1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:03,460 Speaker 1: Hi friends, this is Kelly from Life Audio. Nicole is 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:05,540 Speaker 1: taking a break from how to study the Bible and 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,450 Speaker 1: we're so grateful for every study she shared with us here. 4 00:00:09,030 --> 00:00:11,399 Speaker 1: We're keeping the speed going through the holidays with some 5 00:00:11,450 --> 00:00:14,130 Speaker 1: of her best episodes, plus a few from shows we 6 00:00:14,170 --> 00:00:17,350 Speaker 1: think you'll love. Today we're revisiting one of Nicole's most 7 00:00:17,470 --> 00:00:19,989 Speaker 1: loved episodes. We hope you enjoy it as much as 8 00:00:20,050 --> 00:00:25,550 Speaker 1: we do. Thanks for listening. Life Audio. 9 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 2: Hey friends, welcome back to How to Study the Bible. 10 00:00:31,940 --> 00:00:34,019 Speaker 2: This is Nicole Yunus, your host, and I'm so glad 11 00:00:34,060 --> 00:00:36,540 Speaker 2: to be with you today. We are in a series 12 00:00:36,580 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 2: called Not What I Signed Up For, which is based 13 00:00:39,540 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 2: on the book and Bible study that I have just 14 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 2: written that is about the life of Joseph in the 15 00:00:44,260 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 2: book of Genesis. And we're going to be diving in 16 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:51,589 Speaker 2: today to the idea of integrity. What do we do 17 00:00:51,700 --> 00:00:53,730 Speaker 2: and how do we do the right thing even when 18 00:00:53,770 --> 00:00:56,130 Speaker 2: it hurts? So I'm so glad you're here with us today. 19 00:00:56,630 --> 00:01:15,059 Speaker 2: Let's jump into our scripture for the week. Okay, so 20 00:01:15,100 --> 00:01:18,399 Speaker 2: hopefully by this time in the series, you have read 21 00:01:18,620 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 2: over the story of Joseph in the Bible app or 22 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,420 Speaker 2: open up your Bible and take a look at the story. 23 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:31,560 Speaker 2: Incredible twists and turns, lots of plot within, lots of 24 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 2: characters in this story about Joseph in Genesis. And if 25 00:01:35,500 --> 00:01:37,470 Speaker 2: you haven't checked it out in a while, you might 26 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:39,210 Speaker 2: want to do that because we're going to talk a 27 00:01:39,250 --> 00:01:41,770 Speaker 2: little bit about some different pieces of the story. I'll 28 00:01:41,810 --> 00:01:44,540 Speaker 2: give you as much context as I can, but Super 29 00:01:44,620 --> 00:01:46,340 Speaker 2: easy to just listen to it on a Bible app 30 00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 2: if you like to listen to stories or if you're 31 00:01:49,380 --> 00:01:52,080 Speaker 2: kind of a podcast person, obviously, since you're here. So 32 00:01:52,580 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 2: let's jump in to what we're going to talk about today, 33 00:01:55,830 --> 00:01:58,790 Speaker 2: which is this moment in Joseph's life pretty early in 34 00:01:58,830 --> 00:02:01,650 Speaker 2: the story where he has an opportunity to make the 35 00:02:01,690 --> 00:02:05,270 Speaker 2: right choice and he's actually punished for making the right choice. 