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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Say Goodbye To Career Regrets

May 29, 2025 | 27:29

Robert Jeffress - Say Goodbye To Career Regrets
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Say Goodbye To Career Regrets | May 29, 2025
  • ...
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Male announcer: from the pulpit of the first baptist church
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  • Of dallas, texas, this is "pathway to victory"
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  • With dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Dr. robert jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress, and welcome
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  • Again to "pathway to victory."
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  • Every day, millions of americans wake up, get in their cars, and
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  • Commute to their nine-to-five job, then after a long day's
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  • Work, members of the workforce return home feeling tired, and
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  • In many cases, empty.
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  • Is it possible to turn the daily grind into a source of purpose
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  • And satisfaction?
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  • My message is titled, "say goodbye to career regrets," on
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  • Today's edition of "pathway to victory."
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  • Announcer: god doesn't want you to carry around the weight of
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  • Sins he's already forgiven.
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  • In his bestselling book, "say goodbye to regret," dr. robert
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  • Jeffress helps you live beyond the would-haves, could-haves,
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  • And should-haves to embrace the future god has planned for you.
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  • You can't undo the past, but there's plenty you can do to
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  • Reshape tomorrow and eternity.
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  • Discover the biblical secrets for regret-free living when you
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  • Request the book, "say goodbye to regret."
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  • Thank you for giving generously to "pathway to victory."
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Jeffress: may i let you in on a poorly kept secret?
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  • Most people hate their jobs.
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  • Maybe hate's a little too strong of a word.
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  • Most people are dissatisfied with their jobs.
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  • And that's not my opinion, it's a fact.
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  • One major university did a survey of 250,000 workers in
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  • Every field of work imaginable, and found that 80% of them said
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  • They were dissatisfied with their jobs.
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  • Which is tragic when you consider that most people spend
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  • 60% of their waking hours at their job.
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  • Which means that our jobs are fertile fields of regret.
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  • And today, as we continue our series, "say goodbye to
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  • Regrets," we're going to talk about how to say goodbye to
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  • Regrets about our jobs, our careers.
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  • Now, you have to ask the question, and it's a legitimate
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  • Question, does god even care about this topic?
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  • Does god care about what we do?
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  • Does god care about how we feel about our jobs?
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  • You know, it's interesting, some people, christians, have such
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  • A warped idea of work, an unbiblical idea.
  • 00:02:45.622 --> 00:02:49.559
  • Some christians view work as a curse from god.
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  • They say, "boy, if adam hadn't sinned in the garden, we could
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  • Just be, you know, relaxing and eating bonbons forever,
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  • You know?
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  • But old adam fell, and so we got to work as a curse."
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  • That's not biblical.
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  • God's plan for work began before the fall.
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  • God put adam and eve in the garden to keep it and to what?
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  • To work, to cultivate it.
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  • Some people are wrong to view work as a curse.
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  • Other people say, "well, okay, my job has value to the extent
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  • It gives me the opportunity to share the gospel.
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  • If it gives me a platform, if only once every month, i have a
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  • Chance to share with a coworker, that makes my work valuable.
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  • But what about all the other time?
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  • Those opportunities are few and far between."
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  • No, i believe the bible says our work, our vocation, whatever it
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  • Is, is a calling from god.
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  • It's not just pastors, evangelists, and missionaries
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  • Who are called by god, we all have a call from god, and we're
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  • Going to talk about that today.
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  • But before we talk about how to minimize regrets about work,
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  • Let's talk about some reasons people are dissatisfied with
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  • Their job.
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  • What is it that causes regrets?
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  • First of all, the wrong choice of a career.
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  • The wrong choice of a career.
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  • In another survey, 693 workers were polled, and over half of
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  • Them said they had chosen the wrong job.
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  • Now, there are a lot of reasons people end up choosing the wrong
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  • Job or think they have.
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  • A major reason is they have felt pressured into a job by somebody
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  • They respect.
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  • A well-meaning parent, teacher, counselor, pastor, might say to
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  • Us at some point, "you know, i can really see you doing such
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  • And such," and people wanting to please their authority figure
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  • End up going into a line of work they're really not called to do.
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  • You know, i wanna be real clear about this.
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  • As parents, we do have a responsibility to help our
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  • Children discover their gifts and the best use of that gift.
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  • In proverbs 22:6, remember solomon's words.
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  • "train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he
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  • Will not depart from it."
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  • Most people misinterpret that verse.
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  • That phrase, "in the way he should go," is not talking about
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  • His moral or spiritual direction, if you teach children
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  • The right thing, they'll do the right thing, that's not what
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  • That verse is talking about.
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  • That hebrew phrase, "in the way he should go," literally means
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  • Train up a child according to his individual bent, his
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  • Interest, his giftedness, because ultimately, that's the
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  • Way he will end up going.
