Saying Yes To God | Victoria Osteen

Summary

Podcast Summary: Joel Osteen Podcast

Episode: Saying Yes To God | Victoria Osteen
Host: Joel & Victoria Osteen
Date: July 18, 2026

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Main Theme

This episode, led by Victoria Osteen, centers on the notion of embracing God’s calling despite personal insecurities or perceived limitations. Drawing upon the story of Moses, Victoria encourages listeners to move from “I can’t” to “I can” by trusting in God’s promises, stepping out in faith, and allowing God to equip them for their unique destinies.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Challenge of Saying Yes to God (02:10)

• Victoria opens by acknowledging that many people struggle to say yes to God due to fear, feelings of inadequacy, or overwhelming obstacles.
• She reassures the audience that even biblical figures like Moses experienced these same doubts at first.

2. Moses’ Journey from “I Can’t” to “I Can” (02:53)

• Victoria tells the story of Moses’ calling at the burning bush:

  “The first words out of Moses' mouth was, ‘I can't. I can't.’ ...he backed up and began to make excuses of why he was not the man that God…thinks he was.” (03:33)

• Moses’ doubts were rooted in his past, his stutter, and his fear that people wouldn’t believe him.
• God’s reassurance came in the form of a promise and a reminder of divine creation:

  “Who made your mouth?...You're not man made. You're God made. Nobody on earth created you. You may have come through them, but I created you.” (04:04)

3. God’s Response to Our Insecurities (05:00)

• God did not dismiss Moses’ fears but met them with guidance and encouragement:

  “He instructed him with a promise. You go, and I'll take care of the rest. You go and I will help you with these insecurities...I will lead you and I will teach you.” (05:27)

• The lesson is that God is not looking for perfection but for willingness.

4. Turning “I Can’t” into “I Can” (06:00)

• Victoria asserts that God’s power enables us to transform our limitations:

  “God is an I can God, and he turned Moses’ ‘I can’t’ that day into an ‘I can.’” (06:12)

• She links this to the New Testament, quoting Paul’s affirmation:

  “In Philippians, Paul says, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’” (07:12)

5. Personal Application: Becoming “I Can” People (07:20)

• Victoria encourages listeners to recognize and claim their potential:

  “You are a great leader today. You have everything that you need to accomplish what God is calling you to do.” (07:37)

• She offers practical affirmations:

  “Get up in the morning and say, ‘I can. I can break this addiction. I can have good relationships. I can be successful. I can be a good mom. I can get through this pandemic with joy and victory. I can come out of this thing better than I ever thought I could.” (07:50)

6. Biblical Examples of “I Can’t” Turned to “I Can” (08:20)

• Citing other biblical figures—Gideon, Jonah, Peter—she emphasizes that most heroes of faith initially felt inadequate, but God’s power made the difference:

  “Moses couldn’t. Gideon couldn’t. Jonah couldn’t. Peter couldn’t. Listen, you can because God did. He did. And he wants to do it through you today.” (08:32)

7. A Prayer for Courage and Faith (09:10)

• Victoria leads a prayer for listeners struggling with doubt, inviting them to receive God’s confidence:

  “Father, I thank you right now that you are our God. We are not man made, but we are God made. ...Father, you promised that we could make crooked places straight and rough places smooth. With you, Father, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We let go of the ‘I can't’ and we receive the great ‘I can.’” (09:31)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You’re not man made. You’re God made.” (04:04)
  — Victoria emphasizes true identity as designed by God, not shaped by limitations or past.

• “God is an I can God, and He wants us to be I can people.” (06:12)
  — Summing up the core message.

• “I can is a God phrase that we all need to apply to our life every single day.” (07:17)
  — Encouragement for daily practice.

• “Father, you promised that we could make crooked places straight and rough places smooth. With you, Father, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” (09:44)
  — Key portion of the concluding prayer.

