Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hi, this is Joel and Victoria. Thanks for listening to our podcast and thanks for supporting the ministry. If you enjoyed today's message, why don't you be a blessing and share it with a friend? We appreciate you and pray for God's very best in your life. Well, God bless you and great to be with you today.
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 like to start with something funny and I heard about this lady that was out shopping with her husband. He asked her to not buy any more new clothes.
She saw this outfit in the store window and decided to try it on and she liked it so much she secretly bought it. A couple of days later, the husband discovered it. He said, honey, I asked you to not buy any more clothes. She said, well, I didn't mean to, but when I tried it on, it looked so good, Satan tempted me and I just couldn't resist it.
He said, why didn't you use the scripture and say, get behind me, Satan? She said, I did, but he told me it looked even better from a distance. 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 freedom from your past. We've all had negative experiences that could hold us back, mistakes we've made, times we've compromised and done things we shouldn't. We can end up living in regrets, guilty, down on ourselves. Sometimes it's what other people have done to us, hurts, betrayals, what they said, and
They've left scars and wounds that contain our future, cause us to feel inferior, not worthy. Some people have gone through trauma, dysfunction, a rough childhood, a toxic relationship. They can take on this false sense of responsibility, thinking they're to blame. Hey, I must not be good enough or they wouldn't have treated me that way. It's easy to become imprisoned by our past.
Well, we don't move forward. We have these skeletons in our closet. We live afraid, in hiding. What if someone finds out? There's going to be shame and embarrassment. Here's the good news. Nothing in your past has to stop your future. No mistake you've made is too much for the mercy of God. No hurt you've been through, no injustice, no trauma has stopped what God has purposed for you.
He has beauty for those ashes, but you have to step into it. You can't live looking in the rear view mirror and reach your destiny. How much power are you giving to your past? Guilt, hurts, mistakes, the threats? When we've been through negative things, it's easy to develop a fear that it's going to happen again. Don't get in that new relationship. You may get hurt another time.
You can't be in leadership. You can't accomplish your dreams. You've made too many mistakes. That's the enemy doing what he does best, trying to convince you to use your past to shrink back so you won't become who you were created to be. Don't believe those lies. You know who wrote almost half of the books in the New Testament? A man named Paul. He used to be called Saul.
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Chapter 2: What does it mean to be free from your past?
Studies show how trauma can be passed down. Things that your ancestors dealt with. You weren't even born, but your DNA can be affected. Researchers studied the Holocaust survivors. The people that went through it weren't just traumatized, but they found their children, their grandchildren, down generations were still experiencing the fears, the threats, the triggers, even though they were safe.
Even though it was behind them, they still had to deal with the feelings, the thoughts, the imaginations. It wasn't like they're just being weak. Come on, get over it. These were real issues, not just mental, but biological. Their DNA was affected.
You may wonder why you have to deal with certain tendencies, low self-esteem, can't trust people in a relationship, always afraid they're going to leave, or not thinking anything good will ever happen, like a spirit of oppression makes you want to shrink back. Those can be traits that have been passed down. Here's the key.
Chapter 3: How can we overcome guilt and regrets from our past?
God has raised you up to break them. You're the one to put a stop to generational limitations and to start generational blessings. Just as trauma, dysfunctions, wounds can be passed down, so can blessings, favor, confidence, victory. You don't have to let the past dictate your future. You can break free and set a new standard. Genesis 11 tells the story of the Tower of Babel.
It's believed that Nimrod is the one who built it. It's a huge skyscraper that reached up to the heavens. Many Jewish scholars believe the reason Nimrod built this tower was not just to get close to God, but to have a high place to go to in case it flooded again. He was building this structure out of fear so he could escape what could be coming.
He didn't have a big boat like his great grandfather, but he had this tower. He didn't realize God had promised the earth would never flood again. He had heard all about the water, but he hadn't heard about the rainbow. How many things are we planning out of fear of what's happened in the past? I can't break this addiction. All my relatives struggle with it. I'll never have lasting relationships.
We all go through breakups. Or I can't take this step of faith. Yo, nobody in my family's successful. We're doing like Nimrod, building up walls and defenses based on negative things in the past. It's interesting that God brought the Tower of Babel down. They couldn't finish it. It ended up being destroyed. We've all been through floods, have hurts, made mistakes.
