Proverbs 21:1
The King's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.

Open my ears so that I can hear your word today. Father give me ears to hear you today.

Have you ever felt like you are not presently doing what you were created to do? That's where I am at right now! I know there is greatness in me that has not reached its mark! I am presently working a job that can be trying and humiliating, and yet the LORD is saying, “ You can do this.” I am able to hold on because the Father spoke to me. He said, " Status quo Jan, Don’t change anything for now. Just work like you have been doing. I will open doors and give new direction."

My heart took on new courage from those simple phrases! Why? Because they come from the one I trust and love. I know that I could stay in that job till the end of time if He says to. My response this day is, "Father, thank you so much for speaking to me. I can hold on. I know your purposes for me are greater than what I am doing at the present. I trust you during this time even when I don't see your greatness fully in me."

I began thinking about people in the Bible who had similar struggles. I love that we have these amazing examples of the very things we are going through. Holy Spirit is so faithful to direct, because He knows exactly what we need to read!

Joseph was a character that sought after the LORD and began hearing and seeing his future. God was imparting greatness to him. I believe you know his story. After sharing some of his visions with his own brothers they have him tossed into a pit. They debate killing him and instead decide to sell him into slavery. Traveling Midianites take him into Egypt. Wow! Those were some crazy brothers! They could not recognize the greatness of God expressing itself through their little brother. Joseph's story continues in the house of one of Pharaoh’s officials named Potiphar. The Word says that the LORD was with Joseph and he prospered the house of Potiphar. The Word continues to say the official recognized the favor of the LORD on Joseph because everyone prospered under his influence. He became his personal attendant caring for his household. There was a fly in the ointment. Potiphar's wife found Joseph appealing and made a play for him. Because Joseph walked in the fear of the LORD he rejected her advances. You know what they say about a woman being scorned? She yelled for Potiphar and blamed Joseph for attacking her. He was taken to prison where the king's prisoners were held. Again, the word says the LORD was with him. Joseph found favor in the eyes of the prison warden. So, as the story continues Pharaoh has some disturbing dreams. The wise men and sorcerers cannot help him. In a twist of fate an ex-con suggests they contact Joseph. The lost son of Jacob consults the Lord of heaven who shows him how to interpret the dream. He finds great favor again this time in Pharaoh’s own household. He was given a huge promotion. Pharaoh’s words to Joseph went like this: "Since God has made all this known to you, You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you. I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." Wow! What a story! The beautiful ending to Joseph's story is that during the famine where food was so scarce, he was able to help many people with the wisdom and foreknowledge that God had given him. Yes, also his brothers and father!

Genuine relationship formed between Joseph and God, and He made it possible for him to walk in great wisdom. God had an amazing plan for Joseph to be a type of redeemer for many people. God is sovereign, which means His plans will come to pass! There was greatness in Joseph at an early age though his family grossly misunderstood him. He trusted that the words and visions given to him would actually come to pass even though they were delayed and he suffered much. Joseph's story in completion is found in Genesis chapters 37 through 50. Joseph is a type and shadow of our savior Jesus Christ.

Now let’s look at Jesus and we will see that Joseph was a type and shadow of our Redeemer.

The Father spoke to Jesus and gave him a mission to do. He left his kingship and became a man. Emanuel is God with us! He was human in all aspects and fully God.

Jesus had one mission and that was to redeem mankind. He also was misunderstood by many. The Pharisees wanted him dead. Why? They felt threatened by him, because they saw that he spoke with authority, walked in great wisdom and was compassionate. Jesus was a friend of the sinner, the publicans, and the tax collectors. He was not religious. The Pharisees missed their time of visitation. Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it!

Many of the Israelites were looking for the Messiah, but expected him to come and take the Kingdom back from the Romans. They wanted a great politician, a king not a savior. They were tired of being under the rule and authority of the Romans. Jesus did come to save them from the tyranny of government, but it was not going to be through that type of dominion. He was after their hearts, to change them. You can be imprisoned under foreign occupation and still be free in your soul. That can never be taken from you! The Israelites missed their time of visitation.

Many of his disciples turned away from following him because some of his teachings were too hard. Jesus says, “ Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” His own family did not understand what he was doing and struggled to believe in him (as stated in John 7:1-5).

Jesus did not let this thwart the mission the Father had sent him to accomplish. He pressed on and we should also. Jesus is our example and we should follow his lead. Jesus and Joseph were misunderstood and suffered much. They both trusted God and were faithful to the word He spoke to them. It took years of walking in the revelation of God and trusting it to come to pass. God’s plan did come to pass and generations are reaping the benefits of intimacy with the Father and eternal life!

We are no different than Joseph and Jesus in that we are following the voice of our Father. We are led by His Spirit to do great things in the Kingdom. We have relationship with the Father, and He begins to share his heart for humanity with us. Greatness is birthed in us. We have incredible vision of what we are to do. This is all a process of walking with the Father in the Kingdom. We do great things for God. We work. We do the mundane things of life. We wait on God and listen to his voice. We hear him speak his heart, and again we are filled with greatness and vision.
It continues....

I am in one of those mundane places in my life. It is necessary to do what I do. I go to work and care for the elderly. I come home and cook dinner and clean my house. I am not unhappy with where I am at, but I know what God has spoken to me. I have vision that my Father has imparted to me. I know there is greatness in me, and I am compelled to do great things in the Kingdom. So, I wait and trust that what He has spoken will come to pass.

I hope this brings some encouragement to you my friends. I know that I am amongst many in the Body of Christ that he is compelling to keep doing the stuff of the Kingdom. He is also speaking in our ears, You are created for greatness! Why? Because we are created in His image.

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.