One of the questions I have heard from atheists, agnostics and those who struggle with the absolute sovereignty of God is this. “If God is sovereign as the scripture bear witness, then why does he also command us to pray”
If God is ultimately fully in control and all things proceed according to the council of his divine will and decree then isn’t everything already decided and wouldn’t that mean that prayer is just simply an exercise in futility?
And on the surface it may seem like a reasonable conclusion, but ultimately it reveals two important things. One is a misunderstanding of God’s sovereignty and how he wields it to accomplish his plan, and second it is a misunderstanding of the nature and limits of man's free will. And third it is a misunderstanding of the purpose and power of prayer.
Philippians 1:18b-20
