POWERFUL.PRAYER.PARTNERS.
  • Home
    • About Us
  • Testimonies
  • Manna Blog
  • Prayer Resources
    • Written Prayers >
      • Affirmations
      • For those possibly prone to violence
    • Sexual Harassment Repentance >
      • Specific Harassment Repentance
    • Catholic Prayer Resources >
      • Lectio Divina
      • Prayer Journaling
      • Prayer Practices
    • Christian Prayer Resources >
      • Prayer Journaling
      • Prayer Practices
  • News and Events
  • Cookies
Powerful.Prayer.Partners.

God With Us

1/27/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
  Often when I pray with people it seems that they think God has "put them through tough times" deliberately in order to develop their character, help them grow, or whatever.

  Let's take a look at this concept through the lens of Joseph's story.  If this concept is true, then God meant for Joseph to be sold into slavery in order to punish him for sin, or develop his character and turn him into a great leader, or even just to get him to Egypt from his homeland.

  First, if all God wanted was to get Joseph from Canaan to Egypt, God could have done that any number of ways without putting Joseph through turmoil and suffering.

  Second, Joseph's suffering helped to develop his character and abilities as a leader, but God is not the one who sold him into slavery, or falsely accused him, or put him in prison.  People did that, not God.

  Third, clearly God was with Joseph throughout this time.  Genesis 39:2-3 tell us that God was with Joseph in Potiphar's house and that Potiphar recognized this fact and that Joseph was a blessing to him.   In Genesis 39:21, it clearly says that God was with Joseph in prison where he rose to a leadership position and he had favor with the warden.  When Joseph went to work for Pharaoh, it became obvious that God had raised him to that position to save Egypt from the famine.  God was continually blessing Joseph, not punishing him. 

  Finally, Joseph himself recognized that what his brothers had done to him was not the work of God.  "You meant evil against me; but God has used it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive," Joseph tells his brothers after they are reconciled (Genesis 50:20).  The evil, the slavery, the imprisonment were not God's doing.  As with Joseph, God is with us in our trials, with us in our suffering.

  For reflection:  How has God been with me in my trials?  For what problems am I blaming God?

  Let us pray.  If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand?  But with you there is forgiveness


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Alice

    I started this website and blog on May 1, 2012.  I am a Catholic who has been in ministry for many years.  I first developed what I would call a close relationship with Jesus in the early 1970s.   Ever since then I have been praying with people for healing and other needs.  It is because I have seen so many of these prayers answered that I am so bold as to offer to pray for you individually through this website and phone line. 

    May all who see this site and read the blog find it inspirational and helpful and may it lead you closer to Jesus.

    If you would like to donate to keep the ministry going, please visit the home page where there is a PayPal button.

    Archives

    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    July 2018
    February 2018
    May 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    November 2015
    October 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All
    2 Corinthians
    Abraham
    Acts Of The Apostles
    Angel
    Authority
    Baptism
    Belief
    Boldness
    Colossians
    Communion
    Corinthians
    Corporal Works Of Mercy
    David And Abigail
    Depression
    Deuteronomy
    Discernment
    Doubt
    Dreams
    Elijah
    Encouragement
    Ephesians
    Exodus
    Ezekiel
    Faith
    Faithful
    Fathers
    Fear
    Fellowship
    Food
    Forgiveness
    Galatians
    Generosity
    Genesis
    Glory
    God
    Guilt
    Healing
    Heaven
    Hebrews
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Spirit
    Holy Week
    Hope
    Inspiration
    Isaiah
    James
    Jeremiah
    Jesus
    John
    Joseph Of Egypt
    Joseph Of Egypt
    Joy
    Justice
    Kingdom Of God
    Kingdom Of God
    Law
    Lent
    Leviticus
    Light
    Love
    Luke
    Manna
    Mark
    Mary
    Matthew
    Miracles
    Moses
    Multiplication
    Nehemiah
    Obedience
    Patience
    Peace
    Pentecost
    Persecution
    Persistence
    Peter
    Power
    Praise
    Prayer
    Preaching
    Presence
    Promises
    Prophecy
    Protection
    Psalms
    Reconciliation
    Repentance
    Resurrection
    Revelation
    Rom
    Romans
    Saul/Paul
    Saul/Paul
    Shame
    Sin
    Spiritual Works Of Mercy
    Standing With God
    Thanksgiving
    Thessalonians
    Timothy
    Titles Of Jesus
    Training
    Trust
    Trustworthy
    Unbelief
    Unity
    Violence
    Walls
    Wisdom
    Witnessing
    Women

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
    • About Us
  • Testimonies
  • Manna Blog
  • Prayer Resources
    • Written Prayers >
      • Affirmations
      • For those possibly prone to violence
    • Sexual Harassment Repentance >
      • Specific Harassment Repentance
    • Catholic Prayer Resources >
      • Lectio Divina
      • Prayer Journaling
      • Prayer Practices
    • Christian Prayer Resources >
      • Prayer Journaling
      • Prayer Practices
  • News and Events
  • Cookies