Job 22:23
If you return to the Almighty,
You will be restored.
If you remove iniquity from your tabernacle.
Some people say bad things and do not care who knows it. Some people say bad things and hide so that no one will know it is them. Some people do onto say bad things because they do not want to be found out. Some people do not say bad things simply because it is wrong. Which are you and which do you want to be?
‘Return’ was also ‘comeback’ once. ‘Restored’ was also ‘built up’ twice and ‘increase’ once’.
‘Remove’ was also ‘put away’, ‘banish’, and ‘rid your tent of criminal goods’. ‘Iniquity’ was also ‘unrighteousness’, ‘wickedness’, and ‘evil’. ‘Tabernacle’ was tent’ every other time, including when I tried to type it this morning.
One of my Bible Study partners is going through a very hard time with his family. Their faith is being grown even more since they have held fast to it in so much before. Kind of like praying for patience, I am not sure I want to pray for more faith as it takes trials to grow either. I am struggling enough with what I have to ask for more.
The last week has been humbling, but it has also shown how God has protected me from failing. Being so unable to control my anger has reinforced my need to depend on God. I fear that some other parents were glad not to be sitting next to me. I eventually stopped watching (once my kid was not playing), but I want to celebrate the small victories and not go bananas over the failures no matter how big.
Last night I forced myself to watch the Astros, and at least for a while was able to ignore the failings. I was rewarded when Yordan hit another homer, but I had to abandon the end when they gave up more runs. Maybe next time I can take more. My ask of God is that I will be able to teach myself to be happy with the successes, be humble in the failures, and to always enjoy the presence of the Lord and the opportunity to serve/love the people around me. This/ verse helps me focus on what I can do return and remove.
Written 8/30/26. Posted 9/15/26, Job 542/~1070