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  • Practically speaking, if you have a child who's interested in
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  • Dance, let her give up her piano lessons if she hates the piano
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  • And pursue ballet.
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  • If you've got somebody, a child who is mesmerized by a computer,
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  • Sits in front of a computer for hours at a time, don't tell him
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  • He has to go be on a football team if he has no interest
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  • In that.
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  • Help him maximize his technological pursuits.
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  • That's what the bible is saying.
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  • As parents, we ought to train our children according to their
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  • Giftedness, but we shouldn't pressure them into a job.
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  • You know, one of the things i appreciate about my parents is
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  • They did not pressure me to become a pastor.
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  • For the first 15 years of my life, almost out of the womb, i
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  • Knew what i was going to do or thought i was going to do.
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  • I was going in a particular direction, and when i got where
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  • I could read, i would read every journal, every book on the topic
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  • I could read about, but when i was 15, god had a different plan
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  • For me he told me.
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  • He called me to be a pastor, completely different from
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  • Anything i had planned to do.
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  • And i remember telling my dad first, and telling my mom, not
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  • Knowing how they would respond at all to that, and they both
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  • Independently said the same thing when i told them.
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  • They said, "robert, we knew from the day you were born this was
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  • God's plan for your life, but we never said anything to you about
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  • It because we wanted to make sure it was the holy spirit
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  • Calling you and not us."
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  • So, there's a balance there, parents, but a lot of people
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  • Choose the wrong careers because they have been pressured into
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  • It, and that can cause regrets about their job.
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  • A second cause of regrets is the lack of perceived success.
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  • If somebody isn't experiencing much success in their career,
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  • They start to regret it.
  • 00:07:33.509 --> 00:07:36.512
  • And sometimes that lack of success is because of the wrong
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  • Definition of success, but it can also be because of a lack of
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  • Diligence in the job that they're doing, and we'll talk
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  • About that more in just a moment.
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  • A third reason for regrets about work is excessive time spent
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  • At work.
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  • Now, i'm gonna say this several times in the next 25 minutes so
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  • Nobody misunderstands it.
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  • It's possible to spend too much time at your job, but it's also
  • 00:08:04.473 --> 00:08:09.178
  • Possible to spend too little time at your job.
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  • You shouldn't over inflate the time you spend at work, but you
  • 00:08:13.015 --> 00:08:17.153
  • Shouldn't under inflate either.
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  • It needs to be in balance with other life activities.
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  • But there are some people who spend too much time at their job
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  • To the neglect of other areas.
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  • Fourth, some people regret their jobs and their careers because
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  • Of a failure to take a risk.
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  • They never went that next step.
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  • They never took that exam that would qualify them for a higher
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  • Position in their job, or they never made that cold sales call
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  • On a prospective customer, or they never took an opportunity
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  • To start their own business.
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  • They thought, you know, i could fail, and therefore i would
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  • Regret it so i won't try at all.
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  • There are some ways to minimize the regrets about our work,
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  • Which is such an important part of our life, and let me share
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  • A few of those ways straight from god's word.
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  • First of all, and star this three times on your outline,
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  • Discover your life work.
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  • The greatest important thing you can do about your job is to make
  • 00:09:18.581 --> 00:09:23.285
  • Sure you've discovered what your life work is.
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  • I first got acquainted with this term "life work" from my friend,
  • 00:09:27.156 --> 00:09:31.727
  • Bob beal, who is such a help to our church, and bob says and
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  • Defines life work as that work which is the best use of the
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  • Rest of your life.
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  • Bob goes on to point out when people first start working in
  • 00:09:44.373 --> 00:09:48.444
  • Their 20's they're worried about one thing, and that is survival.
  • 00:09:48.444 --> 00:09:53.416
  • They're just trying to survive when they start out, but when
  • 00:09:53.416 --> 00:09:56.752
  • They get into their 30's they move beyond survival to success.
  • 00:09:56.752 --> 00:10:01.357
  • They want to be successful, and so they try to start climbing
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  • The ladder to success.
  • 00:10:04.427 --> 00:10:06.462
  • But somewhere in their mid 40's to early 50's, people move
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  • Beyond survival or even success, to significance.
  • 00:10:11.333 --> 00:10:16.439
  • They want to do something that matters, that makes a
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  • Difference, that provides them with satisfaction, and that's
  • 00:10:19.542 --> 00:10:23.913
  • What our life work is all about.
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  • How do you discover your life work?
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  • Let me share with you four principles to discovering your
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  • Life work.
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  • First of all, your life work, whatever it is, should utilize
  • 00:10:33.789 --> 00:10:37.326
  • Both your gifts and your interests.
  • 00:10:37.326 --> 00:10:41.564
  • It ought to be utilizing your gifts and your interests.
