This document tells a story about a man named Brother Joe Hanson who had been unemployed for 3 years despite being a devout Christian and prayer warrior. The author confronts Joe about not taking any action to find a job other than praying. Joe insists that God will provide a job for him without any effort. The author argues that Joe's situation is like a couple who prays for a child but never has sex, expecting a virgin birth. After this confrontation, Joe begins actively job hunting and finds a job within 2 months. The author's message is that prayer is not a substitute for action, and one must take steps of faith in order to see prayers answered.

1. By Roland Ofori Larbi
https://rolandoforispeaks.wordpress.com/
Email: narolak@yahoo.com
Twitter: @RolandLarbi
A CLASSIC TALE OF
THOSE WHO ABUSE
PRAYER

2. By Roland Ofori Larbi
https://rolandoforispeaks.wordpress.com/
Email: narolak@yahoo.com
Twitter: @RolandLarbi
INTRODUCTION
This is an interesting topic by all standards. I bewildered at some of the stuff I write about recently. But I
think I am growing old, and as you advance in age, you can’t help but question the things around you.
That is the only way you can fully attain the bonus of old age, which is wisdom. For now gray hair is far
out of my reach, I might need to serve some more decades of years to convince “Otwedeampon” to
grant me some few gray hairs.
Well those who know me closely will tell you that I love to pray. I am wired to pray, not necessarily
because I always have a tall wish list to shove in the face of the Mighty One, but the fellowship and the
confidence it gives me for the day is immeasurable. I see myself more as a prayer addict, who suffers
serious withdrawal symptoms if I fail to go on my knees in prayer for just a day!
But of late I have begun to question myself on the exact role of prayer in our lives as humans.
Imagine Brother Joe Hanson, a devout Christian and an accomplished prayer warrior, whose voice
variations and multi tongue talking credentials is well known even by the demons in the deepest abyss
of hell.
The only problem with Brother Joe is that he has been an unemployed graduate for the past three years,
living on the tips and seeds he sometimes prompts other Faithfull’s to sow into his “fertile” life.
He is even eyeing Sister Tracy, the best soprano singer in the church as his future wife. But this dude is
jobless and penniless. Anytime I confront brother Joe regarding getting a job, I always get the same
answer” I am believing God for a job soon I know that though it tarries, the vision is for an appointed
time, and in Gods time He makes all things beautiful!”
This time I decided to push further to understand what specific actions he has taken apart from praying
to God for a job. I was stunned to discover that he had not applied for a single job for the past three
years, only depending on his faith that whilst he is up to nothing, God is up to something for his life.
I told him he was a big joke, this got him infuriated and even asserted that I was backsliding for doubting
the efficacy of a God who will supply all his needs according to the power that works in him.
Funny enough though, he was able to cool off just as I was walking away to take a “seed “from me.
I bluntly told him that this is the last seed he will receive from me if he does not get his ass out there to
look for a job.
Before he pocketed the GHs 20 cedis seed I gave him I asked him to frankly answer this scenario “
“Imagine a couple believing God for a child, who have prayed and fasted for the past five years and yet
they are not having a breakthrough. How will he feel as their pastor if he discovers that this couple only
prayed all this while but never had sex?”

3. By Roland Ofori Larbi
https://rolandoforispeaks.wordpress.com/
Email: narolak@yahoo.com
Twitter: @RolandLarbi
Brother Joe was quick in his “usual godly countenance style baritone voice” to dismiss such behavior of
the couple as foolish, naïve, senseless and a waste of everybody’s time. How on earth were they
expecting to get pregnant without any sex at all? We won’t have another virgin birth again! He loudly
retorted.
At this stage brother Joe was feeling very good about himself, knowing that he had provided me with
the sharpest answer to my question”
I then served him the counter attack of his lifetime and shouted back at him, Joe; you are no different
from the foolish couple. How can you only pray without taking a step of faith towards what you prayed
about? His jaw dropped instantly, with a mixed countenance of folly, bewilderment and angry perfectly
blending together. At that instant he quickly put his hand in his pocket as if to give me back my GHs 20
but he abandoned the mission quickly sensing that it could be suicidal as he could no longer handle the
pangs of hunger in his tummy. He lowered his head without saying a word and walked past me swiftly.
After two minutes I turned to find him busily gulping some fingers of roasted ripe plantain and
groundnuts with a pile of sachet water on his laps. I knew our friendship could be over at this stage, but I
was convinced I had done the right thing to awaken my beloved brother from the slumber of poverty he
was entertaining.
Four months down the line, Joe called me with such elation in his voice to break the good news that he
now has a job, with one of the multinationals.
Apparently after job hunting for two months, he was lucky with his 6th
attempt. He was amazed he was
chosen above other competitors who had tangible work experience. The employer told him he liked him
for no reason and believed Joe had a good heart. I said to Joe, “I am really excited that you finally gave
chance to the prayers to work in your life!
It’s been two years now since my incident with Joe took place, and as I write this article, I am on my way
to the boutique to get a fine suit to attend Joe’s wedding.
I bet Joe would still be a spiritual rat, living off other people’s seeds if he had not been awakened from
his deception that prayer without any action will accomplish mighty works.
My advice to anyone reading this is that prayer is no substitute for efforts, but it only guarantees 100%
returns for the one showing effort.
So anytime, you pray, give the prayer chance to work by taking a step towards what you prayed about.
After all, when Moses prayed, he still pointed the rod to the red sea for it to part.
When Jesus prayed over the five loaves and two fishes, he still ordered his disciples to start sharing it to
trigger the multiplying effect.

4. By Roland Ofori Larbi
https://rolandoforispeaks.wordpress.com/
Email: narolak@yahoo.com
Twitter: @RolandLarbi
I can go on and on, about inspiring stories of men and women of prayer who accomplished exploits
when they took that step of faith.
Remember that we are partakers or partners in God’s divine nature; hence before we can trigger the
divine influence in our ordinary lives, we need to actively work with God to bring it to pass.
Therefore take that step of faith today and see the prayer answering God turn your little to abundance.
God bless you.
From the desk of ROL