Genesis 40:14-15
“And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.”
Look back at these verses and count how many times you see the pronouns ‘me’, ‘I’, and ‘my.’ As he works to get out of his situation, Joseph has turned to self-preservation and self-promotion. It’s revealing of where Joseph is putting his trust. At the moment, it’s not in God, it’s in himself. Self-promotion is just another form of pride and God wants something so much better for Joseph.
Respond in Prayer
As you think through the past month and a half, what are some ways you’ve noticed yourself self-promoting or turning to self-preservation to get you through difficult days or changing circumstances? Have you slipped back into this mindset even unintentionally? Ask God for His help to not give into the temptation of doing things in your own strength. Open your hands to Him as a physical symbol of relying on and remaining in Him through every trial, loss, and disappointment.
For Families with Kids at Home
Today as you parent your kids—through making meals, navigating hard conversations, disciplining when bad decisions are made, and asking for forgiveness when tempers flare, remember this: you are not doing this alone. You are not alone. The Holy Spirit is a guide, and will help you in every step.