Ears to Hear

     As we are on the road to our destiny, we encounter several tests.  How much pride we have is the first to be tested, then comes our response to being thrown into a pit.  The pit is usually a low place that our pride brings us to.  We deal with the 'palace test', when we are elevated or things are coming up roses in our life.  Usually this pushes us into the 'purity test', that is how well we deal with keeping ourselves free from any defilement or contamination once we are in the 'palace'.  When we read the life of Joseph we can see every aspect of these tests that we all must pass on the way to our destiny.  Many of us get stuck in a loop or a cycle in one or the other of the tests, because we will not submit to the Lord's guidance.  After the purity test, when Joseph was thrown in the prison because he would not sleep with Potiphar's wife, he came into the 'prison test'.  After doing what was right, not committing adultery, Joseph was put into a test of enduring prison.  Have you ever felt like, you do right and suffer unjustly for it?  ^"For one is regarded favorably (is approved, acceptable, and thankworthy) if, as in the sight of God, he endures the pain of unjust suffering.  [After all] what kind of glory [is there in it] if, when you do wrong and are punished for it, you take it patiently?  But if you bear patiently with suffering [which results] when you do right and that is undeserved, it is acceptable and pleasing to God." (1 Peter 2:19-20)  For Joseph as well as all of us, this 'prison test' is also a test of perseverance.  But we must remember what is recorded when Joseph was in prison.  ^"And Joseph's master took him and put him in the prison, a place where the state prisoners were confined; so he was there in the prison.  But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy and loving-kindness and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison."  God is with us and showing us His mercy and loving kindness and giving us favor, even in the prison.  So when we choose to obey God's Word no matter what the consequences, even if the results look like the promises aren't true, God is still bringing His promise to you and your destiny to pass. 

     Joseph had a big destiny, but God was developing big character in him as well.  We have the luxury of knowing the outcome when we read it as a story or history, but Joseph had to go through it and trust God.  He had to walk by faith and not by sight.  No matter what situation or circumstances came into his life, he had to lean his whole personality on God.  One of the character traits that is necessary in order to receive the promises of God is that you must have perseverance and or be patient.  "Let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us." (Heb. 12:1)  "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Heb.6:12)   Patience is to be on slow boil; keeping our burner down during long test or trials or things that are of a long duration with joy (calm delight); waiting with contentment.  Hmm, there is the character trait that must be developed, going through any test of life with joy, calm delight and contentment.  Have you mastered that yet?  Perseverance denotes fighting the battle with calm delight; continuing in a course of action without regard to opposition, time, or previous failure.  That is most important too, having no regard to the time it will take or the type of opposition, and especially inspite of previous failures.  We will be working on that until the Lord comes, but at least we are working towards it, right?  We get back up after we fall and keep the course towards our destiny.  We do not allow the 'accuser of the brethren' any place in our heart.  So that even as you persevere the prison test, suffering unjustly, you will remember that God has already made us overcomers in this test too.  Let's get out of the loop and move forward.  "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence.  In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]!  For I have overcome the world.  [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]"