1 John 3:22
[22] And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
I remember hearing an old black preacher say, “You’ve got to pray and work, and work and pray. When work won’t get it, prayer will, and when prayer won’t get it, work will. And when neither prayer nor work won’t get it, you forget it, because you didn’t need it anyhow”. The preacher’s statement best describes our verse for today. We are encouraged to pray and perform.
If you are praying to be a better soul winner, then you must also pass out tracts and witness. If you are praying for your Sunday School class to grow, then you must invite more people to attend. God will not do what he has given us the ability to do. Praying does not relieve us from doing our part.
Just because a husband is praying for his wife to be healed, does not mean he stops taking her to the doctor. He should seek all the medical assistance he can, while he prays for her healing. God may heal her without any medical help, or he may use the doctors and modern medicine to heal her from her sickness. The husband must ask, and do, until the answer comes.
God answers the prayers of those who obey his commandments and do what is pleasing in his sight. I hear a lot of people talking about praying, but when you look at the way they live, I’m doubtful God hears their prayers. They may be saved, but they are disobedient in the way they are living. How we live does affect our prayer life. Christians are not perfect, but they are forgiven. They can see the mighty hand of God working in their lives, if they will seek him. Remember, the next time you pray about something, keep on working while you are waiting for an answer. Put your prayers in shoe leather by doing all you can in the situation. Be assured that when you have done all you can, He will do the rest!