Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.

Job, you deserve the maximum penalty

for the wicked way you have talked.

37For you have added rebellion to your sin;

you show no respect,

and you speak many angry words against God.”

Lord God my Father,

Keep me from judgment and help me to keep my focus on my relationship with you only. I will never understand the struggle of others or my own, so keep my focus from the distraction of other people’s struggles. Allow me to know you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

His Spirit made the heavens beautiful,

and his power pierced the gliding serpent.

14These are just the beginning of all that he does,

merely a whisper of his power.

Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?”

‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;

to forsake evil is real understanding.’”

Lord God my Father,

You are in control, I am not. Help me to accept your plan without the desire to change it. Help me to follow you without looking away. Protect me from deceit.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.

And after my body has decayed,

yet in my body I will see God!19:26 Or without my body I will see God. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

27I will see him for myself.

Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.

I am overwhelmed at the thought!

Evil people are spared in times of calamity and are allowed to escape disaster. 31No one criticizes them openly or pays them back for what they have done.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to seek you as my strength and rely on you for my future. I so look forward to eternity with you but till then, help me to do your will here. Keep me from envy of others and secure in your plan for me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

“But true wisdom and power are found in God;

counsel and understanding are his.

“He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness;

he brings light to the deepest gloom.

Why should I put myself in mortal danger13:14 Hebrew Why should I take my flesh in my teeth.

and take my life in my own hands?

15God might kill me, but I have no other hope.13:15 An alternate reading in the Masoretic Text reads God might kill me, but I hope in him.

I am going to argue my case with him.

16But this is what will save me—I am not godless.

If I were, I could not stand before him.

“I wish you would hide me in the grave14:13 Hebrew in Sheol.

and forget me there until your anger has passed.

But mark your calendar to think of me again!

Lord God my Father,

Help me to be still and listen for your wisdom before taking action. You are in charge, I am not. Give me courage to discuss my struggles with you so you may direct me. Don’t let my struggle define me but to find my value in you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

If God comes and puts a person in prison

or calls the court to order, who can stop him?

11For he knows those who are false,

and he takes note of all their sins.

Lord God my Father,

You know me and yet you love me. Change me back to your original design and take my false beliefs from me. Restore me and use me for your pleasure.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Do you think your words are convincing

when you disregard my cry of desperation?

Lord God my Father,

Help me to morn well when trouble finds me but keep me close so your comfort is near. Surround me with good people who love you well.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

“I came naked from my mother’s womb,

and I will be naked when I leave.

The Lord gave me what I had,

and the Lord has taken it away.

Praise the name of the Lord!”

But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

I cannot eat for sighing;

my groans pour out like water.

25What I always feared has happened to me.

What I dreaded has come true.

26I have no peace, no quietness.

I have no rest; only trouble comes.”

Lord God my Father,

Help me to rest in your plan. The struggles in my path attempt to distract me from your Peace. No level of stress or desire to have things my way will change your plan. Help me to surrender to your way so your Peace can have it’s way in me and restore me. Thank you for the past as it was and the understanding, as weak as it is, to rest on me. You and only you are in control. Keep me from the desire to advise you on how to do your job better.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

the God who has been my shepherd

all my life, to this very day,

Joseph’s brothers became fearful. “Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,” they said.

But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? 20You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. 

Lord God my Father,

You are my shepherd and know my path. Help me to join you with your plans for me and live by your design. Keep me from anger and allow your peace to sooth those who struggle around me.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 But if I must lose my children, so be it.”

Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.”

“Relax. Don’t be afraid,” the household manager told them. “Your God, the God of your father, must have put this treasure into your sacks. I know I received your payment.” 

“I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 5But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.

So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser45:8 Hebrew a father. to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to trust you in all things, especially when I don’t understand. Help me to be still and know your desire so you can use me to do your will. Help me to not be led by what I know, but to trust you and not act on my so called wisdom, but to act on yours.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset. 

Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.

Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one else is as intelligent or wise as you are.

Joseph named his older son Manasseh,41:51 Manasseh sounds like a Hebrew term that means “causing to forget.” for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” 52Joseph named his second son Ephraim,41:52 Ephraim sounds like a Hebrew term that means “fruitful.” for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land of my grief.”

Lord God my Father,

Keep me aware of those around me and use me to give your hope to the weary. Allow your truth to be remembered in our hearts. Reveal your presence to those that don’t know you thru us. Cause us to prosper so you will be seen.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen