are you praying for others?
Job prayed for his friends in his time of hardship
Whilst living overseas last year, I saved a quote from a pastor’s sermon who preached,“praying for someone is an act of love, it’s saying I want for you what only God can give you”. Despite how obvious this may seem, I guess it was profound for me because I hadn’t considered praying for people a conscious act of love up until that moment, but rather a result of my love for them. I realised praying for others is in fact an act of love and maybe at times even a sacrifice. Matthew 21:22 says,“and whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith”, therefore intercession is testifying that another person’s wants and needs, struggles and trails are deserving to be heard. It is putting aside for just a moment your own personal supplications to God, in order to place someone else’s burdens at the foot of the Cross.
“10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. 11 All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.” (Job 42:10-11 NIV).
A couple of weeks ago, a good friend of mine sent me a video on the book of Job. This led to a conversation that I knew in that very moment would be the next thing I shared with you all. Sure, his story is nothing new and Job is sort of the token sad story that everyone references in the Bible, I mean even the book of James uses him as an example of patience through hardship (James 5:10-11). But there was something different about this conversation (thank God for godly friendships). It made me realise that I had never contemplated WHEN Job’s suffering ended, I was just always happy God ended it…
It was not when Job had questions for God, or when he pleaded, but AFTER Job prayed for his friends in his time of hardship that his suffering ended. Not only did God reward Job’s faithfulness but He restored him with “twice as much as he had before”. Often times, we can be so consumed by our own grievances, that we forget the power of intercessory prayer. There’s so much beauty in praying for others and standing in spiritual gaps for them. It is pleasing to the Father, that is why as hard as it is we are encouraged to pray for others including our enemies and to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31).
The verse also explains that Job’s family and friends came and “comforted and consoled” him for all the trouble he endured, each giving “a piece of silver and a gold ring”. I thought, they could have easily forgotten Job’s hardship and been jealous of the wealth God had doubled for him saying, “why should I bring him anything if he has everything?”. Sometimes we resent God for blessing those around us and question when our moment will come, but that shouldn’t be the heart posture we have. Are you joyous when God is blessing those around you? Is there feelings of jealousy, envy, a hesitancy to celebrate with them? If so, these are areas of our hearts that we can ask God to cleanse and free us from. Then we can be more faithful like Job and pray for others even when we have a list of things we’d rather bring to God instead.
What does your prayer life look like and consist of? Are you interceding for others even in your time of hardship or need? Have you been asking God to do a thing or two in a life other than your own and it not be for your personal gain?
What are you listening to?
This week’s recommended song to add to your praise playlist is, ‘Worthy of it All’ by CeCe Winans. Give Job a read and enjoy the rest of your week!
