← Joel Osteen Podcast
Joel Osteen Podcast
Distinctive Favor | Joel Osteen
00:30:26
God's favor will cause you to prosper even in difficult times.
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- [00:00]
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Lowe's Announcer
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- [01:13]
Nordstrom Rack / DSW Announcer
Last.
- [01:16]
Joel Osteen
Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry.
- [01:22]
Victoria Osteen
If you enjoyed today's message, why don't you be a blessing and share it with a friend?
- [01:26]
Joel Osteen
We appreciate you and pray for God's.
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Very best in your life.
- [01:30]
Victoria Osteen
God bless you. It's great to be with you today.
- [01:32]
Joel Osteen
And if you're ever in our area, please stop by and be a part of one of our services. I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. I like to start with something funny and I heard about this pastor. He was raising money for a new sanctuary. He told his congregation, I've got good news and I've got bad news. The good news is we have plenty of money for our new sanctuary. The bad news is still in your pockets.
- [01:58]
Victoria Osteen
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.
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Joel Osteen
Today I will be taught the word of God.
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Victoria Osteen
I boldly confess.
- [02:11]
Joel Osteen
My mind is alert. My heart is receptive.
- [02:14]
Victoria Osteen
I will never be the same in Jesus name.
- [02:17]
Joel Osteen
God bless you. I want to talk to you today about distinctive favor. There's something God has put on you that causes you to be different. It's a favor that makes a distinction between you and those that don't honor God. The scripture talks about how You've been called out, set apart. You are a peculiar people, a better word, a different people. You're not ordinary. You're not like everyone else. You've been marked with a distinction. Says in numbers that God's face will shine down on you and cause you to stand out. This distinctive favor causes you to prosper. When others are struggling, you recover from a difficulty. When others get stuck, you have protection. When others face calamity, there's a marked difference. You have an advantage. You're not doing life just by yourself, just your strength, your talent, your connections. There is a force breathing behind you, guiding you, protecting you, favoring you. The most high God has set you apart. He could have chosen anyone, but he hand picked you, called you out, said, that's one of mine. Right now, his face is shining down on you. Don't go through life thinking that you're average. You could never accomplish your dreams. Put your shoulders back. Hold your head up high. You're a part of the called out group. God has set you up for a distinctively favored life. That means for blessings that you didn't work for, for promotion that you didn't deserve, for houses that you didn't build, the scripture says, for vineyards that you didn't plant. It's not because of who you are, you. Because of whose you are, you've been marked with favor. When you realize this, you'll pray bold prayers. You'll dream big dreams. You'll expect things to happen for you that may not happen for others. When others are afraid and upset and worried, you'll be at peace, knowing that you've been set apart, that there's a hedge around you that the enemy cannot cross. Distinctive favor. When the Israelites were in slavery, God told Moses to go tell Pharaoh to let the people go. Pharaoh wouldn't listen. He kept refusing. God sent plague after plague on Pharaoh and his people. Their water supply was turned to blood. Millions of flies, swarms of locusts ate up their crops, destroyed their land, made their lives miserable. But what's interesting is The Israelites, some 2 million people live right next door. But these plagues never affected them. At one point, there were hordes of frogs everywhere Pharaoh's people looked. Frogs in their homes, frogs in their food, frogs in their bed. They were so frustrated. But on the Israeli side, there were no frogs. Life went on as usual. Pharaoh still wouldn't change his mind. God was about to send swarms of flies into their houses. But in Exodus, chapter 8, God said to Pharaoh, I will deal differently with the land where My people live. No swarms of flies will be there. I will make a distinction between you and my people. Millions and millions of flies came into Pharaoh's palace. In all the houses, flies so dense you couldn't see, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. Their land was ruined by flies. But right next door, the Israelites had no flies. I can hear them saying, I'll let you borrow my fly swatter. We don't need it over here. Didn't make sense in the natural. It was the hand of God putting a distinction on his people. God has put that same distinction on you. When he breathed life into you, he marked you for favor, marked you for blessing, marked you to stand out. What will defeat others won't be able to defeat you. This is why you don't have to live worried. Worried about your safety, worried about your future, worried about your children. Where there's so many negative things in the world, so much crime and violence, it may be happening all around you, but you have an advantage. God has put a distinction on you. The psalmist said, a thousand may fall at my side, 10,000 at my right hand, but it will not come near me. God has a hedge of protection around.
- [06:56]
Victoria Osteen
You and your family.
