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.
Calling Jesus on the scene
64-0319 §4
Now, we're going to pray for the sick before we leave, laying hands upon them. But I wish that you could have faith enough you don't have to have that. I wish you could just reach up and say, "Lord Jesus, I believe you. I..." He believes the Word. See, God is different from we are. If we would say something for you to do, and you didn't believe it, well, we'd say, "Let them alone. They don't have to believe it." But that's not God, our Father. He constantly will do something else to make you believe. He's trying to...
The fundamental foundation for faith
55-0113 §16
Jesus said, "Whatever you ask the Father in My name, that will I do." Did you ever realize what that means? Do you realize if we go before God in the name of Jesus, it's just the same as Jesus Himself praying? It isn't me praying anymore. If I come in His name, and He recognizes His name and Jesus said, "Whatever you ask the Father in My name, that I'll do. And then I go to the Father in Jesus' name." It isn't me praying anymore, it's Jesus, for it's His Spirit praying through me. And then I've got to receive what...
God keeps His Word, part 2
57-0307 §68
Now, you pray, and look this way. I don't know that God will do it. How many out here, especially here in front of me, so I can get these first calls along here, because you're closer to me. There's people in the building; each one of you is a spirit. But how many along here believes with all your heart, and say, "I'm sick and I have a need."? God bless you. Pray. Look this way. Believe. He might not do it. I'm tired, and I've been heart broken. I've been beat up, and I heard that what I've said last night, many pe...
Do you now believe?
53-1106 §8
Now the way that I have faith in God, is first by His Word. And if any vision, or any person, would speak anything that was contrary to the Word, then don't hear it. This is the fundamental foundation of all God has said to His church. And every person's faith must be built sovereignly upon the Bible. That's right. Now God winks at our ignorance sometime, the things that we do that's not just exactly right, He gets glory out of it just the same. So, just keep still, let God go ahead, He will take care of the rest o...
Be certain of God
59-0708E §26
When you've done all that you can do, when you come through the prayer line and been prayed for, your heart doesn't condemn you, and you're living right with God, just hold onto it; God has to answer. He's testing you. If you turn loose the next morning, say, "Well, I'm no better; I guess there's nothing to it," then you didn't have faith to begin with. If you've got real faith, you'll hold till the last breath's gone from your body. You're certain that God is God. "For he that cometh to God, must believe that He i...