PAUSING
Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Take a few seconds or minutes to pause and be still; to breathe deeply, and to re-center any scattered thoughts or desires onto the presence of God.
PRAYING
Heavenly Father, I choose to rejoice in Your protection today.
ENCOUNTERING HIS WORD
""Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it." -
Remember the story of Joseph? He was a dreamer, confident in his future, and the recipient of his dad's favor. He's been lavished with presents and promoted above his brothers. What's more, he's having these prophetic dreams that suggest he is destined to rule over the rest of his family. One day all of his hopes are shattered when his brothers conspire against him and throw him into a pit.
Have the actions of others left you wondering why God would allow something like "this" to happen? Being thrust into darkness can feel devastating, as if our whole future has been stolen. But we should remember that the pit was not the end of Joseph's story. The dreams God gave him were eventually fulfilled - not despite his darkness experience, but through it. And God can do the same in your life.
REFLECTING AND PRAYING
One of the themes that repeat throughout the story of Joseph is the refrain: "and the Lord was with Joseph". Joseph was never alone. God was always with him, inside of that pit and out. Think back to the darkest time in your life and ask Jesus to show you where he was when it happened. One thing is for sure: He was with you.
As you contemplate, also ask God - have I been the cause of anybody else's darkness? Through any selfish or thoughtless actions, is there anybody that I have hurt that I need to say sorry to today?
GODS PROMISE
"in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28
Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Take a few seconds or minutes to pause and be still; to breathe deeply, and to re-center any scattered thoughts or desires onto the presence of God.
PRAYING
Heavenly Father, I choose to rejoice in Your protection today.
ENCOUNTERING HIS WORD
""Here comes that dreamer!” they said to each other. “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”
When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said. “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe he was wearing— and they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it." -
Remember the story of Joseph? He was a dreamer, confident in his future, and the recipient of his dad's favor. He's been lavished with presents and promoted above his brothers. What's more, he's having these prophetic dreams that suggest he is destined to rule over the rest of his family. One day all of his hopes are shattered when his brothers conspire against him and throw him into a pit.
Have the actions of others left you wondering why God would allow something like "this" to happen? Being thrust into darkness can feel devastating, as if our whole future has been stolen. But we should remember that the pit was not the end of Joseph's story. The dreams God gave him were eventually fulfilled - not despite his darkness experience, but through it. And God can do the same in your life.
REFLECTING AND PRAYING
One of the themes that repeat throughout the story of Joseph is the refrain: "and the Lord was with Joseph". Joseph was never alone. God was always with him, inside of that pit and out. Think back to the darkest time in your life and ask Jesus to show you where he was when it happened. One thing is for sure: He was with you.
As you contemplate, also ask God - have I been the cause of anybody else's darkness? Through any selfish or thoughtless actions, is there anybody that I have hurt that I need to say sorry to today?
GODS PROMISE
"in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28