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Joel Osteen
Hi, this is Joel in Victoria. Thanks so much for listening to the podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. We believe you're going to have an awesome 2024 healthy, productive and favor filled. God bless you today and enjoy the message.
Victoria Osteen
Well, God bless you. It's always a joy to come into.
Joel Osteen
Your homes and if you're ever in.
Victoria Osteen
Our area, please stop by and be.
Joel Osteen
A part of one of our services. I promise you we'll make you feel right at home. Thanks so much for tuning in and thank you again for coming out today. I'd like to start with something funny. This was sent to me from an attorney.
Victoria Osteen
I heard about these two men, the.
Joel Osteen
Pope and a lawyer. They died on the same day. St. Peter met them at the pearly gates, said, follow me men, I'll take you to your homes.
Victoria Osteen
Peter first dropped the Pope off at.
Joel Osteen
This small wood frame house, just one bed and one desk. He then took the lawyer to this magnificent house. It was huge, had a big swimming.
Victoria Osteen
Pool, a beautiful view out back.
Joel Osteen
The lawyer was overwhelmed. He said, St. Peter, what did I do to manage to get this magnificent place when the Pope only got that small place Peter said we have dozens of popes. You're the first lawyer.
Victoria Osteen
Hold up your Bible. 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.
Joel Osteen
I will never be the same. In Jesus name.
Victoria Osteen
God bless you.
Joel Osteen
I want to talk to you today about finishing grace. It doesn't take a lot of effort to start things. Start a diet, start school, start a family. Starting is easy. Fast finishing is what can be difficult. Any young lady can have a baby, but it takes a mother to really raise that child. Any two people can get married, but it takes commitment to stick with it for the long haul. Anyone can have a dream, but it takes determination, perseverance, a made up mind to see it come to pass. The question is not will you start? But will you finish? Will you finish the diet? Will you finish school? Will you finish raising your children? Too many people start off good. They have big dreams. They're excited about their future. But along the way they have some setbacks. It's taken longer than they thought, somebody didn't do what they said. And over time they get discouraged. Think, well, what's the use? It's never going to work out. But God is called the author of and the finisher of our faith. He's not only given you the grace to start, he's given you the grace to finish. When you're tempted to get discouraged, give up on a dream, give up on a relationship, give up on a project. You have to remind yourself, I was not created to give up. I was not created to quit. I was created to finish. You got to shake off the discouragement, shake off the self pity, shake off what somebody said. If you will keep moving forward in faith, honoring God, you will come into a strength that you didn't have before. A force pushing you forward. That's finishing grace. That's God breathing in your direction, helping you to become who he created you to be. This grace is available, but you have to tap into it. It's not going to do us any good if we sit around in self pity thinking about how difficult it is, what didn't work out. Well, Joel, my college professor, he's so hard, I'll never pass his course. No, you have the grace to finish. Quit talking defeat and start talking victory. I can do all things through Christ. I am full of wisdom, talent, creativity. I will pass this course. When you do that finishing grace Will help you do what you could not do on your own. Even in simple things. You start cleaning your house five minutes later. I don't feel like doing this.
Victoria Osteen
I am so tired. This is so boring. No, turn it around.
Joel Osteen
I am strong in the Lord. I am full of energy.
Victoria Osteen
I am healthy.
Joel Osteen
This is no match for me. If you'll tap into this finishing grace, you'll vacuum your house like you're on a mission from God.
Victoria Osteen
Vacuuming up dirt, coins, socks, children, anything.
Joel Osteen
That gets in your way. Maybe you're tempted to give up on a dream.
Victoria Osteen
Things haven't turned out the way you planned.
Joel Osteen
It was going fine at first, but.
Victoria Osteen
Then you had some obstacles and you.
