Prayer to God and Providence

I was reading this morning my theology textbook from seminary.  I have been reflecting on growing to trust God more and thought, “GODS PROVIDENCE” must grow larger in my heart and mind.

As I look about in my daily life, I see so many opportunities to shout out, Hey God did that and God just helped us .  One doctrine that we can get twisted up on is Gods Will and Gods Providence.

I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas about the following excerpt from, Existence Under Providential Direction, Integrative Theology text by Lewis and Demarest .

PROBLEMS IN RELATING PRAYER TO PROVIDENCE: page 111 – “Several fallacies or misconceptions often contribute to unnecessary difficulties about the role of petition in providence. The predestination fallacy reasons that prayer is pointless because God has predestined all things. This overlooks Gods two distinguishable strategies, the conditional and unconditional. Although prayer will not change those events that God predestined to be accomplished by his own power unconditionally, many aspects of our lives are not unconditionally determined. Most are envisioned in Gods conditional strategy. “If my people…. will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” 2 Chron. 7:14.

In accord with Gods conditional strategy, he forgives and revives ONLY in answer to prayer. Although prayer that asks God to act contrary to his nature or unconditional purposes is of no avail, our petition in other matters have great and eternal significance. ”

Love to hear your reflections on this truth about God. What I have also learned is that a great strategy for life with God is that before we pray we stop. 

We get to stop and quiet ourselves and come before God and then as a weaned child at Gods breast we can say, Lord what is on your heart about this matter, or Lord how would you have me ask you about this ….. just learning to be quiet and ask God how we should pray before we start throwing up a bunch of words to God that are not really relevant at the moment or what He is praying really helps us be powerful and effective in our life with God and prayer life. Amen.

BOOK REFERENCE: Integrative Theology – Three Volumes in One; Gordon R Lewis and Bruce A Demarest. Zondervan. Volume 2.