Ora et labora

I’ve been thinking lately that I need a motto.

Benedictine monks have a good one. First coined in the 6th Century by their founder, St. Benedict of Nursia, their motto is short, succinct, and rhymes in Latin.

Ora et labora.

Literally meaning, “Pray and work,” the motto was meant to give balance to life in the monastery.

Quiet time of prayer and Bible study needed to be balanced by active work and service. One was not meant to replace the other.

Both were important.

Pray. Talk to God. We could avoid a tremendous amount of pain and heartache in our lives – or at least learn to understand and endure them – if we would just take time every day to talk to God in prayer.

Prayer has power because our words are directed to the all-powerful God who can do anything.

Though we definitely don’t deserve it, our heavenly

Father, in his amazing grace, wants to give us good things and promises to give us whatever is for our good.

Sometimes we don’t get because we don’t ask.

Prayer allows us to express our hurts and fears, our hopes and longings, to the one person who truly understands. Prayer points our eyes to the one who can always help us. It keeps our faith pointed in the right direction.

But, as the Benedictine monks well knew, prayer is only a part of our conversation with God. We speak to God in prayer.

God speaks to us in his Word and Sacraments.

Praying without taking the time to hear God respond to us in his Word is foolish and leads to despair.

Prayer and Bible study, however, are only a part of a Christian’s life. Our conversation with God is meant to affect our conversations with others.

Quiet time with God is meant to motivate active lives of service.

Being a Christian means more than just going to church on Sunday mornings. It is a life lived in humble service to others.

It is a balanced life of quiet contemplation – conversation with God – mixed with humbly and lovingly living as fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, neighbors and friends. One of the things we often forget as Christians is that sometimes we are the answer to our own prayers. What I mean is that God often uses us as his hands and feet and mouth here on earth. God frequently includes us as an active part in his answers to our prayers. God can miraculously provide and help, but, usually, he uses natural means.

Oftentimes, he uses us.

We shouldn’t lazily lay around expecting manna to fall from the sky or a pizza to miraculously appear on the kitchen table.

When we pray that God change us, our world, or others, we should understand that we are often God’s agents of change.

So, pray and labor. Talk to God every day – every chance you get. Take the time regularly to hear him speak to you in his Word.

But then, get to work.

Live for your Savior God who lived and died for you.

Ora et labora.

Pastor Andrew Schroer has been a pastor for over 25 years and is currently serving at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Edna, Texas. You can find his latest books, “364 Days of Thanksgiving” and “364 Days of Devotion,” on Amazon.