"How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9b)
Joseph didn't just survive abuse and victimization, he thrived in spite of it. The oldest of Jacob's sons by his beloved Rachel, Joseph was openly favored by his father and also enjoyed a unique fellowship with the Lord. His brothers became so jealous that they inflicted premeditated acts of abuse and cruelty on the young Joseph. Yet in spite of his harrowing ordeal of being sold into slavery by his abusive brothers, he never once complained.
Bought by the Egyptian leader, Potiphar, he served with such diligence and integrity in every aspect of his work that his master made him overseer of his household (see Genesis 39). Joseph was so impressive, in fact, that Potiphar's wife became enamored with him and attempted to seduce him. Joseph rejecting her solicitations was profound in and of itself, but his reason for not engaging in an affair with her takes my breath away, "How then could I do this great evil and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:9b).
Joseph didn't decline the seductress' invitation because he was afraid they might get caught or for any consequence he might incur from man. No, he rejected her offer because he cared more about what God thought than the thoughts of anyone on earth. His act of righteousness earned him a place in jail, but even there the Lord glorified him and made him prosperous. God once again honored Joseph and he was released from prison to the Pharaoh himself, served as second in command throughout the land of Egypt, and consequently saved his entire family from starvation and peril! God delivered Jacob's family and maintained the promise to make Israel great and numerous by the very son whom he believed to be dead, was abused, sold into slavery and jailed for the false accusations of a scorned woman.
It is my view that our love for God and what we believe about Him and His nature is revealed in the way we live our lives--most especially during our trials and times of suffering. Through reading Joseph's story, it seems evident that his love for God ran deep, was intimate and he had more respect for God than to bring reproach on Him. Joseph didn't just survive his ordeal, he thrived in spite of it! That is the kind of person I want to be--not to resist temptation and evil because of what others may think or because I am afraid to sin, but because I love the Lord so much that it breaks my heart to think of breaking His.
(Read Joseph's story in Genesis chapters 37; 39-50)
Julie Peyton
Founder, Fit for the King Ministries International
"For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies." Psalm 57:10
Once during a Selah, or dramatic pause from our busy life of ministry, my husband and I had the honor of watching the sun rise up from behind the mountains as the spring-green forest greeted it with a standing ovation. Sitting speechless that morning, it seemed as if I heard the trees shout to the rising of the sun, “Bravo, Bravo! Encore, Encore!"
The fluttering of my heart reminded me that God's faithfulness permeates our every surrounding and is celebrated by all of creation. Even the sun is dependent upon God's faithful command to its position in the universe. It relies on its Creator to adjust its heat to prevent the ice caps from melting here and to spur the fauna into bloom there.
And what about you, dear one? You are His creation as well. Do you recognize God's faithful hand in your life?
In His sovereignty, he commanded his Son to rise up across the horizon to bring light into your life--dispelling any darkness. Can you feel the warmth of His glow as it illuminates the peaks of your sin, sorrow, worry, loneliness and pain? Does your heart flutter when His peace rests upon your shoulders amidst chaos and calamity? Your body, mind and soul--do they stand before his Holiness in a standing ovation of praise?
I personally am going to make a better effort to sing an anthem to His steady and committed hand in my life. Will you join me?
"I tell you", he replied, “if they keep quiet the stones will cry out." Luke 19:40
Sharing Freedom, Forgiveness and Favor,
Julie Peyton, Fit for the King Ministries International
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."(Revelation 22:13)
He is the Alpha and Omega of all creation, including your life. As Alpha, he consistently goes before you, showing you the Way into eternity. He acts as your Guide, a Skilled Expert, faithfully alerting you to any dangers or snares that may lie ahead. Though you may tire during the journey or divert from the course, he does not. He is never far away--waiting and encouraging you to rejoin him.
