JOEL: GOD BLESS YOU.
IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU.
I'LL HOPE YOU'LL STAY
CONNECTED WITH US DURING
THE WEEK, THROUGH OUR DAILY
PODCAST, OUR YOUTUBE
CHANNEL, SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'LL KEEP YOU ENCOURAGED
AND INSPIRED.
I LIKE TO START WITH
SOMETHING FUNNY.
I HEARD ABOUT THESE TWO
BROTHERS.
THEY WERE KNOWN FOR BEING
VERY DISHONEST, HAVING NO
INTEGRITY; THEY WERE VERY
WEALTHY.
ONE OF THEM DIED.
HIS BROTHER SAID TO THE
PASTOR, “I'LL MAKE A DEAL
WITH YOU.
IF YOU SAY AT THE FUNERAL
THAT MY BROTHER WAS A
SAINT, I'LL MAKE A LARGE
DONATION TO YOUR CHURCH.”
THE PASTOR AGREED, THE MAN
MADE THE DONATION.
AT THE FUNERAL, THE PASTOR
SAID, “THIS MAN WAS
DISHONEST, HE CHEATED,
LIED, STOLE, BUT COMPARED
TO HIS BROTHER, HE WAS A
SAINT.”
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 LET IT GO.
WE ALL GO THROUGH
DISAPPOINTMENTS, THINGS
THAT ARE NOT FAIR.
IT'S EASY TO HOLD ON TO THE
HURTS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT
THEY SAID, RELIVE THE
OFFENSE.
WE GET UP IN THE MORNING
AND IT'S THE FIRST THING
THAT COMES TO MIND.
WE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH
THAT'S AFFECTING US.
IT'S SOURING OUR ATTITUDE,
DRAINING OUR ENERGY,
LIMITING OUR CREATIVITY.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO FULFILL
YOUR DESTINY, YOU HAVE TO
GET GOOD AT LETTING THINGS
GO.
JESUS SAID, “OFFENSES WILL
COME.” HE DIDN'T SAY THEY
MIGHT COME.
IF YOU'RE A GOOD PERSON, IF
YOU'RE NICE, NOBODY WILL DO
YOU WRONG.
HE SAID DISAPPOINTMENTS
WILL COME, BETRAYALS,
THINGS THAT ARE NOT FAIR,
WILL COME.
HOW YOU DEAL WITH THESE
OFFENSES, HOW YOU HANDLE
THE HURTS WILL DETERMINE
WHETHER YOU MOVE FORWARD
AND SEE THE NEW THINGS GOD
HAS IN STORE OR WHETHER YOU
GET STUCK, BITTER OVER WHAT
DIDN'T WORK OUT.
I'VE HEARD IT SAID IF YOU
DON'T HEAL FROM EMOTIONAL
WOUNDS, YOU WILL BLEED ON
PEOPLE THAT HAD NOTHING TO
DO WITH IT.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE LIVING
WOUNDED OVER HOW THEY WERE
RAISED, A FRIEND THAT
WALKED AWAY, A BUSINESS
PARTNER THAT CHEATED THEM.
INSTEAD OF LETTING IT GO,
THEY REPLAY IT IN THEIR
MIND, RELIVE ALL THE HURT.
THEY WONDER WHY THEY DON'T
HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS,
IT'S BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T
HEALED.
THEY'RE LIVING OUT OF A
WOUNDED PLACE.
GOD BRINGS A NEW PERSON,
SOMEBODY GREAT, BUT THEY'RE
SO INSECURE.
THEY DON'T FEEL VALUABLE,
ATTRACTIVE, THIS NEW PERSON
HAS TO KEEP THEM FIXED, GO
OVERBOARD TO MAKE SURE THEY
KNOW HOW GREAT THEY ARE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT'S NOT
SUSTAINABLE.
UNTIL YOU GET WELL, UNTIL
YOU LET GO OF WHAT DIDN'T
WORK OUT, NOT CARRY THE
HURT, THAT WOUND IS GOING
TO HINDER YOU WHEREVER YOU
GO.
IF YOU'RE STILL WOUNDED
OVER A POSITION YOU LOST,
YOU'LL GO TO THAT NEW
COMPANY, DEFENSIVE, ON
EDGE, NOT FRIENDLY.
YOU'RE TREATING THEM BASED
ON WHAT YOU'VE BEEN
THROUGH, BUT THEY HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
IT'S MUCH MORE FREEING WHEN
YOU LEARN TO LET THINGS GO.
IT WASN'T FAIR.
THAT'S OKAY, GOD WILL BE
YOUR VINDICATOR.
HE'LL TAKE CARE OF WHO DID
YOU WRONG.
IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO PAY
PEOPLE BACK.
THEY HURT YOU ONCE DON'T
LET THEM CONTINUE TO HURT
YOU BY HOLDING ON TO IT.
YOU LOST A LOVED ONE, I
KNOW THAT'S PAINFUL, IT'S
OKAY TO GO THROUGH A SEASON
OF MOURNING, BUT YOU CAN'T
HOLD ON TO THE HURT. LIVING
IN MOURNING IS GOING TO
KEEP THE NEW DOORS FROM
OPENING.
