“May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” - Psalm 20:4 (NIV).
The ancient Egyptian premier Joseph and King David have a particular common characteristics: two individuals who were blessed with success, in their work.
When Joseph was taken into the household of Potiphar, “The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered…When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant” (Gen 39:2-4).
Even when he was imprisoned later, on false accusations, “The Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there” (vv 21-22). Later in his life he is made second in command of Egypt by Pharaoh. “You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you” (Genesis 41:40).
For David, after he disposed away Goliath, “Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army” (1 Samuel 18:5). His success on the battle field would soon cause trouble for him when the troops started singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (vv 7).
In spite of Saul’s anger at the comparison and even trying to kill him, for David “in everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he led them in their campaigns” (vv 14-16). Eventually, the throne would pass on to David.
Success in life is one of the blessings the Lord has marked out for believers. These individuals were successful because the Lord was with them. The only one who does not wish to see success of us, is the enemy Satan, who comes to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10). May we pray that our lives are characterized with the anointing of success, because the Lord is with us!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that I bask in your success, in all that I do, because as was with your servants Joseph, David, Daniel and others, you are with me, and this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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26/04/2024 - 27/04/2024 All day“The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does” (Psalm 145:13)
When Laban promised Jacob his daughter marriage, Rachel, only after working the land for seven years, Jacob got to work. He knew this was a done deal. But after faithfully doing his part, Laban changed goal posts. Reminded, “Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work” (Gen 29:26-27).
Instead of giving in, Jacob “worked for Laban another seven years” ( vv 29). For his trials, the Lord blessed Jacob mightily that in another tasty exchange he rebuked Laban, “You know how I have worked for you and how your livestock has fared under my care. The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the Lord has blessed you wherever I have been” ( Gen 30:29-30).
Ultimately Jacob would have to live in hasty circumstances against Laban’s unwillingness to let go but by then he was mightily blessed ( Gen 31).
Just like Jacob, you too could have chanced upon a Laban. He has gone against the original terms of the deal. He has changed goal posts and won’t release the payment you are due. You are faced with a boss who keeps coming up with all crazy new directives, leaving you besides yourself.
But then there is a God of Jacob who knows all about your faithfulness. Persevere in faith. When the time comes God will release you from that bondage with far more than the enemy sought to steal from you, as that is what exactly happened to Jacob!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, you who sees all my labors and travails, I pray for your blessings through all situations, this I pray in Jesus’ name
