Prayer Doesn’t Replace Obedience

| February 10, 2009

Saw this quote by A.W. Tozer over on Andrea Emerson’s blog, Espresso Shots (a great faith in the workplace blog), and I thought I’d share it with you here.

Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late — and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work. To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words and get nothing for our trouble.

Also a reminder from James, that we need have action with our faith.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead, (James 2:14-17, ESV).

So pray, but remember that we need to obey in order to see the revival that we so desperately desire.  Revival will come to us personally first before it will come in broader fashion.

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Category: Discipleship

About the Author ()

Shane Vander Hart is the founder and editor-in-chief of Caffeinated Thoughts. Shane has been involved in youth ministry since 1992 in church, para-church, and Christian school settings, and currently works with juvenile offenders in the Des Moines Metro area. He has also been an interim pastor for a local Evangelical Free Church and provides pulpit supply for area churches. Shane also serves as the Communications Director for American Principles Project with their Preserve Innocence Initiative.  Shane has been married to his wife Cheryl since 1993 and they have three kids.  Shane and his family reside near Des Moines, IA.  You can connect with Shane on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
  • http://www.espressoshots.com Andrea Emerson

    Thanks for the link! Have a great week.

    Andrea

  • http://thenarrowroad-andyc.blogspot.com AndyC

    Great post. Prayer is the faith to come before the Lord. Obedience is the faith to walk alongside Him.

  • flicka47

    Daniel 6:13
    So the king gave the order,and they brought Daniel and threw him in the lion's den. The king said to Daneil,”May your God,whom you serve continually,rescue you!”

    I don't know that we can all be like Daniel,but I guess we are going to have to try. just a little harder.

  • http://avoiceformoms.blogspot.com Mel

    Good word for the day I was talking about this same thing in my small group today.

    • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

      Hope you had a fruitful discussion.

  • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

    You are welcome, I hope you have a great week as well!

  • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

    Amen!

  • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

    Flicka – not so much try as surrender.

  • Amanda S.

    I love Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's response in Daniel 3:16-18
    “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

  • http://www.becomingmethruhim.blogspot.com Angela

    Thank you for sharing this.

  • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

    That is awesome. I would hope that I would have faith like that when faced with circumstances like those.

  • http://caffeinatedthoughts.com Shane Vander Hart

    You are welcome!

  • http://www.rightresolve.com Stacy

    This reflection reminded me immediately of two passages. First, the Creation story. What was Adam and Eve's problem? A lack of obedience! Its the original sin. It's the first thing God asks of us. By our obedience we show our trust and love for our Heavenly Father.

    Second, I thought of I Samuel 15:22, Samuel admonishes Saul after they took spoils despite God's order not too. His lame excuse–we were gonna sacrifice it! Or rather, we thought we knew better than the Lord. We had a good excuse for doing what we were told not to. Sounds like my kids! (and saidly, myself too many times) Samuel rebukes him, “Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” It takes humility and love and trustful surrender to submit to what we do not understand.

    Finally, I am reminded that we cannot give what we do not already have. If we want the world to be transformed, America to be better; It starts with me, my family and my commitment to obeying Jesus' plan for my life.

    Okay, thanks for the opportunity to convict myself for the day! Thank you for the blessing.

  • http://awtozerlibrary.wordpress.com Tozer Custodian

    Great quotes for today – for me it is critically important that we not blather on in our prayers for no reason. We must follow up our prayers with obedience and service! Thanks for posting.

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