Prayer is not a substitute for hard work — prayer is the work! God does things in and through our lives by prayer that He does in no other way. As we pray, and as our attention is turned toward God, we become more receptive to aligning our lives with His will.
God will not equip us with His power while we are racing off to our next appointment! His Spirit will not empower us if we are oblivious to what He is saying. He requires our complete attention before He will fill us with the powerful presence of His Spirit.

from Experiencing God Day by Day, 
a devotional by Henry and Richard Blackaby
2nd October entry