Page 3 - The Importance of Prayer Student Textbook

The Importance of Prayer
By Mark Patton, M.R.E.

Study Section 1: Developing A Theology of Prayer

Connect 1.1

Theology is nothing more than the study or science of God. The primary source of our study is
the canonical scriptures found both in the Old and New Testaments. Therefore, a
comprehensive theology of prayer must be systematic, and our focal point must be upon the
sovereignty of God. That is, it draws on the entire Bible. It is impossible to form a Biblical theology
of prayer that just draws from individual passages that are isolated one from another. Recognizing
that the use of the historicity of the Bible, contextualization, and the use of language will all help us
arrive at a Biblical doctrine of prayer that rightly divide the words of truth.

1.2 Objectives

1. The student should be able to write out a basic theology of prayer.

2. The student should be able to discuss the tensions found in the theology of prayer.

3. The student should be able to define the two primary divisions found in most contemporary writers
on prayer.

1.3 Defining A Theology of Prayer

Millard Erickson writes in his book on Christian Theology the following. One problem that has
concerned thoughtful Christians when considering the nature of providence is the role of prayer.
The dilemma stems from the question of what prayer really accomplishes. On the one hand, if
prayer has any effect on what happens, then it seems that God’s plan was not fixed in the first
place. Providence in some sense depends on or is altered by whatever and how much someone
prays. On the other hand, if God’s plan is established and He will do what He is going to do, then does it
matter whether we pray?... We need to note two facts: (1) Scripture teaches that God’s plan is definite
and fixed – it is not subject to revision; and (2) we are commanded to pray and taught that prayer has
value; (James 5:16) but how do these two facts relate to each other?... Thus, prayer does not change
what He has proposed to do. It is the means by which He accomplishes His end. It is vital, then, that a
prayer be uttered, for without it the desired result will not come to pass… Prayer is in large part a matter
of creating in ourselves a right attitude with respect to God’s will… Prayer is not so much getting God to
do our will as it is demonstrating that we are as concerned as is God that His will be done.

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