Tag Archives: God intended it for good

God Intended It For Good

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - Faith - Genesis 50:20 - God Intended It For Good - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Faith – Genesis 50:20 – God Intended It For Good – Growing As Disciples

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 (NIV)

Preparation

Well, this life has been no cake walk. What do you mean by that? This life has not been easy. How so? I have suffered significant setbacks, great defeats and miserable trials. I’m not complaining. I’m not venting. I am merely observing. I see. What have you also observed? There have been times that I thought I was all alone in my setbacks, defeats and trails. There have been times I have wondered when and if you would help me. There have been times I have questioned when you would come to my aid and answer my cries for help. Why are you merely observing? Why aren’t you complaining? Why aren’t you venting? I see things quite differently now. How so? I have been quite mistaken. I have surely been wrong. You have never left me all alone. You have always been with me to help me. I could see no purpose or plan or reason for my setbacks, defeats and trials. I couldn’t fathom how you could ever use the bad things that were happening to me for any good purpose or plan. Yet, that is exactly what you have done. Let’s talk more about that. I’d like that.

How have I been able to use the setbacks, defeats and trials you have gone through in life? You have developed my character and strengthened my faith in every difficulty you have led me through. You have used every trying circumstances to mold and shape me into the person you have wanted me to become. You have been preparing me for the work you have given me to do. You have had purposes and a plan I could not see. Even now, I don’t see your purposes and plan perfectly. I could not then and cannot now know how you plan to fully use me. But, I can see enough to know that nothing I have gone through has gone to waste. I know that you have not been the author of any of my pain and suffering. You have not brought difficulties on me. This sin broken world brings these in abundance to us all. But, not only am I not complaining or venting I am just the opposite. How so? I am thankful beyond measure for how you have been, are now, and will be working in and through my life. So, I welcome you to continue your work. Help me to know you and your purposes and plan for my life. I am thankful that my life is in your hands. I am grateful for your incredible goodness to me. It is my desire to love you with all my heart and soul and strength. It is my hope to be fully used by you. I want to accomplish your purposes and fulfill your plans. I want to bear fruit for your kingdom and bring glory to your name. That is very good. Keep on working in and through my life. Yes, I will. You can be sure of that.

Lord, I have suffered significant setbacks, great defeats and miserable trials. Sometimes, I have wondered where you were. Sometimes, questioned when and if you would help me. Now, I can clearly see that you have been with me to help me all along. Amen

Key Question…  When have you wondered how the Lord would work good out of something bad that had happened to you?

Living It Out…  Look back over your life to see how God has been able to use something bad to accomplish something good in your life.

Seeing It Happen… Have faith that the Lord will be able to use what seems bad to you for His good purposes and plan for your life.

Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how the Lord has used what seemed bad to you for His good purposes.

Prayer To Bless Others… May you have faith to believe that the Lord will use what seems bad to you for His good purposes and plan.

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

Faith – Genesis 50-20 – God Intended It For Good – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com

Intended For Good

Posted on by
Reply
Discipleship Devotional Study Guide - God The Father - Genesis 50:19-21 - Intended It For Good - Growing As Disciples

Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – God The Father – Genesis 50:19-21 – Intended It For Good – Growing As Disciples

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Genesis 50:19-21 (NIV)

What Good Is This?

What good is this? What do you mean by asking what good is this? Well, I’m going through this trail. I did not want it. I did not bring it on myself. I did not cause it. I don’t think I deserved it. So, you’re saying that you don’t understand why you are going through this difficult trial. That’s it. That’s what I am saying. Let’s talk about that. I’d like that.

How often have you understood what good might come out of a difficult trial you were going through? Almost never, at least at the time, I have been going through a difficult trial. What has helped you to understand a difficult trial that you have gone through? Time, has helped me understand a difficult trial I have gone through. How so? I have had to look backwards in time to understand how you have used even difficult trials of mine to accomplish your purpose and fulfill your plans. Have you ever had a trial you thought that I would never be able to bring something good out of it? I have thought that, quite often, may be even, about most the trials I have gone through. That’s true.

I would like you to think differently about your trials. How so? I would like you to have faith that I will be able to bring good out of even the most difficult of your trails. I would like you to have faith to keep your heart and mind and life focused on me as you go through difficult trials. I would like you to trust that I will be with you to help you through even your most difficult of trials. I want you to hold on to me as I  hold on to you. Will you have faith? Will you have trust? Will you hold on to me as I hold on to you? Yes Lord, I will. That will be very good. 

There are a couple more things I want to clear up for you. What’s that? You live in a broken world. I experienced trials. You will experience trials. I experienced pain and suffering and loss. You will experience pain and suffering and loss. I will weep with you as weep. I will mourn with you as you mourn. But, I will be with you to comfort you. I will be with you to help you. I will be able to bring good even out of your darkest hours and most difficult trials. Do you believe what I am saying to you? Yes Lord, I believe. I know that you will be able to bring good out of even my most difficult trials. That’s very good. 

Heavenly Father, I have not usually understood your purposes and plans as I have gone through trials in life. Thank you for allowing me to see your hand at work as I have looked back. Continue your good work in me for your glory. Amen

For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:

God The Father – Genesis 50-19-21 – Intended It For Good – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide

Please consider sharing these devotionals with others through the social media you use.

Individual users may save the Discipleship Devotional Study Guide to their desktop for private use. All the blanks in the study guides are fields that allow typed responses. To use the fields on the study guide you may need to open the guide with a free version of adobe reader.

By Jon Ulrich © All rights reserved                   Copying not permitted                      www.GrowingAsDisciples.com