold us into who you want us to be. And Lord, I thank you.

You're going before us right now and making crooked places straight and opening right doors and closing wrong doors and bringing the right people across our path. And Lord, weed out those that shouldn't be there. I thank you that we have clear direction for our lives. That we can clearly hear your voice.

You said you've given us the power to obey. That our spiritual ears and eyes are open and sensitive and responsive to what you're saying. And Lord, I thank you that we'll make decisions that move us toward our God-given destiny. that we will not be at this same place next year as we are right now, but we are moving forward, stepping into new levels, letting go of the old, getting ready for the new things that you're doing.

Lord, I thank you this morning as we're worshiping you that every force that's tried to stop us has been broken in the name of Jesus. depression, anxiety, sicknesses, chronic pain, maybe it's addictions, bad habits, trouble at work in our finances. Lord, I thank you that today is a breakthrough day.

That you're doing what only you can do. Lord, our eyes are upon you today. We may have some big challenges, but we know you're a big God and that you are working even right now. And so Lord, we come back to that place of peace, that place of trust, for our hope is in you.

We know you'll get us to where we're supposed to be. And Lord, I do lift up those that are fighting battles in their health. Those not feeling well, couldn't make it. Some in the hospitals. Lord, you said you'd restore health back to your people. You said you're Jehovah Rafa, the Lord, our healer.

So Lord, I want to thank you that healing, wholeness is flowing into all those that need it. Lord, we know you can even do what medicine cannot do. That you have the final say. Lord, you said the number of our days you would fulfill. So, we just thank you for good health for your people.

And Lord, not just physically, but I lift up those that are in tough times and those that have gone through loss. You said you're close to the brokenhearted. Let them feel your power. Let them know that we're praying even now. Father, I thank you that you're comforting them and giving them that peace that only you can give.

Even though it may feel like it's the end, Lord, let them see it's a new beginning. That you are still in control. So Lord, I speak fresh vision and fresh anointing and fresh freshness into them. New beginnings that weeping may endure for a night, but you said joy is coming in the morning.

So Lord, thank you for the joy that's on the way. Lord, we thank you for another great year to be alive. That 2026 will not be a get by year, but a blessed, prosperous, favorfilled year. That we are victors and never victims in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen today?

So awesome to have you at Lakewood today. And every service, we take a moment to make a declaration of faith to say what God says about us. So I invite you to join in. Come on, say it like you mean it. I am blessed, prosperous, redeemed, forgiven, healthy, whole, talented, creative, confident, secure, disciplined, focused, prepared, qualified, motivated, valuable, free, determined, equipped, empowered, anointed, accepted, and approved. not average, not mediocre.

I am a child of the most high God. I will become all I was created 
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 to be in Jesus name. Amen. 
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 You sound amazing today. Keep that down in your spirit. I I really like that last part. I'm not going to become half of what I was created to be, but how about all we were created to be?

I really believe that, you know, we wouldn't be alive unless God had greater things in in front of us. And somebody needs what you have. Somebody needs your love. Somebody needs your smile. This world needs your gifts. The world will be a better place when you step into the fullness of who God's created you to be.

And it's easy in life to think, "Oh, I'm doing fine." You know, we're standing in the I made it 50% or I made it 70%. But no, let's stir our faith. As long as you have breath, God has something greater in front of you. So, let's keep believing, keep stretching.

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 It's kind of easy to, you know, to water down dreams, but I love that scripture in Philippians 1:6. It 
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 says, "Be confident of this. He that began a good work in you will continue to perform it until it comes to completion." In other words, God is going to finish what he started in your life.

And I know sometimes, well, we're in a season, well, I don't see how I could get out of this health issue or this relationship issue or some. But let me tell you, God is working behind the scenes. Even right now, God saw you take time to be in church or to tune in or wherever you are.

Let me tell you, the creator of the universe, he's breathing in your direction right now. And you know what faith is all about? Trusting when you don't see anything happening, not being talked out of it. You know, kind of like those, what was it? The children of Israel.

They went on the wall seven times and nothing happened. They just keep walking around. But you know what? You may not see anything happening. That doesn't mean God is not working. You're going to come into your seventh time on your seventh day where walls begin to fall down.

And you're going to see God finish what he started in your life. 
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 Don't give up on trip number five. You may be on trip number six. Your trip number seven may be next week where you see God do something that you didn't, you know, that the lies told you were not going to happen.

Let me tell you, 2026, God's going to show out in your life. Do something uncommon, unusual, out of the ordinary. Now, let's be believers and not doubters. It's easy to talk ourselves out of it, but every week I try to encourage you to talk yourself into your dreams.

Talk yourself into what God promised you. Faith is what causes God to work. But thanks for coming out today. We'll take a moment to pray individually. So, if you would like us to pray, agree with you in prayer about anything during this next song, there'll be a prayer partner at the front of your section.

Anyone's welcome to come for prayer. We'd be honored to pray. Rest of you, you're welcome to be seated if you'd like. And we'll take this next song to pray. And our beautiful online audience listening live on SiriusXM, thanks for being with us. My beautiful wife, Victoria, is there to pray for you.

It is so good to be with you today and it is an honor to join my faith with yours to pray for whatever you need from God or even just to give thanks to God. You know the Bible says to pray without ceasing and then it says with thanksgiving in your heart.

So today we just want to pray align oursel with the word of God with a thankful heart. You may have some things going on in your life today that you're not thankful for, but that's not the point. The point is to thank God that he's still on the throne, that he's still in control, and he's still doing miracles today.

So, we just want to join our faith 
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 with you and believe for the miracle that you need in your life. If you'll just put your prayer requests in the chat right now, we will just want to pray for you during the week. And we already have some that are already here, but you know what?

It's an act of faith when you're asking God to do something for you to write it down in the chat just to say, "God, I need this or God, I believe you will do these things for me. You will work all things together for good for those who love you and are called according 
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 to your purpose.

And I know you love God today or you wouldn't be here. You wouldn't be listening. You wouldn't be willing to uh put your prayer requests in the chat and open your heart to him because that's exactly 
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 what we're doing. and we're bringing him into our situation. We're saying, "God, we need you.

