Keep Praying & Sowing

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The African Church Father from the fourth-century, St. Augustine, had major foundational contributions to Christian theology; he was quoted as saying,

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"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you."

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That phrase appeals to me because it emphasizes the power of our joint-union with God in our earthly affairs. It steers away from an aloof theology that places the onus on God and divests oneself from responsibility; it also avoids the faulty approach of trusting only in human intellect/ability and depending on self to the exclusion of all else. But, when we engage the unseen realm by contacting God's Spirit in prayer to aid the divine will in our lives, while also doing our part in the natural as a vehicle of divine expression, we can manifest more heaven on earth.

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In one of his cardinal teachings in Matthew 6, Jesus gave us great insight into this delicate balance:

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25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:25-33).

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One might look at this passage and think that Jesus is telling us not to work. Well, we know based on the context of this teaching, that is not what he's saying. I heard someone say, "If you want to be supplied like a bird, then sow like a bird." I thought that was humorous, but it speaks directly to this thought.

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Jesus is saying that our human effort should not overstep its bounds by taking the place of God in our lives. In all of our working, our highest priority and value should be God's realm and God's way of being and operating in human affairs - which is the Kingdom of God. Walking in God's righteousness, or developing right-consciousness in our lives by correctly appraising the higher value of spirit over matter, is our path to wholeness, wellness and abundance. When we appraise the realm of Spirit as of greater value than the physical/material world, we set ourselves up to manifest more of the heavenly realm on earth.

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In other words, what God says to me and who God says I am should be weighed heavier in my mind and heart than a temporary trial or setback.

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I was invited to sing for a funeral in Anderson, Indiana the other week, for a highly regarded and respected lady in the community who was a Pastor's wife and civic leader. One of her favorite songs, which I was asked to sing was a special arrangement of a popular Church of God hymn entitled: "Keep Praying, Toiling On". I had never heard that hymn before (probably because I have not been affiliated in Church of God denominational circles), but the words resonated with me, especially the chorus:

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"Keep praying, toiling,
Praying, toiling on;
There soon will dawn a brighter day,
Keep praying, toiling on."

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Remember, as St. Augustine shared, pray as if everything depended on God, AND work as if it depended on you, never forgetting that the unseen realm of Spirit is of greater significance and takes priority!

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Jesus says, when we seek the realm of God, all other things we need will be added unto us! Let's believe Jesus, and seek God's realm. As you continue praying and sowing, “there soon will dawn a brighter day” and “all these things will be given to you as well.”

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~Jason Powell

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