If God is sovereign then why would we pray to him? This was something—taking God's sovereignty as a given—with which I had long grappled. I didn't really know what the point was. Either he has already decided to do what we then ask him to do or somehow, in praying to him, we change his mind and sway the plans of God.

I came to realise on our recent RML Romans weekend away on God's sovereignty that this is probably a slightly backwards way of looking at things. Indeed, if God were not sovereign then it wouldn't be worth praying to him. If he wasn't in control of everything then praying would seem futile.

I was encouraged to learn how God's plans motivate us to pray about the things that he has planned. For example, in 2 Samuel 7, God has made a promise to David so David has confidence to ask for it.

Exodus 32 relays the story of the Israelites setting up a golden calf while Moses was up the mountain. Moses prays to God asking him to spare his people and for his wrath not to burn hot against them. God doesn't destroy them. God plans to act through the prayers of his people i.e. our praying is part of the plan.

What I took away from all this was that not only is it worthwhile for us to pray but that we must do it. God chooses and plans to use our prayers. It is not only that he incorporates them into his plans but that they are already part of his design.