Set Your Mind | Joel Osteen

God bless you, it's great to be with you today, and I hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can come visit us in person. We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services. I'd like to start with something funny, and I heard about this pastor. He'd been out in the woods bear hunting all day long, searched and searched, but no sign of a bear. And finally, in frustration, he threw his gun down and he went to the stream to cool off. And about that time he saw this huge grizzly bear about a hundred yards away coming toward him full speed ahead. He fell down on his knees and said, God, please convert this bear into a Christian. Miraculously, the bear froze in his tracks and put both paws up in the air and said, Lord, thank you for this food that I'm about to eat. All right, y'all say it like you mean it. 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. I will never be the same in Jesus name. God bless you. I want to talk to you today about set your mind. When you wake up in the morning, all kinds of thoughts can come to your mind and depending on what's happening in your life, what day of the week it is, what's going right, what's going wrong. The mind will naturally gravitate toward the negative, tell you here's something to worry about. Here's something to be frustrated over. Here's the reason to be sad, a reason to be offended. We can't stop these thoughts from coming, but here's the key. Nobody can force you to think them. You don't have to dwell on those thoughts. You can choose to dismiss them and not pay any attention. You have complete control over your thought line. It's so important that you be selective because your life is going to follow your thoughts. What you think about is setting your direction, impacting your mood, determining your attitude. Thoughts create feelings. You think sad thoughts, you're going to feel sad. You think can't do it, I'm not talented, I'm at a disadvantage, you're going to feel inferior, not good enough. But if you think positive, faith-filled thoughts, you're going to feel positive and hopeful. If you're grateful, you think this is going to be a good day. Lord, thank you that I'm alive and that I have family to love, a job to go to, that I'm healthy and strong. Then you're going to have energy, good attitude, and you're going to attract good breaks. Your mind is like a magnet. It draws in what you're thinking about. When you wake up in

the morning, if you start thinking, man, I don't want to go to work today, and I don't feel like dealing with these kids, and I'm never going to get past this sickness. It's going to be a lousy day. Just imagine you're sending an invitation to everything you're dwelling on. Lousy day, I'd like to personally invite you. Discouragement, sickness, hard times, please come see me today. No, quit inviting the wrong things. When those thoughts come, do yourself a favor, dismiss them. Don't give them the time of day. You get to choose what takes up space in your mind. Instead of inviting negative, discouraging, can't do it thoughts, how about inviting faith, inviting hope, inviting the goodness of God? This is what David did. He woke up in the morning and said, this is the day the Lord has made. I'm going to rejoice and be glad in it. Another place he said, surely goodness and mercy will follow me. When he faced Goliath, a giant twice his size, he said, I will defeat you and feed your head to the birds of the air. No wonder he had faith and confidence, God's favor. His mind was going in the right direction. He was careful about what he invited. And sure, he had thoughts of doubt and worry. David, that giant's too big. You've got too many problems. He had to do what we all have to do. He dismissed it. I'm not dwelling on that. I know my God is bigger. I know I am well able. Pay attention to what you're inviting. You can't think defeat and have victory. You can't go through the day worried and stay in peace. You can't dwell on who hurt you and who did you wrong and see the beauty for ashes and God pay you back for what was unfair. Are you inviting the right things? Is your mind going in the right direction? Paul said in Colossians 3, set your mind on higher things and keep it set. Every morning you have to set your mind. It's a choice. voice we have to make positive. This is going to be a great day. Hopeful. God, I know you have good things in store. Grateful. I'm blessed to be alive. I'm going to enjoy this day. This doesn't happen automatically. If you don't set your mind, other things will set it for you. Your feelings will set it. Circumstances can set it. Other people will set it, or the enemy will set it. An unset mind is like an unlocked house. Anyone can come in. Imagine waking up in the morning and you see a stranger in your kitchen pouring a cup of coffee. You look over and somebody's sitting on your couch watching your television. Then someone walks by wearing your clothes, carrying your purse. You wouldn't think, oh, that's too bad. They're taking my stuff, invading my privacy. Number one, you'd throw them out. And number two,

