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Lord, Cause My Hand to Prosper: Five Day Devotional

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Here are a few additional resources to guide your quiet time this week:


Day 1: God's Presence: Our Ultimate Advantage

Based on the Message: "Lord, Cause My Hand to Prosper" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master." - Genesis 39:2

Devotional: Life can sometimes feel like a series of unfortunate events. We might find ourselves in situations we never asked for, wondering how we ended up there. Joseph's story begins this way: sold into slavery by his own brothers, far from home in a foreign land. Yet Genesis 39:2 reveals something remarkable: "The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered." This simple statement contains profound truth. Despite being in slavery, a situation none of us would choose, Joseph prospered. Why? Not because of favorable circumstances, impressive connections, or privileged background. He prospered because God was with him. God's presence is the ultimate game-changer. When He is with us, our external circumstances don't determine our success. The prison becomes a palace when God is there. The workplace becomes holy ground. The hospital room becomes a sanctuary. Today, remember that as a believer, you have something more valuable than perfect circumstances, you have God's presence. The Holy Spirit lives within you, providing wisdom, comfort, and power that transcends your natural abilities. Whatever situation you're facing today, whether it feels like a mountaintop or a valley, take heart. The same God who was with Joseph is with you.


Quote: "The Lord was with Joseph even at his lowest point. We serve a God who's with us on the mountaintop, but he's also with us in the valley. The presence of God is a cheat code" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In what current situation do you need to be more aware of God's presence with you, and how might that awareness change your perspective on that circumstance?


Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your constant presence in my life. Help me to be aware that You are with me in every circumstance, both in abundance and in lack. May Your presence be my greatest treasure and advantage today. When I feel alone or overwhelmed, remind me that You never leave me. In Jesus' name, amen.


Day 2: Success Through Struggle

Based on the Message: "Lord, Cause My Hand to Prosper" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant." - Genesis 39:3

Devotional: We often think success comes when we escape difficult situations. But what if the opposite is true? What if our struggles are actually the soil in which our success grows? Joseph's story challenges our conventional thinking about success. Genesis 39:3 tells us, "When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did..." Notice that Joseph didn't become successful after escaping slavery, he became successful while still a slave. This is a profound truth: sometimes God doesn't remove us from difficult situations because He wants to develop something in us through them. The very circumstances we pray to escape might be the ones God is using to shape us into who we need to become. Perhaps you're in a challenging season right now: a difficult job, a health struggle, relationship problems, or financial stress. Instead of only praying for escape, consider asking: "Lord, who am I supposed to become through this? What are You developing in me?" God specializes in turning trials into triumphs. He uses the pressure of difficult circumstances to form diamonds of character within us. Today, embrace your situation as a potential setup for success, not just something to endure until real life begins.


Quote: "Joseph became a successful man BECAUSE of his situation, not in spite of it. This is an important nuance of Christianity: what if your less than ideal situation is actually a setup for success?" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What qualities or strengths might God be developing in you through your current challenges, and how might these prepare you for future opportunities?


Prayer: Father, help me see my current struggles through Your eyes. If I've been praying only for escape, shift my perspective to see how You might be working through these circumstances. Develop in me the character, wisdom, and strength I need for the future You have planned. Help me trust Your process, even when it's painful. In Jesus' name, amen.


Day 3: The Power of Your Hand

Based on the Message: "Lord, Cause My Hand to Prosper" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

"Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned." - Genesis 39:4

Devotional: What has God placed in your hands today? Maybe it's a simple task, a challenging relationship, or a position that feels beneath your potential. Joseph found himself with the responsibilities of managing Potiphar's household, not exactly the dream job for someone who once had visions of greatness. Yet Genesis 39:4 reveals something powerful: "Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned." Joseph didn't just do the minimum; he took ownership of what was placed in his hands to the point that his master noticed and promoted him. Your "hand" represents your action, authority, and ownership. Whatever God has placed in your sphere of influence, however small or seemingly insignificant, is your opportunity to demonstrate faithfulness. Excellence isn't about what you're doing; it's about how you're doing it. God is less concerned with the size of your assignment and more interested in your stewardship of it. When we faithfully manage what's in our hands, God often entrusts us with more. Today, look at what's in your hands. That task at work, that relationship, that responsibility at home, own it. Approach it with excellence. Your current assignment may be the training ground for your future promotion.

