Joel Osteen Podcast
Episode: "The Power Of I Am"
Date: September 25, 2025
Host: Joel Osteen
Theme: The transformative power of the words you use after "I am," and how your self-talk determines the shape of your destiny.
Episode Overview
Joel Osteen’s message in "The Power Of I Am" centers on the idea that the words you choose to follow “I am” with – such as “blessed,” “talented,” or “unlucky” – invite those very attributes into your life. Osteen discusses the biblical and practical significance of positive self-affirmation, encouraging listeners to adopt “right I ams” aligned with God’s vision for each person: abundance, strength, beauty, and purpose.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Importance of “I Am” Statements
- The episode opens with the principle that what follows “I am” shapes your reality.
- Joel observes most people naturally use negative “I am” statements (“I am clumsy,” “I am unlucky”), which bring more misfortune or mediocrity into their lives.
Quote:
“What follows the I am will always come looking for you.”
— Joel Osteen [04:22]
2. Invitations and Choices
- Osteen suggests we are constantly sending out invitations with our words:
- Saying “I am blessed” invites blessings, while “I am in debt” invites lack.
- Each morning, he encourages starting with positive “I ams” to set a victorious tone:
- “I am strong. I am talented. I am focused.”
Quote:
“You get to choose what follows the I am. When you go through the day saying ‘I am blessed,’ blessings come looking for you.”
— Joel Osteen [05:18]
3. Attitude and Self-Image
- Joel personalizes the lesson, sharing family anecdotes (his daughter Alexandra comparing his old and recent photos, his mother’s youthfulness), underlining that attitude — not age or circumstance — is key.
Memorable Moments:
“When you get up in the morning, look in the mirror. Instead of complaining, you should be saying, ‘I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am attractive. I am getting younger.’”
— Joel Osteen [07:52]
4. Scriptural Examples and Biblical Affirmation
- Osteen references Psalm 139 and David’s praise for being “wonderfully made.”
- He asserts that all people are unique masterpieces created by God, not “just average,” citing the uniqueness of fingerprints and personalities.
Quote:
“‘You are my masterpiece.’ Instead of going around, down on yourself, feeling unattractive … dare to get up in the morning and say, ‘I am a masterpiece. I am created in the image of Almighty God.’”
— Joel Osteen [10:30]
5. The Story of Sarah: Changing Your Identity
- Joel recounts how God changed Sarai’s name to Sarah (“princess”) in Genesis to help her internalize her value and the promise over her life.
- He encourages listeners, especially those who have suffered setbacks, to shift their internal narrative: from “I am inferior” to “I am royalty.”
Quote:
“God is saying to you what he said to Sarah. I want you to change your name to ‘princess.’ Not physically, but in your attitude.”
— Joel Osteen [13:45]
6. The Power of Words: Blessing vs. Cursing Your Future
- Osteen compares the creative power of words to electricity — helpful or harmful depending on how they’re used.
Quote:
“Words have creative power. With your words you can bless your future or you can curse your future.”
— Joel Osteen [18:50]
- He shares stories of people limited by negative “I ams” spoken by authority figures, but who redefined themselves by adopting empowering “I ams.”
7. Rejecting Limiting Labels and Embracing God’s View
- Listeners are urged to reject negative words spoken over them (“I am a C student,” “I am not smart enough”).
- Osteen insists that God’s blessing and approval supersede human opinions.
Quote:
“Before anyone could put a curse on you, God put a blessing on you… Know what you are, and what you are not… I am not who people say I am. I am who God says I am.”
— Joel Osteen [21:15]
8. Illustration with the Twelve Spies
- Using the story from Numbers, Joel illustrates how the ten fearful spies’ negative self-descriptions (“we felt like grasshoppers”) became self-fulfilling, while Joshua and Caleb’s “I am strong, I am well able” led to blessing.
Quote:
“Don’t let the wrong ‘I am’ keep you from your destiny. Be a Joshua. Be a Caleb. I am strong. I am confident. I am more than a conqueror.”
— Joel Osteen [25:44]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On starting each day:
“Get up in the morning and invite good things into your life. I am blessed. I am strong. I am talented.”
— Joel Osteen [06:28] -
On beauty and self-acceptance:
“If you’re a size 4, great. If you’re a size 24, great. Take what you have and make the most of it. God made you like you are on purpose.”
— Joel Osteen [09:34] -
On identity and approval:
“When God made you, he stepped back and said, ‘I like that. That was good. Another masterpiece.’ He stamped approval on you. Other people may try to disapprove you. Don’t go around feeling less than.”
— Joel Osteen [21:55]
Timestamps for Main Segments
- 04:15 – What follows “I am” comes looking for you
- 05:55 – Practical examples: Choosing positive “I ams” daily
- 07:50 – Personal stories: Youthfulness, beauty, and attitude
- 10:20 – Biblical affirmation: Psalm 139 and uniqueness
- 13:00 – The story of Sarah and the power of a new identity
- 18:50 – Words as creative power; blessing vs. cursing your future
- 19:45 – Real-life example: Overcoming limiting labels
- 21:15 – Embracing what God says about you
- 23:30 – Story of the twelve spies: “I am” in action
- 25:44 – The challenge: Make a list of positive “I am” confessions
Actionable Takeaways
- Start each day with intentional, positive “I am” statements.
- Refuse to let negative self-talk or words from others define your future.
- Remember: What you consistently say after “I am” shapes your destiny.
- Embrace your unique identity as God’s masterpiece.
Episode Tone & Style
Osteen is upbeat, encouraging, and often humorous, using personal stories and biblical narratives to ground his message. His tone is compassionate and affirming, aiming to uplift listeners and instill inner confidence.
Summary
In “The Power of I Am,” Joel Osteen masterfully illustrates that your life changes when you choose empowering, faith-filled words to follow “I am.” By aligning self-talk with God’s promises and rejecting limiting labels, you invite blessings and purpose into your journey. The episode is both a motivational charge and a scriptural affirmation for anyone seeking to transform their outlook and walk boldly in their God-given identity.