Praying: Is that all?

People want to do something that matters. I understand that. We all want to do something that makes a difference. But when someone says that they will pray for you when you need help, it is natural for the recipient to be a little disappointed. It reminds me of the day that Peter and John met the beggar at the gate called Beautiful.

Acts 3:1Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. 2And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. 3Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. 4And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” 5And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. 6But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” 7And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. 8And leaping up he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. 9And all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

I can imagine the lame beggar going from glad to sad when Peter told him he had no silver or gold.  But he was over the moon with what the disciple of Jesus had given him: a miracle of healing.

Of course, this is an easy call. Obviously, this was better than doing a simple bit of charitable giving. But what about the prayers of the saints that are for something less flashy, or something that is deferred. We probably roll our eyes and say, "Thanks for nothin," under our breath.


Doing good works is important. So are miracles. And I wonder how much of either takes place without the anonymous intercessor doing battle with the forces of wickedness in the heavenly realms, or those prayers that have been stored up in heaven like the great bowls in Revelation 5:8.

"And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."

God does want us to act. But I want God to act even more.

Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Psalm 127:1

So, is God really pleased with a bunch of praying do-nothings?

 John 6:28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

People who desire to know God and follow Jesus are always wondering what sort of deed will please the Father. It is so hard to understand that God already loves us, just as we are. And it's even harder to grasp that He wants to provide for us even the things we want to give to Him as an offering.

I must confess to you that I have been a feeble prayer practitioner for many years. I have spent a lot of time trying to glorify God with my own goodness and cleverness and sincerity. And now He has my attention. I get it. I can do nothing without Him. I can produce nothing outside of Him. Everything I do is vanity. I must humble myself and ask Him to pour out His Spirit and then simply declare how amazing He is.


And so, it is hard to get people to pray and seek God because it means that we really don't have anything better to do. Of course, when He tells us to do something, like when He told Ananias to pray for Saul that he might receive his sight, you jump right on it. But I will bet you that God spoke to Ananias because they were in the habit of communicating.

Acts 9:10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19and taking food, he was strengthened.

You be the judge. Ananias was a praying man.