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Welcome to Week #9 of the Dreamers Series
If you missed a previous week you can find them by clicking on the pictures below:
God Does Not Forget
Dreamers Series
As I sat eating breakfast, I overheard a woman at the next table sharing with her friends about a time of powerful ministry she received the year before. She explained the year prior at the conference she came for prayer and God met her right where she was at. I knew she was talking about me, because as she shared the details, I was reminded of when my friend and I ministered to her. When she finished sharing how much the ministry meant and how it came at a pivotal point of decision for her, one friend leaned across the table and asked, “Who was it that ministered to you and gave you such powerful advice?”
The woman just shook her head back and forth and said, “I don’t know. I can’t really remember, but it was good.”
I was both happy and sad. Happy that God had gotten the glory, but also sad. Sad that I had been a part of such a profound time of ministry for this woman and she didn’t even remember who I was. I wanted to be remembered and acknowledged for the part I played in helping her. However, the truth is, that spoke more about my brokenness and an area in my own life I needed healing and to be set free from. My need for recognition and acknowledgement was a deeper spiritual issue that went back to my childhood. My identity was wrapped up in what I did and the gifts that I had and not in the ONE who had given them to me.
Much of my life has been earmarked by a lack of acknowledgement and being forgotten. In fact, I have had past issues with other people taking credit for things I had done. Therefore, they would get the credit, acknowledgement and be remembered. I know it shouldn’t matter, but it did. It hurt, especially when they were being rewarded for my ideas, skill, work, or teachings. Have you ever had something like this happen to you?
There is an innate desire within all of us to love and be loved. There is also a desire to not be forgotten and for us to be remembered or acknowledged for the things we are doing or have done.
I find comfort in knowing that I am not alone and that others have experienced some of the same things and yet come out the other side, stronger and wiser. Joseph sure knew what it meant to be forgotten. In Genesis 40 we read about his time in prison. While Joseph was in prison, we know that God’s favor was upon him. He again was put in charge of the prisoners and given freedom others did not have. God was forming Josephs character, leadership and his ability to trust and rely upon God.
One night while they were in prison, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt had dreams. Each had his own dream, and each dream had its own meaning.
When Joseph came to check on them the next morning, he saw that both men looked troubled.
Joseph (to Pharaoh’s prisoners): Why do you both look so dejected today?
Cupbearer and Baker: We’ve both had dreams, and there is no one here in prison to interpret them.
The Egyptians thought that dreams were often moments of revelation, but they also thought it took special training to know how to interpret them.
Joseph: Interpretations belong to God, don’t they? If you’d like, tell them to me! (Genesis 40:5-8 The Voice)
The cupbearer and baker knew the dreams contained important messages but had no idea how to go about figuring it out. Enter Joseph. He’s again in the right place at the right time. He relies on God to give him the interpretation and he relays the message to the cupbearer. His only ask, his simple request is: “Remember me!”
But I ask one thing. Remember me when things are going well for you. If you have the opportunity, do me a favor and mention me to Pharaoh. Perhaps he will get me out of this place. You see I was stolen from the land of my people the Hebrews, and I’ve done nothing to deserve being thrown into this pit. (Genesis 40:14-15 The Voice)
Joseph completely blessed the baker and gave him a hope for the future. When the dream came to pass as Joseph had interpreted, I am sure he fully expected to be rescued from prison and set free. However, that was not the case.
Sadly, the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph at this time; instead, he forgot all about him. (Genesis 40:23 The Voice)
While reading this passage of Scripture, I found it interesting that just like Joseph, we can bless people abundantly with our God given gifts and yet they don’t acknowledge or honor us in return. It’s funny to me how quickly people can forget our part. It also makes me begin to ask questions.
Questions like:
- When someone’s life is profoundly blessed, changed, or impacted, how is it that don’t remember the people who help them?
- How could they forget?
- Is it that there is no culture of honor? Yes, sometimes, I think this is the reason.
- Is God working on our character and working something out in us? Probably.
- Is He trying to get rid of our finding our identity in the things we do and say? Possibly.
- Is it that God wants the credit and he wants us to get out of the way? Yes, this is always the case.
We must get to a place where we can be complete in who we are in Christ and what He accomplished with us and through us, not what we do. It isn’t about what we do, it’s about what He does. God must get all the credit. He is the one who saves, redeems and heals. We just get to play a role as His hands and feet to a broken and dying world.
It isn't about what we do, it's about what #God does. Share on X
An important lesson from this passage of Scripture for me, is this:
It’s in the waiting, God does not forget who He has called you and I to be. Others may not acknowledge you; they may forget you and they may even dishonor you, but not God. He always remembers. He always acknowledges and He always honors!
We need to look to God not man for our validation, identity and worth.
