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Boldly Asked and Answered Prayers

Links for today’s readings:

Feb 3  Read: Job 36 Listen: (3:04) Read: Psalms 20-21 Listen: (2:37)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 20.6-9

6 Now this I know: 

The Lord gives victory to his anointed. 

He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary 

with the victorious power of his right hand. 

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. 

8 They are brought to their knees and fall, 

but we rise up and stand firm. 

9 Lord, give victory to the king! 

Answer us when we call! 

Psalm 21.1-5

1 The king rejoices in your strength, Lord. 

How great is his joy in the victories you give! 

2 You have granted him his heart’s desire 

and have not withheld the request of his lips. 

3 You came to greet him with rich blessings 

and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. 

4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— 

length of days, for ever and ever. 

5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; 

you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

Reflection: Boldly Asked and Answered Prayers

By John Tillman

Psalm 20 and 21 mirror each other. The poetic pairing includes the people’s intercessory prayer for the king going out to battle and the king’s prayer of praise to God when returning from battle. 

The requests in Psalm 20 are answered and celebrated in Psalm 21. We hear proclamations of faith in Psalm 20 and hear testimonies of God’s faithful provision in Psalm 21.

The people ask the Lord to answer, giving the king what he desires. (Ps 20.1, 4) The king praises God for granting his desire and hearing the prayer of his lips. (Ps 21.2)

The people proclaim that the Lord will give his anointed victory. (Ps 20.6, 9) The king joyfully praises the victory given by God. (Ps 21.1, 5)

The people proclaim that they trust in the Lord for victory, not in the king’s chariots or horses. (Ps 20.7) The king rejoices that victory came, not through his strength or armaments, but through the Lord’s strength. (Ps 21.1, 8-9)

These boldly asked and answered requests can inspire our prayers, but there is a difference between boldness and brashness. There are several keys to these bold prayers.

These prayers focus on God’s nature. God is our savior, provider, and the one who fights all the battles that matter. We can boldly appeal to God’s nature.

These prayers recall God’s promises. God’s promises to his children are sure, and we can boldly pursue them in prayer.

These prayers request God’s power for God’s purposes. These are not self-focused trivialities but God-focused priorities. We can boldly ask God to grant his power to accomplish the purposes he calls us to.

These prayers embrace confession and humility. The king does not ride out to war in pride or self-righteousness. He rides out smelling of sacrifices and burnt offerings after confessing his and the nation’s sins and throwing his hopes on God’s mercy. We do not pray boldly based on our merit, but on the merit of Jesus.

Kings and priests were anointed with oil, symbolically pointing forward to Jesus, the ultimate anointed one. The gospel is the announcement of Jesus’ victory, which is for us and all who respond to the gospel. We are Jesus’ “anointed ones,” and he anoints us with the Holy Spirit.

Let us pray boldly, confessing our sins and our nation’s sins, sacrificing self-sufficiency, calling on God’s promises, and raising up a banner to call all people to join us in repentance and victory.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

I put my trust in your mercy; my heart is joyful because of your saving help. — Psalm 13.5

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Horses of Flesh or Spirit

What crises send you looking for an Egypt to save you? What principles have you sacrificed to practicality?

Horses of Flesh or Spirit
Read more: Praying for Rain

Elijah and James encourage us to keep planting seeds of truth in a drought and pray for rain.  Watch for clouds…that show that God’s Spirit is moving

Praying for Rain
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Don’t Troll the Troubled

Links for today’s readings:

Feb 2 Read: Job 35 Listen: (1:33) Read: Psalm 19 Listen: (1:52)

Scripture Focus: Job 35.2-8

2 “Do you think this is just? 
You say, ‘I am in the right, not God.’ 
3 Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me, 
and what do I gain by not sinning?’ 
4 “I would like to reply to you 
and to your friends with you. 
5 Look up at the heavens and see; 
gaze at the clouds so high above you. 
6 If you sin, how does that affect him? 
If your sins are many, what does that do to him? 
7 If you are righteous, what do you give to him, 
or what does he receive from your hand? 
8 Your wickedness only affects humans like yourself, 
and your righteousness only other people.

Reflection: Don’t Troll the Troubled

By John Tillman

Productive conversations with ideological or theological opponents on social media are possible, but rare.

Sometimes, while having a social media conversation, another voice chimes in. Will they help or hurt the conversation? Will they turn into a troll?

The online term “troll” might primarily seem to describe a monster, like the Three Billy Goats Gruff troll. Online trolls are considered monstrous; however, the definition has more to do with fishing-related meanings of “troll.”

“Trolling” is a type of fishing in which a boat drags a fishing line through places where the fisherman hopes fish won’t be able to resist taking the bait. Online trolls scroll through comments and conversation boards, dropping “lures” of offensive content they hope their targets will react to in anger or fear.