Joel Osteen
Think, hey man, it just wasn't meant to be. Here's what I've learned. The enemy doesn't try to stop you from starting. He's seen a lot of people start. That doesn't bother him. But when you have a made up mind, you keep pushing forward, doing the right thing, taking new ground. When he sees you getting closer, he'll work overtime to try to keep you from finishing. When you have setbacks, disappointments, people come against you, a negative medical report, don't get discouraged. That's a sign that you're moving toward your finish line. He was fine when you got started. He was fine when you were way back. No big deal. But when you begin to make progress, that got his attention. That's when he threw some obstacles, some challenges. Where you confused him is he thought you would give up after the first few difficulties. He thought you would get discouraged when that friend turned on you, when you lost that client, when your child got in trouble. But instead you kept moving forward, thanking God that he's in control.
Victoria Osteen
Thank.
Joel Osteen
Thanking him that he's fighting your battles. Thanking him that no weapon formed against you will prosper. What were you doing? Tapping into finishing grace. When you should have gotten weaker, you got stronger. When you should have been depressed, you had a smile on your face.
Victoria Osteen
When you should have been complaining, you.
Joel Osteen
Had a song of praise.
Victoria Osteen
Instead of talking about how big the.
Joel Osteen
Problem was, you were always talking about how big your God is and when.
Victoria Osteen
You should have gone under. God caused you to go over. When you didn't see a way, he made a way. When people came against you, he fought.
Joel Osteen
Your battles and you came out better than you were before. Now you may be up against challenges right now. It's because you're moving forward, you're making progress. Keep reminding yourself he's the author and the finisher of your faith. God helped you to get started. That's great. But something more important is he's going to help you to finish. He didn't bring you this far to leave you. Says in Philippians, God began a good work in you, and he will continue to perform it until it's complete. One translation says, he will bring you to a flourishing finish. Not a defeated finish where you barely make it, beat up, broke. No, you are coming to a flourishing finish. A finish more rewarding than you ever imagined. This is what happened to a man in the scripture named Joseph. As a teenager, God gave him a dream that one day he would rule a nation. His father, Jacob, loved him very much. Everything started off great for Joseph. He had a big dream, a supportive family. Life was good. But along the way, things started to go wrong. His brothers, who loved him very much at one time. This was their little brother, Joseph. They were always taken up for him, making sure nobody harmed him. But these same brothers turned on him. They were jealous. They threw Joseph into a pit, left him there to die. They eventually changed their mind and sold him into slavery to a man named Potiphar. And here, Joseph hadn't really done anything wrong yet. His whole world had been turned upside down. Looked like his dream was done. Betrayed by his family, a slave in a foreign country. If that wasn't bad enough, they put him in prison for 13 years for something that he didn't do. Surely Joseph was depressed, angry, bitter, upset. Nothing had turned out right. No, Joseph understood this principle. He knew he he had the grace not only to start, but to finish what God put in his heart. He knew the enemy wouldn't be fighting him if he wasn't heading toward his destiny. So he stayed in faith. He kept doing the right thing when the wrong thing was happening. Not working unto people, but working unto God. One day, the Pharaoh, the leader of the nation, had a dream that he didn't understand. And Joseph was able to interpret the dream. And Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph, he brought him out of prison and put him in charge of the whole nation. Joseph's dream came to pass. God has put something on you that will override people being against you. It will override bad breaks, injustice. You have the grace not to just start. You have something even more powerful, the grace to finish. When you have an attitude like Joseph, you cannot stay defeated. Life may push you down, but God will push you back up.
Victoria Osteen
People may do you wrong, but God.
