Don’t be Discouraged by your current circumstances.

Gospel Corner

17/04/25

JOEL OSTEEN MINISTRIES
Today’s Word

Today’s Scripture
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:5, KJV

Use Your Imagination
You may have gone through a disappointment, a loss, an unfair situation. Life hasn’t turned out the way you thought. Worst-case images will come up of you living unhealthy, discouraged, struggling, never getting ahead. But God says He will give you beauty for those ashes, He will pay you back double for what was unfair, He will take what was meant for harm and use it to your advantage. The pictures that are playing in your imagination of rejection, defeat, and loneliness are exalting themselves above what God says about you. You have to pull them down. They’re not reality. The enemy will keep showing you the ashes, but not the beauty that’s coming. He’ll show you the loss, but not the new beginning that’s coming.

Now do your part and use your imagination for the right purposes—to see what God says about you. Start seeing yourself as joyful, healthy, having great relationships, having abundance so you can be a blessing. Use your imagination to inspire you, to strengthen you, to encourage you. Switch over to seeing what God says.

A Prayer for Today
“Father, thank You for giving me the power to control the imaginations playing in my mind. Thank You that I can cast down the negative imaginations that come against me, and I can use positive imaginations to keep moving forward. I’m switching over to faith. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

SECTION TWO

When the unmerited favor of God is upon you wherever you are, like it was upon Joseph, (1) you cannot help but find favor, (2) everything that you do cannot help but prosper, and (3) you cannot help but experience increase and promotion beyond your wildest imagination!

Can you see that this was the consistent pattern in Joseph’s life? It didn’t matter if he was a slave or prisoner. The same applies to you. When the unmerited favor of God is upon you, you are like a rubber ball in a pool of water. Natural circumstances can try to push you down and keep you suppressed under water, but the unmerited favor of God will always cause you to POP right up to the top!

Don’t be discouraged by your current circumstances. I know things may sometimes appear bleak, dismal, and perhaps even devastating, but it ain’t over, my friend. I wrote this to tell you that it ain’t over! I don’t believe for one moment that among the millions of articles in publication right now, you are reading this particular one by chance or coincidence. This is a divine appointment and I believe that God is saying this to you: “Don’t give up. It ain’t over!”

There are many times where the lowest points in your life are actually launching pads to God’s greatest promotion in your life. It was so for Joseph! Let’s rewind the tape and observe the fingerprints of the Lord through the ups and downs of Joseph’s life.

If Joseph had not been betrayed by his brothers, he would not have been sold as a slave. If he had not been sold as a slave, he would not have been in Potiphar’s house. If he was not in Potiphar’s house, he would not have been thrown into an Egyptian prison meant specifically for the king’s prisoners.

If he was not in that specific prison, he would not have interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s officers. If he had not interpreted their dreams, he would not have been summoned to interpret Pharaoh’s dream two years later. If he had not interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, Pharaoh would not have promoted Joseph to become his prime minister over the entire Egyptian empire!

This is what Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you. . . . See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt” (Gen. 41:39–41). When we look back, it is clear that the Lord had turned Joseph’s darkest hour into his finest hour!

God’s presence with Joseph and His unmerited favor caused Joseph to be promoted from the pit to the palace, from the dunghill to Capitol Hill, from the outhouse to the White House. Stop looking at your circumstances and stop allowing them to discourage you. The same Lord who was with Joseph is with you right now. You cannot fail! You can expect to see success beyond your present circumstances!