Tag: Joseph

Christian

Is God Preparing You For Service?

Cindy Dawson

No matter how much I tried to make her my friend, she continually bullied me.

Has anyone ever hated you unfairly? It’s a terrible feeling to have to work with a person that has it out for you.

Then one morning, I absent-mindedly clicked on the radio while I got ready for work. It was no accident. Pastor David Jeremiah was teaching about Joseph. That message was manna from Heaven for me. He taught on Joseph for several days and I eagerly listened every morning. This study of Joseph strengthened and encouraged me to keep going during a difficult time.

Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him and they hated him. They plotted to kill him, but ended up selling him into slavery instead. Potiphar, Pharaoh’s captain of the guard, bought Joseph.

“The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. 3 When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, 4 Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. 5 From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. 6 So Potiphar left everything he had in Joseph’s care; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate.” Genesis 39: 1-23 NIV

God showed me that even though I was in a job where someone mistreated me, He was still with me, giving me favor, teaching me His ways and preparing me for something else.

“Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her.”

She continued to chase after him, but to no avail. Eventually, she falsely claimed that Joseph raped her. As a result, Joseph was thrown into prison. To Joseph, it must have looked like all was lost! To be a slave in Pharaoh’s prison left little hope for a future.

“But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21 the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.”

When Joseph worked as a slave in Potiphar’s house, he learned how to manage and oversee an important household. When Joseph was put in prison, he learned how to manage and oversee a prison. All of this was preparation for how God would use him to lead the great Kingdom of Egypt during a seven year famine.

“God Gives People the Talents and Opportunities They Need for The Tasks He Wants Them to Accomplish.”

David Jeremiah

If you are going through difficult circumstances right now, perhaps God is preparing you for a task He wants you to accomplish. Perhaps He is molding your character into the image of Christ. Seek Him with all your heart. Ask Him to show you what you are supposed to learn.

If you are a child of God, “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 NKJV

With Love, Cindy

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

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Christian

When Things Aren’t Working Out Like You Planned

Cindy Dawson

If you are a believer in Christ, you are surrounded by God’s mighty Word. The belt of Truth is wrapped around you, holding your armor and weapons in place. During times of testing, we need to hold fast to the Word of Truth. Are you struggling with circumstances in your life right now? If you are, tighten your belt. You’re in the right place!

God knows every detail concerning your life. He knows exactly what is happening today. He even knows the number of hairs on your head!

He has promised to guide you along your way in this world. But His plan for you is probably very different than you thought it would be. Why? Because deep down, we think we are in control. Deep down, we think we are directing our own path and that the decisions we make will determine our future. But God is in control and His plan for you is superior to your own plans.

Consider Abraham, Joseph, Gideon, David, Esther, Paul, (and the list goes on). None of these people knew what God had planned for them. But they trusted God along the way, even when things looked bad.

Let’s talk about Joseph for a minute.

Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.  He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had:  We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.” Genesis 37: 5-7

That must have been pretty exciting for Joseph, but you probably know what happened to him. He ended up being thrown into a pit and left for dead, then he was sold into slavery. After that, he was sent to prison for something he didn’t do! He could have been really discouraged, but he kept on trusting God through all these circumstances and God gave him favor until eventually Joseph was put in charge of all of Egypt! (Read about it in Genesis 37-50)

In hindsight Joseph could see how God’s plan brought him to the place of honor and power he enjoyed as an Egyptian leader. It ‘s only in hindsight that we will understand why things happened like they did in our own lives. That’s why we must live by faith.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Regardless of how things look, these promises are still true:

“… the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
    the purposes of his heart through all generations..” Psalm 33:11

“For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him?
    His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” Isaiah 14:27

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
 in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” Psalm 32:8

Sometimes you may feel like God has abandoned you, but that is not true. Listen to the words spoken to God’s people while they were exiled in Babylon:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

The Israelites did return to Jerusalem and rebuilt the wall!

We must never trust our own ideas above what God is doing that we cannot see. God says,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Even though things don’t seem to be working out right, God’s promises are still true. His Word is still true. God is working His plan for you this very minute. Will you trust Him?

