I read an article on George Muller today. He pastored the same church for sixty-six years! He cared for more than 10,000 orphans during his lifetime. He read through the Bible more than 200 times. And he raised, by some estimates, $150 million dollars for missions.
Here was the key to his productivity: work really hard at what God has called you to do, but do not trust in your work, trust in God. What a great distinction!
Mueller said, "This is one of the great secrets in connection with successful service for the Lord; to work as if everything depended upon our diligence, and yet not to rest in the least upon our exertions, but upon the blessing of the Lord."
In other words, work like it depends on you and pray like it depends on God.
We need to work, but not trust in our work. We need to plan, but not trust in our planning. We need to speak, but not trust in our speaking. We need to lead, but not trust in our leadership. We need to create, but not trust in our creativity.
Prayer doesn't replace work! It simply shows us whether we trust in our work or trust in our God.