Gen 39:20-23 (NIV) Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; He showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. Jesus, show me that once again, Joseph had more than enough reason to be concerned over his health, feel depressed, feel hopeless, be filled with fear, doubt God’s faithfulness, get mad, be overwhelmed, and feel all kinds of other negative feelings; show me that he is NO DIFFERENT than me!

Jesus, teach me that those things that Satan is trying to destroy me with will fall off, WHEN I allow You to take me into training in Your principles, fill me with Your power, and wrap me in Your love. And, not only will I be set free from life difficulties, You will train me and empower me to win at life. Teach me that this issue wasn’t a choice for me, I am being ATTACKED with this challenge. I am being pushed into physical issues and emotional conditions that are very powerful and potentially controlling. But, also teach me that when I yield to You and all You have to offer, that is when I overcome this difficulty and start winning at life. Help me see that Joseph was just as susceptible to these kinds of problems as I am. Show me that he didn’t have any more power to resist it than I do. He was not a healthier, stronger, more determined, or better person than I am. Show me that he just did what I am doing; he turned his issues and emotions over to God; and, God did the rest.

Gen 40:1-3 (NIV) Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. Jesus, help me keep in mind that Joseph was just like me; he didn’t have a clue as to what his future was going to be. I know that it was GOD Who was heading him into becoming second in command to Pharoah. I know that it was GOD Who allowed him to be hated by his brothers and be thrown in a pit. I know that it was GOD Who had some Midianite traders come by so Joseph could be sold into slavery in Egypt. I know that it was GOD Who had Potiphar buy him because he was one of Pharaoh’s officials. I know that it was GOD Who allowed Joseph to be thrown into prison because it was the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. Since God is giving me a bird’s eye view of Joseph’s life, I thank You for using Joseph’s life to help me see how God is working for my good.

Gen 40:4-8 (NIV) The captain of the guard assigned them (Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker) to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time, each of the two men--the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison--had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why are your faces so sad today?” “We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

Jesus, teach me that this was new for Joseph, he had never interpreted a dream before; but, he had been in constant contact with God. Help me see that he looked to God for getting him out of the pit; he looked to God for controlling his life in slavery; he looked to God for handling his life as a manager in Potiphar’s house; he looked to God for keeping him from sinning with Potiphar’s wife; he looked to God for helping him while in prison; and he was looking to God to help him with these dreams.

Jesus, teach me that my relationship with God is progressive. Just like classes are progressive as I moved from one grade to another in school, so are God’s life-classes. Show me that He uses them to teach and train me things in life that get me ready for the next life-class. Show me that as I study and pray, I am being trained and empowered to move from one life-class to another until I get to my main assignment.

Gen 40:9-14 (NIV) So the chief cupbearer told Joseph his dream. He said to him, “In my dream I saw a vine in front of me, and on the vine were three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh’s cup and put the cup in his hand.” “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.

Jesus, when I get tired of going from life-class to life-class, help me NOT start looking for the end of training. Show me that if I am not careful, I will lose interest in what it is God is trying to teach me. As long as God is keeping me in life-classes, make it clear to me that there are still VERY IMPORTANT things He is trying to teach me. Help me not move into my main life-assignment and have missing skills, talents, abilities, and experiences. Show me that it is okay for me to hope; but, help me stay the course.

Gen 40:20-21 (NIV) Now the third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. Jesus, show me that these life-classes trained and empowered Joseph so that his interpretation of the dream came true. And, show me that just like Joseph, there are people who are counting on me allowing You to train, empower, and heal me of life problems. As I yield my life to You and Your training, show me that I not only get wonderful victories in my life, I become trained by You in principles that can set ANYONE free.

Gen 40:23 (NIV) The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. Jesus, when I start trying to decide what is going to help me win over my difficulties with life, when I think I know what is going to happen next, show me that I am setting myself up for disappointment. Help me just move along one day at a time with You; empower me to just keep my eyes on You. Help me not worry about what is going to happen next; show me that, that will hurt my heart. Help me trust You and allow You to decide when You are ready for me to get each breakthrough in my life.

Gen 41:1-9 (NIV) When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank. And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk. After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted--thin and scorched by the east wind. The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.”

Jesus, I have a deep desire to be set free from life problems; and, that is good. But, help me see that there is something even more important than my complete victory over it. Help me understand that my struggles are motivating me to learn, apply, and become very successful in using Biblical principles that will not only set me free, they will be able to set many other people free. Show me that it wasn’t the pit, Potiphar’s house, or the prison that was important for Joseph; it was the life-classes he was taking during them that was getting him ready to rule as second in command in Egypt.

Jesus, help me allow my issues with life to motivate me to keep studying and praying these things from the Bible. Show me the greatest thing that is going to happen to me isn’t just winning over my struggles; it is the person I will become as I do this. Teach me that the growth I gain will make all my past struggles seem like nothing. Help me see that my future is dependent on me allowing You to take me through as much time and training as I need.

Gen 41:14-16 (NIV) So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.”

Jesus, make it clear to me that all of Joseph’s struggles, difficulties, disappointments, and pain brought him to this point. Rather than turning inward and allowing all these things to make him mad, depress him, overwhelm him, damage him, and destroy him, he turned to God; help me do the same thing. Just like God poured faith, love, encouragement, training, and blessing into Joseph; let Him pour them into me. So, when Joseph FINALLY got to the place where God had been taking him all along, Joseph’s faith, trust, reliance, and dependency on God was strong. AND, he was a very trained, experienced, mature, talented, and skilled leader. Let all of that happen to me!

Gen 41:25-31 (NIV) Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine. It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land. The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.

Jesus, You took Joseph all the way from his home with his parents and brothers to this moment in time. You exposed him to all kinds of leadership training; but, You only gave him two little dreams way back in his youth that gave him any indication as to why he was going through all those challenges. It would seem like it would have been so helpful if God would have just allowed him to see this moment to encourage him; but, help me see that, that isn’t God’s purpose in our lives. Teach me that Joseph had to learn how to walk with God while trusting Him; and, they established a wonderful relationship together. Show me that God and Joseph were going to be working together to lead a nation through crisis; AND, God and Joseph were going to start building the nation of Israel at the same time.

Joseph said in Genesis 41:34-41 (NIV): “Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.”

The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?” Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”

Jesus, help me look at Joseph in this final point in his life; help me remember that little kid that was hated by his brothers because he told on them. Help me remember that little brat that bragged on the two dreams God gave him and made his brothers hate him more. Help me remember the pit, Joseph being sold to the Ishmaelites, him being a slave in Potiphar’s house, and the wife that lied about him. Help me remember the prison and the cupbearer that forgot for two years about the wonderful interpretation Joseph gave him.

Show me the incredible wisdom and maturity that God had trained into Joseph through all those life-classes. Help me understand that life challenges and all the other difficulties I am facing are tough; but, they are just life-classes getting me ready for an awesome future. Train me in Biblical principles that will get me ready for powerful, dynamic, and wonderful things in my future. I open my heart and life for You to help me through this time in my life. Empower me to learn how to win over every obstacle I face.