Counting Our Blessings: A Prayer about God's Eternal Decree
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This is the third installment in a series of prayers based on the Westminster Confession of Faith (1647). To learn more about the history of the Westminster Standards, please click here.
The Westminster Confession of Faith—Of God’s Eternal Decree
God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established. Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions, yet hath he not decreed anything because he foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions. — Westminster Confession of Faith, 3.1-2
You work all things after the counsel of your own will.
Father in heaven,
I praise you as the eternal, wise, and holy God. In your wisdom, you have ordained whatsoever comes to pass. You work all things after the counsel of your own will (Eph. 1:11). You did not consult anyone when you made your plan of events. Nor did you look into the future to conform your plan to some otherwise determined events, as if those could be. You made your own plan freely.
Your plan does not change.
Even in salvation, you tell us that you have mercy on whom you have mercy (Rom. 9). The depth of the riches of your wisdom and knowledge are truly unsearchable (Rom. 11:33). Who could ever be your counselor? No one. And when you make a plan, you stick to it. With an oath you have confirmed the unchangeable character of your purpose (Heb. 6:17). Your plan does not change. Its perfection reflects your perfection.
I can feel secure that you are working my suffering for my good and your glory.
I confess that in seasons of suffering, your plan doesn’t feel perfect to me. I sometimes get stuck in regret or find myself trying to re-write history: “If only this didn’t happen.” Please help me out of these misplaced hopes, this dead end of despair. Please forgive me for thinking, “If only I were in control, life would be better for everyone.” This is a ridiculous thought, yet I find myself returning to it like a dog to its vomit. Help me to truly believe that your plan is best, and that it extends not only to the beginning and end of time, but to every event in the middle. Because of your sovereignty, I can feel secure that you are working my suffering for my good and your glory. Please overlook my emotions that often lag behind, and accept my thanks for your being in complete control of every event.
Why you allow evil to continue, even in a limited way, remains a mystery.
Father, it can be hard to understand how you can be completely sovereign when there is still sin in the world. You are in no way the author of sin. You are the author of life (Acts 3:15), salvation, and faith (Heb.2:10). Why you allow evil to continue, even in a limited way, remains a mystery. But you do, patiently bearing with us with mercy and steadfast love. And in contrast to this dreaded darkness, you are light. In you there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). You are my refuge and worthy of all praise.
Even while you are sovereign, I am completely responsible for my actions.
Help me to praise you even through the hard times, and may I never use hard times as an excuse for sin. I think of the hardest time in all history—the time when Jesus went to the cross. The apostle Peter made it clear that Jesus was crucified according to your definite plan and foreknowledge, but also by the hands of lawless men (Acts 2:23). You hold them responsible, and this is true for me also. Even while you are sovereign, I am completely responsible for my actions.
I need your wisdom in making choices.
Your divine plan does not violate the will of your creatures. You have given me real choices to make. Help me to own my choices. Even as I ask this, I know that if I am going to own my decisions, I will need your wisdom in making them. So please give me wisdom, and give me the humility to regularly seek you for wisdom as I am always making choices.
May the body of Christ reflect your complete sovereignty through our actions and confession.
Lord, it saddens me how often that we in the body of Christ divide over this topic of your absolute lordship. Please help me to remember that though some deny your sovereign rule with their mouths, they testify to it on their knees. Their devoted prayer lives reveal their commitment to you as the one in control of all things. And I confess that many of us who defend your divine sovereignty are slow to pray and quick to complain. Sometimes our prayers just skim the surface while the others’ prayers pursue greater breadth and depth. Please help us as a church body together to increasingly reflect your complete sovereignty through our actions and confession.
For the unity of your church and the glory of your name.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
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