We want to align oursel with you." And so, let's just do that this morning. But first, I want to give a couple quick praise reports. And I want to do this cuz you know what? God's still moving. He's still doing great things. And it's Melanie says, uh, she is thanking God for the return of her prodal children.

Her children were far off, but now they have come into know God in a new and a fresh way. and she's rejoicing because of that. And we rejoice with you because 
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 I'll tell you what, that is a prayer every mo every parent wants to pray. Every mother, every father that their children will know God, be led and directed by him.

So maybe that's your prayer today. Well, he did it for Melanie. And guess what? He will do 
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 it for you. So we're going to stand in agreement with you. If that's the case that you're praying for your children or maybe they're just um they're just off doing things that you know they shouldn't be doing or maybe they've got some habits that that you know need to be broken.

We're going to stand in agreement with you right now about those things as well. Uh Kathy, she is thanking God that she woke up 
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 this morning. Well, I tell you what, Kathy, if you've ever been in a place where you didn't think you were going to wake up and then you wake up, you sure appreciate that breath, that morning breath in a whole new way.

And that's something we can all be thankful for is to be able to get up and take another breath for 
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 the day. So, Kathy, we are praising God for you and with you. Uh we also have James who needs healing from stomach pain and healing from glaucoma in her eye so that she can have clear eyesight.

So we want to stand in agreement with James and Ann and and and you if you have uh sickness in your body, we want to stand in agreement with you as well. We have also family 
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 issues. Evelyn, her husband recently lost his older brother and he's grieving and his heart is broken.

And so, you know what, God is the restorer and the men of the brokenhearted. And you know, I know things 
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 take time, but uh we want to just pray the peace of God and the comfort of God to you right now to Evelyn's husband. We have Joanna for her brother to have strength 
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 to break the addictions and get through financial hardships.

And so we want to we want to stand with Joanna. And whatever it is, God knows your need. He already knows before you ask. The Bible says he knows you're down sitting in your uprising. Then you say, "Well, then why do I need to ask?" Because it's an act of faith.

It's saying, "God, I know you're in control and I know you know me. But God, I am willing to open my heart and surrender 
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 to you and tell you, God, what I need and to thank you that you are a part of my life, that you'll never leave me.

You'll never forsake me. You will 
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 be with me through it all. And so that's what God wants to hear. He wants to hear us. Invite him in. So this morning, let's just pray and let's believe 
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 whatever it is you need. Maybe it's like Leo. He He's got a job interview coming soon.

And Leo, we're going to stand and believe that God will open that 
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 right door for you and usher you into the presence, the Bible says, of of your greatness, of kings, whatever you need. If he's got to usher you into the presence of your job, whatever 
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 it is he's got for you, we're going to believe Anita for her son to find the right job.

So, there's so many needs out there, 
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 but let's just pray and I'm going to agree with you on whatever that is. And the Bible says we're two or more agree on touching anything, it will be done for 
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 us. So, we're in agreement and there is no distance in prayer.

So, let's pray right now. Father, I thank you that you know those who are calling out 
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 to you. They are your children. They are your possession. And father, I thank you. There is no need that is too great that you cannot handle. And father, you you are concerned about what we are 
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 concerned with.

So, Father, we just release our faith to you right now. And we ask you for healing to come into bodies, Lord. That you would restore health unto them 
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 and heal them of their wounds. Father, we're asking you, God, to break addictions in Jesus' name, 
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 to break bad habits, to give them the strength, Father, to to to get through the temptations, and to be able to come out the other side 
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 stronger and more able to overcome, God.

And we thank you that you're even supernaturally breaking things right now in Jesus' name. And we thank you, Father, that people will receive that right now. Whether it's for their children, whether it's for themselves, their spouse, whomever, Father, a family member, we believe that you 
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 are working in their life, healing, delivering, setting free.

Father, we thank you for those who are going looking for jobs. That you will open the right doors and close the 
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 wrong ones. That you will give them what they need to excel in. and that Lord that they will work unto you and they will prosper and succeed in Jesus' name.

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 Father, I just thank you right now for comfort to those who are brokenhearted. Father, those who are lonely, those who have lost something, Father, we are asking you, 
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 Father, to bring comfort and peace to their life, to restore that strength and wisdom back to them, Father, so that they can get up and do what they've 
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 been called to do.

Father, we give this all to you in the name of Jesus and we thank you in Jesus name. Amen 
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 and amen. And until next time, God bless. 
[applause and music]
 That's so beautiful. You may be seated. The Bible says in Psalm 77, it says, "Your ways, oh God, are holy." What God is as great as our God.

You are the God who performs miracles and you display your power among the people. God is a miracle working God. I love how we've sung about it all day today. But the B from Genesis, the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation, we see God perform miracle after miracle for his people.

He gave Abraham a and Sarah a child in their old age. He he parted the Red Sea for the Israelites. He made the sun stand still for Joshua. Can you imagine that? God caused a raven to bring food to the prophet uh ali Elijah because he was tired and depressed and hungry.

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 God can do whatever you need him to do. God caused a donkey to talk to a rebellious prophet so that he wouldn't go and curse uh the people of God. You see, God knows how to take care of your enemies. 
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 Miracles are woven throughout the whole Bible. We can see God uh intervene and do what only he can do.

And you know that was in the Old Testament. But then came Jesus. And when Jesus came, he healed the sick. He set 
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 the captives free. He delivered the oppressed. He saved people. He reached down and lifted people. He healed people. Miracle after miracle, he fed the 5,000 with one with with the loaves and the fish.

He caused a fish to spit out tax money for Peter. Think about the miracles that God has done. Miracles didn't just stop when Jesus went to heaven. The Bible says that God did unusual extraordinary miracles through the apostles in the book of Acts. And do you know we're still living out the book of Acts?

We are in the book of Acts. We are the disciples that are carrying on the ministry and fulfilling the the call of God on our lives. And God still did miracles. Still does miracles. I I wanted to mention one miracle. Uh there was a man in the New Testament called blind Barnameus.

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 And you he was sitting beside the road. He was begging for money. But then he heard that Jesus was coming down his road. 
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 And he started crying out to Jesus. Jesus, have mercy upon me. Jesus, son of God, have mercy upon him. He did it so much that the people around him tried to shut him up and get him to be quiet.