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  • Listen to me, god will never call you to do something for
  • 00:10:45.501 --> 00:10:49.972
  • Which he's not given you a passion, first of all to do, and
  • 00:10:49.972 --> 00:10:53.642
  • Second of all, he hasn't given you the gifts to do it.
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  • God will never do that.
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  • You say, where do you find that in the bible?
  • 00:10:58.748 --> 00:11:00.649
  • Philippians 2:13, this is a good verse to memorize.
  • 00:11:00.649 --> 00:11:04.553
  • Paul said, "for it is god who is at work within you, giving you
  • 00:11:04.553 --> 00:11:09.959
  • The will and the power to achieve his purpose."
  • 00:11:09.959 --> 00:11:15.231
  • How do you find god's purpose?
  • 00:11:15.231 --> 00:11:16.766
  • First of all, it's what he's given you the will to do.
  • 00:11:16.766 --> 00:11:21.504
  • You could use the word "passion" there.
  • 00:11:21.504 --> 00:11:24.540
  • For it is god who is at work within you giving you the
  • 00:11:24.540 --> 00:11:27.309
  • Passion, but he also will not just give you the passion, he'll
  • 00:11:27.309 --> 00:11:31.514
  • Give you the power and the gifts to achieve god's purpose
  • 00:11:31.514 --> 00:11:35.918
  • For you.
  • 00:11:35.918 --> 00:11:37.286
  • And so, your life work should be the intersection of where your
  • 00:11:37.286 --> 00:11:40.689
  • Passion and your giftedness cross.
  • 00:11:40.689 --> 00:11:45.795
  • You know, i remember when i was a little boy, my grandfather,
  • 00:11:45.795 --> 00:11:48.964
  • Who had such an influence on my life, decided that i needed to
  • 00:11:48.964 --> 00:11:52.568
  • Be a doctor.
  • 00:11:52.568 --> 00:11:54.637
  • And he told me that he would send me to the finest medical
  • 00:11:54.637 --> 00:11:59.041
  • School in the country if i would become a doctor.
  • 00:11:59.041 --> 00:12:02.478
  • Now, there are just two problems with that.
  • 00:12:02.478 --> 00:12:04.747
  • First of all, when i was very young, i had a science
  • 00:12:04.747 --> 00:12:08.117
  • Bypass operation.
  • 00:12:08.117 --> 00:12:10.319
  • I had no interest in biology or science whatsoever.
  • 00:12:10.319 --> 00:12:15.925
  • When everybody in high school biology would be looking into
  • 00:12:15.925 --> 00:12:18.861
  • The microscope trying to see something, i would be dazing out
  • 00:12:18.861 --> 00:12:21.897
  • The window.
  • 00:12:21.897 --> 00:12:23.232
  • I didn't care what was under the microscope.
  • 00:12:23.232 --> 00:12:25.768
  • And not only that, i didn't have the gifts needed to be a
  • 00:12:25.768 --> 00:12:28.537
  • Successful doctor.
  • 00:12:28.537 --> 00:12:30.206
  • I mean, can you imagine me with my hyperkinetic personality
  • 00:12:30.206 --> 00:12:35.277
  • Trying to be still enough to perform a delicate operation?
  • 00:12:35.277 --> 00:12:38.814
  • I'd be in a malpractice suit before i could blink.
  • 00:12:38.814 --> 00:12:42.251
  • I mean, i'm not gifted to be a doctor.
  • 00:12:42.251 --> 00:12:45.654
  • What is my single greatest strength?
  • 00:12:45.654 --> 00:12:48.290
  • Maybe it's organization, maybe it's leadership, maybe it's
  • 00:12:48.290 --> 00:12:52.194
  • Communication, but the intersection of your passion and
  • 00:12:52.194 --> 00:12:56.632
  • Your giftedness is your life calling, your life work.
  • 00:12:56.632 --> 00:13:01.003
  • Secondly, your life work ought to be something you enjoy doing.
  • 00:13:01.003 --> 00:13:05.407
  • It ought to be something you love doing, but let's be honest,
  • 00:13:05.407 --> 00:13:08.510
  • Everybody has parts of their job they don't like.
  • 00:13:08.510 --> 00:13:11.313
  • I mean, for a teacher it might be faculty meetings.
  • 00:13:11.313 --> 00:13:15.017
  • For the doctor, it might be dealing with
  • 00:13:15.017 --> 00:13:16.919
  • Insurance companies.
  • 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:18.254
  • For a pastor, it might be going to the hospital, that's
  • 00:13:18.254 --> 00:13:21.323
  • Understandable, but none of those functions is the major
  • 00:13:21.323 --> 00:13:24.660
  • Component of those professions.
  • 00:13:24.660 --> 00:13:27.263
  • But if you have a teacher who says, you know, i just love
  • 00:13:27.263 --> 00:13:30.032
  • Teaching, it's the students i can't stand.
