"The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!" (Job 1:21).

Job shows us that God gave Satan access to the world, but not control over the world: he can only do what God allows him to do, he can only go where God allows him to go, he can only touch what God allows him to touch.

Before the enemy can even drive up in your driveway, he must have permission from God!

Thank you, Theresa VdP, Gina G, Debbie P, Carol R, Kristine R, Paulene E, and Sheri G, my newest Friends of the Show, for loving and lifting me!

LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin.

L - Listen (Receive the Word.)

O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

F | Franciscan - Perhaps, after this study, you realize the suffering of someone near you is more attack of the enemy than personal fault. What action did you feel inspired to take to help ease that suffering? Take the time, now or sometime this week, to do what was in your heart.

I | Ignatian - Using all your senses, imagine you are Job, watching the scene in the Throne Room of heaven when Satan appears before God and accuses you of loving God selfishly. What are your thoughts when God Himself says there is no one who fears God and turns away from evil like you?

A | Augustinian - Listening to the show, what current circumstance in your life did you discern might be an attack of the enemy? How will you change the way you approach the people and "stuff" involved in that circumstance?

T | Thomistic - What did the author of Job mean by the word "satan" in Job 1? What is the definition of "satan"? In some translations, the word is "Satan", with a capital letter. Which do you think the Holy Spirit meant in Job 1? Verbalize.

V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl the world seeking souls whom they may devour. Amen +

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*LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types.

Episode Resources

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Read the Transcript

You can download a complete, word for word transcript here, courtesy of Kristie Hynniman who does our transcriptions for you.