A second way we know all that we know is pragmatic--the way things work. Unless you're an acoustical and electrical engineer, you don't really know why the words I speak into my microphone are broadcast through our sound system to your ears. Unless you're an automotive engineer, you don't know why turning your key started your car this morning. You just know practically that it did.

We can find the hand and dream of God in practical ways each day.

Three times, Genesis provides pragmatic confirmation that God's dream to Joseph is on track: "his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did" (Genesis 39:3); "The Lord was with him, and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden" (v. 21); "the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did" (v. 23).

Henry Blackaby's Experiencing God says it well: find what God is doing and join him. Where is God blessing your life? Where does he seem to use your gifts and abilities? What open and closed doors reveal his direction to you? Ask him to reveal his dream through practical circumstances, and know that he will.

The third way we know what we know is rational. You don't balance your checkbook by intuition, I hope. You're using your rational facilities right now to evaluate these words for their truthfulness and relevance. God calls us to love him with all our mind (Matthew 22:37). He invites us, "'Come now, let us reason together,' says the Lord" (Isaiah 1:18).

God's dream for Joseph was fulfilled in rational ways.

When he interpreted Pharaoh's dream that seven years of plenty would be filled by seven of famine, Joseph then advised him, "now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine" (Genesis 41:33-36).

With this result: "The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. So Pharaoh asked them, 'Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?' Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you'" (vs. 37-40).

A wise mentor once told me, "The Holy Spirit has a strange affinity for the trained mind." Seek God's word and will for your decisions. Spend time each morning in his word, learning his truth for your life.

Learn your spiritual gifts. Determine the most reasonable and effective ways to use them. Make a strategic plan for the best investment of your time, talents, and money in fulfilling your ministry. Ask God to guide your thoughts as well as your circumstances and inner spirit. And he will.