Faith (Spiritual) without Works (Physical) is Dead (Useless)

This year has been a huge learning experience for me. As many of you know, I began my divorce process in April 2023, met someone new in December 2023, and then went through a breakup in March 2024. Since then, God has healed deep wounds within me, things I’ve carried since childhood. Last year was a time of separation and devastation, while this year has been about heartbreak, healing, and rebuilding.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that purpose is closely tied to desire. Our purpose as believers is to edify the Kingdom of God, and our desires, when aligned with God, can help us fulfill that purpose. However, we must understand that purpose requires action.

It’s not enough to think that the spiritual realm will handle everything for us. We are the body of Christ; Christ is the head, and we are the hands and feet that bring His will to fruition in the physical world. This requires action on our part. The Bible says, “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:17)

The passage continues: "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:14-17)

Faith alone is not enough. Faith works together with our actions. Abraham, Rahab, and many others were justified not only by their faith but by what they did with that faith. It was their actions that completed their faith.

If you're praying for marriage, you must act on it. Staying home 24/7, waiting for God to deliver your spouse to your doorstep, will not always work. Maybe God has placed a desire in you to sign up for the gym, where you’ll meet your future husband or wife, or to join an online Christian dating app. But you hesitate, waiting for God to do all the work.

God places desires in our hearts for a reason. They’re often tied to our purpose. If I had known my love for YouTube could be used to edify the Kingdom of God, I would have acted on it sooner. Likewise, if your desire for marriage is meant to glorify God, pursue it in ways that honor Him.

This spiritual principle applies in all areas of life. If you’re asking God for a job, don’t just pray—get on Indeed or LinkedIn and start applying. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:6, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." We do the planting and watering through our actions, and God gives the increase.

If you want to start a YouTube channel, one that brings glory to God, start now. If you’re dreaming of becoming an entrepreneur, pray and then take the first steps toward that goal. God will open the right doors and close the wrong ones. But you have to move for those doors to be revealed.

Get Out Your Prayer Journal

Now, here’s what to do: grab your prayer journal and write down what you desire. Pray over it. Delight yourself in the Lord and see how your desires align with His will for your life. There’s a good chance they do! But don’t stop there—put action behind those prayers.

Are you praying for a husband? Write down the qualities you want in a spouse, then start preparing yourself—work on your physical and spiritual health, and get out there. If you’re praying for friendships, reach out to people, even family. If you want more financial provision, pray and start making moves that could lead to an increase. God will open the doors that align with His will.

Faith in Action

I’ve personally experienced this truth. When I finally committed to starting a YouTube channel that glorifies God, my channel grew quickly. Before that, I started many blogs and YouTube channels that were never successful. But once I aligned my work with God’s purpose, I went from no blog visitors to 200 visitors a month. I went from 24 YouTube subscribers to over 1,000 in less than 2 months.

Faith without works is dead. Action is required, not only for success but for salvation itself. Though we are saved by faith, we must act on that belief to fulfill the spiritual law of life.