Prayer Is Powerful
Opening Prayer
Ask Jesus to help you get what he knows you need from his Word today.
Read JOB 16:1-21
[1] Then Job replied: [2] “I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you! [3] Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing? [4] I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you. [5] But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief. [6] “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away. [7] Surely, God, you have worn me out; you have devastated my entire household. [8] You have shriveled me up-and it has become a witness; my gauntness rises up and testifies against me. [9] God assails me and tears me in his anger and gnashes his teeth at me; my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes. [10] People open their mouths to jeer at me; they strike my cheek in scorn and unite together against me. [11] God has turned me over to the ungodly and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked. [12] All was well with me, but he shattered me; he seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target; [13] his archers surround me. Without pity, he pierces my kidneys and spills my gall on the ground. [14] Again and again he bursts upon me; he rushes at me like a warrior. [15] “I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and buried my brow in the dust. [16] My face is red with weeping, dark shadows ring my eyes; [17] yet my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure. [18] “Earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never be laid to rest! [19] Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. [20] My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; [21] on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How would Job speak if roles were reversed?Here we have Job suffering and feeling low. He has just been the object of another vicious attack from Eliphaz. How much more can he take? Sometimes we feel like that and we tend to close down from spiritual things and withdraw into anger or bitterness.
Eliphaz accused Job of having no devotion to God (15:4). But underneath it all Job was proving the power of prayer. How can Job possibly pray in his terrible situation? The clue could be in Romans 8:26. The Spirit is helping him in his weakness. His outward appearance is getting worse, but God is looking at him on the inside (1 Sam. 16:7).
Job is becoming a type of Christ. Look at the way he is treated by people (10; Mark 14:65). He felt as if he was separated from God (11; compare Mark 15:34). Jesus felt cut off from God, too, but he still prayed. We need to pray, even when we feel we can’t. Job’s prayers played a significant part in his ultimate victory (Job 42:10).
Apply
Are you finding it hard to pray today? Take a look at Colossians 4:2. Follow its admonition.
Closing prayer
Lord, continue to teach me how to pray, and to pray with faith. I want my prayers to really make a difference.
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