Why Pray?

[Hekuran]

I am not suggesting in any way that God is unable to act without our prayers. God is able to do as he chooses with or without my support or request...

This passage from Daniel chapter 9 is interesting. Daniel infers from the scriptures that the Exile in Babylon will last 70 years, and as a result turns to God in prayer and repentance, asking for God to fulfil his promise.

In the first year of Darius son of Ahasuerus (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom - in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed:
"O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands ...

...Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, O Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Give ear, O God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name
​

Why pray if God has already promised - surely it will happen anyway?

I understand this as Daniel taking up some kind of partnership with God to see his divine purposes through - an honour that he lets us play a part in bringing about his will.

If anybody has a clearer understanding, I'd like to hear it, as it's a prayer that I often find puzzling.

 

[jiggyfly]

Why pray if God has already promised - surely it will happen anyway?

I understand this as Daniel taking up some kind of partnership with God to see his divine purposes through - an honour that he lets us play a part in bringing about his will.

If anybody has a clearer understanding, I'd like to hear it, as it's a prayer that I often find puzzling.

Good post Hekuran, my understanding of prayer is somewhat similar to this. I believe that prayer is an alignment tool, and when properly used it aligns us to Father's will and purpose. But in most cases we misuse the the tool and try to align God to our will and purpose.

Isaiah 55:8-11
8*For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9*For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10*For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11*So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Jesus is ofcourse always our best example and especially concerning prayer.

Matthew 26:36-46
36*Then Jesus brought them to an olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go on ahead to pray.” 37 He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he began to be filled with anguish and deep distress. 38*He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and watch with me.”39*He went on a little farther and fell face down on the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.” 40*Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you stay awake and watch with me even one hour? 41*Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!”42*Again he left them and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away until I drink it, your will be done.” 43*He returned to them again and found them sleeping, for they just couldn’t keep their eyes open.
44*So he went back to pray a third time, saying the same things again. 45*Then he came to the disciples and said, “Still sleeping? Still resting?* Look, the time has come. I, the Son of Man, am betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46*Up, let’s be going. See, my betrayer is here!”

Here is a prime example of how Father has intended prayer to work. It is a tool that adjusts and aligns us for Father's will. It is intended to do a work in us and align us so we won't be found resisting and striving against Father's will. Maybe if Peter and the others had spent their time praying rather than sleeping their actions would have been different during Christ's arrest and crucifixion.

 

[abigya]

I am reading a book by Charles Spurgeon "The Power of Christ`s Prayer Life". Great book to read to understand what it mean to pray and why we pray.

God bless

abigya

 

[Lion_of_Judah]

God cannot legally and justly move in and take away the dominion from the devil. And most importantly,

God cannot do anything unless somebody down here asks Him.

That's just absurd on it's face Jack. If you play that arguement out on it's own merit..

Who did God hear from in prayer, in order to know to answer the prayer.. to send Jesus to be our propitiation?

Check out this commentary: GotQuestions

This is not to say that he rules the world completely; only God does this. But it does mean that God, in His infinite wisdom, has allowed Satan to operate in this world (within the boundaries God has set for him) and has allowed Satan to operate with an agenda.


All the best,
LoJ

 

[Yeshualives]

I am reading a book by Charles Spurgeon "The Power of Christ`s Prayer Life". Great book to read to understand what it mean to pray and why we pray.

God bless

abigya

Thanks for that recommendation abigya - I want to check out more of Spurgeon's work as I have found some quotes by him very inspiring.

Rachel