Joel Osteen
Will be your vindicator. Situations may look impossible, but God can do the impossible. When you have finishing grace, all the forces of Darkness cannot stop you. Sure, you may have some setbacks, bad breaks, injustice, but don't worry, it's only temporary. It's just a detour on the way to your destiny. That's a sign that you are moving toward your finish line. See, the enemy doesn't fight people that are going the wrong way, people that are off course, discouraged, distracted, bitter, angry. That's where he wants you. He comes against people that are headed toward the fullness of their destinies, people that are taking new ground, people like you that are coming into a flourishing finish. Our attitude should be, I have a made up mind. I'm going to keep moving forward. In spite of the bad break, in spite of the loss, in spite of the negative report, in spite of the critics. My destiny is too great, my assignment too important to get discouraged, distracted, bitter. I. I'm not going to become half, not three, four, not 90%. I'm going to become all God's created me to be. When you're tempted to get discouraged and settle, it's because you're close to your breakthrough. You're close to seeing the problem turn around. You're close to meeting the right person. Pharaoh is about to call you, so to speak. The good break is on the way. The healing is on the way. The contract is on the way. Now you've got to tap into this finishing grace. Friends, you've come too far to stop now. You believe too long. You've worked too hard. You've invested too much. It may be difficult. Negative voices may be telling you, hey, it's never going to work out. Forget it. Just settle where you are. Or don't believe those lies. You are close to your destiny. When the going gets tough, you have to dig your heels in and say, I am in it to win it.
Victoria Osteen
I am not moved by this opposition. I am not moved by what I see, by what I feel.
Joel Osteen
I'm moved by what I know. And I know this. I have the grace to finish. I know this. God began a good work in me and he's going to complete it. So I'm going to keep honoring God. I'm going to keep being good to people. I'm going to keep on being my best. Every day you do that, you are passing the test. You are one day closer to coming in to your finish line. The scripture says here in Deuteronomy, as your days are, so shall your strength be. This means your strength will always be equivalent. What you need. If you were to get a negative medical report, you're going to have the strength to deal with it. You're not going to fall apart.
Victoria Osteen
No.
Joel Osteen
I can't believe this is happening. No. Your strength will always match what you're up against. I remember when my father went to be with the Lord. My first thought was, how am I going to deal with this? My dad and I were very close. We had traveled the world together. And all of a sudden he was gone. But what I thought would be very devastating.
Victoria Osteen
Knock the wind out of me.
Joel Osteen
It wasn't anything like I'd imagined. I felt a peace like I'd never felt. A strength, a resolve, a determination. I should have been upset, anxious. But that whole time I was at peace. Deep down, I felt a rest. Sure, in my mind there were thoughts of worry, anxiety, discouragement. But in my spirit, I could hear God whispering, joel, I'm in control. It's all going to work out. I've got you in the palm of my hand. That was finishing grace, pushing me forward.
Victoria Osteen
Propelling me into my destiny.
Joel Osteen
The psalmist said, God is a very present help in times of need, in the difficulties of life. If you will get quiet, turn off the negative voices, you will feel a peace that passes, understanding. You should be falling apart, but there's grace for every season. Victoria and I were in Colorado earlier this year, driving through the mountains. We rented an suv, a large vehicle with an eight cylinder engine. As long as we were on the flat roads, the engine was as quiet as can be. But as we started going up the steep, winding mountain roads, just when you thought the vehicle couldn't make it, just when it looked like it was going to stop, you could hear those extra two cylinders kick in.
Victoria Osteen
You could actually feel the car, almost like it lifted up and took off.
Joel Osteen
With the new power. Here's my point. Those two extra cylinders were there all the time. The extra power was always available. It just showed up when we needed it. It was strength in reserve.
Victoria Osteen
Sometimes in life we think, how am.
Joel Osteen
I going to make it up that steep hill? I've gotten this far, but how am I going to deal with this illness? How am I going to raise this difficult child?
Victoria Osteen
I went through a loss, Joel. I don't think I can go on.
