Prayer without effort will be insincere. Effort without prayer will be ineffective.

Prayer involves more than just kneeling at a bedside with hands folded and eyes closed. It goes beyond just standing on a mountaintop with arms outstretched and head lifted toward the heavens. While these are great postures for prayer, the images are incomplete.

Prayer involves effort (and we don’t just mean grunting to bend down on your knees or the exertion to climb the mountaintop). Sincere prayer requires a willingness to put some action behind what you are asking from God.

Maybe God intends to use you to accomplish the result you are praying for. After you pray for your family and neighbors, do something tangible to show your love for them. After you pray for those who are sick, do something to help them. After you pray for world peace, show kindness to someone.

Saying “Amen” doesn’t end your prayer. It’s the signal for your action to begin.

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.

James 5:16