Have you heard it said that everyone is entitled to their opinion? There seems to be no shortage. Have you found people who feel entitled to share their opinion with you, perhaps more than you want? Such people are called opinionated. Do you find them to be tedious and wearisome? On the other hand, do you find it refreshing when people share insights that they have received from me? Revelation is better than opinion. Do you think that revelation is available only to a select few? I will speak to anyone who will listen, and show them eternal truth. Trust in me and lean not on your own understanding, or your own opinions. Share what I tell you with others and you will be a fountain of living water to them. 

I taught my followers that when they were invited to a wedding banquet to choose a seat of lesser honor than they were entitled to that they would be invited higher rather than forced into a less honored seat. Do you understand that this principle applies to more than wedding banquet seating? The world is not naturally a level field, so if you look for opportunities to humble yourself you will find them, for the principle of seeking and finding applies here just as it does elsewhere. Humble yourself and I will exalt you. Do not seek status as something to be grasped and you will have honor from me. 

If anyone had a reason to be bitter it was Joseph. He was sold into slavery by his brothers. He had just cause to resent this. He could have let it consume him but he persevered until he was advanced into a position where he could minister redemption back to his brothers. Would he have arrived at this place if he had focused only on the injustice done to him? Have you ever faced a similar situation on a smaller scale? Do you focus on the injustice done to you? If you bear up in these situations trusting me and looking for my redemptive purpose you will find it and you too will be able to say what you meant for evil God meant for good. 

My word tells you to take up your cross every day. This implies that you have a cross available to you, and that the decision to take it up is voluntary and routine. Do you believe that I love you, and that everything I ask of you is motivated by love and is for your greatest ultimate benefit? Is this easy to see when it involves redemption, and blessing and healing? Can you trust me that it is just as true when it involves carrying your cross? The greatest blessing I have for you is to transform you into my image and likeness. This is only accomplished when you carry your cross. If there was another way I would have provided it.