- [06:57]
Joel Osteen
For the enemy to get to you, he has to ask God for permission. Now, I'm not saying negative things will never happen. That's not reality. I'm saying you are protected by the one who controls it all. If God does allow it to happen, he's promised that somehow he will turn it and use it for your good. Pharaoh still wouldn't let the people go. And Moses told him, there's about to be a plague on all your livestock. Your horses, camels, goats and sheep. But again, like the first time, the scripture says God put a distinction on the livestock of the Israelites and the livestock of Pharaoh's people, so that not one animal of the Israelites died. Notice a distinction even on your property, your house, your car, your belongings. The next day, just like God said, all of their oppressors, livestock, died, but not one animal belonging to the Israelites. I'm sure some of Pharaoh's people thought, that's it. I'm going to the Israeli side. These frogs, flies, locusts. They're making my life miserable. They move over to their land, set up a temporary home. But everywhere they go, the plagues followed them. It wasn't where the Israelites were that kept them from the plagues. It was what was on them. The distinction, the favor, the blessing that comes from being a child of the most High God. Friends, you and I have that same blessing. We may have things around us that could harm us. Keep us from our dreams. Bring us down. Stay in faith. There is a distinction on your life, on your property, on your children, on your career, on your health put there by the Creator of the universe. Growing up, a friend of ours was a successful businessman. He owned thousands of acres of orange groves. One winter, it was predicted they were going to have a hard freeze. That was unusual in that part of the country. It never froze there. And he knew that would destroy all of his crops. Cost him thousands of dollars in the natural. There was nothing he could do. That's what all the circumstances said. But he understood this principle, that God had put a distinction on his property. That God had a hedge around his business. Instead of being defeated, thinking, oh, great, bad luck this year, he went out and walked all around his orange groves and thanked God that they would live. Thanked him that they wouldn't freeze, that he would have a harvest that year. When the other farmers that lived around him heard what he did, that he prayed for his trees, they thought he was so strange, so far out. They made fun, ridiculed him. The next day, the big freeze came in. Lasted a little over 24 hours. The other farmers were very discouraged, trying to figure out how they were going to make a living not having a harvest that year. A couple of weeks later, it was the most unusual sight. Our friend's property, hundreds and hundreds of acres, had the most beautiful, healthy orange trees. But the properties next to him, on all four sides, their trees were totally dead. It was like somebody put a blanket over his property. Even the other farmers were so amazed. Instead of making fun of him, they said, next time will you pray for our crops as well? And I know some people will think, joy.
- [10:25]
Victoria Osteen
That's just a lucky break.
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Joel Osteen
That's just the way the clouds must have formed that day. Just the way the winds must have blown. No, that was the hand of God putting a distinction on his property.
- [10:35]
Victoria Osteen
That was God's face shining down on him.
- [10:39]
Joel Osteen
God has put this same distinction on you. Don't talk yourself out of it. Well, business is kind of slow. A couple of my co workers got laid off. I don't see how I could get out of debt. Your job is not your source. God is your source.
- [10:53]
Victoria Osteen
The economy doesn't determine whether or not you're blessed.
- [10:57]
Joel Osteen
God does. He has already marked you for favor. He's already put this distinction on your life. Dare to pray. Bold prayers. Believe for unusual favor. Take the limits off of God. You've been set apart. A lady told me how she was having her best year in her career. She works in some kind of sales and her whole industry in general was down. They were going through a transition. Her co workers were struggling, her competitors were way down. But she said, it seems like every time I turn around, a new account is finding me. She told how three or four times she was at the right place at the right time. Unexpectedly, business dropped into her lap. She made the statement, joel, I'm supposed to go out and find new customers. But it's like new customers are always finding me. Psalm 37 says, Even in famine, the righteous will have more than enough. Even in a downtime, because she's the righteous, because she has this distinction, she see an increase in favor. Here's the key. As long as you stay close to God, as long as you keep him first place, you are connected to a supply line that will never run dry.
- [12:17]
Victoria Osteen
Even in a slow economy, God will.
