"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." -2 Corinthians 5:20
"For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building." 1 Corinthians -3:9
I can't think of a more tossed around question than this: why pray? If God is sovereign and is in "control," why does He need me to pray? If He is all powerful, all knowing, all sufficient, what good am I in the picture? Isn't He just going to do what He wills whether I pray or not? I think in order to answer these questions, we have to go back to the beginning. Literally. Let's go back to the scene of Creation.
When God created the world, he took it a day at a time. I can imagine God seeing the earth as a huge canvas, just waiting to absorb His creativity. Reminds me a bit of that painter guy, Bob Ross, that used to be on T.V. He would start with a blank canvas and create a masterpiece before your eyes, almost effortlessly. He had a unique way of getting you involved in his painting. A magnificent mountain was created with a stroke of his brush. A peaceful river was designed with fresh, cool colors within minutes. You almost felt as if you were a part of this creation by the end of it. I think it's the same way with God. He effortlessly created this masterpiece we call Earth. He created the land, the sea, the animals, etc. But, it wasn't enough. His creativity wasn't complete. He needed humans. He needed family. He needed relationships. So, he created us. Not with a stroke of a brush, or a wave of His hand. He took time with us. He carefully fashioned us: "the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Gen 2:7)." After breathing into us, God gave us a job: to "rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
When sin crept in, and the enemy took control, Adam and Eve no longer looked or acted like God. They were sinful. God is Holy. They could no longer co-exist. God had no choice but to send them away, that is, until God sent along the "Second Adam," Jesus, who would not only repair the broken relationship, but redeem our image to once again match God's. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, He defeated the enemy, and gave us a chance to be re-made in the image of God. That means, once were accept Christ as our Savior, our status is back to it's original form. We are once again not only able to, but required, to "re-present" God. In authority, in power, in words, and in image. All of this background information now leads us up to our answers about prayer.
Why pray? God chose, from the time of creation, to work on the earth through humans, not independent of them. Even when the Lord is initiating something, earnestly desiring to do it, He still needs us to ask. God makes a decision in heaven, then He calls upon His people on earth to pray it into existence. Why does He need us? I believe He desires a family. Relationships. People loving His creation the same way He does. He doesn't want puppets on a string! Who would? Would you be in a relationship where the person you are with is there by force? Would that satisfy you? Not me. I want a relationship with someone who wants me, who enjoys spending time with me, and who cares for me and the things that are important to me. So does God.
Could this be why our earth is in such a mess? Not because God wills it so, but because of His need to work and carry out His will through people. Will you be one to rise up and answer His call? Or we will continue to give Satan full reign and let God's will go unfulfilled?
"If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
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