As Omega, he goes behind you, cleaning up your past with the Blood of the Lamb. He serves as your Guard, hemming you in and protecting you from danger and the creeping darkness that would attempt to swallow you up in its shadow. He holds the door open for you and is the last one in as he closes and locks it behind himself, sealing you in and securing your life in his Victorious Right Hand.
He is YOUR Alpha and Omega, Guide and Guard, The Only One who will lead you safely into the security of Heaven. The One "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)
Julie Peyton
Founder, Fit for the King Ministries International
Jesus had emotions but emotions didn't have him. He encountered fear, anxiety, happiness, sorrow and anger, but the power of God within him inoculated him against the poison that would seek to usurp his rational thinking and sober mind.
"Easy for Jesus," you might say. Well, it might of been easier for Jesus considering he was God in the flesh, but since His spirit dwells in you, should it not be easier for you, too, "...because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."? (1John 4:4)
As women, we face many challenges in regards to emotions, but as a dear mentor of mine recently declared after sharing a new trial she was encountering, "For once I want to approach a trial in my life with my faith instead of my fears." That single statement resonated within my soul and is a concept and goal I think not only to be wise but attainable for us all.
So how do we keep our emotions in check? Here are a few key points we can practice on a day-to-day basis so that our conduct will resemble our identity as Daughters of the Most High God:
1.)BE PROACTIVE: Seek God regularly and familiarize yourself with his Word. Preparing yourself in advance allows for grace in light of others as well as a sober mind when tensions and fears flare. Give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to teach and groom you little-by-little along with on-the-job training during inflated situations so that you may put your new skills into practice.
2.)REMEMBER YOUR FRUIT (AND THE LACK THERE OF): My mother-in-law laughs to this day about a vacation we all took where during a trip to the mall, my husband drove around the parking lot missing parking spot after another in search for the "perfect one". Finally, I stated from the back seat across the banter of two teenage sons and a whiny daughter, "That's it! Let my out of this vehicle right here and now because fruit is falling from my tree, left and right." In other words, pull from your areas of strength (kindness, goodness) and remove yourself from the temptation to exercise your weaknesses (perhaps patience and self control). Give yourself a time out when needed and retreat to God in prayer.
3.)FINALLY, DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER IN JESUS' NAME: As believers, we have access to the authority, encouragement and great strength that is the power of Jesus' name.
"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe." (Proverbs 18:10)
In fact, I have a little exercise I do very often when my emotions seem to be taking over. I take a deep breath and say softly, "Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus." ("Help me, Jesus" works well, too!) I've found that this takes my mind off of the situation at hand and brings my heart and mind back into proper balance with the Spirit--refocusing on God.
Although this is not an exhaustive list of ways to keep our emotions in check, it is certainly a list I know to work effectively. Remember who you are in Christ and the next time emotions try to run you over, let them know whose boss!
Julie Peyton
Founder, Fit for the King Ministries International
How many times have we heard from another or said ourselves, "Just pray for me."? Prayer isn't a "just" but a must in any and every situation--no matter how monumental or insignificant it may be. Prayer empowers us and brings unity with the will of the Father into our hearts and minds. In fact, it was the Lord himself who inspired Paul to write, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."(Phil 4:6-7) In such a fallen world, however, the demand to pray for others in crisis can seem never ending and at times overwhelming. How do we go about the joy and honor of praying for others without becoming bogged down or giving up? Recently, I came across an article in a Christian periodical that highlighted tips on praying for people in crisis. I personally feel that this list can provide focus in our quest to intercede for other's during their times of trials and sufferings--taking the focus off of the crisis onto the One we are praying to. (He can produce joy and peace in any situation as we seek him and is faithful to do so!) *When praying for people in crisis.... - Do so with compassion.
- Do so with earnest.
- Do so with persistence.
- Do so with presence (when at all possible not only offer your prayers, but offer yourself).
- Do so with a listening ear for their pain and needs as well as for the voice of God.
- Do so with a submissive heart to the will of God.
