Prayer Journal
Friday, May 16, 2003
"Why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?" Job 3:16
I'm sure Job wasn't the first person to ever question his reason for living. From the book in the Bible that bears his name, we learn that he never considered suicide but found a purpose to go on. He questioned why he was spared when other family members were not, but deep down he knew God had a reason.
If we're honest, we'll admit that we've had moments like that. We've held in our hands the blessing of the Lord one day, just to see it taken away the next. "Why, God why? Why would you bless me like that and then take it away? If it's a lesson I must learn, then test me and judge me, but please don't leave me alone to question my faith in you."
Of the forty-two chapters in Job, the first two occur within the course of a few days, but as for the rest of the story, we don't know how long it lasted. In other words, Job's testing may have lasted for days, months, years or even a lifetime.
Jacob worked and waited forteen long years before he was able to marry Rachel, his true love. (Gen 29:18-30) From the time Joseph was sold into salvery to the time he became Pharoah's top man, almost thirty years had passed. After forty years, Moses concluded that he had become an alien in a foreign land. Both Joshua and Caleb were faithful spies who trusted God with a strong faith, but they had to walk through the desert for forty years because of the sin of other people.
In all that time, these men kept the faith. In his later years, Joshua said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Jos 24:15) At eighty-five years of age, Caleb trusted the Lord to give him the hill country of Hebron against the mighty Anakites who lived there.
How's your faith? During your time on earth and having seen God's abundant blessing, have you learned yet to trust God and leave the timing to him? Or, have you taken your eyes off Him to focus on things you're going to lose.
What will others say of you after you're dead? Did you spend your life reaching for things you lost or did you invest your life in God's service and gain something you'll never lose?
Just Thinkin'... WebServant
Scripture comes
from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New
York International Bible Society
Copyright © 1998-2003
James R. Green and Prayertower Ministries - All Rights Reserved
I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
* My children
* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
* My country
* Civic leaders
* Schools
* Teachers
* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
* The hospitalized
* The grieving
* Widows
* Orphans
* My church
* My pastor
* Church leaders
* Other churches
* Persecuted church
* Missionaries
* Myself
