Pray About It? Or Just Do It? 

yesterday I asked a friend what to do if I had to make a strong decision, still uneasy about the things I have to decide I find this video and wow! Praise the Lord haha

I was just watching "Where the Red Fern Grows" and the grandpa had a great line... if you want to see something good happen, you need to meet God half way by doing the work. Such a good mentality.

A very good question to discuss. , “Apart from Me you can do nothing” is so true. Please also know that the pressure is off when we are in relationship with God. Absolutely do all that you can to serve and work and live to the fullest. His yoke is easy, His burden is light. He loves you and carries you.

I love what my spiritual father says: To pray is a very hard work

Thank you Fr Mike 🌟 "There is a power in persistent pray " ~Micah 7:7 "Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established" ~Proverbs 16:3 "Pray as though everything depends on God. Work as though everything depends on God"🌻

Thank you for this video. I really needed to hear this as I am at what I think is the darkest moment in my life where everyday I feel like crying. Have been praying daily for weeks for things to get better but nothing has changed and I almost wanted to give up as I slowly start to feel there is no point in all this. This video really helped me to continue persevering in prayer and trust in God that everything will be fine eventually.

I just asked God to send me a sign as to what I should do about a situation, and when I refreshed my RU-vid feed, this video came up first.

As I say - Do everything you can that is in your power, and ask God for help on everything that is not. This really encourages me to put in the hard work, but also provides peace knowing that since I asked the Lord for aid, if he wills it, the circumstances will be in my favor.

Actions speak louder than words and prayer is needed at all times. Thank you Father Mike. Always good stuff. Ora et labora.

Thank you Fr Mike. Sometimes I fail to just do, as though I'm waiting for something. I need to trust in the Lord and just forge ahead as best I can and finish the task. God Bless. Claire.

"Praying as though everything depended on you..." makes me think of the burden we must carry as we are called to lift up our crosses and follow Christ. Jesus says the burden will be light but not always. Let us not run away, let us not ask why something happens, to quote Fr Benedict Groeschel in The Rosary is a Place, we must learn to grow in our sufferings. It also makes me think of the song Hunger by Amaranthe (which is a heavy metal song for those who are not familiar).

"Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4: 6) "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." (Colossians 3: 17) "We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8: 28) "Whatever your task, work heartily, as serving the Lord and not men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you are serving the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3: 23-24)

My 12 year old nephew was not liking the public middle school he was in because of the fights etc. His mom applied for him to attend the local Math and Science academy. He was placed on a waiting list. I started praying hard, going to church in afternoon just to talk to god. I now know prayers DO work . He got in. Thank you God

Just do it. Education too is a blessing

I'm reminded of the quote often attributed to Pope Francis (not sure if he really said it or not) - "You pray for the hungry, then you feed them. That is how prayer works." Another way to say exactly what you're saying here - it is a balance between the two.

I'm so glad you posted this because I have friends that believe they just need prayer and they sit and home broke crying why they have horrible lives.

Thank you, Father. I

This reminds me of a video game quote I love to recite from time to time. It goes "We can't expect God to do all the work"

Thank you father

I pray I will understand properly and put it into practice. Thanks Father Mike.

You're wonderful. I started listening to you in your podcast Bible In A Year on my way to work. I feel better when I listen to you. I'm so glad I found you on RU-vid. Thank you for all that you do. I pray for you❤️

Thank you for this reflection, Father Mike! Another aspect of Ora et Labora that I hold onto is offering my work as prayer. I’ve learned that part of it from a handful of Benedictine spiritual directors along the way, and love how it can both sanctify my work while increasing my time for prayer if it doesn’t seem like I can stop what I’m doing for 5 or 10 minutes to pray an office or enter into some other type of formal prayer. Thank you for bringing this concept in front of people!

