Articles
All We Can Do Is Pray About It
A good number of times I have heard the above statement. I think I have even said it. It usually comes at a time when we are a wits end to see what we can do to help a situation. We exhaust all our thoughts and finally conclude, “All we can do is just pray about it”. Certainly, there are times when a prayer is all we have, but those are also the same times when a prayer is all we need. Prayer is not a last option. It is the most powerful resource we have. It is top priority.
It was the first thing on the apostles’ minds concerning evangelism. Prayer always preceded their preaching. It was Peter who said, “We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). It was Paul who told Christians to pray “being vigilant in it” that a door of opportunity might open for the word (Col. 2:2-4). It was the only thing they could do. It was the only thing to do.
It is the first thing to do when a brother or sister faces some danger, hardship or difficult circumstance. We could surely learn from the actions of the early church when Peter was thrown in prison and was threatened with impending execution. “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for Him by the church (Acts 12:5). Mary opened her home and “many were gathered together praying” (Acts 12:12). And it worked!!
It is the first thing to do when you are feeling weak and sick spiritually. Here is a time to jump into quick action. Call the elders. Call a brother or sister in the Lord. Ask them to pray for your spiritual strength. Why? Because “the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:15-16a).
Christians do not pray because it is all we can do but because “the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16b).