36 00:02:05,290 --> 00:02:08,770 Speaker 2: Like the right choices are not leading to immediate what 37 00:02:08,810 --> 00:02:12,950 Speaker 2: we would call blessing or immediate goodwill. And how do 38 00:02:12,990 --> 00:02:16,510 Speaker 2: we stand firm when we have to do the right 39 00:02:16,570 --> 00:02:19,430 Speaker 2: thing and it's not the easiest thing to do? So 40 00:02:19,889 --> 00:02:23,090 Speaker 2: this is a remarkable truth about Joseph's story is the 41 00:02:23,169 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 2: consistency with which he always does the right thing, even 42 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 2: when it costs him. And we have in the story 43 00:02:29,100 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 2: that we're going to talk about today, this dark season 44 00:02:31,380 --> 00:02:36,419 Speaker 2: in Joseph's life where he's been imprisoned for refusing to 45 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,530 Speaker 2: sleep with Potiphar's wife. So That's a whole part of 46 00:02:39,570 --> 00:02:41,430 Speaker 2: the story. It's like a Real Housewives part of the 47 00:02:41,450 --> 00:02:44,110 Speaker 2: story you can go read. But he goes to prison 48 00:02:44,290 --> 00:02:46,590 Speaker 2: and he has this choice to make when he's in prison. 49 00:02:47,230 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 2: And he has a choice if he's going to keep 50 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: showing up with integrity and humility or if he's going 51 00:02:52,139 --> 00:02:56,140 Speaker 2: to let the prison and the waiting and the opportunity 52 00:02:56,220 --> 00:02:59,500 Speaker 2: for bitterness or apathy to get the best of him. 53 00:03:00,180 --> 00:03:02,589 Speaker 2: And what we see with Joseph as our model for 54 00:03:02,650 --> 00:03:06,389 Speaker 2: seasons in our own life that feel confining and long 55 00:03:06,410 --> 00:03:11,490 Speaker 2: is is how he perseveres in doing the next right thing, 56 00:03:11,710 --> 00:03:15,410 Speaker 2: the next best thing in the story when he is 57 00:03:15,750 --> 00:03:17,989 Speaker 2: finding himself in a place that feels not like what 58 00:03:18,250 --> 00:03:20,630 Speaker 2: he signed up for, not at all like what he 59 00:03:20,650 --> 00:03:23,710 Speaker 2: was expecting. Anybody relate to that? When you're in a 60 00:03:23,750 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 2: season that isn't what you wanted, it isn't what you expected, 61 00:03:26,910 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: maybe you're not at the place that you thought you 62 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,359 Speaker 2: would be, what does it look like to do the 63 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 2: next right thing? So here's the secret. The secret is 64 00:03:35,820 --> 00:03:39,660 Speaker 2: not trying harder. It's not gripping more tightly to what 65 00:03:39,710 --> 00:03:43,250 Speaker 2: you wish was true. It's not shaming yourself into being better. 66 00:03:44,090 --> 00:03:48,670 Speaker 2: True love, true righteousness does not materialize by gripping for it. 67 00:03:49,090 --> 00:03:52,210 Speaker 2: This kind of love and righteousness comes from fixing our 68 00:03:52,270 --> 00:03:54,630 Speaker 2: eyes on Jesus. That's what gives us the ability to 69 00:03:54,730 --> 00:03:58,250 Speaker 2: stand up against the forces of the world that often 70 00:03:58,310 --> 00:04:02,170 Speaker 2: come against us. This love and righteousness comes from the 71 00:04:02,250 --> 00:04:04,890 Speaker 2: inside out. It comes from on the dwelling place where 72 00:04:04,930 --> 00:04:07,010 Speaker 2: Christ is in us with our hearts. And he is 73 00:04:07,070 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 2: doing the work of drawing us toward the things of 74 00:04:10,100 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 2: goodness and righteousness. So we're going to refresh ourselves in 75 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: a passage in Romans that we've reviewed before on this 76 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,780 Speaker 2: podcast that's going to help us understand what happens and 77 00:04:19,900 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 2: how it happens when we are transformed by Christ. So 78 00:04:23,540 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 2: I'm going to read to you this passage. It's from 79 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:30,750 Speaker 2: Romans 12. This is the New Living Translation. It says, 80 00:04:33,900 --> 00:04:37,380 Speaker 2: but let God transform you into a new person by 81 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 2: changing the way you think. Then you will learn to 82 00:04:40,460 --> 00:04:43,300 Speaker 2: know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing 83 00:04:43,380 --> 00:04:47,660 Speaker 2: and perfect. Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. 84 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,159 Speaker 2: Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 85 00:04:51,940 --> 00:04:55,469 Speaker 2: Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in 86 00:04:55,610 --> 00:04:59,169 Speaker 2: honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and 87 00:04:59,270 --> 00:05:04,450 Speaker 2: serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be 88 00:05:04,490 --> 00:05:08,490 Speaker 2: patient in trouble and keep on praying. When God's people 89 00:05:08,529 --> 00:05:10,710 Speaker 2: are in need, be ready to help them. Always be 90 00:05:10,890 --> 00:05:15,670 Speaker 2: eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don't 91 00:05:15,750 --> 00:05:19,770 Speaker 2: curse them. Pray that God will bless them. Be happy 92 00:05:19,810 --> 00:05:22,250 Speaker 2: with those who are happy and weep with those who weep. 93 00:05:23,029 --> 00:05:26,150 Speaker 2: Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud 94 00:05:26,210 --> 00:05:29,470 Speaker 2: to enjoy the company of ordinary people and don't think 95 00:05:29,529 --> 00:05:32,890 Speaker 2: you know it all. Never pay back evil with more evil. 96 00:05:33,670 --> 00:05:35,930 Speaker 2: Do things in such a way that everyone can see 97 00:05:35,990 --> 00:05:39,229 Speaker 2: you are honorable. Do all you can to live in 98 00:05:39,290 --> 00:05:43,460 Speaker 2: peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that 99 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,540 Speaker 2: to the righteous anger of God. For the scriptures say, 100 00:05:46,740 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 2: I will take revenge. I will pay them back, says 101 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:53,159 Speaker 2: the Lord. Instead, if your enemies are hungry, feed them. 102 00:05:53,860 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 2: If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In 103 00:05:56,700 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 2: doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on 104 00:05:59,460 --> 00:06:03,740 Speaker 2: their heads. Don't let evil conquer you. but conquer evil 105 00:06:04,220 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 2: by doing good. Okay, there's a lot there, but what 106 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,740 Speaker 2: strikes me even as we read this passage again is 107 00:06:10,820 --> 00:06:15,180 Speaker 2: how this truly models how Joseph showed up in the 108 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,260 Speaker 2: most difficult seasons in his life. Like, he made the 109 00:06:18,300 --> 00:06:20,370 Speaker 2: right choice even when it was hard, and when he 110 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:23,470 Speaker 2: was in this new hard season where he's gone from 111 00:06:23,930 --> 00:06:26,810 Speaker 2: being enslaved in Potiphar's house to now being enslaved in 112 00:06:26,830 --> 00:06:30,430 Speaker 2: the king's prison, he still shows up. He shows up 113 00:06:30,470 --> 00:06:32,900 Speaker 2: with humility. He shows up to bless others. It says 114 00:06:32,940 --> 00:06:35,860 Speaker 2: in scripture that the jailer noticed how helpful he was, 115 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,779 Speaker 2: and he immediately put him in charge of multiple things 116 00:06:38,820 --> 00:06:41,940 Speaker 2: within the jail, which is why in the story, Joseph 117 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:45,220 Speaker 2: is actually the one who is attending to the king's 118 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,260 Speaker 2: servants who get thrown in that jail. And so when 119 00:06:47,300 --> 00:06:50,610 Speaker 2: those king's servants wake up one morning, it says that 120 00:06:50,670 --> 00:06:54,870 