Quote: "A person’s hand represents three things: one’s action and agency; one’s power and authority; and one’s possession and ownership. If it’s in your hand, allow the Lord to prosper it!" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: What has God placed in your hands today? If it's in your hand, take ownership of it. Exercise power and authority over it. Become a master at it. Do everything in your agency to prosper in that task.


Prayer: Lord, help me to be faithful with what You've placed in my hands today. Give me a spirit of excellence that isn't dependent on the task but on my desire to honor You. Help me to see my current responsibilities as opportunities to demonstrate faithfulness. May I steward well what You've entrusted to me, knowing that You're preparing me for what's next. In Jesus' name, amen.


Day 4: Blessed to be a Blessing

Based on the Message: "Lord, Cause My Hand to Prosper" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field." - Genesis 39:5

Devotional: Have you ever considered that your presence in a place might be a blessing to others? That's exactly what happened with Joseph. Genesis 39:5 tells us, "From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph." Joseph's presence brought blessing to Potiphar's entire household. The Egyptian didn't worship Joseph's God, yet he benefited from God's favor on Joseph's life. This reveals an important truth: when God blesses you, it often overflows to bless others around you, even those who don't share your faith. As believers, we carry God's presence wherever we go. Your workplace, school, neighborhood, or family can experience blessing simply because you're there. You might be the reason God is showing favor to your entire organization or community. This perspective transforms how we view our daily interactions. That difficult workplace isn't just a challenge to endure, it's a mission field where your presence brings blessing. That challenging neighborhood isn't just where you happen to live, it's where God has strategically placed you to be a conduit of His favor. Today, walk confidently knowing that you carry blessing wherever you go. Your presence matters more than you know.


Quote: "When you understand your identity and your assignment, you realize that God will place you in seemingly less than ideal situations because there's a blessing that you carry. Everything I am connected to will be blessed, in Jesus' name!" - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: How might your perspective change if you viewed yourself as a carrier of God's blessing in the places where you live, work, and interact with others?


Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for making me a carrier of Your blessing. Help me to see the places where You've positioned me as opportunities to bring Your favor. Use me to bless my workplace, my home, my community, and everyone I encounter today. May Your light shine through me in ways that draw others to You. In Jesus' name, amen.


Day 5: Anointed to be an Anomaly

Based on the Message: "Lord, Cause My Hand to Prosper" by Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.


"Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there." - Genesis 39:1

Devotional: Joseph was a Hebrew slave in an Egyptian household, a cultural anomaly. Yet rather than this being a disadvantage, it became part of his unique contribution. Genesis 39:1 tells us, "Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there." Joseph didn't try to blend in or hide his differences. He remained faithful to his God even in a foreign land. His distinctiveness, his willingness to stand out rather than fit in, became part of his testimony. In today's world, there's immense pressure to conform. Yet God often calls us to be countercultural, to stand out rather than blend in. Your unique perspective, values, and faith aren't liabilities, they're your greatest assets. Being different isn't always comfortable. It might mean making decisions others don't understand or taking stands that aren't popular. But when your difference is rooted in your relationship with God, it becomes a powerful witness. Today, embrace your role as God's anomaly. Don't apologize for being different. Your unique calling, perspective, and gifts are exactly what God wants to use to make an impact in places where everyone else looks the same.


Quote: "You are anointed to be the anomaly. An anomaly is someone that deviates from what is standard or expected. If you are going to prosper in this season, you got to get used to being countercultural. Don’t let racial tension and culture wars rob you of your prosperity." - Pastor Dexter B. Upshaw Jr.

Question: In what areas of your life might God be calling you to embrace being different rather than conforming to expectations around you?


Prayer: Lord, give me the courage to be different when You call me to stand out. Help me to find my identity in You rather than in the approval of others. When being faithful to You means being countercultural, strengthen my resolve. Use my uniqueness as a testimony to Your work in my life. May I be known not for fitting in, but for standing firm in who You've called me to be. In Jesus' name, amen.

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