Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie

Greg Laurie - What I Would Tell My Younger Self (Part 1)

July 2, 2025 | 27:40

Join Pastor Greg Laurie for a time of encouragement, worship, and Bible study.

#Past #Mistakes #Wisdom #WalkwithGod #Faith #TrustGod #Meditation #WordofGod #SpiritualGrowth

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Harvest with Pastor Greg Laurie | Greg Laurie - What I Would Tell My Younger Self (Part 1) | July 2, 2025

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Greg laurie: welcome to "harvest" with greg laurie.
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This tv show is all about helping you
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Get to know god better because god loves you,
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And god has a plan for you,
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And god wants to transform your life,
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And he's told us everything you need to know
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About him and life in general in this book,
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The bible, the user's manual of life.
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So, we're gonna be talking about what the bible says
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And what god wants to do in your life.
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Again, welcome and god bless you.
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins. ♪
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♪ this is the day, ♪
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♪ the day when life begins. ♪♪
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Greg: what would i say to a young greg as an older greg?
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What advice would i give myself?
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What things would i tell young greg to avoid?
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What things what i tell young greg to do?
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Well, there's the obvious answers.
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I would tell young greg, brush your teeth every day, boy,
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'cause you do not want to have to spend
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As much time at the dentist as older greg has.
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Of course, i would tell younger greg, wear sunscreen.
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I was a blond kid out at the beach a lot.
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I don't think i hardly ever wore sunscreen.
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And i've had more than one trip to the dermatologist.
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So, i'd certainly give that advice.
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Maybe i would say to a young greg, you know,
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When "star wars" comes out and all those figures
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Are in the original packaging, don't open those.
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Save those because you'll be able to
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Sell those for a lot of money later.
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I think that's true of original barbie dolls in their packaging.
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I just read the other day that an original copy of
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"the legend of zelda" video game sold for, get this, $411,000.
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So, i guess i would say, young greg, go find a few copies
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Of "the legend of zelda" because they'll be worth half a million
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One day, but don't take it out of the original packaging.
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Now, these are silly things,
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Things that don't matter all that much.
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But i want to talk about things that really do matter,
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What i would say to a younger me.
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And in effect what i'm saying to young people right now.
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Let me give you a little bit of advice.
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Maybe you don't have a mom and a dad
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That are doing this for you or a grandfather.
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Let me be your dad for a few minutes or your grandfather and
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Say things to you that you need said to you as a younger person.
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This first one may be surprising,
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But i'm gonna start with this.
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Whatever you're going through, it's going to be okay.
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Whatever you're going through, it's going to be okay.
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I know when you're young and you're experiencing things for
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The first time, life can seem kind of scary.
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You're wondering about what you're gonna do with your life,
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Where you're going to go, who you're gonna marry,
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What career path you're going to choose.
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And then maybe something bad happens to you.
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You have a huge setback.
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You break up with your boyfriend or your girlfriend,
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And it almost seems like your world has just ended.
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Listen, it's going to be okay. you're gonna get through this.
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I look at photos of my younger self.
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By the way, i just rediscovered these
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Really old photos of me as a little boy.
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I believe they were taken when i was living in new jersey.
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I was at around six or seven years old.
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And i look at this little guy and knowing now what i know now,
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I know that little guy's gonna go through a lot of suffering.
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His mother would effectively abandon him.
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He would never have a father.
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Growing up, he would be passed around from aunts and uncles.
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He would spend a considerable
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Period of time in military school.
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Life would not make sense to him.
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Sometimes he would be up all night
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Wondering when his mother was gonna come home.
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And she wouldn't come home and he'd have to
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Get himself ready for school and take a lot of
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Responsibility on as a little kid.
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But here's what i would say. god has his hand on you.
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God is going to watch over you.
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I mentioned i was passed around to family members.
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And i did spend a bit of time with my grandparents.
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And that was probably one of the most stable times in my life
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Because they functioned as parents.
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But they were parents from another century.
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They were quite old when i was living with them.
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And they believed in old-fashioned values.
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But fortunately, they believed in old-fashioned food too
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Because this is the kind of food i ate
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Before i moved in with my grandparents.
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They're called tv dinners, and by the way,
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Even though these photos don't make the food look
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All that good, the food actually looked
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Much worse than this, and it didn't taste very good either.
