“Let all bitterness…be put away from you.” Eph 4:31 NKJV
Here is something else Joseph knew that you need to know too. You can’t afford the excess baggage of bitterness. After many years, Joseph met his brothers again when they came to Egypt for grain. As they entered Joseph’s presence and bowed before him, Egypts second-in-command, they were unab;e to recognize him. And when Joseph tried to tell them who he was, they were stunned and horrified. Here was the brother they had tried to kill years earlier, and now he was in a position to do whatever he wished with them. But instead, he forgave them. Why? Because Joseph knew he couldn’t afford that excess baggage of bitterness. So what should you do when you’re tempted to harbor bitterness? Do what Joseph did: He sustained his faith and hope in God, believed that things would ultimately work out well, and continued his spiritual life. When things go wrong, we often turn out back on the one person we need most–the Lord. When difficulties come our way, we say, “God, why did you allow this to happen?” We start blaming God as if it’s his fault, instead of saying, “Lord, please handle this problem.” God can take circumstances that are completely bad and turn them around. When people attempt to use situations to destroy you, God can use them to develop you. He delights in turning crucifixions into resurrections. The Bible says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (Jas 4:8 NKJV). God comes by invitation, and as long as you keep talking to Him and trusting Him, He will work things out for you.
Here is something else Joseph knew that you need to know too. You can’t afford the excess baggage of bitterness. After many years, Joseph met his brothers again when they came to Egypt for grain. As they entered Joseph’s presence and bowed before him, Egypts second-in-command, they were unab;e to recognize him. And when Joseph tried to tell them who he was, they were stunned and horrified. Here was the brother they had tried to kill years earlier, and now he was in a position to do whatever he wished with them. But instead, he forgave them. Why? Because Joseph knew he couldn’t afford that excess baggage of bitterness. So what should you do when you’re tempted to harbor bitterness? Do what Joseph did: He sustained his faith and hope in God, believed that things would ultimately work out well, and continued his spiritual life. When things go wrong, we often turn out back on the one person we need most–the Lord. When difficulties come our way, we say, “God, why did you allow this to happen?” We start blaming God as if it’s his fault, instead of saying, “Lord, please handle this problem.” God can take circumstances that are completely bad and turn them around. When people attempt to use situations to destroy you, God can use them to develop you. He delights in turning crucifixions into resurrections. The Bible says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (Jas 4:8 NKJV). God comes by invitation, and as long as you keep talking to Him and trusting Him, He will work things out for you.
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January
A NEW YEAR, A NEW STARTTHIS YEAR, DO FIRST THINGS FIRSTNEVER STOP LEARNING (1)NEVER STOP LEARNING (2)GET OUT OF DEBT AND STAY OUT OF DEBTDON'T BE SO CONTROLLINGTHE SEVEN-DAY CHALLENGEPARENT, KEEP PERSEVERINGTURNING TWO FAMILIES INTO ONEPUT YOUR HEART INTO YOUR PARTFOUR PRINCIPLES FOR VICTORIOUS LIVINGTAKE CONTROL OF THE SMALL THINGSDON’T GIVE UPLEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (1)LEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (2)LEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (3)LEARNING TO LISTEN TO GOD (4)SET OTHER THINGS ASIDE AND SERVEGOD AND WORKHOW TO ENRICH AND STRENGTHEN YOUR RELATIONSHIPSPROPHECY FULFILLEDDON'T SHOUT ABOUT ITYOU'RE GROWING IN GRACEWALKING WITH GODYOUR SECRET PLACEWORK ON GROWING CLOSERARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT RETIREMENT?GIDEON'S GOD IS YOUR GODTO GROW WE MUST KEEP ASKING QUESTIONSBE INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING GOD DOES
February
GOD WILL SPEAK TO YOU–IF YOU LISTENDO THE WORDPRAYING WITHOUT SAYING A WORDSHOW GRACE UNDER FIREHAVING JOB SECURITY (1)HAVING JOB SECURITY (2)HAVING JOB SECURITY (3)HAVING JOB SECURITY (4)THE HOLY SPIRIT PRAYS THROUGH YOUYOUR PERSONAL GUIDESTOP AND ASK FOR DIRECTIONSYOUR HARVEST IS ON THE WAYGIVE YOUR CHILDREN CONVICTIONS TO LIVE BYYOUR LIMITED WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITYPULL DOWN THOSE STRONGHOLDSUSE THE GIFT GO GAVE YOUFINDING SELF-WORTHMUZZLE YOUR MOUTHCHOOSING A LEADERGOD KNOW'S WHAT'S BEST FOR YOUARE YOU TIRED OF LIVING IN DEFEAT?MAKE AN IMPACTBE A DISCIPLE OF JESUSTAKE TIME TO WONDER AND WORSHIPLIVE THE LIVING WORDBE PATIENT, GOD IS AT WORKTO BE CONFORMED IS TO BE CREATIVELIVE IN THE “HERE AND NOW”YOU NEED GOD'S HELP
March
GOING FORWARD OR GOING BACKCOME OUT OF THAT CORNERTELL THE TRUTHBELIEVE GOD FOR GREATER THINGSHONOR GOD, AND HE WILL HONOR YOUMOVING FROM FAILURE TO SUCCESS (1)MOVING FROM FAILURE TO SUCCESS (2)THE RIGHT ATTITUDE (1)THE RIGHT ATTITUDE (2)STRONG, FIRM AND STEADFASTRAISING GREAT KIDS IN A TROUBLED WORLDRAISING GREAT KIDS IN A TROUBLED WORLD (2)RAISING GREAT KIDS IN A TROUBLED WORLD (3)RAISING GREAT KIDS IN A TROUBLED WORLD (4)RAISING GREAT KIDS IN A TROUBLED WORLD (5)ARE YOU HOOKED ON PORNOGRAPHY?YOU CAN RISE ABOVE WORRY (1)YOU CAN RISE ABOVE WORRY (2)YOUR BOAZ SEASONSTAND ON GOD'S WORD (1)STAND ON GOD'S WORD (3)STAND ON GOD'S WORD (4)STAND ON GOD'S WORD (5)GOD WILL FORGIVE AND RESTORE YOUDON'T STRIKE BACKARE YOU A TRUE FRIEND?
April
EVIDENCES OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION (3)THE RIGHT BALANCEEVIDENCES OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION (1)EVIDENCES OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION (2)WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DIFFICULTIES (1)WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DIFFICULTIES (2)WHEN YOU GO THROUGH DIFFICULTIES (3)STORMPROOFED FOR LIFEREADY…GO!LEARN TO LISTEN TO YOUR MARRIAGE PARTNERARE YOU STRESSED OUT? (1)ARE YOU STRESSED OUT? (2)ARE YOU STRESSED? (3)DO WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYSSTOP COVERING IT UP