YOU HAVE TO HEAL SO YOU CAN
SEE THE NEW RELATIONSHIPS,
THE NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
IN THE SCRIPTURE, PETER
ASKED JESUS HOW OFTEN HE
SHOULD FORGIVE SOMEONE THAT
DID HIM WRONG.
IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE PETER
WAS KNOWN TO BE OFFENSIVE.
HE'S THE ONE THAT CURSED
OUT THE YOUNG LADY WHEN
JESUS WAS ARRESTED.
HE CUT OFF A SOLDIER'S EAR
DEFENDING JESUS.
HE SAID, “JESUS, SHOULD I
FORGIVE THEM SEVEN TIMES?”
THE JEWISH LAW SAID THREE
TIMES, HE MORE THAN DOUBLED
IT.
HE THOUGHT, “JESUS, I'M
GROWING.
I'VE COME A LONG WAY.”
JESUS SAID, “PETER SEVEN IS
GOOD BUT I WANT YOU TO
FORGIVE THEM SEVENTY TIMES
SEVEN.” IT WASN'T REALLY
ABOUT THE NUMBER; JESUS WAS
SHOWING US A PRINCIPLE.
HE WAS SAYING, “I WANT YOU
TO LIVE IN A CONTINUAL
PROCESS OF FORGIVENESS.”
NOT SOMETHING YOU DO EVERY
ONCE IN A WHILE, BUT ON A
DAILY BASIS FORGIVENESS
SHOULD BE A PART OF OUR
LIFE.
HE WAS SETTING A SYSTEM IN
PLACE SO THAT WE WOULDN'T
HOLD ON TO HURTS, OFFENSES,
DISAPPOINTMENTS.
HE KNEW THAT PRACTICALLY
EVERY DAY WE WOULD HAVE
THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
THE QUICKER YOU LET THINGS
GO, THE EASIER IT IS.
IN THE LORD'S PRAYER, JESUS
TOLD US TO PRAY, “GIVE US
THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD
AND FORGIVE US OUR
TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE
OTHERS.” HE WAS SAYING
EVERY DAY WE SHOULD BE
READY TO FORGIVE.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE BIG
THINGS, THAT MAN THAT CUT
YOU OFF IN TRAFFIC, LET IT
GO.
DON'T LET THAT SOUR YOUR
DAY.
YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE.
THAT'S A DISTRACTION TO
TRYING TO GET YOU OFF
COURSE, OFFENDED OVER
SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T
MATTER.
THAT CLERK THAT'S RUDE TO
YOU AT THE GROCERY STORE,
JUST SMILE AND MOVE ON.
I'VE LEARNED, LIFE IS FULL
OF WOUNDED PEOPLE, PEOPLE
THAT HAVEN'T DEALT WITH THE
NEGATIVE THINGS IN THEIR
PAST. AT TIMES, THEY'LL BE
DISRESPECTFUL, THEY'LL SAY
THINGS THEY SHOULDN'T, DO
THINGS THAT ARE HURTFUL.
YOU CAN'T STOP THE OFFENSE
FROM COMING BUT YOU CAN
KEEP IT FROM GETTING DOWN
IN YOU.
HOW MUCH TIME ARE YOU
SPENDING OFFENDED, BITTER,
HOLDING A GRUDGE?
HOW MUCH MORE COULD YOU
ACCOMPLISH IF YOU WOULD
START LETTING THINGS GO?
HOW MUCH BETTER
RELATIONSHIPS WOULD YOU
HAVE IF YOU WOULD GET
EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY, IF YOU
WOULD LET GO OF WHAT PEOPLE
SAID, FORGIVE THE PERSON
THAT DID YOU WRONG, QUIT
RELIVING THE HURTS.
THIS IS WHERE DAVID IN THE
SCRIPTURE EXCELLED, HE WAS
AN EXPERT AT LETTING THINGS
GO.
AS A TEENAGER HIS FATHER
DIDN'T REALLY BELIEVE IN
HIM, HE LOOKED DOWN ON
DAVID, DIDN'T AFFIRM HIM.
WHEN THE PROPHET SAMUEL
CAME TO HIS FATHER'S HOUSE
TO CHOOSE ONE OF THE SONS
AS THE NEXT KING OF ISRAEL,
HIS FATHER DIDN'T CALL
DAVID IN FROM THE
SHEPHERD'S FIELDS.
HE THOUGHT HE WAS TOO
SMALL, TOO YOUNG, NOT THAT
TALENTED.
HE DIDN'T GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
IT WAS ONLY AFTER SAMUEL
DIDN'T CHOOSE ONE OF THE
OTHER SONS THAT DAVID WAS
CALLED IN. DAVID COULD HAVE
LIVED BITTER, WITH A CHIP
ON HIS SHOULDER.
HE FELT THE STING OF
REJECTION FROM HIS OWN
FAMILY.
