Joel Osteen - Daily Renewal

I want to talk to you today about daily renewal. We all have to deal with stress from everyday life and pressures at work, raising our children. People do us wrong, and we make mistakes. There are plenty of opportunities to get discouraged and live offended or be jealous. These things are like toxins that contaminate our minds and cloud our vision, taking our joy. We can’t stop them from coming, but we don’t have to allow them to stay. Every morning, you need to do a cleansing where you release any worry, forgive the people who wronged you, and come back to a place of peace knowing that God is in control. You start the day in faith, believing that He has good things in store, grateful that you’re alive. That 's how you get rid of all the toxins and everything that will contaminate your life. It needs to be a daily renewal. If you allow discouragement to stay, or if you dwell on feelings of insecurity or offense, it’s going to become a stronghold. It’ll sour your attitude and make you critical; you won’t have creativity because these toxins are poisoning your life. You need to develop this process of release: a habit where you daily forgive, let go of hurts, and renew your mind-reminding yourself of who God says you are. Each day, be grateful and thank God for what He has done. When you have this daily cleansing, things can’t build up. Sure, they’re going to come, but you don’t have to let them stay. The scripture says that God’s mercies are new every morning-not every month, not once a year, but every morning. There 's fresh mercy waiting for you, but you have to receive it. David said, «Each day, I take my requests to God and wait expectantly.» He was saying, «I get up every morning and go to God with my concerns, then I wait in faith, believing that He’s working in my life.» He didn’t let the doubt build up: «God, why am I stuck out here in the shepherd’s fields? I have no future.» When discouragement came to him, or «God, why is Saul chasing me? I haven’t done anything wrong,» offense came, but he understood this principle. Every morning, he had to go through a cleansing, releasing the offense and the discouragement. That 's what kept him from being contaminated, getting bitter, and giving up on his dreams. It was a daily renewal. The psalmist said, «Joy comes in the morning.» During the day, doubt may come, worry may come, a tough day at the office, or a medical report that hasn’t improved. Those toxic thoughts can bring fear, discouragement, and our spirits can become heavy, our minds contaminated. You have the grace to handle what comes each day, but you don’t have the grace to carry that burden into the next day and the next. Joy is there, but it won’t do you any good if you’re holding on to the negative. You have to go through this cleansing where you release everything that is bothering you. Release the lies telling you that it’s never going to change; release the offense, the guilt. Joy is waiting for you. God hand-delivered it, but you have to receive it. When you wake up, say, «Father, thank You for this day. Thank You for giving me breath to breathe. Thank You that Your plans for me are for good. I know You've made this day. I’m going to choose to rejoice. I’m going to live this day happily.» See, Paul said in 2 Corinthians, «Even though the outward man is perishing, the inner man is being renewed day by day.» Notice, not month by month, but daily. There needs to be a renewal. But I wonder how many of us are carrying things that are contaminating us, souring our attitudes, and straining our relationships-guilt and shame that we don’t have to carry. How much freer would you live? How much happier would you be-more creative, more productive-if you started this daily cleansing, releasing all the toxins, and beginning the day positively, hopefully, gratefully, and in peace? This is how you’re going to reach your highest potential- not by trying to pray away all the difficult people: «God, don’t let me be offended; don’t let them offend me again,» or «God, You’ve got to change this situation, or I’m going to get discouraged. I have to have this contract at work .» Those things may not happen the way we would like, and there may be some frustration, worry, or offense that comes. That 's okay. In the morning, say, «God, I release this out of my spirit. I come back to a place of peace. God, I know You’re ordering my steps. I trust You.» That 's a cleansing. You just washed out those toxins and put on a fresh new attitude. You come back to the right perspective.

