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 39:19,20 ERV)
19 Joseph’s master listened to what his wife said, and he became very angry.
20 So Potiphar put Joseph into the prison where the king’s enemies were held, and that is where Joseph remained.
Proverbs 13:12 from three translations
(NIV)
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
(ERV)
Hope that is delayed makes you sad, but a wish that comes true fills you with joy.
(TPT)
When hope’s dream seems to drag on and on, the delay can be depressing. But when at last your dream comes true, life’s sweetness will satisfy your soul.
So, what does this mean for you today? A few things.
1. What it means to be a mature Christian.
In our passage (James 1:2-4), the Apostle James does a great job of painting the picture of what maturity in Christ looks like.
— A mature believer lives by faith. This is a person who opens their heart to God’s plans for his/her life. This person is able to dream God-sized dreams and believe they will come to pass before they die. This person is then willing to exercise his/her faith by saying or doing whatever is required of them to bring to pass what God revealed. This person also knows that their faith will be tested, which leads me to the next point.
— A mature believer knows he/she must develop patient endurance. This person understands that to truly believe God and to live by faith in earnest, your faith must be tested. As your faith is tested over and over again, and you pass the tests by living with a bulldog determination to see what God said, never allowing yourself to be moved or dissuaded in any way, it is then and only then that patient endurance is developed in your life. When you get to this point (the point where faith and patience are in operation), you are mature. The King James Version called this state “perfect“. The Easy to Read Version says there will be “nothing missing and nothing lacking” in your life because you have grown up. You know how to believe God and to keep on believing, no matter how long it takes and no matter how much opposition you face. This is why faith and patience are so important.
Takeaways:
— Faith is Active: Mature believers actively engage their faith by making moves that align with God’s revelations, even when the full picture isn’t clear and even when present circumstances do not align with what God revealed.
— Godly Endurance is Developed Through Trials: Maturity involves developing endurance through repeated faith tests, helping you stand firm despite prolonged challenges.
— Enduring Faith” When challenges are “prolonged,” that’s when you must add patience to your faith. Faith and patience is what we all need (Heb 6:12), because when the dream is taking a long time, satan will do all he can to get you depressed or attempt to get you to give up. Proverbs 13:12 says, “When hope’s dream seems to drag on and on, the delay can be depressing. But when at last your dream comes true, life’s sweetness will satisfy your soul.” (TPT).
— Comprehensive Maturity: Achieving spiritual maturity means reaching a state where your faith allows you to handle any situation without lacking anything.
— Overcoming Negative Stress: A mature Christian lives by faith and as developed patience, enabling them to wait on God’s timing without anxiety. This sounds good, but it is easier said than done!
2. It takes maturity to make the most of your present-day circumstances when you know you are called to GREATER.
God calls us to do great things. His purpose for our lives is tied to a lifelong journey. Many of us don’t have the patience or the maturity to look at the BIG PICTURE. Life is lived out in levels and stages, and times and seasons. The fact that you are CALLED to do something may not mean that you are supposed to be doing it RIGHT NOW. This is why, while you are pursuing your purpose, you must learn to be content. This is not always easy.
The definition of the word “content” in Noah’s Webster’s Dictionary from 1828 is: “Rest or quietness of the mind in the present condition; satisfaction which holds the mind in peace, restraining complaint, opposition, or further desire, and often implying a moderate degree of happiness.” As children of God, we must learn to be content.
While Joseph was living in Potiphar’s house, he knew his state was not his fate. He knew he was called for greater. But he did not allow his awareness of FUTURE GREATNESS to rob him of his present-day joy, focus, or a dedication to excellence. It’s a good thing to know that you are CALLED to be and to do more than where you are right now. But if you don’t learn to be content as you walk with God, your life will be stripped of the joy of your today while you wait on your tomorrow. Bottom line: God wants you to make it to His overall expected end for your life, but he also wants you to ENJOY THE RIDE along the way!