HIS BROTHERS MADE FUN OF
HIM. WHEN DAVID TOOK THEM
LUNCH OUT ON THE
BATTLEFIELD, HIS OLDEST
BROTHER, IN FRONT OF ALL
THE SOLDIERS, TRIED TO
BELITTLE HIM. HE SAID,
“DAVID WHAT ARE YOU DOING
HERE, AND WHAT DID YOU DO
WITH THOSE FEW SHEEP YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING CARE
OF?” HE WAS CONDESCENDING,
SARCASTIC.
DAVID COULD HAVE BEEN
UPSET, OFFENDED, BUT THE
SCRIPTURE SAYS, “DAVID
TURNED AND WALKED AWAY.” HE
KNEW THE IMPORTANCE OF
LETTING THINGS GO.
HAD DAVID NOT DONE THIS, HE
WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN
GOLIATH.
HAD HE STAYED THERE AND
TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN OUT HIS
BROTHER WE WOULDN'T BE,
TALKING ABOUT HIM.
THE TRUTH IS DAVID'S FATHER
WASN'T FAIR, THAT WASN'T
RIGHT TO LEAVE HIM OUT IN
THE FIELDS.
HIS BROTHERS WERE
DEMEANING, BELITTLING.
BUT YOU CAN'T MAKE PEOPLE
DO WHAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S A TEST. ARE YOU
HOLDING ON TO THE OFFENSE,
LET THE BETRAYAL, WHAT THEY
SAID, HOW THEY TREATED YOU
CAUSE YOU TO BE SOUR, WAKE
UP THINKING ABOUT IT?
OR ARE YOU GOING TO LET IT
GO AND MOVE FORWARD INTO
YOUR DESTINY?
THERE IS A GOLIATH WAITING
FOR YOU, A NEW LEVEL, PAST
THE OFFENSE, PAST THE
REJECTION, PAST WHAT THEY
SAID.
MY PRAYER IS THAT WE WILL
DO LIKE DAVID AND LIVE WITH
THIS PERPETUAL FORGIVENESS.
THAT WE'LL DEVELOP A HABIT
OF FORGIVING DAILY.
WHEN OFFENSES COME, THEY
BOUNCE OFF OF US LIKE WATER
OFF OF A DUCK'S BACK.
A FAMILY MEMBER DOESN'T
BELIEVE IN YOU, THAT'S
UNFORTUNATE BUT THAT'S NOT
GOING TO KEEP YOU FROM
DOING GREAT THINGS.
A COWORKER TRIES TO MAKE
YOU LOOK BAD, EMBARRASS
YOU, MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE
UPSET, START A FIGHT, PAY
THEM BACK BUT YOU'RE A
DAVID.
YOU RECOGNIZE THAT'S A
DISTRACTION, YOU LET IT GO,
KNOWING THAT GOD WILL TAKE
CARE OF YOUR ENEMIES.
ONE WAY GOD VINDICATES YOU,
IS HE PROMOTES YOU IN THE
PRESENCE OF YOUR ENEMIES.
HE DOESN'T DO IT IN
PRIVATE, BUT IN PUBLIC, SO
THAT THOSE THAT LEFT YOU
OUT, DISCOUNTED YOU, TRIED
TO MAKE YOU FEEL SMALL,
THEY WILL SEE YOU PROMOTED,
HONORED, IN A POSITION OF
GREATER INFLUENCE.
WHEN DAVID DEFEATED
GOLIATH, THE WHOLE ARMY WAS
IN AWE.
THE CITY WAS CHEERING.
EVEN THE PHILISTINES, THE
OPPOSITION, COULDN'T
BELIEVE WHAT DAVID HAD DONE.
GOD KNOWS HOW TO LIFT YOU
UP WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING
TO PUSH YOU DOWN.
DON'T LET THAT OFFENSE IN.
START LETTING THINGS GO
QUICKLY.
DON'T THINK ABOUT IT A WEEK
AND THEN YOU'LL DO IT.
YOU WON'T HAVE TO GET OVER
SO MANY EMOTIONAL WOUNDS,
IF YOU DON'T LET THE
OFFENSE IN IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
IF DAVID WOULD HAVE WOKEN
UP EACH MORNING AND THOUGHT
ABOUT HOW HIS FATHER
MISTREATED HIM, WHY DID HE
LEAVE ME OUT?
HOW HIS BROTHERS WERE
DEMEANING.
THAT BITTERNESS, THE ANGER,
THE SELF-PITY WOULD HAVE
STOPPED HIS DESTINY.
WHEN THE OFFENSE COMES UP,
DON'T GO THERE.
KEEP YOUR MIND ON THE
POSITIVE.
THINK ON THINGS THAT ARE
GOOD, WHOLESOME, UPLIFTING.
IT'S NOT DOING ANYTHING
PRODUCTIVE TO THINK ABOUT
SOMETHING NEGATIVE THAT WAS
SAID ABOUT YOU, RELIVE HOW
THE PERSON WALKED AWAY,
REHEARSE ALL THE PAIN, GO
BACK OVER ALL THE SORROW.
