“If you would prepare your heart, and stretch out your hands toward Him; If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, and would not let wickedness dwell in your tents; then surely you could lift up your face without spot; yes, you could be steadfast and not fear.” Job 11:13-15

Reading further on in this passage of Job, we learn that by following these ways is how we will forget our misery. It is true; we all know misery. The book of Job is one of the hardest books to read, yet the one most of us can relate too. Job had everything and Satan hated that. By Satan’s jealousy, he lost it all. We go through 42 chapters of angst and wisdom to find out how Job finally made it to restoration in the Lord.

The hardest part in any story is knowing where to start. Start today simply by preparing your heart and stretching out your hands to God, stretch out your hands in prayer, in hope, in faith and ask Him into your day; your life; your heart. True, His mercies are new everyday, but so must our faith in Him be; every day, fall in love and surrender to Jesus and let Him make your paths straight.

I often get caught up in routine and repetition and doing things just to get them done, but that is not God’s will for us. His will for us is to live joyfully, delighting in Him as He gives us the desires of our heart. Try a new way today; lift your hands in prayer and praise and worship your Maker; this is the day the Lord has made; rejoice and be glad in it.

Heavenly Father,

Higher than heaven is my devotion to You Lord, and today, I come to you with hope in my heart and joy in my soul to thank You for all that You have done, are doing, and will do in my life. Thank you for calling my name. Thank you for the people You have given me to love and to care for. Jesus died for me, so I live for Him and I take great delight in knowing that You love me and are for me. Thank you for your comfort, and your peace, it is in You I take great delight. Please bless me and keep me as I seek Your kingdom Lord. In the precious name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Proclaim Psalm 118:24: This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.

May it be exactly as you pray and proclaim and may the joy of the Lord overtake every part of your heart and your soul this day.