PowerPoint - Feb. 5, 2008, Daily Word from Pastor Graham

PowerPoint - Feb. 5, 2008

February 05, 2008

February 5, 2008

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

--Genesis 50:20

If you look at the life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50), you’ll see that he encountered many situations that looked pretty bleak. But in every instance, Joseph chose to trust God.

And as we see in today’s verse, this allowed Joseph to have an amazing perspective about the trials in his life!

So I want to ask you a series of four questions to see how you respond when your life seems to bottom out. Because God wants you to have the same attitude Joseph had when he hit hard times!

First, when you’re in a pit, do you demand to understand why?

Now, there’s a difference between seeking to know why and demanding to know why. It’s okay to ask God to help you understand why or seek Him for wisdom in the midst of troubles or trials. But demanding to know why often only makes you frustrated and distracted from what God is trying to teach you.

Second, are you a fair-weather Christian, or do you tend to stop serving the Lord in times of adversity?

Joseph refused to allow his circumstances to dictate how he would serve God. I mean, few people were ever treated more unfairly and unjustly than Joseph was! Yet, he chose in his heart to serve the Lord no matter how hard things got.

Third, when you’re in the pit, do you bow to bitterness?

You know, bitterness is an acid that destroys its own container. Yet, if you walk with the Lord and refuse to allow the breaks and breakdowns of life to destroy you, you will find a quiet confidence, serenity, and peace even in difficult times.

Finally, do you tend to push Providence when times get hard?

Remember, God is always working… even when you can’t see Him in action. I love the quote by Steve Farrar that says, “Don’t just do something… stand there.” Maybe today, you need to stop trying to make things happen while you wait on God. He’s got His eyes on you! God has a plan and a purpose for your life… even when He lets you walk through hard times.

GOD KNOWS THE PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE… EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T!

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About PowerPoint

PowerPoint Ministries is the radio and television broadcast ministry of Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church — a nearly 37,000-member church with three campuses in the Dallas and North Texas region. Through PowerPoint Ministries, Dr. Graham offers practical, biblical steps on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.

About Jack Graham

Dr. Jack Graham serves as Senior Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the nation’s largest, most dynamic congregations.

When Dr. Graham came to Prestonwood in 1989, the 8,000-member congregation responded enthusiastically to his straightforward message and powerful preaching style.

Now thriving with more than 57,000 members, Prestonwood continues to grow, reaching throughout the North Texas region. In 2006, the church launched a second location, the North Campus, in a burgeoning area 20 miles north of the Plano Campus. Prestonwood also has a flourishing Spanish-language ministry, Prestonwood en Español, which includes members from more than 20 nations. And Prestonwood.Live, the online community, draws worshippers from all over the world.
Dr. Graham is a noted author of numerous books, including the latest Reignite: Fresh Focus for an Enduring Faith. In this deeply personal book, Dr. Graham shares lessons he learned in the midst of crisis – offering insight on how to focus on Jesus even in the darkest days.

Other books include A Man of God: Essential Priorities for Every Man’s Life; Unseen: Angels, Satan, Heaven, Hell and Winning the Battle for Eternity; Angels: Who They Are, What They Do and Why It Matters; Powering Up: The Fulfillment and Fruit of a God-Fueled Life; and Courageous Parenting, written with his wife, Deb.

His passionate, biblical teaching is also seen and heard across the country and throughout the world on PowerPoint Ministries. Through broadcasts, online sermons and e-mail messages, Dr. Graham addresses relevant, everyday issues that are prevalent in our culture and strike a chord with audiences worldwide.

In October 2022, the Bible in a Year with Jack Graham podcast was launched in partnership with iHeartPodcasts and Pray.com, with a cinematic feel that brings the Bible to life. Within the first week of its release, the podcast reached the top spot on the Spotify religion list, and it has now surpassed 30 million downloads.

Dr. Graham has served as Honorary Chairman of the National Day of Prayer and has helped lead various national prayer initiatives. He served as President of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the country with more than 14 million members.

He and Deb have three married children and eight grandchildren.