Job suffered much loss in his life when the devil was allowed to have his way with Job for a time. We like the restoration part of Job's life right after his repentance, but do we realize quite what the Word says?
And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)
This, of course, is not some magic incantation. We may be tempted to think when we're down that running a few prayers about our friends through the mouth will get us double what we lost, but that is not exactly what is said here. Eh? It appears to say exactly that? Yes, but we know the LORD sees into the heart of man. Go into that prayer with gain for yourself in mind and it is nothing but the selfish prayers we've spoken before. What the Word would have us to do is pray selflessly as Jesus did. Job prayed for his friends with no thought for getting something for himself, and then the Lord poured out the blessings upon the man.
It is easy for us to take words from the Bible, such as that passage about tithing, and then give or pray with that thought of getting deep down in the darkness of the mind where we don't want to admit that selfish avarice still lurks. Perhaps we are keeping it for a rainy day or something. Take it to the Lord and confess it. Pray for your friends without the thought of gain for yourself. Watch, and don't expect selfish gain, what the Lord will do with a selfless prayer.
Enjoy a prayerful day in Christ!
Bucky
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