Today, we continue our series entitled “Laser Focus,” emphasizing living with a Laser Focus on the Fixed Purpose God established for us before the world began.
(Proverbs 4:25 TPT)
Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions.
Scriptures for today:
(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.
(Ecc 3:1 ERV)
There is a right time for everything, and everything on earth will happen at the right time
Setting the stage:
In this series, I believe I have made it clear that God made plans for you before the world began and that God’s plans will not manifest before the fullness of His timing. This puts us in a position where we must believe and then add patience to our faith to hold on long enough to see what God has promised. The point I am making today is that when it finally happens, and you receive the manifestation of the promise (because God is a God who thinks not just on another level but another plane or dimension), God’s blessing will, in most cases, far exceed anything you imagined it would be.
Let’s examine this point from two perspectives: Joseph’s perspective and Jacob’s perspective.
From Joseph’s perspective, the day his life changed for the better came after he spent 13 years as a slave and prisoner. That morning, he woke up in the prison, and that night, he went to sleep in the palace as the second in command of a thriving nation. He was promoted from prisoner to Prime Minister in one day. This is the type of thing that, when we experience it, we often have a surreal moment where we question whether or not this is actually happening to us because God is so good. Even though we know it is happening, it is still almost too hard to believe.
From Jacob’s perspective, something similar happened. He sent his sons to buy food in Egypt because Egypt was the only nation with food, and they had been enduring the famine for two years. When the boys returned, they didn’t just come back with food. They came back with gifts, vehicles, clothes, money, and the news that the son he thought was dead for 22 years was alive. Not only was he alive, but he was also the ruler of Egypt, and his entire family was about to be blessed with houses, land, food, and everything they needed. This is one of those “almost too good to be true” moments.
I want you to know that God is a good God, and He does want to bless you in ways that exceed your wildest imaginations. But you have to be OPEN to it. Let’s talk about it today.
The following covers where we are in the story and addresses Genesis 45:21-26.
By this point in the story, Joseph and Pharaoh had both promised Joseph’s family the best land in Egypt (Goshen). All the boys had to do was go home to get their father and their families. Although the brothers came to Egypt on donkeys, Joseph and Pharaoh sent them back on royal wagons and chariots. The brothers were given new clothes. Benjamin was given five new outfits and 300 pieces of silver (favor ain’t fair). Joseph also sent ten donkeys loaded with the best gifts Egypt had to offer to his father and another ten donkeys loaded with grain bread and other food for the return trip.
When the men arrived in Canaan, they told their father that Joseph was still alive and that he was the ruler of Egypt. Their father was so surprised that he could not believe them (v.26). The Bible says that “he could not believe it.” His favorite son, the one that he thought was dead, the one that he had not seen in 22 years, the firstborn of the woman he loved the most, Joseph, was still alive! His mind was blown!
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. When your breakthrough comes, it will seem almost too hard to believe.
When Jacob was told that his long lost son, the one he loved, the one he thought was dead, was actually still alive, it was too much for him to digest. It was almost too good to be true. To make a good story even more incredible, his sons told him that Joseph was not only alive but that he was now the ruler of Egypt.
How this applies to you:
— When a pastor/preacher gets up and declares the Word of the Lord (either from the Bible or prophetically), many Christians refuse to receive it and apply because they simply do not believe it. They know God can do things, but if they see the promise as a good promise, many just can’t believe God will do it for them. This is a mindset and belief problem, not a God problem. God is ready, but they are not.
— While God’s goodness is being declared, many cannot seem to grasp the reality that something so wonderful is God’s will for them.
— The sad part is that while they remain in unbelief, God is not free to do what He wants to do in their lives. God is only limited by your capacity to believe.
— If you can’t believe it, you will never receive it. I pray this series is helping you to expand your capacity to believe God.
— Open your heart to the possibilities God has for you, knowing He can exceed your expectations.
— Trust that God’s plans are greater than you can imagine, and embrace the blessings He wants to bestow upon you.
— Allow your faith to grow by expecting the unimaginable from a limitless God. Just be OPEN to whatever God wants to do in your life. However, He wants to do it! Don’t limit God.
2. There will come a day when God exceeds your greatest expectations.
After 22 years of being disconnected as a family, and after Joseph spent 13 of those 22 years in tremendous struggle and pain, the family reunion came. When it did, it was greater than any of them could imagine.
Paul said, “Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” (Eph 3:20 TPT).
When Jacob was told that Joseph was still alive, the Bible says that “he could not believe it.” It was not until he went outside and saw the wagons, chariots, animals, and food that Joseph had sent for him that he was able to expand his capacity to believe and OPEN his heart to God’s blessing. Looking at all the evidence, he said, “Now I can believe you! My son Joseph must really be alive, and I will get to see him before I die.” It was one of those “Almost too good to be true” moments.
That day came for Jacob and his family. That day will also come for you. GREATER IS COMING! Keep believing!
How this applies to you:
— Trust that God will exceed your greatest expectations and wildest dreams.
— Keep your faith strong, knowing that God’s power is at work in your life.
— Be open to receiving blessings that seem too good to be true, as they are part of God’s plan.
— Remember that God’s timing is perfect, and your moment of breakthrough is on the way.
— Celebrate the moments when God’s blessings manifest in ways beyond your imagination.
— Stay patient and hopeful, believing that God’s promises will come to pass.
— Allow God’s miraculous power to energize and sustain you through every season.
3. Your work is to believe God.
In the New Testament, one day, the disciples asked Jesus this question, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” (John 6:28,29).
We are called believers for a reason. Our work is to believe.
Jacob had a hard time believing God’s blessing. He refused to believe until he saw, with his own eyes, all the stuff Joseph had sent for him from Egypt. Unfortunately, many Christians are like this today. They refuse to believe God until they SEE something. This is how Thomas was after Jesus’ resurrection. He refused to believe until he saw Jesus with his own eyes. When he did, he believed. Jesus said, “Thomas, you believe because you see. More blessed are those who believe without seeing.” Don’t be like Jacob and Thomas. Don’t require God to show you something before you believe. If you can see it, then you don’t need faith. Our job is to believe without seeing it!
How this applies to you:
— God does not think like you. His desire for your life will far exceed your imagination. However, if you are not OPEN to believe it, you may never receive God’s best.
— What’s seemingly impossible for you is easily doable for God.
— Open your heart to believe on God’s level!
— Believe in God’s promises without requiring physical proof.
— Trust that God’s plan for your life is greater than anything you can ask, think, or imagine.
— Rely on your faith to guide you, even when you can’t see the outcome.
— Embrace the role of a believer, knowing that your faith is the foundation of your relationship with God.
— Be confident that God’s blessings will manifest in His perfect timing.
— Keep your heart open to receive the incredible things God wants to do in your life.
— Celebrate your faith and the journey of believing in the unseen.
— You must believe that Our God, who you cannot see, will show up in your life in ways you and everyone else will see. If you believe this, you will never be hopeless!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I open my heart wide to receive Your extravagant, extraordinary, and overwhelming blessings.
I trust that You will exceed my greatest expectations and wildest dreams.
I believe Your favor will accomplish what my labor never could.
I stand firm in faith, believing without seeing, knowing Your plans for me are good.
I embrace the miraculous, knowing that nothing is impossible for You.
I expand my capacity to believe, taking every limit off of You, Lord.
I am ready to receive blessings that seem too good to be true, knowing they are part of Your plan.
I rely on Your timing, confident that You will manifest Your promises in due season.
I celebrate Your goodness and favor, expecting GREATER to come.
I boldly declare that GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
