In a recent column I wrote about the importance of waiting for God’s perfect timing and the unintended consequences of rushing into action according to our own understanding or frustration. But the question arises, “what should we do with the time while we are waiting for God’s purposes to unfold?” Scripture gives reliable examples of the difference between church work and the work of the church.
The opening chapter of the book of Acts sets the spiritual tone for the life and growth of the early church. After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples did not immediately rush into action, attempt to organize programs, or strategize outreach. Instead, Scripture tells us they gathered together and “all met together and were constantly united in prayer” (Acts 1:14, NLT). Before there was preaching, miracles, or explosive growth, there was prayer. The church was born in an atmosphere of humble dependence upon God.
This posture of prayer was not accidental. Jesus had prepared His followers for this moment. Earlier, He had taught them that prayer was the means by which God releases His power: “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13, NLT). After His resurrection, He gave them a specific instruction: “Stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven” (Luke 24:49, NLT). The disciples obeyed not by striving, but by waiting—waiting together in prayer for what God alone could provide.
Waiting on God has always been a mark of faithful obedience. In the Old Testament, the psalmist declared, “I look to the Lord for help; I wait confidently for God to save me” (Psalm 130:5, NLT). Isaiah echoed this truth with a promise that still speaks powerfully today: “Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31, NLT). The early believers understood that divine strength comes not through human effort, but through trusting, praying dependence.
Prayer is, at its core, an admission of helplessness. To pray is to confess that God’s work cannot be accomplished by human wisdom or energy. The Lord made this principle clear centuries earlier when He spoke through the prophet Zechariah: “It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (Zechariah 4:6, NLT). God’s purposes have always advanced through people who understood their need for Him.
As the believers devoted themselves to prayer, God began first to work within them. Prayer prepared their hearts before it empowered their hands. Through prayer, fear was replaced with courage, confusion with clarity, and weakness with boldness. This pattern continued throughout the book of Acts. When opposition arose, the church did not retreat or retaliate; they prayed. “Now, O Lord… give us your servants great boldness in preaching your word” (Acts 4:29, NLT). The result was unmistakable: “After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31, NLT).
This kind of prayer-driven dependence stands in sharp contrast to how churches are often tempted to measure success today. God does not grow His church primarily through clever strategies or flawless programming. He looks for hearts that tremble at His Word and rely on His power. The Lord once asked His people, “Are you worshiping me in name only? Will you stop trusting in human strength?” (Jeremiah 17:5, NLT). True spiritual fruit comes only when the church recognizes that apart from God’s Spirit, it can do nothing of eternal value.
The Old Testament repeatedly affirms that God responds to humble, praying hearts. “The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth” (Psalm 145:18, NLT). When God’s people pray, they align themselves with His will and invite His presence to move among them. This was true in Solomon’s day, and it remains true now: “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray… I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NLT).
I firmly believe that God is still looking for believers who understand that prayer is not preparation for the real work—it is the real work. When the church gathers in humility and dependence, God releases His power, advances His purposes, and equips His people to serve with boldness and love. As in the days of the early church, revival begins not with activity, but with prayerful reliance on the Spirit of God.
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org