Don’t add fuel to the fire by bragging.

“I myself cannot do it,” Joseph replied, “but God will give Pharoah a sound answer.” Genesis 41:16

Have you ever known someone didn’t like you, and to enrage them even more, you paraded your gift, flaunted your blessing, and boasted about your promotion in front of them just to make them mad? On the opposite end, have you ever experienced such an outpour of God’s favor that no matter what you did, people thought you were bragging, and all you did was blink? Such was the case with Joseph. God gave him two dreams at the age of 17, and he shared those dreams with his family. The Bible tells us his brothers hated him even more. So much so that they conspired to get rid of him by throwing him into a pit and then selling him into slavery. He spent 13 years in prison, and his gift of dream interpretation brought him before Pharoah.

Joseph had a lot of time to think about his brother’s actions against him, and he was able to forgive them while in prison. When God was ready to deliver him, he told Pharoah, I myself cannot interpret your dream, but God will give you a sound answer. More than a robe of many colors that put the focus on him, he was now clothed with humility that puts the focus on God.

My sister, I know you are called, I know you are gifted, I know you are anointed and blessed beyond measure, but hear me, everything you are and everything you have came from the Lord. Be clothed with humility today. Some people won’t like you but don’t add fuel to the fire by bragging about anything. If you’re going to boast, make your boast in the Lord. People will hate you for just blinking, but you go on and let the gift God put in you make room for you. Let your good works speak for you. Let your character and God’s hand on you speak for you. And when it is your turn to speak, respond like Joseph, “I myself cannot do this, but God will give you a sound answer.”

Prayer: Father God, forgive me. Remove all pride from me. Cloth me with humility. Help me, Lord, to not add fuel to people’s hatred by boasting and bragging. If I boast about anything, let me boast about you and your love for all people, not just me. Let me boast about your power and might and what only you can do by your Spirit. I myself cannot do anything, but you can, and thank you that you will. I forgive anyone who hates me without cause. Bless them, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.