Lift Up Your Eyes | Victoria Osteen

Summary

Podcast Summary: Lift Up Your Eyes | Victoria Osteen

Podcast: Joel Osteen Podcast
Host: Joel & Victoria Osteen (iHeartPodcasts)
Date: August 8, 2026
Guest Speaker: Victoria Osteen

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Episode Overview

In this uplifting episode titled "Lift Up Your Eyes," Victoria Osteen delivers a message about faith, vision, and refusing to be limited by present circumstances. Drawing from the story of Abraham, she inspires listeners to look beyond current challenges and anticipate the greater things God has in store. The theme centers on the spiritual practice of “lifting your eyes” from circumstances to God’s promises—a call to live with faith-driven expectation and hope.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Vision Beyond Circumstance

• God’s Desire for Growth:
  • "If we're going to see the fullness of God's promises, our life, we're going to have to develop the ability to see beyond where we are right now." – Victoria Osteen [02:02]
  • God continuously calls believers to more—stretching, growing, increasing faith, and seeking victory.

2. Abraham as a Model of Faith

• Scriptural Example:
  • Victoria recounts Abraham's journey, his separation from Lot, and his willingness to let go, trusting God to guide his steps even when the outcome looked barren.
  • "God was saying, Abraham, don't get a picture of this dirt and dust because it's not your destination." – Victoria Osteen [04:48]
• Making the Choice to Believe:
  • Abraham had the option to stay focused on unpromising circumstances or choose to believe in God's promise.

3. The Power of Perspective

• Story About Looking Down:
  • Victoria shares a story about a man who spent his life looking down after finding a gold coin as a child, missing the beauty around him because he was focused on the ground.
  • "He didn't see the flowers and the trees and the mountains and the skies and the beauty he was meant to enjoy because he let that event...dictate his whole life." – Victoria Osteen [08:26]
• Letting Go of Defining Events:
  • Listeners are urged not to let a single life event (failure, loss, disappointment) define their outlook or future.

4. Examples of "Lifting Eyes" in Scripture

• Jesus on the Cross:
  • Even Jesus, in his greatest agony, "lifted his eyes" and focused on the joy and purpose that lay beyond his suffering. [10:11]
• Abraham’s Encounters:
  • Genesis 18:12: Abraham lifts his eyes and meets messengers from God, receiving the promise of Isaac’s birth.
  • Genesis 22:13: At the intended sacrifice of Isaac, Abraham lifts his eyes and sees God’s provision—a ram in the bushes.
• Psalm 121 Application:
  • "I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? It comes from the maker of heaven and earth." [12:51]

5. The Ongoing Journey

• Don't Settle:
  • Listeners are warned against getting comfortable or surviving in negative circumstances: “Don’t let one event define you, but lift your eyes and you will see the King of Glory come in.” – Victoria Osteen [13:45]
• Call to Action:
  • Victoria calls for active faith—choosing, like Abraham and Jesus, to look up rather than down.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s promises and vision:
  • "Where you are right now is not your final destination. God's got amazing things in store for you." – Victoria Osteen [02:16]
• On faith over circumstances:
  • "Am I going to sit here and look at my circumstances or am I going to believe on the other side of my circumstances... God’s got greater things in store for me." – Victoria Osteen [06:15]
• On perspective:
  • “Sometimes we allow an event in our life to define us. Maybe a broken marriage, maybe a loss of a job, maybe family troubles. And we think, you know what? I'll never get out of this. But I want to tell you, just like Abraham, God has made some promises to you.” – Victoria Osteen [08:46]
• On Jesus’ example:
  • "He lifted his eyes and looked at the joy that was past the cross. That’s how he endured it." – Victoria Osteen [10:17]
• On obedience and provision:
  • "When he lifted his eyes, he saw a ram in the bush. That was the provision that God was giving him to replace his son Isaac." – Victoria Osteen [11:51]

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Important Timestamps

• [01:31] – Joel & Victoria Osteen welcome, prayer for listeners.
• [02:02] – Introduction of the "Lift Up Your Eyes" theme.
• [03:06] – Abraham's story and the significance of his choices.
• [04:48] – God’s instruction for Abraham to lift up his eyes; dirt and dust analogy.
• [06:15] – Applying Abraham’s lesson to personal circumstances.
• [08:26] – Story about the man who always looked down after finding a gold coin.
• [10:11] – Jesus endured the cross by focusing on the promised joy.
• [11:00] – Genesis 18:12 and Genesis 22:13: Abraham lifts his eyes and receives God’s promise/provision.
• [12:51] – Psalm 121: “I lift up my eyes to the hills.”
• [13:45] – Encouragement not to settle and to keep lifting your eyes.

