Category: Daily Devotional

Scripture: Genesis 45:[7] But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

Observation: How many times do I give God credit for something people might praise me about. I may thank God in private away from the people, but do I say it to the people so God gets the glory? Not often enough. Here is Joseph, his brothers who sold him into slavery and what an opportunity for revenge. He doesn’t only not get revenge, but he takes none of the credit for being in the high position he is in. He gives God all the glory, which God deserves, and points others to God and not himself.

Application: I’m a greeter at church welcoming people as they come in the door, but my job is to welcome people into God’s presence. Anything that I do that is good is only done because God desires it so and others need to know that. I sit here now with a testimony on how God delivered me from depression and it needs to be used so God gets the credit for healing me and to tell others that it is His desire to do the same for them.

Prayer: My Lord nothing happens without your permission. May others see the good you do through your servant. May I never take credit for anything, but direct others to you. May the people I meet know that I belong to you and that I tell them about your never failing love.

Scripture: Genesis 44:16 “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “What can we say? How can we prove our innocence? God has uncovered your servants’ guilt. We are now my lord’s slaves–we ourselves and the one who was found to have the cup.”

Observation: I’ve done so many things wrong in my life and yet didn’t feel guilty. I would justify why I did things and it seemed logical to me, but I was only deceiving myself. When Jesus came into my life and filled me with the Holy Spirit He wouldn’t let me see things my way anymore, but he opened my eyes on how God sees what I did. My guilt was uncovered so I wouldn’t continue to sin, but be transformed into a new creation with a heart like Jesus.

Application: I still have a very long way to go to have a heart like my Lord, but I’m on the right track. I need to be sensitive to God’s calling and the feelings of others. I need to recognize sin even before I do it and if I don’t catch myself, then I need to ask for God’s forgiveness and direction for my life. The closer I walk with my Master the fewer things I will do wrong.

Prayer: My Lord please keep showing your servant how to live this life pleasing to you. If I do anything that would be against your will reveal it to me immediately that I may ask for your forgiveness and draw nearer to you. I love you and what to do what is right.

Scripture: Genesis 43:23 “It’s all right,” he said. “Don’t be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

Observation: Do we look at the things we have as treasures or something we feel we deserve. The air we breathe each day supplied by God do we even think about it. Our health, the fact that we aren’t’ starving and have shelter. Even the homeless receive treasures from God through His servants. There is so much around us that we take for granted and don’t count it as treasures, but what if we did. What if we saw the truth that God surrounds us with His treasures, wouldn’t we draw nearer to Him, because we would see Him everywhere.

Application: I need to stop taking each day for granted and start searching for the treasures my father surrounds me with each day. Search for God’s love and provision that is right in front of me, take nothing for granted but treasure God’s grace in my heart and through the abundance of God’s generosity give to others which was given to me.

Prayer: Dear Father thank you for the wealth in my life that you give to me. I know I can’t repay what you give, but help me have a grateful heart and show you the praise and obedience you deserve from me. Thank you for loving me so much and show me how to love others in glory and honor to you.

Scripture: Genesis 42[28] “My silver has been returned,” he said to his brothers. “Here it is in my sack.”
Their hearts sank and they turned to each other trembling and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”

Observation: It’s so easy to blame God for our own mistakes. Here the brothers have sold their own brother into slavery and lied to their father about it and instead of asking God what should they do or learn they blame Him for their misfortune. I know that happens to me, when something bad happens to me I blame God instead of praising Him. The apostle Paul had it right when he said in all things praise God and give Him glory.

Application: No matter what happens whether it is good or bad I need to be praising God and asking for his direction. If something bad happens to me I need to ask God what is He trying to tell me or what can I learn to draw nearer to Him. This whole life is a test on how much can we be trusted with in God’s kingdom and you can’t learn much if you are going to blame others for your mistakes.

Prayer: My Lord I thank you for all that happens whether good or bad. May my eyes be open to what it is you want me to learn and grow and mature me in my faith. May I trust in you with all of my heart and give myself wholly to you.

Scripture: Genesis 41:16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

Observation: That should be my first response in my heart when someone asks me to do something, that I can’t do it, but God can do it through me. I have a problem with pride and a day doesn’t go by without me thinking more of myself than I should. I’ll put myself above others and feel I deserve more than they do. I’ll look back on my work experience and feel how the work I do now is beneath me. Yet there is nothing I can do without God and I give Him so little of the credit.

Application: Not only do I need to realize God’s power in my life, I also need to express that to others like Joseph did. If I do anything noteworthy I should be glorifying God to others. He alone deserves the praise and glory and by doing so I may draw others to Him. This life was created for me to glorify God. I’m here for a purpose and that purpose is to serve.

Prayer: My Lord and Master it is your creation and I want to thank you for all you have given me. Help me use it to serve others in a way that pleases you. Use me as an instrument to introduce others to You. Thank you for all that I have and am, it’s only by your mercy I get up each morning.

Scripture: Genesis 40:8 “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”
Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

Observation: Joseph is one of my favorite men in the Bible. No matter what, he gave God the credit He deserves and recognized God owns it all. We get so involved in ourselves we actually think we can do things apart from God. We forget that God has given us the health, talents, wisdom and desire to do whatever it is we do. The word says apart from God we can’t do anything, so God owns it all and that includes us.

Application: I need to rid myself of the pride I have and humble myself before man and God. I, like Joseph, need to remind others that it all belongs to God. I’m here to serve and God has allowed me to borrow His things to do it. As soon as I get caught up in myself and start taking credit, I need to stop and give glory to God.

Prayer: Dear Father thank you for all you have entrusted me with and continue to remind me that I can’t do anything apart from you, but that I can do all things through Jesus. May I use all you have given me for your glory.

Scripture: Genesis 39: [21] the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.

Observation: Joseph honored God in all he said and did. God is with us also and He will reward us when we follow Him and do His will, and since he is with us He knows all we say, do and think. I know at times I would be embarrassed if I saw God with me during some of the times I don’t honor Him or when I say something that hurts others. God has blessed me so much more than I could ever deserve and no matter what is happening in my life I know He is there.

Application: I need to live each moment knowing God is with me. Think before I speak, would God be happy with what I am about to say or do? I know what God desires of me, unfortunately I seem to have my own agenda on how I want to live my life. God wants to bless me, but I need to be doing His will for Him to do it. I wouldn’t reward my child if he did something I told him not to do.

Prayer: My Lord I know you are with me and you watch over me each day. I need your help to remind me each moment so I don’t fall into doing something sinful. I am a sinner and I need you desperately to help me live a life that would please you. I love you and want to give you my best.