Speaker 2: Joseph noticed that they looked sad, and he asked them 121 00:06:55,410 --> 00:06:58,140 Speaker 2: about why they look so sad. Now, I know that's 122 00:06:58,160 --> 00:06:59,900 Speaker 2: a very small detail, but I want you to think 123 00:06:59,940 --> 00:07:02,900 Speaker 2: for a minute about what it takes to be a 124 00:07:02,940 --> 00:07:05,839 Speaker 2: person who's always showing up for other people. Here Joseph 125 00:07:05,940 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: is in a terrible situation in his own life, every 126 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 2: reason to be dejected, every reason to be turned internally, 127 00:07:12,990 --> 00:07:15,690 Speaker 2: to be churning in his own mind. And yet he's 128 00:07:15,750 --> 00:07:19,410 Speaker 2: so present and so humble with the place that God 129 00:07:19,450 --> 00:07:22,230 Speaker 2: has put him that he can notice other people and 130 00:07:22,250 --> 00:07:25,610 Speaker 2: he notices their faces and he asks them, why are 131 00:07:25,650 --> 00:07:28,210 Speaker 2: you so downcast? And they say, well, we had these 132 00:07:28,270 --> 00:07:31,750 Speaker 2: bad dreams last night. And he says, don't interpretations belong 133 00:07:31,770 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 2: to God. Tell me your dreams. And he has the 134 00:07:33,580 --> 00:07:39,180 Speaker 2: opportunity to rightly interpret both the cupbearer and the baker's dreams. 135 00:07:39,780 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 2: And that will be a very important part of the story, 136 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:45,100 Speaker 2: although it doesn't matter right away. Like, even though he 137 00:07:45,220 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 2: asks these guys for help and he says, don't forget 138 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 2: about me. I shouldn't even be in prison. You know, 139 00:07:49,540 --> 00:07:52,300 Speaker 2: when you're restored, he says to the cupbearer who will 140 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,520 Speaker 2: be restored due to his like, that's what the dream 141 00:07:55,540 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 2: was going to say. Joseph said, hey, when you're restored, 142 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:00,880 Speaker 2: don't forget about me. I'm not supposed to be here. 143 00:08:00,940 --> 00:08:03,860 Speaker 2: I didn't do anything wrong. And the cupbearer forgets all 144 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,060 Speaker 2: about him and just leaves him in prison. So every 145 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,660 Speaker 2: time you think the story is about to turn with Joseph, 146 00:08:09,740 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 2: it doesn't turn. It does. It just goes on for 147 00:08:12,140 --> 00:08:13,790 Speaker 2: so long. And I don't know if you've ever felt 148 00:08:13,830 --> 00:08:17,310 Speaker 2: that way, where you were sure that the next opportunity, 149 00:08:17,350 --> 00:08:20,970 Speaker 2: the next relationship, the next circumstance was about to turn 150 00:08:21,050 --> 00:08:24,340 Speaker 2: in your favor, and it didn't. And you start to wonder, 151 00:08:24,420 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: has God forgotten about me? Is he here with me? 152 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:30,020 Speaker 2: And those are real questions of the heart. But in 153 00:08:30,040 --> 00:08:32,679 Speaker 2: the midst of the questions of the wrestling that often 154 00:08:32,720 --> 00:08:36,439 Speaker 2: we go through as we're getting this firmer foundation to 155 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 2: our faith or we're learning the rigorous journey of really 156 00:08:39,970 --> 00:08:42,550 Speaker 2: trusting God, in the mix of that, in the midst 157 00:08:42,590 --> 00:08:45,809 Speaker 2: of that happening, we can also show up a certain 158 00:08:45,850 --> 00:08:48,890 Speaker 2: way in our life. And this passage in Romans makes 159 00:08:48,929 --> 00:08:52,410 Speaker 2: it really clear, hey, how