- Do so with an awareness that only God knows what he is doing in the midst of their crisis.
- Do so with hope and humility.
"...pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of the righteous can accomplish much." (James 5:16) Julie Peyton Founder, Fit for the King Ministries International *The Baptist Reflector; January 11, 2012
"But I trust in YOUR unfailing love; my heart rejoices in YOUR salvation." (Psalm 13:5)
It is my belief that the reason John referred to himself as, "The Disciple whom Jesus loved", was not because he thought the Lord preferred him over the others, but because John understood Jesus' great love for him and allowed the Lord to love him in all fullness. Simply put, John lived life as one whom Jesus loved. (Read John's gospel)
Sisters, when you are in Christ, you are equal to the beloved Disciple, John! There is nothing on earth you can do to make God love you more....or less. He created you in his image and considered you "good". He loves you with the intensity of a thousand Suns and even offered his own Son as a sacrifice to ensure that he could spend eternity with you. Now that is true love!
My challenge to you today and the days to come is to live as the Disciple whom Jesus loved. Push through circumstances, woes and trials with prayer into a physical manifestation of a holy, beloved Daughter of the King! Let your loved, little heart shine before men {and women} so that your Father in heaven will be glorified and those hurting and lost here on earth will believe that our God truly loves, truly saves and truly has compassion for the world.
Because He First Loved me,
Julie Peyton
Founder, Fit for the King Ministries International
Most little girls dream of womanhood in fairy tale splendor where she is running through a field of red poppies wearing a beautiful, flowing dress fit for a princess. Making her way to her dashing, Prince Charming, he takes her in his arms, lifts her from her feet and spins her through the air as her hair is caught in the breeze; highlights glistening in the sun.
Miraculously, she somehow survives the jar of high school into the jolt of adulthood with her fairy tale illusion somewhat in tack. The only difference is that the princess now realizes it is up to her to turn the beast into a prince and spends most of her time unhappy or defeated by the task. Resigning herself to harsh reality, she gives up on the prince and on the possibility of ever finding true love. Her fairy tale now resembles a creation from the Brother's Grimm.
Through my twenty-one plus years of marriage, countless conversations, mentoring, ministry and flat out crying and praying alongside other women, I have identified that nine-times-out-of-ten it is not the Prince that keeps us from finding true love, but us that keeps us from finding true love. Allow me to elaborate...
I was one of those little girls who wanted nothing more than to grow up, get married and have babies. I got exactly what I wanted, but the outcome--not so much. Life was far from a fairy tale and after years of demanding that my prince change (to no avail, I might add) I decided I deserved better. What I discovered, however, after years of misery in the search for better, is that I had been looking in the wrong place. My quest for true love and my hope for happiness had been laid in the lap of two incompetent people: Myself and my prince.
So here's two truths for all you Princesses out there:
1.) Jesus is the perfect Husband (Father, Friend and Companion). He not only is True Love, but Perfect Love. He loves through sin, shame, flaw, fat, failures, wrinkles and disappointment. Regardless of how insufficient you or your earthly prince may be, when the love and power of Christ is manifested in your life you will have a joy and peace that surpasses ALL understanding and you will be one of those women that other women come to and ask, "How do you do it?" You can then exhale, smile and boast, "It is the Lord!"
2.)No man on earth will ever be able to fill the void that only Christ can fill and if you continue to expect a fallible human being to meet all of your needs, you will drive yourself and the human in question to the breaking point.
So, where do we go from here?
Well, God knows your heart, circumstance and home life. He also knows you may not have it in you to lean on him in the manner that you need to be leaning. Here are a few practical steps:
1.) Ask Him for the desire and willingness to know him and love him more.
2.) Declare before heaven and earth, "I receive your perfect love, Lord! I desperately need to be loved by you and to feel and see your love in my life right now."
