Why I Stopped Listening to Joel Osteen (and others like him)

Or his huge smile.
Possibly it was the affirming way that he spoke.
Whatever the case, I was a fan of Joel Osteen – for a while.
One day in particular, (about 8 years ago) I liked his message so much that I actually got out my notebook and took notes.
He was speaking on this topic:
“God really wants to bless you.
He wants to give you your heart’s desire.”
So, I pulled out my notepad and wrote out all sorts of great quotes and suggestions from this preacher in south Texas.
Everything he said was so encouraging!
At one point in the message, he told a story.
In this story, he shared how his wife had found a certain house that she loved. She began to pray that God would give her this particular house.
Each time they’d walk by the house or drive by the house, they’d claim it as their own, knowing God was going to give them the house.
Joel closed his message by suggesting that everyone listening to the sound of his voice, do this same thing.
He said,
“Ask God to give you your heart’s desire.
Invite Him to bless you with those things you most love and want.
He wants to be good to you.
He wants to bless you.”
For you see, we had left our dream home after ONLY living there for 11 months.
We’d planned the home, consulted in the construction, and chosen every item from the light switches to the trims to the dimensions of the rooms.
That beautiful home was built on a wooded one-acre lot in the most quaint and peaceful community.
We hoped to grow old in that house.
He moved us from that dream home to a very small apartment in a large city with no yard. This apartment sits in the middle of a loud and busy area.
It was quite a change!
And, on that Sunday morning, I took what Joel Osteen said to heart.
So, I began to pray for that new home.
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I fasted in prayer for that home.
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I asked friends to pray for that home for us.
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Often, I asked God for a home.
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Many times, I literally begged God for a home.
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I believed God for a home.
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I had one picked out that I knew would be perfect for us.
And, God didn’t answer our prayers as He’d answered Victoria Osteen’s prayers.
Truly, we knew He wanted to bless us, but He did not choose to bless us with a house for a very long time.
In fact, we lived in a small apartment for over 7 years without even the prospect of a change in address.
It was not our dream home or that specific home for which I had prayed.
But, it was a good home for our family and for our needs.
And, it was an answer to our prayers.
Does God always answer our prayers in the way we think He will? Click To Tweet
Pray until God gives you what you want or until He changes your want-er. Click To Tweet
He knows best.
Our heavenly Father is all-wise.
He is completely sovereign.
The Lord is God, and He can do whatever He wants to do. Click To Tweet
“Remember this…
Had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are in, divine love would have put you there.”
Remember this… Had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are in, divine love would have put you there. Click To Tweet
If I search the pages of my Bible, I find that the central focus of prayer is NOT about us and our will, but about God and His will. Click To Tweet
However, we aren’t promised perfection, material wealth, everything we want, perfectly sunshiny days, and blue skies.
We aren’t promised that our prayers will always be answered in the way we wish that they would.
We aren’t promised that our prayers will always be answered in the way we wish that they would. Click To Tweet
Sometimes, prayer goes unanswered.
And, sometimes, the rains and the storms come.
Sometimes, God says NO.
And, sometimes, He has something better for us.
Sometimes, God has something better for us. Click To Tweet
It’s pretty simple really.
I pray the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. It’s a wonderful model.
I pray the prayer of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. It’s a wonderful model. Click To Tweet
Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed,
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.
Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
(Matthew 26:39)
Not my will, Lord, but Yours be done. Click To Tweet
How have you been praying?
What have you been asking God for desperately?
How can I pray for you today?
What Can You Do When Life is Confusing?
What to do When You Are Ready to Pray Powerful Prayers
5 Keys to Answered Prayer
How Does God Answer My Prayers?
How Does God Answer My Prayers – Part 2?
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