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Tone and Takeaway

Victoria Osteen’s message is warm, encouraging, and faith-filled. She speaks directly to listeners who may feel stuck or discouraged, reminding them that God has greater things in store. The episode’s tone is hopeful, urging everyone to refocus their vision—not on present struggles, but on the promises and blessings yet to come.

Key Takeaway:
Lift up your eyes beyond your present situation and trust that God has a bigger plan. Don’t let one event define or limit you. Keep your focus on Him and walk forward in faith.

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For more teachings and resources, visit joelosteen.com.

Transcript

[Ice Cube]

Ice Cube's Big Three season is heating up and it all comes down to this. The Big Three playoffs are coming to Dallas, Texas. The four best teams in the Big Three battle it out for a spot in the championship. The action starts with the legendary Big three Celebrity Game. Three games of the most physical, competitive and non stop three on three action. The game played the way you love. Watch live Saturday on CBS at 12pm Eastern, 9am Pacific and catch replays Monday on BET. Presented by iHeart A Yay.

[Announcer/Host]

Yay.

[Rach]

Hey, it's Rach. And if you're like me, you want treats that are simple and taste amazing. And that's why I love Johnny Pops. They're deliciously made with simple ingredients and no artificial dyes. Whether it's a quick snack for the kids or a sweet moment for yourself, Johnny Pops are the perfect treat. And there's a kind deed on every stick to encourage everyone to share a little kindness. So next time you're in the freezer aisle, grab a box of Johnny Pops and feel great about what you're sharing. Johnny Pops a better Pop for a better world.

[Tony Ayo]

This is Tony Ayo from the Real Report. Konie on Uncle Murder. You ever notice how everything keeps going up? Rent, streaming, even extra Sosa at your favorite burrito spot? But with Boost Mobile, you don't have to play the Willis Go up soon game. Boost Mobile offers an unlimited talk, text and data plan at a price that'll never go up. It's the same price you'll pay for Life Switch now for unlimited wireless at a price that'll never go up. Only at boost mobile. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan.

[Joel Osteen]

It's another great day to be alive. And we are so blessed to be here with you today, Victoria, my beautiful wife. And we're just praying for you guys to have a blessed summer.

[Announcer/Host]

