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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - Say Goodbye To Career Regrets

September 4, 2025 | S25 E3605 | 29:0

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.
#inActive #Regret #Job/Career #Calling #Purpose #PeerPressure #Gifting/Talent #Work #WorkofYourHands #Discouragement #Diligence #Passion #Heart'sDesire

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - Say Goodbye To Career Regrets | September 4, 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 9-to-5 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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  • ♪♪♪
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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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  • Eh, 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
  • 00:01:59.309 --> 00:02:04.514
  • 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.
  • 00:02:48.925 --> 00:02:52.862
  • 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."
  • 00:05:15.304 --> 00:05:17.006
  • 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.
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  • 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
  • 00:08:05.174 --> 00:08:09.879
  • 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
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  • 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
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  • 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,
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  • 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
  • 00:09:45.074 --> 00:09:49.145
  • Their 20's they're worried about one thing, and that is survival.
  • 00:09:49.145 --> 00:09:54.116
  • They're just trying to survive when they start out, but when
  • 00:09:54.116 --> 00:09:57.453
  • They get into their 30's they move beyond survival to success.
  • 00:09:57.453 --> 00:10:02.058
  • They want to be successful, and so they try to start climbing
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  • The ladder to success.
  • 00:10:05.127 --> 00:10:07.163
  • But somewhere in their mid 40's to early 50's, people move
  • 00:10:07.163 --> 00:10:12.034
  • Beyond survival or even success, to significance.
  • 00:10:12.034 --> 00:10:17.139
  • They want to do something that matters, that makes a
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  • Difference, that provides them with satisfaction, and that's
  • 00:10:20.242 --> 00:10:24.613
  • 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
  • 00:10:34.490 --> 00:10:38.027
  • Both your gifts and your interests.
  • 00:10:38.027 --> 00:10:42.264
  • 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
  • 00:10:46.202 --> 00:10:50.673
  • Which he's not given you a passion, first of all to do, and
  • 00:10:50.673 --> 00:10:54.343
  • Second of all, he hasn't given you the gifts to do it.
  • 00:10:54.343 --> 00:10:57.747
  • God will never do that.
  • 00:10:57.747 --> 00:10:59.448
  • You say, where do you find that in the bible?
  • 00:10:59.448 --> 00:11:01.350
  • Philippians 2:13, this is a good verse to memorize.
  • 00:11:01.350 --> 00:11:05.254
  • Paul said, "for it is god who is at work within you, giving you
  • 00:11:05.254 --> 00:11:10.659
  • The will and the power to achieve his purpose."
  • 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:15.831
  • And so, your life work should be the intersection of where your
  • 00:11:15.831 --> 00:11:19.702
  • Passion and your giftedness cross.
  • 00:11:19.702 --> 00:11:24.807
  • You know, i remember when i was a little boy, my grandfather,
  • 00:11:24.807 --> 00:11:27.977
  • Who had such an influence on my life, decided that i needed to
  • 00:11:27.977 --> 00:11:31.580
  • Be a doctor.
  • 00:11:31.580 --> 00:11:33.649
  • And he told me that he would send me to the finest medical
  • 00:11:33.649 --> 00:11:38.053
  • School in the country if i would become a doctor.
  • 00:11:38.053 --> 00:11:41.490
  • Now, there are just two problems with that.
  • 00:11:41.490 --> 00:11:43.759
  • First of all, when i was very young, i had a science
  • 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:47.129
  • Bypass operation.
  • 00:11:47.129 --> 00:11:49.331
  • I had no interest in biology or science whatsoever.
  • 00:11:49.331 --> 00:11:54.937
  • When everybody in high school biology would be looking into
  • 00:11:54.937 --> 00:11:57.873
  • The microscope trying to see something, i would be dazing out
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  • The window.
  • 00:12:00.910 --> 00:12:02.244
  • I didn't care what was under the microscope.