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Important Timestamps

• 02:10 — Introduction & connection to Moses’ story
• 03:33 — Moses’ initial objection & fears
• 04:04 — God’s affirmation of Moses
• 05:27 — God’s promise to lead and teach Moses
• 06:12 — Turning “I can’t” into “I can”; God’s power at work
• 07:12 — The power of affirming “I can” from Philippians
• 08:32 — Listing biblical figures who felt inadequate
• 09:10 - 10:35 — Guided prayer for listeners

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Summary

In this uplifting episode, Victoria Osteen uses the story of Moses to illustrate that God meets us in our fears and insecurities and calls us, not because of our strength, but because of His. She encourages listeners to let go of limiting beliefs, embrace the “I can” attitude empowered by God’s promises, and courageously step into their destinies. The episode closes with a prayer, inviting everyone to believe, “With God, I can.”

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Transcript

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[Narrator]

He clears on goal.

[Joel Osteen]

He shoots.

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[Joel Osteen]

Hey, thanks again for being with us today. Always my honor to be able to share God's word with you and hopefully inspire you. If you're enjoying the podcast, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Pass it along. Let's inspire some other people as well, but know that we love you. It's going to be a blessed day for you.

[Narrator]

Have you ever had something in your heart that you wanted to do? Maybe God asked you to do something, but it just seemed difficult. It seems like when you see the finished product, there's just too many obstacles in the way. Have you ever wanted to say yes, but you just can't seem to find the courage and the bravery to do so? Let me remind you of a man named Moses. We all know Moses. He led the children out of captivity. He held up his rod and he parted the Red Sea. So thousands of people could walk through on dry ground. As he led them, there was no water in the wilderness. And he struck a rock and was able to quench their thirst. We've all seen the Ten Commandments. How he stood on Mount Sinai with the tablets of God that were declaring God's law to his people. You see, Moses was a fierce leader. He was a man that was committed to God. See, we look at him and we see mighty exploits in the life of Moses. But do you know, Moses didn't start out that way. In fact, when he journeyed and met God the first time. And God spoke to him and let him know, I am God and I have an assignment for you. And he began to tell Moses what he wanted him to do. The first words out of Moses mouth was, I can't. I can't. You see, God was directly telling Moses through a burning bush what he was supposed to do. But he backed up and began to make excuses of why he was not the man that God. The man that God thinks he was. Why he stuttered, how he stuttered and how people wouldn't believe him. I'm sure he thought, my past in Egypt is not good. I can't go back there. Do you know what God said to Moses? He says, moses, as he was talking up a storm, who made your mouth? You see, God was saying, moses, I want to remind you of something. You're not man made. You're God made. Nobody on earth created you. You may have come through them, but I created you. And I knew you from birth. And I knew what I put in you. He was saying, moses, I've equipped you with everything you need. Moses continued to make excuse after excuse. And you know, God didn't dismiss those excuses. The fact that Moses had some weaknesses in the natural. The fact that Moses was afraid. You know, I believe God. God knows those insecurities. But listen. He met Moses with these words, this promise. He said, moses, now go. I will lead you and I will teach you. You see, he instructed him with a promise. You go, and I'll take care of the rest. You go and I will help you with these insecurities. I will give you the resources. I will make you strong. I will cause the people to listen to you. I will cause Pharaoh to bow when you come. You go. You know, God is an I can God. And he turned Moses I can't that day into an I can. And Moses went. And Moses went, became the man God intended him to be. And because of Moses, generations were changed forever. We were changed forever because Moses took the promise and the word of God and he applied it to his life. You see, God wants to turn our can't into an I can. If you're facing an obstacle today that seems insurmountable, maybe there's some habits that you need to break. Maybe God has spoken something to you, but you can't even believe it. You can't see how it can happen. God is saying to you what he said to Moses. Go, and I will teach you. Go, and I will show you. I will lead you. You see, oftentimes we run into these opportunities or these obstacles, and all we can see is the finished product. We don't realize God's already given us today exactly what we need. But it's that first step that we have to take. It's that go. And that believing in his word that he is there. God is an I can God, and he wants us to be I can people. I can is a powerful, powerful phrase. It comes straight from the word of God. In Philippians, Paul says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. See, I can makes a huge difference in your life. Paul knew that he could because he was connected to the power source. See, it's not about Moses. It's not about Paul. It's all about God and what he wants to do through you. You are a great leader today. You have everything that you need to accomplish what God is calling you to do. You may have a desire in your heart. Listen, I want you to get up in the morning and say, I can. I can break this addiction. I can have good relationships. I can be successful. I can be a good mom. I can get through this pandemic with joy and victory. I can come out of this thing better that I ever thought I could. I can is a God phrase that we all need to apply to our life every single day. You know, if you feel weak, if you feel like you can't do things that God's called you to do, you're in good company. Moses couldn't. Gideon couldn't. Jonah couldn't. Peter couldn't. Listen, you can because God did. He did. And he wants to do it through you today. He's a powerful God. He's a loving God. But I can needs to be your phrase. You gotta let go of the I can'ts to take hold of the I cans. I want to pray with you today. If You've ever felt that way. If you want to go to a new level, if you say, God, this is my time, this is my year to step out and go, I'm going to lean on you today, God, knowing that you promised me, the same way you promised Moses, that you would go with me, that you will lead me and you will guide me. Lift your hand and let's just receive from heaven. Father, I thank you right now that you are our God. We are not man made, but we are God made. And we are becoming everything that you've called us to be. Father, our insecurities, our fear does not phase you because you always meet us with a promise of confidence. So, Father, we declare today that we're going to take hold of that I can. We are going to know that we're going to stay connected to the power source. And Father, just like Moses, we do have something in our hand today. We have the rod of God, the word of God. We can hold it up and part red seas in our life. We can walk through on dry ground. Father, you promised that we could make crooked places straight and rough places smooth. With you, Father, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. We let go of the I can't. And we receive the great I can. And it's in Jesus name we pray. And everyone said, amen. God bless you.