Joel Osteen
No. God has some strength in reserve for you. When you hit a tough time, don't worry. There are two more cylinders about to kick in, a strength you haven't tapped into. You're going to feel a force pushing you forward, taking you where you could not go on your own. That's finishing grace. And I've learned the closer you get to Your destiny. The tougher the battles become, the higher you go up the mountain, the more God promotes you, the steeper the hill is. The critics will come out of the woodwork. People may not celebrate you. Unexpected challenges, a health issue, a business slows down. You lose a loved one. It's easy to think, man, I was doing so good, if I just wouldn't have had this bad break. Now I've got this steep hill to go up. That challenge is a sign that you are close to your destiny. The same God that gave you the grace to start, same God that's going to help you finish. He knows exactly where your path is leading. Nothing you're facing is a surprise to him. He knows every hill, every disappointment, every setback. He said that his grace is sufficient. You will never come to a hill where you don't have the strength to climb it. Now you may face some challenges, like I did when my dad went to be with the Lord. Man, I don't know how I'm going to make it up this. The reason you think that way is you haven't needed those two extra cylinders yet. You have not felt the full force of finishing grace. When it kicks in, it's going to propel you forward. You're going to climb mountains that you thought were way too steep. You're going to overcome obstacles that looked insurmountable, accomplish dreams that you thought were impossible. How could you do this Finishing grace? You tapped into strength in reserve. This is what the Apostle Paul did in the scripture. He faced some huge hills. Didn't look like he could fulfill his destiny. He was doing the right thing, sharing the good news, helping other people. When he was arrested and put in prison, the closer he got to his destiny, the more obstacles he faced. He was alone in a dungeon on death row. It looked like God had forgotten about him. But Paul wasn't Defeated, depressed, feeling sorry for himself even though he was in chains, they couldn't stop what God wanted him to do. And since Paul couldn't go out and speak publicly, he thought, no problem. I'll start writing. He wrote book after book. Here's a letter to the Ephesians, Here's a letter to the Colossians, to the Romans, to the Corinthians. He wrote over half of the New Testament, much of it from a prison cell. They thought they were stopping him, but they were doing just the opposite, causing his voice to become amplified. Here we are, some 2,000 years later, still feeling Paul's influence. What they meant for harm God used.
Victoria Osteen
For good people may Try to stop you. But finishing grace will get you to.
Joel Osteen
Where you're supposed to be.
Victoria Osteen
They may push you down, but finishing.
Joel Osteen
Grace will lift you back up. They may try to discredit, belittle, leave you out. Don't get upset. They are a part of the plan to get you to your destiny. God will use them to propel you forward.
Victoria Osteen
As long as you stay in faith.
Joel Osteen
And keep honoring God, you will accomplish your assignment. He is the author and the finisher of your faith. Now quit focusing on who's against you, on how steep the hill is, on how impossible it looks. God has the final say. He brought Joseph out of prison. Paul stayed in prison. But they both fulfilled their destinies. If God doesn't turn it around way you thought, he may do, like Paul and cause you to have great influence right in the midst of your enemies. In the midst of those difficulties, you can shine, be a bright light, have God's favor. Bottom line is this. No person can stand against our God. No bad break can keep you from your destiny. God has given you finishing grace. He's going to get you to where you're supposed to be. When Paul came to the end of his life, he said, I have finished my course. One place says, I finished my course with joy. Notice he didn't finish. Defeated, depressed, sour. He finished with a smile on his face. He finished with a spring in his step. He finished with a song in his heart. That's what it means to have a flourishing finish. We all have things come against us. It's easy to lose our passion and drag through life. Discouraged, negative, bitter. But there is no victory if you finish your course that way. You have to make up your mind. I'm not only going to finish my course, I'm going to finish it with joy, with a good attitude, not complaining, but with a song of praise.
Victoria Osteen
Not thinking about what I don't have.
Joel Osteen
But thanking God for what I do have.
Victoria Osteen
Not looking at what's wrong in my life, but thanking God for what's right in my life.
Joel Osteen
When you tap into finishing grace, you.
Victoria Osteen
Won'T drag through the day.
