“But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? And what his soul desireth, even that he doeth” —Job 23:13

The Will of God

In prayer, one must not lose focus of the one he/she is praying to. Hebrews tells us that he who comes to God must know that He is. As part of knowing that God exists is the duty to also know how the God who exists is like. There are many attributes and words that describe the nature of God but our focus in this write-up is ‘God being SOVEREIGN’. Sovereign means possessing supreme authority or ultimate control. In application, when we talk of God being sovereign, we’re looking at His absolute authority and control over everything that exists. Daniel tells us in chapter 4:17 that “the Most High rules in the affairs of Men”. The other side of God being sovereign is the fact that He does what pleases Him and no one or nothing can change His mind. Isaiah 14:27 quotes “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”

Therefore, we must be mindful of God’s Sovereignty when we pray. Our God is not the god that you can command around or the god that is obligated to do what you want. The other gods (who are actually not gods but the works of men) are committed to do as they are commanded to but our God only does what pleases Him. If we are mindful of this truth, it’ll influence how we pray. In view of this, how then ought we to pray to the God who is Sovereign? First, we must appear before Him with a posture of submission and humility. The Bible constantly tells us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. He also tells us that a broken spirit and contrite heart He does not despise. We must appear before God with the willingness to accept and obey whatever He tells us concerning a situation.

Second, we must inquire in prayer. Since God is not bound to do what you say, you must seek to know His will and intention when you’re praying about anything, even the seemingly obvious ones. Paul presented the thorn in his flesh thrice before God but the situation didn’t change because God had a different plan concerning it. Moses also did the same concerning his entry into Canaan but God forbade him not to raise the issue before Him again. It is advisable to first know God’s mind concerning the situation you’re praying about before you pursue it. God is bound by His word to perform it and not our words. Solomon advises us in Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 to not be quick to speak when we appear before God but rather wait to hear what He will say. The strength of our prayer is in knowing God’s mind concerning the situation we’re praying about.

Even in the seemingly obvious situations, we should still inquire of God. David went to war and returned to meet his wives and children and that of his fellow soldiers captured by his enemies. The obvious course of action was to pursue them and claim his possession but even in that situation, he still inquired of God if he should go or not. He knew that his strength and potency was in knowing God’s mind concerning the situation and obeying it.

King Hezekiah’s prayer for healing and extension seems to contradict what we’ve been looking at so far. How did God change His mind concerning His death if we’re saying that God does not change His mind? His story and prayer perfectly aligns with the conclusion that we must probe and inquire about God’s mind concerning every situation. He found out in his inquiry that there was a possibility for healing and an extra 15 years and it happened as God told him through the prophet Isaiah. Was his tears what changed God’s mind? No. There was a possibility of his healing and in the place of prayer, he accessed it.

The lesson is that we shouldn’t come before God with a concluded or preconceived mind but we should draw our conclusion after we’ve known God’s mind concerning the situation. As you pray, seek to know what God says about the situation and let God’s word be your strength.

Further Reading: Heb 11:6, Dan 4:17, Isa 14:27, Psa 96:5, 1 Chro 16:26, 2Cor. 12:7-9, Deut 3:23-26, 1 Sam 30:1-20.