Where do you fall in the following two categories? Most people either pray like it depends on God and then do nothing or they work like it depends on them and never pray. I think it was author, pastor, and blogger Mark Batterson who I first heard say “work like it depends on you and pray like it depends on God.”

I like the idea of that. Praying because you want to see things happen that you know only God can do. I’ve got a few of those prayers. But far too many people pray and then don’t put any action to their prayers. Or on the other end of the spectrum far too many people work hard and then take all the credit for what God does.

Here’s some examples of how to pray like it depends on you and work like it depends on God…

• If you are single – you pray that God helps you make wise choices as you wait. You ask for wisdom and strength not to settle or make a poor choice and then you put yourself out there. If I was Christian single and wanted to get married I’d move to Atlanta and start going to North Point Community Church. There are a ton of singles there. If you can’t do that then try a dating service or two. You pray and then take action.
• If you want kids – this is one that Monica and I went through. For six years we prayed like crazy that God would give us kids. At the same time we tried multiple fertility treatments and then finally IVF. We know others that have tried IVF and haven’t got pregnant. We knew that it was still up to God. We did our part and begged God to do His. We praise God that He allowed us to get pregnant with twins.
• If you don’t like your job – you can complain about it or you can pray that God gives you a new job as you rework your resume and then send it out to perspective employees.
• If you have teen who turns away from God – I understand if a parent wouldn’t want to listen to what I have to say because I am not a parent of a teen. But I have worked with teenagers for 14 years and I’ve seen far too many students turn their back on God. Here’s what I do…I pray like a mad man. I beg God to capture their heart. At the same time I invest in them by spending time with them. I want them to know that I care about them no matter what, but I hope that my influence will be positive for them. If I was a parent I’d pray and ask others to pray like crazy, but then I’d spend as much time being with them as I could.
• If you are going bald – I pray every day that God would regrow my hair as I wash it with Nioxin (supposed to help thinning hair). I put this one in to be funny, but I do pray this every day.
• If you want better friends – pray for good friends and then invest in people. Eventually someone will stick.

I think the point has been well made. We should pray like it depends on God because it does, but at the same time God has given us a will to work. Line yourself up with God and then do something. Pray like it depends on God and work like it depends on you.