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.
Why are people so tossed about?
56-0101 §101
Now, He's here. I wished I was a healer this morning. If I was, I'd heal the sick people. I can't heal sick people; I'm just a man. But the healer, Himself, is here---the Lord Jesus. Now, if I... The Bible says, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." See, Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are. He prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain; and it didn't rain for three years and six months. Then he went and prayed earn...
Believest thou this?
50-0115 §25
And now, Zacharias, a just man, a holy man, a devout man, he and his wife had prayed, and believed that someday God would give them children; held onto God. And then, at this particular time, while he was waving this incense in there, Gabriel, the Angel, appeared before him and told him: After the days of his ministration at the temple, he was to go home and be with his wife, and she was to conceive and bear a son, and they would call his name John. Zacharias, yet a good man, holy man, righteous man, that had praye...
Thirsting for Life
57-0613 §67
Not only am I going to pray for them, but they're expecting you to pray for them. You are just as much to do in this, and just as responsible before God, as I am myself. Your prayers... What if your mother was standing here? If my mother was standing there, I'd sure appreciate you praying for her. If my wife was in that line or my baby, I'd appreciate your prayers. And it's not just one man's prayer. It's all of our prayers. Everyone that prays, will just mean that much more. And I'm just not going to pray for them...
Thou knowest all things
52-0716 §14
After all, friends, it's the prayer of faith that saves the sick. See? Sometimes, I've noticed here the last few nights, I've been watching, and I noticed the people, I come through, and maybe, they to... Some ... See, if there's something in their life, that's just no tallying up right. And when they do that, when they find that out, then I can tell in the Spirit, the way It moves they want me to pray for it. See? After that, they're wanting me to pray for them. See? And, after all, this--this prayer is the most v...
Expectation
51-0930 §7
Now, it doesn't heal anyone, but I've asked God tonight to do something that's special, to heal people all the way around over the building, all the way around the building. I want Him to do it. Now, I know He's going to do it. I have never for His will, any of my life, ever got down and really prayed sincerely, but what He answered. I've never done it. Now, sometimes if I thought something that wasn't right, and maybe I was some selfish something I prayed, it wouldn't do me any good. Because if my prayer would jus...