Your Daily Crossroad
God means for Good
One of my favorite Bible stories is the story of Joseph. Joseph was one of twelve brothers, all born to Jacob (Israel). From these brothers came the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people. God had a plan from the beginning to raise up a nation of His people, a people set apart to be holy and dedicated to Him. The fulfillment of God’s plan of redemption, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would come from this line of people. But early on, attempts would be made to thwart this plan. One such attempt came in the life of Joseph. Jealousy and selfishness led his brothers to sell him to a foreign people where Joseph would eventually end up as a prisoner in Egypt. But God’s hand was upon Joseph and through the years of his captivity he found much favor with his superiors, being entrusted ultimately with governing the land of Egypt. But the day would come when the family would be reunited. How would Joseph receive his brothers who had done such an evil thing to him so many years earlier?
The brothers were afraid that Joseph would avenge their wrongdoing, but instead he forgave them. Verse 20 sums it up: what they meant for evil against Joseph, God meant for good so that many would be saved. God had a plan and that plan was carried out through Joseph. If Joseph had not been in Egypt, the famine that engulfed the land would have killed the entire family. Joseph was the one who would make sure there was enough grain to sustain the land. It was God’s plan to spare this family. They were to become His chosen people. It was God’s plan to use Joseph. It was God’s plan to work for good the evil that Joseph had endured. For us today, God has a plan. Regardless of the evil that comes against us, God can work it together for good. Look to the Lord and ask Him to work all things together for good.
When I read this I was reminded of Romans 8:28, all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. No matter what your facing in this moment just know weather it be understood now or much later, there will come a time when you will be able to reflect back and know that God meant it for your good. There have been painful experiences in my past where I didn’t understand why God was allowing me to go through what I was going through and sometimes months even years past I had an “ah ha” moment where I understood the why, even if it was to be able to relate to the pain someone else was facing, to be in that moment to then lead someone to Christ, there are many many scenarios as to why and it’s different for each and every one of us. God got me through those times. We can all reflect back on our past and see where God brought us through it for the better. The key is to praise God even in the valleys and know with confidence He will get you through victoriously. Keep the faith! Hallelujah . . .
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Romans 8:25-28
It’s in the Attitude
Regina drove home from work discouraged and tired. The day had started with tragic news in a text message from a friend, then spiraled downward in meetings with co-workers who refused to work with any of her ideas. As Regina was talking to the Lord, she thought it best to put the stress of the day aside and made a surprise visit with flowers to an elderly friend at a care center. Her spirits lifted as Maria shared how good the Lord was to her. She said, “I have my own bed and a chair, three meals a day, and help from the nurses here. And occasionally God sends a cardinal to my window just because He knows I love them and He loves me.”
Attitude. Perspective. As the saying goes, “Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we react to it.” The people James wrote to were scattered because of persecution, and he asked them to consider their perspective about difficulties. He challenged them with these words: “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (James 1:2).
We are each on our own journey of learning to trust God with hard circumstances. The kind of joy-filled perspective James talked about comes as we learn to see that God can use struggles to produce maturity in our faith.
Lord, please change my attitude about hard times. Bring about joy, perseverance, and maturity in me. Amen.
When I read this devotion I was reminded of the scripture that says, for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust, but it doesn’t just stop there, as children of God we have hope, despite the unjust happenings in our lives, we are never alone, He said in His word that He would give us another comforter, that he may abide with us for ever. Always remember, no matter what you are facing, God can bring times of growth out of our times of heartache. Look beyond the pain and sorrow and remember there is always sunshine after the rain and there is always something to be thankful for, hold on, keep the faith. If God brings you to it, He will see you through it.
