Prepare For A Swift Shift And Piled Up Payback
Early on Sunday morning as I was praying in our church prayer room my eyes fell on the American flag and instantly my spirit was struck with the words “swift shift”.
”Pharaoh sent for Joseph at once, and he was quickly brought from the prison. After he shaved and changed his clothes, he went in and stood before Pharaoh.“
Genesis 41:14 NLT
“At once” the hand of God moved him into a position he had been preparing his entire life to occupy!
”Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it.” “It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.”“
Genesis 41:15-16 NLT
Once in place his training from years spent alone in the presence of the Lord suddenly kicked in and all that God had been working in him came to completion as he was revealed to the world as one who had been fully prepared for what he had stepped into! Joseph this once young impetuous boy now exemplified strength and resolution.
”Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah. He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On. So Joseph took charge of the entire land of Egypt.“
Genesis 41:45 NLT
His name means “God speaks and lives”. Joseph was called by a different name from this point on.
Can you imagine being moved into your wildest dream existence and it’s not even you, it’s this other version of you that you are unfamiliar with? It’s a side of you that for years has been crafted in the secret place with God.
There is a part of you that has for years, even decades, irresistibly drawn nearer and nearer to God and listened desperately for His voice in extreme times allowing His words to powerfully penetrate your heart, graciously transform your mind and work something previously unknown to you into your spirit.
Artfully this beautiful new design of God had been crafted into Joseph’s spirit managing his immaturity with understanding, adorning his adolescence with knowledge and tempering his zeal with wisdom. He was ready!
For Joseph all familiarity is cast aside. Every trace of everything he had known for the entirety of his life was swept away as he changed his old prison clothes and put on something new. All things had become new. His physical appearance was even so changed by this move that his own brothers didn’t recognize him!
In desperate times and times of purpose God will highlight a verse of scripture, the story of a Bible hero or one of His own names and with this special revelation your spirit is fortified to conquer.
Joseph’s role in this severe time was so vital that instead of carrying a promise he became known as the promise, “God speaks and lives”.
Saints of God are in such a season where all of a sudden they step forth into what they’ve spent their entire lives preparing to become. In an instant it will happen.
Zaphenath-paneah (Joseph) was quickly and firmly established in this new existence.
”He piled up huge amounts of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure. During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.“
Genesis 41:49-50 NLT
Assuredly what followed was “piled up payback”. After a period of sowing in tears there always follows a time of reaping with shouts of joy! Once the first fruit of your faith filled prayers begins to break through a windfall will follow!
”You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.“
Genesis 50:20 NLT
You are here to save lives! Others will benefit from what God has invested in you. Joseph followed the Lord’s leading and continued listening for God to speak. These are the types of people God is raising up out of obscurity and breathing purpose into now. Look and you will see, listen and you will hear, trust and you will walk in greatness!
I see the hand of God waving over lives today. Beautiful works that have been skillfully, even arduously crafted by His hand in the secret place will soon make a public debut! Prepare for piled up payback and a swift shift!