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10

A Prayer

Father, The whole universe is by your design. You created it all! No matter what happens, I will always follow you. Please direct my steps, for I trust in you. Give me the strength and courage I need. Strengthen my faith, I pray. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

With Love,

Cindy

This Is My Journey Unscripted.

Click this link to learn more about Jesus: Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Unsplash

All Scripture references are NIV.

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Christian

When Life Isn’t Fair

Cindy Dawson

Has something very unfair happened to you? It might be an unfaithful spouse, slander/ lies, you lost your job,  or anything you consider completely UNFAIR). You probably can’t believe it’s really happening to you. If your answer is yes, this is God’s promise for you:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him …” Romans 8:28 NIV

You might be thinking, “Nothing good could come from this!” But hang on….

This is one of my favorite promises. Believing the promise got me through many hard times in my life, and in the end God delivered. He worked things for good. God has done this in my life and He will do it for you!

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” Romans 15:4

While reading my Bible, I was struck by this verse. I couldn’t get it out of my mind. I began to think about the story of Joseph and how there was so much to learn from his example.

Joseph was a young man who loved God, but that didn’t matter to those who hated him. They were driven by jealousy.

Because of this jealousy, the young man suffered through many great injustices. Instead of becoming bitter and vindictive, he looked to God for help. 

Let me tell you the end of the story. In Genesis 50: 20-21, Joseph said to his brothers, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good …” Stop and think about that for a minute!

Has someone done something to you with the intention to harm you? Remember: It isn’t over until God turns it around for good!

Insights from the life of Joseph have helped me through many trials. As I summarize, put yourself in Joseph’s place. Think about it happening to you.

Joseph’s brothers hated him, really hated him! They were so jealous of him, they plotted to kill him and and then tell their father that he was killed by a wild animal.

One of the brothers talked the others into just leaving him in an empty well. (He planned to secretly come back and rescue Joseph.) But the brothers saw a caravan of merchants approaching and decided to sell Joseph to them.

The merchants traveled to Egypt and sold Joseph to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s captain of the guard. (Can things get worse?) Yes!

Potiphar put Joseph in prison for tying to rape his wife (something he didn’t do). After languishing in this dungeon for years, Joseph finally got out of prison. This is where things get better. Joseph was promoted to the highest position in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.

When Joseph was sold by his brothers, he was 17. When he became leader over all of Egypt, he was 30. Thirteen years of unfair life events! But the Bible says that when he was sold to Potiphar, “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered…” Genesis 39:2

When Joseph was put in prison, “the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.” Genesis 39: 21 & 23 

***************

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him …” Romans 8:28 NIV

God will work everything for good in your life “if you love him”. It doesn’t say “if you have been a pretty good Christian and always went to church. It says, “if you love him.” It doesn’t say “if you have never sinned”. It says “if you love him”. It doesn’t say “if you deserve it”. It says, IF YOU LOVE HIM”.

If you are a Christian and you love God, He will work all things for good! Trust Him.

 A PRAYER

Father in Heaven, Your word promises that in all things, you will work for the good of those who love you. I love you Lord, and surrender my life to you, for You, O God, are my refuge and my shield, I have put my hope in your word. Those who know your name trust in you, for you have never forsaken those who seek you. I trust in your unfailing love. I love you, O Lord, my strength. You are my rock and my fortress, my deliverer! To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul, in you I trust. O Lord, you are close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit. How priceless is your unfailing love. I will not fear, for you are with me. Thank you, Lord, for your precious word, for your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I love you, O Lord, my Savior and my Strength. Amen

(Inspired from the Psalms – Through the Psalms, we learn how to praise Him. It will lead us into His presence. )

Read all about Joseph in Genesis chapters 37-50

 There is so much more to learn! God will speak encouragement to your heart. 

With Love,

Cindy

This Is My Journey Unscripted.

Do you want to become a Christian? Click this link to learn more: Who Is Jesus?

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