Joel Osteen - Your Place of Blessing (06/18/2023)
God has specific places designed for your blessing—whether staying in a tough spot like Hagar or moving like Joseph and Mary—where He’s lined up favor, provision, and destiny. By trusting His ordered steps, even when doors close or things get uncomfortable, you’ll end up exactly where He wants you to thrive and fulfill His promises.
God Designed Specific Places for Your Blessing!
I want to talk to you today about your place of blessing. There are specific places where God has designed for you to be blessed—places where He has favor, opportunity, provision waiting for you. Your destiny is connected to certain places. You can have faith; you can have a great attitude, but if you are not in the right place, you can miss what God has in store.
380 People Missed the Holy Spirit’s Outpouring
In the Book of Acts, Jesus told 500 people to go to the upper room and wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit, but only 120 people showed up. When the Holy Spirit came like a rushing mighty wind, 380 people missed the blessing simply because they were not in the right place. You have to be sensitive to what you are feeling on the inside. Listen to what God is saying to you—that still small voice.
That Nudge Isn’t Random—It’s God Leading You
That is not random; it is not just your idea—that is God leading you into your place of blessing. Sometimes He will close a door and move you out. You do not understand it; it looks like a setback. The truth is: it is setting you up. He is moving you to a place of promotion, a place where you will meet divine connections—people who are instrumental in your purpose.
The Right Place Can Be Uncomfortable
Other times, God will have you stay where it is uncomfortable: you are not seeing any growth, you are being overlooked. You will be tempted to leave—“I do not have to put up with this.» Sometimes the right place is a difficult place, an unfair place, a place where you are doing the right thing, but the wrong thing is happening.
This happened with Hagar. She was Abraham and Sarah’s maid. When they could not have a baby, Sarah told Abraham to sleep with Hagar. They had a son named Ishmael.
Hagar Left—But God Sent Her Back
You would think Sarah would be happy—it was her big idea—but she got upset with Hagar. She started treating her so badly, putting her down, making rude comments. Finally, Hagar said, «I am out of here.» She took her son and went off into the desert. The problem was she left her place of blessing. God never told her to leave; she was just upset.
She had no food, no water, no way to survive out there. An angel appeared to her and said, «Go back to Sarah and continue to serve her.» He was saying, «Go back to your place of blessing.»
Stay Faithful Even When It’s Hard
Sometimes you have to stay when it is hard. You have to forgive those who did you wrong. You have to be good to people who are not being good to you. But notice how merciful God is: when she left that place, God did not say, «Fine, you blew it. You should have known better. I am done with you.» No, God sent an angel to get her back to the right place.
God Won’t Let You Miss Your Destiny
At times, we are all going to miss it—leave where we are supposed to stay or stay where God wants us to leave. The good news is: God is going to send that angel. He is not going to let you miss your place of blessing. He is going to keep whispering to you. You are going to hear that still small voice, that knowing on the inside telling you what to do. Now do not ignore it—be sensitive to what you are feeling.
Your Steps Are Strategically Ordered
See, the Scripture says that God is ordering your steps. Ordering is not an option. He is not suggesting. He is not saying, «If you perform perfectly, then I will guide you. If you do not get off course, then I will bless you.» No, your steps are ordered. He is going to keep leading you into places of blessing—places that He has already lined up favor, opportunity, promotion.
Don’t Fight Closed Doors
Now stay open for change. Do not fight closed doors. Do not get discouraged when you get pushed out. «I do not understand it, Joel—I was doing the right thing. Why did this not work out?» God is leading you to a place of greater blessing. I have learned: being in the right place is better than getting your way. God knows what is best for you.
Trust God’s Timing and Direction
You may not see it now, but later on you are going to see how God was shutting one door to open a better door. You would have never reached your potential if He had not stopped one place of blessing and moved you to a different place. But perhaps you feel stuck—you are not making any progress, and you are tempted to try to force a door to open, manipulate things.
No, be still and know that He is God. If the door has not opened, then shine where you are. That is your place of blessing right now.
Shine Where You Are—Pass the Test!
