Faith and Honesty in Prayer
Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me. (Job 31:35)
Deut. 6:5 and 30:2-3; I Sam. 7:3; Jer. 29:10-14; Joel 2:12-13; Matt. 22:36-40; Luke 11:9; John 15:7
What Is God Saying?
Job's name is synonymous with suffering. With God’s consent, Satan put Job to the test to see if his faith was valid. Could it be, argued Satan, that Job would only trust God as long as there were blue skies and happy affluence? Job nobly bore the suffering that came, but Job's friends accused him of being punished for his sinful life. Nevertheless, Job continued to trust God, and the story had a happy ending (Job 42:12-16). Battered by his friends who compounded his sufferings, Job’s steady faith brought amazing dividends.
In Job 42:7 God vindicates Job by saying to one of Job’s friends, ‘My wrath is kindled against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right as my servant Job has.’ Job’s search for truth was honest. Brought face to face with God (42:6), he repented in dust and ashes. Job was not a wicked man but genuinely faithful and honest. He received more at the end of his life than he had ever had. ‘And Job died, an old man and full of days ... and full of blessings’ (Job 42:17).
How Does This Apply To Us?
Job’s friends in their self-appointed mission of bringing comfort to Job, added to his suffering with blame and shame. Job cries out (Job 31:35), ‘O Lord, hear me. Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!’ It was like a crack in the wall, allowing light to come into the night of Job's anguish: this is my prayer; I still trust You; I believe the answer is on the way; only Your answer will erase the dilemma; only Your peace will calm my soul; only Your solution will solve the problem. Trust God, and you will see God's deliverance and restoration.
Pray With Me
Father in Heaven, almighty and all-loving, it is good to know that I may come to you at any time in prayer. It is good to know that my prayer will be heard and answered. I have prayed often for others. It is a welcome task. It is a privilege to guide others as they add their signatures to a prayer. But I also need help from the Almighty. Only the almightiness of God can subdue and cleanse my heart, ripping away all pretence. ‘Deep calls unto deep.’ The depths of need call to the depths of grace. The depths of failure call to the depths of divine forgiveness. Lord, I would put my signature on that prayer.
I offer this prayer concerning my needs in the strength and mercy of Jesus' name. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
We begin our prayers with faith and honesty. We conclude our prayers with Amen. As we open our hearts to the almightiness of God and the inexhaustible love of God, let us remember to come trusting God's power and to be honest. Then in saying, Amen, we will be saying, Lord, this is my prayer. I mean it. I am confident that the Almighty will answer. We have said, Amen so many times. Now let us try a new ending, Here is my signature! It could open the door to some new beginnings. Let's try it!
