When The Lord Turned The Captivity Of Job

In the book of Job, Satan is allowed to sift this man of God and everything is taken from him: his children, his health, his affluence, his reputation, nearly EVERYTHING. (See Job 1:1, 6-12, 20-22)
Despite what looks like an attack of divine wrath upon him for no apparent justification, Job maintains his faith and trust in God and belief that God cannot be punishing him for any known sin he has committed. 

 In the beginning of the book, Job offers sacrifices for his children, intercedes and prays to God on their behalf. (*See Job 1:5)

The Bible suggests that Job’s prayers are more to prevent something evil from happening. After his crisis he laments, “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.” Job 3:25 NLT. 

After everything is taken from Job, he doesn’t curse God, but he is thrown into an abyss of self pity and depression, focusing on his troubles and wishing only for death.

“At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth. “Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived. Let that day be turned to darkness… Job 3:1 NLT (*see Job 3:1, 3-6)

Then his friends come by to comfort him. However, when they hear him talking so negatively they begin to assault his integrity, though they have no justification for condemning him other than the fact that he has been mercilessly persecuted through myriad tribulations.

They are judging him by his misfortunes adding to them by heaping sorrow upon sorrow.
Like Job, we cannot understand our trials sometimes for they seem so unfair. 

Why should we be afflicted when others are not?  We may wonder if God plays favorites. 
Yet the Bible reveals “For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:11 NLT

After studying God’s Word we gain a better understanding of suffering, how God views pain and affliction, and the purpose of trials. 
We will never have all the answers this side of eternity, “

Some people may go through severe trials as Job did, and they come through the long dark tunnel emerging into a broad new path. 

God rewards them with a wonderful new life and all their former misery seems to vanish away in a beautifully restored life through His measureless mercy and grace.

And then there are others who seem to be destined to suffer through serial trials and misfortunes throughout their lives. 

Their Divine Coach gives them short reprieves to sit on the bench for a rest from their suffering every so often, but then He sends them back into the Divine Game as First Stringers, to combat their spiritual Opponent. 

This seemed to be what the Apostle Paul experienced as did many of the other apostles.

 

We are all of us in this war together, but some souls God seems to use to fight in the trenches facing the opposition more frequently and getting more battle wounded because of this. 

Because of his special revelations Paul wrote that he was given a painful thorn to bear:

“So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” 

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NLT

Some may seem never to suffer. However, to everything there is a season, and a time and purpose to everything under the heavens. 

Also, some types of suffering go unseen, for appearances are deceiving. Only God knows all hearts. 

What today is, tomorrow may not be. (See Ecclesiastes 3:1)

 “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 NLT

God knows what the limits of each person are and He never gives us more than we can tolerate. (See 1 Corinthians 10: 13)

The Lord tests each of us according to His Word to see if our faith is genuine. 

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 

These trials will show that your faith is genuine.

 It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. 

So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT

God’s Word says that our Heavenly Father chastises each one of His children to make us holy.

“As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. 

Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 

Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 

For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. 

But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 

No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! 

But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Hebrews 12:7-11 NLT

As we glean from studying the Book of Job, it is never wise to judge people or God by their or our own afflictions.

 “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? “Job.38.1, Job.38.2

 Romans 8:28 reveals that God is working all things together for good to those who love Him. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 admonishes us to pray without ceasing, rejoice always and to give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

After the Lord appeared to Job and counseled him, Job prayed to God and worshiped Him, repenting for his misunderstanding of God:

“I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You. Therefore I loathe [my words] and abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6 AMPC

Ultimately God was angry with Job’s friends who had condemned Job unfairly.

He told them to go have Job pray for them and bring sacrifices for him to offer to the Lord on their behalf.

After Job prayed for them, the Bible says,  “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends…”

God rewarded Job and blessed him with more than he’d started out with. 

The book of Job teaches us that prayer sets us free from bitterness and releases God’s love in our hearts so that He can bless lives through us. 

God will restore us once we throw off the shackles of unforgiveness, which leads to an unhealthy focus on the self, breeding self pity and resentment, the bitter roots of depression,  making our attitudes negative, hopeless, and dark. 

Prayer and Forgiveness open the door to God’s love and light in our hearts and sets us free to experience God’s healing mercy and grace. 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Thy immeasurable love and mercy towards each of us. When we suffer through trials help us to understand that You do love us, that You have not forsaken us and never will, and that You suffer with us in our pain through Christ who’s Spirit dwells in us. Thank You for Thy Word that assures us of these truths; bless and encourage all who are suffering through trials and fill them with rivers of Thy peace and strength to make it through, in Jesus’ name, amen.

