Heavenly father
give us grace to refrain from doing what is wrong, whatever the consequences are,
and open our eyes to see your grace whatever our circumstances6 Joseph was well-built and handsome.
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7 His master’s wife set her eyes on Joseph; and she said, “Lie with me.”
8 But he refused, and said to his master’s wife,
“Behold, my master has put all that he has into my hand.
9 How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
10 As she spoke to Joseph…Heavenly Father
give us grace to notice others today and share their joys and sorrows40 After these things, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, .
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2 Pharaoh 3 put them in the prison, where 4 The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days. 5 They both dreamed a dream, in one night,
6 Joseph came in to them in the morning, and saw that they were sad,…Heavenly Father
give us grace to understand dreams (like Joseph)
and give us grace to be a blessing to others when we are blessed (unlike the cupbearer)9 The chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph: “In my dream, there was a vine 10 with three branches, on which were clusters of ripe grapes, 11 which I took and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.”
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12 Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. …Heavenly Father
give us grace to be prudent in times of plenty, so that we may be able to help ourselves and others in time of scarcity.1 After two years, Pharaoh dreamed that he stood by the river. 2 out of which came seven sleek and fat cattle 3 followed by seven ugly and thin cattle, 4 which ate up the seven sleek and fat cattle. 5 In a second dream, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, healthy and good. 6 after which, seven…
moreHeavenly Father
give us grace to face up to what we have done in the past and make amends for it as opportunity presents itself1 Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, so said to his sons, 2 “ Go to Egypt, and buy for us from there, so that we may live, and not die.”
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3 Joseph’s ten brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.
4 But Jacob didn’t send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers; for he said, “Lest perhaps harm happen to him.”
5 The…Heavenly father
give us grace to be honest about the things which don’t make us look good
and give us grace to trust in you.1 The famine was severe in the land. 2 When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little more food.”
3 Judah spoke to him, saying, “The man solemnly warned us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face, unless your brother is with you.’ 8 “Send the boy with me - 9…
moreHeavenly Father
give us grace to do what is right, whatever the personal cost to ourselves1 Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in his sack’s mouth. 2 Put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, with his grain money.” He did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. 4 When they had gone out of…
moreHeavenly father, give us grace to be reconciled to others today.
1 Then Joseph couldn’t control himself before all those who stood before him, and he called out, “Cause everyone to go out from me!”
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No one else stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
2 He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Does my father still live?”
His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence. …Heavenly Father, give us grace to be guided by you in big decisions, be filled with your love in our personal relationships.
1 Israel travelled with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father, Isaac.
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2 God spoke to Israel in the visions of the night, and said, “Jacob, Jacob!” He said, “Here I am.”
3 He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Don’t be afraid to go down into Egypt, for there I will make of you a great nation. 4…Heavenly father, give us grace to do what is right in our work, both paid and unpaid, (not sure if Joseph putting the whole of the land of Egypt in debt to Pharoah was a reason why the children of Israel ended up in slavery to the Egyptians)
5 Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, 6 “Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen. If you know any able men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.” 7 Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before…
moreHeavenly Father, give us grace so that we may be a blessing to our family, and not live comparing ourselves with others.
1 After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
14 Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 He blessed Joseph, and said,
“The God before whom my…
moreHeavenly Father, give us grace to be a blessing to each member of our families, however different they are from each other.
1 Jacob called to his sons, and said: “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which will happen to you in the days to come.
3 “Reuben, you are my firstborn, excelling in dignity, and power, [but] 4 you shall not excel, because you went up to your father’s bed. (Gen 35)
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5 “Simeon and Levi, 6 My glory, don’t be united to their…Heavenly father, give us grace to respond to evil with good, particularly in our relationships with family and friends.
1 Joseph fell on his father’s face, wept on him, and kissed him. 2 Joseph commanded his servants, to embalm his father; and they did so.
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4 Joseph [then] spoke to Pharaoh, 5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of Canaan.”
Please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come again.’”
6 …‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.’ GENESIS 50:20
Lord, thank you that you know the end from the beginning. Help us to seek your perspective.Being thankful in all circumstances is not the same as being thankful for every situation in which we find ourselves. Thankfulness expresses our trust that, whatever the enemy meant for harm, God can use…
more16 I heard, and my body trembled.
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My lips quivered at the voice.
Rottenness enters into my bones, and I tremble in my place,
because I must wait quietly for the day of trouble,
for the coming up of the people who invade us.
