FRIDAY - 16TH FEBRUARY, 2024
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
I USED-TO-BE PERSONS
Genesis 41:29-30, KJV
"29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land."
Guard against, "I used-to-be." God has spoken good of you when He says, "but the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18, KJV). The Bible also says, "the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts... (Haggai 2:9, KJV). It simply means what you were known for yesterday; you should be known for the same today while continuing to be known for the same tomorrow. However, in a better and improved condition. What your life should resemble is that of continuous growth, improvement and progress; not diminishment. If the glory of your future years would surpass those of your yester years, then you ought not to resign from the good and the fire with which you have started and taken off afore time. You should continue until your tomorrow is clearly noticed, noted and appraised to have been better off than your yesterday when you took off. However, I used-to-be people don't always have this testimony. You'll only hear, "I was once fervent in God; was once a writer; a great athlete or a business tycoon etc." Life has happened to them. They've been cut off and discontinued. That way, nobody sees their futures or better days. I pray for you however, "you won't be an I used-to-be person. God will raise any from such a position. Receive the anointing and enablement to break your shackles, stand upright and make a reappearance." You will rather go all the way until you have the praises of witnesses to have surpassed your former days. You'll outdo yourself!
Today's reading avails us a story that portrays the instability in life. Life is seasonal and you'll be wise acknowledging and taking advantage of the same. If not, the change in seasons may hurt you so badly that you may not recover from it. Joseph in the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams made a disclosure on the dreams being one. More importantly, he emphasises the fact that it means seven years of abundance which would be followed by another seven years of famine. While he speaks, he says, "and there shall arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt."
Now, when someone who has doesn't have again, he becomes a used-to-have person. From Joseph's statement here, we also gathered that a nation that has plenty could suddenly because of a change in season enter into penury thereby becoming a used-to-have nation. Indeed, Egypt could have been a used-to-have nation. However, she persisted. So, how can a Christian flourish like a palm tree at all seasons and always? (Psalms 92:12).
It's simple if we'll model after the principle that Joseph recommended for Egypt and its leadership to practice. It's the principle of savings. He told them Egypt would be saved and spared if she could gather a specific percentage of grain for storing during those seven years of abundance against the anticipated seven years of famine (Gen.41:34). Seven years of abundance is symbolic of excesses and wealth. Everyone will have his or her season of abundance when God, life/nature would be favourably disposed towards him. However, what you do with that opportunity that's availed you is what determines whether you'll continue to flourish in the face of famine or you'd fold up when it comes on you like a flood. The economy won't always be the same. Shaking will always come. However, you and I ought flourish. Nothing ought to take us out and make us a glory of the past. Imagine how disrepute it would have been if Egypt had become a used-to-have grain nation. If they had not prepared and conserved grains, they wouldn't have had the testimony of continuing in the face of the famine. It won't be because God didn't visit them with a blessing or abundance but it'll be crested on the fact that it wasn't conserved and utmostly taken advantage of. God has a reason for the abundance in your hand. For Egypt , it was to weather the years to come. Abundance is meant to be preserved and not just spent in wastefulness. Hard days will come - for that is the other side of the coin. As a Christian therefore, create a good savings plan and then proceed to investing rightly in order to multiply your resources. In this way, we will become Joseph in wealth accumulation who gathered grains until he couldn't measure, count or take statistics again (Gen.41:49). It means he got to a place where he had acquired too much to number! We could be that wealthy!
This is your day. It's an opportunity of a lifetime. It was offered to Pharaoh and its leadership and it wasn't rejected. The same is coming to you. Don't trivialize wisdom. Refuse to be a used-to person. Device means of being in existence and in production always - whether in abundance or famine. Refuse to fold up, get ruined, go into depression or extinction. Your leopard must not miss its spots. I pray for you, nothing will be strong enough to wipe you out and make you a used-to. Egypt didn't cease at famine. Rather, they laughed. You'll laugh in yours.
PRAYER: Lord, I shall always bring forth my fruit. I shall not be discontinued. I shall be quick in and out of the season.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Exodus 39:1-40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12
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