Stop praying? Now, that’s not what you typically hear, but that’s exactly what God once told Moses. Not that God was frowning on prayer, but the time for praying without action had passed. It was time to act. God told Moses to tell the children of Israel to “move forward!” (Exodus 14:15).
Friends, could it be time for you to stop praying and “move forward?”
Remember Saul of Tarsus? He was praying (Acts 9:11), yet when Ananias reached him, he asked Saul, “why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized…” (Acts 22:16). The time for praying was over. God had answered Saul’s prayer and sent Ananias with the saving gospel. It was time for Saul to stop praying and obey by being baptized!
Balaam is another example that comes to mind. Balaam once sought God’s advice (Numbers 22:8-12), didn’t like God’s answer, so he continued to pray and ask again rather than “moving forward” with God’s answer (Numbers 22:19).
Understand this one thing; many of the prayers we have prayed to God have already been answered. He has said “yes.” Yet, we remain in a quandary, not because God hasn’t answered, but because we haven’t “moved forward.” My point is, “Don’t just sit there and continue to simply pray when you can “move forward” and receive God’s answer to the prayers you’ve been praying.
As always good thoughts. Anytime I read your articles I am encouraged. Hope God will continue to bless you in your work as you continue to follow His will.
Great article! after consulting with God, Its easier to pull yourself up by the bootstraps. God does not promise us that it will be easy but indeed gives us strength in our struggles.
p.s. Acts 9:11 instead of 8:11
Thanks Lowell, and I fixed my typo on the Scripture reference.
Very Good Article……
[…] Stop Praying! Posted by Steve Higginbotham on 29 October 2010, 9:06 am […]