But you know what the Bible says about Barnameus? He cried out all the more. He got louder. He stayed persistent. Jesus, son of God, have mercy upon me. Don't let anybody shut you up. Don't let anybody stop you from believing God for a miracle. Don't let anyone put doubt in your mind.

We serve a miracle working God. It may not come right when we want it, but it'll come when you need it. Amen. God is a miracle working God. And Barameus got Jesus' attention. He turned to him. He healed him. And then you know what he said? Barardameus, "Your faith has made you whole."

What if he would have given up when the people said to shut up? No, don't let people shut you up. You keep praising God. You keep speaking the word of God. You keep saying what God says about you. When you don't think you're going to make it, just say, "I know that God is my hope.

I know that he's a miracle worker. I know that he is faithful. I know he's been faithful in the past." And he will be he will continue to be faithful today. 
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 He will continue. You may have had a a bad diagnosis medically. Maybe you've lost a loved one.

Maybe you have a financial need that just seems impossible to you. But did you know that God spec specializes in the impossibilities? I like to say this, take the word impossible out of your vocabulary because God can do what we cannot do. All through the Bible, God reminds us that he is a God of healing.

He is a God of miracles. Listen, he has miracles of healing, miracles of protection, miracles of deliverance, miracles of uh provision, miracles of favor, miracles of breakthrough. Maybe you need a breakthrough. I think about Paul and Silas in the book of Acts and how he they were chained.

They were in the prison. And the Bible says, what a miracle this is, that God caused the doors to shake. And when they shook, when the ground shook, the doors opened, the chains broke on them and they walked out. Listen, the Holy Spirit can shake up whatever needs to be shaken and he can break your chains and he can set you free.

He can open the prison doors. He can bring that prodal back. He can heal your body. God is a miracle working God. And all you have to do is call out to Jesus. That's exactly what Robert did, one of our our members here on the front row, when his daughter was diagnosed with a a serious heart disease.

Let's watch his story. I'm Robert Ma Tangula, originally from uh Malawi, the southern part of Africa that at the age of uh 14, I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal savior. And really, that's what has made me who I am today. So yeah, it hasn't been easy, but God has been faithful.

So when I was back in Malawi, um actually one day I was visiting 
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 a friend's house and then they were watching one of the gospel television stations and then pastor Joe was preaching. I mean the message of hope that was preaching it pierced into our hearts when we're sitting in that lounge. when I was looking for a church to go to, I said no, 
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 one day I need to go to Lakewood.

So when you came in 2010 at that time, I mean it was just to me was a dream coming true to be in Lakewood Church in person. That was really a blessing on its own. So since that time when we started hearing Pastor Joe, I mean we just said this is our home.

Last year around March, my daughter, she's so athletic. She likes uh you know, playing all sorts of sports you can 
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 think of. And then this Saturday, the nurse from the school called me that you need to come and pick your daughter since she's really having she's not okay.

I went there, she l sick. So we booked an appointment with our physician um a week after and then went there and then we meet the doctor who said your daughter seems to have SVT. Then on June 13th they scheduled the procedure. I remember the lady who called uh confirming the appointment um asking me that uh your estimate 
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 it's about $150,000 US and then with my wife my wife we still together praying um believing for a miracle being that God will intervene.

It was the procedure took about 6 hours and then in the afternoon they brought her to the waiting room. The doctor came to me that no it was successful. After some days when we had discharging at home that's when I get the bill that no you still have the $150,000 US to sort and then I said yes give us some time.

I remember on the 30th of September that's when I got a final notice and during that week I was pray that God I need you to show up. please show up for us. And within that week, we got a notification from the hospital that your bill has been settled.

I said, "How is that possible?" I rushed to my computer, open my chart. I'm like, "No, I need to see this." 
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 There was zero balance in the account. I said, "There's no way. This has to be a god. 
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 I don't know anyone at Texas students hospital. I don't know anyone with at medical center.

This has to be God. So this was a miracle. My daughter's back in sports, athletics, running, participating like a normal kid. I'll say God is still there. He's still in the business of healing people. is still in the business of providing in the dire moments. When you feel like I've reached the end of the road, that's when he shows up.

Continue believing in him. He is a wonder working God. If he did this for us, he can 
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 do it to you and anyone. Amen. Robert and his beautiful family are here and we so appreciate your story. 
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 I just love that the miracle that his daughter came through the surgery, she's back to normal.

God uses doctors. He used a donkey. He can use anything he wants to to bring your miracle. Not that I don't want to compare those two donkey and doctors. I didn't mean that. But I just think about how he used the ravens. He uses uh he uses different things.

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 And so, thank God that we have doctors that can help. And and so then uh he had the miracle of provision. And I there are two things that Robert said. He said when they asked him for the money and showed him the bill, he said, "Give us some time."

Now, I don't know about you, that was a statement of faith. He could have fallen apart. He could have said, "I don't know what I'm going to do." But he said, "Give us some time." That's a statement of faith. And then he just prayed a simple prayer. God, I need you to show up.

I need you to show up. Prayer doesn't have to be fancy words. It doesn't have to be long. You don't have to be experienced in prayer. Barnameus said, "Have mercy upon me." Robert said, "God, show up." And God showed up for them. And I just want to encourage you that God always shows up when you call on him.

He always shows up. And so, if you're in need of a miracle today, I want you to stand up. I'm going to pray for you. We're going to believe and agree together for your miracle. I want you to be encouraged today. Father, we just thank you. Thank you for your people who are in church, who serve you, who look to you, Father.

And you said you are faithful to those who are faithful, Father. I pray in Jesus' name that you would show up for them today. I pray, Father, that you would show up in their finances, that you would show up in their health, that you would show up in their families and children.

Father, that you would show up in every need that they have in the name of Jesus. Father, I pray that you would bring the prodals home in Jesus' name, saved and doing your will. I pray, Father, that you would move financially with such great favor. Father, that they will know it.