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Here's the chicken tv dinner, and by the way, we didn't
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Put these in microwaves, those didn't exist yet.
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Yes, i'm old enough to have lived before the microwave.
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And so, we would heat these up in the oven.
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So, there's the chicken dinner. here's the turkey and gravy.
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And then here's the polynesian one, that one is kind of weird.
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And look at this kid eating this.
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You know this is a posed photo.
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The kid's acting like he actually is enjoying this meal.
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This food, i'm just telling you, was not good.
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So, i went from that kind of food to living
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With my grandmother who made everything
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From scratch, starting with fried chicken.
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And by the way, when we had fried chicken, we didn't just go
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To the market and buy chicken like normal people.
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My grandfather would kill a live chicken, cut its head off.
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I remember as a little kid watching him do it one time.
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He took the chicken, he put it on a tree stump.
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He took out the hatchet, or the axe,
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I should say, boom, off comes the head.
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And the body's running around spurting out blood.
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And as i recall, it started running toward me.
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And i'm thinking, how does the chicken body know where to go?
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I felt like the little chicken head laying there was saying,
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"go straight, turn right, turn right," whatever.
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It traumatized me, i still break out in a cold sweat
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When i go by chick-fil-a, not really.
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But fresh chicken, mashed potatoes made
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From scratch, black-eyed peas, so many
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Incredible things she would make every night.
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But her crowning achievement was her biscuit.
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This was a biscuit unlike any other i've had any place else.
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It was good. it was stable.
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And i remember we would sit in the
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Front room of my grandparents' house.
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They each had sort of a la-z-boy type chair,
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And i'd sit in a little stool in the middle.
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And i remember we watched this guy on television.
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I would later discover this man's name is billy graham.
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And how was i to know, as a little boy, that i would one day
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Meet him and actually become friends with him?
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My grandparents also had a little painting
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Of the face of jesus over the furnace.
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It was a floor furnace, and i remember i would look
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At that picture of jesus for hours thinking about him.
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There was something about him that interested me.
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How was i to know that i would come into a relationship with
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Him and he would change my life forever?
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So, despite the hardship i went through as a little boy, i was
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Able to react to it in a different way because at the age
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Of 17, i put my faith in jesus christ.
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Listen to this, you don't decide what hand
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You will be dealt in life.
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Some of you are in a stable home with
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Mom and dad raising you in a wonderful way.
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Some of you are from a broken home.
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In fact, probably more of you are from a broken home,
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And you are facing an uncertain future.
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You don't get to pick what hand is dealt to you in life,
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But you decide how you will react to it.
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And here's the thing you discover in time.
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No matter how bad your upbringing is or bad the
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Experiences are that you go through,
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Your pain can be effectively turned to gain.
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God can take your setbacks and turn them into setups.
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Your tests can become a testimony because what you have
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Gone through was not designed to destroy you, but to develop you,
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To develop you so you'll be a different person.
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And i've been able to take the pain of my past and use it as a
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Tool to help people who are going through similar pain.
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The apostle paul speaks about comforting with the comfort that
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We, ourselves, have been comforted with.
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So, maybe a young person is watching this right now and
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You're filled with anxiety and stress.
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I read just the other day that the majority of gen z
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Has high levels of anxiety and stress.
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So, let me say something to my younger viewers right now.
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I know it's harder for you than it was
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For us when we were growing up.
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I know older people will say things like, "you know,
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When i was a child, it was so much harder."
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No, it's harder for you guys.
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One of the reasons it's harder is
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Many of you are coming from broken homes.
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Another reason it's harder is because
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Everything has been escalated.
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In my day, i might get beat up at school.
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In your day, you might get shot in school.
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The drugs are much more serious and much harder.
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And, of course, you have social media that amplifies everything
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And has changed things dramatically.
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I also read that generation z are afraid of the future.
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And one-third of this generation struggle with suicidal thoughts.
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Am i talking to somebody right now
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Who has contemplated suicide?
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Maybe you've even attempted to take your own life.
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I want you to know something.
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I want you to know that you are loved.
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I want you to know that you are wanted.
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I want you to know you're loved by
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More people than you could ever imagine.
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And i also want you to know that god
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Has a special plan for your life.
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You matter. we need you.
