Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor
E.A. Adeboye
Memorise: And the LORD appeared
unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall
tell thee of: Genesis 26:2
READ: Genesis 39:1-6
God is not limited on when or how
to prosper His own. His blessing does not depend on the prevailing
circumstances of the times. He can prosper you when there is an economic boom
in your country or when there is a downturn. He can prosper you when people are
in your favour or are in opposition to you. Nobody can stop God from prospering
His beloved.
The story of Joseph teaches us
some fundamental truths about God and prosperity. The first is that your
location affects your resource allocation. If you want to be prospered, then
you must find out whether you are where God wants you to be. “Location” here
connotes your geographical location, spiritual placement, business or career
path. When Joseph went to Egypt, the Bible says he went “down”. In this case,
it was not his choice to go to Egypt. He was taken there against his will after
being sold as a slave by his brothers. God warned Isaac not to go down to Egypt
(Genesis 26:1-17). If he had defied that order, Isaac would have missed his
prosperity.
Today, many people have lost what
God reserved for them by going to the wrong location. If God has reserved your
breakthrough in Nigeria but out of frustration you go abroad for greener
pastures, you will surely miss it. Are you in your right location? If the
location is not right, the blessing will not come. Also, if you take a wrong
career or business path other than the one God has connected with your
blessing, you will lose the blessing. That does not mean that you will not get
anything from the path you have chosen; you will, but what is chaff compared to
wheat? What is the tip of an iceberg compare to the iceberg itself? This is why
you must seek to know the right location you should be to access the best God
has reserved for you. Be aware also that, if you are still located in sin, you
will miss God’s best for your life, therefore repent and give your life to
Christ today!
PRAYER POINT:
Father, in any way I am wrongly
positioned, relocate me to the place, Career or business that will give me my
harvest.
Bible in one year: Genesis 12-15
When you mentioned choosing the wrong career path will lead to you losing your blessing, that really caught my eye. I'm 18 and looking into 2 completely different careers and I feel "drawn" to both, but I'm not sure why.
ReplyDeleteOne is Anesthesiology, and I have no idea why this one ever came into my brain as a thought, but it did. Ever since it has, I have been able to see myself in that field helping people in times when they need it most. I feel like maybe I am drawn to this field because I myself have gone through surgeries with sleep apnea and I know how scary it is. To have a disease where you know by going under, you are risking your life is a mind rattling experience. I always wished I had someone who would understand my fear and comfort me through those times, but they never did. I could honestly see myself in that field, using it as a chance to minister to people in a time of need and be a comfort.
The other field is Ministry itself. This one didn't come to me as much as it did to people around me. My whole life people have told me they see me in that field in some way. I'm talking from the age of 7 or 8 all the way up to now at 18. People have told me they've seen great potential and a gift of amazing skill set in me, leadership, and a great loving heart. With this, the countless people telling me they see me in this field, even my own mother has felt told by God I will be in this field. It has become a serious option to me. I would love to be in the ministry from Pastor to Youth Pastor, from a assistant to a traveling evangelist. BUT I want to know 100% I am called to be in that field. To me, it is such a sacred honor to be in that field, I do not take it lightly and unless I have no doubt I am to be in that field I will not enter it. I want God to bless me in what ever I do, and as you said he blesses you in the right career. Which is why I wanted to know if you have any advice for seeking the right career path in God.
I talked to my own pastor and parents, their advice was similar. Take a step in faith in one of those careers, and God will bless me in which ever I choose because he knows I aim and seek to please him. But, I don't exactly agree. I don't think one can just enter ministry with out being called, and I also do not want to NOT enter ministry if I AM called. My situation is I need to get into college sometime in the next 2-3 months for either, so I got to hurry and find the correct path. I have prayed and been seeking for months and I still have no sure path.
I'm staying in faith and waiting for God, I just would love some help. I have been told twice in my life that God has laid a message on their hearts to share with me, both times this was the message. "I see you leading and teaching thousands and bringing them to the Lord." With that word spoken in my life I do NOT want to miss my calling in the ministry if that is where it is. It wouldn't just be letting myself down, but all of those people who I was supposed to lead to Christ. But again, I want to know I'm called to be there before I enter such a field....if I don't know for sure I am to be in the ministry come college, I see myself stepping into the medical field. Not because I feel more called there, but because I have to much respect for the ministry to enter it with out being called.
Maybe I am the only one in my own way, I don't know. I don't want to be, I just want to know what God wants me to do because I seek nothing more then to please him. I hope you have some advice.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI believe for every purpose there a divine timing, which God alone knows. Since you have not heard the voice of God concerning ministry, I think you should go ahead with your medical career until you are sure of what God is saying precisely. You also need to be sure if God wants you to do ministry alone or ministry + medical career.
Pastor Enoch Adejare was busy working in the university as a lecturer before God called him into full time ministry. Also Peter had something doing before Jesus Christ called him into ministry. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in a christian having a career before ministry or combining career with ministry.
Personally and from what I know, I think you can pursue your desired medical course for now and wait till God speaks to you as regards ministry.
Be sure of God's timing concerning your ministry. Do not allow the devil to rob you of other achievements in life.
Shallom!
Thank you for your words of Wisdom. I appreciate your guidance and direction and I will pursue the medical field. I will always being willing to step into Ministry at any time if I am called. I guess to me the idea of switching careers in life always seemed rather "intimidating" but if its by God's calling and not my own selfishness I have nothing but faith He will help me through the expenses and training.
ReplyDeleteDo you know of any scripture or prayers I could be reading/saying daily for wisdom? I'm nervous I may not have what it takes to get through medical school, but I know God gives wisdom to those who seek it. I am seeking, and I want to ask God for it properly. I feel like in my younger years, I used to be so much more driven and hungry for knowledge and wisdom. I have always been an A Student, I still am but right now, I feel rather drained and honestly that I'm not as smart as I used to be. I want a restoration in my life and for my drive and hunger for knowledge to be restored.
Thanks again so much for the direction in a confusing time.
All glory to God.
ReplyDeletePhilippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me". Believe you can excel in every good thing through the Help of God. Do not cast away your confidence. Be rest assured that the Almighty God who has brought you this far will surely see you through to the end. You are more than a conqueror.
I'm happy you recognise God as the source of wisdom.
You can read James 1:5, James 3:17, Psalm 111:10, Psalm 73:24 - 25 and Daniel 1 - 2. Read Joel 2:25 - 29 for restoration.
Also recognise the ministry of the Holy Spirit - John 16.
God bless you.