Fr. Mike!! You are AWESOME!!!!! I've been wanting to compliment you on your BIAY!! I've learned soooo much. NOT to become "smarter", to become WISER! I wish to be wise more than smart. That said, this video is exactly what I needed to see and hear at this point in my life. In this time of Spiritual Consolation, this understanding gives me more defense against any Spiritual Desolation I will encounter...and encounter Spiritual Desolation I will...yet through your words and my prayer routine and never forgetting "in time of desolation, don't change a thing", through Gods' Will, The Sacred Heart of Jesus and The Immaculate Heart of Mary, the desolation will be quickly erased. I pray for, and love, you and all who are praying BIAY with me and appreciate that I am in your prayers. God Bless.

I love me some Father Mike, especially as I forge my way in the world and through my faith and my life. God bless Father Mike. ❤️

Wow I wish I had your energy . Sometimes I do not understand .

Regarding "Pray as if everything depends on God. And work as if everything depends on you." I know the best version of it, IMHO:- pray as if your work has no impact on anything and is fruitless; work as if your prayer has no impact on anything and is fruitless.

Amen!

Thank you for providing this clarity Father Mike

Ora et labora. We keep continuing as best we can. A great expression, pray as if everything depends on you and work as if everything depends on God and also in reverse.

FATHER Mike, Guide me in what's going on in the world. The shootings, war, disease..... it's becoming overwhelming.

Best way to describe how prayer and works whether temporal or spiritual. We pray as if it depends on God and work as if it depends on us and vise versa. It is all to bring us closer to him

Fr. Mike you explain Christianity so well. I believe that individuals who are noted for getting angry recently due to individuals saying to pray for the Victim's families whose children and the two adults were killed in the Texas school and at the Tops grocery store in Buffalo, NY and if we all say like you have in this video today "To pray as everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on us; then maybe more people would embrace Christianity and prayer. There is nothing wrong with prayer but as you so correctly stated here today about fatalism and quietness being something that the Catholic church does not embrace - I wish someone had explained it like that to me years ago. Anyway, thank you, Fr. Mike for following God's call and teaching others thru your talks and homilies. God bless you and your service to God's people..

I like the first phrase better makes more sense to me😊God bless you Fr. Mike and all your listeners ❤️

Thanks for this father Mike, you are the best!

Ora et Labora. The motto of my alma mater: St. Mary's Academy.

Very well said Toronto Ontario Canada 🇨🇦

Hi Fr. Mike, I am reading a book on Romanides's theology by Sopko, and this reminded me of it. He says that through illumination, following purification (and on our way to deification), we are in communion with both God and creation, and we are energized for selfless service. In deification, there is a “human-divine synergy which proclaims that 'we are God's co-workers'” and “all are called to love with the same love with which God loves.” Peace.

Be a Mom with 3 toddlers and pray. You need the help, because that job is tough. Your kids are totally dependent on you. So you better be totally be dependent on God.

Amen.

Ora et Labora - pray & work. I am a little confused now, but I know I will trust in the Lord via my prayers / conversations and always work as if God is next to me.

Thanks you so very much. I needed this today. God bless you.

Thank you Father Mike 🙏

Today was the day I needed to hear this. I acted actually like this. I poured myself on front on the tabernacle. Then I got to do my part trusting God was doing his while guiding me.

Went to Benedictine schools and oh man Ora et Labora brings me back to those days!

How enlightening and powerful your explanation about ora et labora, Fsther Mike! Glory toGod in Jesus’ name!

Funny how so many times you post videos that answer questions I am currently wrestling with at the right moment... keep up the good work, Fr Mike! Thank you!

So enlightening as usual Father Mike. I like your theories. They make so much sense. Pray always because prayer brings results, as does work. Can't have one without the other. God has to be in the center of everything we do.

Thanks!

The miracle (i think this is the idea in AA) is your ability to change yourself and your thinking. You can't change other people or events but you need to change the way you respond to those outside things. A miracle always depends on human intervention. God works his miracles through yourself. You pray to see things the way God sees things and adjust yourself accordingly.