THAT'S GOING TO KEEP YOU
FROM HEALING.
LET IT GO.
THAT'S IN THE PAST. GOD SAW
WHAT HAPPENED.
HE HEARD WHAT THEY SAID.
HE KNOWS WHAT YOU LOST. IF
YOU'LL LET IT GO, HE'LL
MAKE IT UP TO YOU.
HE'LL GIVE YOU BEAUTY FOR
THOSE ASHES.
A FRIEND OF MINE GREW UP IN
A SINGLE PARENT HOME.
AT FIVE YEARS OLD, HIS
FATHER WALKED OUT OF HIS
LIFE AND WOULDN'T HAVE
ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM. AS
A LITTLE BOY HE LONGED TO
SEE HIS DAD, BUT HE
WOULDN'T RETURN THE
MOTHER'S CALL.
IN HIS TEENS, HE WOULD SEND
LETTERS TO HIS FATHER,
BIRTHDAY CARDS, HAPPY
FATHER'S DAY.
HE WANTED HIS FATHER'S
APPROVAL SO BADLY, JUST TO
KNOW THAT HE CARED BUT HE
NEVER HEARD A WORD. HE FELT
THE REJECTION.
THOUGHTS TOLD HIM, HE
WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH, THERE
WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH
HIM, BUT HE DIDN'T GO THERE.
HE DIDN'T LET THE
BITTERNESS IN, THE
SELF-PITY.
HE SAID WHAT THE PSALMIST
SAID, “EVEN IF MY MOTHER
AND FATHER FORSAKES ME, GOD
WILL ADOPT ME AS HIS VERY
OWN CHILD.” WHEN YOU LIVE
IN A STATE OF PERPETUAL
FORGIVENESS, IT'S AMAZING
HOW DESPITE THE INJUSTICE,
DESPITE HOW UNFAIR IT IS,
YOU'LL STILL BE HAPPY,
YOU'LL STILL ENJOY YOUR
LIFE, YOU'LL STILL DO GREAT
THINGS.
WHEN HE WAS IN HIS
THIRTIES, HIS FATHER
FINALLY AGREED TO SEE HIM.
HE WAS SO EXCITED; IT WAS A
DREAM COME TRUE.
HE FLEW TO ANOTHER CITY,
KNOCKED ON THE DOOR, A LADY
ANSWERED AND SAID, “I'M
SORRY, YOUR FATHER HAS
CHANGED HIS MIND.
HE'S NOT GOING TO SEE YOU.”
I THOUGHT HE WOULD BE
DEVASTATED, BUT HE SAID,
“JOEL, IT DIDN'T REALLY
BOTHER ME.
I HAD ALREADY PREPARED IF
HE WOULDN'T SEE ME, I WAS
GOING TO LET IT GO AND MOVE
ON.” IT HAS NOT STOPPED
THIS YOUNG MAN.
HE HAS FOUR BEAUTIFUL
CHILDREN, HE'S HAPPILY
MARRIED, VERY SUCCESSFUL.
I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN HE
DIDN'T HAVE AN AMAZING
CHILDHOOD.
WHEN YOU LEARN TO LET
THINGS GO, DISAPPOINTMENTS
CAN'T STOP YOU, UNFAIR
PEOPLE, HOW YOU WERE
RAISED, BAD BREAKS.
YOU'LL KEEP RISING HIGHER,
SEEING THE GOODNESS OF GOD.
I'VE MET OTHER PEOPLE THAT
HAVE BEEN THROUGH THINGS
LIKE MY FRIEND.
THEY'RE BITTER, ANGRY, A
CHIP ON THEIR SHOULDER,
STUCK IN LIFE.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
THEY HOLD ON TO EVERYTHING.
YOU CAN'T STOP IT FROM
COMING, BUT YOU CAN KEEP
THE POISON FROM GETTING ON
THE INSIDE.
WHEN YOU BURY NEGATIVE
EMOTIONS, THEY NEVER DIE.
YOU CAN'T BOTTLE UP THE
ANGER, THE HURT, THE
BETRAYAL, AND THINK THAT
THAT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT
YOU.
“JOEL, I CAN'T FORGIVE
THEM, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
THEY DID.
I CAN'T LET IT GO, THEY
HURT ME TOO BADLY.” YOU'RE
NOT DOING IT FOR THEIR
SAKE, YOU'RE DOING IT FOR
YOUR SAKE.
THAT POISON IS
CONTAMINATING YOUR LIFE.
WHEN YOU RELEASE IT, YOU'LL
STEP INTO NEW LEVELS OF
FREEDOM, JOY AND VICTORY.
THERE WAS A PROFESSIONAL
BOXER BACK IN THE 1990'S.
HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS
AGGRESSIVENESS IN THE RING.
HE FOUGHT WITH SUCH ANGER
AND VICIOUSNESS, ALMOST
LIKE HE WAS OUT OF CONTROL.
FOR YEARS HE WAS THE MIDDLE
WEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE
WORLD, VERY SUCCESSFUL.
