About a month ago, my pastor approached me wondering if I would be interested in leading the Sunday church service on July 8th while he and his family were out of town. After I said yes, I then began seeking God's guidance as to what I should speak about. He led me to the story of Joseph found in Genesis 37-50.As I began digging deeper into the life of this amazing young man, God revealed some truths to me in regards to purpose and how He works out His plans for our lives. As you consider each point, see if you can relate to Joseph and what he encountered on his path to purpose.
1) Joseph was given a glimpse of what was to come in his life-he had a dream of greatness that he was not afraid to talk about. Has God given you a dream? Have you openly discussed your dream with a trusted friend? When you talk about your dreams, you not only embrace your dreams, but talking about them also brings ownership.
2) Joseph had dream killers within his life-namely, his brothers. Dream killers are those people who consistently question the dreams that you have and in turn, provide negative comments such as; it will never happen, how do you plan on making a living doing that, when will you grow-up, etc. Make sure to focus your efforts and time on those people who will build you up and encourage you as you seek to live out God's purpose in your life.
3) Life has its ups and downs. At the age of 17, Joseph had a vision of what was to come in his life, but then all of a sudden life took a drastic turn. Even in the midst of confusion, Joseph continued to keep his eyes focused on God and in turn, God allowed Joseph to prosper in everything he did. In life, it's not so much what you go through, but how you go through it.
4) When seeking out our purpose/dreams, we must always be willing to wait on God and his timetable. What we do while we wait may at times determine how long we wait.
5) In life, people will sometimes forget about us (just as the cupbearer forgot about Joseph), but you can rest assured that God will never forget you. God has a plan for your life and he has not forgotten the dream that he has placed within you. As Galatians 6:9 states, "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due time, we shall reap if we do not lose heart."
Are you ready to embark on a life of purpose where God not only uses you in some amazing ways, but also grows you in ways you never imagined? If so, I encourage you to read through the story of Joseph and in turn, seek out God's guidance in living out your dreams!
ENVISION what you can become
CREATE the life you have always wanted
GROW into the person God has created you to be
