Why Pray if God Has Already Decided Everything?
How do we reconcile the fact that God has predetermined every event with the power of prayer to actually change things? According to John MacArthur, author of The Power of Praying, the answer lies in a correct understanding of God’s providential determination.
Determinism ≠ Fatalism
Most Calvinists believe in determinism, which holds that God has predetermined every single event (not to be confused with fatalism, which holds that our choices have no bearing on the future). What happens in the future is determined by what we do and pray in the present.
Prayer Changes the Future
God responds to prayer in both Scripture and our experience. Moses prayed for food and water for the Israelites; Hannah prayed for a child; Elijah prayed for drought and then rain. To say that we don’t need to pray because God has already decided everything is ridiculous.
God Ordains Our Prayers
God has ordained his interventions to be in response to faith-fueled petitions, so if your understanding of God’s providence leads you to pray less, you need to rethink your understanding.
Why should we pray if God already knows everything?
We acknowledge our reliance on the Lord and his grace and mercy when we pray. God doesn’t need your prayers because He knows exactly what you need before you even ask, but we desperately need Him in our lives, so our prayers are a proactive act of faith on our part.
Why does God want us to pray?
God’s desire, according to the book of Ephesians, is for us to pray “on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18). We turn to prayer because it is the most personal way to experience God, encounter Him, and grow in knowledge of Him.
Does prayer change God?
We, like Abraham, frequently pray for things. u201cI, the Lord, do not change.u201d (Malachi 3:6) The idea of praying to change God’s will is arrogant, as it implies that we know better than God. In Gethsemane, Jesus set the example by praying for God’s will to be done, not His own.
Why do we pray for God’s will to be done?
Praying for God’s will to be done in and through our lives on earth, as it is in heaven, means we are willing to go through whatever it takes to make that purpose a reality; our prayer is to be so aligned with God’s will and purpose that we ask God to empower us to carry it out.
What are the 4 types of prayer?
u201cPrayer is the raising of the mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God,u201d writes John Damascene. This definition encompasses the four main types of prayer: adoration, contrition, thanksgiving, and supplication.
Does God call us to pray?
So why does the Lord ask us to pray when He already knows the answer? It’s because prayer brings us into His presence, unlocks the power of His Spirit in us, and brings healing and guidance… and in making our requests known to Him, He often answers questions we haven’t asked yet.
Does God command us to pray?
u201cThen Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.u201d As you can see, the Bible commands us to pray and tells us what it accomplishes, so take advantage of this wonderful gift known as prayer.
What can God not do?
This appealing tract explains that God is incapable of three things: lying, changing, and allowing sinners to enter heaven.
What is the best prayer to God?
Loved God, I pray that you will comfort me in my suffering, strengthen the hands of my healers, and bless the methods used to cure me; give me such faith in the power of your grace that I may put my complete trust in you even when I am afraid; through our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
Can God hear my prayers?
We are taught in the scriptures that if we address God with faith and real intent, He will always hear our prayers and will answer them; in our hearts, we will feel the confirmation that He does hear us, a sense of peace and calm; and we will also feel that everything will be fine if we follow the Father’s will.
Can God’s will be stopped?
The Book of Revelation demonstrates that God’s ultimate will cannot be stopped: “at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11).
How do I pray for God’s will?
I praise your holy name, Lord, and I pray for your will to be done in my life and in this world, for your way to rule here on earth as it does in heaven; I’m not in charge, Lord; you are, despite how difficult it is for me to admit and accept.
Does God answer prayers according to his will?
The truth is that God is under no obligation to respond to any man’s prayer; however, because believers don’t always know how to pray, the Holy Spirit prays u201cfor the saints according to God’s willu201d (Romans 8:26-27).