When Elihu jumps into Job’s conversation with his friends, we do not know what to expect. Job’s conversation was already not going well. At first, it seems Elihu might add positive things to the conversation, but he quickly starts trolling Job with guilt and blame.

A particular troll tactic Elihu uses is putting words in Job’s mouth. Job never said God was in the wrong or that not sinning was worthless (v. 2-3). Whether intentionally or not, Elihu accused Job of things he didn’t say. He made a “strawman” argument that he could easily attack for verse after verse after verse.

When troubled people truthfully describe their experiences, it is easy for us to hear things they aren’t saying. Don’t hear, “God is unfaithful,” when they say, “Life is hopeless.” Don’t hear, “Grace is not sufficient for me,” when they say, “Pain is unbearable.” Don’t put words in their mouths. If you do, don’t be surprised if they snap like an angry fish. Hurting people don’t need verse after verse attacking arguments they aren’t making.

We can be better counselors than Elihu. Hurting people don’t need to be trolled with truisms that feel like an attack. All people need to know the truth that God’s love is real, even in the hardships. Acknowledge feelings without trying to fix things. Tell them God loves them without demanding they deny their reality. 

The time will come when God shows up as he did for Job. They will remember, and God will honor how we represent God’s faithful love that doesn’t abandon his beloved children when we are in despair.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. — Psalm 19.14
– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: God’s Not Deaf

The fear that…your pleas are being offered to a deaf God are not founded in truth. Do not let your heart nourish such lies.

God’s Not Deaf
Read more: On What Are You Meditating?

The ways of God affect our thinking, reasoning, and action. From our inner emotions and thinking, to our outward actions and perceptions, God’s law shapes us.

On What Are You Meditating?
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Mortality and the Path of Life

Links for today’s readings:

Jan 30  Read: Job 32 Listen: (2:12) Read: Psalms 15-16 Listen: (2:03)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Jan 31  Read: Job 33 Listen (3:00) Read: Psalm 17 Listen: (1:58)
Feb 1  Read: Job 34 Listen: (3:26) Read: Psalm 18 Listen: (5:47)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 16.9-11

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

    my body also will rest secure,

10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,

    nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

    you will fill me with joy in your presence,

    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Reflection: Mortality and the Path of Life

By John Tillman

The “Colbert Questionert” is a recurring segment on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Some questions are light and some weighty. One weightier question is “What do you think happens when we die?”

Guest’s answers are a mismatched pastiche of mostly vague scientific, philosophical, or theological takes. Ryan Gosling answered, “We wake up.” Keanu Reeves said, “The ones who love us will miss us.”

Modern westerners might be the most death-avoidant culture in the world. If we aren’t fully in denial about dying, we employ endless tactics to delay discussing, thinking about, or preparing for it. But death is an undeniable reality of our existence. We need more than a quick questionnaire. We need meditation and lament.

If you pull verse six out of psalm 16, it sounds like a simple praise for happy, peaceful blessings. “The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” (v. 6) But the opening line and the closing section of the psalm make clear that the psalmist has suffering, danger, and death on the brain. It’s a lament disguised in the clothes of praise.

Praise in the midst of suffering, persecution, or death is often found in lament. Federico Villanueva, in the Asia Bible Commentary Series says, “Confidence or trust in God arises out of lament,” and “It is in the context of lament that the opportunity to trust in God best presents itself.”

Meditating on mortality is not morbid. It brings wisdom, inspiration, and energy for today. Remember, we will die. Remember also, that in Christ, we will live again and evermore.

While considering death, the psalmist’s lament provides an opportunity to trust God and praise him. Taking the “Colbert Questionert,” the psalmist might say, “God will keep me safe. He will not abandon me to death’s decay. A path of life is open for me and on that path I will find joy and pleasures for eternity in God’s presence.” (v. 9-11)


There is only one path to life and Jesus is its pioneer. (Hebrews 2.9-11; 12.1-3) He makes it known to us and asks us to make it known to others. Many paths may lead to Jesus, but no path leads to life unless it first comes through him. (John 14.6-12) Ask others to join you on this path. Share with them the delightful inheritance we have by adoption into the family of Jesus. Their path of life could start today.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus taught them saying: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me! Let anyone who believes in me, come and drink! As scripture says, ‘From his heart shall flow streams of living water.’” He was speaking of the Spirit which those who believed in him were to receive; for there was no Spirit as yet because Jesus had not yet been glorified. — John 7.38-39

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Our Delightful Inheritance

With headlines that remind us of all that we lack, do we see God as our all?