The Lord Will Wash Away All Our Tears Someday © (p) 2022, Meditations For The Journey, Keyboard Instrumentals, by Suzanne Davis Harden, through the Indwelling Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Inspired by The Holy Spirit, To The Glory of God The Father, In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

All Rights Reserved. 

 

Midnight Prayers & Meditations~Volume 2

 

Midnight Prayers and Meditations~Volume 2

By Suzanne Davis Harden

Original Keyboard Instrumental Prayers Featuring the Various Instrumental Voices of Guitar, Strings, & Piano Solos Performed by Suzanne Davis Harden, through the Risen Lord Jesus Christ, Inspired by the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father, In Jesus’ name, amen.

Midnight Prayers and Meditations, Volume 2, is the second chapter of the album of original keyboard instrumentals inspired by the Holy Spirit. 

I published the first volume of Midnight Prayers & Meditations last Autumn in the twilight of 2020, forever to be remembered as the year of the Pandemic.

I had several of the songs on this second volume ready to publish even back then, but the Lord had me wait to publish the current album for various reasons.

God’s word says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven…” ~Ecclesiastes 3:1 - KJV

The Lord has blessed me with much music for His glory through the risen Lord Jesus Christ in me. But He only directs me to publish what He wishes according to His plans and purposes. 

It is as if the Lord uses each song or composition to teach me that not everything is chosen for the spotlight right now, and yet everything is loved and special at all times. 

All of the music God has blessed me with was created for His glory and glorifies Him in its own way whether it gets published a month from now, in six months or ten years, or whether it never gets published at all. 

I truly believe that all of His music serves a divine purpose and brings Him glory in the way He has chosen in its own time. 

If we could only understand that each one of us are like the musical compositions He inspires. We all exist because the Lord wanted to create us; He loves us all very much.

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him would not be lost but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world. He did not send Him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through Him.” ~John 3:16-17 - ERV

God is infinite and His love and mercy toward us are measureless. 

His thoughts are far beyond our thoughts and He does not think as we think. 

We can’t wrap our minds around an infinite Being. 

“The teaching about the cross seems foolish to those who are lost. But to us who are being saved it is the power of God. As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise. I will confuse the understanding of the intelligent.”

~1 Corinthians 1:18-19 - ERV

God is as far above us as the universe is wide. 

If we try to define Him by putting Him in a neat box of rationalizations we fail. 

He is not a black and white formula. 

He does not make sense at all to our rational minds. 

He will blow us away when we truly come to know Him. 

“So what does this say about the philosopher, the law expert, or anyone in this world who is skilled in making clever arguments? 

God has made the wisdom of the world look foolish. 

This is what God in His wisdom decided: Since the world did not find Him through its own wisdom, He used the message that sounds foolish to save those who believe it.”

1 Corinthians 1:20-21 - ERV 

We will go insane trying to define Him in any traditional sense. He won’t be standardized, denominationalized, fit into neat theologies, philosophies, and so forth; for the minute we try we fall flat on our faces and He has to pick us up; dust us off and say, “Read My Word again.”

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. 

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” ~Isaiah 55:8-9 - KJV

We might not like or agree with His word in all its completeness. 

And we might  be tempted to pick and choose what we want to believe out of it. 

But have we never considered listening to Jesus Christ?

Jesus teaches us how to read His word. 

He spoke in parables.

He spoke in metaphor and pictures.

His word is spiritual. 

Many of His disciples left Him when He spoke to them spiritually. 

Jesus said, “My words are spirit and they are life. The flesh profits nothing.” (John 6:63)

If we approach Christ and His word with a literal mind we are not going to know Him or understand His word. 

We must walk by faith and not by sight. (*See 2 Corinthians 5:7)

We must trust and believe that God is real:

“Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. 

It is proof of what we cannot see. 

God was pleased with the people who lived a long time ago because they had faith like this. 

Faith helps us understand that God created the whole world by His command. 

This means that the things we see were made by something that cannot be seen. 

Without faith no one can please God. 

Whoever comes to God must believe that He is real and that He rewards those who sincerely try to find Him.”

Hebrews 11:1-3,6 - ERV (Easy To Read Version Bible)

I sing by faith.

I play the keyboard by faith. I have no real background in music.

Really. 

All of my background and training are in the visual arts.

I did not grow up with any musical gift or any idea of becoming a musician. 

My whole passion and goal was to become a visual artist. 