  • 00:12:02.244 --> 00:12:04.780
  • And not only that, i didn't have the gifts needed to be a
  • 00:12:04.780 --> 00:12:07.550
  • Successful doctor.
  • 00:12:07.550 --> 00:12:09.218
  • I mean, can you imagine me with my hyperkinetic personality
  • 00:12:09.218 --> 00:12:14.290
  • Trying to be still enough to perform a delicate operation?
  • 00:12:14.290 --> 00:12:17.827
  • I'd be in a malpractice suit before i could blink.
  • 00:12:17.827 --> 00:12:21.263
  • I mean, i'm not gifted to be a doctor.
  • 00:12:21.263 --> 00:12:24.300
  • What is my single greatest strength?
  • 00:12:24.300 --> 00:12:26.602
  • Maybe it's organization, maybe it's leadership, maybe it's
  • 00:12:26.602 --> 00:12:30.406
  • Communication, but the intersection of your passion
  • 00:12:30.406 --> 00:12:34.777
  • And your giftedness is your life calling, your life work.
  • 00:12:34.777 --> 00:12:39.248
  • Secondly, your life work ought to be something you enjoy doing.
  • 00:12:39.248 --> 00:12:43.652
  • It ought to be something you love doing, but let's be honest,
  • 00:12:43.652 --> 00:12:46.755
  • Everybody has parts of their job they don't like.
  • 00:12:46.755 --> 00:12:49.558
  • I mean, for a teacher it might be faculty meetings.
  • 00:12:49.558 --> 00:12:53.262
  • For the doctor, it might be dealing with
  • 00:12:53.262 --> 00:12:55.164
  • Insurance companies.
  • 00:12:55.164 --> 00:12:56.498
  • For a pastor, it might be going to the hospital, that's
  • 00:12:56.498 --> 00:12:59.568
  • Understandable, but none of those functions is the major
  • 00:12:59.568 --> 00:13:02.905
  • Component of those professions.
  • 00:13:02.905 --> 00:13:05.507
  • But if you have a teacher who says, you know, i just love
  • 00:13:05.507 --> 00:13:08.277
  • Teaching, it's the students i can't stand.
  • 00:13:08.277 --> 00:13:13.549
  • You know, or you have a pastor who says, oh, i just love being
  • 00:13:13.549 --> 00:13:17.152
  • A pastor, but i hate preaching.
  • 00:13:17.152 --> 00:13:19.188
  • You know, or you have a doctor who faints at the sight
  • 00:13:19.188 --> 00:13:22.291
  • Of blood.
  • 00:13:22.291 --> 00:13:23.626
  • They probably need to reconsider their life work.
  • 00:13:23.626 --> 00:13:25.728
  • Your life work ought to be something you love doing.
  • 00:13:25.728 --> 00:13:28.330
  • Thirdly, your life work ought to be something that provides you
  • 00:13:28.330 --> 00:13:31.634
  • With an adequate income to take care of yourself
  • 00:13:31.634 --> 00:13:35.671
  • And your family.
  • 00:13:35.671 --> 00:13:37.006
  • It ought to provide something that gives you an
  • 00:13:37.006 --> 00:13:39.108
  • Adequate income.
  • 00:13:39.108 --> 00:13:41.710
  • That means you have to separate your life work from
  • 00:13:41.710 --> 00:13:44.313
  • Your hobbies.
  • 00:13:44.313 --> 00:13:45.648
  • I mean, we all have things we're interested in, but just because
  • 00:13:45.648 --> 00:13:48.450
  • You're interested in it doesn't mean you can make a living
  • 00:13:48.450 --> 00:13:51.487
  • At it.
  • 00:13:51.487 --> 00:13:52.821
  • You all know i grew up playing the accordion, that was a hobby
  • 00:13:52.821 --> 00:13:55.190
  • Of mine, and in high school and college, i earned all my
  • 00:13:55.190 --> 00:13:58.961
  • Spending money by playing for bar mitzvahs, and polka
  • 00:13:58.961 --> 00:14:02.665
  • Festivals, and weddings, and funerals, but i would hate today
  • 00:14:02.665 --> 00:14:06.235
  • To try to make a living out of playing the accordion.
