You Were Created to PraySample

Created to Share God’s Purpose

Prayer is a result of God’s established authority structure between heaven and earth, as well as a product of His faithfulness to His Word. This is because prayer was born out of God’s arrangements for mankind’s assignment on earth. That assignment was established when the Creator spoke two words during the creation process: “let them”:

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26)

These two words are critical for understanding the foundational principle of prayer because they define the relationship the Creator intended and desired between man and planet earth.

How did God enable man to rule on earth? We know that He first created mankind out of His own essence, which is spirit. Yet since mankind needed to be able to rule in the physical realm of earth, God then gave humanity physical bodies manifested in two genders—male and female. This is why the Bible refers to the creation of man in both singular and plural terms: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). Thus, by “man,” we are referring to mankind, both men and women, who were created to exercise dominion authority.

The Creator’s mandate for man to dominate the earth was established in the above declaration from Genesis 1:26, but, again, the parameters of that dominion were established by the words “let them.” With these words, the Creator defined the boundaries of His right to legally influence and interfere in the earthly realm. This is based on the principle of God’s integrity and His commitment to His word. God will never violate or break His word. This principle is essential to an understanding of the nature and purpose of prayer. It helps us to understand why prayer—our communication and intercession with our heavenly Father—is so necessary. He has given man the authority to rule the earth, and we must actively ask Him to intervene in the world.

The Creator’s commitment to His original intent for mankind is a priority for Him, and it motivates and regulates all His actions toward us. In essence, everything God does is driven by His purposed desire, which never changes. His declaration is clear when He states, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21) and “My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:10).

Heavenly Father,

You have said, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). We ask You to fulfill Your Word and make Your purpose reign in our lives. We all have plans and goals that we are pursuing. We ask You to establish whatever is from You—whatever is in line with Your purpose—and cause to fade away whatever is not from You. We honor You as our Creator and as our loving heavenly Father. We affirm that it is You who works in us to will and to act according to Your good purpose, as it says in Philippians 2:13. Renew our minds so we may understand Your ways and Your plans more fully. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who is our Way, Truth, and Life. Amen.

Thought: Prayer was born out of God’s arrangements for mankind’s assignment on earth.