I remember back in 2017 when one of my colleagues at the time was speaking to me about travel. She began showing me pictures of her in Italy and there was this one particular picture of her on a boat with these beautiful, pristine buildings in the background. When I saw that picture, I remember envisioning myself on a boat in Italy and thinking to myself how incredible it would be to do something like that or to go somewhere like Italy. You see for my colleague, Italy was a casual vacation that she went on annually with her mother. For me, it was a big deal. Fast forward to 2019, in speaking with a former colleague of mine over dinner, she mentioned how she had brought a flight to Italy and invited me to join her on this trip. After praying about it and seeking God for direction, I booked a roundtrip flight to Italy.
When I finally made it to Italy last month, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Sorrento, Capri Island, Anacapri, Amalfi Coast, Positano and Rome. In the middle of one of my boat trips, as we began approaching one of the islands it felt like deja vu as it dawned on me that the same thing God had exposed me to about two years ago in a photo that my colleague showed me, He had granted me full access to. I sat back on the boat in complete amazement thinking about God’s goodness. I couldn’t even begin to try to wrap my mind around how God had taken me somewhere I didn’t even plan to go, because I thought it was too far out of my reach when I was exposed to it.
When I finally made it to Italy last month, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to Sorrento, Capri Island, Anacapri, Amalfi Coast, Positano and Rome. In the middle of one of my boat trips, as we began approaching one of the islands it felt like deja vu as it dawned on me that the same thing God had exposed me to about two years ago in a photo that my colleague showed me, He had granted me full access to. I sat back on the boat in complete amazement thinking about God’s goodness. I couldn’t even begin to try to wrap my mind around how God had taken me somewhere I didn’t even plan to go, because I thought it was too far out of my reach when I was exposed to it.
This month, I believe that God is going to intentionally expose you to big deal places, big deal people, big deal business opportunities, etc. Instead of getting stuck on the fact that it is such a big deal when you see it or hear it, I need you to hold on to exactly what you are exposed to so that you can begin to expect it in your life. In the month of September, whatever God exposes you to, He is going to do.
When I heard this message from God to relay back through this month’s blog, I immediately thought to myself, ‘God who did you expose something to in the bible only for you to turn around and go do it for them?’ As I thought about this question to myself, Joseph came to mind. For those of you who may not be familiar with Joseph, Joseph was the son of Jacob and he was his father’s favorite son. It was Joseph’s favoritism, overconfidence and prophetic dreams that triggered his brothers hatred for him.
3 Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. 4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.
One night, God exposes Joseph to what is unknowingly a glimpse of his future.
5 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated
him more than ever. 6 “Listen to this dream,” he said. 7 “We were out in the field, tying
up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered
around and bowed low before mine!” 8 His brothers responded, “So you think you will
be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him
all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. 9 Soon Joseph
had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another
dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” 10 This time
he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him.
“What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers
actually come and bow to the ground before you?” 11 But while his brothers were
jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.
When I heard this message from God to relay back through this month’s blog, I immediately thought to myself, ‘God who did you expose something to in the bible only for you to turn around and go do it for them?’ As I thought about this question to myself, Joseph came to mind. For those of you who may not be familiar with Joseph, Joseph was the son of Jacob and he was his father’s favorite son. It was Joseph’s favoritism, overconfidence and prophetic dreams that triggered his brothers hatred for him.
3 Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day Jacob had a special gift made for Joseph—a beautiful robe. 4 But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn’t say a kind word to him.
One night, God exposes Joseph to what is unknowingly a glimpse of his future.
5 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated
him more than ever. 6 “Listen to this dream,” he said. 7 “We were out in the field, tying
up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered
around and bowed low before mine!” 8 His brothers responded, “So you think you will
be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him
all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. 9 Soon Joseph
had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another
dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” 10 This time
he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him.
“What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers
actually come and bow to the ground before you?” 11 But while his brothers were
jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.
As you read the story of Joseph throughout the Bible, you'll see how he was later on sold into slavery to the Ishmaelites by his brothers. He then becomes a household slave after being purchased by Potiphar. Potiphar held a prestigious role in Egypt as the “captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt”(Genesis 39:1 NLT) and Joseph worked hard for him. Eventually Potiphar’s wife makes passes at Joseph to try and get him to sleep with her but he turns her down so one day she decided to lie on him and say that he tried to rape her. Joseph is then thrown into prison for years until the king of Egypt Pharaoh eventually sends for him to interpret his dreams. Joseph foresees that there will be seven years of prosperity throughout the land and seven years of great famine. Pharaoh then appointed Joseph as ruler over Egypt so that he may direct people on how to properly gather extra crops during the good years to bring to Pharaoh’s storehouses so the people would have enough to eat during the seven years of famine they would face (Genesis 41:25-46 NLT). As time passes and the famine season comes around, Joseph’s brothers who sold him into slavery go over to Egypt to buy grain, not knowing that Joseph their brother was now the governor over Egypt and in charge of selling grain to all people (see Genesis 42-43 NLT).
In the same way that God exposed me to Italy, in the same way that God exposed Joseph to being a ruler, God is going to expose you to a glimpse of your future in the month of September. This month, stay alert and stay prepared because once you have been exposed to it, God is going to do it.
In the same way that God exposed me to Italy, in the same way that God exposed Joseph to being a ruler, God is going to expose you to a glimpse of your future in the month of September. This month, stay alert and stay prepared because once you have been exposed to it, God is going to do it.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for choosing us. Choosing us for another day, choosing us for victory, choosing us for divine assignments, choosing us to spread your love, choosing us to share our testimonies, and last but not least, we thank you for choosing us to be exposed to your vision. God we pray that you cover our minds, each and every single one of our intricate thought patterns, guard and purify our hearts, bless us with spirits that are a mere reflection of you at the core. As you begin to use the month of September to expose us to big deals we pray that you also help us to protect the things that you expose us to. God, if it takes years for us to see what you’ve revealed come to pass as it did for Joseph, we pray for unwavering faith, and the ability to hold on to what you have exposed us to. Help us to stay woke and help us to stay prepared in the month of September so there is clear recognition in what you are exposing us to. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
Heavenly Father,
We thank you for choosing us. Choosing us for another day, choosing us for victory, choosing us for divine assignments, choosing us to spread your love, choosing us to share our testimonies, and last but not least, we thank you for choosing us to be exposed to your vision. God we pray that you cover our minds, each and every single one of our intricate thought patterns, guard and purify our hearts, bless us with spirits that are a mere reflection of you at the core. As you begin to use the month of September to expose us to big deals we pray that you also help us to protect the things that you expose us to. God, if it takes years for us to see what you’ve revealed come to pass as it did for Joseph, we pray for unwavering faith, and the ability to hold on to what you have exposed us to. Help us to stay woke and help us to stay prepared in the month of September so there is clear recognition in what you are exposing us to. In Jesus name we pray, amen.