So when you look in the mirror, and you know in your heart that you are called to GREATER, maintain your Godly expectation for tomorrow. But do so while you also maintain the level of focus required to make the most of today. If you don’t make the most of your today, you run the risk of losing out on your tomorrow.
Takeaways:
— Inner Greatness Can Be Depressing: Solomon said, “When hope’s dream seems to drag on and on, the delay can be depressing” (Prov 13:12). When you know you have greatness IN you, but the external conditions you deal with every day don’t match your internal expectations, if you are not careful, it can rob you of your joy!
— Contentment in All Phases: Learning to be content at every stage of your life is crucial, even when you know greater things are promised ahead.
— Big Picture Perspective: Always maintain a big-picture perspective that appreciates current blessings while looking forward to future promises.
— Active Engagement: Engage actively and excellently in your current responsibilities, as this sets the foundation for future opportunities.
— Joy in the Journey: Find joy in the journey, not just the destination, ensuring you live fully and gratefully in the present.
— Embrace Each Season: Understand that every season has its purpose and use it to prepare for the next, just as Joseph used his time at Potiphar’s house to learn and grow.
3. It takes maturity to embrace the reality of present-day pain and disappointment without losing HOPE for the FUTURE God revealed to you!
Yesterday, I introduced you to the concept of spiritual amnesia. When you have amnesia, you cannot remember the past. As the amnesia wears off, your recollection of the past starts to come back. Spiritual amnesia is different. I am not talking about remembering the past. I am talking about remembering what God said to you about your future.
You were born with a predestined purpose, but you were born ignorant of your divine assignment. Once you are Born again, the Holy Spirit begins to reveal to you the things that were prepared FOR you but concealed FROM you! It’s like God gives you glimpses of your future. This is what He did with Joseph when He gave him the dream.
God shows you glimpses of the future He planned for you, and the goal is for you to spend the rest of your life becoming what He revealed. But when things happen in life that do not line up with what God revealed, it is easy to get spiritual amnesia.
* Natural amnesia is about forgetting your past. Spiritual amnesia is about forgetting your future (the future God planned).
Sometimes, a painful situation can cause us to forget what God said. When Potiphar’s wife lied on Joseph, falsely accusing him of sexual assault and causing him to wind up in prison, no one would have blamed Joseph if he stopped believing. No one would have blamed Joseph if he had given up on the dream. No one would have blamed Joseph if he had developed spiritual amnesia because of the pain.
But we will learn in this series that he did not. Remarkably, through it all, Joseph kept believing. He had faith and patience. This is a true sign of Christian maturity. May we all strive to get there!
Takeaways:
— Hold onto God’s Promises: No matter the circumstances, keep a firm grip on the promises God has shown you about your future.
— Document Divine Faithfulness: Keep a record of every instance where God has come through for you; this will help you hold on during tough times.
— Resilience in Trials: Build resilience by understanding that today’s pain is preparing you for tomorrow’s promise, much like Joseph’s imprisonment was preparation for his rise to power.
— Spiritual Memory: Actively combat spiritual amnesia by continually reminding yourself of the vision God has placed in your heart.
— Balanced Outlook: Maintain a balanced outlook that navigates through current challenges while keeping future promises in view, ensuring that neither overwhelms the other.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I declare my unwavering trust in Your perfect timing and divine plan.
I am focused on Your path, undistracted by the world, and fully committed to Your purpose.
I hold Your promises close to my heart, confident they will manifest at the appointed time.
I choose joy and contentment in my current circumstances, knowing they are part of Your greater plan.
I reject spiritual amnesia; I will never forget the future You have revealed to me.
I embrace every challenge as preparation for greater blessings and responsibilities ahead.
I am thankful for today and actively preparing for the greatness of tomorrow.
I am steadfast in faith and patience, resilient against all trials, as I grow in spiritual maturity.
I anticipate the fulfillment of my destiny, knowing that GREATER IS COMING FOR ME, as I picked for my purpose!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