I read an article about how the body naturally cleanses itself. A leading expert said one reason we sleep is to cleanse the brain. When we’re asleep, there are fluids flowing through our brain that flush out the waste that accumulates during the day. It is critical that these toxins are washed out; if not, they can build up and contribute to Alzheimer’s and all kinds of diseases. It 's significant that the body does this while we sleep; it happens automatically, and we don’t have to do anything. God created the brain to be renewed and refreshed every night. While that happens physically, mentally, God expects us to do it. Your mind, your thoughts, your attitudes are not going to renew on their own. God said day by day you need to renew them; if not, it’s just like the physical: these toxins are going to build up and cause harm. Sometimes we wonder why we don’t have the joy we used to, why we’re so tired, or why we’re critical and jealous. It’s not that we are bad people or that something is wrong with us; we’re just not doing this cleansing. All these things that were supposed to be there for 24 hours or less have stayed with us into the next day and the next, and then a week, a month; now it’s clouded our vision. We go around worried and upset, trying to pay people back, thinking that our dreams are impossible. All of that would change if we could get into the habit of daily renewal: daily releasing worries, daily forgiving wrongs, daily being grateful, and thanking God for what He has done. David said, «Early in the morning my song of praise rises to You.» David had all these things come against him. You remember his father, as a teenager, didn’t believe in him enough to call him in from the shepherd’s fields when Samuel came to choose one of the sons as the next king; he thought David was too small, not king material, and that he would never do anything great. David felt the sting of rejection and being looked down upon. When he took lunch to his brothers, who were in the army in another city, instead of being grateful, his oldest brother made fun of him, saying in front of all the soldiers, «What are you doing here? What did you do with those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of?» He belittled him and tried to make him feel small. Even when David wanted to fight Goliath, the king said, «David, you’re just a boy. You don’t have a chance.» During the day, all these toxins came against David-things the enemy designed to try to contaminate his life. Every morning, he went through a cleansing; he didn’t wait a week and stew over what his brother said or be angry for a month with his father or be offended at King Saul for a year. That 's not right, God; why did this happen? No, he had the habit of daily renewal. When he woke up, he released the hurt, released the doubt and discouragement. He got his mind into an attitude of faith. And yes, he had good reason to feel polluted, but instead of letting those toxins stay, he was writing some of the great psalms that we quote today. «This is the day the Lord has made.» He’s the one who wrote that! He could have doubted and given up on his dreams, but instead, he got up in the morning and wrote another psalm: «Though I am surrounded by trouble, God, you will bring me safely through.» When he made mistakes, he had an affair and got off course. He could have lived guilty in shame and faded off into the sunset. Can you imagine? Every morning, the accuser came, saying, «David, you’re finished. You’re done. You blew it. You can’t expect God to bless you.» All these toxins were so strong and powerful, trying to stop his destiny. But David knew this secret. He said in Psalm 51, «Create in me a clean heart, O God; renew a right spirit within me. Cleanse me from my shame; wash me from my iniquity.» Notice his words: renew me, cleanse me, wash me. Yes, he was guilty; he didn’t deserve it. But he knew that God’s mercy is new every morning, and he received the renewal.

And we’ve all made mistakes and done things that should limit our destiny. But instead of acting like David, we often behave as if God’s mercy is new every decade. Maybe in ten years, I’ll forgive myself. Joel, if you knew what I had done, maybe then I would feel better about myself. Some people act like God’s mercy is new every century. Joel, I missed my chance; it’s too late for me. Can I give you some good news? His mercy is new every morning. You can have a new beginning each day; you can start fresh and anew right now. The scripture says to put on the new man. You have to adopt a new attitude, put on a fresh perspective, and embrace a better way of thinking. It’s not going to come to you; there’s something you have to do. I had to put this coat on today; it didn’t jump out of the closet and come find me. «Hey, Joel, wear me! I’ll look good!» It would have hung on that shelf for years unless I went to it and deliberately put it on. Sometimes we wait for mercy to come to us-waiting for confidence, waiting for a good mood. I know people who are waiting to feel forgiveness before they forgive the person who hurt them. Do yourself a favor; don’t wait any longer. Put on the new man. The mercy is available; get it off the shelf. The joy comes every morning; it’s waiting for you when you wake up. The forgiveness to release the hurt is there now. Do your part and start putting it on for daily renewal. Paul said in Ephesians to put on the armor of God. You have to get up and get dressed each morning. Put on the breastplate of God’s approval, knowing that He is pleased with you, that He is proud of you, and that you are the apple of His eye. Put on the helmet of salvation, knowing that you’re forgiven, that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that heaven is your home, and that Jesus has gone ahead of you and has already prepared a place for you-it’s awaiting your arrival. Put on that shield of faith every morning, and thank the Father that you are fighting my battles, that no weapon formed against you will prosper, and that you are well able to do what He has called you to do. How about putting on the shoes of peace? I’m going to stay calm, cool, and collected, no matter what comes my way today. It makes a difference how you start the day. Don’t start at negative and defeated, saying, «I don’t want to go to work,» or «I can’t stand my boss.» These kids get on my nerves, and it’s so bad my back’s still hurting. That mindset is going to draw in defeat and discouragement; it’s going to drain your energy, lessen your creativity, and push people away. Try a different approach: «Lord, I thank You that this is going to be a great day. You said goodness and mercy are following me, that Your blessings will chase me down.» Father, I thank You that it’s going to be a blessed, productive, favor-filled day. You know what? That 's going to draw in good breaks and divine connections. Paul said in Philippians to think on things that are wholesome, pure, and of good report. You get to choose what you’re going to think about. You can focus on things that discourage you, on how big your problems are, things that make you feel unworthy-how you blew it, things that upset you, and make you bitter. What that family member said, that coworker who took your credit-those are all toxins that will intimidate your life. Maybe you’ve been through hurts and bad breaks; every morning, thoughts will come: «Look at what they did to you! They ruined your life! That is not fair!» You have the choice; you can dwell on it and think about how wrong it is. That 's going to bring bitterness and self-pity; it’s going to make you critical and unfriendly. You have to get those toxins out.

