If Yahweh Does All Things According to His Will, Why Pray?

While I’m not going to get into prayer in full, here’s the basics on why prayer must exist in each believer’s life. Many Christians wrestle with a difficult question: If God is sovereign and does all things according to His will, what’s the point of praying? If He already knows the outcome, does prayer even change anything?

This question is not a new one; it’s age old. It strikes at the heart of how we understand God’s sovereignty and our role in His plan. But Scripture makes it clear… prayer is not pointless. It is both a privilege and a necessity in the life of every true believer.

“In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
(Matthew 6:9-13)

1. Prayer Aligns Our Hearts with God’s Will

Prayer is not about changing God’s mind; it’s about changing us. Jesus modeled this in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Even in His anguish, Jesus submitted to the Father’s will.

When we pray, we align our hearts with God’s purpose. We begin to desire what He desires, trust in His perfect plan, and surrender our own limited understanding. Prayer is less about getting what we want and more about becoming who God wants us to be.

2. God Commands Us to Pray

The Bible does not present prayer as optional—it commands us to pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray without ceasing”, and Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”.

If prayer were meaningless, why would God instruct us to do it so often? The answer is simple: He designed prayer as a means of communion with Him. It is how we grow in relationship with our Creator.

3. Prayer Is the Method God Uses to Work in the World

God’s will is not an impersonal decree that happens apart from human action. Instead, He chooses to work through the prayers of His people. James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective”.

We see this in the life of Elijah, who prayed for rain after a long drought. 1 Kings 18:42-45 describes how he persistently sought God, and in response, rain finally came. Did God already know He would send the rain? Yes. But He chose to work through Elijah’s prayers.

In the same way, our prayers are part of God’s ordained plan. He calls us to pray because He intends to use our prayers to accomplish His purposes.

4. Prayer Strengthens Our Faith and Dependence on God

If we never prayed, we would begin to live as though we didn’t need God. But when we pray, we acknowledge that we depend on Him for everything. Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11, NIV), reminding us that we rely on God for even the most basic needs.

When we pray and see God answer, our faith grows. Even when He answers differently than we expected, we learn to trust His wisdom over our desires.

5. Prayer Changes Things—Including Us

One of the greatest mysteries of God’s sovereignty is that He allows our prayers to be part of His divine plan. While He ultimately accomplishes His will, He invites us to participate in it. Jesus said in John 14:13, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son”.

Does this mean God will grant every request exactly as we ask? No. But it does mean that prayer is effective. It changes situations, moves hearts, and, most importantly, draws us closer to our Father.

Conclusion: Keep Praying!

Yes, Yahweh will always accomplish His will. But that does not make prayer meaningless. Instead, it makes prayer even more incredible! Prayer is the means by which we participate in God’s work, align our hearts with His, and experience His presence in our lives.

So keep praying. Keep seeking. Keep trusting. God is listening, and He is working through your prayers in ways you may not yet see.

Have a blessed rest of your day, praying before every move you make and showing GOD gratitude in all things. Hoping to see you on my next post. Bye for now!