[Sports Announcer]

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[Narrator]

He clears on goal.

[Sports Announcer]

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[Joel Osteen]

it's easy in life to wear labels. Mistakes we've made, what people have said disappointments we face. Those labels can diminish our sense of value and cause us to forget who we really are. Have a new book called Made by God. Know it, receive it and live it. It'll help you see yourself the way God sees you. Valuable, talented, Worthy. A masterpiece. You've been fearfully and wonderfully made. I'd love to send you my new book plus the Made by God T shirt from our good friends at Copperfield. When you know who you are and whose you are, a child of the most high, you can live with confidence and step into who you were created to be.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount this month we would like to send you a copy of Joel's brand new book Made by God. Know it, receive it, live it. You were not made by your mistakes. You were not made by what people said. You are not made by your heart. Hardest season. You were made by God on purpose, with purpose, and nothing can change that. This powerful book will help you silence the labels life has put on you and finally see yourself the way God sees you. Valuable, Talented. A masterpiece. And when you request your copy, we also want to send you the exclusive Made by God T shirt from our friends at Copperfit. A daily reminder you can wear as a declaration of who you are and whose you are. Set down what was never yours to carry. Request your copy today.

[Joel Osteen]

You are not your past. You are not labels life has put on you. You were made by God on purpose, for a purpose, and nothing can change your value. Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day, believing you're going to have a blessed thank you so much for your prayer and support. Your generosity helps us take this message of hope to people around the world. A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for all you do to make the ministry possible. Until we meet again. May the Lord bless you and keep you.

[Jonathan Goldstein]

Be sure to request your copy of Made By God plus your exclusive copperfit Made by God t available this month month by visiting [e-mail] or call 888-567 Joel with an additional gift. You can also receive the complete Made by God Designed with Purpose collection featuring the Made by God Tee, the Designed with Purpose hat and the Made by God tote. Each piece is more than something you wear or carry. It is a declaration, a statement of faith, a daily reminder that your life is not random. God has a plan for you. Wherever your day takes you, you will carry a message that speaks life not only over yourself, but to everyone around you. 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.

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[Joel Osteen]

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