Joel Osteen Daily Devotional August 5 2024.
Theme : What Is the Source?
Today’s Scripture
[Isaac] said, Your brother came with crafty cunning and treacherous deceit and has taken your blessing.
Genesis 27:35, AMPC
Today’s Word
In Genesis 27, Jacob deceived his father into giving him the family blessing rather than his brother, Esau. Jacob was dishonest and a deceiver, and his mother, Rebekah, was also a deceiver. It didn’t stop there. Jacob’s uncle, Laban, was dishonest in his business dealings and tricked Jacob into marrying his daughter Leah.
Notice how that same spirit of deceit, manipulation, and dishonesty traveled through the family line. That was not a coincidence. That was a spirit that kept getting passed down in that family. It’s good to ask yourself, “Why do I struggle in this area? Why am I drawn to compromise, to addictions, to manipulation?” Be aware of the source.
Some of the problems you deal with were passed down to you, but they can stop with you. It may not be easy, but if you take a step of faith to put it to an end, God will give you grace to do it. That may mean letting go of bitterness, getting help with an addiction, or refusing to accept mediocrity as your destiny, but you can break the negative cycle.
Prayer For Today:
“Father, thank You that when Christ conquered death on the cross He broke the power of every negative thing that’s trying to hold me back. Thank You that any stronghold of the enemy within our family line is being destroyed. I believe that I have been set free. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”
Message For Today:
When you stand for righteousness, when you refuse to compromise, when you choose to not hang with the same friends that are pulling you down, when you break out of that negative mindset you’re going to see the hand of God promote you to new levels.
God is waiting for you to rise up. That may mean you need to forgive, have a new mindset, get rid of the bitterness, not accept defeat and mediocrity as your destiny, and have a new vision. You can break that negative cycle.
When you break out of a negative mindset and instead believe for greater, pray bolder, dream bigger, you’re going to see the hand of God turn things around. He’s going to break addictions, bring you out of dysfunction, promote you to levels you’ve never thought possible.
Don’t put your joy on hold. Paul said in Romans, “Let us be full of joy now.” Not tomorrow, not when you reach the goal, not when the problem turns around, now is the time to be full of joy.
Get your eyes off of people, off of your faults, and off of how you think you don’t measure up. You are approved, you are accepted, you are anointed. Now step into your purpose.