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Don't contemplate ending your life.
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Listen, it's never too late to change.
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I don't know what trajectory your life is going in right now.
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I don't know what bad decisions maybe
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You've made at this moment.
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But it's never too late to change.
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And it's not just changing the way you feel.
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You need to change the way you think.
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Christ can change the course of your life.
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Listen, just as surely as there is a god in heaven who loves
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You, there is a devil that's headed to hell who hates you.
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And jesus summed up the contrast when he said
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In john 10, "the thief," speaking of satan,
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"comes only to steal, kill, and destroy."
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But in contrast jesus said, "but i have come
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That you might have life, and that more abundantly."
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So, there's your choice, life in a relationship with god,
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Death outside of a relationship with god.
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Don't let the devil whisper in your ear
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That you should take your life.
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The bible says he's a liar and he's the father of lies.
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Sometimes people are apprehensive about giving their
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Life to jesus because they think, "well,
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It's gonna be misery and rules and regulations," au contraire.
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That's french for snails with garlic--no, that's escargot.
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To the contrary, god's plan for you
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Is better than your plans for yourself.
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God himself says in jeremiah 29:11, "i know the thoughts that
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I think toward you," says the lord, "thoughts of peace,
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Not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
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Greg: you know, i've heard people say,
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"oh, it's so hard to be a christian.
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I tried and i failed."
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Let me say something that might surprise you.
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It's not hard to be a christian,
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It's impossible without the help of the holy spirit.
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See, with god, all things are possible.
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He can give me the strength and the power
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To live the life he has called us to live.
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Apart from him, the bible says, "i can do nothing."
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Jesus said that.
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But then scripture also tells me, paul speaking,
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"i can do all things through christ who strengthens me."
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So, stop trying to live the christian life in your own
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Power, stop trying to do it in your own strength,
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And instead say, "lord, i need your help each and every day."
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Greg: all right, so back to our message.
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Things i would say to my younger self,
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Number one, it's going to be okay.
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Whatever you're going through, you're going to get through it.
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Number two, what would i say to my younger self?
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Put god first in your life. put god first in your life.
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This, of course, starts with asking christ to come into your
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Life, but then it means following him.
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Jesus summed it up this way in matthew 6:33, "seek first the
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Kingdom of god and his righteousness,
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And all these things shall be added to you."
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Now, what was he talking about when he said all these things?
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Jesus said, "don't be like the non believers.
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All they think about is what they're gonna wear,
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What they're gonna drink, what they're going to eat.
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But i say to you, seek first the kingdom of god and his
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Righteousness, and these things will be added to you."
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And we're obsessed with all those things, what we'll eat,
00:13:50.506 --> 00:13:53.242
What we'll drink, what we'll wear, where we'll go, what we'll
00:13:53.242 --> 00:13:55.744
Drive, where we will work, where we will live.
00:13:55.744 --> 00:13:58.781
These are not bad things, by the way, to think about.
00:13:58.781 --> 00:14:02.017
But jesus is saying, don't make those the focus
00:14:02.017 --> 00:14:04.753
Of your life, put god first in your life.
00:14:04.753 --> 00:14:07.323
Seek first the kingdom of god. what does that mean?
00:14:07.323 --> 00:14:10.192
The kingdom of god is the rule
00:14:10.192 --> 00:14:11.994
And reign of christ in your life.
00:14:11.994 --> 00:14:14.330
See, one day we'll go to heaven and enter into the kingdom of
00:14:14.330 --> 00:14:17.700
God and the kingdom of god will come to earth.
00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:20.269
But also, when the bible tells us to seek it first,
00:14:20.269 --> 00:14:23.405
It means just put jesus first.
00:14:23.405 --> 00:14:26.342
Think about god's will when you make those decisions.
00:14:26.342 --> 00:14:29.245
Don't put money first. don't put career first.
00:14:29.245 --> 00:14:32.815
Don't put politics first. don't even put ministry first.
00:14:32.815 --> 00:14:38.287
Put jesus first, and he will take care of you in life.
00:14:38.287 --> 00:14:43.025
There was a young solomon ascending to the throne.
00:14:43.025 --> 00:14:46.462
His father david had died.
