March 3, 2025 - Genesis‬ ‭50‬:‭15‬, ‭19‬-‭20

“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? 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 50:15, 19-20 ESV

Lord, what an amazing attitude Joseph had towards his brothers when their betrayal led him down a very hard road. This is what true forgiveness looks like. I am sure it wasn’t easy at first and each time his circumstances led him into another low place, he probably had to work through another level of forgiveness. But you eventually got him to a place where he forgave so much that when he saw his brothers he held no hard feelings. Not only did he not hold hard feelings, but we see him blessing his brothers and we see that he understands how God used it for the good of everyone. Even though he had to go through some really hard things because of his brothers’ betrayal, he sees it as good. Wow. This could only come through your working in his life.

Lord, help us walk in this kind of forgiveness. Help us walk out forgiveness every day until it gets easier. In those areas, where we are living within the consequences of someone else’s negative actions towards us, show us how you are using those consequences in our lives for our good. Change our perspective from seeing ourselves as a victim. Let us see those who have hurt us through your eyes. You might not be asking us to trust them or walk in relationship with them again, but you do want us to be walking in the freedom of forgiveness to the point we can pray your blessings over them. Lord, we know we can only do these things with your help. Please help make this a reality in our lives.

In Jesus name, amen.