What a view My child. It's good to be here with you. See the green pastures, it's time for the fruit of last season's labor to be revealed. Just as these orchards will soon carry fruit to bless others with, I want you to bear fruit for Me.
Remember My servant Joseph? He carried his faith into all the circumstances he was thrown into, but it wasn't always that way. When he was still young, I revealed to him in a dream a glimpse of the future. If I had shown him the process of what had to happen for that dream to play out, chances are that he wouldn't have followed through. His brothers, however, weren't too thrilled about his dream when he shared it with them. After a few events, they decided to throw him into a pit and later sold him to Egyptian traders who so happened to pass by. If he had compared his current circumstances then to what I showed him in the dream, it wouldn't align or make sense.
My promise will never fail, even if your current circumstances try to show you a different story. My word doesn't waver due to the choices of man. It's constant and it follows through. My word is a firm foundation and the only thing that you can put all your trust in.
Joseph's own family mistreated him and he was taken to Egypt to work as a slave, but this was the pruning season. In Potiphar's house, Joseph worked hard and did everything with excellence. Everything Joseph touched prospered and he found favor in Potiphar's eyes (Gen 39:2). Not only in Potiphar's eyes but also in the eyes of his wife who tried to seduce Joseph into sleeping with her. Joseph stood the test and laid down fleshly desires for the calling that he knew was on his life, although he couldn't make out at that time how it would unfold. The reward for his obedience was a jail sentence. It doesn't seem fair, but once again I used him among the prisoners.
My child, know that I created you for Myself, but also for others. Your choices and testimony are not for self gain, but for others as well. That's how Joseph, once again, found favor with the prisoners and the jailkeeper. Isn't this just so profound? What is the picture that you have in your head when it comes to living in favor of Me and people?
For Joseph, favor meant being obedient in a setting that is hopeless and seeing others prosper because of his submission to My plan and not his dreams.
Sure, there were times when he questioned My will for his life, but one thing he didn't let go of was his faith. Even after the one prisoner forgot to mention his name to Pharaoh and had to remain in prison for another few years, I was still with him. Dreaming with him, working through him and this is where forgiveness had to take place. In prison, he couldn't run away from his thoughts. He had to hand his dream over to Me. True forgiveness is shown by your fruit, My child. If you can bless those who offended or hurt you, that is true forgiveness.
Jump a few years ahead Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream, and he was placed in charge of the whole kingdom. During the famine, his family heard of food in Egypt and the brothers were sent to get food. When Joseph saw them, he was filled with deep sadness, but this was where his forgiveness was tested.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance
Gen 45:4-7 (NIV)
Forgiveness opens the door to receiving the blessing. But sometimes favor and forgiveness, My dear child, means that those around you might experience the blessing more than you do. Joseph's dream came to pass but it was not the picture Joseph had when I first revealed it to him. I knew about the famine before Joseph had the dream. I see the bigger picture, I see the lives that will be affected by the choices that you make today. Have faith, and be courageous even if the circumstances that you are in right now don't seem like they fit the dream that you have in your heart. Surrender it to Me, bring those hopes, fears, and doubts, and place them in My hands. Eyes on Me. Like a ship pointed towards its destination, not looking at the waves coming in from left and right, but keeping its aim on The Prize.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
You're All I'm After - Ke'Erron & Leeland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwYJJoOjTyQ)
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