00:14:46.462 --> 00:14:48.364
And the lord comes to solomon and says, "solomon, ask me for
00:14:48.364 --> 00:14:52.368
Whatever you want, and i will give it to you."
00:14:52.368 --> 00:14:55.804
Imagine for a moment if god came to you and said,
00:14:55.804 --> 00:14:58.807
"ask what you want and i'll give it to you."
00:14:58.807 --> 00:15:00.910
What would you ask for?
00:15:00.910 --> 00:15:02.478
Solomon said, "lord, i pray for wisdom,
00:15:02.478 --> 00:15:05.514
Wisdom to lead your people."
00:15:05.514 --> 00:15:07.850
The lord, in effect, said, "because you didn't pray for
00:15:07.850 --> 00:15:10.252
Stuff, you didn't pray for possessions, you didn't pray for
00:15:10.252 --> 00:15:13.989
Great wealth or honor, i'm gonna give you the wisdom you asked
00:15:13.989 --> 00:15:17.126
For, and all these other things as well."
00:15:17.126 --> 00:15:19.962
It's a perfect illustration of why
00:15:19.962 --> 00:15:21.897
Putting god first is the right thing to do.
00:15:21.897 --> 00:15:24.934
That doesn't mean that god's gonna
00:15:24.934 --> 00:15:26.402
Make everybody incredibly wealthy.
00:15:26.402 --> 00:15:29.772
But what it does mean is god, the bible says,
00:15:29.772 --> 00:15:32.908
Will supply all of your needs according
00:15:32.908 --> 00:15:35.144
To his riches and glory in christ jesus.
00:15:35.144 --> 00:15:38.747
So, you want to put god first in every decision you make in life.
00:15:38.747 --> 00:15:44.386
"what is the will of god," you might ask,
00:15:44.386 --> 00:15:46.989
"about this thing i'm about to do?
00:15:46.989 --> 00:15:49.892
How do you know the will of god?"
00:15:49.892 --> 00:15:51.527
Answer, by reading the word of god.
00:15:51.527 --> 00:15:55.197
He'll reveal his will to you in scripture.
00:15:55.197 --> 00:15:57.866
Understand this, why are you in this earth?
00:15:57.866 --> 00:16:00.569
And this answers a big question, the question of, "why am i here?
00:16:00.569 --> 00:16:04.306
What is the meaning of my life?" here's the answer.
00:16:04.306 --> 00:16:07.743
The meaning of your life, you are here to bring
00:16:07.743 --> 00:16:11.847
Glory to god, not to bring glory to yourself.
00:16:11.847 --> 00:16:17.286
Isaiah 43:7 god says, "everyone who is called
00:16:17.286 --> 00:16:20.856
By my name whom i created for my glory."
00:16:20.856 --> 00:16:25.928
That's why you're here.
00:16:25.928 --> 00:16:27.596
So, know this, god wants to speak to you.
00:16:27.596 --> 00:16:30.632
God wants to fill you with his holy spirit each and every day.
00:16:30.632 --> 00:16:34.503
Put god first in your life, and the rest will be blessed.
00:16:34.503 --> 00:16:39.875
Here's point number three.
00:16:39.875 --> 00:16:41.477
What would i say to my younger self?
00:16:41.477 --> 00:16:43.512
I would say, young greg, read the bible every day.
00:16:43.512 --> 00:16:48.951
And i pretty much followed that advice, thankfully.
00:16:48.951 --> 00:16:52.688
And i hope many of you are following it as well.
00:16:52.688 --> 00:16:56.158
Because sometimes i think christians, as they grow in
00:16:56.158 --> 00:16:58.394
Their faith, think, "well, i don't need to
00:16:58.394 --> 00:17:00.329
Read the bible as much as i used to."
00:17:00.329 --> 00:17:02.331
No listen, you need to read the bible every single day.
00:17:02.331 --> 00:17:06.335
You should start the day with it,
00:17:06.335 --> 00:17:07.903
You should end the day with it.
00:17:07.903 --> 00:17:09.638
In psalm 1 it says, "happy is the man, or the woman, who
00:17:09.638 --> 00:17:14.076
Doesn't walk in the counsel of the ungodly or stand in the way
00:17:14.076 --> 00:17:17.246
Of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful."
00:17:17.246 --> 00:17:19.681
Listen, "his delight is in the word of the lord
00:17:19.681 --> 00:17:25.087
And in it does he meditate day and night."