  • 00:14:06.235 --> 00:14:08.904
  • The interest in polka music isn't what it used to be.
  • 00:14:08.904 --> 00:14:12.007
  • So, i can do that as a hobby, but that's not gonna be my
  • 00:14:12.007 --> 00:14:15.577
  • Life career.
  • 00:14:15.577 --> 00:14:16.946
  • Some of you are saying amen to that.
  • 00:14:16.946 --> 00:14:19.815
  • It ought to be something you can make a living at.
  • 00:14:19.815 --> 00:14:21.784
  • You say, well, where do you find that in the bible?
  • 00:14:21.784 --> 00:14:24.320
  • Again, listen to 1 timothy 5:8.
  • 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:26.855
  • "if anyone does not provide for his own, especially those of his
  • 00:14:26.855 --> 00:14:31.193
  • Own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than
  • 00:14:31.193 --> 00:14:34.897
  • An unbeliever."
  • 00:14:34.897 --> 00:14:36.231
  • God has given us the responsibility to provide
  • 00:14:36.231 --> 00:14:39.134
  • Financially for ourselves and those who depend upon us,
  • 00:14:39.134 --> 00:14:44.039
  • That's his will.
  • 00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:45.374
  • How does god provide that income?
  • 00:14:45.374 --> 00:14:46.709
  • It's through the jobs he calls us to do.
  • 00:14:46.709 --> 00:14:49.578
  • Our job, our work, is the means by which god provides our needs.
  • 00:14:49.578 --> 00:14:54.750
  • And number four, your life work should be confirmed by
  • 00:14:54.750 --> 00:14:59.121
  • Other people.
  • 00:14:59.121 --> 00:15:01.023
  • If you're really in your life work, you're gonna have some
  • 00:15:01.023 --> 00:15:03.559
  • Positive affirmation from people.
  • 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:05.594
  • People are gonna say things like, "man, you were born to do
  • 00:15:05.594 --> 00:15:08.697
  • That," or, "you make that look so easy," or, "you look like you
  • 00:15:08.697 --> 00:15:14.503
  • Really are enjoying what you're doing."
  • 00:15:14.503 --> 00:15:17.406
  • You'll have that confirmation from others.
  • 00:15:17.406 --> 00:15:19.775
  • So, how do you prevent regrets?
  • 00:15:19.775 --> 00:15:21.343
  • First of all, discover your life work so you're in the
  • 00:15:21.343 --> 00:15:24.346
  • Right field.
  • 00:15:24.346 --> 00:15:25.714
  • Secondly, refuse to be stuck in your profession.
  • 00:15:25.714 --> 00:15:29.651
  • By that i mean if god does call you to change careers, vocation,
  • 00:15:29.651 --> 00:15:35.391
  • If your life work changes, don't feel like you're stuck where you
  • 00:15:35.391 --> 00:15:39.895
  • Are, you're not.
  • 00:15:39.895 --> 00:15:41.530
  • A lot of times people feel stuck because they feel like, well, if
  • 00:15:41.530 --> 00:15:45.067
  • I change careers, it means everything i've done in the past
  • 00:15:45.067 --> 00:15:48.904
  • Has been wasted, or it means i didn't hear god's voice
  • 00:15:48.904 --> 00:15:52.875
  • Correctly that led me in this field to begin with.
  • 00:15:52.875 --> 00:15:56.578
  • And i would just say a couple of things to help you get past the
  • 00:15:56.578 --> 00:16:00.182
  • Trauma of trying to change your career or life work.
  • 00:16:00.182 --> 00:16:03.685
  • First of all, remember that your present job and all
  • 00:16:03.685 --> 00:16:06.655
  • Your past jobs have value.
  • 00:16:06.655 --> 00:16:08.957
  • God doesn't waste experiences upon anybody.
