Expressing Dependence on God's Sovereignty in Prayer
Expressing Dependence on God's Sovereignty in Prayer
Prayer is a fundamental aspect of Christian life, representing a direct address to God that presupposes a belief in His personality, ability, and willingness to intervene in human affairs [1]. At its core, expressing dependence on God's sovereignty in prayer involves acknowledging His omnipotence and providence while seeking His guidance, comfort, and intervention.
The biblical basis for prayer as an expression of dependence on God's sovereignty is rooted in various passages. For instance, Psalms 57:2 expresses a deep trust in God's ability to accomplish one's requests, saying, "I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me" [2]. This sentiment is echoed in other biblical references that describe prayer as "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15) or "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14) [1, 3].
The act of prayer is not merely a human initiative but is facilitated by God's grace. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, access to God in prayer is "of God," "by Christ," and "by the Holy Spirit" [4]. This underscores the Christian understanding that prayer is not just a human act but is enabled by the divine. The believer's ability to pray effectively is attributed to the work of the Holy Spirit, as indicated in Ephesians 2:18, which states that "through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit".
In the view of Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, prayer is a means of expressing dependence on God and waiting on Him. Matthew Henry, commenting on Psalms 25:1, notes that David's professions of desire towards God and dependence on Him serve not to move God but to engage himself to answer those professions [7]. This highlights the introspective and personal nature of prayer, where the believer acknowledges their dependence on God's sovereignty.
The Presbyterian tradition, as represented by Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's sinfulness and God's glory in prayer. Their commentary on 1 John 1:10 underscores the need for confession in prayer, acknowledging both the guilt of sin and the ongoing struggle with sin [8].
The practice of prayer, therefore, is deeply intertwined with the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty. It involves not just petitioning God but also confessing one's sins, expressing trust in His providence, and glorifying Him through Jesus Christ [5, 6]. As 1 Peter 4:11 instructs, believers are to serve and speak "as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" [5].
The expression of dependence on God's sovereignty in prayer is thus a multifaceted concept that encompasses trust, confession, and glorification. It is rooted in biblical teachings and has been interpreted and practiced by various Christian traditions throughout history. By examining these traditions and biblical foundations, one can gain a deeper understanding of the role of prayer in Christian life and its relation to God's sovereignty.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
- Psalms “I cry out to God Most High, to God who accomplishes my requests for me. -- Psalms 57:2”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
- 1 Peter “If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the strength which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. -- 1 Peter 4:11”
- I Peter “I Peter 4:11 (BSB) — If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 25:1: Here we have David's professions of desire towards God and dependence on him. He often begins his psalms with such professions, not to move God, but to move himself, and to engage himself to answer those professions. I. He professes his desire towards God: Unto thee, O Lord! do I lift up my soul, Psa 25:1. In the foregoing psalm (Psa 25:4) it was made the character of a good man that he has not lifted up his soul to vanity; and a call was given to the everlasting gates to lift up their heads for the King of glory to come in, Psa 25:1. To this character, to this ca”
- 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”