Jan. 16 Devotion: Do You Pray?

Do You Pray?

Job 42:8-9

Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. [9] So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.

When we think of talking about the book of Job, I’d say typically the conversation heads a couple of directions.

First, would be everything that Job went through. I’ve even made the statement that if we think we have it bad, I’d guess we’ve not experienced anything that Job went through.

Second, I’d guess that a lot of discussion would go into how the Lord blessed Job at the end of the book.

I want to look at something today I don’t know that I’ve heard discussed a lot. Our passage today reveals some profound truths. Despite enduring immense suffering and receiving harsh, misguided counsel from his friends, Job becomes the channel for their forgiveness. Job’s willingness to pray for his friends is striking. Though they had spoken wrongly about God and wounded Job with their counsel, he did not withhold prayer. In praying for them, Job released bitterness and allowed God to be the righteous judge. His prayer became the channel through which God’s acceptance flowed: “for him will I accept,” the Lord said. Forgiveness, here, is shown as an active choice to stand in the gap for others. Prayer for others, especially those who have wronged us, can release bitterness and help us in personal healing. Job models a Christ-like forgiveness. We see an extended grace to his accusers rather than withholding it.

These verses teach that prayer is not merely self-focused but intercessory, and forgiveness is essential for spiritual wholeness. When we pray for and forgive others, we align with God’s heart, opening doors to His mercy and restoration in our own lives.

Likewise, the friends’ obedience—going, sacrificing, and submitting to Job’s prayer—demonstrates repentance. They acknowledged their wrong and trusted God’s appointed means of restoration.

Through prayer, broken relationships were healed, truth was upheld, and mercy triumphed over judgment. These verses help remind us that God honors prayers offered in humility and that forgiveness often begins when we obey God, even when it costs our pride.

I will pose the question to you now: Do you pray? I’d guess we’d all say yes. However, do we pray for those that have wronged us? Do we pray for those that, in our minds, don’t deserve it? I can only speak for myself in saying I don’t deserve the prayers that have been spoken on my behalf, so who am I to decide if someone else does or does not deserve it? What could it do to your relationship with Christ and others if you were to forgive and truly pray for others, even those that have wronged you?

God bless,

Bro. Josh Richardson