Prayer is largely a mystery to me. I know a little bit, I have done it a good bit, and I don’t know a whole lot. But I am committed to persist in practicing it and pursuing the understanding of it.
Here is what I know: Through His Word, God commands us to pray. Pray without ceasing, we are told in I Thessalonians 5:17. Jesus displayed the priority of it through His example - numerous times during His ministry, while dying on the cross(Matthew 27:46, Luke 23:46), and even now in the very presence of God (Hebrew 9:24). God also places within us an inclination to desire fellowship with Him, to innately cry out to Him in times of need, and even an awareness of our lack of a natural ability to know how to do it right. The disciples implored Jesus in Luke 11:1, Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.
Even though I pray every day (and throughout the day), I don’t consider myself an expert at praying. Sometimes my mind wanders(my to-do list is ever present in my thoughts!) and often my mind WONDERS. I wonder how prayer works, why it works, every so often IF it works. One of my “wonderings” is reconciling the sovereignty of God with His command for me to pray. If He is sovereign (and He absolutely positively is!), then why should I pray? Isn’t He going to do what He is going to do, whether I ask or not? Isaiah 14:27 is just one of several places in Scripture where God plainly asserts His sovereign providence - For the Lord Almighty has purposed and who can thwart Him? His hand is stretched out and who can turn it back?
Since that is true, why does God command us to pray? Isn’t He going to accomplish His purpose whether I pray or not? While I can’t easily find all answers to my “wonderings” about prayer, Scripture does make this one pretty clear.
In the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, chapter 36, God tells the nation of Israel the abundance of blessings He is going to bestow on them. Physical blessings. Material blessings. Relationship blessings. Spiritual blessings. He clearly explains that these blessings of restoration and renewal and richness are not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for My holy name. (verse 22) The chapter goes on to expose their sin and unworthiness to receive such blessings but that His generosity will reveal His goodness, His glory. (verses 32-36). And then, at the end of this chapter, He discloses the link between His sovereignty and our praying.
Thus says the Lord God: This also I will be sought by the house of Israel . . . to do for them: to increase their people like a flock. . . . So shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 36:37–38)
Did you catch what this verse says? “I will be sought by” - God is saying” I will let them ask me. I will cause them to call upon me.” He is indeed so sovereign that He grants us the grace to realize our need and to ask Him to meet it! He not only ordains His purposes but He also ordains our prayers that ask Him. He places within our hearts the desire for the blessing, the awareness that He alone can give it, and the faith to ask Him. Faith to believe that He is rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Faith to trust that He will sort out my requests and not give me a stone when I ask for bread, even though I don’t always know the difference (Matthew 7:9-11). Faith that He is sufficient to complete my prayers when I don’t know what to pray (Romans 8:26). And sober faith to realize that I am apt to miss out on the goodness He has stored up for me because I either don’t ask or I ask with selfish motives (James 4:2,3).
What God desires is for us to be in relationship with Him. To have faith in His goodness. And to act with confidence that He wants me to ask because He wants to answer.