Having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. - Acts 13:3

A missionary comes to your church and says that he needs some short-term help. Do you pray or do you act?

The youth pastor says your church needs some new musical instruments for the youth ministry. Do you pray or do you act?

A mission needs help in a soup kitchen. Do you pray or do you act?

Prayer is one of the most powerful tools we have at our disposal. It allows us to speak to Him and to petition Him directly for guidance and help.

But sometimes we can be the answer to our own prayer. Those are the times when we should pray and act. Maybe that missionary's request can be answered by your willingness to go. Perhaps you can donate a musical instrument. Are you the person God is leading to help in that soup kitchen?

In the first century, the good news of Christ was spread by people going out and taking action. That's why their story is told in a book called The Acts of the Apostles, not The Prayers of the Apostles.

We should never downplay prayer, for it is something God commanded us to do. But let's realize that sometimes we need to back up our prayers with action.

-JDB

Lord, when I sense Your call to serve,
Help me to follow through;
I must not simply pray and wait
When there is work to do.

-Fasick

God may want you to be the answer to your own prayer.