Quiet Strength

“Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these signs of mine among them 2that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord.”

Pharaoh’s officials said to him, “How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the Lord their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is ruined?”

Pharaoh said, “The Lord be with you—if I let you go, along with your women and children! Clearly you are bent on evil.

Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind.”

“Just as you say,” Moses replied. “I will never appear before you again.”

“Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt.” 

Lord God my Father,

Keep my heart close to you and cause your stillness to rest well with me. Your plan is perfect, show me how to be quiet and obedient to your peaceful order for me. Allow your stillness and delight to rest on those I come into contact with today so I may represent you well. With your Peace filled strength alive in me, slaughter the darkness that wants to distract me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Transparent

He raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. 

But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; 

Moses replied, “It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the Lord our God. 

But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.

I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign will occur tomorrow.’ ”

But this time also Pharaoh hardened his heart and would not let the people go.

Pharaoh investigated and found that not even one of the animals of the Israelites had died. Yet his heart was unyielding and he would not let the people go.

But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 

 “This time I have sinned,” he said to them. “The Lord is in the right, and I and my people are in the wrong. 

When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had stopped, he sinned again: He and his officials hardened their hearts.

Lord God my Father,

Soften my heart so I don’t need signs to follow you, place in me an obedience that knows you and follows without question. Show me what to do to bring your purpose to my life and witness it go others so your kingdom will grow.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Courageous Peace

Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?”

Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”

But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

And when they heard that the Lord was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.

Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies.”

Pharaoh said, “Lazy, that’s what you are—lazy! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.’ 18Now get to work. You will not be given any straw, yet you must produce your full quota of bricks.”

Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Is this why you sent me?

Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to remove doubt from my thoughts and trust in your plan without question. Help me to be quiet so I may hear your words and give me the courage to speak them without fear. Help me to not see the hardship but see the blessing trusting you brings.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

His Mighty Love

So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.

God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. 25So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. 

Lord God my Father

Your plan is so much greater than I can imagine, help me to endure what I see as a struggle to trust in your deliverance, which is greater than any survival I can imagine. I know your promise is good, help me trust in your timing but keep me from not moving forward daily. Thank you for your mighty love for me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Love His way

“What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”

 When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Lord God my Father,

Keep me from expecting reaction from others, allow your desire to be clear to me. Create in me your Love as you desire it so fear has no place to rest in me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Blessed

And if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock.”

Lord God my Father,

Reveal any special ability I may have and cause me to not waste it. Use your gifts to me for your glory.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Uncorked.

Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. 14And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.”

“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”

They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them. 

Lord God my Father,

Keep me in your protection and show me how to be still so I may follow only your desire. Help me to follow your plan, even when I don’t understand. Help me to see your big picture and not limit your plan for me, keep me from questioning you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Free now!

 “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”

 “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to get past my past so I may live in all the present delight you place before me. Make me fruitful in all I do and remove my lazy desires to I may honor you in all things. Help me to move forward without the past weighing me down.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Favor

But while Joseph was there in the prison, 21the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. 22So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. 

The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

Lord God my Father,

You are always with me, help me to live in your will so I may have your favor in all I do. Help me to keep favor first in my thoughts.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

The quiet desires

So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. 

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

“What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to gather the false gods I tend to worship before you and not allow distraction in your desires designed for me. Keep me from jealousy and greed but keep me pondering your will.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen