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 do we need to pray if God already knows?
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.
Can prayer change the will of 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.
Does prayer really matter?
Prayer, for example, can be a reliable source of self-soothing and self-comfort when one is in pain, grieving a loss, or dealing with traumatic events, according to research.
Why pray if God’s will is done?
We pray not to be in control, but to be open to the blessings of peace, understanding, insight, confidence, and strength that the Lord is ready and willing to bestow, so that we can move forward better able to navigate the next curveball that lifeu2014not necessarily the Lordu2014throws at us.
What are the 3 things God Cannot 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.
Do prayer change things?
Though our prayers do not change God’s mind, He uses prayer to carry out His will, and we can be confident that prayer changes thingsu2014including our own hearts. R.C. Sproul argues that prayer is an important part of the Christian life and encourages us to come to God’s presence with joy and hope.
Does God answer all prayers?
The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call; it is your sins that have cut you off from God; it is because of your sins that he has turned away and will not listen any longer.u201d
Does 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.
Is there any evidence that prayer works?
While some religious groups argue that the power of prayer is obvious, others question whether it is possible to measure its effect, empirical research indicates that prayer and intercessory prayer have no discernible effects.
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).
What is the right way to pray to God?
I hope they inspire you to make the year 2021 a year of prayer.
- Thank him.
- Ask for God’s will.
- Say what you need.
- Ask for forgiveness.
- Pray with a friend.
- Pray the Word.
- Memorize Scripture.
Should we pray about everything?
‘Do not be concerned about anything; instead, pray about everything, telling God what you need and thanking him for everything he has done, and you will experience God’s peace, which is beyond our comprehension.’