Reasons for Praying

Prayer may seem to be a useless exercise when considered in the light of God’s sovereignty. Nevertheless, there are very good reasons for engaging in prayer. Above all else, we should pray because God commands us to do so and invites us to do so.

Commands to pray are common in Scripture. In Colossians 4:2, Paul writes, “Continue earnestly in prayer.” In Philippians 4:6, the apostle writes, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” And in Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable designed to teach “that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” There is no doubt about the “oughtness” of prayer in the Christian life. Clearly God wants His people to pray, and that is sufficient reason for us to do it, whether we understand how it meshes with His sovereignty or not. But more than a duty, prayer is one of the great privileges of the Christian life. The psalmist writes, “Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.… Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Ps. 100:2–4). We have the unimaginable privilege of coming before the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, to speak with Him. No Christian should refuse this invitation.

The sovereignty of God actually should motivate us in prayer. The acronym A-C-T-S reminds us that prayer should include adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Understanding God’s sovereignty should not discourage us from adoration; indeed, it should incite us to it. Likewise, His sovereignty should not hinder our confessions, for we know that we are responsible for our sin and, having offended Him, should seek His pardon. And divine sovereignty should have no effect on thanksgiving. Rather, we should be increasingly willing to thank the God who works all things for our good.

It is when we come to supplication that we sense a conflict with God’s sovereignty. We wonder why we should ask for things if God’s will is set. We ask ourselves the point of requesting a certain outcome when He knows what is best. Thankfully, God’s Word is not silent about the efficacy of prayer in light of His sovereignty, and we will consider what it says tomorrow.