Action and Faith
Whenever I speak on the subject of praying the promises invariably there will be a question like this, "But how do I know how much I'm supposed to work for the answer? Are you saying that all we need to do is pray, wait and do nothing?" No, I am not saying that! We are to pray as if it all depends upon God and work as if it all depends upon us.
A quote from A.W. Tozer concerning walking by faith says:
"We must remember that God always acts like Himself. He has never at any time anywhere in the vast universe acted otherwise than in character with His infinite perfections. This knowledge should be a warning to the enemies of God, and it cannot but be an immense consolation to His friends.
"Though God dwells in the center of eternal mystery, there need be no uncertainty about how He will act in any situation covered by His promises. These promises are infallible predictions. God will always do what He has promised to do when His conditions are met. And His warnings are no less predictive: "The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous" (Psalm 1:5).
"In the light of all this how vain is the effort to have faith by straining to believe the promises in the Holy Scriptures. A promise is only as good as the one who made it, but it is as good, and from this knowledge springs our assurance. By cultivating the knowledge of God we at the same time cultivate our faith. Yet while so doing we look not at our faith but at Christ, its author and finisher. Thus the gaze of the soul is not in, but out and up to 'God. So the health of the soul is secured."
1. Tozer, A.W.,The Incredible Christian, Tyndale House Publishing, Wheaton, Illinois 1964 p. 28.
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