do you show up in life? 160 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,130 Speaker 2: Even when life isn't what you expect. And when we 161 00:08:56,170 --> 00:08:58,370 Speaker 2: think about what Joseph was able to do in that 162 00:08:58,450 --> 00:09:02,230 Speaker 2: passage with the cupbearer and the baker, it's humility. Humility 163 00:09:02,290 --> 00:09:04,850 Speaker 2: is the ability to be present in the situation that 164 00:09:04,870 --> 00:09:08,910 Speaker 2: you're in. Humility is the ability to not think no 165 00:09:08,929 --> 00:09:11,590 Speaker 2: matter how hard it is, not get inwardly focused and 166 00:09:11,630 --> 00:09:14,130 Speaker 2: think too highly of yourself or too low of yourself. 167 00:09:14,890 --> 00:09:17,990 Speaker 2: But just believing that God has placed you exactly where 168 00:09:18,030 --> 00:09:20,680 Speaker 2: you are. God knows exactly where you are. God has 169 00:09:20,730 --> 00:09:23,370 Speaker 2: not forgotten about you, that this is an intentional day. 170 00:09:23,429 --> 00:09:25,530 Speaker 2: This is a day that the Lord has made for you. 171 00:09:26,309 --> 00:09:28,730 Speaker 2: And God has given you an opportunity to show up, 172 00:09:28,910 --> 00:09:31,569 Speaker 2: as it says in Romans, all of these ways. Bless 173 00:09:31,610 --> 00:09:34,300 Speaker 2: those who persecute you. Be ready to help God's people. 174 00:09:34,380 --> 00:09:38,660 Speaker 2: Keep on praying. Have real affection for other people. We've 175 00:09:38,700 --> 00:09:42,180 Speaker 2: got all of these commands that were given us. And 176 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 2: I think for every single one of those, we're not 177 00:09:44,059 --> 00:09:46,900 Speaker 2: going to do them perfectly. But to keep showing up 178 00:09:46,990 --> 00:09:58,300 Speaker 2: with that kind of spirit, we need humility. So I 179 00:09:58,320 --> 00:10:00,979 Speaker 2: want to give you a practice that I like that 180 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,460 Speaker 2: is in the Not What I Signed Up for Bible 181 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,820 Speaker 2: Study that just gives you some prompts for a way 182 00:10:06,860 --> 00:10:11,079 Speaker 2: that you could pray even today to practice this humility, 183 00:10:11,179 --> 00:10:14,000 Speaker 2: to get in touch with who God is and who 184 00:10:14,090 --> 00:10:16,689 Speaker 2: you are and what God has put in front of 185 00:10:16,750 --> 00:10:18,250 Speaker 2: you for the day. So I'm going to give you 186 00:10:18,690 --> 00:10:21,990 Speaker 2: three prompts. Here we go. First prompt. This is where 187 00:10:22,010 --> 00:10:24,410 Speaker 2: you start your prayer. God, I praise you for blank. 188 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:34,790 Speaker 2: Second prompt, God, I confess I fall short in blank. God, 189 00:10:34,850 --> 00:10:38,589 Speaker 2: I ask you to help me with blank. So these 190 00:10:38,630 --> 00:10:40,869 Speaker 2: don't have to be long prayers. These don't have to 191 00:10:40,890 --> 00:10:43,720 Speaker 2: be drawn out prayers, but they should be specific prayers 192 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,980 Speaker 2: for the circumstances that you're in this day. In the 193 00:10:48,020 --> 00:10:51,090 Speaker 2: midst of that, we remember that we understand who God is, 194 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:53,680 Speaker 2: that we know who God is. So when we say, God, 195 00:10:53,760 --> 00:10:56,780 Speaker 2: I praise you for your promises. We want to know 196 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,559 Speaker 2: what some of those promises are. And I've listed a 197 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,840 Speaker 2: bunch of those promises for you within the Not What 198 00:11:02,860 --> 00:11:04,490 Speaker 2: I Signed Up For Bible Study. But let me just 199 00:11:04,620 --> 00:11:07,630 Speaker 2: read you a few of the promises. Just in case 200 00:11:07,650 --> 00:11:10,910 Speaker 2: you need encouragement today, I want you to just pluck 201 00:11:11,030 --> 00:11:14,230 Speaker 2: one of these promises of God for yourself and praise 202 00:11:14,270 --> 00:11:16,010 Speaker 2: God for it. Even right now, you could just be 203 00:11:16,370 --> 00:11:19,590 Speaker 2: praying along with me. Praise God for the thing that 204 00:11:19,610 --> 00:11:21,810 Speaker 2: you hear that you want to praise God for that 205 00:11:21,870 --> 00:11:26,730 Speaker 2: you've experienced. 