The Winning Side

This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. — 1 John 4:9

God uses every single trial, every detour, every obstacle in our journey for our benefit, for our good. That’s because what the Enemy means for evil, God uses for our good (Genesis 50:20). Sometimes the good is a change in circumstances. Sometimes the good is a stronger faith. But nothing is ever wasted.

Satan used Judas to betray the Lord, but God intended for Jesus to stand trial and be condemned to death. Satan used the scheming of Jesus’ enemies to have Him crucified, but Jesus’ crucifixion was key to God’s plan for securing eternal life for all who believe in Jesus. Satan loses! God wins! Regardless of what it looks like in the process.

As you persevere despite opposition, trust God. Trust that in the midst of everything, He is building you up, strengthening you, and teaching you to trust Him more.

I praise You, God, for using for good what the Enemy intends for evil. Show me how to persevere toward ultimate victory.

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Intended for Good

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. — Genesis 50:20

I love this verse. I often say it’s my life verse because, just as it did for Joseph, it accurately depicts what God has done with my life. He’s used it — every detail of it — for the saving of many lives. That’s because God is in the business of turning anything bad into everything good — including the details of your life.

In the Old Testament, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely imprisoned by his enemies, and forgotten by two men he befriended there. Looking back, though, Joseph could see God’s hand in the events of his life and how He used those events to preserve the nation of Israel.

What Joseph recognized as true then is no less true today: anything the world intends for evil, God can use for good.

God is able to take the mess of our past and turn it into a message for saving others. He is able to take our trials and turn them into a testimony to encourage others.

So trust God with everything that’s happened in your life. Rejoice even now that He’s going to use all of it for the saving of many lives.

I rejoice in the hope that what the Enemy meant for evil, to harm me, You will use for good, for the saving of many lives. I celebrate Your work in my life!

Excerpted with permission from Unshakeable by Christine Caine, copyright Christine Caine.

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Your Turn

All of it. Everything in our lives, God will use for good. For the saving of many. We can trust Him that we will end up on the winning side! Come share your thoughts with us on our blog. We want to hear from you!~ Devotionals Daily