A Praise Revival
But the Lord was with Joseph. . . and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.
Genesis 39:21, 23 (KJV)
And Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, saying, "You are a numerous people and have great power;. . .but the hill country shall be yours. For though it is a forest, you shall clear it, and to its farthest borders it shall be yours. . . Joshua 17:17, 18 (NASB)
I've just experienced a praise revival. No, I didn't attend a five-night church service and hear five sermons on praise. I'm talking about a renewing; a refreshing; a refinement; a re-directed focus. Perhaps it was a praise resurrection - yes, I think that phrase describes it well. Not that my praise was dead, it just needed to be pumped up a little. Have you ever experienced a period where you still had a praise, but it just need a little push?
Today's passages just put a little more muscle to my praise. Even in Joseph's literal prison experience, the text says God was with him. And if you read a little further into Genesis you will see that God was with him so much so, that he named his second son Ephraim because "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." (Gen 41:52).
I don't know what you're dealing with today, but I pray you'll let these meditations minister to your spirit. God will never make His Word into a lie. Just as God was with Joseph, He will be with you. God was with Joseph, and Joseph was with God. And just as God caused Joseph to prosper He will cause you to prosper as well. We can laid hold on what Joshua told the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim, in that we are a great people and have great power. Maybe all you see is trees - you know the hill country is yours because God gave it to you. Cut the trees down! Joshua told them in essence, "yes, it's a forest, but it's your land; cut the trees down!" Don't doubt your God-given purpose, and don't doubt the power of our God. He is with you, and if you stay with Him you will prosper and possess what God has for you. What have you been "waiting" to do? What have you been afraid to start? In whose hand have you laid your future? Think about it.
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This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.