Episode Summary: “Praising Your Way To Victory” | Joel Osteen Podcast
Host: Joel Osteen
Date: September 18, 2025
Brief Overview
In this uplifting episode, Joel Osteen focuses on the transformative power of praise amid life’s challenges. Drawing on biblical stories, personal testimonies, and energetic encouragement, Joel explains how offering praise—especially when circumstances seem bleak—can usher in breakthroughs and victories. The message is about shifting from complaint to praise, actively engaging faith through gratitude, and preparing one’s life for God’s blessings.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Principle of Praising Ahead of the Victory
(01:48 – 08:42)
- Life presents obstacles, setbacks, and unfulfilled dreams. The natural temptation is to complain or wait to feel better before expressing gratitude.
- True faith requires praising God first, even when circumstances don’t warrant it.
- “That’s not how faith works. You’ve got to give God praise, and then the breakthrough will come. You’ve got to cheer up first, then things will change in your favor.” (03:16, Joel Osteen)
- Praise is an act of faith and a declaration that God is greater than our problems, activating spiritual breakthroughs.
2. The Example of Jonah—From Complaints to the Sacrifice of Praise
(05:52 – 08:42)
- Jonah’s story in the belly of the whale serves as a metaphor for feeling trapped.
- Initially, Jonah voices only complaints. But in verse nine, he chooses to offer the "sacrifice of praise."
- This shift leads to deliverance:
- “Instead of complaining, he began to say, ‘Father, I thank you that you’re bigger than this difficulty... I’m not going to magnify my problem. I’m going to magnify my God.’ The next verse says that the whale spit him out onto dry ground.” (07:34, Joel Osteen)
3. Praise as a Sacrifice and a Deep Act of Faith
(08:43 – 13:10)
- Sometimes, praising God is a true “sacrifice” because the circumstances are painful.
- Offering praise from a place of pain or disappointment captures God's attention.
- “Nothing gets God’s attention any more than when you should be discouraged in the natural…but instead you have a song of praise.” (10:35, Joel Osteen)
- Behind the scenes, God is working even though there are no visible signs yet.
4. The Story of Paul and Silas: Praising in Prison
(13:11 – 15:50)
- Paul and Silas, wrongly imprisoned and beaten, chose to praise at midnight instead of giving in to despair.
- Their praise led to an earthquake, the opening of prison doors, and their release.
- “If you’re going to live in victory, you have to know how to praise in pain, praise when you’re disappointed, praise when you’re lonely.” (13:31, Joel Osteen)
- The message: Don’t just praise on the mountaintop; praise in the valley too.
5. Freddy’s Testimony: Praising Through Tragedy
(15:51 – 19:14)
- Joel shares about Freddie Lamb, a Lakewood member who lost his legs in an accident but maintained his joyful, praiseful spirit.
- Even in the hospital, recently amputated, Freddie said:
- “Look, pastors, I can still give God praise today.” (17:28, Freddie Lamb, recounted by Joel Osteen)
- Because Freddie chose praise over bitterness, his story became a testament that “you can’t keep a praiser down.”
6. Digging Deeper: Going Beyond Discouragement
(19:15 – 21:39)
- Joel compares dry seasons in life to explorers who gave up digging for water inches before finding it.
- “You just have to dig down a little bit deeper. If you will shake off the self pity, shake off what didn’t work out…and turn up your praise, you’ll discover you can praise your way to victory.” (20:16, Joel Osteen)
- Even when provision seems impossible, persistent praise is “digging ditches” to prepare for God’s outpouring.
7. The Power of High Praise and Collective Breakthroughs
(21:40 – 27:01)
- Psalm 149: When God’s people have the “high praises” in their mouths, He goes to war on their behalf.
- Story of Joshua and Jericho: Jericho’s walls came down after the shout of praise, not before.
- “The shout is what activates God’s power... I believe there are some walls that will not come down without the high praises of God coming out of your mouth.” (23:57, Joel Osteen)
- Real victory often requires vocal, enthusiastic praise in the face of obstacles.
