When considering the nature of God’s providence and our role in prayer we are faced with the question of what prayer really accomplishes. If prayer has any effect on what happens, then it would seem that God’s plan is not fied in the fist place. The
other side is, if God’s plan is established and He will do what He is going to do, does it really matter whether we pray?
As we try to analyze this issue there are two important facts that most be considered: 1) Scriptures teach that God has a plan
and that plan is defiite and fied and is not subject to revision. 2) Scriptures command each of us to pray and that prayer has value. James 5:16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
When we examine Scripture it appears that in many cases God works in sort of a partnership with us. Jesus did not perform
any major miracles in Nazareth. He only healed a few sick people and stated that He “marvelled because of their unbelief,” Mark 6:6. Therefore, it appears that Jesus did not heal because of the lack of faith. On the other hand, the centurion bringing his request for the healing of a servant and the woman with the hemorrhage, clinging to the garment of Jesus, are examples of faith that resulted in God working. When God wills the end (in these cases, healing), He also wills the means (which includes a request to be healed). Thus, prayer does not change what He has purposed to accomplish. It is the means by which He accomplishes His will.
Prayer is more that a method of creating a positive mental attitude, so that we are able to do what we have asked God to do. Prayer is a matter of creating a right attitude with respect to God’s will. Jesus taught His disciples to pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done,” before “give us our daily bread.” Prayer is not so much about getting God to do our will as it is demonstrating that we are as concerned as God is about getting His will done.
Jesus also taught us to be persistent in prayer. It takes little faith, commitment, and effort to pray only once for
something. When we are persistent in prayer it shows that our petition is as important to us as it is to God.
We do not always receive what we ask for. Jesus prayed three times for the removal of the cup (death by crucifixion). Paul prayed three times for the removal of the thorn in his flesh, but in each case something more needful was granted. We can pray confidently, knowing that our wise and good God will gave us, not necessarily what we ask for; but what is best. Psalms 84:11,
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that
walk uprightly.”
by Dennis Baker, Brotherhood President