- [12:19]
Joel Osteen
Cause clients to find you. Even when the medical report says no way, you are connected to a supply line filled with health, wholeness, restoration. When you don't see how you could accomplish your dreams, don't get discouraged. You have a supply line connected with good breaks, the right people, ideas, creativity. I have friends that live in another state and they were trying to sell their home. But the housing market in their area was very depressed. A large company had gone out of business and that's where many of the people worked and lived. Now there was a surplus of homes on the market. On their street alone, there were 12 houses for sale. The average time for a house to sell back then was a year and a half. Their realtor had already told them, don't be in a hurry. This is going to be a long, drawn out process. And the value could go down and down. In the natural. It didn't look good. But instead of expecting the worst, thinking it would never sell, this young couple was bold enough to believe, like the Israelites, the that God had put a distinction on their property. Every morning they said, father, thank you. That you're causing our house to stand out. Thank you. That people are being drawn to it. Six weeks after they put it on the market, they received a contract and sold it. At closing, they were talking to the new owners. They told how they had looked at many different properties, even houses that were of better value in a better location. But they said, when we came to your house, there was just something different about it. We felt a peace. We knew it was supposed to be ours. What is that Distinctive favor, God causing it to stand out. I wonder what would happen if you would get up every morning and say, father, thank you that your face is shining down on me. Thank you that you put a distinction on my life. All the circumstances may say otherwise. You'll never get well, you'll never meet the right person. Your house is never going to sell. Don't believe those lies. You have to have a boldness, like this young couple, to believe that there's something different about you, that you have a right to be blessed. You have a right to see favor, not arrogantly, but in humility, knowing that because of who you are, a child of the most high, he has set you apart.
- [14:47]
Victoria Osteen
He's put favor on you that causes.
- [14:50]
Joel Osteen
You to stand out like the Israelites. God has put a distinction on your life, on your property, on your career. You have an advantage. If you'll get this down in your spirit, you'll start praying these bold prayers and believing for things that seem impossible. This is what my father did. He tried for many years to build a new sanctuary. But every time he tried to move forward, he felt an unrest, knew it wasn't the right time. 1986. Houston was in one of the greatest recessions our city had ever seen. Businesses were going bankrupt, people were struggling. My father had just been released from the hospital after having open heart surgery a few weeks before Christmas. It looked like the worst time to start any project, especially the worst time to try to raise funds. But deep down, he could hear God telling him to do it right. Then, thought God, that doesn't make sense. This is a downtime. People aren't going to have extra income. How can we possibly raise these funds? He heard God whisper, son, I want you to do it now so people will know it's me and not anybody else.
- [16:02]
Victoria Osteen
God likes to do unusual things in your life so that he will get the credit.
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Joel Osteen
A year and a half later, they dedicated that new $6 million auditorium totally debt free, even in a down economy. Even when critics said no way, the circumstances said it's not going to happen. God said, don't worry. It may be that way in the natural, but I'm a supernatural God.
- [16:26]
Victoria Osteen
I put a distinction on you that.
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Joel Osteen
Will cause you to defy the odds to have more than enough. Even in famine. In the scripture, Joseph went through a lot of bad breaks. He was betrayed by his brother, sold into slavery, put in prison for something that he didn't do for 13 years. You could say he was in a famine. He could have been bitter, negative God, why Did you let this happen to me? But Joseph understood this principle. Despite the opposition, he kept being his best. No matter how much people tried to push him down, he kept rising to the top. He worked for a man by the name of Potiphar. Joseph was so excellent in what he did. He had such a good attitude. Potiphar put him in charge of his household. The scripture says Potiphar noticed the Lord was with Joseph, giving him success in everything that he did. Potiphar saw the distinction. God wants to bless you in such a way where people notice. He wants to show out in your life where people say, you mean you sold your house in six weeks when it should have taken a year and a half? You mean all the orange groves froze but yours didn't? You mean you built the sanctuary in the middle of a recession, Joel? You mean your mother had terminal cancer in 1981, but she's still alive today?
- [17:49]
Victoria Osteen
You mean you're having church in the former compact center.
- [17:53]
Joel Osteen
That's what disturbed, instinctive favor does. Causes you to stand out. You may have seen some of this in the past, but you need to get ready. You haven't seen anything yet. God is about to do some things.
- [18:06]
Victoria Osteen
In your life that are going to make you notice.
- [18:10]
Joel Osteen
People are going to see it wasn't just your talent, your ability, your connections. It was the hand of God opening doors that no man can open, taking.
- [18:19]
Victoria Osteen
You where you could not go on your own.
- [18:22]
Joel Osteen
The scripture says God began to bless Potiphar for Joseph's sake. Because of the distinction on Joseph's life, people around him begin to get blessed. Your company should be glad to have you at work when you get there. The blessing gets there. When you show up, favor shows up. Some of your friends, relatives, co workers, they don't even know they're being blessed because of you. But what's interesting, Joseph was a slave. He didn't have a prestigious position. He's taking care of the house, doing repairs, mowing, cleaning. On the other hand, Potiphar, he was one of the highest ranking military officials of that day. People looked up to him, saluted him, did whatever he asked. You would think that Joseph would be blessed because of Potiphar's sake. It's just the opposite. What am I saying? The distinction God put on you is more powerful than positions, than titles, than education. When God's face is shining down on you, you'll not only rise higher, but it's so powerful that people even around you, will begin to get blessed. I know a man that used to do some consulting Work with us years ago, and we were a small client compared to who he worked for. He consulted for these big Fortune 500 companies and really impressive resume. We got to know each other and went out to lunch a couple of times. About a year in, he said, joel, ever since I started working for your ministry, my business has gone to a new level. He named client after client that he had picked up big impressive names. He turned to the associate standing next to us and he said, I like working for Joel. He brings me good luck. He called it luck. But I know it's the distinction God put on our life.