00:17:25.087 --> 00:17:28.590
Then it goes on to say, "he'll be like a tree
00:17:28.590 --> 00:17:30.626
Planted by the rivers of water.
00:17:30.626 --> 00:17:32.895
His leaf shall not wither
00:17:32.895 --> 00:17:34.963
And whatsoever he does shall prosper.
00:17:34.963 --> 00:17:37.433
Happy is that man." you want to be a happy man?
00:17:37.433 --> 00:17:40.335
You want to be a happy woman?
00:17:40.335 --> 00:17:42.137
Read the word of god. it says meditate in it.
00:17:42.137 --> 00:17:45.574
In eastern meditation, one seeks to empty their mind.
00:17:45.574 --> 00:17:49.845
In biblical meditation, one fills
00:17:49.845 --> 00:17:52.314
Their mind with the word of god.
00:17:52.314 --> 00:17:55.484
This is how you're going to grow spiritually.
00:17:55.484 --> 00:17:58.120
This is how you will be able to resist temptation.
00:17:58.120 --> 00:18:01.290
We're told in the psalms, how shall
00:18:01.290 --> 00:18:03.258
A young man cleanse his way?
00:18:03.258 --> 00:18:05.727
Answer, "by listening to what the word of god says."
00:18:05.727 --> 00:18:09.631
So, you need to read the bible every day because scripture
00:18:09.631 --> 00:18:12.634
Says, "study to show yourself approved unto god, a workman
00:18:12.634 --> 00:18:17.039
That does not need to be ashamed,
00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:19.108
Rightly dividing the word of truth."
00:18:19.108 --> 00:18:21.143
Listen to this, success or failure in the christian life
00:18:21.143 --> 00:18:25.380
Depends on how much of the bible you get into your life
00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:29.184
On a regular basis and how obedient you are to it.
00:18:29.184 --> 00:18:32.988
I'm gonna repeat that.
00:18:32.988 --> 00:18:34.389
Success or failure in the christian life
00:18:34.389 --> 00:18:37.559
Depends on how much of the word of god you get into your life
00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:41.096
On a regular basis and how obedient you are to it.
00:18:41.096 --> 00:18:45.434
So, read the word, treasure the word, memorize the word.
00:18:45.434 --> 00:18:50.472
I've never met a strong christian
00:18:50.472 --> 00:18:53.509
Who was not full of scripture.
00:18:53.509 --> 00:18:56.578
Here's the fourth thing i would say to a younger me.
00:18:56.578 --> 00:18:59.915
Stop worrying and start praying.
00:18:59.915 --> 00:19:03.619
I know we all have things we worry about in life.
00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:05.821
But i'm reminded of the words of the apostle paul in philippians
00:19:05.821 --> 00:19:10.058
4 when he says, "don't worry about anything.
00:19:10.058 --> 00:19:14.463
Pray about everything.
00:19:14.463 --> 00:19:16.231
Tell god what you need, thank him for all he has done,
00:19:16.231 --> 00:19:19.501
Then you will experience god's peace
00:19:19.501 --> 00:19:21.837
Which exceeds anything we can understand.
00:19:21.837 --> 00:19:24.273
His peace will guard your heart and mind
00:19:24.273 --> 00:19:27.276
As you live in christ jesus."
00:19:27.276 --> 00:19:29.244
Worry, worry can ruin your day.
00:19:29.244 --> 00:19:32.814
It can ruin your week. it can ruin your month.
00:19:32.814 --> 00:19:36.952
Actually worry can effectively ruin your life.
00:19:36.952 --> 00:19:41.490
The word "worry" comes from a root word
00:19:41.490 --> 00:19:43.859
That means to choke or to strangle.
00:19:43.859 --> 00:19:46.929
A number of years ago, my grandkids would like
00:19:46.929 --> 00:19:48.931
To come up and choke me from behind.
00:19:48.931 --> 00:19:51.533
They thought that was very cute and fun.
00:19:51.533 --> 00:19:53.602
And it was okay. they were very small.
00:19:53.602 --> 00:19:55.037
They weren't hurting me.
00:19:55.037 --> 00:19:56.371
And so, they would come over and say, "papa, can we choke you?"
