The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Genesis 41-43
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 1: The People: God calls a covenant people
Background Information: Genesis 41-43
How quickly and easily we can read these chapters and fail to see how much suffering is embedded in them. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, taken as a young man to a foreign land where he didn’t know the language or customs. He was again betrayed and put into prison. Try to imagine what this would be like. Put yourself there as he lay alone in the dark prison, far from family and without hope. All this testing was serving to prepare Joseph’s character for the huge assignment he was to be given. An assignment that would save the lives of countless thousands. An assignment that would serve God’s larger purposes for his people and for the world. His suffering was not wasted, it was shaping him. “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4) We must remember that Joseph is not the hero of the story, God is. God gave the dreams and the ability to interpret them. God gave Joseph favor and took him from prison to the second most powerful man in the world in the course of 13 years. Maturity of faith comes through the testing of faith. God wants to use trouble to grow us, but we must respond to him with faith and faithfulness. Will you consider it pure joy as you face various trials? Ask God to help you do so.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Ask God for fruit in evangelism. Pray for opportunities to build trust. Ask God for opportunities to have gospel conversations. Ask God for boldness to share.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.