Move People Through God Aloneනියැදිය

Prayer is the first thing the church must do

Sometimes we pray as though prayer alone is not enough. We pray with the assumption that faith alone is certainly insufficient. We approach God as if, on His own, He is unable to resolve the problem—that we must assist Him.

I am not referring to those who are too lazy to work, or to individuals who God has given a specific task, but think that He must do what they themselves are meant to do. I do not dismiss the importance of feeding and clothing the poor, building houses for the needy, actively sharing one's faith with others, or living out one’s calling in daily life. All these actions are essential.

Prayer is not the only thing the church can and must do; however, it is the first thing the church must do. Throughout history, there has been one action the church has taken that has always turned the tide—when the church has called on the name of the Lord and spiritually “taken hold” of Him in prayer (Isaiah 64:7).

When people are not “moved” through our prayers, we need to determine why. When we pray for spiritual needs and physical necessities and God does not come to our aid, we must ask Him why He does not intervene.

Can God be moved through prayer? That is a question many of us ask deep in our hearts: Can God move a person solely through prayer? The answer is yes—because God has chosen to be moved by us and to answer our prayers. We pray based on His invitation. It is God’s desire that we come to Him. He invites us. Prayer is God’s idea—our desire to pray does not originate from ourselves.