“The Israelites prayed, but they also prepared. They worshipped, but they also worked. They sought divine guidance, but they never neglected strategy.”
The perspective of prayer versus work in this nation is a matter of grave concern.
Let me narrow it down to my own faith.
True Christianity never treats one as mutually exclusive to the other. Work and prayer are meant to function in tandem.
Israel, or the Hebrews from whom the Christian faith emerged, still practise Judaism today. Not all Jews are Christians. A huge percentage of them believe in the existence of one Supreme God referred to as Yahweh, Jehovah, Adonai, and other Hebrew names.
However, and despite their deep reverence for God, Israel remains a fighting nation with one of the world’s best military intelligence networks and fighting forces.
Did Israelis stop praying in synagogues or observing the rites of prayer? No. Did they stop improving their military and special forces? No.
Why?
Because they understood the assignment. They prayed and left God to do His part while they were prepared, focused on doing theirs. From the onset of conquering kingdoms in the Bible, the Israelites never went to war without a strategy for victory.
From Joshua to Saul, from David to the various kings of Israel, prayers were often followed by instructions delivered through God’s prophets and leaders. There were military campaigns, intelligence gathering, infiltration missions, and carefully executed plans…
There were stories of armies pursuing their enemies and defeating them decisively. Israel never went to sleep, and till today it continues to build a formidable military arsenal because that nation understands the dangers that surround it.
We Prayed Up In Nigeria, But We’re Not Prepared
Christians also believe in the power of prayer. Here in Nigeria, almost every street has a church. Nigeria boasts some of the largest churches and church gatherings in Africa.
There are miracle crusades, power conferences, prayer summits, vigils, and fasting programmes held across many cities. More recently, pastors organise tours to Israel and Jordan so believers can experience firsthand the places they read about in Scripture.
Yet, while we prepare in prayer and fasting, we often fail to prepare in strategy.
When a national crisis occurs, we pray and fast, wring our hands, and wait for a miracle. There is often no visible emergency response, no coordinated strategy, no recruitment of experts who can offer immediate solutions.
Many Nigerians expected serious brainstorming among hostage negotiators, security agencies, law enforcement personnel, and other stakeholders following reports of bandits abducting children and teachers.
Sadly, this is not the first time such incidents have occurred. Yet, our response often appears limited to prayers, statements of condemnation, and helpless observation.
We become a sitting lame duck, forced to accept a difficult fate while leaders make grand speeches, condemn the act, and move on until the next tragedy strikes.
But Scripture presents a different model.
Moses prayed with Israel, but he also prepared organised its army and leadership structure. Nehemiah prayed before rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, but the builders worked with weapons at their sides and guards on watch. David sought God’s guidance, but he also pursued his enemies to recover his abducted family. David was both a psalmist and a warrior.
A nation can be both prayerful and strategic. That is not outside God’s plan; it is perfectly aligned with it.
God has heard us.
Now our altars should also fire up with voices that speak truth to power. In addition to prayer crusades seeking divine protection, church leaders should ask hard questions. We do not just need the sanctification of oil and mantles, we need a collective demand for the return of abducted children, teachers, and victims across the nation.
Our altars should be fierce with bold messages that address the lingering security crisis and point toward solutions. We do not simply need prayers for protection, we need prayers for wisdom, direction, strategy, accountability, and action.
Faith without action has never been the model presented in Scripture. The God who answers prayers also expects human beings to act responsibly with the wisdom, resources, and opportunities He provides.
The Israelites prayed, but they also prepared. They worshipped, but they also worked. They sought divine guidance, but they never neglected strategy.
Nigeria does not need less prayer, it needs prayer accompanied by deliberate action. We must continue to pray for the safety of our children and the peace of our nation, but we must also demand accountability, effective security measures, and competent leadership.
Our altars should not only echo with cries for divine intervention but also with calls for justice, responsibility, and practical solutions. Prayer opens the door, but human effort must walk through it.
When faith and action work together, societies are transformed and nations become stronger.