Hi Father Mike. Thanks for your video. Here's how an old high school chaplain would phrase the question which you started with: How do I know when to go to the chapel and pray for my students and how do I know when to walk the halls and serve my students with my physical presence? I'm still discerning that, but I think the peace of Christ means I do not need to be anxious about embracing either.

Thank you Fr Mike this talk was something I had to hear. Thank God for guiding me here 😇🙏.

Pray to God but row towards the shore.... learned this the hard way

Or more commonly said, "God helps those who help themselves". Padre PIO said, "Pray, Hope and don't worry", ( this is of course not easy to do).

Both, tap into spirit while doing things throughout the day.

As always Gods timing .. hearing this was divinely made for true meaning to be true 🕊🙏F.Mike

This. Too many people use God as an excuse. God can give us ALL the right answers, if we don't act on them nothing will change.

I like to say "work hard as it all depends on you, knowing it all depends on him (God)' .

Thanks Fr. Mike!

There’s an old Russian saying that says when out to sea and in a storm, pray to God, but keep rowing the boat !

Best explanation of the question, Fr. Mike!

4:50 sounds like Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

St Bento is amazing with his teaching

Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa.

work and pray

Sooo goood! 🍾

Great

From the Midafternoon Office: Psalm 127 "Apart from God our labors are worthless"!

I think I like the converse statement because my brain interprets “work as if everything depends on you” as a salvation by works sort of idea (which is wrong) instead of just giving God control over my heart to bear fruit and do His work as a result of that

Of course we should play Ora and Labora. We should play all of Uwe Rosenberg’s big box games! I personally have more experience with Agricola, A Feast for Odin and Le Havre, but I think we all could use more deeply strategic board games in our lives. That is what this video was talking about, right?

A person can fully trust in God. For everything. 🎶"Everything, everything"?🎶 Yes, everything. It's not fatalism, it's resignation of locus of control. Which can come off looking like fatalism, granted, but isn't because it lacks the essential ingredient of pre-determinism that's necessary for a fatalistic substance. Thus, it's solemn resignation. For ppl who aren't seeking to do a blind, spiritual quest. Then, yes, good works are an essential component of the Christian life. Pray in adoration and gratitude and do good where good can be done. If a person is seeking to jump into a spiritual quest, one must put aside everything. I mean everything. 20mins into the start of my work shift, I had to just leave everything and go pray. Do you know how hard that was to do?! It doesn't sound hard, but, it was hard. My work ethic is super thick! That's something I just wouldn't do, walk away from my desk, my clients, my appointments...to just...go?! I was horrified. But, in a spiritual quest that God is engaged in, you just do it. "You are able to do nothing without Him". Think of it this way: let's say you really want to learn how to make yogurt the way the East Indians do it for over rice cause it's super friggin' good...but God is not with that for you at this given juncture in time. Regardless of your religiousity. What happens is you will keep forgetting you want to learn how to do it, you won't be able to find a single RU-vid video on it, all the stores will be out of milk when you go to buy some...God can be pretty creative with these things if He says "No". It doesn't matter how much you will it, you will have no authority or abilities to apply to it. Everything is within God's power. To hear God in a very simplistic way, picture the good angel and the bad angel, one on each shoulder. Ask God to speak through the good angel only so that you can hear Him. Listen only to the good angel. Disregard everything the bad angel says.

Lol being an American with old school italian values learned in Mexico i 100% agree with you the thing that has been lost by people of this land is that we should form a covenant with God and just do our best. God is not something that is up in the sky and we can't learn and form a relationship with in our daily lives because I have a funny feeling that even if you give up on your self God will never give up on you plz correct me if I'm wrong because there is a lot of miss information out there. Also I would never give up on what the catholic teachers have given to me through perception and also decadence.

Thanks for reminding me.

Both!

