Daily Devotion: Feel Good Friday Thoughts | January 23, 2026
Happy Friday! It’s time for your daily devotion. In Genesis 49:33, after Jacob finished prophesying to his sons, “he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost.” With Jacob gone, the brothers are left to move forward. In today’s daily devotion, resolve to move forward in faith.
Joseph Weeps for His Father
In Genesis 50:1, as soon as Jacob died, “Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.” Joseph seems to be the most affected by his father’s death. No mention is made of how the other brothers reacted. The three older brothers have now been stripped of their leadership.
Joseph’s brothers had harbored hard feelings against Jacob because he preferred Joseph over them. But moving forward means leaving the past and letting go of things you can’t change. In your daily devotion, know that God desires you turn from unrighteous ways and walk in the light of His word.
Joseph Handles Everything
Joseph ensures that his father’s instructions are carried out concerning his burial. Jacob requested to be buried in Canaan in the plot purchased by his grandfather, Abraham. Joseph presides over every detail of the process. Pharaoh grants him full rights of an Egyptian funeral, and a large company, including chariots and horsemen, travels to Canaan with Joseph and his family for the occasion. In this daily devotion, see yourself as Joseph, the dutiful son, obeying your Father’s instructions.
The End of an Era
Now that Jacob is gone, the brothers feel extremely guilty for their actions toward Joseph years ago. And they know that with Joseph’s power and influence in Egypt, he could pronounce any sentence he wanted against them. But they fail to recognize that Joseph walks with God.
When Joseph told his brothers about his dreams in which they were bowing to him, they despised him. However, they were snapshots of his future. His brothers bowing to him in Egypt were the fulfillment of those dreams. In Genesis 50:18, they fall prostrate: “And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.” In this daily devotion, realize that when God gives you dreams, they come to pass.
Comforted by Forgiveness
It saddens Joseph that his brothers think he would harm them now that their father is gone. While they begged for his forgiveness, verse 17 says, “And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.” In verse 21, he reassures his brothers that they are safe: “Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.” In today’s daily devotion, decide that you’ll speak comfort and kindness to your family.
A Change Has Come
His brothers, who once called him a dreamer, hated him and even plotted his death, now realize that Joseph has preserved their lives, and it is up to them to live lives worthy of God’s approval and blessing. There’s a saying that when you know better, you do better. The Bible says when you’re in Christ, you’re a new creation. That means you’re not bound to your past. In your daily devotion, rejoice for you have a new life in Christ.
Time to Move On
In Friday’s daily devotion, Joseph’s brothers needed to leave the past, and so must you. In Philippians 3:13, Paul talks about “forgetting those things which are behind,” and moving forward into the things that are ahead. You can’t look behind you and follow Christ. Decide that it’s a new day, and it’s time to move on by faith.
