Rest For A Weary Soul Daily Devotional - Wednesday, January 21, 2010
Praise the Lord and Good Afternoon,
Joseph understood loss, rejection, uncertainty about tomorrow....but he also knew the other side of the coin....He also understood gain, acceptance and assurance about tomorrow....and both were required in his life, otherwise, God wouldn't have allowed either one to be a part of him. Neither one destroyed him.....but all of it blessed him.
I think about Potipher's wife and how she had her eye on Joseph. We know Joseph ran but it appeared to have backfired on him. He lands in prison all because he ran. Yes, God was in it, even though it looked completely wrong...yes, we can say, God was working, because we've read the story and know the end result. But Joseph didn't know what was going to happen next, until it unfolded one day when he was summoned to a meeting with the king. Until that moment, there was no sign, no evidence, not even a hint that all he'd gone through was connected and of benefit.
Our lives, are often similar to Joseph's. You might not have been thrown literally into a pit, you might not have had to run like the wind away from temptation and you might not have watched daylight come through barred windows of a prison, but somehow you found yourself in a place and your efforts seem to have backfired. You didn't get the results you expected. Was it worth it...to run away and still get flack that appears to cost you your reputation and testimony.....until that moment comes (when God reveals the purpose He had for you going through what you did), there is no sign, no evidence, not even a hint that all you're going through is connected.
There are intricate connections between all you went through and are going through.....so, if you are in the running phase...take heart....if you are in the pit phase....take heart....if you are in the deep, darkness of a prison phase (that's the place that says you shouldn't be here, you didn't do anything to be here, but you're here and making due...but as soon as the door opens for me to leave.....) take heart....
Embracing the blessings of the Lord requires means you will go through all phases to obtain those blessings. Yes, Joseph told his dream of ruling (and it was true) but in order to get to that blessing phase....you're going to live through some phases that are connected to the blessings. Nothing wrong with embracing the blessings, by all means do it....why turn down God's blessings (sad to say, there are some that do that)....you and I will understand loss, rejection, uncertainty about tomorrow....and you and I will also understand gain, acceptance and assurance about tomorrow....all in the blessings!
Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men. (Psalm 107:21 KJV)
In the Master's Service,
Pastor Michele D. Turner
Rehoboth Apostolic Ministries, Inc.
Author/Publisher of Rest For A Weary Soul Daily Devotional
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Email: restforwearysoul@aol.com
Matt 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
