20 BUT AFTER HE HAD CONSIDERED THIS, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1
JOSEPH CONSIDERED OR PONDERED, HE GAVE THE LORD TIME TO SPEAK! Another version says, ‘WHILE HE THOUGHT ON THESE THINGS’.
Joseph was faced with a difficult situation, Mary was to be his wife, but Mary was pregnant. He didn’t want to embarrass her publicly but neither did he feel he could go ahead and marry her. Had Mary tried to explain the situation to her husband to be? We don’t know, but the Lord sent His angel to tell Joseph what he should do. Joseph was thinking about their situation from a human standpoint but heaven’s perspective was completely different AND IT OFTEN IS! We need to give God TIME TO SPEAK IN OUR OWN SITUATIONS because our viewpoint is often so limited. Many times God’s solutions are beyond our understanding.
Derek Prince told how their ministry was one time going through financial difficulties. They prayed and sought the Lord and the answer he received was to begin TO GIVE AWAY THEIR RESOURCES TO POOR PASTORS WHO COULDN’T AFFORD THEM. So they began in a measured way to make some of their material available and the financial need began to diminish.
The birth of Jesus was to change the destiny of all mankind and no one could have known the steps that would be necessary to see the mission completed. We can depend on our own experience and abilities in 2025 or we can ask God to begin to reveal His hidden plans for us in this new season of our lives. When we ask for His help and guidance, then we need to pause and listen for the next steps to take. He may speak quietly to our hearts, through the words of friends or by supernatural guidance. Though our way be unclear, if we pause and listen, like Joseph, the answer will come and His ways are best.
May the Lord bless and keep us as we seek His path for our lives in 2025. Immanuel, God is with us.