You may not be seeing any growth, any favor: you are in a time of testing. You have to prove to God who you are—that you are not going to get bitter, you are not going to start slacking off, you are going to do the right thing when it is hard. That is passing the test. You keep doing that, and you are going to see new levels of your destiny.
From Nazareth to Bethlehem: God’s Perfect Plan
In Matthew chapter 1, Joseph was engaged to his fiancée Mary. She became pregnant with Jesus, and of course he did not understand. He was going to quietly break off the engagement when an angel appeared to him in a dream and told him to go through with the marriage.
They were living in Nazareth, planning on having the baby there, but the Roman Empire called for a census: everyone had to travel back to their original hometown. Well, Joseph was from Bethlehem—that was a ninety-mile journey. Mary was nine months pregnant.
An Inconvenient Journey That Changed Everything
I can imagine telling Victoria at nine months pregnant, «Hey, babe, we are going to get on a donkey and travel for a week, camp out along the way—it is going to be so fun.» I would be your former pastor. Mary was bouncing up and down, hot outside, her feet hurting, back swelling. She was uncomfortable; she did not understand it, but God was not just making them miserable, having them suffer—He was taking them to a place of blessing.
Wise Men Waiting at the Right Place
Micah prophesied 700 years earlier that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. It was not a coincidence that the emperor called for the census at this particular time. He could have called for it three months later—they would have had the baby in Nazareth. It was all a part of God’s plan: strategically moving them to where they needed to be.
Joseph and Mary were admiring their new son when three wise men showed up. They had traveled a great distance, following the Eastern star.
God Orders Everyone’s Steps to Meet You
When they saw Jesus, they fell on their knees and began to worship Him. Mary and Joseph were standing there in awe. These wise men opened their treasure chests—these boxes filled with gold and jewels—and they gave them all these gifts. Think about Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem—at the same time, God had these wise men headed that way. They met at the place of blessing where God designed them to see His favor in a new way.
It was difficult for Mary and Joseph to get there—it was an inconvenient time. They did not understand it, but God was ordering their steps, and He was ordering the steps of the wise men—the people bringing the provision.
Your Time Is Coming—Trust the Process
God is not only ordering your steps, but He is ordering other people’s steps to meet you at your place of blessing. You may not understand it—you are uncomfortable, you had to leave Nazareth, so to speak—but your time is coming. You are going to see what God was up to. The door closing was not random. The person that forced you out, the unexpected change was not happenstance—it was strategic. It was the hand of God moving you to a place of greater blessing, greater favor, greater fulfillment.
From Egypt Back to Nazareth: Protection and Prophecy
King Herod heard about this little baby possibly being the Messiah. He was afraid he was going to lose control. He wanted to get rid of Jesus, but he could not find Him. So he had all the male Hebrew babies killed. An angel came to Joseph in a dream and told him to flee to Egypt with his family.
In the middle of the night, they took off. Jesus was just a few weeks old. Mary was still getting over the birth. They wanted to enjoy their new baby, but they were on the run to a foreign country.
Every Move Was Strategically Orchestrated
This was not just another bad break, another inconvenience—this was prophecy being fulfilled. It was prophesied, «I have called My son out of Egypt.» Herod died, and they moved back to Nazareth—another prophecy fulfilled, that Jesus would be a Nazarene.
There was an old man named Simeon. It was prophesied that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. Mary and Joseph took baby Jesus to the temple to dedicate Him—just so happened Simeon was there.
Embrace the Twists and Turns
He took the baby in his hands and said, «Oh, man, now I can die in peace: I have seen the Savior.» You look at all these different locations: forced to leave Nazareth to Bethlehem, flee to Egypt, back to Nazareth, then to the temple. They were not random—they were strategically orchestrated. Each step was their place of blessing, place of provision, place of protection.
It was not the enemy dictating their life—it was the hand of God ordering their steps.
Prophecies Are Waiting at Your Assigned Places
Like with them, there are prophecies spoken over your life—things that God has ordained for you, favor He has already lined up, wise men He has already scheduled, doors opening He has already arranged. But it may not all happen at the same place. There will be twists, turns, unexpected moves, people that walked away, things that were not fair.
