Understand your position

^{Genesis 50:20 NLT You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.}

^{The story of Joseph has been used in various illustrations to demonstrate how God can and will use unpleasant people and situations to get the glory.}

^{Far too often, we get discouraged when things don’t happen the way we think they should. However, it takes wisdom and maturity to seek God and to truly understand that many times, the situations we encounter are not for us, even though they may happen to us.}

^{When God uses uncomfortable and undesirable situations to demonstrate His power in our lives, I believe that we should try to look at the bigger picture instead of focusing on what is happening. We should focus on God and the lesson that He is teaching so that we can share it with those around us.}

^{I really like Joseph’s statement in our key verse today. Here he explains to his brothers that they were simply tools in God’s plan. Even Joseph’s brothers didn’t realize that they were being used by God throughout the entire ordeal. Joseph understood that the fulfillment of the dreams that he was given weren’t for his glory but for God’s glory. Ultimately, Joseph’s position helped save the lives of many people. While in Egypt , he helped to store food for the period of famine and ended up saving the lives of the same brothers who sold him!}

^{Where is God taking you and why? (Remember that where you are in your present and future positions are for God’s glory)}

Listen Closely: The enemy knows you have the victory

Judges 7:9-15 NLT That night the Lord said, “Get up! Go down into the Midianite camp, for I have given you victory over them! But if you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah. Listen to what the Midianites are saying, and you will be greatly encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.” So Gideon took Purah and went down to the edge of the enemy camp. The armies of Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts. Their camels were like grains of sand on the seashore—too many to count! Gideon crept up just as a man was telling his companion about a dream. The man said, “I had this dream, and in my dream a loaf of barley bread came tumbling down into the Midianite camp. It hit a tent, turned it over, and knocked it flat!” His companion answered, “Your dream can mean only one thing—God has given Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite, victory over Midian and all its allies!” When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed in worship before the Lord. Then he returned to the Israelite camp and shouted, “Get up! For the Lord has given you victory over the Midianite hordes!”

Fact: God has a plan for you!

Fact: God will give you instructions regarding this plan.

Fact: You have been given the victory and the enemy knows that you have been given the victory!

When I studied this passage a few nights ago, I did a little dance afterwards. Why? I think there is something very important about this story. You see, even though God had already told Gideon that He would give him victory, He also allowed Gideon to receive confirmation! The awesome part is that the confirmation came from the enemy’s camp! Wow! Life lesson: The enemy will fight you even though he knows that he will lose the battle! Therefore, you cannot become discouraged!

Although the voice of the enemy that we hear may not be as positive as Gideon’s confirmation, it is confirmation nonetheless! The voices of negativity, discouragement and defeat are not from God and are simply designed to get you off track. Don’t fall for it! Don’t lose focus!

All you have to do is be obedient to what you have been called to do! Fight! You already have the victory and the enemy knows it! It’s about time that you know it (and act like it) too!

Have you moved yet?

Judges 6:17 NLT Gideon replied, “If you are truly going to help me, show me a sign to prove that it is really the Lord speaking to me.

Judges 6:36-40 NLT Then Gideon said to God, “If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, prove it to me in this way. I will put a wool fleece on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised.” Then Gideon said to God, “Please don’t be angry with me, but let me make one more request. Let me use the fleece for one more test. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew.” So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.

 

So often God speaks to our hearts and we allow the opportunity to act on the directive(s) to pass us by because of fear and/or uncertainty. We often question, “Lord, is that you?” “Are you sure you want me to do that?” “Can I do it later? You know, after I’ve done _____?”

Even after the questioning, we ask God to “show” us if it’s really Him. We ask for signs like Gideon in today’s meditational readings. I guarantee that if you’ve asked for a sign then you have received it. Did you miss it or did you ignore it?

Take a moment to think about what it is you have been called to do in this season of your life and your conversations with God about it. What are you waiting for? Why haven’t you moved in the direction that you’ve been called? Today is a new day filled with God’s new mercies and grace. The Lord is with you (v. 12 and 16). It’s time to move!

Many blessings to you this day! I pray that you do not miss an opportunity to be all that you were created to be!