17 For though the fig tree doesn’t flourish,
nor fruit be in the vines;
the labour of the olive fails,
the fields yield no food;
the…Heavenly father, give us grace today to walk with Jesus the way of the cross.
11 But Christ having come as a high priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 nor yet through the blood of goats and calves, but through his own blood, entered in once for all into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled,…
moreHeavenly father
give us grace to live as forgiven people, not wavering in this hope12 Jesus, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God,
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13 from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.
14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.
15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, saying, …Heavenly father, give us grace today to walk with Jesus the way of the cross.
“This is the covenant that I will make with them:
‘After those days,’ says the Lord,
‘I will put my laws on their heart,
I will also write them on their mind;’”then he says,
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17 “I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more.”
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place…19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, 21 and having a great priest over God’s house, 22 let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of…
moreTherefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings.
19 Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, 21 and having a great priest over God’s house, 22 let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water, 23 let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is…
moreAnd let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another
and all the more as you see the Day approaching.Heavenly father
give us grace to be an encouragement to those around us today24 Let’s consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,
25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is,
but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.Heavenly father
give us grace to flee from sin today, and live in the covenant of grace and forgiveness26 For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more a sacrifice for sins,
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27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgement, and a fierceness of fire which will devour the adversaries.
28 A man who disregards Moses’ law dies without compassion on the word of two or three…Heavenly father
give us grace to continue to live by faith today, paying attention to the things of the soul and the things of eternity32 But remember the former days, in which, after you were enlightened, you endured a great struggle with sufferings;
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33 partly, being exposed to both reproaches and oppressions;
and partly, becoming partakers with those who were treated so.
34 For you both had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the…Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. (Heb 1:1)
https://www.thefuelcast.com/library/2024-12-23-the-power-of-hope-r3.3
Heavenly father
give us grace to give attention today to what we hope for and to what is unseen
1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, that which is persuasive of things not seen.
2 For in this, the elders obtained testimony.
3 By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God,
so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see
Frederick Buechner says:
A CRAZY, HOLY GRACE I have called it. Crazy because whoever could have predicted it? Who can ever foresee the crazy how and when and where of a grace that wells up out of the lostness and pain of the world and of our own inner worlds? And holy because these moments of grace come ultimately from farther away than Oz and deeper down than doom, holy because they heal and hallow. “For all thy blessings, known and unknown,…
moreHeavenly father
give us grace to be so assured within ourselves about what we hope for and what is unseen that we live in a way that is pleasing to you4 By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous,
God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.5 By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death,
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and he was not found, because God translated him.
For he has…Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
Heavenly father
give us grace to live on godly fear and obedience7 By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear,
prepared a ship for the saving of his house,
through which he condemned the world, (his saving of his household showed the stupidity of those who did not follow his example)
and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.Heavenly father
give us grace to seek heavenly goals today8 By faith, Abraham, when he was called,
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obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance.
He went out, not knowing where he went.
9 By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and…Heavenly father
give us grace to live as strangers and pilgrims on earth, desiring a better country11 By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive,
and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore,
were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises,
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but having seen…Heavenly father
give us grace to live as those who believe in the resurrection of the dead17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac.
Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son,
18 to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,”
19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead.
Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.20 By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob…
moreHeavenly father
give us grace to be unafraid of people, to avoid the pleasures of sin and to seek first the kingdom of heaven today23 By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents,
because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.24 By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
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25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the…Heavenly father
give us grace to find strength in our weakness today, to work out righteousness and obtain resurrection into your kingdom.30 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 By faith, Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.32 What more shall I say?
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For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
33 who…Heavenly father
give us grace to lay aside our sins and look to Jesus today1 Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us,
and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.…
moreHeavenly father, give us grace today to walk with Jesus the way of the cross.
1 Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him who has endured such…
more“Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1–2)
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Have you ever wondered why Jesus sent out his disciples two by two? No phones, no maps, and no bags – just each other and their annoying habits.
Watching the fifth series of Race Across the World has caused me to rethink Jesus’ strategy of sending them this way. Pairs of disparate disciples are about to discover what it’s like to get up close and personal. They will share the joy of unexpected hospitality. They will learn to bear with…Heavenly father
give us grace to learn from our mistakes, and accept correction so that our lives may blossom with the peaceful fruit of righteousness5 You have forgotten the exhortation which reasons with you as with children,
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“My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him;
6for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure.
God deals with you as with children, for what son is…
Daily Bible Verses
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