  • 00:13:30.032 --> 00:13:35.304
  • You know, or you have a pastor who says, oh, i just love being
  • 00:13:35.304 --> 00:13:38.908
  • A pastor, but i hate preaching.
  • 00:13:38.908 --> 00:13:40.943
  • You know, or you have a doctor who faints at the sight
  • 00:13:40.943 --> 00:13:44.046
  • Of blood.
  • 00:13:44.046 --> 00:13:45.381
  • They probably need to reconsider their life work.
  • 00:13:45.381 --> 00:13:47.483
  • Your life work ought to be something you love doing.
  • 00:13:47.483 --> 00:13:50.085
  • Thirdly, your life work ought to be something that provides you
  • 00:13:50.085 --> 00:13:53.389
  • With an adequate income to take care of yourself and
  • 00:13:53.389 --> 00:13:57.693
  • Your family.
  • 00:13:57.693 --> 00:13:59.028
  • It ought to provide something that gives you an
  • 00:13:59.028 --> 00:14:01.130
  • Adequate income.
  • 00:14:01.130 --> 00:14:03.532
  • That means you have to separate your life work from
  • 00:14:03.532 --> 00:14:06.135
  • Your hobbies.
  • 00:14:06.135 --> 00:14:07.469
  • I mean, we all have things we're interested in, but just because
  • 00:14:07.469 --> 00:14:10.272
  • You're interested in it doesn't mean you can make a living
  • 00:14:10.272 --> 00:14:13.309
  • At it.
  • 00:14:13.309 --> 00:14:14.643
  • You all know i grew up playing the accordion, that was a hobby
  • 00:14:14.643 --> 00:14:17.012
  • Of mine, and in high school and college, i earned all my
  • 00:14:17.012 --> 00:14:21.283
  • Spending money by playing for bar mitzvahs, and polka
  • 00:14:21.283 --> 00:14:24.987
  • Festivals, and weddings, and funerals, but i would hate today
  • 00:14:24.987 --> 00:14:28.557
  • To try to make a living out of playing the accordion.
  • 00:14:28.557 --> 00:14:31.226
  • The interest in polka music isn't what it used to be.
  • 00:14:31.226 --> 00:14:34.330
  • So, i can do that as a hobby, but that's not gonna be my
  • 00:14:34.330 --> 00:14:37.900
  • Life career.
  • 00:14:37.900 --> 00:14:39.268
  • Some of you are saying amen to that.
  • 00:14:39.268 --> 00:14:42.137
  • It ought to be something you can make a living at.
  • 00:14:42.137 --> 00:14:44.106
  • You say, well, where do you find that in the bible?
  • 00:14:44.106 --> 00:14:46.642
  • Again, listen to 1 timothy 5:8.
  • 00:14:46.642 --> 00:14:49.178
  • "if anyone does not provide for his own, especially those of his
  • 00:14:49.178 --> 00:14:53.515
  • Own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than
  • 00:14:53.515 --> 00:14:57.219
  • An unbeliever."
  • 00:14:57.219 --> 00:14:58.554
  • God has given us the responsibility to provide
  • 00:14:58.554 --> 00:15:01.457
  • Financially for ourselves and those who depend upon us,
  • 00:15:01.457 --> 00:15:06.362
  • That's his will.
  • 00:15:06.362 --> 00:15:07.696
  • How does god provide that income?
  • 00:15:07.696 --> 00:15:09.031
  • It's through the jobs he calls us to do.
  • 00:15:09.031 --> 00:15:11.900
  • Our job, our work, is the means by which god provides our needs.
  • 00:15:11.900 --> 00:15:17.072
  • And number four, your life work should be confirmed by
  • 00:15:17.072 --> 00:15:21.443
  • Other people.
  • 00:15:21.443 --> 00:15:23.345
  • If you're really in your life work, you're gonna have some
  • 00:15:23.345 --> 00:15:25.881
  • Positive affirmation from people.
  • 00:15:25.881 --> 00:15:27.916
  • People are gonna say things like, "man, you were born to do
  • 00:15:27.916 --> 00:15:31.020
  • That," or, "you make that look so easy," or, "you look like you
  • 00:15:31.020 --> 00:15:36.825
  • Really are enjoying what you're doing."
  • 00:15:36.825 --> 00:15:39.728
  • You'll have that confirmation from others.
  • 00:15:39.728 --> 00:15:42.097
  • So, how do you prevent regrets?
  • 00:15:42.097 --> 00:15:43.665
  • First of all, discover your life work so you're in the
  • 00:15:43.665 --> 00:15:46.668
  • Right field.
  • 00:15:46.668 --> 00:15:48.037
  • Secondly, refuse to be stuck in your profession.
  • 00:15:48.037 --> 00:15:51.974
  • By that i mean if god does call you to change careers, vocation,
  • 00:15:51.974 --> 00:15:58.480
  • If your life work changes, don't feel like you're stuck where you
  • 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:02.985
  • Are, you're not.
