Reflections4Life: Are You A Joseph?

Reflections4Life August 25^th, 2013

“Are You A Joseph?”

“And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.” Deuteronomy 28:13

Scripture Contemplation: Genesis 37; 41; 42; Deuteronomy 28; Psalm 37; Matthew 6; Philippians 4...

There are those of us that dream big. Our vision is far beyond what most can even imagine—even family members. And when we begin to share what is in our hearts, more often than not, we will find opposition rather than agreement.

I declare and decree that this week's Reflections will be a continued source of encouragement and food for your heart, mind, and soul. Be bold in your walk in God. Declare and decree the things that God has spoken of you. Do not back down to opposition, but know that it will come. Let it strengthen you and cause you to seek the Lord even more. God desires to use you; even in the lives of those that have opposed you and hurt you.

Are you a Joseph? Did God give you a vision, a dream that is far beyond what you could have ever imagined? Did you share that dream and vision with your loved ones and be looked at as though you were insane? Did your vision cause disruption, bring opposition, cause you to see less than the favorable side of character of your loved ones? If you answered yes to any of these, then you are a Joseph!

Genesis 37:5-11 5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. 9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” 10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” 11 And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Wow! Talk about hating! But those of us who have been walking in the Lord, and have been walking in obedience understand that “haters” will come; even in our own family. It always seems to be the ones closest to us, the ones we love the most.

Here is what I have come to understand and know for sure: God will use the opposition to propel us into the position that we need to be in, in order for His vision and purpose in our life to come to pass. What's the saying: haters are going to hate? Well it's true. Yet, God is still God, and there is nothing that can stop the will and plan of God for our lives from coming to fruition, unless we remove ourselves or walk away from the Lord, and walk in disobedience.

God will and has used the enemy to catapult us into the place in which we need to be, so that He may bless us as He desires. Let's face it; there are some things about our character and our behavior that can be a hindrance to what God desires to make happen in our lives. There are some things about ourselves that need to be checked before we can walk in the fullness of God, and the visions that He has given to us.

Being a Joseph is more than just being someone that has dreams and a vision. It is more than just being hated upon and receiving opposition from those closest to you. Being a Joseph is being able to go through the process of being stripped of your flaws, of human pride, of being made humbled, and learning to look to God for all things, and not making a move until God says so.

In being a Joseph, it is not just coming from the “pit to the palace” like so many have preached. No. It is being able to withstand what happens in the middle; the process between the pit and the palace, and the ability to rise above hurt feelings, not yielding to emotions, and walking in the anointing of God, full of forgiveness and kindness; being able to be in the position to bring aid to the very ones that tried to destroy you, and left you for dead, without holding animosity. The ability to love in spite of and not because of. Being a Joseph is allowing the Christ in you to rise up and live.

Is that you today? Have you been rejected, scoffed at, opposed, lied on, falsely accused, deserted, abandoned by your family, sold out for money, left for dead, outcast, imprisoned, forgotten, despised; but you still dream, you still have vision, you're still holding on to what God has spoken to you, you still love those that hurt you?

Is this you? Then know this: God has anointed you today. He has chosen you to stand and to be the person in your family that brings healing and aid to them. God is using YOU; the one thought the least of; the one rejected, and abandoned to bring about healing and deliverance to the very ones that hurt you the most.

Don't allow the process to rob you of your vision or belief. Do not allow the rejection and opposition of those you love to deter you, or stop you from trusting and believing God. Joseph was given a gift from God. God trusted Joseph to go through what he went through, knowing that He could trust Joseph, and use him for His glory, and to bring salvation to a nation.

Joseph was a spoiled and prideful child. He was favored of Jacob. Jacob doted upon him, and that caused friction and jealousy amongst his brothers. Yet, there was something special about Joseph. And God used the actions of Joseph's brothers to bring about a plan that would cause a maturity and strength in Joseph that was needed. It caused the man in Joseph to rise; the visionary to come forth. It caused Joseph to call upon his God in a land that knew not his God. Joseph became a blessing even in the enemy's camp. God promoted him within to bless those without.

Know this beloved: whatsoever it is you are faced with today, do not allow it to keep you from seeking God and believing in what God has spoken to you. No matter how long the wait for the manifestation; continue to walk in the knowledge and preparation that today is the day that it comes to pass. Be ready. Forgive those that have hurt you, rejected you, opposed you. And learn to say thank you to your haters. For God is using them to propel you where He has ordained you to be, from the beginning.

I decree that the spirit of peace and of prosperity has found a permanent rest in your lives: spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, socially, and financially. Are you a Joseph? Continue to believe in the Lord and His purpose and plan for your life. Let God use you. You are the instrument that God has chosen to bless your family; to bring deliverance to a nation. Forgive. Love. And move forward in the Lord. He has anointed you to go through, and you are victorious! You are Blessed! Now go...and Be that Blessing!

©2013. Ruthe McDonald. All Rights Reserved.