You may hear the phrase “What’s the use of praying?” from those who are in dyer or frustrating life positions. It’s a good question though and it is often asked when examining how we relate to God. If God is an all-knowing God and all-powerful knowing the past, present and future, how are prayers changing anything?
I think it’s important first to look to the Word to see why God doesn’t change his mind. Have you ever had to rethink a plan or an answer? When you tell someone, “I have a better idea” or “I was wrong, this is a better idea”, we admit that our first idea, plan or assumption was not the correct one. If prayer changed God’s mind, he would be admitting the same and as an all-powerful, all-knowing God, his first statement is always correct just by his very nature.
Second, if what we prayed for was a better option, it would place our intelligence above his or even if we didn’t have the better option, he would submit to our wants instead of his own perfect will. Granted our request means our solution would be higher than his. We often think we know better than him but remember, we have a limited view of life around us as he is able to see everything in one moment.
This leaves us asking what prayer is actually for? Prayer has multiple functions but most of all, it reinforces our relationship with him. Often we base our connection to him by how many prayers he answers, but God is relational. He wants us to commune with him through prayer for us to worship him but also share our thoughts and feelings. When it comes to praying for something specific, knowing we won’t move God and that his will is perfect, prayer conditions me to accept his will, no matter what it is. That’s a tough pill to swallow as human beings as we are self-sufficient and ask for help only when we need it. Have you ever had a prayer not answered and you were glad it wasn’t? That’s God’s will at work. He saw what was ahead and closed the door. Problems arise when we force the door open because we know better. Only then do we realize he was right all along.
Make prayer a part of your every day and take note of the differences you see in your life.