you would start locking your door. You would make sure that it was deadbolted so no strangers could get in. The mind is the same way. If you're not setting your mind, you're leaving the door unlocked. You're saying by inaction, fear, you're welcome here. Doubt, come on in. Worry, insecurity, make yourself at home. No, start locking your door. Start setting your mind. This is not an option, it's a necessity. Your mind is your control center. Your thinking runs your life, your attitude, your mood, your vision. If the enemy can control your thoughts, he can control your life. If you let circumstances set your mind or other people, how you feel, it's going to limit your destiny. When David said, this is the day the Lord has made, he was in a difficult place. He had enemies chasing him. People were slandering his name. Family had turned on him. His mood would have been sour, discouraged. Why is this happening? But he didn't let that determine his thinking. He overrode all the lower things, fear, discouragement, offense, and he set his mind on higher things, faith, his purpose, and the promises of God. This is something we need to do on a daily basis. Just like we brush our teeth, we comb our hair, we also set our mind. We get in agreement with who God says we are, the higher things. That's why every service we make that declaration, I am blessed, I am strong, healthy, talented, victorious, a masterpiece. That's not just being positive, that's setting your mind. That's locking out the fear, the worry, the doubt. Nothing good is in my future. No, sorry, you're too late. My mind is already set. My path is getting brighter and brighter. I haven't seen, heard, or imagined what God has in store. If you're dealing with an illness, those thoughts will come. What if you don't get well? What if you're not able to go to work? How are you going to pay your bills? Those thoughts will come to see if your door is unlocked. Did they set it? Did they put the deadbolt in or is it unset? You could be worried, go through the day discouraged. No, your attitude, Lord, I thank you that you're restoring health back into me, that healing, wholeness, vitality is on the way. That's how you keep your mind set. You're dwelling on the higher things, what God promised you. Or maybe you have a child that's off course or you went through a breakup, a business is struggling. Thoughts will tell you all the worst case scenarios. You'll always be lonelier. That child will never do what's right. There are no good options for you. There's a battle taking place in our thinking. And first Peter says to gird up the loins of your mind. It's interesting that it uses loins concerning guarding your

mind. Loins have to do with reproduction, with what you give birth to. Your mind is like a womb. It will produce what you're thinking about. That's why you have to gird up the loins of your mind. Well, the Scripture says that Satan is a liar and the father of all lies. If he's the father, he has no power unless he can find a womb. He needs somewhere to plant his lies so they will grow and eventually be given birth to. Your mind, your womb is no place for the enemy's lies. To think that we would give our most valuable space to become a breeding ground for doubt, fear, worry, to incubate, to grow, to give birth, no thanks. Your womb was created for the promises of God. Your mind is a breeding ground for faith, for victory, for abundance. You need to keep this perspective. When the negative thoughts come, the worries, the what-ifs, the you've seen your best days, those are not just harmless thoughts. Those are seeds looking for a womb that's open, that's ready so it can reproduce. We all have something in our womb, something we're dwelling on. Is what you're incubating what you want to give birth to? If you gave birth to what you're thinking about, is it something you're going to be happy with? If not, you need to reset your mind. You need to uproot all those negative seeds. Your womb was never meant to incubate the enemy's lies. You're too old. You made too many mistakes. You can't break the addiction. You'll never meet the right person. Recognize what's happening. That's the enemy trying to plant his seeds in your womb. You need to tell him, you have the wrong person. I am God's property. I belong to the most high. My womb only accepts the higher things, the promises of God, what he's declared over my life.

If you have a bad break and a door closes, those thoughts will come, man, it's all downhill from here. Get discouraged, be bitter, give up on those dreams. That's the lower things. That's the enemy trying to use your womb to bring about his lies. Try a different approach, the higher things. Father, you said that all things are working together for my good. I may not understand this, but God, I trust you. I know something better is coming. Perhaps you had a setback in your finances. You lost a client. It's easy to worry. Let all the negative thoughts play. No, don't leave your mind unset. Don't leave the door unlocked. When worry knocks, no thanks, you're not welcome here. Father, you said I will lend and not borrow. Lord, I thank you that you're supplying all of my needs, that I live under the open windows of heaven. This is what I had to do when my dad went to be with the Lord back in 1999. I knew I was supposed to step up and pastor the church, but all these negative thoughts filled my mind. Joel, you're not a minister, you don't have the training, you don't have a big personality like your father. Nobody's gonna listen to you. Those were seeds trying to incubate in my womb. He was the father of lies trying to deceive me into giving birth to what would stop my purpose. And I felt fear, I felt insecure, I felt unqualified, but by the grace of God, I didn't let my feelings set my mind.

