Joel Osteen

When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.

Today is a new day, so rise up and move forward into the victory God has prepared for you!

You can't hang out with negative people and expect to live a positive life.

I don't think that a same-sex marriage is the way God intended it to be.

I don't believe we are supposed to go through life defeated and not having enough money to pay our bills or send our kids to college.

You cannot expect victory and plan for defeat.

I didn't try to copy my dad or fit into the pressure or the mold that everybody tried to make me fit into.

God puts people in our lives on purpose so we can help them succeed and help them become all He created them to be. Most people will not reach their full potential without somebody else believing in them.

When the negative thoughts come - and they will; they come to all of us - it's not enough to just not dwell on it... You've got to replace it with a positive thought. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/joel_osteen_579038

You're going to go through tough times - that's life. But I say, 'Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.' See the positive in negative events.

God always wants us to be growing.

God has already done everything He's going to do. The ball is now in your court. If you want success, if you want wisdom, if you want to be prosperous and healthy, you're going to have to do more than meditate and believe; you must boldly declare words of faith and victory over yourself and your family.

Keep a good attitude and do the right thing even when it's hard. When you do that you are passing the test. And God promises you your marked moments are on their way.

If you want to reap financial blessings you have to sow financially.

The main rule to me is to honor God with your life. To life a life of integrity. Not be selfish. You know, help others. But that's really the essence of the Christian faith.

I think God's justice is making wrongs right.

I challenge you to let every day be a Friday. Give yourself permission to be happy every day.

I believe that when you think of the negative, and you get up discouraged - 'There's nothing good in my future' - I really believe it almost ties the hands of God. God works where there's an attitude of faith. I believe faith is all about hope.

Sometimes we look back and 10 years from now we think, 'Boy, those were great old days.' Well, you know, we're living in the good old days.

Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever. Jesus is God's perfect, indescribable gift. The amazing thing is that not only are we able to receive this gift, but we are able to share it with others on Christmas and every other day of the year.

Life's a fight. It's a good fight of faith.

Stay focused, ignore the distractions, and you will accomplish your goals much faster.

The first place we must win the victory is in our own minds. If you don't think you can be successful, then you never will be.

Any of us can be happy and have a good attitude when everything is going our way. But I believe it's the real test of your character and of your faith to say, 'Things are not going our way, but I'm still being good to people; I'm still attending church; I still have a good attitude.'

I try to look on all the great things God's done, and not focus on the negative. It's a perspective.

I'm trying to throw a big broad net to try to get people interested in God and believe that He's for them and has a purpose.

I'm not a big believer in trying to jam stuff down somebody's throat: 'You're going to do it my way.' I'd rather show by example and live my life and have people say, 'You know what, I want to live like Joel has. He's got peace and joy, and he seems content.'

Sometimes what works 40 years ago doesn't work today.

People define Christianity differently. I think a large portion of our population are Christians, they're not all growing in their faith, they're not all active, but I believe that a lot of people believe in Jesus and believe that he is their Lord and Savior.

We live in a day that nobody's lived in before: where you can touch more people. The message I'll speak tonight and the message that I speak at home, people in India will hear. It's just an amazing day.

I really believed that fear is contagious.

I'm trying to make God more relevant in our society. And I think talking in everyday terms and making sure people can understand it - I think that's important.

So many people are looking at what's wrong, and I try to encourage them to look at what's right in their life. A lot of people have it a lot worse than you do.

The more you talk about negative things in your life, the more you call them in. Speak victory not defeat.

You can be committed to Church but not committed to Christ but you cannot be committed to Christ and not committed to church.

Faith is easy; I think people complicate it.

I try to live what I teach. A lot of things come against us in life, but we should try to find something to be grateful for, and see each day as a gift.

If we're going to bring out the best in people, we, too, need to sow seeds of encouragement.

Whether a person is straight or gay, Republican, Democrat, good person, not a good person, they're all welcome, because to me, church is a place you're supposed to get healed and whole and loved.

Nothing in life has happened to you. Its happened for you. Every disappointment. Every wrong. Even every closed door has helped make you into who you are.

If one dream dies, dream another dream. If you get knocked down, get back up and go again.

In difficult times, we're not supposed to quit believing; we're not supposed to quit growing.

Im not for gay marriage but Im not for discriminating against people.

I'm not the judge. You know, God didn't tell me to go around judging everybody.

People in tough times - it doesn't mean they don't have a great attitude.

Some people keep God in a Sunday morning box and say, 'Hey, I did my religious duty.' That's fine, but the scripture says to pray without ceasing. And I think that means all through the day you're talking to God. Even if it's in your thoughts.

I think a big test we all face in life on a regular basis is that discouragement test. Life's not always fair, but I believe if you keep doing the right thing, God will get you to where you are.

Salvation and Christ's love is a gift. You don't earn it. You've got to receive that gift.

