The Divine and Human Dance

I have often read from Mark Batterson from National Community Church- “pray like it depends on God, work like it depends on you” or something like that. I thought it was original to Mark and it may be, but I was recently reading Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer Towns who says the same thing.

Both I believe are describing this divine human dance whereby nothing is going to happen that is good apart from God’s power and will. Therefore, we have to pray with faith. Yet the Bible also has something to say about works. In Wesleyan terms we would talk about cooperating with God’s grace and work in the world. So, while on the one hand we pray fervently recognizing God’s sovereignty and grace we also are called to cooperate where God is working.

Here is how Elmer Towns puts it, “When you face a problem don’t limit yourself to prayer. Prayer is wonderful, but when you only pray, you haven’t done enough. The Bible teaches both “faith and works.” On our knees we pray as if everything depends on God, but we get up and work as if everything depends on us.” P. 49.