Today, we continue our series entitled “Laser Focus,” with the point being that we should live with a Laser Focus on the Fixed Purpose God established for us before the world began.
This is the main scripture we will be looking at this year:
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
We are also looking at these scriptures as we consider the life of Joseph.
(James 1:2-4 TPT)
2 My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can!
3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things.
4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
(Gen 39:21-23 MSG)
But there in jail God was still with Joseph: He reached out in kindness to him; he put him on good terms with the head jailer. The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners–he ended up managing the whole operation. The head jailer gave Joseph free rein, never even checked on him, because God was with him; whatever he did God made sure it worked out for the best.
(Ecc 3:1 KJV)
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
(Ecc 3:1 ERV)
There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time.
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. Times and Seasons – The Power of Faith and Patience.
Part of being patient with God is learning to manage the ebbs and flows, the times and seasons of life. Solomon taught us that “there is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time.”
When God calls you to something significant as He did with Joseph, the greater the assignment from God, the greater the level of preparation (for you), and the greater the level of opposition (from the enemy). So, you have to learn to be patient, endure the ups and downs, and remain in faith for the long haul.
God called Joseph to greatness from a young age. Remarkably, Joseph believed God’s dream. He did not know HOW it was going to happen. He did not know WHEN it would manifest. I am sure he did not think it was going to take 20+ years. But like all of us, he had to learn to wait on God’s timing.
One of the things I have learned is that when it finally happens, we will look back, with the benefit of the context hindsight gives us, and acknowledge that it happened right when it was supposed to happen. Before the right time came, we were not ready, and the conditions were not set. But when the fullness of time comes, the conditions will be right, our hearts will be open to receive, and our character will be developed to the point where we are able to handle the weight of the anointing associated with the assignment. Therefore, my point here is simple: make the most of every season of your life, and remain faithful to God because eventually, it will be the right time, and you will receive what God promised!
Here are a few things we can glean from this:
— Mature Believers Learn to Embrace God’s Timing: Recognize that God’s schedule is perfect. Although we may not understand the ‘when,’ we can rest assured that He makes all things beautiful in His time.
— Preparation Comes Before Promotion: Just as Joseph’s capabilities and character were honed over the years, understand that your current season is a workshop for future successes.
— We Must Remain Steadfast in Faith: Maintain unshakeable faith in God’s promises, even when the wait seems endless. Your current trials are crafting your future triumphs.
— Maturity is Developed Through Endurance: Let patience have its perfect work in you, building a maturity that prepares you for the weight of glory ahead.
— Acknowledge that You Are On A Journey: Every phase, whether highs or lows, is integral to your development. Embrace each step with grace and gratitude.
2. Beginning Again.
So there he (Joseph) was, in prison, beginning again. After dealing with the sting of the betrayal of his brothers and after learning to make the most of his time in Potiphar’s house, he was starting all over again. He had just really gotten good at managing Potiphar’s domestic operation. He was just getting comfortable living as the “boss” when Potiphar was not around. But before he could get too comfortable, Mrs. Potiphar lied on him, and he wound up in prison, beginning again.
We all go through this. Your name may not be Joseph. The betrayal may not have come from your family. The lie may not have come from your boss’ wife. But we all have to swallow “bitter pills” on the path to our purpose. We all have to deal with disappointment and pain on the road to our destiny. And there are going to be times, like it happened with Joseph, when we feel like we are beginning again.
It takes a lot of patience not just to wait on God but also to endure multiple seasons and progress through various stages/levels as you do. By the time Joseph got to the point where he ‘got the handle’ on running Potiphar’s home, he was living a pretty good life. He was the boss man when Potiphar was not around. Even when Potiphar was at home, Joseph was the #2. Things were going well for him. He was a slave, but a prosperous one. The favor of God caused Joseph to experience prosperity as a slave. Let that sink in for a minute. That is crazy, but it happened. He prospered during his season of slavery. If he had stayed at that level until the dream manifested, it would be been alright. But Mrs. Potiphar would not “leave well enough alone,” She lied on him, he would up in prison, and he had to BEGIN AGAIN!
I’ve been there. I know what it is like to begin again, over and over, through multiple seasons of your life, all while you are waiting on God to do what He said He would do. Guess what? These changes are part of the process, and these cycles are actually part of your prosperity. I believe it is God’s will for us to prosper. But that does not mean that prosperity is always pleasant. God can cause you to prosper, even in seasons and situations that you would rather bypass.
