Today’s Key Scripture

“Like chaff that a storm carries away.”

— Job 21:18

What are the consequences of prayerlessness? The list continues from Job 21, including no protection from the storms of life, blown away like chaff.

Throughout the ages, when grain is harvested, it is separated from the hulls and stalks—the chaff—often by shaking, scraping, rubbing, and tossing it in the air. Today the massive grain harvesters, or combines, offer dramatic examples of this process. The grain remains, but the chaff is blown away by the wind or distributed on the harvested soil to begin decaying and preparing the land for the next crop.

Verse 18 also mentions that storms come whether we are prayerful or prayerless. If we are prayerful, the storms and wind will not affect us; if we are prayerless, they will. Only as we stay on our knees will we remain unmovable and unshaken by the trials of life.

In addition, verse 19 tells of sorrow for generations to come: “God lays up one’s iniquity for his children.” The harvest of the prayerless will bring sorrow and anguish to their descendants as well.

But the prayerful will see blessings untold upon their lives and their heritage, for the Word of God promises, “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9).

 

A Prayer for Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of prayer. May I never be ungrateful for all You do for me and my heritage. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for pursuing me, though I was unclean and unworthy. Thank You for rescuing me. I give my heart and life to you today to go wherever You lead me. May Your Holy Spirit transform me—spiritually, emotionally, and physically—to be more like You. I pray all these things with thanksgiving in my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

*All Scripture references are nkjv unless otherwise noted.