8. Praise as the Birth Position for God’s Promises
(27:02 – 28:47)
- Referencing Isaiah 54:1, Joel asserts that praise is the posture that births unfulfilled promises.
- “Praise is the birth position. When you’re thankful, when you have a song in your heart, when you go around talking about God’s goodness, you are putting yourself in position to give birth to that promise.” (27:34, Joel Osteen)
- Even when dreams are delayed, praise moves you closer to their realization.
9. Scriptural and Historical Examples: Praising Before the Rain
(28:48 – 29:26)
- 2 Kings 3: During a drought, God’s people had to dig ditches in faith before the rain came.
- “The way we dig ditches, so to speak…is by giving God praise. Every time you say, ‘Father, thank you that I’m blessed,’ you are digging a ditch. You’re making preparation for the blessings that will follow.” (29:02, Joel Osteen)
10. Hezekiah: Praise Can Change the Outcome
(29:27 – 31:07)
- King Hezekiah, told by Isaiah that he would die, first relied on merit, then switched to praise.
- This shift caused God to change His decree and add years to Hezekiah’s life.
- “Your praise can even change God’s mind.” (30:01, Joel Osteen)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Praise always precedes the victory.” (03:25, Joel Osteen)
- “Sometimes what we call prayer is really just a complaining session. We're just telling God everything that's wrong. Like God doesn't already know.” (04:56, Joel Osteen)
- “You can praise your way to victory. When you praise, the Creator of the universe can cause that fish that swallowed you…to not only spit you out, but to spit you out on dry ground.” (07:58, Joel Osteen)
- “Sacrifice means that it cost you something. God, I’m hurting, but I give you praise…” (10:48, Joel Osteen)
- “You can’t keep a praiser down.” (18:37, Joel Osteen)
- “If you will dig the ditches, God will bring the rain.” (29:06, Joel Osteen)
- “Praise is more than just singing a song. It’s more than just something we do on Sundays. Praise is an attitude.” (29:56, Joel Osteen)
- “Our attitude should be no rocks are going to have to cry out for me. I’m going to sing for joy. I’m going to shout unto God. I’m going to have the high praises coming out of my mouth.” (30:33, Joel Osteen)
Major Takeaways
- Praise is a spiritual discipline that positions believers for breakthroughs—often before any visible change appears.
- Complaining and waiting for conditions to improve limits what God can do; praise in adversity unleashes God’s intervention.
- Every act of praise, especially in tough times, is like digging a ditch in faith—preparing for God’s blessings to flow.
- Memorable stories (Jonah, Paul and Silas, Freddie Lamb, Joshua at Jericho, Hezekiah) illustrate real-life and Biblical examples of this principle in action.
Important Timestamps
- 01:48 – Joel introduces the main theme: praising your way to victory
- 03:16 – Praise before the breakthrough; praise is faith
- 07:34 – Jonah’s turning point: shifting from complaints to the sacrifice of praise
- 10:35 – The concept and power of sacrificial praise
- 13:31 – Paul and Silas illustrate praising in pain
- 17:28 – Freddie Lamb’s testimony of joy despite tragedy
- 20:16 – “Digging deeper” despite discouragement; analogy of explorers
- 23:57 – “The shout is what activates God’s power”; Joshua and Jericho
- 27:34 – “Praise is the birth position”—praise precedes the promise
- 29:02 – Digging ditches of praise before blessing comes
- 30:01 – Hezekiah’s praise changes God’s mind
- 30:33 – “No rocks are going to have to cry out for me…”
Tone & Language
Joel’s tone remains consistently encouraging, enthusiastic, and practical. He uses relatable humor, memorable analogies, and direct motivational calls to action, addressing listeners as “you” and referring often to real-life scenarios.
Conclusion
Joel Osteen’s “Praising Your Way to Victory” challenges listeners to shift their mindset: from complaint to gratitude, from passivity to faith-filled praise, even (and especially) when circumstances look dire. Through biblical illustration and personal testimony, Joel demonstrates that praise is not just a response to victory but the catalyst that often brings it about.
For more inspiration, visit Joel Osteen’s website or attend a Lakewood Church service in Houston, TX, or online.