My Father’s Business
by Jill Southern
God usually requires years of preparation doing ordinary things and learning to be servant-hearted before He can powerfully use us. When Joseph had his dreams, Joseph was at home with his mum and dad, being brought up by Jacob as a good Hebrew boy. But he, like all of us, had to grow beyond the faith of his parents and get to know God and the ways of God for himself.
Are you still being carried along by your parents’ faith rather than hearing or encountering God for yourself? Many people live in a dream but not in their destiny. God has both a dream and a destiny for you. Are you dreaming about building the Kingdom for Jesus in some way and about making disciples, but you’re afraid to take the risk and step out to do the things God has prepared for you in advance?
Jesus was 30 years of age when He began His earthly ministry, but at the age of 12 he’d said to His parents, ‘Don’t you know that I must be about My Father’s business?’ All those years He knew that He was in preparation for His destiny to be the Saviour of the world.
God cares enough about us to invest in us and to watch over us in the years of preparation. God wants us to listen for His voice and to know His ways; to have the courage and faith to follow Him. Timing is so important - wait patiently for the Lord’s time, neither rushing ahead of Him nor lagging behind Him. What Joseph learned about God in those early years proved to be essential when God had raised him to his place of destiny.
Action Line: What does God want you to do with your life? What did God last ask you to do and have you done it?
Prayer: Lord, please speak to me about Your destiny and purpose for my life. Help me to learn the lessons and to prepare my heart for obedience. I don’t want to live in the dream but not in the destiny. Help me to know Your timing. In Jesus name. Amen.
Jill Southern is the founder of Ellel Ministries Pierrepont and directed the work for 21 years. She has recently stood down from that role but still teaches on the NETS programme and has the passion to train and equip God`s people to fully walk in their destiny and calling. She is the Regional Director for Ellel Ministries International in South East Asia and China and is also on the Executive Leadership of the ministry.
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