Daily Bible Reading - Tuesday September 1st

Kind of ironic with the reading in Job today, it’s the beginning of a new month for us, for Job it’s the beginning of his life again.  I thought it interesting when God got onto Eliphaz telling him he was wrong in the way he treated Job and that he spoke wrong about the things of God.  God set it all straight.  Job’s persistence in believing in God and not wavering took Job through all of his situations.  God restored him back to where he was plus gave him more then double of what he lost, he even had more children and ended up living a long life.  You God has the same thing for us.  Some of us has lost things over the years as Job did.  You might not of gone through the things Job went through but whatever it is we’ve been through God wants to restore us and give us back what we’ve lost but not only does He want to give us back what we’ve lost He wants to restore to us more.  God is like that because He absolutely loves us and wants nothing more then the best for us.  I bet when God restored to Job what he had lost and then some he did what the devotional talks about and put on that garment of praise.  Putting on that garment of praise for me lifts that spirit of heaviness that sometimes likes to get me down.  Praising God in the tough times will life you back up and give you strength.  When I praise God in the midst of a storm I always feel like God is empowering me with strength to help me get through, it really does work. 

***Bec*** I know what you mean about struggling with forgiveness, I too have struggled with it and still do but in a different way I’m sure.  There are things in the past that I am not proud of and still struggle with forgiving myself, when I struggle with that it spills over into other area’s of my life and I struggle with forgiving others, that stupid devil just don’t give up but he’s in for a rude awakening because I’m catching onto God’s word more then I ever have.  Reading what you wrote about the Sunday message at church really spoke to me, thank you for sharing that, that really sounds like some good Word. 

Today’s Reading

Job 40:1-42:17
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
Psalm 45:1-17
Proverbs 22:14

Daily Devotional

Isaiah 61:3, NIV

"Provide for those who grieve…a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor"

What are you wearing today? Not on your physical body, but what's covering your mind and emotions? Are you clothed with despair and disappointment? Are you wearing "heaviness"?

If you've recently gone through a hurtful or disappointing situation, the Bible says there is a time to grieve. It's important to go through that process and release the hurt to God. But the Bible also says that God wants to give you a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness or despair. He wants to exchange your hurt for His healing. He wants to fill you with His peace and joy.

Are the garments of yesterday holding you back and weighing you down? Maybe it's time to exchange that heaviness for His garment of praise. Maybe it's time to release those heavy burdens. It's time to forgive those who have hurt you and begin to praise your way to victory! Just start right now by thanking Him for the life you have today. Thank Him for the opportunities today has to offer. Thank Him for the beautiful sunrise. When you wear that garment of praise, you'll stand strong and display His splendor all the days of your life!

A Prayer for Today:

"Heavenly Father, I humbly come to You asking that You take my old, heavy garments of despair and heaviness. Make me new today. Give me a garment of praise so that I can be a display of Your glory and splendor. In Jesus' Name. Amen."