I was recently discussing prayer with a couple of women who wanted to know my thoughts. They were reading Dutch Sheets' book 'Intercessory Prayer'. I hadn't read it in a couple of years so I picked it back up and skimmed over the first 6 chapters. I knew even before doing this what these women were struggling to get past in the book. In the second chapter he asserts that God has set up the world in such a way that he 'needs' us to be praying to accomplish His mission.
As I read the book the first time - I too struggled with that section and each reference thereafter. God does not 'need' us - he didn't have to create but He did 'choose' to. He created us because He wanted to share Himself with someone. Just like we have that innate desire to share our stories with others - even to the point that it feels as if it did not happen until we have shared with someone else. So too, God wanted to share with someone and thus created. So does he 'need' us - no, but does He 'choose' us - yes!
He may not 'need' us to pray, but He has chosen to work through our prayers. He has given his creatures dominion over the earth, we are made just a little lower than the angels, yet He extends His grace and mercy to us and through us. If we are indeed His body - the body of Christ - than He has designed the earth - and particularly the church - to be His hands and feet - and pray-ers here on earth. We help distribute his grace, love, and mercy to the world as His representatives - this is what it means to be an image-bearer.
I do not pretend to understand all the intricacies of this question of what prayer does and does not accomplish- this definitely falls into the category of sovereignty vs. free will but here is what I do know from scripture...
James 4:2b
Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.
Luke 11: 8-10
And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
John 14: 12
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
Prayer is meant to make a difference! It is meant to change things!
As I reread that Dutch Sheets book I was struck again - that even though I do not agree with all of his theology - I can not deny that God answers his prayers - in big, huge, extravagant ways. In the end it is not his theology that really matters but his faith!
James 5: 13-18
Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.
Matt 17:20
You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.
Ahh - how we need more faith! ... God enlarge our hearts so we might receive even more!
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