Like a runner without legs, prayer that does not get up and act is faithless and cowardly. The Israelites trembled when they got stuck between the Red Sea and the approaching Egyptian army of over 600 chariots. “Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?” they whined in sarcasm (Ex 14:11).

But Moses stood up and spit out a courageous speech, “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent” (Ex 14:13-14).

I read that and think, “Yea, Moses! That’s the way to tell ‘em!” But not God. God said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward” (Ex 14:15). Yes, Moses’ speech was right on. But whining to God like the Israelites whined at Moses wasn’t helping anything. All the prayer in the world minus legs that run with it is pointless. Yes, sometimes the right thing to do is wait. But not this time. Moses had prayed enough. Now was the time to act in faith! So often we pray and pray and pray and then complain that God isn’t responding when what we should be doing is acting on that prayer with full confidence and expectation that God will do as we have asked.

So God said to Moses, “As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land” (Ex 14:16).

We need to stop asking for things that we are not wiling to act upon. Stop asking for evangelism opportunities and start witnessing. Stop asking for freedom from sin and start living like you already are. Stop asking for patience and start waiting upon God. Stop asking for unity in your home, and start becoming a peacemaker. Stop asking for a wife and go get the number of that girl you’ve been wanting to ask out. Stop asking for obedient children and start training them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

I’m not advocating to stop praying, but to stop praying prayers that we are not willing to count the cost and act upon. One anonymous author put it this way, “Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move your feet.” And Jesus’ brother put it this way, regarding asking for wisdom “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6).

Legless prayer is faithless prayer. It’s time to grow legs and start running.