Welcome to 15 Minutes in the Word with New York Times best-selling author Joyce Meyer.

On today's program, Joyce will be teaching from her series, developing the character of God.

To grow spiritually is a process. We need to consistently read and study the Bible so the Lord can change us from the inside out.

Slowly but surely will become more like Jesus

and reflect his character in our lives. Now here's Joyce with today's teaching. Are you determined

to live a godly life? You've got to be determined. Are you willing to make sacrifices to live a godly life? Are you willing to let your

flesh suffer in order to please God? Now you notice that wasn't as loud. And Matthew 5 talks about

how you're blessed when you suffer for righteousness sake

and you go through things because you're doing the right thing.

You know, doing the right thing is no guarantee that everybody's going to love you.

Matter of fact, I can pretty much guarantee you if you make a real commitment to God,

there's going to be some people, probably people that you love and care about that are going to come against you.

Amen?

You know, we can grow to the point where we don't really care that much what people think.

I mean, I want to be liked, but my job is not really to make people like me, it's to obey God.

Amen?

And I will admit there were times in my life, even as a Christian, where I would disobey God in order to keep people liking me.

You can't be a people pleaser and a God pleaser.

First Corinthians 4, 3 through 4, Paul said, as for me, personally, it matters very little to me that I should be put on trial by you on this point,

or that you or any other human tribunals should investigate and question and cross-question me.

I don't even put myself on trial and judge myself.

Wow, I love that.

...