Quotes from Joel Osteen

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.

If you think your obstacles are too big, they will be. Don't set limits on your life with your thinking.

Don't make excuses, don't blame the past. The rest of your life can be the best of your life!

You have to come to your closed doors before you get to your open doors... What if you knew you had to go through 32 closed doors before you got to your open door? Well, then you'd come to closed door number eight and you'd think, 'Great, I got another one out of the way'... Keep moving forward.

God can cause opportunity to find you. He has unexpected blessings where you suddenly meet the right person, or suddenly your health improves, or suddenly you're able to pay off your house. That's God shifting things in your favor.

You can be happy where you are.

For a while... to be an evangelical meant you were a white Republican, and you were against this and against that. I don't want to be put into that mold, because then people judge you before they even listen... I don't want to divide the very people I am trying to reach.

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.

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

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

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

The moment you speak something out, you give birth to it. This is a spiritual principle, and it works whether what you are saying is good or bad, positive or negative.

Do not speak defeat, speak victory.

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.

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

Nothing in life has happened to you, it's happened FOR You!

I know what's in my future is greater than what's in my past so I am pressing forward in life.

What you believe has a much greater impact on your life than what anybody else believes.

Replace those thoughts of worry with thoughts of hope, faith, and victory.

This is not the time to shrink back in fear. Move forward in faith. Get up every morning knowing you are gifted.

I don't have it in my heart to condemn people. I'm here to encourage them. I see myself more as a coach, as a motivator to help them experience the life God has for us.

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

If your thinking is limited, your life will be limited.

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.