Only you could do it. Father, we're asking for miracles today. We're asking for miracles of protection. Father, we're asking you to show up, Jesus. Show 
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 up, Jesus. We thank you for it. And father, for those who may feel 
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 downtrodden and anxious and depressed and hopeless today, we bind the forces of darkness over their lives in Jesus' name.

And Father, we just thank you 
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 that you're bringing joy into their hearts. You're bringing hope into their hearts. You're their faith is rising up. Father, arise and shine for the glory of the Lord is upon you, the Bible says, and this is your moment. God is arising in you.

He is shining upon you. His glory is upon you. So be encouraged today in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. God bless you. 
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 3 2 1. 
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 As we are now here in 2026, we saw in 2025 God do incredible 
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 things through the lives of children and families with special needs.

Through our church here at Lakewood and across the world, we launched over 17 champions clubs from Lton, Oklahoma to People's Church in Sri Lanka in Southeast Asia. We went to Global Heart Church in Australia and then with Toto Church in Uganda. With your help, we are breaking down stereotypes and seeing God's favor in ways we have never imagined.

Champions clubs aren't just being launched in churches, but are gathering interest and support from international governments. I recently had a moment to meet with the vice president of Sierra Leone after we were able to launch a champions club there that rescued over a 100 orphans. 
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 And in that orphanage, we were able to launch the best special needs facility in all of Sierra Leone, West Africa.

You see, over the years, we have been investing as a country in education, supporting young children. And I'm particularly pleased today to learn about the champions club 
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 and the support they give to special needs kids in 27 countries here in Salon that is a priority for the government and I'm happy we are partnering with Lewood church and whatever they are doing here for special needs and I want to thank you and I want you to know that so many other people across the African continent we are investing special needs kids supporting special need kids.

I want to thank you and to thank the members of the Lakewood church. Thank you very 
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 much. Thank you, Lakewood. Every time that our team went out to launch a champions club, we felt you right there with us. You're making an impact around the world and we're so grateful that we're able to partner with these amazing organizations to see the children and 
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 families with special needs lives changed forever.

Yeah. Thank you, Lakewood, so much for your generosity and making these things happen. Thanks for Craig and Samantha started the Champions Clubs right here at Lakewood many years ago and now we have all these all over the world. But this all happens because of faithful, generous people. So, thank you.

And we take a moment in every service to worship the Lord with our tithes and our offerings. So, we're going to do that right now. And always want to express our appreciation just for, you know, your consistency and making everything go. We like showing you these reports because you know what you give is helping special needs children.

It's sending the message of hope out all over the world through the media and humanitarian areas as well. So, a lot of good things that you're doing. And I think about my father always said the the closest thing to the heart of God is helping those that are in need.

And so that's what you guys are doing every week. You know, you may not physically be going, some of you do, but uh just through your giving, your consistency. Proverbs says, "When you refresh others, you will be refreshed." That's our prayer and our declaration for every one of you because you're faithful.

You're going to see God refresh you and every good area of your life. So, thanks for being a part. That is so good. You know, I think about how we can be here in Houston and we can have our the seeds that we plant spread all over the world to other people.

And you know, Jesus always met the needs of people and it opened their heart so that they could then in turn hear the gospel. And so we are making people, you know, those hurts. We are healing those hurts just by being here. So it's really like sitting in here, you're on your own mission field because of what you're planting.

And you know, giving is not just giving, it's planting. And planting seeds always have uh potential for future harvests. So you got to think of it that way. You got to think of I am planting my seed because the scripture says God gives seed to the sewer. That's what we're doing.

We're sewing into the kingdom of God from right here. And so God is going to make sure that he gives you more seed to sew because he is a faithful God and he wants to see people help. You know, God works through people. He worked through Jesus. He worked through the disciples.

He works through us. And that's what we're doing here. We are working for the kingdom of God right here. So, we want to thank you. We know we couldn't do this without you. You're amazing people. You're faithful. And I know that you've experience God give you more as you give him.

As you release what's in your hands, he releases what's in his. So, thank you so much. We love you. God bless. That's so good. Let me just speak a blessing. Lord, thank you for all of our generous givers today here in the building watching, listening. Lord, we don't give because we have to.

We give because we want to to honor you. We know everything we have came from you. And so Lord, as we give today, we give in faith, sewing this seed to build your kingdom, to help lives all over. Lord, as we do that, I thank you that we live under the open windows of heaven.

Pour out your blessings upon your people, ideas and creativity and contracts and businesses. Lord, I thank you that you're blessing us so that we can be a bigger blessing. And so Lord, we thank you for all you've done in the past, but we believe the best is still yet to come.

We thank you for it and we pray it all in the name of Jesus. Amen and amen. God bless you as you give. Here are some ways you can 
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 give. Using your smartphone, scan the QR code located on the screen. Then select the online giving option that is the most convenient for you.

Go to lakewoodurch.com/give. Text give 
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 hope to 77977. Mail a check to P. Box 27450, 
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 Houston, Texas 77227. or call us toll-free 
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 at 888-567 Joel. 
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 They say these mountains can 
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 be 
[singing]
 moved. They say these chains will never 
[music and singing]
 break. But they don't know you like we do. 
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 There is power in your 
[singing]
 name.

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 They say that there is no way through. They 
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 say the tide will never change. 
[singing]
 But they 
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 haven't seen what you can do. There is power in 
[music and singing]
 your name. So much power in your name. Move the 
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 immovable. Break the unbreakable. God we believe. God we 
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 believe. for it. From the impossible, we'll see 
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 a miracle.

God, we believe. God, 
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 we believe for it. 
[singing]
 Do we have any believers 
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 here this morning? Come on. We know that hope is never 
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[singing]
 lost. Oh, for there is still an empty 
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 grave. God, we believe no matter 
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 what. 
[singing]
 There is power in your name. So much power 
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 in your name.

Holy 
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 immovable. Break the unbreakable. God, we believe. God, 
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 we believe for it. From the impossible, 
[singing]
 we'll see a miracle. 
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 God, we believe. God, we believe 
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 forever. Oh, 
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 yes, we will. 
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 You are the way where there seems to be no way. We trust in 
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 you, God. You have the final say.

