Philippians 4:6-7

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Why would God tell us to take everything to Him in prayer if it doesn’t work?

He wouldn’t.

Prayer works.

So, how does that work exactly? Isn’t everything predetermined? Don’t we live in a material world, a cause and effect world? Doesn’t God know everything that’s going to happen anyway?

Well … let’s see about that.

This is the way Jesus introduces the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6:8. (Also known as the Disciples’ prayer because Jesus is teaching the disciples to how to pray).

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

So, if God knows what we need before we ask, why pray?

First of all, because in verses 9-13 Jesus tells us to pray and how to pray.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

And, we know that this prayer and this manner of prayer is according to God’s will or Jesus would not have told us to pray this way.

1 John 5:14-15 — And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

God promises to hear the prayers that are according to his will.

I used to tell people that God answers ALL prayers. He just answers “no” sometimes. When we pray for things that are not according to his will, he’s more than likely going to say “no.”

But, he also hears the cries of his children. And there is great power in that privilege to go to him as your Father in heaven, who loves you. It’s kind of like going to your mom or dad when you’re a little child. You go and ask them, because you think there’s a good chance they’ll give you what you want, because you know they love you.

God says it’s the same with Him. Jesus teaches us:

Matthew 7:7-10 — Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Prayer, predestination, and providence must be rightly divided.

Everything is not predetermined. Prayer to God may cause him to intervene in your situation through His kind providence.

Take care, though, that your prayers are not hindered. God says there are sometimes when He will not hear you.

You can be involved in such sin, disrespect for God and His ways that there are dire consequences:

Proverbs 1:28 — Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

The remedy for this situation is confession and repentance. A restoration of fellowship with God. Remember, God didn’t move away. You did.

Seek him and you shall find him, and he will hear your prayers.

May God Bless You.