This is just what I need

oh man.. so many smart things were said in this video... Thank you! :)

About Adriàn Ortega Rojas, Vocational for The Priesthood in The Work of The Church, talk about I agree with Father Mike Schmitz at speaking about The Two Phrases, Pray like everything depends on God, Work like everything depends about you, now the phrase of Father Mike Schmitz is also correct, Pray like everything depends about you, and Work like all depends on God, I love Ora et Labora of The Benedictines, I appreciate that in The Monasteries we can perform jobs like praying The Organ in The Liturgy of The Hours while giving Glory to God, we should pray being abandoned to God and also that with Our Life We could give Glory to God in The Highest and Peace to the world to the men of well Will, sincerely Adriàn Ortega Rojas of God Almighty Father

Is it really so that I hear this thing when I most need it. That's happened a couple times with Fr. Mike

Thank you 🙏🏼

Thank you for this .

Great video!

Ok. Got it👈🏻

Thanks

Jesus does not want us to suffer anxiety. Many of us do because we make faulty decisions in our life. If you pray on important issues in your life the Holy Spirit will, we hope, guide the outcome. So, whether the outcome was good or bad, and we DID our Best, we should not suffer anxiety over it because 1. We prayed for the Holy Spirits' intervention, 2. We did our best, 3. Even if the outcome was not good IT WAS the Outcome that the Holy Spirit willed. Therefor, you should not feel anxious about anything because you prayed, worked hard, and the Outcome is the desire of the Holy Spirit so you should not feel anxious, ashamed or failure. It went as it was supposed to be and the outcome should be examined for the lesson the Holy Spirit desired for you. So for example, if you prayed for a good marriage but it was rocky (not abusive, just rocky) that was not what you desired but the HS maybe wanted you to learn patience, kindness, self discipline, sacrifice, unconditional love, ... from the hills and ruts in the marriage OR it was the HS wish for YOU to teach the other person those things. All relationships come from God.

I love in Texas and my children are in 2nd and 4th grade, the same ages as the children who were murdered in Uvalde. My children are terrified and confused, as am I. They don't understand why someone would slaughter little children. What do I tell them? What do I say? Please help me. We are all heartbroken and devastated.

I love you father. I was born Minnesota town called Alexandria. Lol so many jokes about Ole and Leana.

Woah, you almost confused me. 😜 Thank you for this video, Father. God bless you and the team. 🙂🙏🏻❤

👏👏👏👏👏👏

Fr. Mike, have you ever considered celebrating the Extraordinary form of the Mass? just asking...

Hi 👋🏻 Love to all 🙏🏻 My daughter is currently sitting her High School Exams. Today in her RE exam, one of the questions was, what is the nature of the Catholic Church. I was just wondering how any of you would have answered it?

My 23 year son died suddenly do you have anything on death? What happens after death?

How do you know whether you should pray or work?

I’m catholic but I don’t have a Catholic Church close by me can I go to a Korean church thank you and bless you father

All work and no PRAY makes Jack a dull boy!😁

Question why even our government officials say let's pray for the victims even dogh they don't believe in God I will say just keep praying for the ones are suffering more then you and me I priest say one time ago that a pry is like a boomerang today gos to those who need it tomorrow you or me will need God bless

How can i know what you mean ? Can God answer me soon ? Please pray i will know.

I didn't know Father Mike is Benedictine...

*How often do you pray for the Christians prosecuted in China, just because of their faith in Jesus?*

To pray for it but to act on it to get it? thats difficult. Is faith just leaving it to God but not do the will of it? or is it to pray to God and to do the work aswell?

I've heard it opposite, "Pray as if everything depended on you, work as if everything depended on God."

O Lord, you have completely confused me now dear Fr. Mike. I think God has ordained everything when we are born and we cannot change a thing, so, yes, we must work hard to feed our bodies and we must also pray to feed our soul. This is what I feel but I appreciate the way you direct our path in such a unique way. Thank you.