  • 00:16:08.957 --> 00:16:13.028
  • All of our work has value.
  • 00:16:13.028 --> 00:16:15.397
  • Your work, unless it's immoral or illegal, has value to god.
  • 00:16:15.397 --> 00:16:20.569
  • You know, the only people who are called are not evangelists
  • 00:16:20.569 --> 00:16:23.405
  • And missionaries, everyone is called by god.
  • 00:16:23.405 --> 00:16:27.409
  • And so, don't feel like that your past jobs have not
  • 00:16:27.409 --> 00:16:30.779
  • Had value.
  • 00:16:30.779 --> 00:16:32.114
  • Secondly, view your job as a stepping stone, not as
  • 00:16:32.114 --> 00:16:35.651
  • A plateau.
  • 00:16:35.651 --> 00:16:37.119
  • To be open to god's moving you to something else.
  • 00:16:37.119 --> 00:16:39.755
  • See your job as a stepping stone, not a plateau.
  • 00:16:39.755 --> 00:16:43.292
  • Now, have you been ever interviewed by an employer who
  • 00:16:43.292 --> 00:16:46.195
  • Said, "no, we don't want anybody who's gonna use this job as
  • 00:16:46.195 --> 00:16:49.565
  • A stepping stone."
  • 00:16:49.565 --> 00:16:51.834
  • Well, we understand what they mean.
  • 00:16:51.834 --> 00:16:53.168
  • They don't want somebody who's always thinking about the next
  • 00:16:53.168 --> 00:16:55.771
  • Job instead of the current job they have, but the truth is,
  • 00:16:55.771 --> 00:16:59.608
  • Everything we do is a stepping stone to something else.
  • 00:16:59.608 --> 00:17:03.545
  • Thirdly, if you're going to avoid regrets about your work,
  • 00:17:03.545 --> 00:17:07.583
  • And this is so important, understand the importance of
  • 00:17:07.583 --> 00:17:11.453
  • Diligence in your job.
  • 00:17:11.453 --> 00:17:13.922
  • The only thing worse than coming to the end of your life and
  • 00:17:13.922 --> 00:17:17.059
  • Realizing that you were in the wrong job is having regrets
  • 00:17:17.059 --> 00:17:20.929
  • About missed opportunities with the job you had.
  • 00:17:20.929 --> 00:17:23.599
  • To realize you really could have been more successful if you'd
  • 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:27.302
  • Only been more diligent in your work.
  • 00:17:27.302 --> 00:17:30.572
  • When i think about that, i think about gordon macdonald in his
  • 00:17:30.572 --> 00:17:34.143
  • Book, "ordering your private world."
  • 00:17:34.143 --> 00:17:37.012
  • He cites the example of the famous poet,
  • 00:17:37.012 --> 00:17:39.915
  • Samuel taylor coleridge.
  • 00:17:39.915 --> 00:17:42.784
  • He's an example of somebody who failed to understand the
  • 00:17:42.784 --> 00:17:45.854
  • Importance of diligence.
  • 00:17:45.854 --> 00:17:47.556
  • Look what he says about coleridge.
  • 00:17:47.556 --> 00:17:49.925
  • "coleridge is the supreme tragedy of indiscipline.
  • 00:17:49.925 --> 00:17:53.862
  • Never did so great a mind produce so little.
  • 00:17:53.862 --> 00:17:58.267
  • Coleridge left cambridge university to join the army.
  • 00:17:58.267 --> 00:18:02.237
  • He left the army because he couldn't rub down a horse.
  • 00:18:02.237 --> 00:18:05.607
  • He returned to oxford and left without a degree.
  • 00:18:05.607 --> 00:18:09.178
  • He began a newspaper called 'the watchman,' which lived for ten
  • 00:18:09.178 --> 00:18:13.015
  • Issues and then died.
  • 00:18:13.015 --> 00:18:15.083
  • It's been said of coleridge, 'he lost himself to visions of work
  • 00:18:15.083 --> 00:18:19.388
  • To be done that always remained to be done.'