Art was the love of my life. Music merely existed to stimulate my artistic creativity. In other words, I listened to it while I created my art.

God sovereignly gave me a gift of music in 2009 and I accepted it by faith.

Since then I have played the piano nearly every day; songs the Lord gives me by faith. 

My songs are more like prayers ascending to Heaven. 

I pray and it is the risen Lord Jesus Christ within me by His Holy Spirit who inspires the music and who plays through me.

It is the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ within me who creates all the music. 

I know that sounds strange. 

But Jesus Christ is a risen, living Savior. 

He is alive within me!

This is what Christianity teaches. 

Jesus said, “On that day you will know that I am in the Father. You will know that you are in Me and I am in you. Those who really love Me are the ones who not only know My commands but also obey them. My Father will love such people, and I will love them. I will make Myself known to them.” ~John 14:20-21 - ERV (Easy To Read Version Bible)

If someone who calls themself a Christian says this is not true then they are denying the Lord Jesus Christ. 

For Jesus Christ said He is a living, risen Savior. 

He said that He has risen from the dead, that He lives inside those who accept Him as their Savior and Lord, that He seals them with His Holy Spirit, that He does give His children gifts with which to glorify Him on this earth, and that no one can dictate to Him what kind of gifts He is allowed to give His children. 

The Lord is a God of miracles and He is in the Heavens, the Bible declares, and He does whatever He pleases. 

“Our God is in heaven, and He does whatever He wants.”

Psalm 115:3 - ERV (Easy To Read Version Bible)

God did what He wanted when He gave me the gift of music.

I praise Him for this beautiful gift and will use it to glorify Him for as long as He enables me to by His almighty grace and power.

For it is through Christ alone that I can create any music or do any of the creative things He blesses me with. 

I will publicly proclaim that it is the risen Lord Jesus Christ in me doing these works because when Christ walked the earth He said it was His Father in Him who did the miracles that He accomplished and not Himself.

“Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” ~ John 5:19 - KJV (King James Version Bible)

The Bible asserts that we are to live as Christ lived who always glorified His Heavenly Father. 

I want to always glorify my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ even as He always glorified His Heavenly Father.

“He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” 1 John 2:6 - KJV

Surely I fail miserably at walking as Jesus walked because I’m not perfect like Jesus was. But I know that following Christ is a little like driving. 

If I point my car at my goal and drive toward it, then I’m more likely to get to my object than if I don’t aim at anything at all. 

So every day I try to aim my whole heart at the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes I have fender benders, sometimes I run off the road into the ditch when I take my eyes off my Lord, sometimes another “car” runs into me and hurts me terribly; then I have to forgive them. 

So many things can happen on this journey with Christ. 

But God’s word has good directions to follow to help me along the way. 

And Christ’s love sustains me. 

Jesus has paid the price for all my sins on His cross.

When I confess them to Him and tell Him I’m sorry for grieving Him, He forgives me, dusts me off and sets me right again on my journey with Him. 

God is love. (1 John 4:8)

He loves me more than I will ever begin to comprehend. 

If I meditate on His suffering on the cross maybe I can understand a little about His profound love for us. 

His agony and death on the cross make me weep. 

For I learn that God loved me so much that He would allow Himself to be tortured to pay the price for my sins to be forgiven so that I could be His child and be given eternal life and fellowship with Him. 

Not only that, but so that He could put a portion of His Holy Spirit inside of me and bring glory to His name throughout Heaven and earth through my weak vessel to demonstrate His reality. 

God is real. 

Christ is real. He lives inside of me and has made all of the music I’ve published through me. 

Twenty eight albums now since 2013. 

If He can use a weak vessel who suffers from daily migraines, 

ME Chronic Fatigue syndrome, and painful fibromyalgia to accomplish His purposes on this earth, then I know that He can use anyone who will simply believe and walk by faith to glorify Him. 

But more importantly, Christ wants a living, vital relationship with people. 

Jesus Christ wants all to believe in His reality in the 21^st century: that He is a living, resurrected SaPreview Midnight Prayers & Meditations 2vior, not someone who only lived two thousand years ago only to be studied and quoted by an elite few. 

The Lord Jesus Christ wants to live and shine through all who will invite Him into their hearts and who love and obey Him~ “For there is no respect of persons with God.”  Romans 2:11 - KJV

May those who hear my music understand this message and be encouraged to believe that Christ cherishes them and desires an abiding, eternal friendship with them. 

Jesus said, “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him. 

