Explain Why I Should Still Pray for a Thing, If God Is Already Going to Do It Regardless of Wether I Pray or Not?
1) Direct Answer
You should pray because God made prayer the appointed path by which His will comes to pass in your life. He not only determines the outcome—He commands the asking. Many things He intends for you will not be manifested until you ask; and even where God’s purpose is certain, prayer prepares you, protects you, and gives you your portion and reward in that very thing.
2) Scriptural Explanation
- “You have not, because you ask not” (James 4:2). That is not “regardless”—that is conditional.
- “I will yet for this be enquired of… to do it for them” (Ezekiel 36:37). Promise first; prayer required.
- Daniel read God’s fixed number of years, then “set [his] face… to seek by prayer” (Daniel 9:2–3). The decree drove the prayer; the prayer brought the fulfillment into view.
- God said He would send rain, yet Elijah travailed in prayer until it appeared (1 Kings 18:1, 42–45). James says this is how prayer avails much (James 5:16–18).
- The Lord knows our needs, yet commands, “After this manner therefore pray… Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:8–10). He wills it; we pray it down.
- The church prayed, and Peter was delivered (Acts 12:5–11). When they didn’t pray for James, he was killed (Acts 12:2). Prayer matters.
- “Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:41). Prayer changes whether you fall or stand.
- “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer… the peace of God… shall keep your hearts” (Philippians 4:6–7). Prayer brings God’s peace now.
- “Then said he unto me… from the first day… thy words were heard” (Daniel 10:12). Heaven moves at the believer’s prayer.
- Hezekiah prayed, and God added fifteen years (2 Kings 20:1–6). God’s answer came through prayer.
3) Simple Clarifying Logic
- If it were truly “regardless,” why does God say, “You have not, because you ask not”? The Bible ties many fulfillments to asking.
- God ordains the end and the means. Refusing to pray is refusing God’s means.
- Even when God’s purpose is fixed (like the coming Kingdom), prayer is how it comes into our earth and into our lives—“Thy kingdom come.”
- Prayer shapes your part: God rewards secret prayer (Matthew 6:6). No prayer, no reward. Prayer aligns your heart, resists the enemy, and opens the door for the promise to manifest to you.
- God’s Spirit stirs you to pray because He intends to perform it (Romans 8:26–27). The call in your heart and the answer in His heart meet in prayer.
4) Reinforcing Statement
So don’t argue with the promise—pray it. Hold God to His Word. Ask, seek, knock. The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” That’s partnership. That’s how His will in heaven becomes His will in you on earth.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
God keeps His Word, part 1
57-0306 §68
Now, start praying, everyone of you, praying for yourself, and praying for the person next to you. Start praying and get well. Believe in God. And when you feel that you've got sufficient faith, raise up, and accept it. That's the way to do it. Now, heavenly Father, here's a group of people. I'm so tired, Lord, my ... oh, my heart groped and everything else. O God, what more can I do? What more can You do? Nothing. It's up to the people. O God, I pray in Christ's name, that You'll actually fill this building with t...
God's preparation
54-0401 §4
Now, what if he sends an order down, "Two knots to the left.", and this man turns two knots to the right? It won't do no good which way he turns it here, you're just all ... you're going around and around in the harbor. You'll never get out. Well now, that's the conscious and the subconscious. Now, this fellow here, he believes all right, but this won't cooperate with him. Now, the reason it don't cooperate: When you come here and get prayed for... Each night I say, "Lay your hands on each other, believe with all y...
Expectations
50-0405 §3
In the younger days, I did not have very many friends. I was more or less... Well, I... As a boy not smoking, and dancing, and so forth, why, people thought I was a sissy, my friends. Then later on in my church when I was converted a few years ago, I seen the Gospel as the power of God, and I was a fanatic unto them. And then later when I found there was a group who believed me and accepted me as their brother, my, certainly thankful to--that God has placed me with you. And now, I thank each one of you a few moment...
Be certain of God
59-0412A §20
One morning there was some Hebrew children was going to be burnt up. And they knew that they had done God's will. And they said, "We're not afraid of the king's commandments. Our God is able to deliver us from this fiery furnace. Nevertheless, we will not bow to his image." Now, God was going to give them a test to see what their reaction to their action would be. And He let them walk right straight to the fiery furnace before He ever moved. But when all of God's requirements has been met and you're certain of God-...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 4:E-124
The eternal thoughts of God! Let me ask you, "Are the thoughts of God eternal?" If you can see this, you will see many things. God is unchangeable in both essence and behavior. We have studied that and proven that already. God is infinite in His abilities so therefore He as God must be omniscient. If He is omniscient, then He is not now learning, nor is He taking counsel even with Himself, nor is He at any time adding to His knowledge. If He can add to His knowledge, then He is not omniscient. The best we could say...