- [20:10]
Victoria Osteen
It's the favor he's placed on you and me.
- [20:14]
Joel Osteen
One time, Abraham moved to a new country with his family, his relatives, all his flocks and herds. And he found this beautiful piece of land. Luscious green pastures, peaceful ponds. It looked like a postcard. But in a few months, he realized the land couldn't sustain all the flocks and herds. He told his nephew Lot to choose where he wanted to live and Abraham would go somewhere else. Lot said he wanted to stay there. He chose the best part of the land. Abraham. Instead of arguing, he took the high road. He moved to a different part of the country. But this time, all he could find was a place that was dry and barren instead of lush, beautiful green pastures. Now it was like the desert. Rocks, sand, very little water in the natural. Abraham should have struggled, seen his crops dry up, his business go down to nothing. But it was just the opposite. It wasn't any time before his flocks and herds multiplied so much that that dry, barren land was turned to a beautiful oasis. In fact, the scripture talks about he had so much that he became one of the wealthiest men of that time. Like Abraham. Even if you're in the desert because of the distinction God put on you, you're still going to flourish. Your location doesn't determine the blessing. What God put on you determines the blessing. When he called you out, he marked you for favor. Wherever you go, the blessing goes. Now, you may not have the perfect job. People aren't treating you right. You're not getting the credit you deserve. That's okay. You're not working unto people. You're working unto God.
- [21:59]
Victoria Osteen
People don't determine your destiny. God does.
- [22:03]
Joel Osteen
Keep being your best. Honoring God. And like Joseph, God will cause you to be noticed. He'll cause you to stand out. Potiphar will come looking for you at the right time. God will either turn that around by promoting you, or he'll move you somewhere else. But the key is don't wait till you're out of the desert. Then you're going to have a good attitude. Then you're going to start being your best. There's something on you right now that will cause you to prosper in the middle of the desert. See, Lot wasn't making good decisions. He wasn't honoring God. He was blessed as long as Abraham was there. But when Abraham left, the blessing left. Lot's fields dried up. Lots of his flocks went down to nothing. He ended up leaving that place. Abraham had to go and rescue him. Like Lot. There are people God put in your life right now that are being blessed because of you. They may never realize it. They may never tell you thank you. Don't worry. God is keeping the records. Those are seeds that you're sowing.
- [23:08]
Victoria Osteen
He'll make sure you are blessed in a greater way.
- [23:12]
Joel Osteen
Back then, they would even pray to the God of Abraham. When they saw how blessed Abraham was, how he flourished even in the desert, they thought, if we can get to his God, maybe we'll be blessed. God wants to put such a distinction on you. He wants you to stand out in such a way that people want what you have. They say, I'm going to pray to the God of those people at Lakewood. I'm going to pray to the God of Robert, to the God of Susan, to the God of Maria. Look at her. She's so blessed. She's so faithful. She's so generous. She's so talented. If I can get to her God, I believe I can be blessed. I received an email from a lady named Ruby. One night after dinner, she and her husband George took out the leftovers, and they were playing with different recipes to make gumbo, trying different combinations, different spices, just having fun, seeing what they could create. They came up with a recipe they liked so much, they started selling it. Door to Door was a big hit. Everyone loved it. One night, they saw on television a commercial where this large grocery store chain was looking for contestants for a cooking competition. Whoever won would get to put their product up on the shelf. They sent their gumbo in, and out of 600 applications, they were notified that they made it to the top 25. They were so excited, they kept praying and believing. Few months later, they announced the grand prize winner. Unfortunately, it wasn't them. It was like the wind had been taken out of their sails. They attend Lakewood and I just spoken about how God strategically orchestrates our steps, how he doesn't always take us in sequence from A to B to C. Sometimes he'll take you two steps ahead, one steps back, and then five steps forward. The key is you have to trust him in those times where it feels like you're going the wrong direction. Several months later, Ruby was in our Wednesday night service when she received a phone call from her contact at that grocery store chain. She went out and answered it. They said, even though you didn't win, we like your gumbo so much, we still want to put it on our shelves. They were thrilled. They couldn't believe it. But part of this distinction is God wants to accelerate your dreams coming to pass. He's going to speed things up, make it happen faster than you thought. Two weeks ago, the store called back and said, you, gumbo is so great. We would like for you to create for us a whole food line and we'll help you get it started.
