I have noticed something recently that is driving me insane. Anytime there is a problem among Christians the first response is always “I’ll pray about it”. I agree that we need to pray, and pray continuously. However, there should be much more going on with Christians than prayer alone.
“Let’s pray”, has become an easy out that sounds faithful and dependent upon God. Unfortunately “Let’s pray” is nothing more than a way to avoid an issue we don’t want to tackle. It’s an excuse. Rather than moving forward and addressing what needs to be addressed, we pray and walk off with the hopes that something will just happen. This is nothing more than believing in God as if He is a genie in a bottle rather than a loving Father.
Right now I am certain that I have your attention. You are likely thinking that I have lost my mind. You may think that I have no idea of what I am talking about. Some of you may be concerned about my faith. Trust me; my faith in God and in prayer is intact.
Jesus could always be found in prayer. Jesus stayed in contact with the Father at all times. (This always amazes me because Jesus is God’s own Son. God in the flesh. Still, Jesus lifted up the Father and took His concerns to God). When there was a problem, Jesus prayed. When someone was healed, God was praised in prayer. We see Jesus praying throughout the Bible, and if prayer was important to Jesus, then it must be important to us as well. I said all of that to make a point. I am not telling anyone to stop praying, or to back off of their prayer life any at all. I hope you begin to pray even more. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “Pray constantly”.
What bothers me about the statement “Let’s pray” is that we stop at that one phrase. If there is a problem in church or with another person we simply pray. When an issue arises at work we just pray. When a friend is in need we do the same thing, we pray. When we find a homeless person on the street our first response is to pray for that person and leave them in God’s hands.
James 2:14-26 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith [a] save him?
15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it? (Q) 17 In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." [b] Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. (R) [c] 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder. (S)
20 Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected. (T) 23 So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness , (U) (V) and he was called God's friend. (W) 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way, wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route? (X) 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
We need to put feet to our prayers. We need to act as we pray.
Allow me to place things within another perspective. You, as a Christian, are the hands and feet of Jesus. It is “YOU” that God works through and uses. Don’t get me wrong, miracles still happen today, but you may be the vessel used to carry that miracle. God expects us to act, not just ask.
When Jesus found someone in need, He never talked to them about spiritual matters before He met their needs. There is a reason for that. When someone is hungry the only thing they care about is the pain in their belly. When a woman has a hungry child, she isn’t worried about what you have to say, she wants to hear a happy baby. When a person is cold, they could care less about your words, they want to be warm. When bills are due, bills are the focus of life when you know there is not enough money to pay those bills.
Do you understand what I am saying? If you want to become effective for God and see something happen with your prayers you must act and move forward. Action is required, and sometimes action is required more than the words you speak. Stop saying you will pray and move as you pray. Our faith requires action. Get up and do something. Don’t wait on someone else to do it for you.
The next time someone tells you about a problem, don’t just tell them you are praying for them. Ask them what you can do to help as you pray about their situation. Expect that God is about to do something big. Go where Jesus asks, and do what you are led to do. The person in need may say that they need nothing, and then tell you that they need to pay their mortgage that is behind, that their power is about to be shut off, and that the cabinets are bare. Reach deep and help that person out. It may hurt your wallet, but who gave you the contents of that wallet? You may not be able to help with all of their needs, but easing the pain of one wound is better than showing up with a band-aid you don’t intend to apply. That kind of action speaks loud. God’s Word will be heard. Act with faith; don’t just speak as if you have faith.
Ask, believe, and move – not necessarily in that order. Sometimes we need to get moving and pray as we walk.
….….but I need to pray in order to know that God is leading me to do something?
That isn’t how God works. We are placed where we are in order to make an immediate impact. Stop making excuses and make progress for Jesus.
Be the Church!!!
“Let’s pray”, has become an easy out that sounds faithful and dependent upon God. Unfortunately “Let’s pray” is nothing more than a way to avoid an issue we don’t want to tackle. It’s an excuse. Rather than moving forward and addressing what needs to be addressed, we pray and walk off with the hopes that something will just happen. This is nothing more than believing in God as if He is a genie in a bottle rather than a loving Father.
Right now I am certain that I have your attention. You are likely thinking that I have lost my mind. You may think that I have no idea of what I am talking about. Some of you may be concerned about my faith. Trust me; my faith in God and in prayer is intact.
Jesus could always be found in prayer. Jesus stayed in contact with the Father at all times. (This always amazes me because Jesus is God’s own Son. God in the flesh. Still, Jesus lifted up the Father and took His concerns to God). When there was a problem, Jesus prayed. When someone was healed, God was praised in prayer. We see Jesus praying throughout the Bible, and if prayer was important to Jesus, then it must be important to us as well. I said all of that to make a point. I am not telling anyone to stop praying, or to back off of their prayer life any at all. I hope you begin to pray even more. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “Pray constantly”.
What bothers me about the statement “Let’s pray” is that we stop at that one phrase. If there is a problem in church or with another person we simply pray. When an issue arises at work we just pray. When a friend is in need we do the same thing, we pray. When we find a homeless person on the street our first response is to pray for that person and leave them in God’s hands.
James 2:14-26 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can his faith [a] save him?
15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it? (Q) 17 In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself.
18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." [b] Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. (R) [c] 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder. (S)
20 Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected. (T) 23 So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness , (U) (V) and he was called God's friend. (W) 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way, wasn't Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route? (X) 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
We need to put feet to our prayers. We need to act as we pray.
Allow me to place things within another perspective. You, as a Christian, are the hands and feet of Jesus. It is “YOU” that God works through and uses. Don’t get me wrong, miracles still happen today, but you may be the vessel used to carry that miracle. God expects us to act, not just ask.
When Jesus found someone in need, He never talked to them about spiritual matters before He met their needs. There is a reason for that. When someone is hungry the only thing they care about is the pain in their belly. When a woman has a hungry child, she isn’t worried about what you have to say, she wants to hear a happy baby. When a person is cold, they could care less about your words, they want to be warm. When bills are due, bills are the focus of life when you know there is not enough money to pay those bills.
Do you understand what I am saying? If you want to become effective for God and see something happen with your prayers you must act and move forward. Action is required, and sometimes action is required more than the words you speak. Stop saying you will pray and move as you pray. Our faith requires action. Get up and do something. Don’t wait on someone else to do it for you.
The next time someone tells you about a problem, don’t just tell them you are praying for them. Ask them what you can do to help as you pray about their situation. Expect that God is about to do something big. Go where Jesus asks, and do what you are led to do. The person in need may say that they need nothing, and then tell you that they need to pay their mortgage that is behind, that their power is about to be shut off, and that the cabinets are bare. Reach deep and help that person out. It may hurt your wallet, but who gave you the contents of that wallet? You may not be able to help with all of their needs, but easing the pain of one wound is better than showing up with a band-aid you don’t intend to apply. That kind of action speaks loud. God’s Word will be heard. Act with faith; don’t just speak as if you have faith.
Ask, believe, and move – not necessarily in that order. Sometimes we need to get moving and pray as we walk.
….….but I need to pray in order to know that God is leading me to do something?
That isn’t how God works. We are placed where we are in order to make an immediate impact. Stop making excuses and make progress for Jesus.
Be the Church!!!
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