03/08/23
JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
TODAY’S WORD
Today’s Scripture
Although she pursued him day after day, Joseph would not consent to sleep with her and refused to be alone with her.
Genesis 39:10
Strength to Withstand
After being thrown in a pit and then sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph could have been bitter and angry, but he kept doing the right thing. How could he keep a good attitude after all the negative things that happened to him? When his owner’s wife tried to seduce him, Joseph could have thought, “I have nothing to lose. It’s not going to hurt anything. What difference does it make? Just do it.” He could have let his guard down and compromised, but Joseph stayed faithful, loyal, and committed. Where did he get the strength to withstand the temptation? Where do you get the strength?
The Scripture says that God will not let you face anything that you can’t handle and that He will provide a way of escape. It is God giving you the grace and enabling power to say no and walk away from the temptation. Tap into more of that can-do power. Start declaring, “I can handle this. I can do all things through Christ. I am strong in the Lord.”
A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for the promise of a way of escape to any temptation I face. Help me guard my mind and heart, to dwell on Your thoughts, and to be strong to resist temptation and compromise. I declare that I can do all things through Christ. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
PART TWO 1
Let’s take a look at the life of Solomon. When Solomon became king, he was only a young man of about 18 years old and had big shoes to fill as David’s successor to the throne. Solomon was not filled with wisdom when he first ascended the throne, but he was clearly very earnest. He went to Mount Gibeon, where the tabernacle of Moses was, to offer a thousand burnt offerings to the Lord. At Mount Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” (2 Chronicles 1:7).
Now, think about this for a moment. What would you have asked for if you were in Solomon’s position? Solomon did not ask for riches. Neither did he ask to be honored by all men. Instead, he told the Lord, “…give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10).
Another account in the Book of 1 Kings tells us that Solomon told the Lord, “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” So when Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge, he was asking for an understanding heart.
Let’s go deeper. The word “understanding” here is the Hebrew word shama, which means “to hear intelligently.” In other words, Solomon had asked for a hearing heart—one that hears from and flows with the leading of the Spirit of God, who leads us into all truth (John 16:13). You need a hearing heart for God’s wisdom to flow through you in every aspect of your life!
The Bible records that Solomon’s request pleased the Lord (1 Kings 3:10). I believe that the same request that pleased the Lord then still pleases Him today. When we ask Jesus for wisdom, we put ourselves in a posture of trusting and depending on His unmerited favor.
Although Solomon only asked for wisdom, the Lord added “riches and wealth and honor” to him. Too many people are chasing riches, wealth, and honor, not realizing that they come through the wisdom of Jesus. Even if someone were to come into sudden wealth, without the wisdom of Jesus to manage it, the money would be squandered away. But with the wisdom of Jesus, you won’t only be blessed, you will also be able to hold on to the blessings in your life. Jesus makes you safe for good success that produces lasting and abiding fruit from generation to generation!
https://www.josephprince.com/meditate-devo/the-secret-to-solomons-wisdomp
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