In Ephesians 5, it says God cleanses us by the washing of water with His word. Just like that water washes the brain each night, removing waste and keeping the brain healthy, God’s word will wash your mind and cleanse it from toxins, doubts, and worries. One of the best ways to experience this daily renewal is by declaring what God says about you. When you speak His promises over your life, family, health, and finances, you wash away those contaminants. Instead of dwelling on all the hurts and negative things, the way to keep bitterness away is by remembering, «Father, you said you have beauty for these ashes. You said you would pay me back double for the unfair things; what was meant for my harm you are turning to my advantage .»

When you speak God’s word, a cleansing takes place; it’s washing away what tries to pollute you. Water has cleansing power, just like in nature. If you’ve been out all day-working, running errands, exercising-you get dirty. What if you said, «I’m not going to take a shower for a few weeks; I’ll probably be alright»? You wouldn’t have any friends; your family wouldn’t want to be around you; you’d smell bad and look bad. That 's why most people take a shower or bath every day or so; you have to wash off. I hope all of us do! You have to wash off what the day put on you.

It’s the same principle with our thoughts. During the day, you’re going to get dirty-stress, cranky co-workers, and traffic; and maybe a contract didn’t go through. You have to wash off the doubt, the worry, and the offense. The way you wash is not with physical water, but with the water of God’s word. You declare what He says about you; that’s what cleanses you from the toxins and takes away the dirt, shame, and discouragement.

«Well, Joel, I did that back in 2008.» That 's why nobody wants to be around you; that’s why people can become bitter and sarcastic-they haven’t washed away the toxins. «Well, Joel, once a month I try to have a quiet time; I try to have a better attitude.» If you took a shower once a month, you wouldn’t like yourself. If you never wash the dirt off your mind, you’re not going to like yourself. This needs to be a daily renewal.

When you get out of bed, even in your thoughts, say, «God, I’m grateful to be alive! I recognize that you chose me before I could choose you. I thank you that I’m strong, healthy, anointed, and victorious.» It’s not complicated-that’s washing away toxins. When those thoughts tell you you’ll never get well, and you saw the medical report, you have the cleanser. You know how to wash away the doubt: «Father, thank you that you’re restoring health to me, that the number of my days you will fulfill.» You just washed away that dirt.

When thoughts whisper you’ll never see your dreams come to pass, or that you don’t have the finances, or that your family struggles, if you let the negative stay, those toxins will create strongholds that keep you from rising higher. You take a shower every day; how about showering your mind every day using the water of God’s word? «Father, you said I would lend and not borrow, that what I touch will prosper and succeed, that I live under the open windows of Heaven, with blessings I cannot contain .» That changes your whole perspective from a «not going to make it» mentality to an abundant mentality.

I talked to a man who was so down on himself. He had been very successful, but he had gone through a breakup and faced some setbacks in his business. He lost his passion and didn’t feel valuable, as though he deserved to be blessed. He told me how he was just surviving, making it through. The enemy loves to try to steal our value and our sense of worth, but nothing that has happened to you has changed who you are. No mistake you’ve made or how someone else treated you diminishes your worth. You are still a child of the Most High; he created you in his own image. What people did, what they said, and how they tried to make you feel does not lessen your value. They didn’t create you; they don’t control your worth-God does. That 's why it’s so important to develop the habit of daily renewal, daily reminding yourself of who you are. If you don’t tell yourself who you are, the enemy will tell you you’re not good enough, not worthy, not attractive, and that you don’t have a good personality. You have to get all those toxins out every morning: «Father, I want to thank you that I am fearfully and wonderfully made, that I am a masterpiece, that I have royal blood flowing through my veins, and that you have crowned me with your favor.» Every time you say that, it washes away insecurity and the lies that keep you from becoming this masterpiece. Now, nobody can do this for you; only you can renew your mind. You have to put on the new man: the valuable, attractive, talented, smart, victorious you-that’s who God made you to be. David had to fight with thoughts of feeling invaluable, too small, not important. They whispered, «You’re not up to par, David; you have a disadvantage, and you don’t have what your brothers have.» This could have stopped his destiny, but listen to what David wrote in Psalm 139. It almost sounds arrogant, but when you understand what he was dealing with, it makes sense. He was washing off low self-esteem and negative words spoken over him. He said, «God, you have made me in an amazing way; what you have done is wonderful. I know this very well.» In the midst of all the negative chatter and thoughts telling him what he wasn’t, he said, «God, I praise you because you’ve made me wonderful; you’ve made me amazing.» He wasn’t bragging on himself; he was bragging on what God had done. When those lies come, trying to devalue you and make you feel like you’re not attractive or not up to par, instead of letting that dirt cloud your life, you need to do like David: get the water of God’s word and wash it off. «Father, thank you that you’ve made me amazing, that I am a masterpiece, worthy, valuable, talented, anointed, and a prized possession.» That 's cleansing the inferiority and washing away the not valuable lies.

When we get up in the morning, we all take time to get dressed and ready for the day: brush our teeth, pick out some clothes, and eat some breakfast. We may spend, I don’t know, maybe half an hour getting our physical selves ready, but do we spend any time getting our inner selves ready? It has to be renewed day by day, not month by month. There should be a moment every morning where we cleanse ourselves of any toxins and put on a fresh new attitude instead of just rushing out of the house, «Man, I’ve got to get to work,» heading to the TV, the phone, or the computer. Why not take a few moments to thank God for what He has done in your life and to remind yourself who you are? Clear out any negativity-don’t carry it into another day. Turn it over to God. Cleanse your mind from the doubtful thoughts telling you you’ll never meet the right person, never get well, or never break that addiction. Don’t let those toxins linger; they’ll build up and keep you from your destiny. You know this secret: wash it away with the water of God’s Word. Father, I want to thank You that a divine connection is coming. You said no good thing will You withhold because I walk uprightly. Whatever is trying to cloud your vision and bring doubt, find a scripture that you can stand on, and stand firm-not just once in a while, but all through the day, thanking God that He’s working and that He will do what He promised. Your mind is going to be busy with something; don’t let the negative take control. You take control and fill it with faith, hope, and victory. When Moses sent 12 men to spy out the promised land, 10 of them came back and said, «Moses, we don’t have a chance; the people are huge; we felt like grasshoppers compared to them.» These people had seen God deliver them out of slavery and send plagues on their oppressors. They were right next door but were not harmed; it was supernatural. They had seen the Red Sea part and Manna in the desert-food every morning, water coming out of a rock. You would think they’d be full of faith- bold, knowing that God was on their side. But this is what happens when we don’t wash out the toxins: we allow negative thoughts to linger. They build up and distort who we are, convincing us to shrink back, thinking, «Man, my problem’s too big.» These people never did make it into the promised land. This all would have been different if they had learned to do a daily cleansing, reminding themselves of who they were and putting on that new self. There may be things that have built up in your mind telling you the giants are too big and you can’t accomplish your dreams. Those strongholds have been there long enough; this is your time to get free. The good news is you have the solution: you can wash that off with the water of God’s Word. I’m asking you to do a daily cleansing every morning-release the negative, release the worry, the hurts, and come back to a place of peace knowing that God has you in the palm of His hand. He has not brought you this far to leave you. The enemy is whispering those lies to try to deceive you into missing your promised land. Wash those toxins away by declaring what God says about you: you are strong, talented, and well able. If you’ll develop this habit of daily renewal, I believe and declare strongholds that have held you back are coming down right now. You’re about to step into greater joy, peace, negative situations are turning around, the right people are showing up, and you’ll feel the fullness of your destiny in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say «Amen» today? Amen, I receive it as well.