Here is something I have learned: You cannot bypass something God requires. God requires you to go through all you must go through in order to receive what He said. It’s all part of your prosperity.
This is a part of understanding God’s will for you to prosper that many Pastors leave out. But I won’t. I will tell you the truth. Prosperity does not mean the absence of opposition. It just means you will triumph over it and/or through it. So if it does not look like you are winning, it is because the battle is not over. You will come out on top! Keep going. I know you don’t like to begin again. None of us do. But hold on. Greater is coming. The only way you can lose is if you quit.
Here are a few things we can glean from this:
— We Must Develop Resilience for Transitions: Adaptability is key when faced with new challenges. Like Joseph, use each new beginning as an opportunity to demonstrate your capability and faith.
— God Wants Us To Prosper in Every Season: Joseph’s ability to prosper in Potiphar’s house and then in prison teaches us that our circumstances don’t define our success—our faith and obedience do.
— God Expects Us to Overcome Bitterness: Transform bitter experiences into stepping stones. Joseph didn’t let betrayal or false accusations stop him; instead, he grew through them.
— Godly Preparation is Connected to Our Purpose: Each season has a purpose. Joseph’s skills and character were shaped by his experiences, preparing him for his ultimate role as Prime Minister.
— You Must Have A Never Quit Mentality: The path to fulfillment is often littered with starts and stops. Maintain your course, keep your faith, and start afresh with hope each time.
3. God is the ONE constant in a life full of change.
Joseph was in a new place, with new leadership, under new management, and with its own set of new challenges. The one constant Joseph had in the middle of a life full of change was God. God favored Joseph while he was at home with his father (during the Paternal phase). God favored Joseph while he was living as a slave (the Potiphar phase). And sure enough, God favored Joseph while he was locked up in a penitentiary (the Prison phase). The text says, “But there in jail God was still with Joseph: He reached out in kindness to him; he put him on good terms with the head jailer. The head jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners–he ended up managing the whole operation. The head jailer gave Joseph free rein, never even checked on him, because God was with him; whatever he did God made sure it worked out for the best.”
God gave Joseph favor with the warden and favored the work of his hands. While it is true that Joseph still had the dream in his heart and that being in prison was not what he saw in the dream, Joseph had to deal with the reality that his time had not yet come. This is something I have had to deal with, and just about anyone who has ever walked with God has had to learn this lesson.
Here are a few things we can glean from this:
— Develop Patience: When you realize that your time has not come yet, there is really nothing you can do about it but wait. You have to wait on God. And since HOW you wait can impact HOW LONG you wait, it is best to wait with the right attitude.
— Keep the right Attitude: When you wait with the right attitude and you keep your open to God, He is able to teach you what you need to learn on the path to your purpose… while you are waiting. This is critical. Because the promise will not be manifested until the circumstances are right and until you are ready for it.
— God is Still God: While your circumstances may have changed, rest assured in knowing that God has not. He still knows all things. He still has all power. He is still sitting on the circle of the earth. He is still committed to the plans He made for you before the world began. So while the world is ever-changing, you can find peace in a God who changes NOT!
— Expect God’s Favor to be Consistent: No matter the phase—be it paternal, Potiphar, or prison—God’s favor remained steadfast with Joseph.
— Know that Favor Leads to Influence: God’s favor positioned Joseph as a leader in varying circumstances, showcasing that divine grace often leads to natural authority.
— The Experiences Are Necessary: Even in the most unlikely environments, God prepares us for our destiny. Joseph’s experiences in prison were not just about survival but about equipping him for future leadership. Every challenge you face is shaping you for your divine calling.
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I trust in Your perfect timing and embrace the patience required to see Your promises fulfilled.
I am prepared for every purpose You have ordained for me, recognizing that each season hones my spirit and character.
In every transition, Your favor and grace sustain me, turning trials into triumphs.
I am resilient, adapting, and growing through every challenge by the strength You provide.
I celebrate Your constant presence, which brings peace and stability during the changes of life.
I commit to learning from each phase of my journey, using these insights to rise to the calling You have set before me.
I embrace every opportunity to demonstrate Your love and grace, influencing others through the authority You grant me.
As I wait on You, I do so with joy and expectancy, knowing that my waiting time is not wasted but wonderfully used for my growth.
GREATER IS COMING FOR ME because I am who I am by Your grace, and I live for Your glory!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