Joel Osteen
You'll enjoy the day. Thousands of years ago in Greece, there was a famous race called the Torch race. All of the runners got a torch. At the start of the race, they would light the fire. Those runners would take off running with their torch lit. The only way you could win the race was to cross the finish line with your torch still lit. Even if you finished first. If your fire went out, you were disqualified. So the whole time they were Running on the forefront of their mind was protecting their fire, keeping it from wind, rain or anything that might put it out. They were constantly checking their torch to make sure that it was still lit. It's the same principle in the race of life. If you're going to finish your course with joy, you've got to guard your fire. You can't let your flame go out. Too many people have lost their passion. They're still running, but their torch is no longer lit. At one time, they were passionate about their dreams. They had some setbacks, now they're running. That's good. But they let their fire go out. They lost their zeal. If that's you, I've come to relight your fire. God is not done with you. You have not seen your best days.
Victoria Osteen
You've got to shake off the blobs, shake off the discouragement. There is a flame that is still.
Joel Osteen
Alive on the inside of you. The scripture talks about how we have to fan the flame, stir up the gifts. It's not enough to just finish. You've got to finish your course with your fire still burning. For as long as I can remember, my father struggled with high blood pressure. Toward the end of his life, he didn't feel well. The medicines made him dizzy. His kidneys quit working properly. He had to go on dialysis. We used to travel overseas a couple of times a year and he really looked forward to it. But when his health went downhill, he had to stay at home and take dialysis three times a week. He never wanted to live if he couldn't preach. Even though he didn't feel well, he never missed a Sunday. Victoria used to go pick him up and bring him to church a little bit late. Sometimes she'd call and say, joel, I'm not sure your dad can minister today. Doesn't seem like he feels well. I would run down from the TV department during the service when he arrived.
Victoria Osteen
Daddy, you sure you're up to this? He'd smile and say, yeah, Joel, I'm ready to go.
Joel Osteen
When he walked out on the platform, nobody knew he wasn't up to par. He still had a spring in his step, a smile on his face. He could have been at home, negative, complaining.
Victoria Osteen
God, I've served you all these years.
Joel Osteen
Look what it comes down to.
Victoria Osteen
I can hardly even minister.
Joel Osteen
No, he kept his fire burning. He guarded that flame.
Victoria Osteen
He was determined to not just finish his course, but to finish it with joy. 77 years old.
Joel Osteen
1 night he wasn't feeling well. He asked my brother in law, Gary, to come over and visit with him. They were talking about 2:00 in the morning. Gary asked him what he thought about the difficulties he was having.
Victoria Osteen
My father said, gary, I don't understand.
Joel Osteen
It all, but I know his mercy endures forever.
Victoria Osteen
Those were the last words Father ever spoke. Right then he breathed his final breath.
Joel Osteen
And went to be with the Lord. But think about those last words. He wasn't complaining. He was bragging on God's goodness, not.
Victoria Osteen
Magnifying his problem, but magnifying his God. He crossed the finish line with his.
Joel Osteen
Fire still burning, with his torch still lit. The scripture talks about how the saints of old died in faith. The truth is, one day, of course, we're all going to die. You have to make a decision. Are you going to die in faith or are you going to die negative, bitter, complaining, I can't believe this happened. No. Make up your mind that you're going to die full of joy, with your.
Victoria Osteen
Fire still burning, with your torch still lit. 1968.
Joel Osteen
The Olympic Games were held in Mexico City. During the marathon, a young runner from Tanzania fell and broke his leg. He was bloodied and bruised, but somehow managed to get up and continue running. Long after everyone else had finished, he entered the stadium for his final lap. Over 100,000 people were there earlier, but now, an hour or two later, only a few thousand people remained. The main lights were off, television cameras gone, the event was officially over. As he struggled into the stadium, headed toward that final lap, when the few thousand people saw him, they stood up and began to cheer him on. They cheered louder and louder, as if he was in first place. Drawing strength from the crowd, he began to smile and wave as if he was going to win the gold medal. It was a moving moment, later seen around the world. A reporter asked him afterwards, why didn't you drop out of the race when you broke your leg? Nobody would have faulted you for it. The young man from Tanzania said, my country didn't send me 7,000 miles to start the race, but to finish it.
