“…actually going out and helping the poor, say, rather than just praying for them.”

Unlike Darius, who, although I can understand his sentiment that we all need to be moved to action by love, I don’t think I do anything more important than pray for my loved ones, leaders, etc. God loves our prayers and our conversation with Him. He is waiting for us to ask. I can clip toenails, but God can change a man’s heart. I can take out the trash, but God can clean a sinner’s soul. Of course, we are all called to act in love and service to our neighbor, as well, but nothing is more prideful than to think our works are more primary than God’s will. Isn’t the implication in suggesting that we should pray less that God doesn’t hear our prayers? Why on earth would you even want to suggest that? God does hear the prayers of the righteous; He works things out in His own time. Sometimes His working out is a time of trial in our life. Sometimes that trial is in fact a refuge from a worse trial (read The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom). If anyone imagines they are going to get through life without a trial, they are silly. God allows us to go through trials so that we draw close to Him, so that we can be transformed and grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. “…he’s had umpteen prayers, none of which have helped him out in nearly thirteen years.” Neither you nor I nor he knows that this is true. It is good to help your friend, but never imagine that you are doing more than God is doing in his life. You are looking through a pinhole and God sees the whole picture. Who are you to suggest that God is not moving mountains in the life of this man?

le

Was recently talking to a disabled person living alone. He was telling me how happy people are to pray for him - he’s had umpteen prayers, none of which have helped him out in nearly thirteen years (he has a progressive disease, so it’s like praying for someone with Alzheimer’s or Lou Gehrig’s). But while even the most casual acquaintance may offer to pray, it’s quite another thing to get anyone to cut his nails or take out the trash.

Some prayer is sincere, but I think a lot of it is “feel-good prayer” - a cheap and easy way to think we’re getting right with God that can be done at our own time, convenience, and with no trouble at all. Glad Jesus did more than pray for us.

There is no 1 Cor. 5:17. You probably mean 2 Cor 5:17
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Grat verse!