God Never Leaves

And Israel said unto Joseph, “Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.” Genesis 48:21

People mean the world to me. I am extremely close to a few. I have thought many times of the day they depart from this world. I remember losing my mom over five years ago. At times the grief seemed unbearable. Losing someone close takes a part of you. The vacancy is huge.

I often dread the thought of someone close to me dieing. I know the sorrow will be great. But Jacob speaks the most comforting words to Joseph. “Behold, I die; but God will be with you.” I must remember that God remains with me when that loved one departs. His plan for me continues.

Father, it is times like this that your words, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” mean so much to me. Thank You. Amen.

Prayers of Blessings

And Joseph said unto his father, “They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place.” And he said, “Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.” Genesis 48:9

Joseph has a wonderful perspective on parenting. He knows his children were given to him by God. He wants God’s blessing on their life so he brings them to Jacob to be blessed and prayed over. Joseph knows the power of such blessings. He knows the affect it will have on the recipients.

For years I thought praying blessings over people was for Bible times only. But I am now convinced it is still vital today. I look at the blessings that are spoken at the beginning of most epistles.

Now the God of peace be with you. Romans 15:33
Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 1:3

I have had a blessing prayed over me by a dear friend. I long for it to be done again. I long to learn more of praying blessings over people. To speak words of encouragement over their life. It is not a thing of the past. It is something that should be a part of our parenting and ministries. I wish I had had my father in law pray a blessing over our children before he died.

How powerful those petitions of blessing are in a life! I just think of the pattern of Ephesians 1 and all the requests Paul makes for the Ephesians. He desires for them that God would give them grace and peace, spiritual blessings, the spirit of wisdom and revelation, enlightened eyes of understanding, knowledge of God’s calling.

May God help me to take the opportunities to pray His blessings over people.
Father, show me what to pray over people. Amen.

Receiving Kindness and Truth

If now I have found grace in thy sight….deal kindly and truly with me. Genesis 47:29

Jacob’s request to Joseph is to be buried in his home land. This is his dieing wish. But he prefaces it with the heart cry of every person. Deal kindly and truly with me. Each of us want kindness shown to us and want to be told the truth. We don’t want to be lied to. Relationships thrive under these two demonstrations of love. The heart controls both. Kindness is our gracious actions and truth is our words and what we portray.

When I think of a kind person I think of someone who is tender, caring, helpful, and interested. It’s easy to be that way with close friends. But God’s grace urges me to extend kindness to those who least deserve it. I tend to shy away from rude people. If someone has hurt me or jumped on me I back off quickly. But God can work in my heart in such a way as to extend them kindness whenever possible.

The Bible says that God’s loving kindness is better than life. If He were to remove His kindness, grace, favor, and love, then life would not be worth living. Someone once said if God removed His hand from His creation we would become the nothingness that we were before creation.

Somehow I forget that I am undeserving of His kindness. Or I think it is easy for Him to show me love. But He doesn’t do anything for me because I deserve it or because it is easy (neither of which is true anyway). It comes naturally to Him. It is who He is. May I learn to appreciate everything He does for me. May I notice the gifts He lavishes on me every day.

Father, may I give to others what You so graciously give to me. Amen!

Come To Receive

So they said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s slaves.” Genesis 47:25

The Egyptians chose life through slavery. Everything else was gone and their only recourse was to sell their land and themselves into slavery. If they held on to their possessions and their freedom they would die. But in giving up everything they would live.

I came to Christ with a death sentence over my life. Being His servant is where fulfillment of life comes from. I serve Him because He has given me life. He already grants me favor in His sight.
So often people look to the wrong sources to get what God so freely offers. But God waits for them to come to Him. It is unnecessary to accept the conditions of a sinful life. If we would but turn to Him, right choices are possible.

Joseph had plenty of food. It was up to each person to accept the offer and come.

Father, I come to You in need, and You always give out of the abundance of Your supply. Amen!