AFTER ONE FIGHT, A REPORTER
ASKED HIM WHY HE FOUGHT
WITH SUCH AGGRESSION, HOW
HE COULD BE THAT DRIVEN.
THE REPORTER WAS EXPECTING
A STANDARD ANSWER, LIKE,
“I'M JUST VERY COMPETITIVE
AND I LOVE TO BOX.” BUT HE
TOLD THE REASON HE FOUGHT
WITH SUCH ANGER AND SUCH
HOSTILITY WAS BECAUSE HIS
FATHER WAS ABUSIVE.
HE MISTREATED HIS MOTHER,
FOUGHT WITH HER.
THEIR HOME WAS VERY VIOLENT.
HE TOLD THIS SON HOW HE
WOULD NEVER AMOUNT TO
ANYTHING.
AT TEN YEARS OLD THE FATHER
ABANDONED THE FAMILY; HE
NEVER SAW HIM AGAIN. HE
SAID, “WHEN I STEP IN THE
RING, I PICTURE MY FATHER'S
FACE ON MY OPPONENT.
I HAVE SO MUCH HATRED
TOWARD HIM, I JUST
EXPLODE.” I THOUGHT ABOUT
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY
FRIEND AND THIS BOXER.
BOTH HAD BETRAYALS, BOTH
HAD REJECTION, BUT ONE IS
LIVING HEALTHY, WITH GREAT
CHILDREN, BEING BLESSED.
THE OTHER IS ANGRY,
VIOLENT, BITTER.
THE DIFFERENCE IS ONE
LEARNED TO LET THINGS GO,
THE OTHER CHOSE TO HOLD ON.
YES, THIS BOXER HAD SUCCESS
ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT IF
YOU'RE POISONED ON THE
INSIDE, IT'S GOING TO SPOIL
EVERY VICTORY.
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU NEED
TO LET GO OF?
BITTERNESS, ANGER, HOW
SOMEONE TREATED YOU, WHAT
DIDN'T WORK OUT.
DON'T DO LIKE HIM AND LET
THAT POISON THE REST OF
YOUR LIFE.
IT WASN'T RIGHT WHAT THEY
DID, BUT YOU'RE FORGIVING
SO YOU CAN BE FREE.
YOU'RE LETTING IT GO SO YOU
CAN SEE BEAUTY FOR THE
ASHES.
YEARS AGO, THERE WAS TOXIC
WASTE THAT NEEDED TO BE
DISCARDED BUT NOBODY KNEW
WHAT TO DO WITH IT.
THEY HAD NEVER HAD TO GET
RID OF SOMETHING THAT
DANGEROUS AND THAT TOXIC.
AFTER STUDYING IT, AND
GETTING DIFFERENT OPINIONS,
A COMPANY BUILT THESE BIG
METAL CONTAINERS, LIKE YOU
SEE ON A SHIP, THEY PUT THE
TOXIC WASTE IN IT.
THEY WENT TO GREAT LENGTHS
TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SEALED
VERY TIGHTLY, AND IT
WOULDN'T GET OUT.
THEN THEY BURIED THESE
CONTAINERS DEEP IN THE
GROUND.
THEY WERE SO RELIEVED, THEY
FINALLY GOT RID OF IT.
THEY THOUGHT THEY WERE
DONE, BUT FORTY YEARS
LATER, THE CONTAINERS
STARTED LEAKING.
IT WAS CONTAMINATING THE
SOIL, THE WATER, THE AIR,
PEOPLE HAD TO MOVE AWAY.
THE PROBLEM WAS THE WASTE
WAS TOO TOXIC TO BURY.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU
CAN'T BURY.
YOU CAN'T BURY ANGER AND
THINK IT'S NOT GOING TO
AFFECT YOU.
YOU CAN'T BURY BITTERNESS
AND NOT HAVE IT LEAK OUT.
YOU CAN'T BURY HATRED,
REJECTION, THAT'S TOO TOXIC.
THAT POISON, AT SOME POINT,
WILL CONTAMINATE NOT JUST
YOUR DREAMS, YOUR ATTITUDE,
YOUR VISION, BUT IT WILL
AFFECT THE PEOPLE AROUND
YOU.
THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO
IS GET THAT TOXIC WASTE OUT
OF YOU.
LET IT GO.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO GOD.
“GOD, I FORGIVE THEM FOR
WHAT THEY DID, I LET GO OF
THE HURTS, WHAT I LOST,
WHAT I DIDN'T GET.
I TRUST YOU TO MAKE IT UP
TO ME.”
THIS COMPANY NEVER DREAMED
YEARS LATER THEY WOULD BE
DEALING WITH THE SAME
PROBLEM BUT THIS TIME IT
WOULD BE WORSE.
IF THEY HAD DISPOSED OF IT
PROPERLY THE FIRST TIME,
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THIS
DIFFICULTY.
WHEN YOU BURY NEGATIVE
FEELINGS, THEY NEVER DIE.
