You probably know the account of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers and subsequently becoming very powerful in Egypt. I don’t imagine that Joseph had any idea about the good that would occur later in his life as a result of what his brothers did.

In Genesis 50:20 he reveals himself to his brothers and says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

How often do things happen to us that we think are terrible, but they result in something good later on. God has a plan for each of us which may include events that are not pleasant, but are necessary to accomplish something good.

Dear Lord, we cannot even begin to understand the reasons and complexity of Your plans. Help us trust that you have things under control in our lives and when we do, even what seems terrible You will use for good. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

It has become pretty clear in modern times that we have much more to learn about how our brain works, how the conscious and subconscious activities affect each other, and the power our brain has on the rest of our bodies and our state of being. Our thoughts can change our emotions, and it is clear that our thoughts can affect our physical condition making us ill and healthy. It is also clear that we have the ability to control what we think about.

These concepts remind me of Paul’s words in Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” One version writes it like this, “….. but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.”

I have heard it said, “Your personality is the combination of your thoughts, emotions and actions, and your personality creates your personal reality.”

Do we let circumstances decide how we will think, and thereby what person we are? or do we let God transform us into the people filled with, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” as Paul tells us the Holy Spirit gives us in Galatians 5:22-23?

Dear Lord, help us transform the way we think so we become the new people you would have us be; Living lives that bring glory to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

As Christians we believe and frankly we know that God hears our prayers and answers them.

Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Never stop praying.”

James tells us in James 5:16, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

I know many of you need prayers for help and healing. I pray specifically for those of you whom I personally know are facing struggles. I would also encourage you to let your Pastor’s and churches’ know your needs so that they may also pray for you.

Today, I am asking for you to pray with me for my friend Brad, who is in need of healing. Thank you for your earnest prayers.

Dear Lord, we know you hear our prayers, we know that you have complete control of all things. Give your physical and emotional healing to all those we pray for now. May their recovery bring glory to you.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Do you remember, as a child, having done something you knew was wrong, against your parent’s rules, and were caught. Then feeling so terrible and repentant that you came, possibly crying, to your parents expecting severe punishment. However, your parents seeing how sorry you were for your mistake, and how seriously you were punishing yourself emotionally, they let you go, un-punished.

If you are like me, you may have experienced this situation from both the child and parent’s perspective.

This situation is modeled for us by God.

In Joel 2:12-13, God tells Joel, the prophet, to tell the people, “That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me all your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, mourning. Let your remorse tear at your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered; he is full of kindness and anxious not to punish you.”

God loves us and wishes for us to correct our ways on our own, without the need for His punishment and discipline.

This is ultimately demonstrated by Jesus Christ coming to take the punishment for us. John 3:16-17 says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

Dear Lord, we can get a very small understanding of the love you have for us by witnessing the love we see between parents and children. Help us remember that you love us, and come to you in humble repentance, thankful for your grace and mercy. And Lord, if this is not type of love we received from our parents, let us be the new creation and show this type of gracious love to our children. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

There is an author named Gary Chapman who wrote a book entitled, “The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts.” He contends that people tend to feel loved in different ways. He says there are 5 “Love Languages” by which people communicate their love; and the receiver is partial to one or two of these languages. They are; Gifts, Words of Affirmation, Quality of Time, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch. His key point is that people feel your expression of love most when it is delivered in their “Love Language.”

How is this relevant? You may ask.

In Deuteronomy 11:22, Moses tells the people what God wants, saying, “Be careful to obey all these commands I am giving you. Show love to the Lord your God by walking in his ways and holding tightly to him.”

And in John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” And Jesus told us in Matthew 22:37-39 that the greatest commandments are “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. ”

Following the author, Gary Chapman’s, concepts, God’s love language is obedience. God recognizes that we love him when we do his will.

Dear Lord, we do love you. Help us show our love to you by doing your will. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.