"Prayer does not equip us for greater works—prayer is the greater work."

I've recently been using Oswald Chambers' My Utmost for His Highest for my daily devotions and am continually drawn into his provoking reflections.

His devotion from October 17th says that prayer itself is the greater work, not a means to something else. We are to labor for God, and this is done through prayer.

It is easy for us to misunderstand prayer. But it is labor, not something we always enjoy, so "we refuse to pray unless it thrills or excites us, which is the most intense form of spiritual selfishness." Of course we can enjoy prayer, but whether we enjoy it or not, it is something we must do.

And prayer is not just a vehicle to other ends (perhaps things we want); prayer itself should be our focus. And "when you labor at prayer, from God’s perspective there are always results" because "prayer is the working of the miracle of redemption in me, which produces the miracle of redemption in others, through the power of God."

What does it mean to labor for God? Does it mean praying for people's hearts? Is it the labor of keeping a relationship with Him? Is that what Chambers means by a "miracle of redemption" in ourselves and others?