“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10
When a preacher or politician says these days after a tragedy, “You’re in our thoughts and prayers,” invariably you’ll hear someone protest in reply, “But we need more than thoughts and prayers!”
They’re not wrong in saying that. But no one who is a true follower of Christ believes that thoughts and prayers are enough. We pray because that is our reflex to life. It’s only natural that we cry out to God in the aftermath of difficulty or suffering.
But prayer for us then becomes a catalyst for action. We pray for the hungry, then mobilize to feed them. We pray for the lonely, then visit them. We fast for those suffering injustice, then move heaven and earth to advocate for them (James 2:15-16; Isaiah 58:6-10).
Nehemiah was riding high on easy street as the cupbearer of the Persian emperor. But when he heard a report about how the Jews back in Jerusalem were living in rubble after returning from exile, he began to pour out his heart to God, confessing his and Israel’s sins, and pleading with God to intervene (Nehemiah 1).
When God prompted him to go back to Jerusalem and help them, he took a deep breath, prayed some more, then put his neck on the line and asked the emperor not only if he could go, but “Oh yeah, and would you be willing to foot the bill for the rebuilding work we need to do?” Nehemiah is the poster child for the intercessor who backs up his prayers with action.
“Prayer that doesn’t lead to action isn’t true prayer; It’s self-talk,” says Mark Batterson. “When we talk to God, God will talk back to us. He will provoke us, rouse us, stir us, goad us, and prompt us. When we say Amen, inaction is no longer an option.”
Hopefully during these 40 days you’ve sensed the Lord prompting you to do some things that for you seemed to come out of nowhere. Reach out to that person. Ask for forgiveness. Make that donation. Volunteer for that ministry. Cook a meal for them. Help your neighbor out.
Sure, those thoughts might just be you. (If they’re a prompt to do something kind, you know they’re not the other guy.) But there’s a good chance they have the scent of the Spirit of Christ about them. Step out and act on them. You might just learn that the Lord is a lot closer to you than you ever imagined.
Sometimes small acts of obedience are best.