Other people said that I couldn't do it, that I wasn't good enough. I didn't let them set my mind. The enemy kept whispering that can't do it thoughts. I didn't let him set my mind. I went back to what God says about me, who he says I am. I set my mind on the higher things. I can do all things through Christ. Father thank you that I'm strong in the Lord, equipped, empowered, anointed. Those are the seeds I let incubate in my womb. Had I let the enemy's lies grow and get stronger, I wouldn't be up here today. You're going to give birth to what you're dwelling on. Is it what you want? Are you setting your mind each day, girding up the loins of your mind? That means being selective what you're dwelling on? Or have you let the door unlocked, worry, doubt, can't do it is now breeding in your womb. The good news is it's not too late. You can reset your mind today. You can empty out all the negative and start dwelling on the higher things. Why don't you let some new seeds get planted in your womb? See God is your heavenly Father. His plans for you are for good, to prosper you, to heal you, to fill you with joy, bring great relationships. Then there's the father of lies. The scripture says he's here to steal, kill, and destroy. You get to choose which father you listen to. Mark chapter 5, there was a woman that had a bleeding disorder. She had been sick for 12 years and she'd gone to the best doctors and spent all of her funds but continued to get worse. When we've been doing the right thing a long time and not seeing improvement, it's easy

to get discouraged. The never lies come. You're never going to get well. Never see your business take off. Never be free from that addiction. This lady was physically weak from all the bleeding, emotionally she was drained. She was considered unclean. She was not supposed to be around people, but one day she heard that Jesus was passing through her city and she'd heard about the miracles he had performed and how he'd healed a crippled man and cleansed the leper and calmed the storm. Something said to her, you can be healed too. This is your moment. Faith begin to rise in her heart. She felt this hope this Expectancy that said if you can get to Jesus you will be made whole There was a shift that day something happened in her mind For years. She had been discouraged worried thoughts told her it'll never change All her circumstances said it's too late. You've run out of options her feelings told her you're too tired Just stay home, but this day a new fire was lit on the inside She didn't let her history set her mind. She didn't let her feelings set her mind other people's opinions She made the decision. I'm gonna set my mind on higher things if I can touch the edge of his robe I know I will be healed There were so many people trying to see Jesus. She had to push her way through the crowd Excuse me. I need to get through. Pardon me scoot over a little I got to see him The scripture says she kept saying to herself when I touch him. I will be healed Look at her new mindset after years of believing it's not gonna happen I've run out of options now her mindset is I will be healed Not I hope so Maybe something will happen What's it gonna hurt for trying? No, she had her mind set healing is coming breakthrough is coming victory is coming Something new was incubating in her womb

What God had promised her that seed was growing as Jesus passed by at the last moment She reached out touched the edge of his robe and instantly she was healed Jesus said to her daughter your faith has made you whole But maybe like her you've had delays Disappointments now you've let doubt convince you that you can't accomplish your dream or you can't overcome this problem God has you hearing this so you can reset your mind. That's where the battle is taking place This lady's circumstances didn't change until she changed her mind If you will set your mind on the higher things then God will do what you can't do he'll open the doors He'll bring the healing he'll turn situations around But here's the whole key. He needs a wound to work through He needs a mind that will receive the seed and that will believe the promises When nothing is improving you don't see how it can work out do like she did Lord I want to thank you that healing is coming. Thank you that my business will flourish that my children will excel I may not see a way but I walk by faith and not by sight. I know that you have a way See your mind is like a thermostat. You have to set it. What temperature do you want it to be? sometimes we operate more like a thermometer a Thermometer measures the temperature adapts to the environment a Thermostat sets the temperature and changes the environment But we wake up in the morning and feeling sour if we have a thermometer mentality We accept the conditions. We're in a bad mood and go around discouraged Someone's rude at the office. We're rude back to them. We get caught in traffic. We're stressed Child doesn't do what's right. We're upset Living as a thermometer letting conditions set your mind. It's gonna make life a rollercoaster You can't control all those things Why don't you start setting your mind make that decision every morning that you're going to be positive hopeful and grateful When you decide ahead of time you can enjoy the day despite what doesn't work out When your mind is set you don't let people steal your joy Delays cause you to be sour, you know, God is on the throne. This day is a gift You've made up your mind to enjoy it a

