Praying Through Job

What's the message from the book of Job? Life is tough and then you die? Sort of, but it's more complicated than that. Job's message is this - people suffer on this earth and God allows it. That's a tough pill to swallow. So why would God allow us to suffer? Are we pawns in some supernatural chess game between God and His ultimate adversary? No. He loves us and wants the best for us...and sometimes suffering is best for us. Job reminds us that no one is immune from suffering since even a righteous man like Job had his life turned upside down. Suffering creates opportunities to reveal God's goodness and His blessing. Job shows us that when we do suffer, we must not curse God, but accept His will so others can tell our stories like Job's story is told over and over again. If you could talk to Job right now, he would probably say his suffering was worth it because so many people for centuries have looked to the book of Job and found comfort during their struggles. PRAYING THROUGH THE BIBLE SERIES recognizes the power of God speaking to mankind through His Scriptures. God's word was not only meant to be read, but applied. We must apply ourselves to these passages and adjust our lives to God's will. Today, God uses many ways to speak to us. This book incorporates those avenues of communication to ensure that God will speak to you during your quiet time with Him. Each section asks the reader to do six things. 1.Read the passage. Open up the Bible and read His Word. 2.Memorize the passage. A certain verse is given special focus. Commit it to memory. Remember it all day. 3.Understand the passage. Background information (Time, Characters, Place, What's Happening) help you to understand the context of the section you are reading. 4.Read the prayer. Read the written prayer as if it is from your heart. Don't recite them as words from a page, but a plea from your soul. 5.Keep praying. Prayer prompts are there to help you continue praying about other specific areas. Listen to the Holy Spirit and see if there is more you need to pray. 6.Journal your thoughts. In the space provided, write down some thoughts that you feel God said to your during this time. Every five sections I've included a "Prayer Thoughts" page to give you more room to journal your thoughts and write down prayer requests as you go through the Bible. Get ready to spend some quality time with God. Get ready for God to speak to you through His Word.

TROY SCHMIDT is an author and television writer writing for Disney, ABC, Nickelodeon, Thomas Nelson and Lifeway. He has written for Max Lucado’s ＂Hermie and Friends＂ series and was a writer/producer on ＂The American Bible Challenge＂ with Jeff Foxworthy for the Game Show Network. His other book titles include ＂Release,＂ ＂Saved,＂ ＂40 Days,＂ ＂In His Shoes: The Life of Jesus,＂ ＂Chapter by Chapter＂ plus other editions in this Praying Through the Bible series. He also wrote ＂This Means War＂ a teen prayer guide based on the movie, ＂The War Room＂ with Alex & Stephen Kendrick. Troy is a Campus Pastor at First Baptist Church Windermere, Florida.