Topic: FORGET TO BE FRUITFUL – Bishop Mike Okonkwo Devotional 4 January 2020 [The Redeemed Evangelical Mission]

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FORGET TO BE FRUITFUL

“And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Genesis 41:51-52

I know some people have had rough seasons of life and they are tempted to think 2021 is like one of those years. The devil has jumped on your shoulder to remind you of the dance into 2020 and what the year turned out to be. You may be there and the devil has flooded your mind with disappointments of the past years and you are tempted to just coast through the year expecting nothing. Child of God, that is a lie from the very pit of hell. Don’t give the devil a foothold in your life by taking those thoughts. It is time to forget the past and move on to the bright future ahead of you.

Our scripture today talks about Joseph, Jacob’s favourite child who was sold into slavery by his brothers. Eventually, the Lord turned his captivity around and what his brothers meant for evil turned out in his favour. However, Joseph had a choice to be bitter; but he knew that the key to walking in the fulness of God’s purpose was to forget the past so that he could be fruitful. No wonder he named his first child ‘forget and the second ‘fruitful.’ Notice that he did this even before his brothers came begging. He did this when there was no hope of reconnecting with his family. He knew that to move forward, he had to let go of the baggage of the past.

What baggage are you carrying? I encourage you today to drop it. A songwriter says: “Yesterday is gone” and indeed, that is true. 2020 is gone forever and this is a brand new year. Forget the past; be excited about this year because God is set to exceed your expectations.

I will hear your testimony In Jesus’ name.

Further Reading: Genesis 41:46-52

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Gen 8-9, Mathew 3