  • 00:16:02.985 --> 00:16:04.620
  • A lot of times people feel stuck because they feel like, well, if
  • 00:16:04.620 --> 00:16:08.157
  • I change careers, it means everything i've done in the past
  • 00:16:08.157 --> 00:16:11.994
  • Has been wasted, or it means i didn't hear god's voice
  • 00:16:11.994 --> 00:16:15.964
  • Correctly that led me in this field to begin with.
  • 00:16:15.964 --> 00:16:19.668
  • And i would just say a couple of things to help you get past the
  • 00:16:19.668 --> 00:16:23.272
  • Trauma of trying to change your career or life work.
  • 00:16:23.272 --> 00:16:26.909
  • Secondly, first of all, remember that your present job and all
  • 00:16:26.909 --> 00:16:30.879
  • Your past jobs have value.
  • 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:33.182
  • God doesn't waste experiences upon anybody.
  • 00:16:33.182 --> 00:16:37.252
  • All of our work has value.
  • 00:16:37.252 --> 00:16:39.621
  • Your work, unless it's immoral or illegal, has values to god,
  • 00:16:39.621 --> 00:16:44.560
  • Value to god.
  • 00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:45.994
  • You know, the only people who are called are not evangelists
  • 00:16:45.994 --> 00:16:48.831
  • And missionaries, everyone is called by god.
  • 00:16:48.831 --> 00:16:52.835
  • And so, don't feel like that your past jobs have not
  • 00:16:52.835 --> 00:16:56.205
  • Had value.
  • 00:16:56.205 --> 00:16:57.539
  • Secondly, view your job as a stepping stone, not as
  • 00:16:57.539 --> 00:17:01.076
  • A plateau.
  • 00:17:01.076 --> 00:17:02.544
  • To be open to god's moving you to something else.
  • 00:17:02.544 --> 00:17:05.180
  • See your job as a stepping stone, not a plateau.
  • 00:17:05.180 --> 00:17:08.717
  • Now, have you been ever interviewed by an employer who
  • 00:17:08.717 --> 00:17:11.620
  • Said, "no, we don't want anybody who's gonna use this job as
  • 00:17:11.620 --> 00:17:14.990
  • A stepping stone."
  • 00:17:14.990 --> 00:17:17.259
  • Well, we understand what they mean.
  • 00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:19.294
  • They don't want somebody who's always thinking about the next
  • 00:17:19.294 --> 00:17:21.897
  • Job instead of the current job they have, but the truth is,
  • 00:17:21.897 --> 00:17:25.734
  • Everything we do is a stepping stone to something else.
  • 00:17:25.734 --> 00:17:29.671
  • Thirdly, if you're going to avoid regrets about your work,
  • 00:17:29.671 --> 00:17:33.709
  • And this is so important, understand the importance of
  • 00:17:33.709 --> 00:17:37.579
  • Diligence in your job.
  • 00:17:37.579 --> 00:17:40.048
  • The only thing worse than coming to the end of your life and
  • 00:17:40.048 --> 00:17:43.185
  • Realizing that you were in the wrong job is having regrets
  • 00:17:43.185 --> 00:17:47.055
  • About missed opportunities with the job you had.
  • 00:17:47.055 --> 00:17:49.725
  • To realize you really could have been more successful if you'd
  • 00:17:49.725 --> 00:17:53.428
  • Only been more diligent in your work.
  • 00:17:53.428 --> 00:17:56.698
  • When i think about that, i think about gordon macdonald in his
  • 00:17:56.698 --> 00:18:00.269
  • Book, "ordering your private world."
  • 00:18:00.269 --> 00:18:03.138
  • He cites the example of the famous poet,
  • 00:18:03.138 --> 00:18:06.041
  • Samuel taylor coleridge.
  • 00:18:06.041 --> 00:18:08.911
  • He's an example of somebody who failed to understand the
  • 00:18:08.911 --> 00:18:11.980
  • Importance of diligence.
  • 00:18:11.980 --> 00:18:13.682
  • Look what he says about coleridge.
  • 00:18:13.682 --> 00:18:16.051
  • "coleridge is the supreme tragedy of indiscipline.
  • 00:18:16.051 --> 00:18:19.988
  • Never did so great a mind produce so little.
  • 00:18:19.988 --> 00:18:24.393
  • Coleridge left cambridge university to join the army.
  • 00:18:24.393 --> 00:18:28.363
  • He left the army because he couldn't rub down a horse.
  • 00:18:28.363 --> 00:18:31.733
  • He returned to oxford and left without a degree.
  • 00:18:31.733 --> 00:18:35.304
  • He began a newspaper called 'the watchman,' which lived for ten
  • 00:18:35.304 --> 00:18:39.141
  • Issues and then died.