There may be negative things that have been passed down, but God is showing us here, you don't have to live in fear of the past. What if it happens again? What if someone finds out? What if that threat comes to pass? I better shrink back, put up some walls, make plans for defeat. No, don't be a Nimrod. I almost said a nincompoop. Don't be a Nimrod.
Don't spend your life fearing the past, paralyzed by what might happen. You can't step into your future if you're building towers of Babel. trying to escape the next flood, afraid of what could happen. No, when the fear of your past tries to hold you back, get you discouraged, look up in the sky. By faith, see that rainbow. God is saying, it's not gonna flood again. I've taken care of your past.
I've cleaned your closets. I've forgiven your mistakes. I've planned beauty for the ashes, joy for the mourning, healing for the hurts, new beginnings for that loss. Don't waste your time building a tower of Babel, making plans to escape the hurts, to escape the trauma, escape the flood. If you're going to build anything, build a tower of hope, a tower of faith.
Believe that your past is forgiven, that the threats are gone, that what's held you back has been broken, that you are free to step into the favor, the blessing, the joy that God has destined for you. When the Israelites were delivered out of slavery, they left Egypt and headed toward the promised land. After years of abuse and mistreatment, these 2 million people were finally free.
As they were leaving, I can see them rejoicing, giving high fives, so excited. But then the Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army chasing after them. Well, Pharaoh represents the past, the hurts, the traumas, the injustice.
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Chapter 4: What role does God's mercy play in our past mistakes?
The past will always come chasing you. The Israelites were trying to get into their future. They knew God had opened this door, but they couldn't escape the past. Pharaoh's men were catching up and they could hear the hoof prints from the horses getting closer and closer.
Anytime you try to move forward, don't be surprised if you hear the past chasing you, reminding you of the mistakes you've made. You can't expect anything good. You don't deserve it. The hurts, the wrongs, those that walked away, it's going to happen again. Those are the hoof prints, the enemy whispering lies, trying to get you paralyzed by the past.
The Israelites came to a dead end at the Red Sea. Their past caught up with them. The Pharaoh and all the chariots just a few miles away looked like they'd be recaptured. But God will never let your past dictate your future. He will always make a way of escape. You may hear the hoof prints of your past chasing you now. You try to move forward, but there's always that guilt.
Fear, that nagging feeling you're going to get hurt again or that mistake will always haunt you. Can't seem to get past your past. That's what happened to the Israelites. They had nowhere to go. Then suddenly the Red Sea parted. God made a way where they didn't see a way. These two million people walked through on dry ground. That could have been the end of the story.
The waters closed up, kept the Pharaoh and his army on the other side. That would have been a great miracle. But God knew the Israelites would always be looking over their shoulders, living in fear, knowing that Pharaoh's army could show up at any minute. God didn't want them to be focused on the past. living with that threat, wondering what might happen. So he left the Red Sea open.
Pharaoh's army came chasing full speed ahead. I'm sure the Israelites thought, oh great, they're going to catch us now. We made it through, but they're faster than us. But then right on cue, the walls of water came crashing down. All the enemy drowned. Not one of them survived. Now the Israelites never had to fear the Pharaoh again. The threat was gone.
Maybe you've had some hoof prints chasing you. And every time you try to move the head, you hear the past coming, reminding you of all your mistakes, the threats, what's not going to work out. Like God did for them, he's taken care of your past. You don't have to live looking over your shoulder, letting those hoof prints cause you to shrink back, trying to build a tower in case it happens again.
This is a new day. That threat has been taken care of. Now here's the key. You have to change the images you're allowing in your mind. Many times we're letting negative memories play. times we've been hurt, trauma we've experienced, that DNA that's passed down of what our relatives went through.
That's on the movie screen of our mind, reminding us of the hurts, the failures, but you can't move forward when you're looking back. Turn off all those images and start seeing yourself blessed, happy, in great relationships, accomplishing your dreams, rising to new levels. See, the enemy wanted the Israelites to always see themselves as runaway slaves.
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Chapter 5: What lessons can we learn from the story of Nimrod?
They don't determine your destiny. God does. But if you're rehearsing negative voices, that's going to create a stronghold that will keep you from the great things that belong to you. You have to get in agreement with God. Reprogram your thinking with what he says about you. When Moses was a young man, he knew he was supposed to deliver the Israelites out of slavery.
