Day 5: Rise Up! It's Friday!

It is amazing to me the steps the devil will take to knock us down while we're trying to do our best to get up and walk with the Lord. I haven't been sick all year other than a headache here and there. Yesterday I awoke with major allergy issues/sinus issues that are completely draining me! I am a mess and my body is craving every ounce of sleep I can get. But you know what? I am up. The devil is going to push, and so am I. Job was tested in the Bible in ways not even fathomable to me. Check out his story...Job 1:1-22 is just the beginning, but look at the conversation between Satan and God. 

..."Where have you come from?," the Lord asked Satan.

Satan answered the Lord, "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on."

The the Lord asked Satan, "Have you notice my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He's blameless - a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil."

(Satan goes on to say that the reason Job fears God is because God has shielded him and he is simply afraid that he'll remove the shield of protection, so that's why he worships him...)

..."But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse your face!"

~Job 1:6-9 (NLT)

Now, the next part is what gets me. God says to go ahead and test him BUT Satan may not take Job's life or harm him at all physically. Like a kid who is told not to touch his brother and then does the "I'm not touching you!" game with a finger millimeters away from the face of his brother just to be as annoying as possible while still technically abiding by the rules, Satan strikes with full force against Job and everything he knows...watch...

13 Sometime later, while Job's children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son,14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us15 when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."

16 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Bolts of lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and fried them-burned them to a crisp. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."

17 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Chaldeans coming from three directions raided the camels and massacred the camel drivers. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."

18 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Your children were having a party at the home of the oldest brother19 when a tornado swept in off the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and they died. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."

20 Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped:

21 Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I'll return to the womb of the earth. God gives, God takes. God's name be ever blessed.

22 Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God.

~Job 13-22 (The Message - emphasis mine)

Seriously!? Can you imagine Job hanging out at the house and then all of the sudden this messenger running up to tell him his entire family has been wiped out in a freak accident, then while he is finishing the bad news, another one runs up to tell him a fire from heaven has killed all his livestock and shepherds. Then, while those two are getting out the last of their news ANOTHER messenger shows up to tell Job that thieves have come and stolen all he owns, including the camels, and killed all the help.  Talk about a bad way to start the day!

While no one has shown up lately to tell me about my sheep or camels, I do have friends that it seems never catch a break! It's one thing after another after another. I know it gets long and enduring Satan's blasts are draining and often feel hopeless to fight against, BUT take heart in two parts of this passage!

#1: Job throughout all of this falls face first on the ground and praises the Lord! Can you imagine? Do you do this even in the seemingly tiny tough times you've been through? No?...well, me neither, but I want this to become my instant reaction! Don't you??

#2: God calls Job blameless and specifically points him out to Satan. That sounds cruel at first, but it's because he KNOWS Job will respond with praise. He knows what Job can handle, enter in the guidelines that physical harm is out...How amazing God is to know exactly the limits of his children?!

I just wanted to start this morning out with encouragement that it can always be worse. At least no one stole all your camels and sheep this morning, and your house is still standing :) 

I love y'all and am praying for your time with our Savior this morning and today. I am now going to rush to get ready and out the door. I love getting lost in my time with God. His stories are engulfing my mind with questions and sheer wonder, which is exactly what I wanted! Love it! (and now I am late, lol!) Guess that means I'm getting up earlier tomorrow!