Joel Osteen

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.

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.

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.'

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.

It's easy to get negative because you get beat down. You go through a few disappointments and it's easy to stay in that negative frame of mind. Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is a whole cliche, but your attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life.

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

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.

God can make your enemies your footstool.

God never said that we wouldn__ have unfair situations, that we wouldn__ experience loss. But He promised if we would stay in faith, He would restore everything that was stolen.

If you can see the invisible, God will do the impossible.

We may get knocked down on the outside, but the key to living in victory is to learn how to get up on the inside.

Don't do anything that you wouldn't feel comfortable reading about in the newspaper the next day.

God wants to use you in spite of your weaknesses. Of God chose to use perfect people only, He__ have no one to use

Don't sit around depressed and discouraged. Get a new vision for your life.

People of excellence go the extra mile to do what's right.

You need to take pride in what God has given you.

When nobody else celebrates you, learn to celebrate yourself. When nobody else compliments you, then compliment yourself. It__ not up to other people to keep you encouraged. It__ up to you. Encouragement should come from the inside.

Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life.