Instead of fighting change, learn to embrace change. Recognize: that is God ordering your steps. He would not be changing things if He was not leading you to a place of greater blessing.
When Closed Doors Don’t Make Sense
You may not see it right away—there are things that do not make sense, seem like a setback. You have to go to Bethlehem; you are comfortable in Nazareth, so to speak—plus you are pregnant; it is the worst time. Then Herod starts making threats; people start coming against you. They cannot stop your destiny: God is using them like a pawn to move you to where He wants you to be.
God Closed a Door to Protect My Destiny
After I finished high school, I went to Oral Roberts University to study television production. They had one of the best studios, the best equipment. The first week I was there, I went to the production office and applied for a job.
I met this young man about 28 years old, and he was the production manager in charge of all the hiring. I told him my background—that I had run camera and been involved in production at Lakewood—and he and I hit it off like old friends.
That Dream Job Never Happened—Thank God!
He showed me around the studios, the cameras, the editing suites. I was amazed—this was everything I dreamed of. I could not wait to be a part. I told him that I did not have to run camera—I was happy with pulling cable; I just wanted to be in that environment.
He said, «We would love to have you, Joel. I will call you and get it all set up.» I left so excited. A week went by and he did not call—two weeks, nothing.
God Knows the Right Doors to Close
I called him, but he was always busy. I went back to the production office, left messages again and again—never heard a thing. I was so disappointed. I could not understand why that door did not open.
I finished that first year of school, and I felt so strongly that I was supposed to come back to Lakewood and start a television ministry. My siblings had all gotten their degrees, but I knew this was what God was leading me to do.
Staying Honored My Father—and Opened My Future
I came back, started the television outreach, and we saw the church begin to flourish. Well, looking back now, I realize: if God had opened that door at the university, I would have gotten so caught up in what they were doing, so engrossed in the production, I would have never come back home. I know my personality—you could not have convinced me to leave.
Honor Where God Has You—Even If It’s Not Your Dream
Sometimes God closes doors that we do not understand at the time. That did not make sense—I had the experience, they needed help, the man was my friend—but God is your doorkeeper: He knows the right doors to open and the right doors to close.
What looked like a blessing to me would have kept me from the real blessing that God had in store—not to work for another ministry my whole life, but to use my gifts and talents at the ministry God had given my family.
17 Years Behind the Scenes Prepared Me
Well, I worked 17 years behind the scenes here at Lakewood, and at one point I had all these radio stations lined up to carry my father’s weekly message. I had everything arranged, gotten all the times, the stations cleared.
I asked my father if he would come down once a month and make the openings and closings—just take about an hour, no big deal. My father said, «Joel, I am 75 years old. I am not looking for any more work. I just want to relax and pastor the church.»
Your Blessing Is Tied to God’s Place for You
I was so disappointed. I thought, «God, You put big things in me. I am young—I do not want to do less; I want to do more.» I thought: maybe it is time to move on, do something else—and I had an opportunity from one of the largest ministries to come work for them; a big sports network had offered me something.
But when I got quiet, when I searched my heart, I could hear that still small voice saying, «No, Joel—stay where you are. This is your father’s ministry. This is his vision. Do not leave because you are not getting your way; honor what he wants to do.»
Faithful in the Small—David’s Story
I made that decision that I was not only going to stay, but I was going to stay with a good attitude—was not going to get bitter, slack off, be disgruntled. I kept being my best, doing what I could to make my father shine.
I never dreamed that two years later my father would suddenly pass, and I would become the pastor. That big vision that God put in me—it was still going to happen; it just was not the right time.
Don’t Despise the Preparation Season
Had I not honored my father and stayed in my place of blessing, I would not be here today. Your place of blessing does not mean that everything is going your way, everyone will celebrate you, all these doors will open. It may mean that you are serving another person’s vision.
You do not feel like you are using everything you have—you are being overlooked, not getting opportunities to share your gifts. Many times those are tests.
Behind the Scenes Was My Training Ground
Think about David: he was out in the shepherds’ fields, taking care of his father’s sheep. He knew he had big things in him, but he did not try to force doors to open. He did not get bitter because his father left him out. He did not slack off because he was doing something less than he knew was in him.