- [25:53]
Victoria Osteen
They went from one night playing in.
- [25:55]
Joel Osteen
Their kitchen with leftovers to less than a year later having the availability to have a food line in one of the largest grocery store chains around. Friends, God knows how to get you noticed. His face is shining down on you right now. He's put a distinction on your life, your property, your career, your children. It's going to cause you to stand out. It's going to open doors that you could never open. It's going to bring opportunity, the right people, good breaks. You're not doing life alone. You have the most powerful force in the universe breathing in your direction right now. You've been called out, set apart, chosen to live a distinctively favored life. Now do your part. Pray bold prayers. Take the limits off of God. Believe for your dreams. If you'll do this, I believe and declare God is going to show out.
- [26:51]
Victoria Osteen
In your life in amazing ways.
- [26:54]
Joel Osteen
Like Abraham, you will prosper in a desert. Like Joseph, he's going to cause you to be noticed. And like this last couple, it's going to happen faster than you think. In Jesus name, if you receive it.
- [27:07]
Victoria Osteen
Can you say Amen today?
- [27:10]
Joel Osteen
We never like to close our broadcast without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, lord Jesus, I'll repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and savior. Amen. Well, we believe if you prayed that simple prayer, you got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. He's going to take you places that you've never dreamed.
- [27:41]
Ministry Announcer
What if every plan you set, every habit you formed and every decision you made became a pathway to see God move in your life?
- [27:52]
Joel Osteen
We all have hopes and dreams Things we're believing for when you start the year in faith expecting God's goodness and you are setting the tone for a.
- [28:01]
Blessed new year and we'd love to.
- [28:03]
Send you our 2026 faith for today Planner. You can write down your dreams and goals and plus use it for your everyday activities and reminders.
- [28:12]
Victoria Osteen
It's important to feed your faith on a daily basis. This planner. It's not just a calendar. It's filled with scriptures and inspiration to help you stay encouraged and keep believing for what God has put in your heart.
- [28:24]
Joel Osteen
2026 is your year to see the goodness of God in greater ways, let go of what didn't work out and get ready new things God has in store.
- [28:34]
Ministry Announcer
As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount this month we would like to send you a copy of the 2026 Faith for Today Planner. A fresh theme of encouragement. A guiding scripture to stand on. Room to write your goals, prayers and vision. Space for faith steps because faith isn't passive, it's active. A monthly QR code linking to a message or video to keep your spirit lifted. With the 2026 faith for today Planner, you'll be reminded that living by faith makes room for God to do what only he can do. Breakthrough in your business. God's healing touch Loved ones returning to faith. Request your copy of the planner and step into the new year with bold faith, fresh hope and daily encouragement to strengthen your spirit and face every challenge with confidence.
- [29:29]
Joel Osteen
No matter what's happening around you, faith can rise up in you. Keep believing and expecting a blessed 2026. Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day.
- [29:40]
Thank you so much for your prayer and support.
- [29:43]
Your generosity is helping people around the world. As we finish this year, I hope you'll consider making a special year end gift to help keep the ministry strong. We so appreciate all the Champion of.
- [29:55]
Hope partners for your monthly support.
- [29:58]
We wish you and your family a very merry Christmas till we see you next time. May the Lord bless you and keep you.
- [30:05]
Ministry Announcer
Be sure to request your copy of the 2026 Faith for Today Planner, visit jolostein.com or call 888-567-Joel for a special year end gift. This month we are also offering the Faith to Share Bundle Keep one Give one Give the gift of faith, focus and fresh hope for someone special in your life. You can also request the God's Word Work Study Collection. This empowering collection includes the niv the Message Parallel Bible, a beautifully crafted leather bookmark and pen and how to read your Bible and enjoy it. Along with two planners, 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. Stay organized, encouraged and full of faith all year long. Request these resources today.
- [31:10]
Ted Danson
Sa.
- [31:43]
VRBO Announcer
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- [32:13]
Ted Danson
Everybody, Ted Danson here to tell you about my podcast with my longtime friend and sometimes co host Woody Harrelson. It's called Where Everybody Knows yous Name and we're back for another season. I'm so excited to be joined this season by friends like John Mulaney, David Spade, Sarah Silverman, Ed Helms, and many more. You don't want to miss it. Listen to Everybody knows your name with me, Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson sometimes.
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DSW Announcer
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Nordstrom Rack / DSW Announcer
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