Psalm 105, verse 19 says: "Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph's character."
The life of Joseph teaches us that the road to success is not always easy. It involves a dream nobody else believes in and holding on to it through the hardest of times. It involves handling resentment from those closest to you while keeping a good attitude at the same time. It involves maintaining your integrity when faced each day with temptation. It involves being so honest, the prison warden would trust you with the keys. It involves being gracious when you have the power to retaliate. It involves staying so prepared that even though your dreams are delayed, when God opens the door, you are ready to walk though it.
Joseph was determined to set higher standards for himself than most people set for themselves. He did this even when no one was looking. If you are ambitious for success, you may be tempted to lower your standards to accomplish your goals. You may set standards in terms of other people’s accomplishments and then let other people measure you by those standards. But the standards we set for ourselves are always more important because at the end of the day, we have to live with ourselves. More importantly, God rewards integrity and like Joseph, His purposes for your life will stand. So, set your standards high and keep them high, even if no one is looking.
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