I sure hope you enjoy the podcast. I know I always enjoy these messages. They're so uplifting and encouraging and inspiring. So we hope you enjoy the message today. I know that he is pleased with us today. You know, if we're going to see the fullness of God's promises, our life, we're going to have to develop the ability to see beyond where we are right now. You see, God is always taking us to new levels, to greater places. He's always wanting us to stretch and grow. He's wanting to increase our faith. He's wanting to deepen our strength. And he's wanting us to see new victories in our life. So today, I want you to know where you are right now is not your final destination. God's got amazing things in store for you. I think about the hero of faith, Abraham. He's the father of our faith. And you can find his story in Genesis. And when you read his story, there's amazing things about his life. But there's something I want to point out today. And many of you know the story of Abraham and how he left his father's home to follow God, to go to a place that God would show him. And he declared over Abraham's life that he would be a blessing, that he would bless people all over this world, that he would be a great nation, that God would do amazing things in his life. So as he was traveling with God, he had his nephew Lot with him. I know you know this story. So he and Lot took off to follow God. Scripture tells us that there was a point in time where he and Lot became too numerous. They had too much livestock between the two of them. Their families grew, their herds grew, and it became too much to support two families like this on one piece of land. There was some quarreling going on between their employees, the herdsmen. And there was some strife that was taking place because there just wasn't enough land to sustain the wealth and the possessions that they had acquired through the blessings of God. So Abraham said, lot, you know, let's don't ruin our relationship for sake of a good relationship. Let's make a decision that we're just going to part ways right now. And Lot, you take the first choice. Where do you want to go, Lot? If you go to the right, I'll go to the left. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right. He said, whatever you want, Lot, you have first choice. So Lot looked around and the Bible describes this one place eastward like a beautiful garden, just lush. I can only picture it looking like Hawaii or something. They called it the well watered garden of the Jordan. Well, Lot saw that and it looked great to him. So he said, abraham, I'm heading eastward. So Abraham turned the other direction and he way. Now, Abraham, he didn't walk into a lush garden. The Bible says he walked into a lot of dirt and a lot of dust. And listen to what God said to Abraham when he was standing in the middle of this plain that looked like a bunch of dirt and dust. He said, abraham, I want you to lift up your eyes from where you are right now. I want you to look beyond where you are right now. You see, God was saying, abraham, don't get a picture of this dirt and dust because it's not your destination. He said, abraham, I want you to look past the dirt and the dust and I want you to start meditating on what I have spoken over your life. You will be a great nation. People will be blessed all over the earth because of you. Abraham. He was saying, abraham, get a picture, get a vision of what I am saying about you. You see, when he said, abraham, lift your eyes, he was setting the tone for Abraham's life. He was literally saying, abraham, what I've called you to accomplish is only going to be accomplished by lifted eyes. See, you can't look at the dirt and dust, Abraham. You can't turn around and think, maybe it wasn't such a great idea that I gave Lot the first choice. Well, you know, maybe I shouldn't have separated from Lot at all. No, don't get that in your mind. Don't look at the dust, but lift your eyes from where you are because I'm taking you to great places. See, Abraham had to do something before he could take hold of that promise. You see, he could have looked at the dust, he could have looked at the dirt, he could have looked at the circumstances. But he had a choice to make. Am I going to believe God or am I going to stand here in my circumstances? And you know what his choice was? He chose to lift his eyes. He chose to look through his eyes of faith and see the promises of God. See, God is declaring great things over you today. But you're going to have to do exactly like Abraham. You're going to have to make the choice. Am I going to sit here and look at my circumstances or am I going to believe on the other side of my circumstances? On the other side of even where I am right now, Whether it's good or bad, God's got greater things in store for me. See, you may be in a good place right now, but God is saying, don't get comfortable. I made you for more. Do you know, Abraham's father got comfortable. He set out on a journey and he found a place that was comfortable and he settled there. He settled there for 200 odd years, the Bible says, but not Abraham. Abraham accomplished what he accomplished by lifting his eyes and going on with God. You know, sometimes we can get so distracted by our circumstances that it begins to distort our vision. We can't see where we're going. We can't have that vision of victory. And so we Have a tendency to just stop. We have a tendency to settle or even look down and lose hope. I heard a story about a man, and when he was younger in his life, he was looking down, walking one day, looking down at the ground, and he found a very valuable gold coin. He was so excited about that gold coin. He continued to look down on the ground. Do you know he spent his entire life with his face looking down for coins? And you know what? He did find some coins in his lifetime. But reality is, he didn't see the flowers and the trees and the mountains and the skies and the beauty he was meant to enjoy because he let that event in his life, that one event where he found a gold coin, dictate his whole life. From then on, he kept looking downward just to collect coins. But there was so much more in store for that man. And sometimes we allow an event in our life to define us. Maybe a broken marriage, maybe a loss of a job, maybe family troubles. And we think, you know what? I'll never get out of this. But I want to tell you, just like Abraham, God has made some promises to you. And if you don't get good at looking beyond where you are right now and lifting your eyes, you too will miss out on the great things that God has promised you. He's an awesome God. Do you know Jesus had to do this? The Bible says when he was on the cross and he was in great agony and great pain, it says that he lifted his eyes. He lifted his eyes so that he could endure where he was at, to where he was going. It said that he lifted his eyes and looked at the joy that was past the cross. That's how he endured it. He looked at the finished product. He said, I'm not staying here. This is not my destiny. I'm moving forward. God is going to to do great things through this. There was a purpose for the cross. But Jesus didn't get stuck on that cross. He lifted his eyes. And you know what? You and I are going to have to lift our eyes if we're going to get to the places God wants us to be. Now, I said earlier that the theme of Abraham's life was lifted eyes. And I found this in the scriptures. And I thought it was very interesting When Abraham went through the twists and turns of his life, he was waiting on this promised child. God was taking him to places he didn't really know where he was going, but he was following God and trusting God. And one evening, he was sitting outside his tent wondering, God, I am so old when am I going to have this promised Child? And the Bible says in Genesis 18:12, it says when he was sitting outside his tent questioning and looking to God, it says he lifted his eyes and he saw three men coming towards him. Those three men were sent by God, and they were there to tell him the exact time that Sarah would have the promised Child. But I find it very interesting that he wasn't sitting outside his tent complaining, saying, God, this is not taking too long. You're taking me places I don't like. I don't understand God. I can't even. I can't even think about or talk to you anymore. And look down. No. He always had the lifted eyes. He always looked to God. Even when he was reasoning and talking, he was talking to God. He wasn't talking to the dirt. He wasn't talking to his circumstances. He was talking with lifted eyes. And when he had lifted eyes, he saw the promises of God. Another time, when he finally was able to see the manifestation of this promise come to pass, and he had his beautiful son, Isaac. God asked him to do something in obedience, something he certainly didn't understand. He said, abraham, I want you to take your son Isaac, and I want you to take him up on the mountain and I want you to see sacrificing. But he thought, God, I've been waiting for this child for so long. Why, I don't understand, but I'm going to walk in obedience. He got the altar ready. He built the fire. He tied up Isaac. And he was, I'm sure, the whole time asking, God, God, where are you? Where are you? Listen to what it says in Genesis 22:13. It says, right before he was about to sacrifice Isaac, he lifted his eyes and he saw a ram in the bush. That was the provision that God was giving him to replace his son Isaac. Abraham, when he lifted his eyes, always found the provision of God. Always saw God's hand of miracles. He always knew if he would just lift his eyes, he would see God do great and mighty things. Psalm 121 says, I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? It comes from the maker of heaven and earth. The maker of heaven and earth. See, David knew when he looked at those mountains around Jerusalem, he knew that the blessings of God were there. The provision of God, the healing, the protection, everything he needed was up. I encourage every one of us to not get stuck in our circumstances, to not look at the dirt in your life, but realize beyond that is greater heights, greater measures, greater victories, greater strength. Greater anointing. The only way you're going to find the greater thing is to look up. Through all the twists and turns of Abraham's life, when he looked up, God was always there. So remember, we too are on a journey. The theme of the journey is Lift up your eyes. Lift up your eyes. Don't get stuck. Don't look down. Don't let one event define you, but lift your eyes and you will see the King of Glory come in. Amen.