00:19:56.371 --> 00:19:59.408
Well, as they've gotten older, if i let them do that now,
00:19:59.408 --> 00:20:02.211
I might die, so we can't play that game anymore.
00:20:02.211 --> 00:20:04.846
But that's what worry does, it chokes you out.
00:20:04.846 --> 00:20:07.883
It doesn't make things better. it makes them worse.
00:20:07.883 --> 00:20:10.986
John curtis, directory--director of the university of wisconsin
00:20:10.986 --> 00:20:15.324
Stress management institute says, quote, "i believe that 90%
00:20:15.324 --> 00:20:20.362
Of the stress we face is brought on by not living in the present
00:20:20.362 --> 00:20:24.600
Moment, worrying about what's already happened
00:20:24.600 --> 00:20:27.603
Or what's going to happen or what could happen."
00:20:27.603 --> 00:20:30.539
Listen to this, when you worry about the future,
00:20:30.539 --> 00:20:34.142
You cripple yourself in the present.
00:20:34.142 --> 00:20:36.745
Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow.
00:20:36.745 --> 00:20:40.249
It empties today of its strength.
00:20:40.249 --> 00:20:43.085
I mean, even when things aren't going well, oh, it's a good day.
00:20:43.085 --> 00:20:46.255
Nothing's going wrong and then you start worrying.
00:20:46.255 --> 00:20:48.557
"what's gonna go wrong? something's gonna go wrong.
00:20:48.557 --> 00:20:51.193
I just know it." what's that all about?
00:20:51.193 --> 00:20:53.595
That cannot be helpful.
00:20:53.595 --> 00:20:55.497
I read a peanuts comic strip and charlie brown says,
00:20:55.497 --> 00:20:59.668
"i have a new philosophy.
00:20:59.668 --> 00:21:01.203
I'm only going to dread one day at a time."
00:21:01.203 --> 00:21:04.506
Well, actually, jesus said this,
00:21:04.506 --> 00:21:07.442
"today's trouble is enough for today."
00:21:07.442 --> 00:21:09.244
Don't worry about tomorrow.
00:21:09.244 --> 00:21:10.879
Just take each day and take that worry and turn it into prayer.
00:21:10.879 --> 00:21:17.219
I would compare this to a natural reflex
00:21:17.219 --> 00:21:21.290
And a conditioned reflex.
00:21:21.290 --> 00:21:23.025
To learn how to turn worry into prayer is a conditioned reflex.
00:21:23.025 --> 00:21:28.297
Let me explain, natural reflex, you don't have to teach this.
00:21:28.297 --> 00:21:32.034
If even a little child touches a hot stove, they pull their hand
00:21:32.034 --> 00:21:37.039
Back, right, because they know that's hot.
00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:39.908
They know they should not touch that, that's a natural reflex.
00:21:39.908 --> 00:21:44.313
If you touch a hot iron, the same thing happens.
00:21:44.313 --> 00:21:46.648
I heard about a guy that went to see a doctor.
00:21:46.648 --> 00:21:48.917
He had two horribly burned ears.
00:21:48.917 --> 00:21:52.087
Of course, two, everyone has two ears, right?
00:21:52.087 --> 00:21:54.056
Both of his ears were burned, i should say.
00:21:54.056 --> 00:21:56.191
So, the doctor said, "what happened to you?"
00:21:56.191 --> 00:21:58.527
He says, "well, doc, i was ironing and i got a phone call.
00:21:58.527 --> 00:22:02.331
And i answered the iron instead of the phone."
00:22:02.331 --> 00:22:05.901
The doctor was horrified. "i can't believe you did that.
00:22:05.901 --> 00:22:08.670
But what happened to the other ear?"
00:22:08.670 --> 00:22:10.339
The guy says, "well, he called back."
00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:11.940
Okay, so anyway, natural reflex,
00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:14.242
I touch something hot, i pull back again.
00:22:14.242 --> 00:22:16.778
But then there's a conditioned reflex.
00:22:16.778 --> 00:22:18.814
This is something i'm taught to do.
00:22:18.814 --> 00:22:21.550
So, now in the same way worry hits, anxiety hits, panic hits.
00:22:21.550 --> 00:22:26.488
Right away, pray. "oh, i'm scared."
