IS PRAYER NECESSARY FOR GOD TO MOVE IN A SUPERNATURAL WAY?
QUESTIONS ABOUT PRAYER
CHRISTIAN DISCIPLINE
2 Chronicles: 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Total and complete healing is something we all desire. Whether or not you are a follower of Christ, you would say that you hope to see our country healed and reunited together, freed from pain, poverty, prejudice, violence, and corruption. This is something all fair-minded people can agree on, yet the way this healing must take place and what is required for it to happen is something that America, and the world as a whole, couldn’t be more divided over.
God’s word tells us how we can receive healing and wholeness, both on a micro or macro level. The verse above lays out three prerequisites that need to happen first before God will move on our behalf: the first is that we need to humble ourselves, the second is that we pray and seek God’s face, and the third is that we turn from our wicked and selfish ways. When these three things happen, God has promised he will also do three things: The first is that he will hear from heaven or accept these prayers that are offered up. The second is that he will forgive the sins of the people and everything they have done, and the third is that God will heal their land and once again they will be a blessed people. Keep in mind that if these things do not happen: If there is no humility, no prayer and seeking God’s face, and no turning from sin, not only will God not listen to any cries for help, but he cannot forgive sin and he will not heal the land. Actually, the rift will only grow worse, and people and nations will move further away from healing and restoration. Instead, pain, bondage, poverty, hatred, division, violence, and prejudice will continue to increase over time.
Prayer is important. This entire resource points heavily to the power of prayer, but when it comes to healing a broken nation and its people of generational sin and rebellion, prayer alone is simply not enough. There also has to be action. People have to humble themselves and turn away from sin, pride, and selfishness. This is a tall order and a rare thing to see, yet it is not impossible. Ninevah repented of sin and turned to God, and a great revival broke out. The same is true of the island of Cyprus when Paul and Barnabas came to visit. The same thing can happen in America, but it’s going to take more than just prayer, no matter how genuine and heartfelt those prayers are.
In answering today’s question of if prayer is necessary for God to move supernaturally, the answer is no. God is not confined to a box that is dependent on what we do or don’t do. Prayer is not necessary for God to move. God can and has moved supernaturally many times without that miracle being preceded by prayer. However, there are also many supernatural events that are preceded by prayer. Jesus often prayed before a miracle took place. Jesus did this, not because he had to, but because it was a model for us to always remember where the miracle comes from. The healing comes from God, the provision comes from God, and the deliverance comes from God. God chooses to work through prayer. He doesn’t have to and he isn’t forced or compelled to. God loves us so much that he actually includes us in his plan of healing, redemption, and restoration.
God’s word tells us how we can receive healing and wholeness, both on a micro or macro level. The verse above lays out three prerequisites that need to happen first before God will move on our behalf: the first is that we need to humble ourselves, the second is that we pray and seek God’s face, and the third is that we turn from our wicked and selfish ways. When these three things happen, God has promised he will also do three things: The first is that he will hear from heaven or accept these prayers that are offered up. The second is that he will forgive the sins of the people and everything they have done, and the third is that God will heal their land and once again they will be a blessed people. Keep in mind that if these things do not happen: If there is no humility, no prayer and seeking God’s face, and no turning from sin, not only will God not listen to any cries for help, but he cannot forgive sin and he will not heal the land. Actually, the rift will only grow worse, and people and nations will move further away from healing and restoration. Instead, pain, bondage, poverty, hatred, division, violence, and prejudice will continue to increase over time.
Prayer is important. This entire resource points heavily to the power of prayer, but when it comes to healing a broken nation and its people of generational sin and rebellion, prayer alone is simply not enough. There also has to be action. People have to humble themselves and turn away from sin, pride, and selfishness. This is a tall order and a rare thing to see, yet it is not impossible. Ninevah repented of sin and turned to God, and a great revival broke out. The same is true of the island of Cyprus when Paul and Barnabas came to visit. The same thing can happen in America, but it’s going to take more than just prayer, no matter how genuine and heartfelt those prayers are.
In answering today’s question of if prayer is necessary for God to move supernaturally, the answer is no. God is not confined to a box that is dependent on what we do or don’t do. Prayer is not necessary for God to move. God can and has moved supernaturally many times without that miracle being preceded by prayer. However, there are also many supernatural events that are preceded by prayer. Jesus often prayed before a miracle took place. Jesus did this, not because he had to, but because it was a model for us to always remember where the miracle comes from. The healing comes from God, the provision comes from God, and the deliverance comes from God. God chooses to work through prayer. He doesn’t have to and he isn’t forced or compelled to. God loves us so much that he actually includes us in his plan of healing, redemption, and restoration.