Why Should I Pray if God is Sovereign?

It’s a fair question. If God is sovereign—if He already knows what will happen and does what He wills—then why pray?

The answer is that prayer is not about changing God’s mind, but about aligning our hearts with His. It is about communion, not control. God is not swayed or manipulated by us, but in His kindness, He ordains both the ends and the means. Prayer is one of those means.

Scripture makes it clear that God not only invites us to pray—He commands us to pray. “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). “You do not have, because you do not ask” (James 4:2).

Even more, Jesus Himself prayed. The sinless Son of God regularly withdrew to be with the Father (Luke 5:16), spent whole nights in prayer (Luke 6:12), and prayed with tears (Hebrews 5:7). In Gethsemane, He prayed, “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). His prayers were not attempts to override the Father’s will, but an expression of perfect submission to it.

Jesus also taught His disciples to pray. In Matthew 6:9–13, He gave us the Lord’s Prayer—not as a formula of words to repeat mindlessly, but as a pattern for prayer: adoration (“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name”), submission (“Your kingdom come, Your will be done”), dependence (“Give us this day our daily bread”), confession (“Forgive us our debts”), and protection (“Deliver us from evil”).

So why pray? Because:

  • God commands it—to neglect prayer is to disobey Him.
  • Jesus modeled it—to walk in His footsteps is to be a person of prayer.
  • It changes us—not God’s eternal will, but our own hearts, drawing us into deeper dependence, trust, and joy in Him.

Prayer is a gift of grace and it is powerful. (James 5:16) It is how we participate in God’s work, how we learn to submit like Jesus, and how we taste fellowship with the Father who delights to hear His children.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Further Resources: Why Should I Pray if God is Sovereign?

This is one of the most common and important questions Christians wrestle with. These resources provide clear, biblical, Reformed answers:

📘 R.C. Sproul – Does Prayer Change Things?

In this concise booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul explores the purpose and power of prayer, affirming that while prayer doesn’t change God’s mind, it is a means He has ordained to accomplish His will.

🎥 John Piper – If God Is Sovereign, Are My Prayers Pointless?

In this video, John Piper addresses the tension between God’s sovereignty and the necessity of prayer, explaining how God’s sovereignty actually fuels our prayers.

📚 D.A. Carson – Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation

This book delves into Paul’s prayers, offering a model for deep, God-centered prayer that aligns with God’s will.

📖 J.I. Packer – Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God

While primarily about evangelism, Packer addresses how God’s sovereignty impacts our actions, including prayer, providing a foundation for understanding why we pray.

📘 Louis Berkhof – Systematic Theology (Section on Prayer)

Berkhof’s systematic theology includes a section on prayer, discussing its nature and how it fits within God’s sovereign plan.