Even in Egypt Part 1

Well, I may not be able to tell what Egypt connotes to you; but for a young man named Joseph, Egypt meant "strange". It was an entirely different place, with diverse customs and traditions contrary and totally estranged from where he originated.

Beyond the strangeness, Egypt was a hurting reminder of how he was betrayed, not by unknown persons, but by his own flesh and blood - His brothers.(Gen 37: 28).

What's striking about this young man is the fact that he never lost focus. I can be sure that the "foreignness of Egypt" must have enticed him, clamoured for his attention, persuaded him to lose focus and get carried away by all the fanciful but ungodly things right there, but Joseph wasn't one to be deterred. He was too aligned with God to be pulled off, too entangled in His love to be easily won with glittering gold and free sex offer from a seductress.

Let's come to think of it and assume Joseph said a yes to Mrs. Potiphar. Doesn't it strike us that he would have enhanced his chances of serving longer with Mr. Potiphar and also enjoy a strong job guarantee in a strange land as a slave boy? Why do I have such an opinion about his positive response to such an irresistible offer ? Because, young and charming Joseph would have Mrs. Potiphar cringing before him and desiring that their escapades behind her husband should remain top secret... Or what kind of wife, however bad, would have no problems with such a terrible blackmail?

However, Joseph knew better. He would rather suffer for standing for God than smile for standing with men.

What's the Bottom Line here: don't have a temporary mindset. When the going gets tough, the tough are meant to get going. We have the divine ability to outlast all seasons. That's how character is formed, through bypassing temporary pleasures to get future rewards.

Could we just take a few seconds and talk to God in prayer?

Prayer:
Father, please give me grace to stand for you at every point in time. When standing for you would cost me something and when it would cost me nothing. Amen.

With Love,

Holy Spirit in Omotola

The Rough Patches 1

Ever read about a guy whose name starts with a "J" and ends with an "H"? Well, I strongly believe majority of us are familiar with the guy and I'll bet most of us have heard a sermon about him at one point in our lives or the other.

PIT  -  PRISON  -  PALACE.

I believe it's sounding more familiar by now. Well, isn't that an awesome transformation? It sure is!

Getting down to the last phase of being a Prime Minister in Egypt and fulfilling God's primary purpose, which was to provide and preserve the Israelites during the period of famine, was not a feat accomplished overnight.
No, not at all. It took a process of training, learning and lots of patience. I want to guess Joseph must have thought himself close to his dreams when he got to Potiphar's household. He must have received the greatest shocker of his life when he landed in prison for a crime he didn't even think of committing. He must have wondered where God was at the time and why He didn't rise to his defence someway, somehow.

One major belief we tend to hold on to as believers is the fact that, if it's God, then, it's got to be smooth. Where have we gotten that from? I'll say over and over again that it's such an erroneous idea. The fact that it's God doesn't necessitate that we would have it easy.

Everyone on the surface of the earth, doing exploits in their fields today have definitely gone through a process. A day - old  baby doesn't recite numbers but a four - year old toddler could. Why? The toddler has undergone a process, while the baby hasn't. We call it "Kindergarten".

The Dark patches are non-negotiable, we must go through them. It is my prayer that when we go through the valleys and shadows of Character molding may we not fail the tests in Jesus Name.

With Love,
Holy Spirit in Omotola.