The Hindus are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

Make up your mind that no matter what comes your way no matter how difficult no matter how unfair you will do more than simply survive. You will thrive in spite of it.

You don't need everyone to help you. You just need one touch of favor, and you will accomplish in a split second what could have taken your whole lifetime.

Youre going to go through tough times thats life. But I say Nothing happens to you it happens for you. See the positive in negative events.

It's amazing how people will give when you don't ask. Many of them send money because they believe in the message.

No matter how dark and gloomy it looks in your life right now if youll release the weight of those burdens you will see the sun break forth.

Sometimes we look at gay being a bigger sin than being proud or not telling the truth. I don't think God categorizes sins.

Do all you can to make your dreams come true.

Hard times may have held you down but they will not last forever. When all is said and done you will be increased.

Rewards await you if you stay steadfast in your faith.

Bottom line: God will not allow any person to keep you from your destiny. They may be bigger, stronger, or more powerful, but God knows how to shift things around and get you to where you're supposed to be.

I don't mind saying, you know, that I don't take a salary from the church, and God has blessed me with more money than I could imagine from my books. It's been printed all over, so I don't feel like I am hiding anything.

Let go of offence. Let go of fear. Let go of revenge. Don't live angry, let go now!

Everybody is going to have their critics. It's easy to get discouraged in life.

Let go of yesterday.

The ultimate connection is when you are connected to the creator of the universe.

You have to accept the fact that some people are never going to be for you. Treat them with respect, but you don't need their approval to fulfill your destiny.

I'm a reverend and a pastor. A pastor of the church. I go by usually pastor.

My message is that God is a good God.

Dont focus on whats wrong. Things may not be perfect but be grateful for the opportunity to experience each day. Live each day like it could be your last.

I don't focus on the critics. Everyone who is making any difference in any field has critics. As long as I feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, then I don't worry about it.

A disagreement or incident involving someone who's not that important to you, like a guy who cut you off in traffic or a rude cashier, is something that should roll off your shoulders. Save the effort for resolving conflicts with the people you cherish.

We were old sinners - but when we came to Christ we are not sinners anymore.

Stones of judgment discouragement or doubt may be thrown at you. You cant stop them but you can make the choice to keep your walls up and not let them affect you.

I try to speak in everyday language. I feel like God has gifted me to take Bible principles and make them practical.

I believe the scripture says that being gay is a sin.

I say, don't try to fight your own battles because God will do it.

We can not prepare for defeat and expect to live a life in Victory.

I wouldn't ever say if you're having tough times then there must be something wrong with you or your attitude. Life's a fight. It's a good fight of faith. I encourage people to stay up, stay hopeful, stay faith-filled.

I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.

I write all my sermons.

You can be happy where you are.

The bigger your obstacle, the bigger your future. Don't get discouraged, keep moving forward.

You cannot expect to live a positive life if you hang with negative people.

I believe God gives you the grace to do what you need to do.

I've never preached one sermon on money, on just finances. I want to stay away from it.

I always try to put a seed of hope into people's hearts. I'm not there to teach them doctrine necessarily, but to let them know that God is a good God, and has a plan for their lives. Hopefully, that will restore their faith, or draw them into faith.

We think when God speaks to us, there's going to be a boom out of Heaven or we're going to get some chill bumps, but I really believe God's talking to us all the time. He's talking to us right in here. I call it our heart, our conscience, but it's the Holy Spirit talking to us.

When my dad founded our church, he used either a globe or a map of the world behind him. It was symbolic of what Christ said: to go forth and preach hope to the world. We believe in the cross, but we just continued with the globe.

I believe God's keeping the records, and I believe you will be rewarded even in this life. Somehow, some way, God will make it up to you. It may be He protected you from an accident you never knew. You can't give God something without God giving you more in return, whether it's peace or joy or satisfaction.

I like sports, and I enjoy playing basketball and lifting weights.

God wants you to be a winner, not a whiner.

I believe that God breathed life into every person and that every person is made in the image of God and you have accept them as they are, on their journey. I'm not here to preach hate or push people down.

You can live your life angry, bitter, mad at somebody or even guilty, not letting go of your own mistakes, but you won't receive the good things God has in store.

The greatest difficulty always comes right before the birth of a dream.

I believe God wants you to have money to pay your bills, send your kids to college and do charity work and build orphanages. There's the teaching that we're supposed to be poor to show that we're humble. I don't buy that. I think we're supposed to be leaders. We're supposed to excel.

When I used to play sports, I'd be the one cheering the team on, 'Come on, we can beat these guys!' That's just in me.

God didn't make a mistake when He made you. You need to see yourself as God sees you.

A good thing to remember is somebody's got it a lot worse than we do.

Sometimes, I think if you get away from what you're called to do, it's more of a distraction.

You were not created to just get by with an average, unrewarding, or unfulfilling life. God created you to leave your mark on this generation.

I made a decision when my father passed away that I was going to be who God made me to be and not try to preach like my father.