Category: Daily Prayer

Our scripture today is Psalms 1:2 (NKJV).

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.

The Book of Psalms has been called the songbook of God’s people. Most of the lessons we have read so far are a history of the people and their relationship with God. While the psalms still speak of our relationship, they do so with the full force of human emotion, good, bad, happy and sad. Sometimes these are difficult to read, as in the opening line of Psalm 22 prayed by Jesus on the cross: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” However, our cries of anguish are soothed by the words of Psalm 23:1 speaking gently “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” There are 150 Psalms and while we won’t study them all, we will see a variety of styles and emotions used to offer praise, worship and prayer to our Creator.

Loving Lord, thank You for the gift of being able to voice to our joys, our fears and every other feeling we have. Bless us to see that our emotions are part of our being, made by You and that we can come to You for comfort and strength. Amen.

Our scripture today is Job 42:16-17 (NKJV).

After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days.

The Book of Job has poetic passages like Psalms and words of wisdom like Proverbs. It teaches us that being faithful when things are difficult is the example of Jesus as the suffering servant. Jesus knew what God was doing; Job was clueless. God restored Job in the end because of this. Even though he didn’t know God’s plan, Job was faithful through all the misfortune Satan brought against him. The actions of Job’s wife and friends show how the world may respond to our faith. No matter how the world reacts, we lean on God for our support.

Heavenly Father, we don’t know everything You have planned but we know we can trust in Your love. Bless us to walk by faith, not by sight and to share the Gospel with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Job 16:1-2 (NKJV).

Then Job answered and said: “I have heard many such things; Miserable comforters are you all!”

Job expresses a very universal complaint: we are miserable comforters when we try to offer advice instead of genuine love and understanding. Job’s friends all point to what they claim is God’s law and insist that Job admit his guilt. This would be a false confession and Job knows it. Their reliance on rules and regulations offers no comfort at all! None of them have the whole story, yet they all have what they believe is the answer.

Loving Lord, You taught us to mourn with those who mourn, sharing their burden. Help us to first offer comfort and love before we suggest any action, and may You guide us to healing. Amen.

Our scripture today is Job 12:2 (NKJV).

No doubt you are the people, And wisdom will die with you!

The Bible Knowledge Commentary says of this verse “Job jeers at his friends alleged wisdom.” While they know the words of the scripture, they don’t have the same relationship with God that Job has. They also lack the understanding that God does not send prosperity for the faithful and calamity for sinners. The effects we see in the world around are the result of our sin, not anything sent by God. However, God can use circumstances such as these to strengthen and teach us, literally using evil for good.

Loving Lord, we know you are the source of every good thing and You send them to us to be used wisely. Forgive for the times we act selfishly with Your gifts, including our witness for You. Bless us to be joyful evangelists, sharing Your word and Your love. Amen.

Our scripture today is Job 5:8 (NKJV).

But as for me, I would seek God, And to God I would commit my cause—

Job’s friends gather to console him on his lost family, property and health. They offer what seems to be solid religious advice…except it’s not. All of their direction is predicated on Job being guilty of some sin he refuses to admit. Later God will accuse them “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2). The lesson here is to weigh what advice we are offered against what we know about God, even when it “sounds” religious. Satan quotes scripture incorrectly to Jesus (Luke 4) in an attempt to lead Him into sin. Jesus knows scripture better than that, and more importantly, He knows the Father. We need to ask God’s advice rather than considering any earthly source.

Wise and wonderful God, You have sent us Your wisdom in scripture and through the gift of Your Son. Bless us to be receptive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and share Your love with the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Job 2:9 (NKJV).

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”

In order to understand the message of Job we must understand something about the culture of the time. In this society, one’s honor was extremely important. When illness or calamity occurred, it was thought to be sent by God as a punishment for sin. God begins to show us what we will see later in the person of Jesus – a blameless, suffering servant. Job’s wife believes the lie of the world and encourages Job to “Curse God and die!” Thankfully, Job’s connection to the Lord is stronger than that, and while he is still suffering, he is still faithful.

Gracious God, we don’t always understand what goes on in the world around us, but we know You are in control. Bless us to be patient in our faith and share it, no matter what circumstances we encounter. Amen.

Our scripture today is Job 1:8 (NKJV).

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

The Book of Job is considered “Wisdom Literature” according to church scholars, along with Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. It has lessons to teach us about righteousness, patience, justice and how all those connect us to God. Job is mentioned elsewhere in scripture, notably Ezekiel 14:14, which lists “3 righteous men, Noah, Daniel, Job.” Also we read in James 5:11 “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” In 1 Peter 5:8 we read of Satan prowling, and in Job 1 we hear that Satan was walking to and fro on the earth. Some question God allowing what is about to happen, but we must remember God allowed Adam and Eve to be tempted – nothing happens out of the sight of God. He has a plan for everything in creation.

Patient God, You have waited on all of us to give up our sins and choose a life in You through Christ our Savior. Bless us to be patient with others as we share Your love in the world. Amen.

Our scripture today is Job 1:1 (NKJV).

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

Like many lessons, the Book of Job can lead to questions. What we need to see and learn is not all our questions lead to understanding. Sometimes we go down rabbit holes (as we shall see with Job’s friends) or simply give up (as in the example of Job’s wife). God doesn’t mind our questions, but we see they can’t be used as diversions, excuses or accusations. When we question God, we are on the wrong path. When we ask questions in faith, we are looking to grow in our relationship with Him.

Heavenly Father, You gave us free will and curiosity to understand and use Your gifts to us. Bless us to ask the right questions, and know that Your will is ever for our good, no matter what our circumstances. Amen.

Our scripture today is Esther 7:10 (NKJV).

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided.

The man who would have hanged Mordecai and exterminated the Jews is instead hanged on his own gallows at the king’s command. Haman is an example of the hatred that often manifests itself against God’s people. While it may be easy for us to cheer the demise of a true villain, this isn’t the attitude God wants from His people either. A condemned criminal asked Jesus to remember him as they were both dying. He hadn’t lived an exemplary life and he had no chance to do good things at that point. Yet in Luke 23:43 we hear Jesus tell him “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” God wants us to see that we all have sinned and without the love and sacrifice of our Savior, and our own repentance, none of us can be saved.

Gracious God, in Your mercy You sent Your Son to be the once and for all sacrifice for sin. We ask Your forgiveness for our selfishness. Bless us to be new creations in Christ, going to share Your love everywhere. Amen.

Our scripture today is Esther 5:4 (NKJV).

So Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.”

Esther’s plan works perfectly as the king sees her and calls her into his presence. She sets a trap for Haman, who is responsible for the plot against the Jews. By inviting the king and Haman to her banquet she puts her enemy off guard and has the king in attendance to hear her charge. Esther uses the gifts God has given her to take a chance and save her people. Like Moses, who went back to Egypt even though there was danger, Esther risked much by going to the king’s courtyard. However, she trusted in God and He was with her.

Heavenly Father, strengthen us in faith when we are timid. May we go boldly in Your name to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.