You are 
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 the way. There seems to be the way. We trust in you. 
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 You have the right. you 
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 away. When there seems to be no way, we trust in you, God. You have the final say 
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 for the immovable, break the unbreakable. 
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 God, we believe. God, we believe for it from the impossible.

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 Oh, we got we 
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 break the unbreakable we 
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 don't 
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 We feel 
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 that's so good. Thank you, Cindy and Steve, our team. Come on, let's stand one last time if you don't mind. And can I tell you again how honored we are to have you here at Lakewood? And if you're visiting, you're our special guest and love to meet you after the service.

I'll be back there in the lobby if you got a moment. But we just honored to have you here. How many of you have stayed over from the M3 Medical Missions Conference? Any hands here right down front? So many down here. Welcome to you guys. I I know some of our speakers are here as well.

It's a great conference mobilizing medical missions, my brother Paul. And so, thanks for being a part. Hey, one quick thing for you guys watching online or listening. If you've never been to Lakewood, once a year we have what we call homecoming weekend. A a great weekend for you to come be a part of the services.

We'll be down here on that Saturday. I think it's March 21st and you can love to meet you, meet some of our staff, see the building, and then stay over for the Sunday service. But we'd love to have you be a part. But uh thanks for all for coming out.

Remember what the scripture says. When you're planted in the house of the Lord, you will flourish. Here you are at Lakewood today. You could be doing anything, but you came to church. So, as you leave under your breath today, Lord, I think I'm going to flourish this week.

Not just to get by week, why don't we, you know, it's it's easy just, oh, God, just help me to make it through. But, you know, if you, my dad always says, if you shoot low, you'll probably make it. Why don't you shoot high, God? Give me a blessed week.

Let me be a blessing this week. Uh, thank you, Lord, that you're you'll show through me, shine through me this week. But anyway, I like being in an atmosphere of faith with all of you. Thanks for coming out. out. I'm going to ask you when you see yourself on the big screen, can you give our TV audience a great big Lakewood welcome?

((applause))
 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, and you can come visit us in person. We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services.

But I like to start with something funny. And I heard about this pastor. He'd been out in the woods bear hunting all day long and searched and searched, but no sign of a bear. And finally, in frustration, he threw his gun down and he went to the stream to cool off.

And about that time, he saw this huge grizzly bear about a hundred yards away coming toward him full speed ahead. He fell down on his knees and said, "God, please convert this bear into a Christian." Miraculously, the bear froze in his tracks and put both paws up in the hair and said, "Lord, thank you for this food that I'm about to eat."

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. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, everliving seed of the word of God. I'll never be the same. Never, never, never. I'll never be the same in Jesus name. God bless you. If you'd like to open your Bibles to Colossians chapter 3, you're welcome to.

Colossians 3 and we'll put scriptures on the screen. Don't forget this afternoon 2:00 the whole service, but it's all in Spanish. a really fantastic service and Monday night we have the Bible study and then Wednesday night we're back in person if you want to come out we have an hour fantastic service couple thousand people and love to have you whenever you can but again honored to have you with us today I want to talk to you today about set your mind when you wake up in the morning all kinds of thoughts can come to your mind and depending on what's happening in your life what day of the week it is and what's going right what's going wrong.

The mind will naturally gravitate toward the negative. Tell you, "Here's something to worry about. Here's something to be frustrated over. Here's a reason to be sad, a reason to be offended." We can't stop these thoughts from coming. But here's the key. Nobody can force you to think them.

You don't have to dwell on those thoughts. You can choose to dismiss them and not pay any attention. You have complete control over your thought life. And it's so important that you be selective because your life is going to follow your thoughts. What you think about is setting your direction, impacting your mood, determining your attitude.

Thoughts create feelings. You think sad thoughts, you're going to feel sad. You think can't do it. I'm not talented. I'm at a disadvantage. You're going to feel inferior. Not good enough. But if you think positive, faithfilled thoughts, you're going to feel positive and hopeful. If you're grateful, you think this is going to be a good day.

Lord, thank you that I'm alive and that I have family to love, a job to go to, that I'm healthy and strong, then you're going to have energy, good attitude, and you're going to attract good breaks. Your mind is like a magnet. It draws in what you're thinking about.

When you wake up in the morning, if you start thinking, man, I don't want to go to work today, and I don't feel like dealing with these kids, and I'm never going to get past this sickness. It's going to be a lousy day. Just imagine, you're sending an invitation to everything you're dwelling on.

Lousy day. I'd like to personally invite you. Discouragement, sickness, hard time. Please come see me today. No. Quit inviting the wrong things. When those thoughts come, do yourself a favor. Dismiss them. Don't give them the time a day. You get to choose what takes up space in your mind.

Instead of inviting negative, discouraging, can't do it thoughts. How about inviting faith, inviting hope, inviting the goodness of God? This is what David did. He woke up in the morning and said, "This is the day the Lord has made. I'm going to rejoice and be glad in it."

Another place he said, "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me." When he faced Goliath, a giant twice his size. He said, "I will defeat you and feed your head to the birds of the air." No wonder he had faith, confidence, God's favor. His mind was going in the right direction.

He was careful about what he invited. And sure, he had thoughts of doubt and worry. David, that giant's too big. You've got too many problems. He had to do what we all have to do. He dismissed it. I'm not dwelling on that. I know my God is bigger.

I know I am well aable. Pay attention to what you're inviting. You can't think defeat and have victory. You can't go through the day worried and stay in peace. You can't dwell on who hurt you and who did you wrong and see the beauty for ashes and God pay you back for what was was unfair.

Are you inviting the right things? Is your mind going in the right direction? Paul said in Colossians 3, set your mind on higher things and keep it set. Every morning you have to set your mind. It's a choice we have to make. Positive. This is going to be a great day.

Hopeful. God, I know you have good things in store. Grateful. I'm blessed to be alive. I'm going to enjoy this day. This doesn't happen automatically. If you don't set your mind, other things will set it for you. Your feelings will set it. Circumstances can set it. Other people will set it or the enemy will set it.

An unset mind is like an unlocked house. Anyone can come in. Imagine waking up in the morning. You see a stranger in your kitchen pouring a cup of coffee. You look over and somebody's sitting on your couch watching your television and someone walks by wearing your clothes, carrying your purse.