Few weeks ago Victoria asked me to run her up to the grocery store. She just had to get one thing He's just gonna take a second. Well, I drove into the parking lot over here It was packed cars everywhere so crowded and I finally made it up to the front and I was gonna drop her off at the Main door and go park. She jumped out of the car real fast. So I wouldn't block everyone She needed something from the backseat So I put the car in park because I had to reach way back and take my foot off the brake and I handed it To her she ran in I went to put the book car in drive But it wouldn't engage because she had the car keys in her purse Now she was in the store her phone's right next to me and I'm out front blocking Everybody people start honking and hollering driving by waving with one finger and The security guard came over and I told him what happened. She's just gonna be a minute and ten minutes later. Here comes Victoria Victoria with three bags and somehow God always multiplies that one thing. I Was sorry, I blocked the traffic But the fact is life is too short to let these things steal our joy And I thought I'm not gonna let that ruin the rest of my night. I already ruined everybody else's I Set my mind on the higher things to enjoy this day to love my family to honor God See the scripture says to set your mind and keep it set God knew during the day we'd have opportunities to unset it to be frustrated to get offended Given to doubt Joe. I didn't get the contractor things didn't work out. No keep it set. God is still in control He's still ordering your steps. This day is a gift from God. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy it. I Read about something called neural clustering When you dwell on a thought long enough just 10 or 15 seconds The way the brain works is it starts finding other similar thoughts? Your thoughts begin to grow and it creates momentum If you're thinking a fearful thought the mind says, okay, we're thinking about fear. Here are five more things to be fearful about When we're worried thinking what if this doesn't work out? The mind will give you more reasons to be worried the more you think about it the bigger that cluster gets But the good news is this doesn't just work in the negative. It works in the positive When you think grateful thoughts you get up in the morning and say Lord

Thank you that I'm alive as you dwell on that the mind goes to work Finds other things to be grateful for that thought comes Lord. Thank you for my children And thank you for turning that problem around Lord. Thank you for that door that you open You just thought the first thought but then the mind starts recruiting these other thoughts just like it Your thoughts are not stagnant. They're creating momentum My question is is it the momentum that you want? I'm healthy. I'm strong. I'm favored you dwell on that and more good thoughts are going to come God's fighting my battles It's gonna be a blessed year. I'm excited about my future That neural cluster is getting bigger Stronger and finding more of the same type thoughts But sometimes we're letting our mind work against us and we wake up in the morning dwelling on the negative What's not going to work out and before long? Here's another thing to be depressed about another bad break you went through another person that hurt you That's not the enemy. That's your mind doing what it was designed to do If you think nothing good ever happens to me your brain fires off that circuit start looking for evidence Let's give him some examples here comes bad memory number one number two Here's that time you failed number three. Remember those people that let you out That negative will continue until you put a stop to it You can spiral into doubt or you can spiral into faith. You can spiral into worry or you can spiral into peace Your thoughts are growing. They're multiplying Producing more of the same. This is why Paul said set your mind on higher things He was saying don't let the momentum work against you Don't let the negative spiral switch over to faith to hope to gratitude Get your mind to work for you. It's attracting more of what you're thinking about a Friend of mine was on a train years ago And he met this couple that was very successful The lady was wearing expensive clothing nice jewelry and they were in the first-class cabin together. Everything was great But from the very start this woman did nothing but complain She complained the temperature too cold food wasn't good the service too slow The cabin wasn't clean. The train was too noisy. She was miserable. Nothing was right

Well later my friend struck up a conversation with her husband and he was just the opposite friendly and easy-going Enjoying life and he told how he was in the car business and God had blessed them So greatly and he was just so thankful. Well, my friend asked about his wife He said she's in the manufacturing business. He was kind of surprised. It didn't seem to fit her He asked what does she manufacture the husband said she manufactures unhappiness She's unhappy everywhere she goes Whether you realize it or not You're manufacturing something your thoughts are producing more Like-minded thoughts if you dwell on a positive thought your mind will bring you ten more If you find a reason to complain your mind will give you a dozen more things to to complain about. You're creating mental momentum. Make sure yours is going in the right direction. Let's manufacture faith. Let's manufacture hope, joy, generosity. Set your mind on the higher things. Friends, life is short. We don't have time to live negative, bitter, worried. Today can be a turning point. You can reset your mind. Like the lady with the issue of blood, you can choose to think some new thoughts. Don't let the enemy use your womb to incubate his lies. Your womb is designed to give birth to what God promised you. When you wake up in the morning, don't start the day in neutral. Set your mind on faith, on hope, and on victory. If you'll do this, I believe and declare you're going to have more joy, more peace. You will overcome your obstacles, accomplish your dreams, and live the life of victory God has in store for you. In Jesus' name, if you receive it, can you say amen? I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins. Come into my heart. I make you my Lord and Savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again and we'd love to send you some free information on your new walk with the Lord. You can text the number on the screen or go to the website. But I hope you'll get into a good Bible-based church and keep God first place.