Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
In our last post, I presented a case for committing to a vibrant prayer life. Prayer should characterize the life of the Christian. I listed a number of questions for reflection intended to reveal how one truly thinks about prayer. In this post we will consider a question that has been posed to me many times over the years: “If God is sovereign, why should I pray?”
The simplest answer is that, as Christians, we are commanded to be a people of prayer. However, when someone comes to understand what Scripture says about God’s absolute sovereignty, sooner or later, this question is sure to be asked. If God has already determined all things, if the outcome is already settled, if our prayers cannot change God’s mind about what He has ordained, then why should we waste our time making our requests known?
Of course, there are those who deny God’s absolute sovereignty. They insist that God is sovereign in a general sort of way. Yes, He has determined the “big” events but there are plenty of minor events that are fluid. Therefore, we can alter the course of some things with prayer. They claim we can persuade God to change course – to change His mind. They appeal to passages like James 5:16b, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” While it is true that such prayer accomplishes something, it does not, nor can it, change God’s mind or alter His eternal decree. The Scripture is clear: “Known to God from eternity are all His works” (Acts 15:18). He is the author of history, beginning to end (Isaiah 46:10).
According to Scripture, God is absolutely sovereign and righteous prayer is effective. These two truths must stand together. The biblical definition of God’s sovereignty doesn’t allow for a sovereignty in which the God who is in charge is doing the best He can. God doesn’t try to do anything; He just does it. Scripture also does not support any notion of effectual prayer that changes the course of God’s eternal decree, persuades God to do something He has not purposed to do or changing God’s mind about what will be. Such attempted reconciliations of these passages are purely philosophical, not biblical.
I often wonder if those who believe God’s mind can be changed through prayer have ever considered what that says about Him. It assumes something is wrong with God’s thinking; something we can correct through prayer! Exactly where is God’s thinking in error? In what way would you say God’s thinking is deficient? What can you possibly tell the omniscient God that will change His mind? Words that have never been spoken by God: “You know, I never thought of that! Thank you for bringing that to my attention! I owe you one!” Such a notion is clearly ridiculous.
The pertinent question is, “How does prayer work in a universe where all things unfold according to an absolutely sovereign God, who in eternity past, decreed all that shall come to pass?” While there is admittedly an element of mystery here, Scripture gives us insight into how these two biblical assertions are compatible. A correct understanding of prayer requires a biblical grasp of God’s sovereignty. God has ordained all things. In other words, God doesn’t simply decree the end, He decrees the means to that end. For example, God not only ordained that Joseph become second in command of all Egypt, He ordained that he would get there through many trials and tribulations. The road to the top was downhill. He went from the favored son to being left for dead, sold into slavery, imprisoned, and forgotten. But every step of that arduous journey prepared Joseph to take the throne when the day finally arrived! This means God not only ordains what will be but some of those events will come to pass in answer to prayers He ordained would be prayed. Therefore, when we pray and God acts in accordance with those prayers, He is doing nothing other than what He had already purposed. Our prayers are effective because God has decreed they will be.
… God not only ordains what will be but some of those events will come to pass in answer to prayers He ordained would be prayed
Through our prayers, we are not changing God’s mind. We’re not convincing Him to redirect the course of His will. Through the practice of earnest prayer, God is changing us! Through prayer, the Lord aligns our wills with His, not His will with ours. Prayer opens a door through which we can view the holiness of God and His righteous will. When His unfolding will isn’t taking a direction we think best, we are the ones amiss. Through prayer, God can and does change our hearts. He can and does renew our will. He can and does draw us closer. Through prayer God moves us so we align more with His good and perfect and acceptable will.
Prayer is an expression of our submission to God. In prayer we are acknowledging His sovereignty and our humility. We are conceding He is the Superior and we are His servants. We are expressing how wholly dependent we are upon Him.
In our next post, we will consider what we should pray in light of the fact that God is sovereign.
