Day Twenty-one: January 21 – Today’s Tasting: Job 8-11 ~ Two additional friends who came to console and comfort Job said to him:
Friend’s response: “How long will you go on like this? You sound like a blustering wind. God will once again, fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
Job’s response: “God is so wise and so mighty…He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles
Job cries to God: “I am disgusted with my life. Let me complain freely. My bitter soul must complain…You formed me with your hands; you made me, yet now you completely destroy me….”
Friend responds: “Shouldn’t someone answer this torrent of words? …You babble on…When you mock God, shouldn’t someone make you ashamed? If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer! ”
Today’s Nourishment: Job’s friends visibly saw the disgust on his face. Disgust defined – “strong disapproval, impatient irritation.” According to Wikipedia, “Patients suffering from major depression have been found to display greater brain activation to facial expressions of disgust. Unlike the emotions of fear, anger, and sadness, disgust is associated with a decrease in heart rate.”
Sometimes, our friends’ words of truth stab like a dagger. They see things from a different perspective. Wisdom listens to our friends, even when the truth hurts.
We become so disgusted with life, we complain, we must complain. Disgust shows on our faces. Disgust cries from our voice. Disgust reflects in our heart rate, slowing our desire for living. Disgust decreases, depresses, and destroys.
You may fool those in your life, but you will not fool God. He knows your disgust. How will God, once again, fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy? Laughter and joy will not come through disgust and complaining about your life. Laughter and joy comes when you prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer. Laughter and joy along with disgust and complaints cannot rest on the same face.
Does your disgust show?
Prepare your heart by examining your life and asking, “Holy Spirit, reveal any sin that exists in my life. Sin quenches you. I want my fellowship with you to be CLEAN in 2013.” Humbly, lift up your hands to him in prayer, in repentance, as He reveals those areas that disturb your precious fellowship. Surrender to Him—offer the Lord thanksgiving instead of disgust. Thanksgiving fills your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
Tomorrow’s Reading: Job 12-14
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