Sometimes people wonder: “If God is sovereign, why should we pray? If God has ordained what is going to happen, what good can our prayers do?” Paul’s prayer in the first chapter of Ephesians is amazing in that the apostle Paul both acknowledges the sweeping sovereignty of God (vv. 3-14) and prays to God on behalf of the church in Ephesus (vv. 15-23).

Interestingly, the two halves of this prayer are joined by the phrase “for this reason…”, indicating that God’s sovereignty provides the motive for Paul’s prayer. In other words, the sovereignty of God doesn’t paralyze his prayer: the sovereignty of God fuels his prayer!

In his book, A Call To Spiritual Reformation, D.A. Carson explains:

“Because it is God who has worked in them, Paul has not stopped thanking God; because it is God alone who sovereignly and graciously continues to effect such transformation, he is the one who must be petitioned to continue his good work.”

To illustrate, he quotes this anonymous hymn:

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my heart to seek him, seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found by Thee.

Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;
I walked and sank not on the storm-vexed sea;
‘Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold
As Thou dear Lord, on me.

I find, I walk, I love but O the whole
Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always Thou lovedst me.

(Carson, A Call to Spiritual Reformation, 171)

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