LIKE TOXIC WASTE, THEY'RE
GOING TO RESURFACE, THROUGH
YOUR ATTITUDE, THROUGH YOUR
RELATIONSHIPS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS, IT'S NOT
TOO LATE TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE WITH
THAT CONTAMINATION ON THE
INSIDE.
LET IT GO.
FORGIVE THE PERSON THAT
HURT YOU, FORGIVE THE
PARENT FOR WHAT THEY DIDN'T
GIVE YOU, LET GO OF THE
DISAPPOINTMENT, THE DREAM
THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT, LET
GO OF THE GUILT, THE SHAME,
THE REGRET, THE REMORSE.
YOU CAN'T KEEP THAT BOTTLED
UP AND REACH YOUR POTENTIAL.
DAVID WENT TO THE PALACE TO
WORK AS ONE OF KING SAUL'S
ARMOR BEARERS.
SAUL WAS PROUD OF DAVID.
HE LOVED HIM LIKE A SON,
BUT OVER TIME, SAUL BECAME
JEALOUS OF DAVID.
HE COULD SEE THE ANOINTING
AND FAVOR ON DAVID'S LIFE,
INSTEAD OF BEING HAPPY FOR
HIM, HE WANTED TO GET RID
OF HIM. WHILE DAVID WAS
PLAYING THE HARP FOR SAUL,
TRYING TO MAKE SAUL FEEL
BETTER, SAUL THREW A SPEAR
AT DAVID AND BARELY MISSED
HIM. DAVID HAD TO FLEE FOR
HIS LIFE.
HE HAD DONE NOTHING BUT
GOOD FOR SAUL.
HONORED HIM, SERVED HIM,
BUT IN RETURN SAUL TRIED TO
KILL HIM. DAVID SPENT
MONTHS LIVING ON THE RUN,
HIDING IN CAVES, WITH SAUL
AND HIS MEN CHASING AFTER
HIM. AT ONE POINT, DAVID
COULD HAVE KILLED SAUL.
HE SNUCK UP ON SAUL AND HIS
MEN WHILE THEY WERE
SLEEPING, BUT HE WOULDN'T
HARM HIM. DESPITE DAVID
BEING GOOD TO SAUL, SAUL
NEVER CHANGED HIS MIND.
HE WOULDN'T HAVE HIM BACK
IN THE PALACE.
SEVERAL YEARS LATER, SAUL
WAS KILLED IN A BATTLE,
DAVID WAS MADE THE KING.
WHEN DAVID HEARD THAT SAUL
WAS GONE, YOU WOULD THINK
HE WOULD BE SO HAPPY, AND
SO RELIEVED.
FINALLY, THIS MAN THAT MADE
HIS LIFE MISERABLE, CAUSED
HIM HEARTACHE, WHERE HE
COULDN'T PURSUE HIS DREAMS,
WAS NO LONGER THERE.
SURELY, DAVID WOULD CALL
HIS MEN TOGETHER AND HAVE A
BIG PARTY.
BUT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS,
DAVID WEPT WHEN HE LEARNED
SAUL WAS KILLED.
HE WROTE A SONG HONORING
HIM, SAYING, “HOW BELOVED
AND HOW GRACIOUS WAS SAUL.”
NO WONDER DAVID ROSE SO
HIGH.
HE LEARNED TO LET THINGS GO.
CAN YOU IMAGINE WRITING A
SONG ABOUT YOUR BIGGEST
ENEMY, THE ONE THAT TRIED
TO KEEP YOU DOWN, ABOUT HOW
BELOVED THEY ARE?
A KEY TO DAVID'S SUCCESS IS
HE DIDN'T LET THE TOXINS
GET ON THE INSIDE.
HE DIDN'T BURY THE THINGS
THAT WEREN'T FAIR, THE
ANGER, THE HURT, THE
INJUSTICE, HE TURNED IT
OVER TO GOD.
EVEN YEARS LATER, HE WAS
SITTING IN THE PALACE, THE
GREATEST LEADER OF THAT
DAY, MAYBE OF ANY DAY,
HAVING CONQUERED ALL KINDS
OF TERRITORY AND SEEN GOD'S
FAVOR IN GREAT WAYS.
HE SAID TO HIS STAFF, “IS
THERE ANYONE STILL ALIVE
FROM THE HOUSE OF SAUL THAT
I CAN BLESS.” HE STILL HAD
NO BITTERNESS TOWARD SAUL.
HE'S STILL BEING GOOD TO A
MAN THAT WASN'T GOOD TO
HIM. WHO KNOWS WHERE GOD
WILL TAKE YOU IF YOU'LL
JUST LET THINGS GO.
WHEN YOU HAVE EVERY RIGHT
TO BE ANGRY, BITTER, HOLD
ON TO THE HURT, THEY LEFT
YOU, YOU LOST SOMEONE
VALUABLE.
I'M NOT SAYING IT'S EASY,
BUT IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO
DEAL WITH THE TOXINS ON THE
INSIDE, THAN IT IS TO LET
THINGS GO.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO
FORGIVE BUT IT'S HARDER TO
DEAL WITH THE POISON OF
UNFORGIVENESS.
