Overview of Feed Your Faith | Joel Osteen
This sermon by Joel Osteen (SiriusXM podcast) centers on the idea that whatever you “feed” in your mind and spirit will grow. Osteen uses everyday metaphors (diet, animals), biblical stories (Gideon, the Israelites, Joshua and Caleb), and personal testimony to urge listeners to stop fueling fear, doubt, bitterness, and insecurity and to intentionally nourish faith, hope, confidence, and expectancy. The message combines practical steps, spoken confessions, and an invitation to accept Christ and receive ministry resources.
Main takeaways
- You become what you feed: thoughts and words either strengthen fear and doubt or build faith and hope.
- Starve negative patterns (worry, insecurity, bitterness, regret); instead cultivate a strict “faith diet” of positive, faith-filled thoughts and declarations.
- Daily practice matters: speak faith confessions, thank God for provision and favor, and refuse to entertain fear-based "what ifs."
- Biblical examples show two outcomes: those who fed fear missed their promised land (most Israelites) while those who fed faith entered it (Joshua and Caleb).
- Personal transformation is possible (example: Gideon and Joel’s own experience stepping into ministry after his father’s death).
- Practical faith produces supernatural outcomes when sustained—small, consistent changes in what you feed lead to strength and victory.
Key illustrations and stories
The roaring lion
- Fear and doubt are likened to a well-fed lion: powerful while fed, weak and ineffective if starved. Stop feeding the “lion” of fear and it will lose control.
Gideon (Judges)
- Gideon embodies the shift from feeding insecurity to feeding identity: the angel calling him “mighty hero” sparked a new diet of faith, enabling him to defeat great odds with 300 men.
Israelite spies vs. Joshua and Caleb
- Ten spies fed fear and caused a nation to backslide; Joshua and Caleb fed faith and were the only ones to enter the promised land.
Joel’s personal testimony
- After his father’s death, Joel felt insecurity and inadequacy but chose to change his internal diet—refusing fear and feeding faith—and was empowered to pastor and lead.
Practical action steps (What to do tomorrow)
- Adopt a “no-junk-food” spiritual diet: refuse to feed worry, doubt, bitterness, shame, and regret.
- Replace negative thoughts with faith statements and Scripture-based confessions (examples Joel uses):
- “Father, thank you this is going to be a great day.”
- “Thank you that your favor surrounds me like a shield.”
- “I am well able. I’ve been raised up for such a time as this.”
- “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
- Whenever worry or fear arises, actively say “No thanks — that’s not on my diet,” then speak a faith truth.
- Build a habit of thanksgiving and expectancy: feed hope, peace, joy, and positive expectations.
- Surround yourself with Bible-based community and resources to reinforce the “faith diet.”
Notable quotes
- “You are what you eat. It’s the same thing in your mind.”
- “Starve the discouragement and feed your hope.”
- “You can’t feed faith and feed fear at the same time.”
- “If you’ll quit feeding the doubt…little by little it’ll get weaker and weaker.”
Resources, offers, and logistical notes
- Invitation to make Jesus Lord with a simple prayer; new believers can request follow-up materials via joelostein.com or text/phone.
- Ministry resources promoted: Double for Your Trouble (31-day guide), God’s Got You Restoration Duo, Double Portion Restoration Bible Collection — request via joelostein.com or 888‑567‑JOEL.
- Invitation to Lakewood Church Homecoming Weekend.
- The episode includes multiple sponsor messages: SiriusXM Marine & Aviation, Arizona State University Online, Rosetta Stone, Angie.com, and Opportunity at Work (Hire Skills First campaign).
Who this message is for
- Christians seeking encouragement to overcome fear and doubt.
- Anyone trying to replace negative thought patterns with confident, faith-based thinking.
- New believers looking for practical ways to grow spiritually and resources for next steps.
Quick summary (one-sentence)
Change your mental and spiritual diet: stop feeding fear and doubt, and intentionally feed faith, hope, and confidence—doing so will weaken the negative influences in your life and empower God’s promises to take root.