ChannelS

If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him – I have not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against his life. – Job 31:29-30

Think of a time when, having been hurt or provoked, you delighted at the misfortunes of others. It may be as far back as a couple of years ago, or as recent as just a few hours ago. You may not have said anything that may have aggravated them further but thinking ill about them is just as bad. Then remember what Jesus did when he was mocked, betrayed, and crucified. Commit to apologize for each of those moments, and for all the succeeding moments you fail to act in love. Pray to be like Job in being reflective of your actions, and pray to be like Jesus in how we treat and relate to other people.

February 23, 2012 – Job 31:9-40

I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl. – Job 31:1

Dear God, may I be pure in my mind and heart by focusing on You and avoiding to look at others lustfully. Thank you for giving me the grace to be able to control myself from my sinful desires. May You always remind me that You created human beings in Your own likeness and image. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray, AMEN.

February 22, 2012 – Job 30:1 – 31:8

And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”  – Job 28:28

Father, forgive me when I search for wisdom in places where it cannot be found. Whether it’s in people who have high positions that I look up to, or the different media I’m exposed to everyday, I’m sorry for replacing Your wisdom with theirs. I humbly pray that You help me find wisdom in You alone, because You alone are awesome, possess wisdom worth knowing, and are worthy of being feared. I also pray that you give me the strength to shun evil in my life. AMEN.

February 21, 2012 – Job 28:12-29:25 

Dominion and awe belong to God; he establishes order in the heights of heaven. - Job 25:2

In Job 24, Job movingly describes the feeling of God’s absence at his time of greatest need. God must also seem absent to the poor, the fatherless and all those suffering without relief, he reflected. This verse was part of the shortest speech in the book – said by Bildad.

Lord God, I know that You are God. I may not see it right now but I know that You are sovereign. Please grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to accept the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. In Your Name I pray, AMEN.

February 19, 2012 - Job 24:1 - 25:6

Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? … Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways.Who is the Almighty that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?’ But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked. – Job 21: 7, 14-16

Sometimes I wonder why other people who don’t believe in God still prosper and enjoy a lot of things in this world. God in His own sovereignty and perfect knowledge has a plan for them. I just feel sad that some of my friends who belong to rich families or doing great in their respective careers seldom acknowledge God’s blessings in their lives. I know that these friends and relatives of mine need Jesus in their lives, even if they think otherwise. How about you? Have you ever tried sharing the Gospel to your rich friends and relatives who have yet to know God personally? Rich people need God too.

Lord, may you use me to make my rich and successful friends and relatives realize that they need You in their lives. May they realize that they need to depend on You, not their wealth. May they see in my life how truly blessed and satisfied I am to have You and depend on You. AMEN.

February 17, 2012 – Job 20:12 – 21:34

And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,  whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me! – Job 19:26-27

Do you look for God? In joy? In trial? Praise God that He continues to draw you to Him, to reveal Himself to you. Pray for the heart that keeps on seeking the face of the Redeemer. Justice is the Lord’s.

February 16, 2012 – Job 19:1 - 20:11

  If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewalto come.  You will call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have made. Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sin. My offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover over my sin. – Job 14:14-17

Job’s reaction about his circumstance and death is understandable. What is remarkable is his budding hope (v.14). Pray to God to give you that hope that Job has, hope that gives us the confidence that something will come to pass because God has promised it will come to pass.

February 13, 2012 – Job 13:13 – 14:22 

Then Job replied: “Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die with you! But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things? “I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called upon God and he answered— a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless! – Job 12:1-4

Lord, I am really sad, grieved and angry about the things happening in my life right now.  I know you are always with me and that you hear my prayers, but I just feel like all these trials are becoming too much for me to bear.  I do not understand why, how even my closest friends are not able to empathize and understand my situation first before they give their counsel and advise. Help me know you are near Lord. Help me to feel your presence right now. I need you Lord. Will you ease my burden, will you take away my pain, because even if my friends do not understand, I know you do. Help me to just be still and trust in you, my God. AMEN.

February 12, 2012 – Job 12:1 – 13:12

Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea. – Job 11:7-9

Lord, I thank You and I praise You because You are the Almighty God – my Father in heaven who is ever faithful. Truly You are incomprehensible and incomparable. No one can fully understand how great You are. Forgive me when I don’t have a high view of who You are in my life. With all the challenges I face each day, help me remember that You are always in control – that You are all powerful and You hold the whole universe in the palm of Your hand. Teach me to trust in You always, even in hard times. Also, cause me to share Your love to others by always being there for them as You have always been there for me. AMEN.

February 11, 2012 – Job 10:1-11:20

How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him? Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. – Job 9:14-15

Lord God, I am humbled before Your presence. You alone are holy; You alone are just. When I look to You – at Your holiness – I cannot help but take notice of my sins. Thank You for Your mercy, that despite being in sin, You chose to give me life even though I deserved death. I confess my sins to You, promise to turn away from them and follow You. In Christ’s name I pray, AMEN.

February 10, 2012 – Job 8:1 – 9:35