Pray for your friends…
Had a friend yesterday remind me of what Job in the scriptures did to turn his horrific situation around.
As most of us know Job was a very prosperous and successful man. Not only that, it says that he was “Blameless and Upright; he feared God and shunned evil.” Job 1:3 says, “He was the greatest man among all the people of the east.” It would be great for that to be written of you, wouldn’t it?!
Then the test! You know the story; Satan came to God and was roaming the earth looking for someone to devour and God says, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him”. Now it’s hard for people to swallow this story, because they love an American Gospel where everything works and they want to keep the picture of God as Santa Clause…, but, this is a very real story, like it or not.
We know the rest of the story; he loses his fortunes, his 7 son’s and 3 daughters were all killed – his livestock, reputation, all gone. His skin afflicted with painful soars, and he would scrape himself with a piece of pottery as he sat in trash. On top of that, his wife cursed him and told him to die!! Now that’s a pretty bad day… ever have a day like this, a season of life?!
Then Job’s three friends show up; oh, I have had a few friends like these guys! And, I have probably been this kind of friend once or twice!! They are full of amazing advice and are fully aware of why you are going thru what you are going thru; they have all the answer’s and look down upon you for what God is allowing in your life… ever know anyone like this? At times, my closest friends have become my biggest enemy’s.
I have a buddy, Michael Paschall, that gets friendship; his dad taught him that one of the things that matter most in life is just to be good to your friends; honor the relationship; speak life about that person at all cost, and cover them when someone is speaking evil of them. If you see a problem in their life, go to them direct; don’t share it with the world! Give when they are in need, and rejoice when they are successful. Doesn’t that sound refreshing?! Michael and his wife Patti have lived this in my life for over a decade…
Back to Job; at the very end of this tragic story, it says in Job 42:10, that, “After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.” The Lord blessed Job’s latter life more than the first.
“After Job prayed for his friends”! The context is this; Job’s prayer for those who had abused him marked the turning point back to prosperity for him. Translated, “Restores his fortunes” He had 7 more son’s and 3 more daughters; His daughters names, (Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren-Happuch), mean, Dove, (Symbol of peace), Fragrance, (expensive, rare and beautiful), and the horn of adornment, (The outward beauty that comes from an inward character). Daughters who represent peace, fragrance and beauty are the fruits of Job’s trials. It says, “Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters”…
If you are facing any trials, hardships or you’re just stuck and do not know how to move forward, this could be for you. Even if God is allowing it, stop blaming Him and take a minute to pray for your friends. Those that have spoken against you, tried to give you advice without knowing why or what. Those that know more than you and have it all figured out somehow; it’s time for prosperity to return…