[Ice Cube]

Ice Cube's Big three season is heating up and it all comes down to this. The Big three playoffs are coming to Dallas, Texas. The four best teams in the Big three battle it out for a spot in the championship. The action starts with the legendary Big three Celebrity Game. Three games of the most physical, competitive and non stop three on three action. The game played the way you love. Watch Live Saturday on CBS at 12pm Eastern, 9am Pacific and catch replays Monday Monday on BET. Presented by iheart A Yay.

[Announcer/Host]

Yay.

[Tony Ayo]

This is Tony Ayo from the Real Report with Tony Ayo and Uncle Murder. You ever notice how everything keeps going up? Rent's going up, streaming services are going up. Even your favorite burrito spot suddenly thinks salsa should cost extra. But with Boost Mobile, you and your phone bill don't have to play the Willis Go up soon game because Boost Mobile has an unlimited talk, text and data plan at a price that'll never go up. It's the same price you'll pay for life. You, meaning you're set to never worry about your bill increasing again for as long as you're on the plan. While the world keeps finding new ways to nickel and dime you. Boost Mobile gives you unlimited wireless at one set price for life. Imagine something in your budget actually staying the same. You'll pay the same for unlimited wireless when you're posting mirror selfies in your 20s. And when you're posting mirror selfies in retirement, some things never change. Switch now for unlimited wireless at a price that'll never go up. Only at boost mobile. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan.

[Rach]

Hey, it's Rach. And if you're like me, you want treats that are simple and taste amazing. And that's why I love Johnny Pops. They're deliciously made with simple ingredients and no artificial dyes. Whether it's a quick snack for the kids or a sweet moment for yourself, Johnny Pops are the perfect treat. And there's a kind deed on every stick to encourage everyone to share a little kindness. So next time you're in the freezer aisle, grab a box of Johnny Pops and feel great about what you're sharing. Johnny Pops A better Pop for a Better World

[Joel Osteen]

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 amongst A moment to declare his promises. A moment to remember that he's working now. 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 great peace and strength and you'll step into the favor that belongs to you.

[Joel Osteen's Ministry]

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 [e-mail] or call 888-567 Joel.

[Joel Osteen]

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 own moment with God. A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners. Your monthly support makes a difference every single day. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Until next time. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

[Joel Osteen's Ministry]

Be sure to request your copy of three Minute Moments with God, available this month by visiting [e-mail] or call 888-567-JOEL. With an additional gift, you can also receive the 3 Minute Promise Power and Authority collection featuring Abundance, Assurance and Authority, 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 jolostein.com today. Call or click anytime 24 hours a day.

[Ice Cube]

Ice Cube's Big three season is heating up and it all comes down to this. The Big Three playoffs are coming to Dallas, Texas. The four best teams in the big Big Three battle it out for a spot in the championship. The action starts with the legendary Big three Celebrity Game. Three games of the most physical, competitive and non stop three on three action. The game played the way you love. Watch Live Saturday on CBS at 12pm Eastern, 9am Pacific and catch replays Monday on BET. Presented by iheart A Yay.

[Announcer/Host]

Yay.

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