Prayer Journal

Friday, November 28, 2003

Affliction is defined as, "pain, suffering, distress or calamity." Affliction has no favorites for everyone experiences it to some degree during their life. The Bible tells us we should thank God for it, for affliction is a faithful teacher of God's word to our soul. But from where does it come?

In the first chapter of Job, we learn that he was afflicted like few others in the Bible, but we have no record of his complaining. It wasn't God who afflicted him, but with his blessing on what Satan would do, it might of well have been. Jeremiah the prophet was the one chosen to be God's voice during a time when God meant harm to his people, not good. He complained to God (Jer 20:7-18) but never considered being silent even though he was imprisoned over and over for repeating what God told him.

Job and Jeremiah were both faithful men who understood that affliction played a role in their spiritual life. They didn't necessarily deserve what they got, but because of what they went through, the testimony resounded through the ages of God's tough, yet gracious love extended to all who are afflicted.

You might be wondering why you're going through problems. Was it something you said or something you did, or is God testing your faith like he did Job? It's hard to know for sure, but this one thing I know: persecution is most often the consequence of our wrong words or actions. Jesus said that some are persecuted for righteousness sake. (Mt 5:10) But, how can I know for sure the source of my affliction?

Doing the right thing at the wrong time could result in undesired consequences, but doing the right thing at the right time is no guarantee you'll avoid consequences either. However, there is absolutely no doubt that doing the wrong thing anytime will bring about undesired consequences of some sort.

What about you? Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day and no doubt, millions of prayers of gratitude went up around lunch time. But, as the day waned and the thought of returning to "reality" today, I doubt few, if any prayers of gratitude for personal trials and tribulation went up.

Job said, "Shall I accept good from the Lord and not trouble?" (Job 2:10) Today, we may be one of those suffering affliction. May we be like Job and refuse to whine, but instead thank God for the privilege of going through it. May we prove faithful, because if we never had a problem, how would we ever learn that God can solve it?

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
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I'll pray today for...
* My spouse
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* Their friends
* My friends
* My employer
* My city
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* Civic leaders
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* The sick
* The lost
* Those in despair
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* My church
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* Persecuted church
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