Let's Pray

I saw a homeless man today. He had a sign that said he was hungry. I had $20 in my wallet. After I finished eating across the street, I went and talked to him. I told him, "hey, even though I'm not helping you or giving you any money or food doesn't mean I'm not praying for you. In fact, I've got a whole bunch of people praying for you.

Then I came across a young man, strung out on some sort of drug. He was crying, pleading for help. I had my cell phone in my pocket. I had just left the hospital after visiting a friend. I walked up to the young man and I told him, "hey, just because I'm not calling someone to get you the help you need doesn't mean I'm not praying for you. In fact, I'm going to get a lot of people to pray for you."

Next, I came upon a missionary. He and his family were giving their life to the mission of God, as we all should. He and his wife were working in the community, building relationships, and reaching people for Christ. He told me of the vision that God had given him, and I could even see the fruits of his labor. I had some resources at my fingertips. I had just left an important meeting on missions with our local church. I told the man, "hey, just because I'm not giving you any resources doesn't mean I'm not praying for you. I tell you what, I'll even send an email to get people to pray for you."

Near the end of my day, I found a prostitute. Curled up against the wall, her eyes black and her mouth bleeding from where she had been beaten. I looked at her in disgust. Why has she chosen this path? I had a thought of helping her on my mind. I was running late for a conference-call dealing with poverty stricken women in our community. In passing, I told her, "Listen, give your life to Jesus. Even though I can't help you right now doesn't mean that I won't pray for you. How about if I get my entire church to pray for you?"

There is no doubt of the power of prayer. But the truth is that prayer is powerless when it is not combined with action. Prayer is a cop-out for us today. It is an excuse so we don't have to get our hands dirty. We pass judgment instead of passing on hope and love, and we deceive ourselves thinking that God actually honors our prayers when we do this.

Don't tell me that you'll pray for me. Walk with me, talk with me, show me the way.

The time for honoring ourselves with the convenience of prayer without deeds must end. Like a dead tree, that practice must be uprooted. It is merely the symptom of a dead faith.