Bible teacher and prolific author Joyce Meyer revisits one of her favorite topics on her current speaking tour, teaching from her upcoming September release, The Mind Connection (FaithWords).
In her March 12, Orlando, Florida appearance launching a full conference weekend at the Amway Arena, Meyer pointed out that The Mind Connection is her third book on thinking rightly according to the Scriptures. The other two were Power Thoughts and Battlefield of the Mind (both FaithWords); the latter became her first book that has sold more than 3 million copies.
Meyer reiterated several key points to make sure conference participants grasped them.
“You can do your own thinking!” she repeated, pointing out that believers need to learn to recognize the lies of Satan, who tries to take everything that Jesus gives them.
“Everything that we believe that does not agree with the Bible is a lie,” she said. Believers need to get rid of their “stinkin’ thinkin’,” even if they have their “whole Bible underlined in three different colors.”
While she urged taking responsibility for one’s own life, she also said, “God is your friend, and He wants to meet your needs,” and partnering with Him “is the only way to fix your problem.”
Meyer said she finds purpose every day in fighting the good fight of faith. Although she endured abuse early in life, she said she was not going to allow Satan to dictate the way she lives. Underlining the teaching of Ephesians 4:22-24, she said believers must first put off their old life and then start behaving the way God wants them to, but the bridge to getting there is in “having your mind constantly renewed” and learning “how to think the way God thinks.”
Kelly Balagia, one of the thousands of men and women attending the arena that is home to the NBA’s Orlando Magic, was empowered by Meyer’s right-thinking message.
“The first day of the Joyce Meyer conference the world seem to come at me with a vengeance,” Balagia said. “I almost didn’t go, but what a time of refreshment it was to come away from the world and join arms with an arena of saints putting full focus on our amazing God! What a timely reminder that it is not His will that I be overwhelmed and burdened but rather that my mind can be constantly renewed in His presence and by His Word.”
For those in need of emotional stability, Meyer reflected on Psalm 91:1: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]” (AMP).
Participant Cheryl Eller appreciated Meyer’s no-nonsense, but lighthearted approach to her teaching.
“Joyce Meyer was entertaining, sometimes funny but very direct about living the Word daily, so that you can keep your thoughts positive and follow God’s plan for your life,” Eller said. “The large number of people who gave their lives to the Lord was very exciting to see.”
Near the end of the service, Meyer gave praise to God for the fact that she’s recovering well from hip surgery, which she had 3½ months ago. She stood the whole time while she was teaching.
Multiple-Grammy winner and worship leader Israel Houghton led the audience in worship, closing the service with a bit of a jam session.
Participants also were invited to take part in an offering supporting Meyer’s upcoming ministry event in Paris. Reflecting on the need for the gospel message in France, she said that 80 percent of people in the country have never owned or even seen a Bible. Meyer, on the other hand, said she plans to celebrate 40 years of teaching the Word next March.
Christine D. Johnson is the managing editor for print for Charisma Media.
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