In our waiting seasons, #God does not forget who He has called us to be! Share on X
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Debbie Kitterman is a natural born encourager who is on fire for God. She is passionate about equipping individuals, so they can go deeper in the relationship with God, reach their God-potential and claim their Kingdom inheritance. Debbie is a wife, mother, author, pastor, speaker and the founder of “Dare 2 Hear,” a ministry that trains individuals to hear the voice of God. She travels to churches internationally and is the founder and teacher of d2htraining.com, an online course designed to equip the believer in releasing God’s heart. Her writing and teachings inspire faith and build bridges for people to believe and expect the impossible. She is also an ordained Foursquare pastor, currently serving with her husband, John, as senior pastor of Restoration Church in Lacey, Washington. Learn more at: www.debbiekitterman.com
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Debbie,
There have been a ton of things that I have done in obedience to God that no one earthly recognized. I am learning to take heart that even if no one else sees or acknowledges, God does. He doesn’t miss anything and so thankful He always remembers. Great reminder this am.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev – That is such a great point – God doesn’t miss anything. Even if no ones sees what you do, God does and in the end, He’s the only one that counts! Blessings
I am eternally grateful that the God who called me didn’t forget me even in the times I “set Him aside.” So much grace and gratitude.
oh Susan, I am so grateful too – that I am not set aside even when there have been times when I have set Him aside. Such a great point to remember.
So very grateful that “God always remembers. He always acknowledges and He always honors.” Blessings!
Oh me too Joanne, me too! Blessings
It’s hard to let go of our own ego. 🙁 It feels good to receive acknowledge for what we do, but you’re right that giving God the glory is the better thing. Thanks for your honesty here, Debbie. It’s something we all struggle with.
Lisa, yes, sometimes it is very hard to let go of that ego. But it is something we will all have to do at some point in our walk with Jesus. Thanks for your comment this week. Blessing
I get the overall message of this post, and it’s a good message, however, there are some people who operate from a place of narcissism and pure ego. Everything they do is for the attention of others. They do it to hear, look at what so and so did etc. That’s gross to me.
While I’ve never met you personally, I don’t believe that’s your heart. I believe that if that woman would’ve acknowledged you, you would’ve encouraged her some more on the spot in the moment.
I also believe that if you would’ve reminded her that it was you, it would’ve come from a place of information and sincerity; wanting to encourage her even more…to find out how else you could help her. That’s the heart I see whenever I visit this space.
Yes, Yvonne, you are so right. There are people who do operate from a place of narcissism, that is not what I was addressing here in the post. It’s gross to me too. They are always coming with the attitude of “what’s in it for me?” and “who is going to notice what I am doing?”
You are correct, it is so not my heart to operate that way at all. I honestly didn’t think in the moment to remind the women it was me. I swang so far over to the extreme of not wanting to be seen as attention seeking or even narcissistic.
Thank you also for the sharing how you feel when you visit me here on this space. That is so my heart and it’s good to know that it is coming through. Blessings
Love this reminder! “God must get all the credit. He is the one who saves, redeems and heals. We just get to play a role as His hands and feet to a broken and dying world.”
Thank you Laura! He does deserve all the credit and more too. We are indeed playing roles as He is the orchestrator of it all! Blessings
Oh, how funny God is. These are the exact words I needed today. I know people say things like that a lot, but it is so true.
“We must get to a place where we can be complete in who we are in Christ and what He accomplished with us and through us, not what we do. It isn’t about what we do, it’s about what He does. God must get all the credit. ”
This was so powerful for me. Thank you for walking in obedience to what God has called you to. It made a difference for me today.
Rebecca – I am so glad my words hit the spot you needed today. I love how God does that. He knows just the right timing and moment for people to receive all that He has for them! Blessings
The desire to be known is so universal, but you are so right that it must be pushed aside for God’s glory. lauensparks.net
Lauren, I couldn’t agree with you more – it is a universal desire that needs to be pushed aside for God’s glory!
A timely post; thanks for the encouragement. We may never get this right this side of heaven but God will give us what we need to manage each situation.
Thank you Nylse! You are so correct, we may never get it right this side of Heaven but God will indeed give us what we need to manage it all! Blessings and thanks for linking up last week.
As were studying Joseph, I had a dream a while back and a relative was just so encouraging to me, she knew I was would do so well. And that was a total 180, What I do is for Him, but I know what you mean about people taking credit or not remembering.
Rebecca, I love that a family member was so supportive of you and encouraged you to step out and follow that dream, that God has placed inside of you!
Such a good reminder from the life of Joseph that things are not all about me but all about Him! Thank you for sharing your life experiences as well.
Elizabeth, it was a reminder that I needed too. Sometimes on accident, I love that He gently reminds me and guides me back. Blessings