Podcast Summary: Stir It Up | Joel Osteen Podcast

Host: Joel Osteen (with mentions of Victoria Osteen)
Date: December 30, 2025

Overview

In the episode “Stir It Up,” Joel Osteen encourages listeners to reignite their passions, dreams, and faith. Using the metaphor of stirring embers under ashes to rekindle a fire, Joel delivers a hopeful, energizing message about not settling for disappointment or apathy. He emphasizes that everyone has seeds of greatness inside that can be fan into flame, regardless of past struggles or setbacks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fireplace Metaphor: Rekindling Dreams

• [02:00] Joel opens with a story from his childhood about reviving a dying fire by stirring up hidden embers under the ashes.
• Insight: Dreams, gifts, and passions may be buried by setbacks, disappointments, or mistakes, but they’re never truly extinguished.
• Key Quote:

  “Underneath those ashes, there are embers that are still alive. You may not be able to see them. They're buried under disappointments, under delays, people that did you wrong, mistakes that you’ve made. But somewhere underneath all those ashes, a flame is still burning. All you have to do is stir it up, stir up your dreams, stir up your creativity, stir up your gifts.” — Joel Osteen [03:35]

2. God’s Plan and Unstoppable Purpose

• [05:15] Joel reassures listeners that nothing—not depression, loss, loneliness, or people—can put out the fire or stop God’s purpose for their lives.
• Key Insight:
  • The enemy’s goal is not to extinguish your fire, but to convince you to live without passion.
  • Scriptural Reference: Jeremiah: “Your word, O Lord, is like fire shut up in my bones.”

3. The Importance of Staying Stirred Up

• [06:45] Joel warns against passivity and routine, urging listeners to actively fuel their dreams with daily enthusiasm and expectation.
• Key Quote:

  “This is not going to happen automatically… You can either believe those lies and drag through the day, or you can make a decision like David: ‘This is another day that the Lord has made. I’m going to rejoice, I’m going to be glad.’” — Joel Osteen [07:42]

4. Biblical Examples — David and Sarah

• [08:20]
  • David: Despite adversity, he stirred up his own faith and joy, which enabled him to overcome.
    • “You know who sees dreams come to pass? Stirred up people.” — Joel Osteen [08:46]
    • David ran toward Goliath with passion, not fear.

      "When you live stirred up, you don't run from your enemies. You run to your enemies." — Joel Osteen [10:00]

  • Sarah: Even in old age and barrenness, God saw greatness in her and fulfilled promises she thought were out of reach.
    • “There are kings in you. There are things that you don't see coming… It's not too late. You didn’t miss your chance.” — Joel Osteen [23:15]

5. Personal Stories: Joel’s Journey and Listener Testimony

• [11:25] Joel shares about taking over Lakewood Church after his father’s passing. Initially intimidated, he chose to stir up courage and confidence, which led him further than he imagined.
• [20:05] Joel recounts a listener’s journey from homelessness and illness to becoming a university vice president, emphasizing that “nobody would have believed that those gifts were in her.”
  • Key Quote:

    “Don’t judge your future based on where you are right now… You wouldn’t be alive unless God had something amazing up in front of you.” — Joel Osteen [22:05]

6. Practical Application: How to Stir It Up

• Speak Life: Declare God's promises over yourself, even if discouraged.
• Pray Boldly:

  “When you pray a stirred up prayer, a passionate prayer, a bold prayer, that makes tremendous power available.” — [27:15]

• Choose Enthusiasm: Decide daily to be passionate, regardless of feelings or circumstances.
• Grow Your Circle: Surround yourself with people who are positive and help stir up your faith.
  • “Your time is too valuable to spend it with negative people. People that have no vision, no passion. You need to be around people that help you stay stirred up.” — Joel Osteen [25:50]

7. Scripture-Backed Encouragements

• Romans: “Never lag in zeal. Be aglow, constantly burning with the spirit.” [15:55]
• James: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person makes tremendous power available.” [28:00]
• Message to Listeners: The choice to stir it up leads to breakthroughs, new opportunities, and the fullness of destiny.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What God put in you didn’t go out.” — Joel Osteen [03:40]
• “The enemy can’t put your fire out. Depression can’t put your fire out. Loss, loneliness, bad breaks, can’t put it out.” — Joel Osteen [04:45]
• “You and God are a majority. He’s breathing in your direction right now.” — Joel Osteen [25:30]
• “If you will start stirring it up, living with passion, you are going to see God show out in your life.” — Joel Osteen [24:00]
• “I'm asking you to stir it up. Stir up what you’re praying about. Stir up your dreams. Stir up your gifts.” — Joel Osteen [28:40]

Important Timestamps

• [02:00] — Introduction of the stirring metaphor
• [06:45] — Encouragement against passivity
• [08:20] — David's example and bold facing of Goliath
• [11:25] — Joel’s personal story of taking leadership
• [20:05] — Listener testimony of transformation
• [23:15] — Sarah’s story — promises fulfilled against all odds
• [25:50] — Importance of positive associations
• [28:00] — Power of fervent, energetic prayer
• [28:40] — Closing declarations and challenge to listeners

Conclusion & Call to Action

• Joel passionately closes by challenging listeners:
  • Stir up dormant dreams and gifts.
  • Offer fervent, faith-filled prayers.
  • Refuse to settle or believe the discouragement of circumstances or others.
  • Trust that new opportunities, healing, and abundance are in store, regardless of the past.
• Final Blessing:

  “Like Sarah, greatness is going to come out of you. New doors are about to open. Negative situations are turning around. Healing, breakthroughs, favor, the fullness of your destiny in Jesus name and if you receive it, can you say Amen?” — Joel Osteen [29:00]

This episode provides uplifting, practical encouragement for anyone feeling discouraged or stuck, with a heartfelt reminder that there is greatness to be stirred up within us all.