3.) Ask for forgiveness for where you have missed the mark as a Princess of the Most High and ask the Lord to change your heart and make you into the woman he created you to be. Petition Him for renewed strength and perspective regarding your current state/circumstances.
4.) Pray for your prince or the prince yet to come. Pray that they would love the Lord, desire to be obedient to him and that His will would be carried out in their lives.
Being groomed into a proper Princess is a work in progress. It takes time, lots of prayer and devotion, but after all these years I can most assuredly say to you that it is not only worth it, but a bit of heaven on earth!
In closing, my dears, True Love is out there and joyfully ever after certainly exists. So get your ball gowns on and race across the field of poppies to meet the original Prince Charming. Allow Him the right to make your dreams come true and experience relationships here on earth like never before!
Julie Peyton
Founder, Fit for the King Ministries International
Scripture References: Isaiah 54:5; 1 John 4:18; Philippians 4:7; James 2:22-24; Colossians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 13
(Julie Peyton and Fit for the King Ministries International advocate the rights and freedom of oppressed and abused women and in no way endorse harmful or cruel treatment towards them under any circumstance. If you or a woman you know is being abused, please seek professional or legal help immediately.)
Have you ever approached adversity in life with the faith that God would deliver you from its snares? There was no doubt in your mind that "the God who saves" (Ps.68:20) would swoop down with all of Heaven's Armies and whisk you away from destruction in epic proportions? I have, and God said "No".
Over a year ago my husband and I found ourselves being led into a new season of life and of ministry. We sought the Lord with all our hearts, minds, soul and strength. God said, "Leave the land of your Fathers", and so we made the necessary preparations to go and indeed we went.
We went with sorrow, we went with joy, we went with uncertainty, but above all else we went with assurance that the One who sent us would never leave us and His purpose would be fulfilled. We went because He first loved us and we desired nothing more than to obey his will.
The path led us to the edge of "There's no turning back", then hid itself in the "Land of the lost". We felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under us as we struggled to make sense of our best laid plans now crumbling in around us. Doors slammed shut in our face--purpose and provision seemed to perish before our eyes. What in the world is going on, God? What have we done? What didn't we do? Where do we go from here? Lord.....please?
We did all we knew to do: We pulled out the camp chairs, a bible and a drink of water and sat along the path waiting on the Lord while we watched others on their journey, passing us by. Many that passed shared in our sufferings, expressing love and compassion, some only ridiculed, but still we sat. We sat in sorrow, we sat in joy, we sat in uncertainty, we sat in confusion, but above all else we sat with assurance that the One who set us on this path would never leave us and His purpose would be fulfilled.
On the edge of "There's no turning back" the ground cannot be trusted. It shows no discretion in whom it crumbles beneath and crumble it did. Things seemed to go from bad to worse and like a inconsiderate passerby disturbing a thoughtful game of dominoes, we watched as a life time toppled, piece-by-piece. We asked God to pick up the pieces and believed that he would, then watched and waited as our life lay in ruins.
Continuing to live, to breath, to pray, to serve, because He first loved us, time went on....and so did the pain. The world has a manner of business all its own regardless of who you are or what your story is and will carry out its business with cool-swiftness. The world showed up in our mailbox one day in the form of a foreclosure notice. It seemed like a joke, and so we laughed, but the world did not reciprocate. Then it seemed like a nightmare and so we cried.
We cried out of sorrow, we cried out of despair, we cried out of uncertainty, but through our tears we had assurance that the One who sits on His throne put us on this path and His purpose would be fulfilled. We trusted that the God of the eleventh hour would come. We believed He would arrive to save us from this peril just in the nick of time. We prayed, we pleaded, we praised...yet deliverance did not come.
Time passed and windows of opportunity closed. Life as we knew it was officially over and it was time to move on into the new "unknown", and so we wept. We wept a silent weeping for the past and for the future. We wept out of loss, we wept out of uncertainty, we wept from feelings of failure, we wept because our hearts were broken, we wept because God said, "No". We wept until we fell asleep.
