As Christians, we are taught to seek God’s wisdom when we face tough times. It’s a beautiful way to show humility, admitting that we can’t solve our problems alone. Here’s the catch: when we pray and ask for God’s help, we should be ready to take action. If we are bold enough to ask God to guide us, shouldn’t we also be prepared to demonstrate bold faith and move?
Prayer and Faith: More Than Just Words
Prayer is essential to Christian life because it is how we communicate with God. However, faith must always accompany our prayers. Prayer isn’t just asking God for help; it also demonstrates our faith. Through prayer, we show how much we trust God. Praying in faith means anticipating God’s response. And why wouldn’t we? As Christians, we understand that God is great—He created everything, is everywhere, and knows everything. These are truths we are taught about God from the beginning. God has a plan for our lives, loves us, and has the wisdom to guide us. So, when we ask God to show us the way, we should trust Him to lead.
The Bible teaches us that prayer should be our first response—both as a defense and offense—when facing challenges. It also emphasizes that praise through prayer is a vital way of recognizing God’s role in the goodness we experience in life. James 5:13-16 reminds us: “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Actions Display Faith and Belief: Walking in Faith
As Christians, we all agree that prayer and faith are essential. However, some of us often find ourselves doubting the power of prayer. What do I mean? Many Christians pray and ask God for help, but as they sit back and wait, hoping things will work out, they sigh and say it wasn’t meant to be.
I want you to know that God loves us and wants to be involved in every part of our lives, but He does not want to be our Genie.
If we truly believe God is able and willing to help, we must be prepared to show God that we do believe this. How, by walking in faith. Truly walking in our prayers means we are to move. When I say we need to move, I’m not saying to blindly rush ahead without waiting on God, but I am saying that we need to take small steps as we listen and wait on God. This is faith in action when we move in a direction while remembering God’s presence. We take action with intention and awareness of God, ready to take larger or smaller steps as God opens or closes doors. Trusting God’s timing is vital as we move in faith—the key word being trust.
In James 2:26, the Bible reminds us that “faith without works is dead.” This means that our actions must accompany our faith. If we aren’t willing to act, our faith will stay stuck, and our prayers may not bring the changes we want.
The Parable of the Talents: Using God’s Gifts
The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) teaches us that God wants us to use the gifts He has entrusted to us. The servants who actively worked with their talents were rewarded, while the one who was fearful and hid his talent faced punishment. This parable makes it clear that God is watching and waiting for us to demonstrate faith through action. He has provided enough for us to take small steps toward our goals while constantly evaluating His presence and guidance, whether we move forward, left, right, or turn around. We are never meant to stop working for and with God. When we know His character and goodness, our prayers can move mountains but must be fueled by faith.
Faith Is a Call to Action: Practical Faith Steps
So, what am I trying to say? Faith is not a feeling. It is not something that just happened in your mind. Faith is a verb, a call to action. Let’s look back to James, “Faith without works is dead.” If your faith leaves you standing still, you’re not fully trusting God. Trust, Faith, and Belief are all action-oriented words. God is waiting to see if we truly trust Him. He wants us to use the gifts He’s given us and take action.
Taking Action with God: God’s Guidance and Action
In our Christian walk, asking for God’s guidance and action is essential, but we must also be willing to take action alongside Him. When we pray, we must trust God and be aware of His character so that when He answers, we can see it because we are already walking, taking steps toward God. This is one way we grow spiritually and find our purpose in God.
Remember that prayer is intertwined with our faith, both of which require action. Don’t ask God to guide your footsteps if you’re unwilling to move your feet.
Seeking Help with Mental Health and Faith
In our Christian walk, asking for God’s plan and action is important. If you need help with mental health and want to explore what God says about your struggles, contact a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who uses Biblical faith to guide you. Are You Ready Counseling, LLC. Contact Jane Perkins, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who integrates Biblical Faith and Counseling to address your mental health needs. People who are struggling with how to trust God and take action and who are looking for spiritual growth through action can find help through Christian counseling for faith and action.
