In this dispensation of grace, believers on the Lord Jesus have been brought into a position of nearness to God that was not known in past ages. Instead of having to go through a priest or prophet as an intermediary, every believer may now approach God in prayer and come directly into His presence. We are encouraged to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:1717Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)), and also to “be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:66Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)). Many other scriptures could be cited to show the emphasis placed on prayer in the New Testament, in this time of God’s grace.
However, sometimes the question is raised, Does not God know already what He is going to do? Does He not have His purposes already established, whether in the world at large or with each of us individually? Do we really change God’s mind when we pray? Some may find these questions hard to answer, in view of the sovereignty of God.
Common Interests With God
I would suggest that the answer is found in a remark made by a brother many years ago, to the effect that “prayer is founded on the immense privilege of our having common interests with God.” Thus we find very pointed verses referring to the certainty of our prayers being answered: “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He will give it you” (John 16:2323And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. (John 16:23)). Also, we have these words: “If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:1414If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:14)). But then we have other scriptures that balance these, such as, “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (1 John 5:14-1514And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. (1 John 5:14‑15)). Likewise we read, “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:21-2221Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. (1 John 3:21‑22)).
Thus we see that once again we are in the realm of God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility — two parallel truths that cannot be reconciled in the human mind. Rather than trying to reconcile them, we should accept them as both being taught in the Word of God, and thus they can be kept in proper balance only by walking in communion with the Lord.
God’s Purposes
Yes, God does indeed have His own purposes, whether with man collectively or with individuals. His purposes will be carried out, because God is sovereign, and He “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Eph. 1:1111In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians 1:11)). We thank God for this, and in this same connection we read, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He which searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He [the Spirit] maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:26-2726Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26‑27)). How thankful we should be that our prayers are not always answered according to our own wishes! How often indeed do we “ask amiss” and desire that which would not be at all good for us! But we have the assurance that our prayers go up to God, not with our imperfect understanding of our needs, but rather with the Spirit’s intercession, made according to the will of God. Even if the prayer is imperfect, the answer is always perfect, because it is according to God.
A Prayerless Life
But should this reduce us to a fatalistic attitude, where we rest on God’s purposes and neglect prayer? Absolutely not, for if we do so, we not only miss a great privilege, but we will inevitably find out that “a prayerless life is a powerless life.” It is a great privilege to go to the Lord with His interests on our hearts and to ask for that which God is wanting to do. As creatures, dependence and obedience become us; prayer brings us into God’s presence, expressing our dependence upon Him, and how needed this is! Also, when we are brought into God’s presence, our state of soul is manifested, and we will soon find out whether we are in a right condition in which to pray. Then the Spirit of God, instead of being ready to lead us in prayer, may have to occupy us with some sin that the Lord wants us to judge. Thus, one dear believer, when asked by a sceptic whether he (the believer) really thought that he changed God’s mind when he prayed, replied, “You are holding the stick by the wrong end; when I pray, it is I who am changed, not God!” In getting into God’s presence, we are led to judge what is not according to His mind, and our thoughts are aligned with God’s thoughts. This is most needful, and thus prayer ought to be a daily thing with us, and perhaps a number of times in the day.
Iniquity in the Heart
Finally, we have that solemn word, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me” (Psa. 66:1818If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Psalm 66:18)). I may recognize sin in my heart that I need to confess to the Lord, but in stubbornness may refuse to do so. Then I cannot walk in communion with the Lord, and the result will be that “the Lord will not hear me.” I will find that I cannot pray properly, although I may go through the motions and say the words. But such prayers will not be answered, except to have the Spirit of God lay even more forcibly on my conscience the need for repentance and confession.
Thus, we see that we are to pray, in both thanksgiving and petition, while at the same time recognizing the blessedness of the intercession of the Spirit of God and the sovereignty of God in answering prayer. It is a resource we will not need in eternity, but the blessedness of a walk in communion with the Lord and the memory of how He answered our prayers will remain with us.
W. J. Prost