Joel Osteen Podcast

Episode: Activate The Flow

Date: September 8, 2025
Host: Joel Osteen
Podcast Theme: Joel Osteen inspires listeners to reach their dreams, find new beginnings, and live their most abundant lives, often through faith, expectation, and positive confession.

Episode Overview

“Activate The Flow” centers on the concept of tapping into God’s supernatural flow of healing, favor, freedom, and abundance. Joel Osteen teaches that everyone encounters setbacks, disappointments, and seemingly insurmountable challenges, but that God has placed a divine flow within reach that can change any situation. However, this flow requires activation by expecting, declaring, and believing in God’s promises—even when circumstances seem impossible. The episode draws heavily from the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5, illustrating how persistent faith, expectancy, and positive declaration open the door for miracles and transformation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recognizing Our Need for Supernatural Help

• [03:23] Joel reflects on common life situations—chronic illness, discouragement, stalled dreams—where natural solutions run out and our strength is exhausted.
• He emphasizes that while it's tempting to settle for less, God has a supernatural flow available:
  • “There is a supernatural flow that you can tap into. A flow of healing that will turn the medical report around. A flow of favor that will open doors and bring the right people.” ([04:02])

2. How to Activate God’s Flow

• Activation takes faith: Declare God’s promises and expect His favor even when there is no outward sign.
• It’s not enough to have needs:
  • “God is not moved by needs. He’s moved by our faith.” ([05:13])
• Be proactive:
  • “Sometimes we’re waiting on God. But God’s waiting on us. He’s saying, 'Come on, activate my power… God works where there’s faith.'” ([05:46])
• Press Past the Doubt: Instead of talking about problems, declare the greatness of God and what He will do.

3. Biblical Example: The Woman with the Issue of Blood (Mark 5)

• [08:17] Osteen narrates the account of a woman who suffered for twelve years and used all her resources to find healing but found none.
• She refused to let discouragement define her. When she learned Jesus was near, faith and expectancy rose up:
  • “If I can get to Jesus, I know I will be healed.” ([09:12])
• Persistent confession: She kept saying—“When I get to Jesus, I will be healed.”—all the way through the crowd.
• Self-encouragement:
  • “You have to talk back to yourself. Sometimes your own thoughts will try to talk you out of God's best.” ([12:29])
• Despite feeling weak, outnumbered, and frail, she pressed through the crowd and her own doubts.

4. The Power of Declaring and Expecting

• [15:37] The woman touches Jesus’ robe and is instantly healed.
• Jesus asks, “Who touched me?” indicating a unique faith had drawn power from Him:
  • “Someone touched me with such faith, with such expectancy, that they drew the miracle working power out of me.” ([16:33])
• Jesus tells her, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go in peace. You are healed.” ([17:40])
• Joel highlights:
  • Faith activates God's power. Many had needs, but her expectancy and confession made the difference.

5. Are You Brushing Up or Touching with Faith?

• Many people are “in the crowd,” so to speak, but not all activate the flow.
• Questions to reflect:
  • “Are you brushing up against Him, or are you touching Him?” ([19:20])
  • “Are you activating the flow, or are you focused on the impossibility?”

6. Personal Application and Stories

• Combat negative thoughts and naysayers with God’s promises.
• Personal examples:
  • Critics doubted Joel and Lakewood Church’s ability to acquire their venue (“Never get the Compact Center… But here we are today.” [22:48]).
  • Joel’s own calling was doubted for lack of credentials, but faith and persistence prevailed.
• Everyday challenges are spiritual battles:
  • “The enemy wouldn’t be telling you that you’ll never get well if he didn’t know it was on the way.” ([24:24])
• You may face your greatest opposition just before your breakthrough.

7. Removing Shame and Reclaiming Identity

• When Jesus calls the woman “daughter”:
  • He publicly restores her dignity, removes her shame, and declares her accepted.
  • “He was saying, this is my child. No more shame, no more hiding, no more living in the background, feeling unclean, unworthy, not good enough.” ([27:14])
• Message: God is not holding your past against you. His love isn’t based on performance. He restores and lifts you up.

8. Modern Testimonies

• Childless couple: Six years of struggle, persevered in faith, and had a baby girl—“When you activate that flow, God will make things happen that defy the odds.” ([25:54])
• Young immigrant fashion entrepreneur: Pressed past a poverty mindset and opposition. Divine connection and favor led to extraordinary business opportunities:
  • “When you activate that flow, God will send the right people at the right time.” ([28:21])

9. Encouragement and Declaration for Listeners

• “You may have seen some flows in the past, but let me declare you’re about to step into a greater flow.” ([29:25])
• Expect more: favor, influence, resources. Activate the flow with faith and declarations.
• Final declaration:
  • “If you’ll do this, I believe and declare, like this woman, you’re about to tap into a flow of supernatural power. God’s about to surprise you—healing, favor, freedom, abundance, the fullness of your destiny. In Jesus’ name.” ([30:16])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “God is not moved by needs. He's moved by our faith.” —Joel Osteen, [05:13]
• “She kept saying to herself: 'When I get to Jesus, I will be healed.' …You have to talk back to yourself, sometimes your own thoughts will try to talk you out of God’s best.” —Joel Osteen, [12:29]
• “Someone touched me with such faith, with such expectancy, that they drew the miracle working power out of me.” —Joel Osteen, retelling Jesus’ words, [16:33]
• “Are you brushing up against Him, or are you touching Him?” —Joel Osteen, [19:20]
• “He’s not calling you lady, man, girl. He’s calling you daughter of the Most High, son of the Most High, redeemed, forgiven, fearfully and wonderfully made.” —Joel Osteen, [27:40]
• “When you activate that flow, God will send the right people at the right time.” —Joel Osteen, [28:21]
• “If you’ll do this, I believe and declare, like this woman, you’re about to tap into a flow of supernatural power. God’s about to surprise you—healing, favor, freedom, abundance, the fullness of your destiny.” —Joel Osteen, [30:16]

Key Timestamps

• [03:23] – Introduction to life’s challenges and the principle of supernatural flow
• [05:13] – “God is not moved by needs. He's moved by our faith.”
• [08:17] – Retelling Mark 5: the woman with the issue of blood
• [12:29] – Speaking to yourself, positive confession
• [16:33] – “Someone touched me with such faith…”
• [19:20] – “Are you brushing up against Him, or are you touching Him?”
• [22:48] – Lakewood Center testimony, pressing past naysayers
• [24:24] – Mindset battles close to breakthrough
• [25:54] – Testimony: infertile couple receives their child
• [27:14] – Jesus restoring dignity and identity
• [28:21] – Testimony: young man’s business breakthrough
• [29:25] – Prophetic encouragement: “You’re about to step into a greater flow.”
• [30:16] – Final declaration and closing encouragement

Summary Takeaways

• There is a supernatural “flow” (of healing, favor, freedom, abundance) available to every believer, but it must be activated by faith—expecting, declaring, and believing God’s promises regardless of circumstances.
• The story of the woman with the issue of blood demonstrates that determined faith and relentless positive confession draw God’s power and break through barriers.
• God does not shame, disqualify, or limit you based on your past. He calls you accepted and worthy.
• Practical steps: Press past doubt, naysayers, and discouragement; keep declaring God’s Word; live in persistent expectancy.
• Listener encouragement: “You are just one flow away from seeing God do more than you've ever dreamed.” ([24:48])
• Final thought: Keep stretching your faith and activating the flow—God is ready to surprise you!

This episode stands as an empowering message for anyone feeling stuck or up against impossible odds, encouraging them to persist in faith, speak life, and expect God’s supernatural intervention.