Don’t Hide Behind Your Prayers

by Clay Gentry

We’re called to be people of prayer. Jesus Himself taught that we “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). However, if we are honest, sometimes our prayers are merely a pious way of being inactive. It is easy to hide behind the sincerity of prayer, shielding ourselves from action. It may surprise us, but there are moments when God stops fervent praying and gives a counter-command: “Enough talking. It’s time to act.” Prayer is meant to lead to action, not paralysis.

When God Says, “Get Up and Go”

Multiple times in Scripture, God stopped prayers for action.

• Stop Praying, Start Crossing: When Israel was trapped by Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea, Moses earnestly began to pray. God’s response? “The Lord said to Moses, ‘Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward’” (Exodus 14:15). God had provided the path; Moses needed to stop lamenting and start moving.
• Stop Praying, Start Investigating: After a defeat caused by hidden sin, Joshua fell on his face in prayer and mourning. God’s reply was sharp: “The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned…’” (Joshua 7:10). Joshua couldn’t pray away the consequences; he had to deal with the obedience problem in the camp.
• Stop Praying, Start Reconciling: Jesus imagined a worshipper at the altar, ready to offer their most sacred gift. His command? If you remember that your brother has something against you, “leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). The work of reconciliation is more urgent than the most beautiful ritual before God.

The Dead Prayer Trap

“Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17). When we attempt to substitute effort, courage, and obedience with words alone, we fall into the trap of dead faith. To keep our faith alive, we must close the Prayer-Action Gap.

• Pray for the church to grow – then go and encourage and evangelize others.
• Pray for the hurting to be comforted – then go comfort the hurting.
• Pray for the less fortunate – then go and alleviate their need.
• Pray for better relationships – then go practice humility and kindness.
• Pray for forgiveness of our sins – then go and forsake the sin.

Prayer is not an end unto itself; it is the engine that connects us to the power of God. Obedience is how that power moves through us. Don’t hide behind your prayers. Pray, then go.