IT'S NOT EASY TO MOVE
FORWARD AFTER A
DISAPPOINTMENT BUT IT'S
HARDER TO STAY STUCK IN
DEFEAT AND MEDIOCRITY.
COACH RUDY TOMJONAVICH WAS
THE HALL OF FAME COACH OF
THE HOUSTON ROCKETS AND
ALSO A GREAT BASKETBALL
PLAYER HIMSELF.
WHEN HE WAS TWENTY-FIVE
YEARS OLD, IN THE MIDDLE OF
A GAME, A FIGHT BROKE OUT
BETWEEN TWO PLAYERS.
RUDY RAN OVER TO BREAK THEM
UP.
ONE OF THE PLAYERS, TURNED
AND THREW A PUNCH, WITHOUT
LOOKING, AS HARD AS HE
COULD.
IT JUST SO HAPPENED, RUDY
WAS RUNNING UP FULL SPEED,
THE PUNCH HIT HIM SQUARE IN
THE FACE.
IT BECAME KNOWN AS THE
PUNCH HEARD AROUND THE
WORLD.
IT FRACTURED HIS SKULL,
BROKE HIS NOSE AND
CHEEKBONES.
HE HAD SPINAL FLUID LEAKING
OUT.
IT ALMOST TOOK HIS LIFE.
MONTHS LATER, WHILE HE WAS
RECOVERING, HE WAS ASKED
ABOUT THE MAN THAT HIT HIM
AND WHAT HE THOUGHT.
EVERYONE WAS WAITING HIS
RESPONSE.
SURELY, HE WOULD BE ANGRY,
BITTER, THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
RUDY DIDN'T MISS A BEAT.
HE TOLD HOW HE HAD ALREADY
FORGIVEN HIM, THAT HE
WASN'T ANGRY, OR UPSET.
THE REPORTERS WERE PUZZLED.
THEY SAID, “THIS MAN ALMOST
ENDED YOUR LIFE.
HE PUT YOU THROUGH ALL THIS
PAIN, HOW COULD YOU
POSSIBLY FORGIVE HIM?” RUDY
SAID, “I KNEW THE ONLY WAY
I COULD MOVE FORWARD WAS TO
LET IT GO.
I DIDN'T FORGIVE JUST FOR
HIS SAKE, I DID IT SO THAT
I COULD BE FREE.”
MAYBE YOU'VE HAD BAD BREAKS.
YOU WEREN'T TREATED RIGHT,
IT WASN'T FAIR.
I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO DO
THE OTHER PERSON A FAVOR,
I'M ASKING YOU TO DO
YOURSELF A FAVOR.
FORGIVE SO YOU CAN BE FREE.
FORGIVE SO YOU CAN REACH
YOUR POTENTIAL.
FORGIVE SO YOU CAN SEE THE
BEAUTY FOR ASHES.
DON'T BURY THE TOXINS.
DON'T BURY WHAT THEY DID.
THOSE NEGATIVE FEELINGS ARE
ALIVE.
THEY CAN'T BE CONTAINED.
YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO GOD.
TRUST HIM TO MAKE IT UP TO
YOU.
YOU WEREN'T CREATED TO LIVE
WITH POISONS, WEIGHING YOU
DOWN, CONTAMINATING YOUR
VISION.
YOU WILL RISE SO MUCH
HIGHER, IF YOU'LL GET FREE
FROM THAT.
DAVID HAD ANOTHER GREAT
DISAPPOINTMENT.
HIS NEWBORN BABY BECAME
VERY SICK.
HE WENT HOME AND PRAYED AND
FASTED, ASKED GOD TO HEAL
HIS CHILD.
FOR SEVEN DAYS HE WOULDN'T
EAT, HE DIDN'T SEE ANYONE,
HE WAS CONSUMED WITH THIS
BABY, BELIEVING THAT GOD
WOULD GIVE A MIRACLE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE BABY
DIED.
HIS MEN WERE SO CONCERNED
THAT WHEN THEY TOLD DAVID
HE MIGHT FALL APART. THEY
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
DAVID OVERHEARD THEM AND
ASKED WHAT WAS WRONG.
WHEN HE FOUND OUT THE BABY
DIED, HE GOT UP OFF THE
FLOOR.
THE SCRIPTURE SAYS HE WENT
HOME, WASHED HIS FACE,
DRESSED IN NEW CLOTHES.
THEN HE WENT TO THE TABLE
AND ATE A MEAL.
HIS MEN WERE SO SURPRISED.
THEY SAID, “DAVID WHEN THE
BABY WAS ALIVE, YOU WERE SO
DISTRAUGHT, BUT NOW THAT
THE BABY IS GONE, YOU SEEM
LIKE YOU'RE FINE.” DAVID
SAID, “I CANNOT BRING THE
BABY BACK, BUT ONE DAY I
CAN GO TO BE WHERE HE IS.”
