Prayer Is Taking Action!

In January 2005 I was skimming through one of those 2004 in review magazines and noticed the near total emphasis on actions and the near absence of attention given to ideas. That is probably a good reflection on our western society both secular and Christian. This emphasis on action can blind us to important truths and to the vital role, many people play in God’s work.

If I had asked people in one church "Who is really vital to the ministry here?" I would have received replies like, the Pastor, the musicians, the youth workers, and the teachers. I really doubt anyone would have named one older woman, she had severe health problems and many days could barely get out of bed. She missed many services and when she did make a service needed assistance to get in. Yet when she died, I noticed a change in the quality of the ministry and nothing else was different.

How could one sick woman be so important? She had a ministry few noticed and fewer honored, she prayed. She did not believe that line, "Well I can not do anything else so I guess I will pray." She felt honored to be called into the ministry of prayer. She was vital to the continued work there. But her picture would never make it into the year in review magazine.

Nehemiah in the Old Testament teaches us a similar lesson. We know him as a man of conviction and action. Many Bible students focus on his deeds and try to emulate them. However, his actions and convictions come out of a quiet and nonspectacular trait. Nehemiah was a man of prayer! We read about his prayer life throughout the book, times of extended prayer like in chapter one, quick prayers like in chapter 2, and times of turmoil like in chapter 4 and 6, just to highlight some.

Prayer was behind who he was and his actions. Edwin Yamauchi writes, "One of the most striking characteristics of Nehemiah was his recourse to prayer" The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p.685. Nehemiah prayed as a first resort not the last resort. Not only did this bring God’s blessing into what he did, prayer changed him too. In chapter one, Nehemiah prays for about 4 months before he sees any answer. Why the long wait? I think God was using that time to mold and prepare Nehemiah.

One thing about prayer is that it tends to change you. We will see Nehemiah going from physical concerns like the wall to concerns about the people’s spiritual state. I heard this truth expressed different ways; one is "If you have trouble loving someone pray for them, either God will change them, or He will change you, probably both, either way you will be able to love them more." Another is this one, "Don’t like your Pastor? Pray for him, God might work on him so that he becomes so good another church will call him, or change your heart so that you appreciate him and never want him to leave. Either way the issue is resolved." When I first heard those quotes I thought, "How cynical." Now I realize the truth that as I pray I am opening my heart to God and then he can work in me as well as the bigger situation.

Prayer may not seem like much to the human viewpoint. However, the Biblical viewpoint is that prayer is foundational, empowering, and transforming.

Edwin Yamauchi continues his comment on Nehemiah with this observation, "Those who are the boldest for God have the greatest need to be in prayer." Personally, all this impresses me with the conviction that I need to make communion with God in prayer a greater priority.

Go beyond mere action and pray, pray, pray some more, then act in a godly way.

Written by Rev. Daniel Baker February 2005



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker