It seems obvious that Christians should expect God to do great things in our midst. It is proper and good to pray for lost people to be won, for us to deepen our walk with Jesus, and for our churches to grow and to see multiplied impact in our communities. After all, we know that God’s heart is to do just those things—He wants the lost found infinitely more than we do, and He is able to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3.20).
Still, there is a danger that we might seek God in prayer for an outpouring of His power, then mistakenly think we’ve done all that’s needed; after all, it is His work, and He gives the increase, right? Indeed, more than a few Christians appear content to stand on the sidelines waiting for God to do something—anything—to revitalize their personal walk with Jesus or increase their church’s ministry impact.
The temptation is to ask for God’s help and blessing, then wait passively for Him to make the next move. The risk is that we might over time decide that, in the absence of evidence of answers to our prayers, God has somehow failed us—“we asked and He didn’t come through.”
A verse from the Old Testament prophet Hosea’s pen speaks correctively to the human tendency to ask and wait rather than “ask and prepare.” The statement is found in Hosea 10.12: “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.”
The proper preparation for God’s power and presence includes actively laying the groundwork for what we’ve asked God to accomplish. Notice God’s instruction in this passage to get out there and sow and break up unplowed ground—“until” he comes, not “after” he comes. We are to do more than just ask for God to move; we are to make every effort to prepare ourselves for what we are requesting.
Are we asking God to revive us and empower us for Kingdom impact? Then what are we doing to prepare ourselves for that to happen? Are we asking God to bring new life to our churches, more persons won to Jesus, more spiritual transformation in our communities, and multiplied disciples? Then what are we doing in our churches to sow righteousness and break up unplowed ground to make a way for what we say we are seeking from God?
Inviting God to do new things and pour out new spiritual power among us is important, but not sufficient; we must follow through by taking the necessary steps and making the necessary changes that will demonstrate we are expectantly ready for God’s gracious response. As Isaiah 62.10 (CEV) challenges, “People of Jerusalem, open your gates! Repair the road to the city and clear it of stones; raise a banner to help the nations find their way.” Let’s not just ask God to move; let’s get to work preparing the way in our hearts and in our churches.