“The Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master.” – Genesis 39:2
How often do we find ourselves trapped in prisons not made of stone? Joseph’s story echoes through time, speaking to every heart that has felt bound by others’ expectations, limited by circumstances, or defined by roles we didn’t choose. Like many of us, Joseph’s journey from favored son to slave to prisoner to prince wasn’t a straight path to freedom – it was a winding road of discovering who he truly was in God’s eyes.
Consider Joseph in Potiphar’s house. Once the beloved son wearing a coat of many colors, he now wore the garments of a slave. From the pit his brothers threw him in to the foreign land where he served, Joseph could have lost himself in others’ definitions of who he was. A slave. A foreigner. A servant. Yet scripture tells us something remarkable: “The Lord was with Joseph.” (Genesis 39:2)
Even in bondage, Joseph’s spirit remained free enough to excel, to serve with excellence, to maintain his integrity. When tempted by Potiphar’s wife, he remained true to his God-given identity rather than succumbing to others’ expectations or desires. “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9)
But freedom of spirit doesn’t mean freedom from trials. Joseph found himself thrown into prison on false charges, adding physical chains to the emotional ones he already bore. Yet even there, scripture notes, “But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” (Genesis 39:20-21)
Like Joseph, we often find ourselves in situations where we feel bound by obligations, expectations, and the constant pressure to provide and perform. We might feel like we’re merely existing, going through motions, living up to others’ definitions of who we should be. The weight of being everything to everyone can feel as confining as prison walls.
Yet Joseph’s story teaches us a profound truth: our circumstances don’t define us – God does. Even in prison, Joseph remained attuned to God’s voice, interpreting dreams and serving others. He didn’t let his chains – physical or metaphorical – silence his gift or dampen his spirit. “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Genesis 40:8)
When Joseph finally stood before Pharaoh, it wasn’t his prison identity that spoke – it was his God-given spirit. “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” (Genesis 41:16) In this moment, Joseph demonstrated complete freedom from others’ definitions, standing confidently in who God made him to be.
The journey from pit to palace wasn’t just about physical elevation – it was about Joseph maintaining his true identity regardless of circumstances. When he finally revealed himself to his brothers, he spoke from a place of spiritual freedom: “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)
Like Joseph, we are called to find our definition not in our circumstances, obligations, or others’ expectations, but in God’s purpose for our lives. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
The freedom to sing, pray, and live authentically doesn’t come from the absence of responsibilities – Joseph had more responsibilities as Egypt’s governor than he ever had as a slave. True freedom comes from knowing whose we are, regardless of where we are. It’s about finding our identity in God’s definition of us, not in the roles others assign.
Prayer: Father, like Joseph, help me find my true identity in You, not in the expectations and definitions others place upon me. Give me the courage to let my spirit soar even when circumstances feel confining. Help me remember that You are with me, just as You were with Joseph, and that Your definition of me supersedes all earthly demands. Grant me the wisdom to fulfill my responsibilities while maintaining the freedom of spirit that comes from knowing I am Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Over the years, I have felt emphatically that I was to lead my family to be “in preparation”. When I first heard the call to prepare, I had an intellectual perception that I was going to flee to the mountains, and begin stockpiling food, water and other supplies.
Later, I began to realize that my call to prepare was NOT a call to hoard food, or to live in seclusion and fear. On the contrary, the preparation journey was to make a safe place for sharing – during a time of crisis when people would be prone to fear and panic.
The journey of preparation is certainly not easy. There has been great transition and purging that my family has endured. It would be foolish to assume that all we needed to do was to stockpile groceries and ammo, and then wait on some cataclysmic event to thrust us into our new lifestyle. Unfortunately, that’s what I see happening with many people who are looking at the chaotic times and are beginning to assume something difficult is on the horizon. So, they begin reacting to the most basic human instinct – survival – and fill their closets with food items to keep them alive until they can come out of hiding.
I won’t debate the need to store food items in a pantry. In fact, I strongly encourage everyone to get a 6 to 8 month supply of food and supplies. Not just to have groceries in the cupboard, but perhaps to help sustain you financially during lean months.
For me, it goes far beyond simply having food in the storehouse. The impression I get from some people I speak with is that – if things get really rough, they will simply sit around the house and eat their stock. That’s ridiculous!
Some families, right now, could not sit in the same room for more than an hour. Now, imagine if there was great turmoil, chaos, and fear all around. Do you suppose that family might be able to sit down calmly and sing hymns to pass the time? I doubt it. We’ve complicated our lives to the extent that any quiet, simple family time – is rare. Even Churches have become reckless entertainment hubs where there always has to be something going on to keep the flock active. What happened to “Be Still and Know…?”
Part of the preparation process is being able to find pleasure and joy in simple things. Cluttering our lives with constant motion or activity will make things exponentially more difficult to adjust to when there is global chaos.
Preparation is not just about hoarding food and water. Preparation is not about trying to outsmart fear, and simply plan ahead. God is our refuge and our strength – we can’t manufacture peace by simply working ahead of the looming chaos. We can, however, get ready for the coming events so we are better able to share hope, peace, and life in Christ – especially during times of great distress. There will be a great harvest in that day!
Prepare now by sharing quiet and peaceful times with family, or friends. Avoid the need to constantly be busy.
All over the world, things are tough right now for a lot of people. If you have listened to the news at all, you have likely experienced discouragement with all the terrible things you may have heard or read. In fact, literally as I was typing this post I received word that a business colleague had taken his own life. Obviously, there is a lot of suffering right now all over the globe.
On a personal level, things been extremely difficult for my family over the last several years. In recent months, I have spoken to many people who are also experiencing great pain. I have come to the realization that every friend and family member I know, are dealing with some type of health issue, financial issue, or some other very difficult struggle.
Many years ago, it was laid on my heart the need for preparation. I left a great income and moved my family to North Carolina based on this call to prepare. Unfortunately, I’ve spent the majority of my last four years struggling and wondering “why” things have been so miserable. (more…)
I have the wonderful blessing of meeting with some very special people, and sharing about the times we are currently living. I find it a great joy to listen as people open their hearts, and share what Yah is revealing to them about the days.
Throughout scripture we are introduced to people who were given an important assignment for an important time. Those people were anointed to fulfill that assignment – most often under extremely difficult conditions. They remained faithful to the call, and shared what Yah had appointed for them to accomplish.
Recently, I was delighted to fellowship with a man that I believe has an incredible anointed message for the time we find ourselves. Over the upcoming days, I would like to begin sharing some of that message here on this site. Please feel free to comment and share your thoughts.
With more to follow, below is an introduction to a message by Jeff Rowland.
The Shaking of the last days
Without a doubt we are living in the last days. We have heard those words so much that we have almost become callused to it. However, the things we are witnessing around the world points only to the soon return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even a casual student of the Word of God would have to acknowledge that fact.
Looking forward to His return can give us hope in this life, but understanding what God is doing in these last days can give us strength to live with confidence in the power of God, and in a constant state of renewal.
We want to take a look into what God is doing in these last days. I believe we are in the beginning of sorrows as Jesus taught in Matthew 24, and simultaneously we are living in the beginning of one of the greatest stirrings of God’s Spirit that has ever been on the earth. It is with this perspective that we look at the Word of God for His last day instruction and guidance as to how we continue on in this life.
What God is doing in these last days has effect on every aspect of life in terms of people, the earth and heaven. Understanding of this can lead you to great victories while lack of understanding can lead you to hopelessness, and despair. Many in these days seem to have no spiritual energy at all. Most are approaching these days with the attitude that they need nothing more than what they now have in God. The problem is that what God is doing in these days will effect even those who seem satisfied with the status quo in their lives.
It’s my prayer that these words will touch you in a way that will cause you to chase Jesus once again in your life, to run after Him with all your strength. I trust that God anoint what the Spirit is saying to those who read it?
As a whole grain, dark hard winter or spring wheats store very well. Dried wheat pastas and pre-ground wheat flours can also be purchased, but individuals purchasing these items from a supermarket should be aware their shelf life will not be near as long as that of properly stored and prepared whole wheat grains.