… If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” ~John 14:21,23 - KJV

May our merciful loving God be forever honored, loved, and praised. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Christ, Thou Art The Sovereign Ruler Over All ~on You Tube

Midnight Prayers & Meditations, Volume Two, is dedicated to my Heavenly Abba Father, Beloved Lord Jesus Christ, and Beloved Lord Holy Spirit, through the risen Lord Jesus Christ, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to the glory and honor of God the Father, to proclaim their praises throughout the earth. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

*Special Thanks and Dedication to my beloved husband Mark for all his technical assistance in Copyrighting my music and uploading my files despite many challenges.

May God bless you forever and always for all you do, sweet Mark!

Midnight Prayers & Meditations, Volume Two, Copyright © (P) 2021, by Suzanne Davis Harden, All Rights Reserved. 

Scripture Quotations from the Easy To Read Version Bible, (ERV) Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International, The King James Version Bible (KJV) (Public Domain)

“But I will hope continually, 

and will yet praise thee more and more.” ~Psalm 71:14

Hope Yet More And More

In You, Oh Lord, I trust,

To You, Oh Lord, I pray,

You will answer me

Though I may have to wait.

Lord, You are my Shelter,

You hide me from the storm

I'll bring to You a sacrifice

Of praises, love and joy.

Oh Lord, You are my hope,

Despite the bitter night,

You are my holy lamp

Making all my darkness light.

Oh Lord, You made the night,

The sea, and every storm;

In You my soul will hope,

And praise You more and more.

Oh Lord, You are my hope,

My Holy God of Truth,

My everlasting Shelter,

I’ll ever wait on You.

In You, oh Lord, I trust,

My soul You’ll not forsake,

I’ll hope in You forever, Lord,

And sing Your praise always,

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

 (Prayer Poem & Scripture Painting) © 2017 Suzanne Davis Harden All Rights Reserved.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for Thy gift of hope You give to us when we go through dark tunnels of fear and doubt; storms of affliction and pain, seasons of waiting on the answers to our prayers like the Israelites in the wilderness waiting 40 years for their Promised Land. 

Thank You for the comfort of Thy word that assures us that You never fail, You never lie, that You never break a promise. 

Psalm 146:6 assures us that You keep every promise forever, even as You did for Your Hebrew children in the ancient desert sand so long ago. 

Thy word tells us that You have no favorites; what You did for them, You will do for Thy children today who are trusting and waiting on You. 

May You give us grace to trust You, to believe in all Thy promises, to wait patiently for Thy plans to unfold, for Your plans for each one of us are good, if we will only wait on You to fulfill them. 

Thank You, Lord, we love You, in Jesus' name, amen. 🙏

Prayer song from "Paths of Hope~ Peaceful Prayer Songs: Calming, Peaceful Vocals: May the Lord use this song to bless and encourage your heart, and fill you with rivers of His hope.

"Fear Not" an Encouraging Scripture Video by Suzanne Davis Harden

"Fear Not"

 ~ An Encouraging Scripture Video 
by Suzanne Davis Harden~

My new video "Fear Not" Features comforting bible promises, narration, peaceful video images, and calming background vocals. 

May the Lord use this video He inspired to comfort and encourage the hearts of all who watch it. In Jesus' name, amen.

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee...and He that formed thee... "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine." ~Isaiah 43:1

My Child, Trust Me

My Child, Trust Me

My child, will you not trust Me 

When Heaven won't make sense, 

And let your heart come near Me 

When you'd rather build a fence? 

My child, will you not hear Me

In the stillness of your soul?

Do not misunderstand the pain;

I long to make you whole.

My heart is broken for you;

Yes, I can feel your pain;

Oh, I know all about you,

For I bore your sin and shame.

I am your forgiveness

And your eternal life;

I knock upon your inner door

To bring you hope and life.

I knock upon your inner door

To bring you faith and truth,

Know your soul is knit to Mine

And I will always love you. 

Heavenly Father, please give us the grace to trust You with every challenge that comes to try our faith on our path in this life. May You fill our hearts with Thy holy peace that passes all understanding through every storm. May we trust in You, who knows the beginning and the ending of all things, that You are weaving every detail of our lives into something beautiful though it may not be readily apparent right now. Thank You, dear Lord, for Your immeasurable love towards each of us. Help each soul reading these words to feel Thy love in their hearts. In Jesus' holy name. Amen.

"My Child, Trust Me" © 2010 S.D. Harden All Rights Reserved. Unto The Least Of These Photo Illustration/Via Pinterest