Pray Knowing that it all Depends on God

Someone once said that we should work as though it depends on you but pray knowing that it all depends on God. John Wesley would say that God does nothing but in answer to prayer. You and I would recognize that this is easier to say than it is to put into practice. However, men like Martin Luther would say that his greatest business was praying and he would spend two hours in morning in prayer. He would say that if he was facing a busy day he would respond to that by committing to praying 3hours in the morning before starting that day. For us it tends to be the opposite when the day is busy we pray less. In the book Power Through Prayer by E.M. Bounds (a classic that I believe every Christian should read) he speaks in one chapter of the prayer habits of the men of God who we would consider to be pillars. Their commitment to prayer would put all of us to shame. And that is personal prayer. What about the amount of time we spend in prayer corporately? When Lou and Janet spoke to us in the Refresh training they shared with us how they have enlisted several people to be in prayer while they counsel. Let’s strive to make this a habit for all of us, we can ask fellow counselors to pray for us and our counselees without betraying confidentiality.

I was reading in Ephesians 6 about putting on the whole armor of God and I began to think about the days when I was in the Army. The things we were to put on were different than the pieces of equipment that were used in Paul’s day but the illustration is still applicable. We had a helmet for protection, a M16 rifle, a back pack and a utility belt that held a collapsible shovel, hand grenades, ammo packs and so forth. However, we had to learn how to use them and when. You didn’t go around throwing grenades at random or fire bullets just any old place. You had to have discernment as to when to use each piece. I found it interesting that through the years I have heard countless sermons on the armor, preached a few myself but I have never heard one that includes the last aspect that Paul speaks of when he says, “ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel… Prayer is what gives us the discernment to determine what piece of armor we are to use. And as Pastor Jerry continually reminds us, if we want our prayers to be Spirit led they must be scripture fed. He also reminded me recently in staff time that this praying is to be corporate. Praying for one another. And that is the challenge for this week and beyond – find a couple of people to pray with for our pastor and for each other that words be given to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ!

©2025 David W. Drake, President, Renewed Hope, Inc.