1 Chronicles 16.34, give thanks to the Lord 206 00:11:26,809 --> 00:11:30,949 Speaker 2: for he is good. His love endures forever. God, we 207 00:11:31,010 --> 00:11:34,790 Speaker 2: thank you for your promise that your love endures forever. 208 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:40,480 Speaker 2: Isaiah 40.29, God gives strength to the weary and increases 209 00:11:40,540 --> 00:11:43,280 Speaker 2: the power of the weak. God, we thank you for 210 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:46,100 Speaker 2: your promise that you will strengthen the weary and the 211 00:11:46,140 --> 00:11:49,410 Speaker 2: weary among us and that you give us strength. the 212 00:11:49,490 --> 00:11:52,790 Speaker 2: strength that we need, that you increase our power even 213 00:11:52,830 --> 00:11:56,980 Speaker 2: when we are weak. Here's another one from Matthew 28, 20. 214 00:11:56,980 --> 00:11:59,500 Speaker 2: Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I 215 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,340 Speaker 2: have given you and be sure of this. I am 216 00:12:02,420 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 2: with you always, even to the end of the age. God, 217 00:12:06,380 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 2: we thank you that in Christ you are with us always, always, 218 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,020 Speaker 2: even to the end of this world, even to the 219 00:12:13,120 --> 00:12:14,809 Speaker 2: end of our lives, you are always with us. A 220 00:12:15,630 --> 00:12:20,220 Speaker 2: couple more promises. John 15, 5. This is Jesus saying, yes, 221 00:12:20,380 --> 00:12:22,420 Speaker 2: I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who 222 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,679 Speaker 2: remain in me and I in them will produce much fruit. 223 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:29,300 Speaker 2: For apart from me, you can do nothing. God, we 224 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,150 Speaker 2: thank you for the promise that when we remain in you, 225 00:12:32,670 --> 00:12:36,250 Speaker 2: you produce fruit in our lives. Isn't that such a good, 226 00:12:36,670 --> 00:12:41,330 Speaker 2: good promise? Finally, Philippians 4, 6 through 7. Don't be 227 00:12:41,429 --> 00:12:45,380 Speaker 2: anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, 228 00:12:45,460 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 2: with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace 229 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:53,839 Speaker 2: of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts 230 00:12:54,059 --> 00:12:57,140 Speaker 2: and your minds in Christ Jesus. Thank you, God, for 231 00:12:57,160 --> 00:13:01,380 Speaker 2: the promise that your peace always guards our hearts and 232 00:13:01,420 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 2: your peace guards our minds. And we don't even have 233 00:13:04,300 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 2: to understand how you do it, God, but you do 234 00:13:06,220 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 2: it anyway. That's what it looks like to start your 235 00:13:08,870 --> 00:13:12,030 Speaker 2: day with praising God for his own promises. You don't 236 00:13:12,070 --> 00:13:15,010 Speaker 2: have to come up with them yourself. You can. But 237 00:13:15,030 --> 00:13:17,730 Speaker 2: you can also go to God's word, go to the truth, 238 00:13:17,870 --> 00:13:21,829 Speaker 2: go to his inspired word and speak those promises over 239 00:13:21,870 --> 00:13:24,150 Speaker 2: your life. Because as you do that, they go into 240 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,670 Speaker 2: your mind and they start to change