You wouldn't think, "Oh, that's too bad. They're taking my stuff, invading my privacy." No. Number one, you'd throw them out. And number two, you would start locking your door. You would make sure that it was deadbolted so no strangers could get in. The mind is the same way.

If you're not setting your mind, you're leaving the door unlocked. You're saying by inaction, fear, you're welcome here. Doubt, come on in. Worry, insecurity, make yourself at home. No. Start locking your door. Start setting your mind. This is not an option. It's a necessity. Your mind is your control center.

Your thinking runs your life, your attitude, your mood, your vision. If the enemy can control your thoughts, he can control your life. If you let circumstances set your mind or other people, how you feel, it's going to limit your destiny. When David said, "This is the day the Lord has made."

He was in a difficult place. He had enemies chasing him. People were slandering his name. Family had turned on him. His mood would have been sour, discouraged. Why is this happening? But he didn't let that determine his thinking. He overrode all the lower things. Fear, discouragement, offense, and he set his mind on higher things.

Faith, his purpose, the promises of God. This is something we need to do on a daily basis. Just like we brush our teeth, we comb our hair, we also set our mind. We get in agreement with who God says we are, the higher things. That's why every service we make that declaration, I am blessed.

I am strong, healthy, talented, victorious, a masterpiece. That's not just being positive. That's setting your mind. That's locking out the fear, the worry, the doubt. Nothing good is in my future. Oh, sorry. You're too late. My mind is already set. My path is getting brighter and brighter. I haven't seen, heard, or imagined what God has in store.

If you're dealing with an illness, those thoughts will come. What if you don't get well? What if what if you're not able to go to work? How you going to pay your bills? Those thoughts will come to see if your door is unlocked. Did they set it? Did they put the dead bolt in or is it unset?

You could be worried, go through the day discouraged. No. your attitude. Lord, I thank you that you're restoring health back into unto me. That healing, wholeness, vitality is on the way. That's how you keep your mind set. You're dwelling on the higher things, what God promised you. Or maybe you have a child that's off course, or you went through a breakup, a business is struggling.

Thoughts will tell you all the worst case scenarios. You'll always be lonely or that child will never do what's right. You have no good options for you. There's a battle taking place in our thinking. And first Peter says to gird up the loins of your mind. It's interesting that it uses loins concerning guarding your mind.

Loins have to do with reproduction with what you give birth to. Your mind is like a womb. It will produce what you're thinking about. That's why you have to g up the loins of your mind. Well, the scripture says that Satan is a liar and the father of all lies.

If he's the father, he has no power unless he can find a womb. He needs somewhere to plant his lies so they will grow and eventually be given birth to. Your mind, your womb is no place for the enemy's lies. To think that we would give our most valuable space to become a breeding ground for doubt, fear, worry, to incubate, to grow, to give birth.

No thanks. Your womb was created for the promises of God. Your mind is a breeding ground for faith, for victory, for abundance. You need to keep this perspective. When the negative thoughts come, the worries, the what-ifs, the you've seen your best days, those are not just harmless thoughts.

Those are seeds looking for an womb that's open, that's ready so it can reproduce. We all have something in our womb, something we're dwelling on. Is what you're incubating what you want to give birth to? If you gave birth to what you're thinking about, is it something you're going to be happy with?

If not, you need to reset your mind. You need to uproot all those negative seeds. Your womb was never meant to incubate the enemy's lies. You're too old. You made too many mistakes. You can't break the addiction. You'll never meet the right person. Recognize what's happening. That's the enemy trying to plant his seeds in your womb.

You need to tell him, "You have the wrong person. I am God's property. I belong to the most high. My womb only accepts the higher things, the promises of God, what he's declared over my life." If you have a bad break and a door closes, those thoughts will come.

Man, it's all downhill from here. Get discouraged, be bitter, give up on those dreams. That's the lower things. That's the enemy trying to use your womb to bring about his lies. Try a different approach to higher things. Father, you said that all things are working together for my good.

I may not understand this, but God, I trust you. I know something better is coming. Perhaps you had a setback in your finances. You lost a client. It's easy to worry. Let all the negative thoughts play. No, don't leave your mind unset. Don't leave the door unlocked. When worry knocks, no thanks.

You're not welcome here. Father, you said I will lend and not borrow. Lord, I thank you that you're supplying all of my needs. That I live under the open windows of heaven. This is what I had to do when my dad went to be with the Lord back in 1999.

I knew I was supposed to step up and pastor the church, but all these negative thoughts filled my mind. Joel, you're not a minister. You don't have the training. You don't have a big personality like your father. Nobody's going to listen to you. Those were seeds trying to incubate in my womb.

It was the father of lies trying to deceive me into giving birth with what would stop my purpose. And I felt fear. I felt insecure. I felt unqualified. But by the grace of God, I didn't let my feelings set my mind. Other people said that I couldn't do it, that I wasn't good enough.

I didn't let them set my mind. The enemy kept whispering that can't do it thoughts. I didn't let him set my mind. I went back to what God says about me, who he says I am. I set my mind on the higher things. I can do all things through Christ.

Father, thank you that I'm strong in the Lord, equipped, empowered, anointed. Those are the seeds I let incubate in my womb. Had I let the enemy's lies grow and get stronger, I wouldn't be up here today. You're going to give birth to what you're dwelling on. Is it what you want?

Are you setting your mind each day, gerting up the loins of your mind? That means being selective what you're dwelling on. Or have you let the door unlocked? Worry, doubt, can't do it is now breeding in your womb. The good news is it's not too late. You can reset your mind today.

You can empty out all the negative and start dwelling on the higher things. Why don't you let some new seeds get planted in your womb? See, God is your heavenly father. His plans for you are for good, to prosper you, to heal you, to fill you with joy, bring great relationships.

Then there's the father of lies. The scripture says he's here to steal, kill, and destroy. You get to choose which father you listen to. Mark chapter 5, there was a woman that had a bleeding disorder. She had been sick for 12 years and she'd gone to the best doctors and spent all of her funds but continued to get worse.