00:22:26.488 --> 00:22:29.324
Let's pray. just let's pray.
00:22:29.324 --> 00:22:31.159
Stop everything you're doing and commit it to the lord.
00:22:31.159 --> 00:22:35.130
In 1 peter 5, we read these words, "give all your worries
00:22:35.130 --> 00:22:38.367
And cares to god, for he cares for you."
00:22:38.367 --> 00:22:41.937
By the way in the original language that signifies a
00:22:41.937 --> 00:22:44.339
Definite act of our will where we choose to stop worrying
00:22:44.339 --> 00:22:49.945
And let god assume the responsibility for our welfare.
00:22:49.945 --> 00:22:55.317
You take out the trash.
00:22:55.317 --> 00:22:57.552
I don't know why it is, but men have been basically chosen to
00:22:57.552 --> 00:23:00.889
Take the trash out, that is our job,
00:23:00.889 --> 00:23:04.059
And that's what we're supposed to do.
00:23:04.059 --> 00:23:05.627
And i don't know why, but i always
00:23:05.627 --> 00:23:07.796
Put off taking the trash out.
00:23:07.796 --> 00:23:09.631
It's not hard, i have these big plastic cans
00:23:09.631 --> 00:23:12.200
With a handle and a wheel.
00:23:12.200 --> 00:23:14.302
All i have to do is throw the trash in the can,
00:23:14.302 --> 00:23:16.371
Take it out a few feet, put in front of my house,
00:23:16.371 --> 00:23:18.707
And the trash man picks it up, but i have to take it out.
00:23:18.707 --> 00:23:22.411
Your worries, your anxieties are like trash, take them out
00:23:22.411 --> 00:23:26.681
And make a deliberate choice to give them over to the lord.
00:23:26.681 --> 00:23:31.286
The same is true of all anxiety and worry,
00:23:31.286 --> 00:23:34.055
Pray more and worry less.
00:23:34.055 --> 00:23:36.525
Greg: maybe god has spoken to your heart
00:23:40.295 --> 00:23:43.465
And you have seen your need for jesus christ.
00:23:43.465 --> 00:23:47.002
Jesus christ is the son of god
00:23:47.002 --> 00:23:49.905
Who came from heaven to this earth.
00:23:49.905 --> 00:23:52.274
He was born in a manger. he died on a cross.
00:23:52.274 --> 00:23:56.011
He rose again from the dead. why?
00:23:56.011 --> 00:23:57.946
Because he loves you, and he wants a relationship with you.
00:23:57.946 --> 00:24:01.583
Listen, i'm not talking about religion.
00:24:01.583 --> 00:24:03.752
I don't want to be a religious person,
00:24:03.752 --> 00:24:05.554
I don't think you want to be one either.
00:24:05.554 --> 00:24:07.622
I'm talking about relationship with god.
00:24:07.622 --> 00:24:11.293
Jesus, who died and rose again,
00:24:11.293 --> 00:24:13.762
Stands at the door of your life and he knocks.
00:24:13.762 --> 00:24:16.431
And he says if you'll hear his voice
00:24:16.431 --> 00:24:18.533
And open the door, he will come in.
00:24:18.533 --> 00:24:20.602
Question, have you asked jesus christ
00:24:20.602 --> 00:24:22.904
To come and live inside of you?
00:24:22.904 --> 00:24:24.906
You might say, "well, i think so, i'm not sure."
00:24:24.906 --> 00:24:26.842
Hey, if someone moved into your house in the middle of the
00:24:26.842 --> 00:24:29.478
Night, do you think you would be aware of it?
00:24:29.478 --> 00:24:32.113
I'm sure you would, and in the same way,
00:24:32.113 --> 00:24:34.649
If christ has come to live inside of you, you will know.
00:24:34.649 --> 00:24:37.752
And if you don't know, maybe he has not come in yet.
00:24:37.752 --> 00:24:41.590
He's just a prayer away.
00:24:41.590 --> 00:24:43.458
All you need to do is say, "jesus,
00:24:43.458 --> 00:24:45.460
I want this relationship with you.
00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:47.429
I want you to forgive me of my sin.
00:24:47.429 --> 00:24:49.731
I want to go to heaven when i die."
00:24:49.731 --> 00:24:51.867
Would you like to do that?