Obviously, whole wheat products are easily acquired both in supermarkets and through preparation specialty websites and whole grain stores. The biggest difference you will find is that items sold in most supermarkets have typically been processed and are stored in such a way that they have a much shorter shelf life. Also, purchasing wheat pasta means your storage will only allow for eating wheat pasta. Buying wheat whole grains means preppers with grain mills can make just about anything they would like out of the whole wheat grains they have stored. A plethora of breads, pancakes and even wheat gluten meat substitutes can be fashioned from simple buckets of whole grain wheat.
Many highly-intense preppers recommend storing enough supplies (including wheat) to last your family a year. Less hardcore individuals suggest two weeks is enough. In the event of a serious disaster where infrastructure is compromised and food is not easily acquired, a supply of food that is enough to last a few months is probably a good goal. Whole wheat grains, when properly stored, can last for well over a year. An excellent grain storage bucket we recommend can be found at www.grainbuckets.com
We all are aware that we live in very difficult times. There is no longer a question about the need to be prepared. Like many people, perhaps you have decided that long-term food storage is a necessary, and you are now working to get prepared in the case of a world or national crisis.
A great place to begin your food storage is with storing whole wheat and grains. Whole Wheat and Grains can be easily stored for long periods of time, and will offer a variety of food options during a time of crisis. You will need preparation food, so it makes good sense to start with grains.
It is hard to find a topic that has more questions than “preparedness”. It is not only a matter of “what can I do”, but it is also a matter of “when will it happen”. There are those who believe that we are in the end times and there are others who think that it is all bunk. So, what do you believe? Do you have any idea what is going on with the world around you? Have you ever thought about how your family might be affected by what is happening around you? Are you prepared for the things that could happen? What are you going to do if there is a natural disaster? Will you be able to handle it? How will you survive without food, water, electricity, etc.?
What do I need to do?
First, you need to know what you need to do. This is not as easy as it sounds. You need to know what you need and then you need to get it. If you are like most people, you probably don’t even know where to begin. Where do you start? Where do you buy your supplies? What type of supplies should you buy? Do you need to get a generator? What about fuel? Should you get a solar panel? How do you protect yourself from the elements? How much money should you spend on supplies? How much should you spend on food? How much should you spend for your home?
The first thing that you should do is talk to someone who knows about this stuff. Find out what you need to do. Don’t rely on the Internet for answers. There are a lot of people who want to sell you stuff that you don’t need. They may tell you that they have the answer for you. They may even be able to help you get the supplies that you need. But, you have to ask the right questions. Don’t just go off of what you hear. Ask them if they have heard of a specific product or company that they would recommend. Don’t just rely on their opinion. Take their advice and then make an informed decision.
Are we in the end times?
Some people believe that the end times are upon us now. Others think that it will take place at some point in the future. If you are one of the people who thinks that the end times are coming soon, then you need to make sure that you are prepared. You need to be able to take care of yourself and your family. You need to know how to survive in case something happens.
If you are one of the people that believes that the end times are coming, then you need to do your research. You need to find out what the signs are that we are in the end time. You need to find out when these events will occur. You need to know what to expect. Then, you need to plan accordingly.
Is this Bible Prophesy?
Many people believe that the Bible prophecies are being fulfilled right now. Some people believe that they are already in the middle of the fulfillment. Others believe that they are still in the beginning stages of the fulfillment. Whatever you believe, you need to understand what the Bible says about these things. You need to understand what the signs are. Then, you need to decide if the Bible prophecies are being realized or not.
The Bible speaks of many different things. It talks about wars, famines, earthquakes, floods, plagues, and many other things. These things are happening today. The question is, are they happening because of the end times? Is it possible that they are happening because of natural disasters? The Bible does say that there are signs that are being seen today. These signs include wars, earthquakes, and famines. These things are happening today, but are they happening because of the Bible prophesies?
Is it possible that these things are happening because of natural disasters and not because of the end times?
There are some who believe that the Bible prophecies have already been fulfilled. There are some who believe that the end times are already here. There are others who think that the end times are yet to come. What do you believe?
All over the world, things are tough right now for a lot of people. If you have listened to the news at all, you have likely experienced discouragement with all the terrible things you may have heard or read. In fact, literally as I was typing this post I received word that a business colleague had taken his own life. Obviously, there is a lot of suffering right now all over the globe.
The Prepared Heart
