What practical steps help us align with God's will, as advised in Job 22:23? Setting the Stage: Job 22:23 “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. If you remove injustice from your tents,” A Two-Part Invitation – Return to the Almighty – Remove injustice from your tent Everything else in this study flows from those two straight-forward commands. Step 1: Turn Around—Returning to the Almighty – Acknowledge distance: admit where you have drifted (Psalm 139:23-24). – Humble yourself: “Submit yourselves, then, to God” (James 4:7-8). – Confess specific sins by name: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive” (1 John 1:9). – Abandon self-reliance: “Let the wicked man forsake his own way…let him return to the LORD” (Isaiah 55:7). – Surrender the future: choose God’s will over your preferences every new morning (Luke 9:23). Step 2: Clean House—Removing Injustice From the Tent – Examine all relationships for unfairness, bitterness, or manipulation (Ephesians 4:31-32). – Repent of dishonest gain: cancel debts, return stolen property, correct false statements (Luke 19:8-9). – Renounce hidden sins that thrive in private spaces—pornography, gossip, deceit, greed (Psalm 24:3-4). – Adjust business practices to reflect honesty, generosity, and punctual payment (Proverbs 11:1). – Guard your home environment: remove media, partnerships, or habits that normalize sin (Romans 13:14). Daily Practices That Keep Us Aligned – Unhurried time in Scripture: let God’s voice set the agenda (Joshua 1:8). – Ongoing conversation with God: praise, petition, and listening (1 Thessalonians 5:17). – Quick obedience to promptings of the Spirit before excuses pile up (John 14:21). – Fellowship with believers who sharpen and encourage obedience (Hebrews 10:24-25). – Active compassion: serve the vulnerable; “act justly, love mercy, walk humbly” (Micah 6:8). Promised Outcomes of Obedient Alignment – Restoration: God repairs what wandering has broken (Job 22:23a). – Fresh intimacy: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). – Clear conscience: freedom from the weight of hidden sin (Psalm 32:1-2). – Fruitful influence: a life that quietly invites others toward the same Savior (Matthew 5:16). Living It Out Return, remove, repeat. The moment you sense distance, come back; the moment sin sneaks in, throw it out. God’s will is not a mystery to those who keep their hearts turned toward Him and their tents swept clean. |
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