  • 00:18:19.388 --> 00:18:23.792
  • Coleridge has every poetic gift but one, the gift of sustained
  • 00:18:23.792 --> 00:18:30.699
  • And concentrated effort."
  • 00:18:30.699 --> 00:18:35.103
  • Kemmons wilson, the founder of holiday inn, said let me tell
  • 00:18:35.103 --> 00:18:39.675
  • You the secret of success.
  • 00:18:39.675 --> 00:18:42.511
  • Work just half a day, every day.
  • 00:18:42.511 --> 00:18:45.147
  • Just half a day, doesn't matter which half, it can be the first
  • 00:18:45.147 --> 00:18:48.650
  • 12 hours or the last 12 hours, but work half a day.
  • 00:18:48.650 --> 00:18:53.722
  • Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said virtually the
  • 00:18:53.722 --> 00:18:57.359
  • Same thing.
  • 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:58.727
  • Listen to what he says about diligence.
  • 00:18:58.727 --> 00:19:00.095
  • You can find a lot of verses in proverbs about diligence, here
  • 00:19:00.095 --> 00:19:03.899
  • Are three.
  • 00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:05.234
  • Proverbs 10:4, "poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but
  • 00:19:05.234 --> 00:19:09.771
  • The hand of the diligent makes rich."
  • 00:19:09.771 --> 00:19:13.709
  • Or, proverbs 12, verse 24, "the hand of the diligent will rule,
  • 00:19:13.709 --> 00:19:18.080
  • But the slack hand will be put to forced labor."
  • 00:19:18.080 --> 00:19:21.917
  • Or, proverbs 13:4, "the soul of the sluggard, the lazy person,
  • 00:19:21.917 --> 00:19:26.888
  • Craves and he gets nothing, but the soul of the diligent
  • 00:19:26.888 --> 00:19:31.393
  • Is made fat."
  • 00:19:31.393 --> 00:19:33.629
  • Now, you may say, well, i don't have any desire to be rich,
  • 00:19:33.629 --> 00:19:35.964
  • Powerful, or fat, so why do i care?
  • 00:19:35.964 --> 00:19:39.434
  • Listen, what solomon is saying is if you're not diligent in
  • 00:19:39.434 --> 00:19:43.372
  • Your work, you're going to fall into poverty, servitude,
  • 00:19:43.372 --> 00:19:47.042
  • And discontent.
  • 00:19:47.042 --> 00:19:49.544
  • What's the antidote to slothfulness,
  • 00:19:49.544 --> 00:19:51.780
  • Laziness in our job?
  • 00:19:51.780 --> 00:19:53.548
  • Colossians 3:23.
  • 00:19:53.548 --> 00:19:55.684
  • It would be a great passage to memorize.
  • 00:19:55.684 --> 00:19:58.287
  • Paul said, whatever you do, whatever you do, farmer,
  • 00:19:58.287 --> 00:20:05.494
  • Trucker, supermarket clerk, "whatever you do, do your work
  • 00:20:05.494 --> 00:20:12.801
  • Diligently, enthusiastically, as unto the lord.
  • 00:20:12.801 --> 00:20:18.273
  • For it is the lord god whom you serve."
  • 00:20:18.273 --> 00:20:22.644
  • Finally, how do you remove regrets about your work?
  • 00:20:22.644 --> 00:20:27.683
  • Don't overestimate the importance of your work.
  • 00:20:27.683 --> 00:20:31.920
  • Don't overestimate the importance of your work.
  • 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:35.023
  • Some people underestimate it, but don't overestimate
  • 00:20:35.023 --> 00:20:37.893
  • It either.
  • 00:20:37.893 --> 00:20:39.261
  • Your work is an important part of your life that god cares
  • 00:20:39.261 --> 00:20:42.230
  • About very much, but it needs to be kept in balance with other
  • 00:20:42.230 --> 00:20:46.435
  • Areas of your life as well.