  • 00:18:39.141 --> 00:18:41.210
  • It's been said of coleridge, 'he lost himself to visions of work
  • 00:18:41.210 --> 00:18:45.514
  • To be done that always remained to be done.'
  • 00:18:45.514 --> 00:18:49.918
  • Coleridge has every poetic gift but one, the gift of sustained
  • 00:18:49.918 --> 00:18:56.825
  • And concentrated effort."
  • 00:18:56.825 --> 00:19:01.230
  • Kemmons wilson, the founder of holiday inn, said let me tell
  • 00:19:01.230 --> 00:19:05.801
  • You the secret of success.
  • 00:19:05.801 --> 00:19:08.637
  • Work just half a day, every day.
  • 00:19:08.637 --> 00:19:11.273
  • Just half a day, doesn't matter which half, it can be the first
  • 00:19:11.273 --> 00:19:14.776
  • 12 hours or the last 12 hours, but work half a day.
  • 00:19:14.776 --> 00:19:19.848
  • Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said virtually the
  • 00:19:19.848 --> 00:19:23.485
  • Same thing.
  • 00:19:23.485 --> 00:19:24.853
  • Listen to what he says about diligence.
  • 00:19:24.853 --> 00:19:26.221
  • You can find a lot of verses in proverbs about diligence, here
  • 00:19:26.221 --> 00:19:30.025
  • Are three.
  • 00:19:30.025 --> 00:19:31.360
  • Proverbs 10:4, "poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but
  • 00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:35.897
  • The hand of the diligent makes rich."
  • 00:19:35.897 --> 00:19:39.835
  • Or, proverbs 12 verse 24, "the hand of the diligent will rule,
  • 00:19:39.835 --> 00:19:44.206
  • But the slack hand will be put to forced labor."
  • 00:19:44.206 --> 00:19:48.043
  • Or, proverbs 13:4, "the soul of the sluggard, the lazy person,
  • 00:19:48.043 --> 00:19:53.015
  • Craves and he gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent
  • 00:19:53.015 --> 00:19:57.519
  • Is made fat."
  • 00:19:57.519 --> 00:19:59.755
  • Now, you may say, well, i don't have any desire to be rich,
  • 00:19:59.755 --> 00:20:02.090
  • Powerful, or fat, so why do i care?
  • 00:20:02.090 --> 00:20:05.560
  • Listen, what solomon is saying is if you're not diligent in
  • 00:20:05.560 --> 00:20:09.498
  • Your work, you're going to fall into poverty, servitude,
  • 00:20:09.498 --> 00:20:13.168
  • And discontent.
  • 00:20:13.168 --> 00:20:15.671
  • What's the antidote to slothfulness, laziness in
  • 00:20:15.671 --> 00:20:18.607
  • Our job?
  • 00:20:18.607 --> 00:20:19.975
  • It's that passage we read together just a few minutes ago,
  • 00:20:19.975 --> 00:20:22.844
  • Colossians 3:23.
  • 00:20:22.844 --> 00:20:24.980
  • It would be a great passage to memorize.
  • 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:27.582
  • Paul said, whatever you do, whatever you do, farmer,
  • 00:20:27.582 --> 00:20:34.790
  • Trucker, supermarket clerk, "whatever you do, do your work
  • 00:20:34.790 --> 00:20:42.097
  • Diligently, enthusiastically, as unto the lord.
  • 00:20:42.097 --> 00:20:47.569
  • For it is the lord god whom you serve."
  • 00:20:47.569 --> 00:20:51.940
  • Finally, how do you remove regrets about your work?
  • 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:56.978
  • Don't overestimate the importance of your work.
  • 00:20:56.978 --> 00:21:01.216
  • Don't overestimate the importance of your work.
  • 00:21:01.216 --> 00:21:04.319
  • Some people underestimate it, but don't overestimate
  • 00:21:04.319 --> 00:21:07.189
  • It either.
  • 00:21:07.189 --> 00:21:08.557
  • Your work is an important part of your life that god cares
  • 00:21:08.557 --> 00:21:11.526
  • About very much, but it needs to be kept in balance with other
  • 00:21:11.526 --> 00:21:15.731
  • Areas of your life as well.
  • 00:21:15.731 --> 00:21:17.265
  • Let me illustrate that for you.
  • 00:21:17.265 --> 00:21:19.468
  • Years ago, my granddad, before he died, gave amy and me a
  • 00:21:19.468 --> 00:21:23.805
  • Beautiful bronze remington sculpture.
  • 00:21:23.805 --> 00:21:27.242
  • You've seen those sculptures, they're very, very heavy, and he
  • 00:21:27.242 --> 00:21:32.247
  • Gave us a pedestal to put it on.
  • 00:21:32.247 --> 00:21:34.249
  • So, in our home we had that sculpture on the pedestal.