He was born a Hebrew, but he was raised in Egypt in the palace by the Pharaoh's daughter. One day he saw an Egyptian foreman mistreating a Hebrew slave. He didn't think anyone was watching. He's gonna stand up for the Hebrews and he killed the foreman. You can do the right thing at the wrong time and it's a mistake. People saw what Moses did. He had to flee for his life.
He spent years hiding in the desert, running from a mistake, running from his past. I'm sure he felt guilty, down on himself, thinking that he had missed his destiny. For 40 years, he hid his gifts, hid his talents, hid his dreams. Anytime he tried to move forward, there was the past. Look what you've done, Moses. You don't deserve to be blessed. You blew it.
And sure, there are consequences for bad choices. He had to take a detour into the desert, but mistakes don't cancel your destiny. God doesn't write you off because you're not where you're supposed to be. He's going to give you another chance to do what he's called you to do. After 40 years, God showed up in a burning bush, said, Moses, now is the time to deliver my people.
Go tell the Pharaoh to let them go. I can imagine Moses thought, no, thanks God. I'm not going back there. They know what I did. I'll get arrested. I'll be put in prison. I could be killed. He was saying, God, I've got all these skeletons in my closet. I need to stay in hiding where it's safe so no one will find out. God has a way of cleaning your closets.
You don't have to live haunted by your past and afraid to move forward. His mercy will cover your mistakes. Moses was telling God all the reasons he couldn't do it and how he'd been through too much and the opposition was too big. God said to him in Exodus 4, do not be afraid to return to Egypt for all those who were trying to kill you are dead.
Moses was living in hiding, afraid of what might happen, running from his mistakes. God showed up and said, Moses, I've already taken care of your past. All those things that could have harmed you, I put a stop to it. Are you doing like Moses, running from your past, hiding because of mistakes, living in regrets?
God is saying to you what he said to him, don't be afraid, I've taken care of your past. You don't have to live feeling guilty, unworthy, afraid of what someone will say. God has you covered. Get back in the game. There's not a mistake you've made that has stopped your purpose. You may hear some hoofprints of Pharaoh's army.
past chasing you, reminding you of the hurts, the trauma, all that is headed to the Red Sea. God is taking care of every threat, every mistake, every injustice, the negative things in your past, that's dead. What's trying to stop you is done. Now you have to do your part and go back to Egypt. That means go back to dreaming. Go back to loving the people God's given you.
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Chapter 6: How can we break free from generational trauma?
That's when you'll see doors open, healing begins to come, breakthroughs in your family. Don't let doubt hold you back. Pray it forward.
As our way of saying thank you for your gift of any amount, we'd love to send you a copy of Pray It Forward, guided prayers for faith and breakthrough. Inspired by real-life answered prayers, Pray It Forward will help you speak God's promises over your life and over the people you love, trusting that when you ask in faith, God is already at work preparing victory ahead of you.
You can take these prayers and scriptures and pray them forward. They'll build a momentum of faith that carries you past obstacles and into the promises God has spoken over your life. As you meditate on these truths, you won't be tossed back and forth by finances, health challenges, or relationship struggles. Instead, you'll be able to boldly pray with faith that is immovable and strong.
And you'll be filled with peace, assurance, and joy. Don't let circumstances control your future. Pray the truth of God's Word forward in faith, and watch the mountains in your life begin to move.
When you pray the promises, what God has spoken over your life, those are powerful prayers, and that's when God shows up and does what only He can do. Thanks so much for being with us. Victoria and I pray for you and your family every day. We appreciate your prayer and support. Your generosity helps us take this message of hope to people around the world.
A special thank you to our Champion of Hope partners for all you do to make the ministry possible. If you're not a partner, I hope you'll consider becoming one. But until we meet again, may the Lord bless you and keep you.
Be sure to request your copy of Pray It Forward, Guided Prayers for Faith and Breakthrough, available this month by simply visiting us at joelostein.com or call 888-567-JOEL. You can also receive the Pray It Forward Companion Prayer Journal, designed to help you engage in Scripture, personalize faith-filled prayers, and put God's promises into action.
With an additional gift, you can receive the Pray It Forward Prayers Essential Collection that centers around a prayer bowl with scripture cards designed to help you physically release what's been weighing on your heart.
This collection creates a powerful prayer rhythm for your life, helping you focus your thoughts, speak God's Word boldly, and stay anchored in hope when circumstances try to shake you. You can request these inspiring resources by calling 888-567-JOEL or logging on to joelosteen.com today. Call or click anytime, 24 hours a day.
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