“When we work, we work. When we pray, God works.”
-Hudson Taylor

 

Work, ugh…am I right!?! Maybe sometimes. Or maybe you’re one of the fortunate ones like myself who has the privilege of loving what you do for work. But either way, there’s been an undeniable thought that has plagued me ever since I was old enough to hold a job: Why do many of us spend seemingly twice the amount of time working in a job away from the people we love? It just doesn’t seem right to me that we usually get to see our family, the ones we love, for less than half the time we see coworkers during the week.

 

This concept doesn’t exist in the family of God. We love one another and pray for one another because WE ARE family, and this family we’re in spans a much greater distance than just in our own homes and neighborhoods. The work that we get to do for the Kingdom of God is of great importance. Who among us is the most diligent of workers? Is it someone skilled in woodworking or carpentry like Jesus? Is it one who is brilliant with learning 3-4 different languages? Or maybe one who is gifted in vision casting for a big project or humanitarian work? While all of these are integral parts of ministry in certain times and places, none of them are the GREATEST work for the Kingdom.

The greatest and most necessary work for the Kingdom is PRAYER. We must be people of prayer in all things. Matthew 9:37-38 gives us a perfect example of how God’s work must be sought prayerfully.

 

“Then He said to His disciples, ’The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.’”

How many of us have read this a hundred times or more and now just gloss over it like it’s one of those verses like John 3:16 or Proverbs 3:5-6 that we learned in Sunday School as kids? This is an undeniable directive to send out workers. But the workers we send out will not be successful without the prompting, guiding, convicting, and comforting hand of the Holy Spirit. Nowhere does this happen more clearly than when we are in the throne room of God interceding for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. This is a huge undertaking, but never impossible when God’s people pray for one another.

 

The greatest cause of apathy, or doubt, or inability, or lack of faith is prayerlessness! Think about that statement a second. Whenever…and I mean every single time…I experience apathy, doubt, or any kind of distrust, it can always be traced back to prayerlessness. So, let’s be a people who love God’s work in this world. Let’s be a people who boldly trusts in the work we get to do for the Kingdom. Let’s be a people of prayerfulness…a people who truly believe in the power of prayer in all things!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that You have given us Your Word. Thank You that You give us life-giving commands to be about Your work of making more and more disciples. I pray that I would be a person of bold, trusting, expectant prayer. Thank You for the Spirit’s leading in this mighty work. In the strong and mighty name of Jesus, Amen!

 

Blessings,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clay

Clayton J. Elliott
Director of Pastoral Ministries and Prayer, KMUSA