VERSE:Genesis 44:23–Now therefore please let your servant remain instead of the lad, a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers.TRUTH:Judah had made a promise to their father and now he was being tested to see if he would be willing to go through with it. Are we people of our word? Do we follow through on the promises we make?RESPONSE:Lord, help me to be a person of integrity, even when it is difficult and hard.

VERSE:Genesis 43:2–So it came about when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt that their father said to them, Go back, buy us a little food.TRUTH:Jacob tried to avoid sending Benjamin. He thought he could wait it out. Do we delay obedience because of fear or lack of faith?RESPONSE:Lord, turn my fear into faith today!

VERSE:Genesis 42:8–But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him.TRUTH:Joseph had a golden opportunity to exact vengeance on his brothers for the way they treated him. Instead, he chose to check for repentance and to love them. When we find ourselves in positions of power over others, how do we respond?RESPONSE:Lord, help me to treat others with Your love and grace, regardless of how they have treated me in the past; even when it seems easier to take revenge.

VERSE:Genesis 41:39–So Pharaoh said to Joseph “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are.”TRUTH:True wisdom comes from God. We can do logical and common sense things on our own, but wisdom comes from God. Do we try to do things on our own or are we trusting in God for wisdom throughout our day?RESPONSE:Lord, help me look to You for the wisdom to handle every situation I face today.

VERSE:Genesis 40:6–When Joseph came to them in the morning and observed them, behold they were dejected.TRUTH:We pass by people every day. Do we observe when they are dejected? What’s more, like Joseph, do we do anything to help them or share God’s word with them?RESPONSE:Lord, help me to see people with Your eyes and to love and share Your word with them.

VERSE:Genesis 39:10–As she spoke to Joseph day after day, he did not listen to her to lie beside her or be with her.TRUTH:Temptation often comes repeatedly, not just one time. We must continually be on our guard against the temptations that come and not listen to them or pay attention to them.RESPONSE:Lord, help me to stand firm when I am faced with doing wrong, especially when I must stand firm over and over again,

VERSE:Genesis 28:11b–for he thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.TRUTH:Have we ever failed to do something out of fear? We are to be obedient to God no matter what is going on in our lives and not give in to fear.RESPONSE:Lord, help me to be obedient to You regardless of any fear I have.

VERSE:Genesis 37:5–Then Joseph had a dream and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.TRUTH:Jealousy is so common; we’re jealous of others and others are jealous of us. God has purpose and plan for everyone and we are to be faithful to Him regardless of what He seems to be doing for others or what others think of us.RESPONSE:God, help me to not be jealous of other people and to be at peace being faithful to You throughout this New Year.

VERSE:Genesis 36:7–For their property had become too great for them to live together and the land where they sojourned could not sustain them because of their livestock.TRUTH:God had again blessed Jacob and Esau. They increased and grew and they eventually had to separate. God knew that Jacob’s descendants would have difficulty resisting the sins that Esau’s descendants had already committed. Sometimes change is difficult, but God knows what is best and He works these situations out for His glory.RESPONSE:Lord, as we look forward to a New Year, thank You for the blessing of this past year. Help us go through the changes that will come this year and may You…

VERSE:Genesis 35:4–So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods which they had and the rings which were in their ears and Jacob hid them under the oak which was near Shechem.TRUTH:When we come to God, we must decide that we are leaving everything for Him. We must take all the other things which we were relying on and trusting in and let them go. The Lord is the only one worthy of our trust and we must follow Him completely.RESPONSE:Lord, I praise You and thank You for being my one and only. Help me to know and find all things through You.