your heart. You're 241 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:30,660 Speaker 2: sort of putting everything in alignment where you're starting, you're 242 00:13:31,820 --> 00:13:34,420 Speaker 2: focusing your perspective on the truth of God. And as 243 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,780 Speaker 2: you focus that perspective, as you build that habit, your 244 00:13:37,900 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 2: thoughts and your feelings will fall in line behind that. 245 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,130 Speaker 2: It does take a practice. It does take time. And 246 00:13:45,170 --> 00:13:47,370 Speaker 2: it's an ongoing thing that we do all the time. 247 00:13:47,410 --> 00:13:50,109 Speaker 2: But this is the way, if you've ever felt derailed 248 00:13:50,670 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 2: by your feelings or derailed by your thoughts, this is 249 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,780 Speaker 2: the way that you get your thoughts and feelings back 250 00:13:56,020 --> 00:13:59,179 Speaker 2: on the rails. You focus on the promises of God, 251 00:13:59,220 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 2: you speak them, you pray them, and that brings your 252 00:14:02,179 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 2: soul and your mind and your heart into alignment. Then 253 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:08,439 Speaker 2: we say, God, I confess I fall short in and 254 00:14:08,960 --> 00:14:12,569 Speaker 2: name specific ways that you fall short. Like, We need 255 00:14:12,590 --> 00:14:14,650 Speaker 2: to be in touch with our brokenness. And I know 256 00:14:14,670 --> 00:14:16,579 Speaker 2: that sounds weird because it can be easy to get 257 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 2: into this weird shame spiral, like you're supposed to be perfect. 258 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 2: But no, in reality, you're coming to the one who 259 00:14:21,900 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 2: can heal you. You're coming to the one who can 260 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:25,940 Speaker 2: set you free. And in order to do that, you 261 00:14:25,980 --> 00:14:28,620 Speaker 2: have to let the light shine into your heart. You 262 00:14:28,660 --> 00:14:31,690 Speaker 2: have to confess your anxious thoughts. You have to confess 263 00:14:32,010 --> 00:14:34,250 Speaker 2: your lack of trust. You have to confess the ways 264 00:14:34,270 --> 00:14:38,010 Speaker 2: that you want to control things, behaviors and actions and thoughts. 265 00:14:38,410 --> 00:14:40,910 Speaker 2: that are out of alignment with God's kingdom, you want 266 00:14:40,950 --> 00:14:43,630 Speaker 2: to bring those before God. You don't need to beat 267 00:14:43,670 --> 00:14:45,510 Speaker 2: yourself over the head with them. You don't need to 268 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 2: beat yourself up. But you do want to make sure, like, 269 00:14:48,540 --> 00:14:52,340 Speaker 2: let me get in touch with where are my shortcomings? 270 00:14:52,420 --> 00:14:54,460 Speaker 2: And if you're not sure, you can read that Romans 271 00:14:54,460 --> 00:14:56,660 Speaker 2: 12 passage again, and you can ask yourself, am I 272 00:14:56,740 --> 00:15:00,160 Speaker 2: blessing my enemies? Am I hating what is wrong? Am 273 00:15:00,280 --> 00:15:03,590 Speaker 2: I loving other people with genuine affection? Am I taking 274 00:15:03,630 --> 00:15:06,750 Speaker 2: delight in honoring other people? Am I working hard? In 275 00:15:06,790 --> 00:15:08,710 Speaker 2: my life, any one of those places is just a 276 00:15:08,730 --> 00:15:11,430 Speaker 2: way to say, God, I confess I'm falling short. I'm 277 00:15:11,450 --> 00:15:13,910 Speaker 2: falling short because I'm discouraged or whatever the thing is. 278 00:15:13,990 --> 00:15:17,690 Speaker 2: Tell God about that. And then you ask for God's help. 279 00:15:18,230 --> 00:15:20,690 Speaker 2: God promises that he is not far from any one 280 00:15:20,710 --> 00:15:22,950 Speaker 2: of us. And we can ask him