For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Corinthians 3:9)
Has anyone ever said something that stopped you in your tracks? Something that made you think long and hard? I recently had that experience.
I am part of a small group that is studying the power of prayer and its ability to transform lives. Typically we study the lesson by watching a video, searching the scriptures and ending with prayer for one another and our loved ones. This particular time, as we began to call out names of loved, one person in the group said, “I wish God would just take care of all our problems. Prayer is so much work and sometimes I just don’t want to do it. It is too hard.” Though it was perplexing, I realized it was an honest, heartfelt response to what she was feeling.
The words stayed in my head for a while. I asked myself, Why do we have to pray? I don’t think I had ever considered prayer to be hard work. I always took for granted that I am supposed to pray. I rely on praying to keep myself in communion with God and whenever I face trials, prayer is my first response.
I am convinced that prayer is a part of the work that we must do while we are on earth. As co-workers in God’s service, we share his work. Our work is to pray and God’s work is to answer. It sounds a little strange at first, but it makes sense. We are created in God’s image and from the beginning of time we were given the privilege of being his co-workers.
For me, prayer is a privilege and not a burden. To realize that God is moved to act because of my prayers is a humbling thought. My prayer is that we come to expect God to answer when we call. When we find that others are too burdened to pray and prayer is too much, we can share the load and pray for them.
I read a quote that spoke to this: “Pray like everything depends on God and work like everything depends on us.” I find that this puts prayer in proper relationship to God and our work.
God bless you in your co-worker status with God.