Open Communication

He kissed all his brothers and wept on them, and afterward his brothers talked with him. Genesis 45:15

Open communication is such a precious commodity. The more someone knows us and allows us to know them, the more precious that communication becomes. What are the factors that block communication? Unconfessed sin, hurt, distance, time, misunderstanding. Like a drain that is unclogged and water flows freely through, so is the blessing when things are made right, the lines of communication are restored, and words flow freely once again.

I cherish friendships. Phone conversations and emails are delights to me. I relish the opportunity to sit down face to face with a friend and catch up on each other’s day. All the more so when the conversation centers around Christ, the Bible, or Christian principles. It is a balm to my soul.

The day I learned that prayer is meant to be a dialogue instead of a monologue I turned a huge corner in my Christian life. I had always been taught that I speak to God in prayer and He speaks to me through His Word. I never imagined that during prayer He could flood my mind with His thoughts and words of encouragement.

Sometimes He asks me questions that require a searching of my heart. He wants me to go beyond the surface to see what is really troubling me. Sometimes He replaces my doubts and insecurities with reminders of His love for me. Sometimes it is direction He gives. Whatever the case, I love the communication. He is always available, always interested, always open. When I am struggling in my prayer life He will even show me what it is that has “clogged” the drain. He misses the exchanges and longs for the communication to resume.

Father, help me to desire talking to You and listening to You above every other relationship. Amen.

He Meets My Needs

There I will also provide for you, for there are still five years of famine to come, and you and our household and all that you have would be impoverished. Genesis 45:11

Our needs abound in this world. There are the obvious physical needs of food, clothing, and shelter. For some those are immense needs as they struggle with finances and don't see how they are going to make it. But that is not the area of impoverishment I face. My physical needs are more than adequately met. My personal famine has to do with needs from within. I so often look to people to meet my social and emotional needs and if they don't come through for me I tend to live empty and deprived. It's like there is a part of me that is always wanting.

But God makes the same offer to me as Joseph made to his brother. "Be near me and I will provide for you." He knows my tendency to look for relationships to bring me fulfillment and satisfaction. And He knows the disappointment I feel when my "source" doesn't supply those needs.

Last night I pictured a tin cup in my hands. It represented the ability to gather what I need each day. When I am continually looking to people to be consistent sources of encouragement, affirmation, and filling it is like standing by a rotating lawn sprinkler with my tin cup in hand. As the sprinkler makes it's way around to me I manage to capture a few drops of water. It's not enough! It's arduous and tedious with very little to show. When all the while God offers fresh running water for me. A vast supply! May I learn to fill my cup at His pools and quench my thirsty spirit.

His water not only quenches my thirst, it cleanses and refreshes me.

Father, Your offer to draw near is calling out to me today. I come with my cup in hand to once again allow YOU to meet my needs. Amen.

Coming Closer

Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come closer to me." And they came closer. Genesis 45:4

Joseph has just revealed himself to his brothers. To say they are in shock is an understatement. The look on their faces must reveal the fear in their hearts. They saw Joseph's change as he sent everyone out of the room, went into an emotional release, and proclaimed to them his identity. All must have been done with great emotion and volume.

But now his voice softens as I am sure he sees their fear. I picture tenderness in his voice, eyes, and outstretched arms as he invites them to come closer to him. He wants nothing more than for them to receive his embrace, his forgiveness, and his acceptance. He is not telling them it is "pay back" time. He is telling them it is reconciliation time!

How little we experience this kind of grace in this world. How seldom we show it. We want things even. But when I see this is what Christ continually does for me it should change the way I deal with people who have offended or hurt me. God is the ultimate example of extending grace, compassion, mercy, tenderness, and forgiveness. He draws me closer as my heart is convinced of His acceptance.

When I feel like Joseph's brothers and want to stand in shame and fear, God begins to coax me to look into His eyes and see the depth of His forgiveness. He knows the regret I feel and the disgust with myself. As I admit in my heart that what I did was wrong He eagerly extends the invitation to draw closer. The sorrow my sin brings to Him is surpassed by the desire of His heart for reconciliation. May I really get that!

Father, I cannot fully grasp this aspect of Your heart. It is too extravagant for my mind to conceive. Make me like You! Amen.