When we've been doing the right thing a long time and not seeing improvement, it's easy to get discouraged. The never lies come. you're never going to get well or never see your business take off, never be free from that addiction. This lady was physically weak from all the bleeding and emotionally she was drained.

She was considered unclean. She was not supposed to be around people. But one day she heard that Jesus was passing through her city and she'd heard about the miracles he had performed and how he'd healed a crippled man and cleansed the leper and calmed the storm. Something said to her, "You can be healed, too.

This is your moment." Faith began to rise in her heart. She felt this hope, this expectancy that said, "If you can get to Jesus, you will be made whole." There was a shift that day. Something happened in her mind. For years, she had been discouraged, worried. Thoughts told her, "It'll never change."

All her circumstances said, "It's too late. You've run out of options." Her feelings told her, "You're too tired. Just stay home." But this day, a new fire was lit on the inside. She didn't let her history set her mind. She didn't let her feelings set her mind, other people's opinions.

She made the decision, "I'm going to set my mind on higher things. If I can touch the edge of his robe, I know I will be healed." Amen. There were so many people trying to see Jesus. She had to push her way through the crowd. Excuse me. I need to get through.

Pardon me. Scoot over a little. I got to see him. The scripture says she kept saying to herself, "When I touch him, I will be healed." Look at her new mindset. After years of believing, it's not going to happen. I've run out of options. Now, her mindset is I will be healed.

Not I hope so. Maybe something will happen. What's it going to hurt for trying? No, she had her mind set. Healing is coming. Breakthrough is coming. Victory is coming. Something new was incipating in her womb. What God had promised her, that seed was growing. As Jesus passed by, at the last moment, she reached out, touched the edge of his robe, and instantly she was healed.

Jesus said to her, "Daughter," "Your faith has made you whole. But maybe like her, you've had delays, disappointments, and now you've let doubt convince you that you can't accomplish your dream or you can't overcome this problem. God has you hearing this so you can reset your mind. That's where the battle is taking place.

This lady's circumstances didn't change until she changed her mind. If you will set your mind on the higher things, then God will do what you can't do. He'll open the doors. He'll bring the healing. He'll turn situations around. But here's the whole key. He needs a wound to work through.

He needs a mind that will receive the seed and that will believe the promises. When nothing is improving and you don't see how it can work out, do like she did. Lord, I want to thank you that healing is coming. Thank you that my business will flourish, that my children will excel.

I may not see a way, but I walk by faith and not by sight. I know that you have a way. 
((applause))
 See, your mind is like a thermostat. You have to set it. What temperature do you want it to be? Sometimes we operate more like a thermometer. A thermometer measures the temperature, adapts to the environment.

A thermostat sets the temperature and changes the environment. But we wake up in the morning and feeling sour. If we have a thermometer mentality, we accept the conditions. We're in a bad mood. Go around discouraged. Someone's rude at the office. We're rude back to them. We get caught in traffic.

We're stressed. Child doesn't do what's right. We're upset. Living as a thermometer, letting conditions set your mind is going to make life a roller coaster. You can't control all those things. Why don't you start setting your mind? Make that decision every morning that you're going to be positive, hopeful, and grateful.

When you decide ahead of time, you can enjoy the day despite what doesn't work out. When your mind is set, you don't let people steal your joy. Delays cause you to be sour. You know God is on the throne. This day is a gift. You've made up your mind to enjoy it.

Few weeks ago, Victoria asked me to run her up to the grocery store. She just had to get one thing. It's just going to take a second. Well, I drove into the parking lot over here. It was packed. Cars everywhere, so crowded. And I finally made it up to the front and I was going to drop her off at the main door and go park.

She jumped out of the car real fast so I wouldn't block everyone. She needed something from the back seat. So, I put the car in park cuz I had to reach way back and take my foot off the brake. And I handed it to her and she ran in.

I went to put the car in drive, but it wouldn't engage because she had the car keys in her purse. Now, she was in the store and her phone's right next to me. And I'm out front blocking everybody. People start honking and hollering, driving by, waving with one finger.

And the security guard came over and I told him what happened. She's just going to be a minute. And 10 minutes later, here comes Victoria with three bags. And somehow God always multiplies that one thing. But I was sorry I blocked the traffic, but the fact is life is too short to let these things steal our joy.

And I thought, I'm not going to let that ruin the rest of my night. I already ruined everybody else's. I set my mind on the higher things, to enjoy this day, to love my family, to honor God. See, the scripture says to set your mind and keep it set.

God knew during the day we'd have opportunities to unset it, to be frustrated, to get offended, give into doubt. Jo, I didn't get the contract, or things didn't work out. No, keep it set. God is still in control. He's still ordering your steps. This day is a gift from God.

Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy it. I read about something called neural clustering. When you dwell on a thought long enough, just 10 or 15 seconds, the way the brain works is it starts finding other similar thoughts. Your thoughts begin to grow and it creates momentum. If you're thinking a fearful thought, the mind says, "Okay, we're thinking about fear.

Here are five more things to be fearful about." When we're worried thinking, "What if this doesn't work out?" The mind will give you more reasons to be worried. The more you think about it, the bigger that cluster gets. The good news is this doesn't just work in the negative, it works in the positive.

When you think grateful thoughts, you get up in the morning, say, "Lord, thank you that I'm alive." As you dwell on that, the mind goes to work, finds other things to be grateful for. And that thought comes, Lord, thank you for my children. And thank you for turning that problem around.

Lord, thank you for that door that you open. You just thought the first thought, but then the mind starts recruiting these other thoughts just like it. Your thoughts are not stagnant. They're creating momentum. My question is, is it the momentum that you want? I'm healthy. I'm strong. I'm favored.

You dwell on that and more good thoughts are going to come. God's fighting my battles. It's going to be a blessed year. I'm excited about my future. That neural cluster is getting bigger, stronger, and finding more of the same type thoughts. But sometimes we're letting our mind work against us.

And we wake up in the morning dwelling on the negative and what's not going to work out. And before long, here's another thing to be depressed about. Another bad break you went through. Another person that hurt you. That's not the enemy. That's your mind doing what it was designed to do.

