Prayer and Divine Providence with Todd Miles (S2E45)
Sep 23, 2024
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Todd Miles, a theology professor at Western Seminary with a PhD from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, joins to discuss the profound connection between prayer and divine providence. They dive into what prayer truly means and how it intertwines with God’s sovereignty. Todd addresses pressing questions like: How do our prayers influence God's will? What is the balance between divine control and human freedom? The conversation also features insights from historical theologians and practical reflections on fostering a deeper relationship with God through prayer.
Prayer is essential for fostering a relationship with God and serves as a means through which He accomplishes His divine will.
Divine providence encompasses God's sovereignty in governing the universe, balancing His control with human agency and genuine choices.
Deep dives
Understanding Prayer
Prayer is defined as a sincere and heartfelt communication with God, ideally characterized by a pouring out of one’s soul through Christ, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. While this definition presents an ideal vision of prayer, there is an acknowledgment that many believers struggle to meet such standards in their personal practice. Common misconceptions about prayer include the belief that it is primarily about informing God, leading some to question its necessity if God is already sovereign and knows everything. However, Scripture emphasizes that prayer is not merely about relaying our needs, but it is an essential means through which God accomplishes His will, fosters relationship with Him, and transforms our spiritual lives.
Divine Providence Explained
Divine providence refers to God's sovereignty in governing and sustaining the universe, encompassing three critical aspects: preservation, governance, and concurrence. Preservation involves God's maintenance of creation, while governance denotes His direction over events, and concurrence explains how God interacts with secondary causes, such as human choices. Different theologies interpret God's providence in various ways, with meticulous providence asserting complete control over all events, including human actions, in contrast to general providence which allows for significant human freedom. This framework emphasizes that while God is sovereign and guides events toward His ultimate purpose, humans still act with genuine agency within that divine plan.
The Relationship Between Prayer and Providence
The relationship between prayer and divine providence often raises questions, particularly regarding why prayer matters if God has already determined everything. It is argued that prayer serves as an ordained means through which God acts and fulfills His divine will, and that He desires genuine communion with His people. Biblical examples illustrate that God often instructs individuals to pray as part of His healing and intervention processes. Consequently, while God's eternal purpose remains unchanged, He uses our prayers to bring about His plans, emphasizing both the importance of human agency in prayer and trust in His providential care.
Navigating Trust and Heartache in Prayer
Believers often face the challenge of reconciling their prayers with the experience of unmet needs or hopes, such as employment, relationships, or health concerns. Trusting God's providence can be particularly difficult when individuals pray fervently for specific outcomes that do not occur, leading to feelings of doubt or disappointment. It is important to remember that God's plans may differ from individual desires and can involve a broader understanding of His goodness that is revealed over time. Clinging to faith during times of hardship, while continuing to pray persistently, enables believers to align themselves with God's will, trusting that He remains sovereign and loving regardless of their immediate circumstances.
In this episode, Caleb is joined by Todd Miles (PhD, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) professor of theology at Western Seminary to discuss the topic of prayer and divine providence. Together, Todd and Caleb discuss questions like: What is prayer? What is God’s providence? What are the different models of divine providence? What is the relationship between our prayers and God’s ordained will? Why pray if God is sovereign? Do my prayers change God’s mind/will? And more.