His father asked him to take lunch to his brothers who were in another city—to do a menial task. David could have said, «Sorry, Dad—I am not an errand boy. I have more in me; you will have to find someone else.»
Ravens at the Brook—Blessing at a Specific Place
No, David was faithful in small things—when he was not getting his way, when doors were not opening. While he was taking lunch to his brothers—something that seemed insignificant—that is where he heard Goliath taunting the Israelites. Had he not been faithful in the small, he would have never defeated Goliath.
From Dried-Up Brook to Zarephath
In 1 Kings 17, the prophet told King Ahab that because the people had turned away from Jehovah and because they were worshiping idols, there was going to be a drought in the land for 3.5 years. God said to Elijah, «Leave here and go down to the brook Cherith, for I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.»
Notice: there is a place where God has commanded you to be blessed—not maybe, hope so, if the economy gets better. No, He has commanded the ravens to feed you. That means He has commanded provision, commanded resources, commanded the right people to be there.
Obey Quickly—Your Provision Is Waiting
But here is the whole key: the blessing was not anywhere—it was at a specific place. The ravens were waiting for him at the brook. Elijah could have stayed in Samaria, thought, «God is faithful—I am sure He will take care of me here”—he would have missed the blessing.
When God tells you to do something, do not reason it out, do not ask four friends, do not pray about it six months, do not come up with twelve excuses—just do it. Be obedient to what you are hearing in your spirit. God is leading you to your place of blessing.
Leave What’s Holding You Back
Sometimes you have to leave a friend that is pulling you down, leave an environment where you are being poisoned, or leave a bad attitude, leave bitterness, leave what did not work out—and move forward into the new things God has for you.
Elijah went down to the brook. Every morning like clockwork, the ravens showed up. He had supernatural provision.
When the Brook Dries Up—Move On!
I am sure he was happy—“God, You have been good to me. I found my place of blessing”—but one day the ravens quit coming. The brook went from a stream to a trickle, to barely flowing, to nothing.
What do you do when God led you to a brook that dries up? What used to work does not work anymore. God is showing us that just because it happened one way does not mean it is going to happen that way. Stay open for change—be willing to accept the new thing God is doing.
God Is a Progressive God—Keep Moving!
God told Elijah, „Go to the city of Zarephath, for I have commanded a widow to feed you there.“ Notice: another place where God commanded him to be blessed, but a different location.
Now Zarephath is where Ahab and his wife Jezebel were from. She did not like Elijah—she wanted to get rid of him. Out of all the places God could have told Elijah to go, He sent him to the enemy’s territory.
Step Out of Comfort—Your Destiny Awaits
The way God does things always requires faith. He could have sent him to his friends, his relatives, supporters. I am sure Elijah thought, „God, You know that lady is after me. Can You not extend my stay by the brook? Can I get a late checkout? God, I am comfortable here.“
To reach your destiny, you have to get out of your comfort zone and take some steps of faith. Do not get stuck—the brook is dried up. Our God is a moving God, a progressive God. He is taking you on a journey.
Prophecies Are Still Coming—Trust Him!
That place of blessing is going to move. It may not always be physical—it is in your thinking. You have to leave a limited mindset. Quit telling yourself you are not qualified—and take that new position at work, teach that class, volunteer at the church.
Quit thinking about the brook that dried up—what did not work out, who did you wrong, the relationship that did not make it. God is still in control. He knew it was going to dry up—that is why He has commanded another place for you to be blessed.
Wise Men, Ravens, and Breakthroughs Are Coming!
There are prophecies He has spoken over your life—things He has destined for you to accomplish. You have not missed them. You keep trusting Him even when you do not understand it. Do not fight the things that do not make sense—your steps are being ordered.
There are things happening behind the scenes right now that you cannot see. Now be sensitive to what He is saying and be quick to obey. If you do this, I believe and declare: you will live in your place of blessing.
Like Mary and Joseph, the wise men are about to show up—blessings you did not see coming. Like Elijah, the ravens will be waiting for you—supernatural provision, favor, opportunity, the fullness of your destiny, in Jesus’ name. And if you receive it, can you say amen?