Readings for today:

Job 24:18-24

"Yet they are foam on the surface of the water; their portion of the land is cursed, so that no one goes to the vineyards. As heat & drought snatch away the melted snow, so the grave snatches away those who have sinned. The womb forgets them, the worm feasts on them; evil men are no longer remembered but are broken like a tree. They prey on the barren & childless woman, and to the widow show no kindness. But God drags away the mighty by his power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life. He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways. For a little while they are exalted & then they are gone; they are brought low & gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain. "

Job 26:5-14

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion & the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

2 Corintians 1:21-22

"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

Psalm 41:13

"Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen & Amen.

Reading for today:

Job- 19:25-27 "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes- I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Amen, amen. Job has been struck down, nothing left & he is still defending & upholding the Lord.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love."

Psalm 40:

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud & mire; he set my feet on a rock & gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see & fear and put their trust in the Lord.

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak & tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

Sacrifice & offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced, burnt offerings & sin offerings you did not require. Then I said, "Here I am, I have come-- it is written about me in the scroll. I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."

I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O Lord. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness & salvation. I do not conceal your love & your truth from the great assembly."

Today I rest in the Lord. Today I seek His shelter. Today I come before the King of Kings in submission, with the knowledge that His plan is better than any that I can micro-organize/orchestrate. It is the plan He has set before me and I shall walk it even when it's not ideal. I shall throw off all that hinders & run the race I was chosen to run.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27

²⁶ Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. ²⁷ No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Amen.