00:24:51.867 --> 00:24:53.235
Would you like christ to come into your life?
00:24:53.235 --> 00:24:55.871
If so, why don't you just pray this simple prayer with me?
00:24:55.871 --> 00:24:58.907
You could pray it out loud, or you can
00:24:58.907 --> 00:25:00.809
Pray it in the quietness of your heart.
00:25:00.809 --> 00:25:03.411
But this is a prayer where you're asking
00:25:03.411 --> 00:25:05.080
Jesus christ to be your savior and lord.
00:25:05.080 --> 00:25:07.949
Pray this with me now.
00:25:07.949 --> 00:25:09.351
"lord jesus, i know that i'm a sinner,
00:25:09.351 --> 00:25:12.654
But i know that you're the savior
00:25:12.654 --> 00:25:15.657
Who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.
00:25:15.657 --> 00:25:19.227
Now come into my life.
00:25:19.227 --> 00:25:22.030
I choose to follow you from this moment forward.
00:25:22.030 --> 00:25:26.334
Thank you for hearing this prayer
00:25:26.334 --> 00:25:28.470
And answering this prayer.
00:25:28.470 --> 00:25:30.305
In jesus's name, amen."
00:25:30.305 --> 00:25:33.141
Did you just pray that prayer with me?
00:25:33.141 --> 00:25:35.443
If so, i want you to know in the authority of scripture that
00:25:35.443 --> 00:25:38.380
Christ himself has come to live inside of you.
00:25:38.380 --> 00:25:41.483
And i would love to send to you at no charge something
00:25:41.483 --> 00:25:44.819
Called the new believer's bible.
00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:47.122
It's a very friendly translation of the new testament you'll find
00:25:47.122 --> 00:25:50.325
Very understandable, and it's filled with hundreds of notes
00:25:50.325 --> 00:25:54.029
That i wrote that will encourage you in
00:25:54.029 --> 00:25:56.598
This commitment you've just made to follow jesus.
00:25:56.598 --> 00:25:59.568
Let me send that to you at no charge.
00:25:59.568 --> 00:26:02.003
And let me be the first to say to you,
00:26:02.003 --> 00:26:04.172
"congratulations and welcome to the family of god."
00:26:04.172 --> 00:26:08.276
Male announcer: this month, greg laurie released his latest
00:26:11.546 --> 00:26:13.848
Book, "revelation: a book of promises."
00:26:13.848 --> 00:26:17.118
Why study revelation?
00:26:17.118 --> 00:26:18.820
The word "revelation" means "unveiling."
00:26:18.820 --> 00:26:21.556
God's desire is to reveal, not conceal.
00:26:21.556 --> 00:26:25.060
And this book unveils pictures of the spirit world,
00:26:25.060 --> 00:26:27.963
Great cataclysmic events in store for the planet,
00:26:27.963 --> 00:26:30.932
And the coming antichrist.
00:26:30.932 --> 00:26:33.068
But as greg laurie explains, the primary objective of
00:26:33.068 --> 00:26:35.904
This book isn't to reveal the antichrist,
00:26:35.904 --> 00:26:38.573
It's to reveal jesus christ and his soon coming.
00:26:38.573 --> 00:26:42.210
"revelation: a book of promises" is designed to help you
00:26:42.210 --> 00:26:45.480
See jesus as the centerpiece, the star, and the
00:26:45.480 --> 00:26:48.850
Focus of revelation.
00:26:48.850 --> 00:26:50.852
With this eminently practical guide, you can experience the
00:26:50.852 --> 00:26:54.155
Blessing promised to those who read, hear, and keep the
00:26:54.155 --> 00:26:57.792
Words of this prophetic book.
00:26:57.792 --> 00:27:00.061
After all, bible prophecy is not given to inflate our brains,
00:27:00.061 --> 00:27:03.932
But to enlarge our hearts.
00:27:03.932 --> 00:27:05.934
Request "revelation" by greg laurie when you give today.
00:27:05.934 --> 00:27:09.404
♪ for god so loved the world that he gave us ♪
00:27:10.905 --> 00:27:15.710
♪ his one and only son to save us ♪
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♪ whoever believes in him will live forever ♪♪
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Greg Laurie - What I Would Tell My Younger Self (Part 1)

July 2, 2025 | 27:40

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