for what we 281 00:15:23,010 --> 00:15:26,750 Speaker 2: need in that day to get aligned with who he 282 00:15:26,930 --> 00:15:28,890 Speaker 2: is and what he's doing in our life. Just like 283 00:15:28,930 --> 00:15:31,730 Speaker 2: that Romans 12 passage, Lord, I just confess that I 284 00:15:31,770 --> 00:15:33,910 Speaker 2: don't have it in me. I feel weak today. Would 285 00:15:33,950 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 2: you give me your strength? And I love just the 286 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 2: really focused prayers on the day. Like, what do you 287 00:15:40,700 --> 00:15:44,120 Speaker 2: need for today? We're such an anxious people, so prone 288 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,920 Speaker 2: to thinking about the future. And we take all this 289 00:15:46,980 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 2: trouble from the future and try to put it into today. 290 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 2: And Jesus himself said, like, do not borrow trouble. Like, 291 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 2: tomorrow has enough trouble of its own. Like, focus on today. 292 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 2: And he promises to give us his daily bread. So 293 00:15:58,680 --> 00:16:02,180 Speaker 2: we can focus on today with that very specific petition. 294 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:06,450 Speaker 2: So friends, this is my way of sort of extrapolating 295 00:16:06,570 --> 00:16:10,990 Speaker 2: how did Joseph stay faithful in such a difficult long season? 296 00:16:11,030 --> 00:16:12,610 Speaker 2: And what does it look like for us to draw 297 00:16:12,670 --> 00:16:14,390 Speaker 2: on the power of Christ? Because we have the power 298 00:16:14,430 --> 00:16:16,590 Speaker 2: of the Holy Spirit. We have the power of the 299 00:16:16,630 --> 00:16:19,270 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit with us to help us in our time 300 00:16:19,310 --> 00:16:22,210 Speaker 2: of need. And oftentimes that help looks like a very 301 00:16:22,290 --> 00:16:25,150 Speaker 2: specific practice that we can do each and every day 302 00:16:25,510 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 2: that helps us get aligned with God so that we 303 00:16:29,010 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 2: can be present. for the goodness that he has for 304 00:16:32,430 --> 00:16:34,700 Speaker 2: us in that day and for the way that he 305 00:16:34,780 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 2: is bringing blessing to us and through us. No matter 306 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:41,560 Speaker 2: where you find yourself today, you can find yourself in 307 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 2: that place because God has put you there. No matter 308 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:47,270 Speaker 2: how difficult it is, no matter how dark the valley 309 00:16:47,310 --> 00:16:49,510 Speaker 2: of the shadow of death may feel that you are in, 310 00:16:49,590 --> 00:16:53,890 Speaker 2: God is with you and God will comfort you and 311 00:16:53,930 --> 00:16:57,070 Speaker 2: he is close to you and he will increase your strength. 312 00:16:57,810 --> 00:17:01,290 Speaker 2: Our faith is grown in difficult seasons. And in those 313 00:17:01,350 --> 00:17:03,970 Speaker 2: difficult seasons, we get a very narrow focus and we 314 00:17:04,010 --> 00:17:06,510 Speaker 2: focus on one day at a time. We ask God 315 00:17:06,530 --> 00:17:08,590 Speaker 2: to give us the strength to show up with humility 316 00:17:09,030 --> 00:17:11,070 Speaker 2: and love for the day that he has for us. 317 00:17:11,130 --> 00:17:13,630 Speaker 2: That's my plan for today. And I want to encourage 318 00:17:13,650 --> 00:17:15,490 Speaker 2: you to make that your plan as well. Talk to 319 00:17:15,510 --> 00:17:15,930 Speaker 2: you next week. 320 00:17:31,300 --> 00:17:33,650 Speaker 1: So that more listeners like you can find the show. 321 00:17:34,510 --> 00:17:38,880 Speaker 1: For more faith-filled, inspirational podcasts, visit us at lifeaudio.com.