What works God has called you to do are impossible to do in your own strength. God is preparing you for ministry. He is still fulfilling His promise to you. He has to make you strong and mature to withstand the pressures of the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like in the life of Joseph, after he dreamed of his family bowing down to him, what happened immediately after? God began training Joseph’s character to fulfill this great call. He was thrown down in the pit by his brothers, sold to Egypt, and eventually thrown in prison because of the false accusation of Pharaoh\u2019s wife. Instead of giving up, he continued to minister while in prison. He interpreted the baker\u2019s and butler\u2019s dreams which proved accurate. When a new Pharaoh came into power who didn\u2019t know Joseph and had a dream that needed interpreting, the baker finally remembered him and told the Pharaoh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what was God accomplishing in Joseph? Humble obedience, leadership in managing the prison, faith to continue believing God\u2019s promise, keeping the right motive and forgiveness in his heart to eventually help his own family in famine who had betrayed him. Then after all this, he became second in charge of all of Egypt! He had been very misunderstood\u2026God brought compassion and love for his family despite their treatment of him. He passed all his tests to not have pride or revenge when his family actually did bow to him, not recognizing him initially when they appeared in Egypt asking for help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have you felt misunderstood by family or friends? Have you been tested in these areas? Can you continue to believe in God’s promises for you and believe you are being trained to fulfill them in God’s strength? May I pray for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lord, I believe there is a Joseph in every family. They may feel misunderstood, thrown in some type of confinement, and undergoing testing in their character. Help us to be strong in You and in Your mighty power. Help us remember our suffering produces perseverance; perseverance character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because You have poured out Your love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:3-5) Amen<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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What works God has called you to do are impossible to do in your own strength. God is preparing you for ministry. He is still fulfilling His promise to you. He has to make you strong and mature to withstand the pressures of the world. Just like in the life of Joseph, after he dreamed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2362,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2809","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/06\/images.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1655,"url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=1655","url_meta":{"origin":2809,"position":0},"title":"Upside Down Kingdom-Eternal Perspective","author":"hollysmith","date":"September 27, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"God is entitled to our praise and honor; man requires humility. 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Was he of lesser importance?\u201d Colleen pondered aloud. \u201cHe had a conscience and kept Joseph from being killed as well as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Living Your Own Identity"","block_context":{"text":"Living Your Own Identity","link":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?cat=6"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hollywsmith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/Rueben1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1737,"url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=1737","url_meta":{"origin":2809,"position":2},"title":"Let Go","author":"hollysmith","date":"April 6, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Did you know you are enriched in every way because of the testimony confirmed in you? (Eph. 3:1) It\u2019s true! God is behind the scenes walking us through trials and turning them for our good. He is orchestrating circumstances in our paths to bring maturity. He knows our end from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?cat=18"},"img":{"alt_text":"images-1","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hollywsmith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/images-1.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2692,"url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=2692","url_meta":{"origin":2809,"position":3},"title":"A “Joseph” in Every Family","author":"hollysmith","date":"May 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Praying for the Josephs in all the families and countries-there is someone who has been misunderstood, thrown in the pit but brought out at this time to help their families and their nation at this time of need. The rest of the family will then have eyes to see the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?cat=18"},"img":{"alt_text":"sunbeam-3721749__340-150x150","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hollywsmith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/sunbeam-3721749__340-150x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1709,"url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=1709","url_meta":{"origin":2809,"position":4},"title":"Healing Part 1","author":"hollysmith","date":"January 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"My husband and I began praying for the sick on a regular basis at our church. Alan had suffered a number of physical ailments over the years, which set us on a search for a cure. We needed to examine what the Bible says about healing. My husband used to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Featured"","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?cat=18"},"img":{"alt_text":"IMG_8154","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hollywsmith.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/IMG_8154-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":181,"url":"https:\/\/hollywsmith.com\/?p=181","url_meta":{"origin":2809,"position":5},"title":"Part II Discipline or Pruning? – When God Wasn’t Winking","author":"admin","date":"February 27, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Click \u00a0 HERE\u00a0 to view my introductory video post entitled \"Discipline or Pruning?\" I met Alan in my late twenties, and we jointly struggled with the sins of our past. As recently recommitted Christians, we experienced God\u2019s intervention and discipline in the form of difficult circumstances. 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