What does prayer mean to a Calvinist?

[alexamasan]

What is the purpose prayer if God has already preordained everything? What does prayer actually do?

 

[abacabb3]

Christ observed "God already knows what you need before you ask."

In fact, I know my cats will beg for dinner 3 hours from now. But they will still freely beg me for food and they will be fed.

God chooses our prayers as a means to change to world.

 

[alexamasan]

I see, so prayer is a means that God uses to change the hearts of the people who are praying. Is that correct?

 

[South Bound]

What is the purpose prayer if God has already preordained everything? What does prayer actually do?

First, you're confusing foreknowledge and sovereignty and fatalism.

Second, I pray to fellowship with God, to acknowledge my dependence on Him, to better know His will, to discipline myself, and to be conformed to the image of Christ-likeness.

 

[dhh712]

What is the purpose prayer if God has already preordained everything? What does prayer actually do?

Firstly God commanded us to pray so even if it doesn't make sense to us we should still do it. Thankfully, it is totally not contradictory to any sort of sense. Prayer to me is communicating mainly my thankfulness to God; of course there are my desires and troubles I present, yet I understand that it will be according to His will (lots of times that's easier said than done).

Despite God's sovereignty and the fact that He has fore-ordained everything, there is still the element of free will; one must not get so caught up in the one to totally disregard the other. Each one is 100%; it's not partially God reigning and partially our free will. It seems as though God has fore-ordained some of us to freely pray to Him and may have fore-ordained some things because of our prayers or despite them (see 2 Sam 12:22 where David says, who can tell if the Lord may have mercy on me? when he is praying for the life of his child).

 

[abacabb3]

I see, so prayer is a means that God uses to change the hearts of the people who are praying. Is that correct?

No. Prayer is a means to change the events and people you are praying for. God uses us as a means to do His will in the world.

Sort of like if I buy a kit car, put it together, and then drive it. I made the kid car so I can drive it to work. So, God inclines us to pray so He can answer the contents of our prayers!

 

[Skala]

What is the purpose prayer if God has already preordained everything? What does prayer actually do?

What does prayer mean if God is not sovereign and cannot actually do anything to effectually answer your prayer?

You see, prayer works precisely because God is sovereign (in a Calvinistic sense of sovereignty)