Prayer and Devine Providence

Matt.10:29-31

                The providence of God means that God is in control of everything. Do you really believe that? Nothing takes place in the world without God’s consent. That doesn’t mean that he is responsible for, or approves of everything. God is not the author of sin. Every man has his own free will. But God, whose eye is on the sparrow, is also upon his saints. What a promise, [Matt.28:20] “and lo, I am with you always…”

Providence – the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures, for the same power which caused a thing to exist is necessary to continue its existence.

So, does prayer really affect God’s providence?     YES

[Phlip.4:6] Paul’s directions to the Philippian’s were “in everything” ….”let your request be made known to God”. There is nothing too big or too small to bring to God because he cares for you! [1Pet.5:7] It’s what he does. [James 4:2] “ye have not, because ye ask not” God wants us to participate.

Two kinds of providences are seen in God’s dealings with men, direct and permissive. God orders some things and permits others.

Direct – 1 Samuel 3:11-18             Yet, Eli could say “… It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.”

The judgment on Eli was ordered and contrived by the Lord, an example of direct providence. 

Permissive – Job 1-2      Yet, Job could say “…Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD     gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

This judgment on Job was completely contrived by Satan and approved by God, the permissive providence of God.

In every action, God’s providence is present. We tend to get mad at God when bad things happen as if he is not around, or mad because we know that He could have stopped them, [John 11:21&32]. We must learn to take great joy in the fact that He is ALWAYS in control, and that Romans 8:28 is still in the Book.