24/08/23
JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word
Today’s Scripture
He said to His disciples, “Offenses will certainly come.”
Luke 17:1, HCSB
LET IT GO
We all go through disappointments, betrayals, and unfair situations. It’s easy to hold on to the hurts, think about what someone said, relive the offense. We don’t realize how much that’s souring our attitude, draining our energy, and limiting our creativity. If you’re going to fulfill your destiny, you have to get good at letting things go. Jesus said that offenses will certainly come, not just might come. How you deal with offenses will determine whether you move forward and see the new things God has in store or whether you get stuck in bitterness.
Many people are living out of a wounded place over how they were raised, or a friend who walked away, or a business partner who cheated them. Instead of letting the hurt go, they relive it over and over. Then they wonder why they don’t have good relationships. It’s because they haven’t healed. Until you get well, that wound will hinder you wherever you go. When you let it go and forgive, you can see beauty for the ashes, healing, and freedom.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father, thank You that I can guard my heart and let go of all the hurts and disappointments that have come my way. Thank You that You bring healing to my wounded places and beauty for ashes. I declare that I will not allow offenses to get inside and make me bitter. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
SECTION TWO
It is important for you to recognize that there is a significant difference between God’s unmerited favor and favoritism. God’s unmerited favor is based entirely on Jesus’ merit, and we received it through His finished work at the cross. We did nothing to deserve His favor. It is completely unmerited.
Favoritism, however, stinks of self-effort. Individuals who rely on favoritism for promotion have to resort to apple polishing, office politics, manipulative tactics, backstabbing, and all kinds of compromises just to get what they want. They use all their efforts to open doors for themselves, and in the process, they lose themselves.
God has a higher and better way for you. It hurts Him to see His precious children groveling like sycophants just to get ahead in life. If a door closes, so be it! Believe with full confidence that God has a better way for you. You do not have to depend on favoritism to keep opportunities open for yourself when you have God’s unmerited favor!
That was how Joseph operated. He depended on the Lord for his success, and not on favoritism, which would have required him to compromise his beliefs. When Potiphar’s wife, who was likely one of the most beautiful women in the land, kept trying to seduce Joseph to sleep with her, Joseph stood his ground on the firm foundation of unmerited favor.
He refused, saying, “There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he [Potiphar] kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
From his words, it is clear that Joseph knew the source of his success, favor, and blessings. He did not see giving in to Potiphar’s wife as a great wickedness and sin against Potiphar alone, but against God too. He knew that every blessing that he had experienced was a result of the Lord’s favor on him. He knew that it was not Potiphar who promoted him from the position of a lowly slave to become the overseer of Potiphar’s entire estate. It was the Lord!
Similarly in your life, know and rejoice that it is the Lord who is the source of your blessings and success! You don’t have to resort to trying to win the favor of significant people in your life. It is the Lord’s favor on you that sets you up for recognition, promotion, and increase.
https://www.josephprince.com/meditate-devo/desire-gods-unmerited-favor-not-favoritism
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