Victoria Osteen
In the same way. God didn't breathe his life into you, crown you with favor, put seeds of.
Joel Osteen
Greatness on the inside to start the race. But he sent you to finish it. The scripture talks about how the race is not for the swift, nor for the strong, but for those who endure till the end.
Victoria Osteen
You don't have to finish first.
Joel Osteen
You're not competing with anybody else. Just finish your course, keep your fire burning.
Victoria Osteen
You weren't created to give up, to quit. We can all find a reason to to drop out of the race. We can all find some kind of.
Joel Osteen
Excuse, but you have to dig your heels in and say, I am determined to finish my course. If you will tap into this finishing grace, those two extra cylinders will kick in when you need it. You'll have a strength that you didn't have.
Victoria Osteen
Now I believe and declare like the.
Joel Osteen
Apostle Paul, you will finish your course with joy. You will complete your assignment and become everything God created you to be in Jesus name.
Victoria Osteen
If you receive it, can you say Amen today? We never like to close our broadcast.
Joel Osteen
Without giving you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life.
Victoria Osteen
Would you pray with me?
Joel Osteen
Just say Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. Friends, if you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again. Get in a good Bible based church. Keep God first place. He'll take you places that you've never dreamed of.
Victoria Osteen
It's a new year, an opportunity for a fresh start. It's a new year. Time to forget the struggles of the past and make room for new blessings. It's a new year. The perfect time to build expectation and faith for an amazing new season.
Joel Osteen
The beginning of the year is a great time to start afresh and anew, to let go of negative things of.
The past and to get ready for.
The new things God has in store. Every January we create a new devotional calendar. When you start off each day in faith, grateful for what God has done and making positive declarations over your future, you're setting the tone for a blessed day and a victorious year. This devotional calendar will help you get your mind going in the right direction so you can live in faith expecting the goodness of God.
Victoria Osteen
As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount this first month of the year we would like to send you a copy of our brand new 2025365 day devotional calendar. Using this devotional calendar is as easy as 1 2, 3 1. Wake up with an expectancy in your heart. 2. Reflect on the daily scripture verse and devotional from Joel. 3. Capture the Lord's promises to you on journaling lines for writing and reflection.
Joel Osteen
This is going to be one of your best years. Our 2025 devotional calendar is going to help you stay in faith and see the goodness of God in ways you've never seen. Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day and thank you so much for your prayer and support. Your generosity is impacting lives around the world and a special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for your monthly gifts. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. Remember, you can watch the services online live every Sunday morning, download our daily podcast, watch on YouTube now the new Joel Osteen network 24 hours a day, and of course, listen live on Sirius XM as well. But until we meet again, may the.
Lord bless you and keep you.
May he show you his favor and watch over you.
Victoria Osteen
Be sure to request your copy of the 2025 devotional calendar today. Visit Joel Osteen.com or call us toll free.
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Joel Osteen
Crushed it.
State Farm Agent
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Joel Osteen
Say, like a good neighbor, State Farm. He's there.
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Joel Osteen Podcast: "Finishing Grace" – Episode Summary
Episode Details:
In this inspiring episode of the Joel Osteen Podcast, Joel and Victoria Osteen delve into the profound concept of "Finishing Grace." They explore the importance of not just starting strong but also maintaining perseverance and faith to see endeavors through to completion. The discussion emphasizes overcoming setbacks and remaining steadfast in one's journey toward fulfilling God's purpose.
Joel Osteen opens the conversation by highlighting the ease of starting various aspects of life—be it a diet, education, family, or a dream. However, he points out that the real challenge lies in finishing what one begins.
Joel Osteen [03:08]: "It doesn't take a lot of effort to start things. Start a diet, start school, start a family. Starting is easy. But finishing is what can be difficult."