  • 00:20:46.435 --> 00:20:47.969
  • Let me illustrate that for you.
  • 00:20:47.969 --> 00:20:50.172
  • Years ago, my granddad, before he died, gave amy and me a
  • 00:20:50.172 --> 00:20:54.509
  • Beautiful bronze remington sculpture.
  • 00:20:54.509 --> 00:20:57.946
  • You've seen those sculptures, they're very, very heavy, and he
  • 00:20:57.946 --> 00:21:02.951
  • Gave us a pedestal to put it on.
  • 00:21:02.951 --> 00:21:04.953
  • So, in our home we had that sculpture on the pedestal.
  • 00:21:04.953 --> 00:21:09.324
  • But as our girls began to get older, we realized they could
  • 00:21:09.324 --> 00:21:13.362
  • Accidentally shake that pedestal, and if that heavy
  • 00:21:13.362 --> 00:21:16.365
  • Bronze came crashing down, it could kill them or at least
  • 00:21:16.365 --> 00:21:20.202
  • Destroy the furniture.
  • 00:21:20.202 --> 00:21:21.536
  • So, we voluntarily took that sculpture off the pedestal and
  • 00:21:21.536 --> 00:21:26.274
  • Put it at a lower level, where if it fell it wouldn't do that
  • 00:21:26.274 --> 00:21:29.511
  • Much damage.
  • 00:21:29.511 --> 00:21:31.313
  • We need to be careful that we don't elevate our careers above
  • 00:21:31.313 --> 00:21:35.684
  • Where they belong, because if they come crashing down, when
  • 00:21:35.684 --> 00:21:42.124
  • They come crashing down, either through health, through
  • 00:21:42.124 --> 00:21:47.262
  • Termination, or just our retirement, it does a lot less
  • 00:21:47.262 --> 00:21:51.233
  • Damage if we haven't over-elevated our work.
  • 00:21:51.233 --> 00:21:55.036
  • So, make sure you have it in balance with every other area of
  • 00:21:55.036 --> 00:21:59.274
  • Your life.
  • 00:21:59.274 --> 00:22:00.876
  • In closing today, let me suggest three important questions i hope
  • 00:22:00.876 --> 00:22:04.780
  • You're able to answer.
  • 00:22:04.780 --> 00:22:06.148
  • Number one, have you discovered your life work?
  • 00:22:06.148 --> 00:22:10.185
  • Second question, at the end of most days, not every day, but
  • 00:22:10.185 --> 00:22:14.823
  • Most days, are you able to come to the end of the day and said i
  • 00:22:14.823 --> 00:22:18.293
  • Gave my job my very best efforts today?
  • 00:22:18.293 --> 00:22:23.031
  • And number three, is your work really in balance with every
  • 00:22:23.031 --> 00:22:28.637
  • Other area of your life?
  • 00:22:28.637 --> 00:22:30.972
  • Not spending too much, not spending too little time, but
  • 00:22:30.972 --> 00:22:34.643
  • Keeping it in balance.
  • 00:22:34.643 --> 00:22:36.211
  • Your ability to answer yes to those questions will determine
  • 00:22:36.211 --> 00:22:40.849
  • Your ability to work without regret.
  • 00:22:40.849 --> 00:22:45.887
  • Jeffress: if you're a member of the workforce, then these three
  • 00:22:50.125 --> 00:22:52.761
  • Questions hit close to home.
  • 00:22:52.761 --> 00:22:55.330
  • My prayer is that you understand that god is truly on your side.
  • 00:22:55.330 --> 00:22:59.768
  • He doesn't want you to look back with any disappointments.
  • 00:22:59.768 --> 00:23:03.271
  • Life is far too short to suffer from regret.
  • 00:23:03.271 --> 00:23:07.542
  • Well, these are exciting days at "pathway to victory."
