Prayer under control

What happens when we pray? The matters we mention may or may not have been intended by us. We may have items to pray about each day of the week or we may begin our prayers with no idea concerning the details that we will mention. Those who do the latter may regard the former as rather unspiritual whereas those who do the former may regard the latter as completely disorganised. I suspect both are looking at prayer from the earth upwards, which is not the best view to have.

From a higher viewpoint, we can see that prayer is connected to God’s purpose and providence. Since God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass, our prayers must be included in his plan. His plan is only worked out in his providence, which must mean that he oversaw the circumstances in which he guides us to pray about certain matters, whether we have a daily routine or not.

In his providence, he may have led you to pray for John Smith on every Wednesday. Maybe you hear about something that happened to John Smith on a Friday. Does that mean your praying for him on Wednesday was unspiritual? No. In his providence, God arranged for you to pray for him on Wednesdays and he will have arranged for others to pray for John on Fridays. What about those who do not pray regularly for John Smith? God may not burden them on any day, or he may bring John to their minds on a Monday, or he may do so on that Friday. God will work out his plan in the way he has chosen. Our method is always subject to his will . 

Sometimes, we get into a dilemma about prayer that is not wise but allowed in providence. Prayer is guided from above. The Holy Spirit, who knows the details of the plan, arranges the method we use. He may lead us to use a regular routine, or he may lead us to pray freestyle, or he may cause us to use both. 

The fact that he is in charge of our prayers does not mean that our prayers always get a positive answer. In the inscrutable wisdom that designed his plan, he may have arranged for a petition guided by him not to be answered because he knew that the petitioner was not ready at that time for a positive answer. So his unchanging plan may include him saying no, or not yet, or yes. We have to leave all that with him and continue praying in providence, reminding him of his promises, and avoiding the things that offend him.

No doubt the apostle Paul would have prayed that his intended trip to Rome would help him get to Spain (Rom. 15:24, 28). What happened? He did get to Rome, but not in the way he planned because he arrived there as a prisoner and was kept there for a few years. What did he do? Among other things, he continued to pray from where he was in God’s providence, as we can see in his prison epistles. Was it wrong for him to have made plans and prayed about them? No, because he would have known that God could have said no, or not yet, or yes. Did he get to Spain after he was released? No one knows.