  • 00:21:34.249 --> 00:21:38.620
  • But as our girls began to get older, we realized they could
  • 00:21:38.620 --> 00:21:42.657
  • Accidentally shake that pedestal, and if that heavy
  • 00:21:42.657 --> 00:21:45.660
  • Bronze came crashing down, it could kill them or at least
  • 00:21:45.660 --> 00:21:49.498
  • Destroy the furniture.
  • 00:21:49.498 --> 00:21:50.832
  • So, we voluntarily took that sculpture off the pedestal and
  • 00:21:50.832 --> 00:21:55.570
  • Put it at a lower level, where if it fell it wouldn't do that
  • 00:21:55.570 --> 00:21:58.807
  • Much damage.
  • 00:21:58.807 --> 00:22:00.609
  • We need to be careful that we don't elevate our careers above
  • 00:22:00.609 --> 00:22:04.980
  • Where they belong, because if they come crashing down, when
  • 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:11.420
  • They come crashing down, either through health, through
  • 00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:16.558
  • Termination, or just our retirement, it does a lot less
  • 00:22:16.558 --> 00:22:21.396
  • Damage if we haven't over-elevated our work.
  • 00:22:21.396 --> 00:22:25.200
  • So, make sure you have it in balance with every other area of
  • 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:29.438
  • Your life.
  • 00:22:29.438 --> 00:22:31.039
  • In closing today, let me suggest three important questions i hope
  • 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:34.943
  • You're able to answer.
  • 00:22:34.943 --> 00:22:36.311
  • Number one, have you discovered your life work?
  • 00:22:36.311 --> 00:22:40.348
  • Second question, at the end of most days, not every day, but
  • 00:22:40.348 --> 00:22:44.986
  • Most days, are you able to come to the end of the day and said i
  • 00:22:44.986 --> 00:22:48.457
  • Gave my job my very best efforts today?
  • 00:22:48.457 --> 00:22:53.195
  • And number three, is your work really in balance with every
  • 00:22:53.195 --> 00:22:58.800
  • Other area of your life?
  • 00:22:58.800 --> 00:23:01.136
  • Not spending too much, not spending too little time, but
  • 00:23:01.136 --> 00:23:04.806
  • Keeping it in balance.
  • 00:23:04.806 --> 00:23:06.374
  • Your ability to answer yes to those questions will determine
  • 00:23:06.374 --> 00:23:11.012
  • Your ability to work without regret.
  • 00:23:11.012 --> 00:23:15.617
  • Jeffress: if you're a member of the workforce, then these three
  • 00:23:19.855 --> 00:23:22.324
  • Personal questions hit close to home.
  • 00:23:22.324 --> 00:23:24.726
  • My prayer is that you understand that god is truly on your side.
  • 00:23:24.726 --> 00:23:29.364
  • He doesn't want you to look back with any disappointments.
  • 00:23:29.364 --> 00:23:33.034
  • Life is far too short to suffer from regret.
  • 00:23:33.034 --> 00:23:37.372
  • Well, these are exciting days at "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:37.372 --> 00:23:40.275
  • In fact, when i look back over the last 12 months, i'm
  • 00:23:40.275 --> 00:23:43.712
  • Astounded by the expansion of our ministry.
  • 00:23:43.712 --> 00:23:46.715
  • For example, our television program is reaching hundreds of
  • 00:23:46.715 --> 00:23:50.385
  • Thousands of new households every single day of the week in
  • 00:23:50.385 --> 00:23:54.523
  • America and around the world.
  • 00:23:54.523 --> 00:23:56.858
  • Our radio program is heard on more stations than ever before.
  • 00:23:56.858 --> 00:24:01.062
  • Plus, we've been given rare opportunities to teach the bible
  • 00:24:01.062 --> 00:24:04.799
  • On up-and-coming digital platforms.
  • 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:07.669
  • This allows us to reach a whole new audience who might not
  • 00:24:07.669 --> 00:24:11.039
  • Otherwise hear the gospel.
  • 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:13.008
  • Would you pray with us that god would continue to expand our
  • 00:24:13.008 --> 00:24:16.711
  • Influence for his glory?
  • 00:24:16.711 --> 00:24:19.247
  • Together, we are piercing the darkness with the light of
  • 00:24:19.247 --> 00:24:22.817
  • God's word.
  • 00:24:22.817 --> 00:24:24.152
  • Now, stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:24:24.152 --> 00:24:26.855
  • Victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:24:26.855 --> 00:24:29.724
  • Announcer: what if your doctor were to say you had only six
  • 00:24:29.791 --> 00:24:32.527
  • Months left to live?
  • 00:24:32.527 --> 00:24:33.962
  • Would you have any regrets in your life?
  • 00:24:33.962 --> 00:24:36.031
  • In his best selling book, "say goodbye to regret," dr. robert
  • 00:24:36.031 --> 00:24:39.701
  • Jeffress shares biblical principles for dealing with
  • 00:24:39.701 --> 00:24:42.103
  • Regrets from your past and preventing regrets in
  • 00:24:42.103 --> 00:24:44.806
  • The future.
  • 00:24:44.806 --> 00:24:46.141
  • Jeffress: regret is one of life's most painful and
  • 00:24:46.141 --> 00:24:49.044
  • Unnecessary emotions, and in my best selling book, "say goodbye
  • 00:24:49.044 --> 00:24:53.114
  • To regret," i'll help you turn those if-onlys into successful
  • 00:24:53.114 --> 00:24:57.619
  • Lessons in living.
  • 00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:59.354
  • Announcer: it's time to move forward, satisfied with the life
  • 00:24:59.354 --> 00:25:02.524
  • You're living.
  • 00:25:02.524 --> 00:25:03.925
  • Request your copy of "say goodbye to regret" when you give
  • 00:25:03.925 --> 00:25:06.761
  • A generous gift to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:25:06.761 --> 00:25:09.431
  • In the pages of this highly practical book, you'll discover
  • 00:25:09.431 --> 00:25:12.667
  • The biblical keys to leaving behind regrets about
  • 00:25:12.667 --> 00:25:15.437
  • Relationships, your marriage, finances, and more.
  • 00:25:15.437 --> 00:25:18.974
  • And when you give $75 or more, we'll also send you the complete
  • 00:25:18.974 --> 00:25:23.712
  • "say goodbye to regret" teaching series on
  • 00:25:23.712 --> 00:25:26.081
  • Dvd video and mp3 format audio disc.
  • 00:25:26.081 --> 00:25:29.985
  • Jeffress: one of the heaviest weights, other than sin,
  • 00:25:29.985 --> 00:25:33.321
  • Is regret.
  • 00:25:33.321 --> 00:25:34.656
  • Regrets are not the problem in and of themselves, they are an
  • 00:25:34.656 --> 00:25:37.959
  • Indicator of a problem that needs to be dealt with.
  • 00:25:37.959 --> 00:25:42.330
  • Announcer: thank you for helping "pathway to victory"
  • 00:25:42.397 --> 00:25:44.733
  • Proclaim the redemptive power of jesus christ to a world in need.
  • 00:25:44.733 --> 00:25:48.870
  • Together, we are broadcasting the message of god's love
  • 00:25:48.870 --> 00:25:52.073
  • And forgiveness, biblical hope, and life transforming power
  • 00:25:52.073 --> 00:25:55.577
  • Across the country and around the world.
  • 00:25:55.577 --> 00:25:59.314
  • Jeffress: man was created to work, because we were created in
  • 00:26:00.982 --> 00:26:04.619
  • The image of god.
  • 00:26:04.619 --> 00:26:06.054
  • You see, god is a worker, and for this reason and more, he
  • 00:26:06.054 --> 00:26:10.125
  • Truly cares about your career.
  • 00:26:10.125 --> 00:26:13.028
  • I hope the biblical principles from today's message will guide
  • 00:26:13.028 --> 00:26:16.698
  • You in minimizing regrets about your vocation.
  • 00:26:16.698 --> 00:26:20.301
  • Well, over the past couple of weeks we've talked about
  • 00:26:20.301 --> 00:26:22.971
  • Overcoming different kinds of regret, relationship regrets,
  • 00:26:22.971 --> 00:26:27.175
  • Parenting regrets, and time regrets, just to name a few.
  • 00:26:27.175 --> 00:26:31.680
  • And now, it's time to say goodbye to regrets about
  • 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:34.983
  • Regret itself.
  • 00:26:34.983 --> 00:26:36.885
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:36.885 --> 00:26:39.554
  • Series, "say goodbye to regret."
  • 00:26:39.554 --> 00:26:42.824
  • Jeffress: but god used those 40 years in the desert to prepare
  • 00:26:44.325 --> 00:26:48.129
  • Moses, to teach him invaluable lessons he never would have
  • 00:26:48.129 --> 00:26:51.666
  • Learned in pharaoh's court.
  • 00:26:51.666 --> 00:26:53.768
  • Lessons that prepared him at age 80 to be called by god to lead
  • 00:26:53.768 --> 00:26:59.541
  • The children of israel out of egypt.
  • 00:26:59.541 --> 00:27:02.911
  • You will never be at peace with the regrets from your past until
  • 00:27:02.911 --> 00:27:07.449
  • You believe in a god who can do the same thing for you.
  • 00:27:07.449 --> 00:27:10.719
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:27:10.785 --> 00:27:13.688
  • "say goodbye to regrets about regrets,"
  • 00:27:13.688 --> 00:27:16.524
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:27:16.524 --> 00:27:16.524