  • 00:23:07.542 --> 00:23:10.145
  • In fact, when i look back over the last 12 months, i'm
  • 00:23:10.145 --> 00:23:13.715
  • Astounded by the expansion of our ministry.
  • 00:23:13.715 --> 00:23:16.852
  • For example, our television program is reaching tens of
  • 00:23:16.852 --> 00:23:20.288
  • Thousands of new households every single day of the week in
  • 00:23:20.288 --> 00:23:24.392
  • America and around the world.
  • 00:23:24.392 --> 00:23:26.761
  • Our radio program is heard on more stations than ever before.
  • 00:23:26.761 --> 00:23:30.899
  • Plus, we've been given rare opportunities to teach the bible
  • 00:23:30.899 --> 00:23:35.237
  • On up-and-coming digital platforms.
  • 00:23:35.237 --> 00:23:37.839
  • This allows us to reach a whole new audience who might not
  • 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:41.710
  • Otherwise hear the gospel.
  • 00:23:41.710 --> 00:23:43.578
  • Would you pray with us that god would continue to expand our
  • 00:23:43.578 --> 00:23:47.015
  • Influence for his glory?
  • 00:23:47.015 --> 00:23:49.384
  • Together, we are piercing the darkness with the light
  • 00:23:49.384 --> 00:23:53.922
  • Of god's word.
  • 00:23:53.922 --> 00:23:55.257
  • Now, stay right there, i'll be back with more "pathway to
  • 00:23:55.257 --> 00:23:58.393
  • Victory" in just a moment.
  • 00:23:58.393 --> 00:24:01.263
  • Announcer: what if your doctor were to say you had only six
  • 00:24:01.263 --> 00:24:03.999
  • Months left to live?
  • 00:24:03.999 --> 00:24:05.433
  • Would you have any regrets in your life?
  • 00:24:05.433 --> 00:24:07.502
  • In his best selling book, "say goodbye to regret," dr. robert
  • 00:24:07.502 --> 00:24:11.172
  • Jeffress shares biblical principles for dealing with
  • 00:24:11.172 --> 00:24:13.575
  • Regrets from your past and preventing regrets in
  • 00:24:13.575 --> 00:24:16.278
  • The future.
  • 00:24:16.278 --> 00:24:17.612
  • Jeffress: regret is one of life's most painful and
  • 00:24:17.612 --> 00:24:20.515
  • Unnecessary emotions, and in my best selling book, "say goodbye
  • 00:24:20.515 --> 00:24:24.586
  • To regret," i'll help you turn those if-onlys into successful
  • 00:24:24.586 --> 00:24:29.090
  • Lessons in living.
  • 00:24:29.090 --> 00:24:30.825
  • Announcer: it's time to move forward, satisfied with the life
  • 00:24:30.825 --> 00:24:33.995
  • You're living.
  • 00:24:33.995 --> 00:24:35.397
  • Request your copy of "say goodbye to regret" when you give
  • 00:24:35.397 --> 00:24:38.233
  • A generous gift to "pathway to victory."
  • 00:24:38.233 --> 00:24:40.902
  • In the pages of this highly practical book, you'll discover
  • 00:24:40.902 --> 00:24:44.139
  • The biblical keys to leaving behind regrets about
  • 00:24:44.139 --> 00:24:46.908
  • Relationships, your marriage, finances, and more.
  • 00:24:46.908 --> 00:24:50.445
  • And when you give $75 or more, we'll also send you the complete
  • 00:24:50.445 --> 00:24:55.183
  • "say goodbye to regret" teaching series on
  • 00:24:55.183 --> 00:24:57.552
  • Dvd video and mp3 format audio disc.
  • 00:24:57.552 --> 00:25:01.456
  • Jeffress: one of the heaviest weights, other than sin,
  • 00:25:01.456 --> 00:25:04.793
  • Is regret.
  • 00:25:04.793 --> 00:25:06.127
  • Regrets are not the problem in and of themselves, they are an
  • 00:25:06.127 --> 00:25:09.431
  • Indicator of a problem that needs to be dealt with.
