When Just Praying is NOT Enough!

Praying in the Spirit (Ephes. 6:18)

Asked to respond to a particular situation Christians are known to say, Let’s Pray about it!!!  That’s always a good answer.  Certainly not one anyone could argue with.  But have you considered how many times in the bible an admonishment to pray is preceded by a specific action?  I did a word search in both the Old and New Testament of the partial phrase “…and pray.”  It occurs 75 times in the NIV, including 24 times with exact wording.  Here are a few: Come and pray (I Kings 8:42; Jer. 29:12; 2 Chron. 6:32); Go, Get up and pray (Luke 22:46; Matt. 6:6; Matt. 26:36); Watch and pray (Matt. 26:41; Mark 14:38; Luke 21:36); Humble yourself and pray (2 Chron. 7:14); Confess, Repent, or Turn back and pray (I Kings 8:48; 2 Chron. 6:38; Acts 8:22; Jas. 5:16); Intercede and pray (I Kings 13:6; Jer. 43:2; Ephe. 6:18); Offer sacrifices and pray (Ez. 6:10); Fast and pray (Luke 5:33). Sure looks like prayer requires more than just bowing heads and folding hands!

More than once I’ve become frustrated waiting for an answer to prayer until I discovered this wonderful truth…Sometimes praying is just not enough! Prayer is active, it takes work! The hardest you’ll ever do.  Assuming the position and waiting for God to perform miracles sounds spiritual but it takes much more. We need to reposition ourselves to receive His answer with some Action steps.   Examine your heart for unforgiveness or other sins (Ps. 66:18).  Evaluate: What do you really want—His will or your will? (John 5:14-15).  Accelerate: Are you using prayer to keep from doing what He’s already told you to do? If so, maybe you're praying for the wrong thing!  Elevate: Instead of complaining about what God is NOT doing, praise Him for what He IS doing. 

There Is a Time to Wait and a Time to Act!  Both are important but a balance is needed so..WHY DON'T WE JUST PRAY ABOUT THAT!!!