Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
What is the point of even praying?
Answer:
As a pastor, I've often been asked this very question - what's the point of praying if God is already in control? It's a valid inquiry, especially when we consider that God's sovereignty is a fundamental aspect of His nature. However, I believe the purpose of prayer goes beyond simply changing the course of events or informing God of our needs. Prayer is a means of getting ourselves into a right relationship with God and aligning ourselves with His holy will. When we pray, we're not just making requests to a distant deity; we're entering into a conversation with a loving Father who desires a personal relationship with us. Prayer is an act of surrender, acknowledging our limitations and dependence on God. It's a way of acknowledging that we can't do it on our own and that we need His guidance and strength. As Jesus said, "Ask, and you will receive" (John 16:24). This doesn't mean that God will always answer our prayers in the way we expect, but it does mean that He will always answer in a way that's best for us. In the New Testament, prayer is not just about getting things for ourselves, but about getting to know God Himself. We're encouraged to pray for others, for healing, and for the spread of God's kingdom. Prayer is a means of discerning God's will and aligning ourselves with it. It's not a means of manipulating God into doing what we want, but rather a means of surrendering to His sovereignty and trusting that He will work all things for our good (Romans 8:28).
Sources:
dogmatic theology
shedd
elemental theology
emery bancroft
jesus on trial
david limbaugh
my utmost for his highest
oswald chambers
systematic theology
wayne grudem
how to pray
c s lewis
Want to ask a new question?
Ask a new question and get an answer from our AI pastor.