He emphasizes that while many begin with enthusiasm, unforeseen obstacles often lead to discouragement and abandonment of goals. Finishing Grace, according to Joel, is the divine assistance God provides to help individuals overcome these challenges and complete their intended path.
To illustrate the power of Finishing Grace, Joel recounts the biblical story of Joseph. From his joyful beginnings with a supportive family and grand dreams to his betrayal and imprisonment, Joseph's journey exemplifies unwavering faith and perseverance.
Joel Osteen [06:03]: "He had the grace not only to start, but to finish what God put in his heart."
Despite severe hardships, Joseph remained faithful, eventually rising to prominence in Egypt and fulfilling his destiny. This narrative serves as a testament to how God equips individuals with the strength to overcome adversity and achieve their divine purposes.
Joel and Victoria share personal stories that embody the essence of Finishing Grace. Joel speaks candidly about his father's battle with severe health issues and his own experience coping with his father's passing.
Joel Osteen [14:28]: "I felt a peace like I'd never felt. A strength, a resolve, a determination. I should have been upset, anxious. But that whole time I was at peace."
Victoria adds her perspective, emphasizing the importance of maintaining faith and gratitude even in the face of sorrow.
Victoria Osteen [24:57]: "He was determined to not just finish his course, but to finish it with joy."
These personal narratives underscore the transformative power of Finishing Grace in navigating life's most challenging moments.
Joel provides actionable advice on how listeners can tap into Finishing Grace:
Positive Declarations: Replace negative thoughts with affirmations of strength and faith.
Joel Osteen [05:47]: "I am strong in the Lord. I am full of energy."
Maintaining Passion: Guard one's inner fire to stay motivated and purposeful.
Joel Osteen [22:03]: "You'll enjoy the day."
Enduring Through Challenges: Recognize that obstacles are signs of progress toward one's destiny.
Joel Osteen [06:12]: "The enemy doesn't try to stop you from starting. He's seen a lot of people start. That doesn't bother him. But when you have a made up mind, you keep pushing forward..."
Faith Over Fear: Trust in God's plan and strength to overcome difficulties.
Joel Osteen [16:27]: "No. God has some strength in reserve for you."
Joel shares two powerful stories to further illustrate Finishing Grace:
The Tanzanian Marathon Runner: A runner pushes through immense pain to finish his race, symbolizing dedication and the fulfillment of purpose despite overwhelming odds.
Joel Osteen [26:17]: "My country didn't send me 7,000 miles to start the race, but to finish it."
Apostle Paul’s Resilience: Despite imprisonment and persecution, Paul remains steadfast, ultimately authoring a significant portion of the New Testament and leaving a lasting legacy.
Joel Osteen [19:41]: "He was doing the right thing, sharing the good news, helping other people. When he was arrested and put in prison... they thought they were stopping him, but they were doing just the opposite..."
These narratives serve as enduring examples of how unwavering faith and determination can lead to extraordinary outcomes.
Joel and Victoria conclude the episode by encouraging listeners to embrace Finishing Grace as a means to achieve a "flourishing finish." They stress the importance of maintaining one's inner fire, staying committed to one's goals, and trusting in God's unwavering support.
Joel Osteen [25:46]: "You have not seen your best days."
Victoria Osteen [27:56]: "You're not competing with anybody else. Just finish your course, keep your fire burning."
They invite listeners to make a heartfelt commitment to end their personal races with joy, gratitude, and unwavering faith, ensuring that every obstacle becomes a stepping stone toward their ultimate destiny.
As the episode wraps up, Joel and Victoria extend an invitation for listeners to deepen their faith journey, offering resources such as their devotional calendar to aid in daily spiritual growth. They encourage everyone to remain steadfast, finish their courses with grace, and embrace the abundant blessings that await.
Joel Osteen [28:34]: "If you receive it, can you say Amen today?"
Key Takeaways:
This episode serves as a motivational guide for anyone facing obstacles, reminding listeners that with Finishing Grace, they possess the necessary strength to overcome and achieve their God-given purposes.