Stop Praying About That…

Ever had someone tell you that you can and should pray about anything or that nothing is too big or too small for God?

It is always well intentioned, but there are things that have been settled by God already that we don’t need to pray about.  To be a bit stronger, sometimes people use prayer as a stall tactic and excuse not to do something as we wait to ‘feel led’ when God has already spoken clearly.  These things are already settled.  God has answered these prayers before they were even prayed.

Don’t pray and ask God if you should be a disciple maker (Go and make disciples…Matthew 28:18-20). 

Instead, pray that God would put people on your life who he wants you to disciple or show you the ones already in your life waiting to be discipled.

·      Don’t pray and ask God to be with you (God will never leave us or forsake us…Hebrews 13:5). 

Instead, bask in His presence when you feel it and pray for comfort when he doesn’t feel close.

·      Don’t ask God to listen to your prayer (God hears our prayers…Ps 66:16-20). 

Instead, pray confidently knowing God hears you. And pray that you listen well to Him.

·      Don’t ask God if a certain person you know is really your neighbor and deserves your love (Luke 10:25-37). 

Instead, pray for the strength to love those who are most difficult to love like He loves us when we were directly rebelling against Him.

·      Don’t ask God if He really loves you even after your sin (God so loved you…John 3:16, God demonstrates His love in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us…Romans 5:8). 

Instead, thank God for His lovingkindness. And ask Him to help you love other people in this same way.

·      That you would take time daily to be in the Word (Meditate on the Word day and night Psalm 1). 

Instead, Pray for meaningful time in the Word no matter how short or long.

 Do any of these hit close to home? 

If so, is it possible that you’re using prayer as an excuse for inaction instead of as a launching pad?

Sometimes it’s time to stop praying about doing something and time to start doing it…especially when God has already spoken clearly about it like the situations above.

Is there something you know you should be doing, something that God has already spoken clearly about wanting for you that you are waiting to do until you ‘feel led to do’ or until you have fully prayed about it?

If so, in words perhaps never written in a devotional before…stop praying and start being and start doing.