Our Delightful Inheritance
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We Need Renewal — Worldwide Prayer

Links for today’s readings:

Jan 29  Read: Job 31 Listen:(4:16) Read: Psalms 13-14 Listen: (1:43)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 14.2-3

2 The Lord looks down from heaven

    on all mankind

to see if there are any who understand,

    any who seek God.

3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt;

    there is no one who does good,

    not even one.

Reflection: We Need Renewal — Worldwide Prayer

By John Tillman

In Psalm 14 we see a picture of a searching God. He is searching, looking, hoping to see someone, anyone who is searching and looking for him. No one is. All have turned away to something else.

Sometimes when we read in the scriptures that there is no one who does good, we fool ourselves by thinking we are the exception. But God is clear. We are all corrupted and broken.  

The scripture says we do not seek God, but instead have turned away to corruption. That corruption is the reason there is no one who does good—even the good we do is corrupted. 

Each one of us desperately needs the renewal and redemption entreated by both the above Psalm and the prayer below.

A prayer for renewal from the USA:

Father, 

We praise you for your Son who broke into history and through his life, crucifixion, and resurrection enables us to break out of our fallenness. We rejoice in the gift of His Spirit who leads us into abundant and eternal life.

Please forgive our failures in thought, speech, and action, those we omit as well as those we commit. We ask that you bring refreshment, revival, and renewal to your Church. Please visit the world again and again with awakenings by your Spirit that will sweep humanity into your Kingdom and bring greater justice and mercy into our homes, communities, and nations.

May our worship, witness, and work be prompted and empowered by the Spirit of Jesus. Grant that our assemblies and quiet moments be avenues of praise to the Triune God and guidance and power to God’s people in this our day of opportunity. We draw near to you and listen for the words of comfort and challenge that you know we need.

Source: Prayer from Hallowed be Your Name: A collection of prayers from around the world, Dr. Tony Cupit, Editor.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. — Matthew 5.6

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Ache for Renewal

It is good for us to work…grow…or upgrade…But there is a danger of enacting a secular (and selfish) ritual of self-improvement.

Ache for Renewal
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Human Decency

Links for today’s readings:

Jan 28  Read: Job 30 Listen: (3:14)  Read: Psalms 11-12 Listen: (1:59)

Scripture Focus: Job 30:24-26

24 “Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man
    when he cries for help in his distress.
25 Have I not wept for those in trouble?
    Has not my soul grieved for the poor?
26 Yet when I hoped for good, evil came;
    when I looked for light, then came darkness.”

Reflection: Human Decency

By Erin Newton

Human decency is a set of accepted moral standards. There is an expectation that people will act using human decency. We expect strangers to avoid violence, help the weak, and work for the betterment of society.

This is why Job says Surely. The word highlights, emphasizes, and intensifies the concept he’s about to state. Surely people don’t hurt hurting people. Job is relying on the universal concept of human decency.

Even in the ancient world, it was not the accepted standard for people to harm those who were already suffering. They did not assault those asking for help. Human decency isn’t a modern philosophy; Job’s view of the world is grounded in it.

By now, we’ve read through the stories of Job’s suffering and his friends’ poor assessment of his supposed guilt. Over and over Job has pleaded his innocence and questioned his suffering. If humans are expected to treat each other with kindness and respect, shouldn’t God also treat humans in such a way? This is Job’s mindset.

He feels beaten down by the divine hand because his suffering does not fit into their perspective of retribution. But something is not right for Job. He’s innocent and suffering.

This is one of those times that Job is expressing the fullness of his misery. He’s not holding back his words. He’s suffering and bringing it to God demanding that he answer. He brings human morality to the forefront. He knows that there are those who do hurt the helpless, but everyone can see how wrong that is. Is God acting wrong? Job is asking that sort of question.

As we wake up each morning, hesitant to turn on the news fearing another headline that brings heartache, grief, fury, and rage—we are hoping for human decency to prevail. We also are hoping for God to step in—fix our suffering, tell us why this is happening when we are trying so hard to do what is right. Like Job, we must keep asking and bringing into the argument that this is not how people are supposed to act.


We can rest assured that God can handle our doubts about his seeming inaction or his silence. In much the same way we keep calling our representatives, we plead with God. We keep coming to him: “Surely this is not ok. We are asking for light and all we see is darkness.”

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Show us the light of your countenance, O God, and come to us. — Psalm 67.1

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Prayer When None Are Faithful

We relate to the psalmist’s cries…The costs of lies are all around us. Violence. Confusion. Desperation. Loss of life.

Prayer When None are Faithful—Readers’ Choice
Read more: Help That Brings Hope—Guided Prayer

Let us…be the kind of help that Job hoped for in the lives of those around us.

Help That Brings Hope—Guided Prayer