  • 00:25:09.431 --> 00:25:13.802
  • Announcer: thank you for helping "pathway to victory"
  • 00:25:13.868 --> 00:25:16.204
  • Proclaim the redemptive power of jesus christ to a world in need.
  • 00:25:16.204 --> 00:25:20.342
  • Together, we are broadcasting the message of god's love
  • 00:25:20.342 --> 00:25:23.545
  • And forgiveness, biblical hope, and life transforming power
  • 00:25:23.545 --> 00:25:27.048
  • Across the country and around the world.
  • 00:25:27.048 --> 00:25:30.785
  • Jeffress: man was created to work, because we were created in
  • 00:25:32.454 --> 00:25:36.124
  • The image of god.
  • 00:25:36.124 --> 00:25:37.525
  • You see, god is a worker as well, for this reason and more,
  • 00:25:37.525 --> 00:25:41.429
  • He truly cares about your career.
  • 00:25:41.429 --> 00:25:44.633
  • I hope the biblical principles from today's message will guide
  • 00:25:44.633 --> 00:25:48.069
  • You in minimizing regrets about your vocation.
  • 00:25:48.069 --> 00:25:52.207
  • Well, over the past couple of weeks we've talked about
  • 00:25:52.207 --> 00:25:55.010
  • Overcoming different kinds of regret, relationship regrets,
  • 00:25:55.010 --> 00:25:59.447
  • Parenting regrets, and time regrets, just to name a few.
  • 00:25:59.447 --> 00:26:03.351
  • And now, it's time to say goodbye to regrets about
  • 00:26:03.351 --> 00:26:07.422
  • Regret itself.
  • 00:26:07.422 --> 00:26:09.090
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next in our
  • 00:26:09.090 --> 00:26:11.660
  • Series, "say goodbye to regret."
  • 00:26:11.660 --> 00:26:15.797
  • Jeffress: but god used those 40 years in the desert to prepare
  • 00:26:15.797 --> 00:26:19.601
  • Moses, to teach him invaluable lessons he never would have
  • 00:26:19.601 --> 00:26:23.138
  • Learned in pharaoh's court.
  • 00:26:23.138 --> 00:26:25.240
  • Lessons that prepared him at age 80 to be called by god to lead
  • 00:26:25.240 --> 00:26:31.012
  • The children of israel out of egypt.
  • 00:26:31.012 --> 00:26:34.382
  • You will never be at peace with the regrets from your past until
  • 00:26:34.382 --> 00:26:38.920
  • You believe in a god who can do the same thing for you.
  • 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:42.257
  • Announcer: set your dvr and join us next time for the message,
  • 00:26:42.257 --> 00:26:45.694
  • "say goodbye to regrets about regrets,"
  • 00:26:45.694 --> 00:26:48.897
  • Here on "pathway to victory."
  • 00:26:48.897 --> 00:26:51.132
  • Announcer: take the journey through alaska's awe-inspiring
  • 00:26:52.967 --> 00:26:55.470
  • Wilderness on the 2026 pathway to victory cruise to alaska with
  • 00:26:55.470 --> 00:26:59.541
  • Dr. robert jeffress aboard holland america's
  • 00:26:59.541 --> 00:27:01.943
  • Magnificent koningsdam.
  • 00:27:01.943 --> 00:27:03.878
  • Share laughter with dennis swanberg, be inspired
  • 00:27:03.878 --> 00:27:07.082
  • By award-wining musician michael o'brien's powerful worship.
  • 00:27:07.082 --> 00:27:10.885
  • Make plans to set sail for an unforgettable week of adventure
  • 00:27:10.885 --> 00:27:14.489
  • June 13 through 20, 2026.
  • 00:27:14.489 --> 00:27:17.292
  • Call...
  • 00:27:17.292 --> 00:27:20.161
  • Or visit ptv.org.
  • 00:27:20.161 --> 00:27:27.569