DAVID COULD HAVE BEEN
BITTER, “GOD WHY DIDN'T YOU
ANSWER MY PRAYER, GOD, I'VE
SERVED YOU, I DID THE RIGHT
THING WHEN SAUL WAS CHASING
ME, I'VE TRIED TO HONOR YOU
AND NOW THIS HAPPENED.” NO,
DAVID KNEW TO LET IT GO.
“I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT, IT
WASN'T FAIR, BUT GOD YOU'RE
STILL ON THE THRONE.
I KNOW YOU STILL HAVE GOOD
THINGS IN STORE FOR ME.”
THERE'S A LOT IN LIFE WE'RE
NOT GOING TO UNDERSTAND.
YOU CAN'T GET CAUGHT UP IN
THE WHY'S.
PART OF FAITH IS TRUSTING
WHEN IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
A YEAR LATER, DAVID'S WIFE
HAD ANOTHER BABY.
THEY NAMED HIM SOLOMON.
HE BECAME THE KING AFTER
DAVID, THE HEIR TO THE
THRONE, AND THE WISEST MAN
THAT EVER LIVED.
HAD DAVID STAYED IN
DESPAIR, HAD HE NOT WASHED
HIS FACE, LET GO OF THE
DISAPPOINTMENT, HE WOULD
HAVE NEVER SEEN THE KING
THAT WAS COMING.
IN DIFFICULT TIMES, WHEN
YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU
COULD BE BITTER, IF YOU'LL
JUST LET IT GO AND KEEP
TRUSTING GOD, LIKE DAVID
YOU'LL GIVE BIRTH TO A KING.
SOMETHING GREATER THAN WHAT
YOU'VE IMAGINED, SOMETHING
WHERE YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT
WHAT YOU'VE LOST.
I HEARD A STORY ABOUT THIS
EAGLE.
IT SWOOPED DOWN AND PICKED
UP A MOLE OFF THE GROUND.
IT GRABBED IT WITH ITS
TALONS AND HELD IT CLOSE TO
ITS CHEST. THIS WAS UNUSUAL
BECAUSE AN EAGLE WOULDN'T
NORMALLY PICK UP A MOLE.
THEY EAT FISH AND OTHER
THINGS.
AS THE EAGLE WAS FLYING,
HOLDING THIS MOLE SO CLOSE,
IT BEGAN TO GET TIRED, AND
STARTED GETTING WEAKER.
FLEW LOWER AND LOWER AND
FINALLY HAD TO LAND.
ON THE GROUND, THE EAGLE
LOST ALL OF ITS STRENGTH,
FELL OVER AND DIED.
THE LITTLE MOLE SCURRIED
AWAY UNHARMED.
IT WAS VERY PUZZLING.
A VETERINARIAN DISCOVERED
THE MOLE HAD VERY SUBTLY
BIT INTO THE EAGLE'S CHEST.
THE EAGLE COULDN'T FEEL IT,
BUT IT PUNCTURED THE
EAGLE'S HEART, AND CAUSED
IT TO LOSE BLOOD PRESSURE
AND EVENTUALLY PASS.
ARE YOU HOLDING ON TO
SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T
REALIZE IS KILLING YOU?
ANGER, BITTERNESS, GUILT,
SHAME.
THAT'S DRAINING THE LIFE
OUT OF YOU.
THAT'S TAKING YOUR JOY,
YOUR PEACE, YOUR CREATIVITY.
HOW MUCH HIGHER COULD YOU
FLY, HOW MUCH FURTHER COULD
YOU GO, IF YOU GOT RID OF
THESE THINGS THAT YOU'RE
NOT SUPPOSED TO BE CARRYING?
TODAY CAN BE A TURNING
POINT.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT'S MORE
POWERFUL THAN NEGATIVE
EMOTIONS?
A DECISION.
WHEN YOU LET IT GO, WHEN
YOU WASH YOUR FACE, WHEN
YOU SAY LIKE RUDY T, “I
FORGIVE.” THEN YOU'RE
MOVING TOWARD THE KING
THAT'S IN YOUR FUTURE.
YOU MAY HAVE BURIED SOME
TOXINS; YOU MAY BE CARRYING
SOME THINGS THAT YOU
SHOULDN'T.
THAT'S OKAY.
YOU CAN RELEASE THEM RIGHT
NOW.
THIS IS YOUR TIME TO BE
FREE.
IF YOU'LL DO THIS, I
BELIEVE AND DECLARE, YOU'RE
ABOUT TO SOAR TO NEW
HEIGHTS, NEW DOORS ARE
ABOUT TO OPEN, NEW
FRIENDSHIPS, HEALING,
RESTORATION, BREAKTHROUGHS,
THE FULLNESS OF YOUR
DESTINY, IN JESUS' NAME.
IF YOU RECEIVE IT, CAN YOU
SAY AMEN TODAY?
(APPLAUSE)
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. WE'D LOVE TO
SEND YOU SOME NEW
INFORMATION ON YOUR WALK
WITH THE LORD. JUST TEXT
THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN.
I HOPE YOU'LL GET INTO A
GOOD BIBLE-BASED CHURCH AND
KEEP GOD FIRST PLACE.
