1 00:00:35,675 --> 00:00:40,675 Speaker 1: Welcome to Abides Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's 2 00:00:40,715 --> 00:00:43,915 Speaker 1: meditation is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio. 3 00:00:44,235 --> 00:00:46,475 Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find 4 00:00:46,555 --> 00:00:50,075 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 5 00:00:50,075 --> 00:00:53,915 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head 6 00:00:53,915 --> 00:00:57,795 Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com now, and remember you can 7 00:00:57,835 --> 00:01:01,555 Speaker 1: have full access to our meditations commercial free. Just text 8 00:01:01,635 --> 00:01:05,075 Speaker 1: abide to two two four three three for twenty five 9 00:01:05,115 --> 00:01:09,315 Speaker 1: percent off. Now receive his piece as we meditate and 10 00:01:09,435 --> 00:01:10,435 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. 11 00:01:12,835 --> 00:01:21,595 Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Ben. How do you 12 00:01:21,795 --> 00:01:28,115 Speaker 2: respond when faced with injustice? The story of Joseph is 13 00:01:28,155 --> 00:01:33,435 Speaker 2: a familiar one, favorite of his father, given a beautiful 14 00:01:33,475 --> 00:01:39,435 Speaker 2: coat of many colors, sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. 15 00:01:41,075 --> 00:01:44,915 Speaker 2: If anyone had reason to rage at the injustices served 16 00:01:44,995 --> 00:01:49,995 Speaker 2: him in his life, it was Joseph. Take a deep 17 00:01:50,035 --> 00:01:53,595 Speaker 2: breath as you think about something that you may have 18 00:01:53,715 --> 00:02:00,275 Speaker 2: experienced in the past, release the anger and let it 19 00:02:00,395 --> 00:02:09,395 Speaker 2: drain out of you as you focus on God's word. 20 00:02:09,675 --> 00:02:13,355 Speaker 2: So what was Joseph's response when he finally saw his 21 00:02:13,395 --> 00:02:19,595 Speaker 2: brothers again after so long? Genesis fifty Verse twenty tells 22 00:02:19,675 --> 00:02:24,315 Speaker 2: us he said, as for you, you meant evil against me, 23 00:02:25,355 --> 00:02:29,195 Speaker 2: but God meant it for good to bring it about 24 00:02:29,275 --> 00:02:33,955 Speaker 2: that many people should be kept alive as they are today. 25 00:02:34,955 --> 00:02:40,275 Speaker 2: Joseph had every reason to be angry, but he realized 26 00:02:40,555 --> 00:02:43,515 Speaker 2: that the wrong done to him had allowed him to 27 00:02:43,595 --> 00:02:48,715 Speaker 2: be where he was. How can that be your response 28 00:02:49,275 --> 00:02:57,515 Speaker 2: when you have been wronged. It's not easy to be 29 00:02:57,595 --> 00:03:03,315 Speaker 2: wrongly accused and harshly treated, and it shouldn't be easy 30 00:03:03,395 --> 00:03:08,635 Speaker 2: to watch it happen to others. Pray for a godly 31 00:03:08,715 --> 00:03:20,795 Speaker 2: response in these situations. Turn away from vengeance and instead 32 00:03:21,475 --> 00:03:25,155 Speaker 2: look to Christ to help you see the situation as 33 00:03:25,155 --> 00:03:31,595 Speaker 2: an opportunity for growth and transformation. Instead of blowing up 34 00:03:31,715 --> 00:03:35,675 Speaker 2: in anger, calmly ask him for the strength to be 35 00:03:35,755 --> 00:03:42,955 Speaker 2: your best in this challenging situation. Lord, I trust that 36 00:03:42,995 --> 00:03:47,675 Speaker 2: my future is in your loving care. No matter what happens, 37 00:03:48,395 --> 00:03:54,275 Speaker 2: You are always good. Give me an eternal perspective and 38 00:03:54,475 --> 00:03:59,155 Speaker 2: a godly response. Help me to see injustice for what 39 00:03:59,275 --> 00:04:03,035 Speaker 2: It is a tool of the enemy to keep me 40 00:04:03,075 --> 00:04:05,995 Speaker 2: from believing that you will do what you say you 41 00:04:06,075 --> 00:04:11,075 Speaker 2: can do. My battle is not against flesh and blood, 42 00:04:11,755 --> 00:04:17,315 Speaker 2: but against the principalities of this dark world. Only you 43 00:04:17,435 --> 00:04:21,835 Speaker 2: can fight it at its core. Lord, help me to 44 00:04:21,915 --> 00:04:29,835 Speaker 2: trust you. I ask this in your name. Amen, Close 45 00:04:29,875 --> 00:04:35,715 Speaker 2: your eyes and take another deep breath. Lift your hands 46 00:04:35,755 --> 00:04:40,115 Speaker 2: toward Heaven. If you're not comfortable doing that, then let 47 00:04:40,155 --> 00:04:43,915 Speaker 2: your heart be lifted up instead as you seek to 48 00:04:43,995 --> 00:05:03,595 Speaker 2: hear from God. How much do you trust God to 49 00:05:03,715 --> 00:05:08,235 Speaker 2: take care of that which concerns you? Confess to God 50 00:05:08,715 --> 00:05:12,475 Speaker 2: any anger or resentment you might be harboring due to 51 00:05:12,555 --> 00:05:18,275 Speaker 2: injustices you have felt or seen. Let Him cleanse your heart. 52 00:05:33,915 --> 00:05:37,435 Speaker 2: If the words that's not fair ever cross your lips 53 00:05:38,195 --> 00:05:41,395 Speaker 2: or even just your mind, let them lead you to 54 00:05:41,475 --> 00:05:45,595 Speaker 2: a place of prayer and faith that God has a 55 00:05:45,635 --> 00:05:50,955 Speaker 2: plan to redeem all things. It just might not happen 56 00:05:51,035 --> 00:06:01,995 Speaker 2: in your timing. Lord God, it's hard to endure injustice, 57 00:06:02,115 --> 00:06:05,595 Speaker 2: but you haven't called me to just sit idly by 58 00:06:06,115 --> 00:06:10,155 Speaker 2: when I see injustice being done. You want me to 59 00:06:10,315 --> 00:06:15,155 Speaker 2: work for the poor and the oppressed. And when an 60 00:06:15,155 --> 00:06:18,355 Speaker 2: injustice has been done to me, you want me to 61 00:06:18,395 --> 00:06:24,035 Speaker 2: respond by turning to you, not by seeking vengeance. Help 62 00:06:24,115 --> 00:06:28,635 Speaker 2: me to know how to do that. I don't want 63 00:06:28,635 --> 00:06:33,515 Speaker 2: to get even that's not your way, So show me 64 00:06:33,755 --> 00:06:39,275 Speaker 2: how to respond as Jesus would. It's in his name 65 00:06:39,555 --> 00:06:47,555 Speaker 2: that I pray. Amen. He has told you, oh man, 66 00:06:47,995 --> 00:06:51,875 Speaker 2: what is good and what does the Lord require of you? 67 00:06:52,875 --> 00:06:57,915 Speaker 2: But to do justice and to love kindness, and to 68 00:06:58,075 --> 00:07:05,915 Speaker 2: walk humbly with your God. Until next time, may you 69 00:07:06,275 --> 00:07:07,715 Speaker 2: abide in Christ.