If you think nothing good ever happens to me, your brain fires off that circuit. Start looking for evidence. Let's give him some examples. Here comes bad memory number one. Number two, here's that time you failed. Number three, remember those people that left you out. That negative will continue until you put a stop to it.

You can spiral into doubt or you can spiral into faith. You can spiral into worry or you can spiral into peace. Your thoughts are growing. They're multiplying, producing more of the same. This is why Paul said, "Set your mind on higher things." He was saying, "Don't let the momentum work against you.

Don't let the negative spiral switch over to faith, to hope, to gratitude. Get your mind to work for you. It's attracting more of what you're thinking about. A friend of mine was on a train years ago and he met this couple that was very successful and the lady was wearing expensive clothing, nice jewelry, and they were in the first class cabin together.

Everything was great. But from the very start, this woman did nothing but complain. She complained the temperature too cold, food wasn't good, the service too slow, the cabin wasn't clean, the train was too noisy. She was miserable. Nothing was right. Well, later my friend stuck up struck up a conversation with her husband and he was just the opposite. friendly and easygoing enjoying life and he told how he was in the car business and God had blessed them so greatly and he was just so thankful.

Well, my friend asked about his wife and he said she's in the manufacturing business. He was kind of surprised. It didn't seem to fit her. He asked what does she manufacture? The husband said she manufactures unhappiness. She's unhappy everywhere she goes. Whether you realize it or not, you're manufacturing something.

Your thoughts are producing more likeminded thoughts. If you dwell on a positive thought, your mind will bring you 10 more. If you find a reason to complain, your mind will give you a dozen more things to complain about. You're creating mental momentum. Make sure yours is going in the right direction.

Let's manufacture faith. Let's manufacture hope, joy, generosity. Set your mind on the higher things. Friends, life is short. We don't have time to live negative, bitter, worried. Today can be a turning point. You can reset your mind. Like the lady with the issue of blood, you can choose to think some new thoughts.

Don't let the enemy use your womb to incubate his lies. Your womb is designed to give birth to what God promised you. When you wake up in the morning, don't start the day in neutral. Set your mind on faith, on hope, and on victory. If you'll do this, I believe and declare you're going to have more joy, more peace.

You will overcome your obstacles, accomplish your dreams, and live the life of victory God has in store for you in Jesus name. If you receive it, can you say amen? 
((applause))
 Let's pray together. If you have five minutes, stick with me. We'll just seal it in prayer. Lord, thank you for what we've heard today.

I know it falls on great ground. Faithful people here at Lakewood and so many watching and listening. And Lord, we ask you to show us areas where our thinking's out of line, where we're limiting you, thinking the wrong thoughts. And Lord, we commit today, we're going to start, we're going to start locking that door.

We're going to start setting our mind. And Lord, I ask you, help us to keep it set. Lord, help us to stay in faith. Help us to trust you. Lord, I thank you that you're working in all of our lives. And as your people go out this week, just protecting them, their children, that your angels are watching after them.

Lord God, we love you and we thank you for all that you've done in Jesus name. With our heads bowed in prayer, just a quick question. If your heart stopped beating in the next few minutes, are you at peace with God? Do you know where you'd spend eternity if you died a little while from now?

If not, I would love to pray with you. I'm not here to condemn anybody. I'm here to help you find a new beginning. I know this comes from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. in just a moment. If you're not at peace with the Lord, or maybe you are a Christian, but you've grown cold toward God, and you know you need to rededicate your life, you need a fresh new start.

If that's you, in just a moment, I'm going to ask you to take a step of faith and stand right where you are. I can't think of a better time to get on the road to victory than right now. God is not mad at you. Your sins have already been forgiven.

All you have to do is accept the free gift of Christ's salvation. Will you do it today? The enemy in your thoughts will say, "Do it later. Do it next week." Listen, the Bible says, "Today is the day of salvation. Don't put it off." Well, Joe, it's embarrassing to stand in front of everyone.

I have people at my house. I can't lift my hand. Listen to what Jesus said. If you won't be ashamed of me before people, then I won't be ashamed of you before my father in heaven. I'm going to give you a great opportunity to show God that you're not ashamed of him.

If you're not at peace with the Lord or you just need to rededicate, recommmit your life to Christ, you need a fresh new start, a new beginning. If that's you, would you be bold? Take that step of faith and 
((music playing))
 stand right where you are and we'll pray together.

Would you do that? Come on, Lakewood. Let's give them a hand as they stand all over the building. 
((music playing))
 
((applause))
 Come on, don't put it off. I feel like there ought to be a few others. Anybody else up top? 
[applause and music]
 Still time for you watching? Well, God bless you. And please remain standing if you don't mind.

Let me tell you how proud we are of you. I know that took courage to stand. And more importantly, I know God's never going to be ashamed of you because you took this step of faith. The scripture says that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Let me help you at a call. Do you mind all praying this after me if you would? Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. Amen. We're s in one more moment. I want to tell you how much we love you.

We're going to be praying for you. I also want to give you a personal invitation and even a challenge to come back and be with us on a regular basis. This next year of your life is incredibly important. 
((music playing))
 Why don't you come and get plugged in? And if I can make a promise to you if you'll do that before the year is over, your life will never be the same for the better.

And I know Sunday's a day off for most people and Joel, I could be resting or running errands, but can I tell you when you get into a community of faith, there is a blessing that God puts on your life and your new week would go better. And we'd love to have you here at Lakewood.

And you know, you come get plugged in if you can join some of our teams, ushers, greeters. I'd love for you to meet some of these great people at Lakewood. They'll help you grow and keep you, you know, keep you encouraged. But a lot of awesome people here after the service.

There's a booth over there if you need anything. You can do it online. And of course, I'm going to be back that way. Love to meet you. But know this, the moment you stood up, God washed away all your sins, your mistakes, your failures. You are starting with a fresh, clean slate.

Write it down in your Bible. February 22nd, 2026. A new day of victory in your life in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Well, let's all stand together if you would please. Thanks again for coming out today. How many of you going home better off than you were before? Amen.

All right, guys. We love you. Until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord show you his favor and watch over you. May the Lord give you his peace and give you a blessed week in Jesus' name. God bless you. Have a great week.

We'll see you back real soon. 
((music playing))