Waking up in our new life we were greeted by freedom, peace and contentment. Strolling down the hall of the unknown, we were greeted by the One who had never left nor forsaken us. Instructing us to put on new garments of purpose and provision, he took the old and tossed them into the trash. He promised that he would not waste our suffering and beauty would rise from the ashes. Sweeping away the uncertainty and despair that hid the path, he took us by the hand and led us back on the journey.
We start this new journey with joy, we start it with gratitude, we start with uncertainty, but above all else we start with assurance that the One who sends us has, in fact, never left us and His glory will most certainly be revealed. We start because He first loved us, he is our joy and even when he says "No", we will lift our hands and praise him. We start because the same God who led us in led us out again and that same God is available for you.
A True Story,
Julie Peyton
Founder, Fit for the King Ministries International
Out on the horizon the next season of my life builds like a wave being held back by the breakers. Standing at the shore gazing into the distance, I try to focus on what lies ahead, all the while trying to make sense of what lay behind.
The journey to this particular piece of shore was long and felt beneath my feet as bits of broken glass: Sharp and painful. Through tears and cries for relief I was tempted to quit the journey and leave the path, yet deep inside my soul there was a constant yet gentle urging, "Keep going."
Burying my feet into the sand, I recall just where I was on the path when in the distance I could hear the faint caw of the sea gulls and the scent of salt air. The familiarity of the sea drawing near reminded me that there is Hope beyond the dunes and I was restrengthened to continue on...
Approaching the dunes already exhausted and with a heavy heart I sat down, unsure if I had anything left in me to make the climb. Through a mind crowded with doubt, fear, confusion, the desire to overcome all accompanied by sorrow, I heard that familiar voice gently urging again, "Keep going." And so I began the climb.
The resistance from the sand caused my calves to burn, but accustomed to the struggle I clinched my teeth and dug into the hillside. Sweat dripped from my face as I reached the top and I fell to my knees. Leaning forward on my hands--trying to catch my breath--I caught the sweet sound of water gently lapping against the shore.
The thrill of the newly visible shoreline acted as a sort of salve--coating the sores, bumps and bruises that I had affectionately dubbed as battle wounds. I flew down the side of the dune and raced across the beachfront as if the ocean and I were old friends reunited after years of separation--I longed to be in its embrace. Stepping ankle deep into the water I took in a deep breath of salt air--allowing the breeze to caress me--and marveled at how glorious the Sun was glistening on the water. Suddenly, a sense of freedom permeated me and I re-fixed my gaze upon the horizon. There in the distance the next season of my life builds like a wave being held back by the breakers.
To be continued.....
Julie Peyton
Founder, Fit for the King Ministries International
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
Wow! I can do all things! I’ll get that bigger house, better job and loose this weight. I can be a better wife/daughter/mom, learn French, become president or even get better at writing these weekly devotions. After all – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!
Before we get carried away with ourselves, let's get a clear view of this popular verse. The word “strengthens” is from the Greek word “endunamo", which means to empower, or enable. In context it represents Christ accomplishing his work through us. Christ is not just giving us the strength or ability to accomplish whatever we set our sites on, rather his strength enabling us, little Christs, to do what he needs us to do as his hands and feet. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
So, what does Jesus want done? More pointedly, what does Jesus want done in your life? The answer to that lies inside the Bible, God’s holy word. Read-read-read, pray-pray-pray and seek counsel from godly, spiritual fruit-producing people. Through the application of these steps you’ll find before you the glorious revelation of Jesus’ personality, character and work ethics.
Many of our wants and desires are biblical and God's will as well, but we should allow God to be the one to lead us into carrying them out and make them happen according to his perfect plan and time. And, as you learn more and more of who He is and what He values, it will become more and more clear to you what “all these things” are and can trust that He will strengthen you to do them.
Julie Peyton
Founder, Fit for the King Ministries International
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