Have a wonderful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is James 1:1-12
Be a Blessing
Joseph brings his family to Egypt and introduces his father to Pharaoh. Pharaoh is the head guy…he is the President, the Commander in Chief, the main man. In contrast, Jacob is a wanderer, a sojourner, the father of shepherds and a very old man who had to leave his homeland because he and his family would have died of starvation from the famine. But what do the scriptures say two times: “Jacob blessed Pharaoh.” How does that happen? How does the empty bless the full? How does the lesser bless the greater? How does the poor possess more than the rich? How does the average overrule the superior? The answer….GOD.
God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God reveals His will and His blessings to the childlike. God empowers every day people to fulfill abundant promises without money, without cost and without titles. The prayers and praises of the saints have higher ratings and rewards than the most powerful, self sufficient persons on earth.
We have our logic all mixed up down here. If we really understood the ways of the Lord, we would not be held down by gravity or be lifted up with pride. When we fix our eyes on the things that matter, we understand that Jacob’s evil years of pilgrimage have an eternal value that weighs more than this nameless Pharaoh who lived a life of luxury on earth.
Do you bless others? You are a child of God, just like Jacob. He blessed Pharaoh because of his position in the heavenlies. He blesses Pharaoh because Jacob knew what being blessed really meant. Jacob blessed Pharaoh and today, his life still blesses me. Jacob has done more for me than Pharaoh because Jacob’s family brought to us the greatest blessing of all…Jesus. When we really know Jesus, we truly understand what it is to be blessed so that we can freely bless others. Ask the Lord to use you to bless someone today.
There have been times when I have heard people say, what can I do, I don’t have wealth or any power to make a difference but today’s devotion brings to light a very powerful point. When we truly know Jesus, we understand what it is to be blessed and to bless. It’s not about how much money you have in your bank account, what your status quo is or what position of power you hold, God doesn’t look on any of that to bless you, to use you to bless others or to create change, all He needs is a willing vessel He can poor into. Break down that wall today and allow God to use you right where you are to bless others. God uses ordinary people to carry out His extraordinary plan and if your not so ordinary then allow God to use what you have been blessed with to bless others and to create change for the good and to further His kingdom. All our circumstances are unique in this life but as children of God we should all have one purpose, to win souls to further His kingdom, everlasting life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17).
Have a beautiful day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Proverbs 11:25-31
All Day With God
Brother Lawrence (1614–1691) felt intimately close to God as he humbly scrubbed pots and pans in the monastery kitchen. Certainly Brother Lawrence practiced specific times of devotional prayer. But what he found more life-transforming was prayer during the workday. In his devotional classic Practicing the Presence of God, he says, “It is a great delusion to think our times of prayer ought to differ from other times. We are as strictly obliged to cleave to God by action in the time of action as by prayer in the season of prayer.” In short, he advocated that we “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).
That’s a helpful reminder, because sometimes we tend to compartmentalize our lives. Perhaps we pray only during church worship, small-group Bible study, family devotions, and personal quiet times. But what about during our workday? To pray on the job does not mean we have to fall to our knees with clasped hands and pray aloud. But it does mean that work decisions and relationships can be brought to God throughout the day.
Wherever we are and whatever we’re doing, God wants to be a part of it. When prayer enters every aspect of our lives, who knows what God might do for His glory!
Let’s always keep the prayer lines open,
Knowing God is always there;
For we upon His name may call
Anytime and anywhere. Amen!
This blessed me so much, there are times I get so busy during the day I’ve found myself talking with God as I’m doing the dishes, laundry, vacuuming, cooking dinner, driving in the car and the list goes on but I’ve come to realize that as today’s devotion says, true prayer is a way of life, not an emergency detour! No matter what you have on your to do list today, include Him in it, talk to Him, visit with Him, make time for Him. That’s all He wants, to be included in your day, in your life. It’s amazing how He adds joy and purpose to those moments when you include Him. He is incredible. Happy Moments, Praise God. Difficult Moments, Seek God. Quiet Moments, Worship God. Painful Moments, Trust God. Every Moment, Thank God and Pray without ceasing.
Make today beautiful!
Today’s Reading is 1 Thessalonians 5:12-18