Prayer Journal
Tuesday, January 20, 2004
"Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding." Proverbs 4:1
Joseph was out of sight and out of mind; at least that's what the young man thought. Approaching thirty years of age and the only God-fearing person in a nation of idol worshipers, what's a person to think?
God however, had a plan for Joseph and a purpose behind the plan. Joseph's responsibility was to do what God expected of him. Solomon stated that in simplistic terms for the ages: "Listen closely, gain knowledge and allow God to give understanding of how to use what's been learned." Now, that's a prayer for anyone, especially a student of God's word!
It's significant that all the kings men and wizards couldn't unravel what God showed Joseph. They all heard the same thing, were highly schooled and were revered as wise men, but in so far as what God would tell Joseph, they didn't have a clue. Do you know someone whose head is filled with knowledge but hasn't the common sense to get out of the rain?
Truth is truth regardless of who hears it, but knowing how to apply it is the only thing that matters. In the same way, hearing what God says is relatively simple, understanding it takes education and applying it takes intelligence. But, being able to separate physical fact from spiritual truth takes discernment and that is something that only God can give.
Jesus told the people gathered around him, "Blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. Mt 13:16-17
Have you ever thought that you were born into this generation and are blessed to experience things your grandfather and mother never imagined. But have you also considered that God expects you to use godly discernment to know how to apply God's word to this generation? Unless you've seen the presence of God in everything man "discovers," you're not paying attention. If you're not paying attention, then how can you expect to gain understanding?
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I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
* My country
* Civic leaders
* Schools
* Teachers
* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
* The grieving
* Widows
* Orphans
* My church
* My pastor
* Church leaders
* Other churches
* Persecuted church
* Missionaries
* Myself
