THE REVOLUTIONARY POWER OF COVENANT: HOW GOD’S WILL GIVES US CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER

In the ancient world, the introduction of a covenant between God and His people was a revolutionary development. It provided a fixed standard for the relationship between the divine and humanity, in stark contrast to the capricious nature of pagan deities.

This covenant not only defined what God expected from His people but also established a framework for how they could approach Him with confidence. This concept, central to the Mosaic covenant, laid the foundation for understanding God’s will and promises, which, for us as Christians, is further solidified through Christ. The clarity and reliability of God’s covenantal promises are essential to a strong and effective prayer life.

Furthermore, Reinhard Bonnke once said,

“Prayer is not an idea man came up with—it is God’s idea. He gave us prayer as a means of communion with Him and to access His power. Prayer is God’s invitation to partnership with Him, to bring His will to pass on earth as it is in heaven.”

This highlights that prayer is divinely initiated, a way for us to align with God’s purpose and invite His intervention into our world.

A FIXED STANDARD IN A WORLD OF UNCERTAINTY

In the time of ancient Israel, the gods of surrounding nations were unpredictable. People relied on omens, sacrifices, and rituals in an attempt to appease or manipulate these gods, yet they could never be certain of their success. However, when God entered into a covenant with Israel, He introduced a fixed standard that changed everything. The Ten Commandments and the Mosaic law made it clear what was required of the people and what they could expect from God in return.

Scholar George E. Mendenhall, in his work Law and Covenant in Israel and the Ancient Near East, explains,

“The Mosaic covenant marked a radical departure from previous religious systems by introducing a binding legal agreement between God and His people. This allowed for both clarity and accountability, which had not previously existed in any comparable religious framework” (p. 72).

For the first time, humanity had a structured relationship with the divine that was based on mutual commitment. This was a monumental shift in how people understood their relationship with God, not as arbitrary or uncertain but grounded in law and promises.

GOD’S PROMISES IN CHRIST: A “YES AND AMEN”

The covenant established with Israel was a precursor to the greater and more perfect covenant realized in Christ. As Christians, we live under this new covenant, which guarantees God’s promises through the person and work of Jesus. Paul addresses this in 2 Corinthians 1:20, writing,

“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”

In other words, God’s promises are not ambiguous; they are assured to us through Christ.

Matthew Henry comments on this passage, saying,

“The promises of God are all made in Christ, and through Him, we can trust that every promise will be fulfilled. God has confirmed these promises by a covenant, and they are to His people what a sealed legal document is to a contract—unchanging and reliable” (Commentary on the Whole Bible).

Henry highlights the covenantal nature of God’s promises, emphasizing that the new covenant in Christ offers the same clarity and reliability that the Mosaic covenant did, only greater because it is sealed through Jesus.

CONFIDENCE IN PRAYER: KNOWING GOD’S WILL

One of the great challenges for many Christians is feeling uncertain in prayer. Without knowing God’s will, how can we have confidence that our prayers will be answered? This issue is directly addressed in 1 John 5:14-15:

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.”

This assurance of answered prayer is rooted in understanding God’s will. According to John Calvin,

“The reason why so many of our prayers seem ineffective is that we pray without a clear understanding of God’s will. But when we align our petitions with His revealed word, we can approach Him confidently, knowing that He not only hears us but is inclined to answer” (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3).

Calvin underscores the importance of Scripture in guiding our prayers—when we pray according to the revealed will of God in His word, we can be assured that our prayers align with His purposes.

PRAYING IN ALIGNMENT WITH GOD’S WILL

The new covenant in Christ gives Christians a roadmap for prayer, much like the Mosaic covenant gave the Israelites a clear path to approaching God. When we pray according to God’s will as revealed in Scripture, we align ourselves with His promises and purposes. This alignment is crucial for effective prayer.

Commentator Albert Barnes writes,

“The great secret to powerful prayer lies in understanding and agreeing with the divine will. Prayer is not about bending God’s will to ours, but about aligning our desires and requests with His already established will.” (Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament)

Prayer, in this sense, becomes an act of agreement with God’s word and His promises, rather than an uncertain attempt to sway an unpredictable deity.

THE REVOLUTIONARY ASSURANCE OF GOD’S WILL

In a world of uncertainty, the concept of a covenantal relationship with God is revolutionary because it offers clarity and assurance. Through both the Mosaic covenant and the new covenant in Christ, we are given clear guidelines about what God expects from us and what we can expect from Him. More importantly, we are assured that when we pray according to His will, we can have confidence that He hears us and will answer.

Walter Brueggemann points out,

“The covenant framework transforms prayer from a ritualistic practice to a confident dialogue with a faithful God. It gives believers the boldness to persist in prayer, knowing that they are engaging with a God who has bound Himself to His word and promises.” (Theology of the Old Testament)

This confidence is the foundation of a vibrant prayer life and a deeper walk with God.

CONCLUSION: PRAYER AS AGREEMENT WITH GOD

The revolutionary nature of the covenant—both in the Mosaic law and in Christ—lies in the fact that it removes uncertainty from our relationship with God. We no longer have to wonder whether God will hear us or if He is inclined to respond. His promises are clear, and His will is revealed in Scripture. When we pray according to His will, as Paul assures us in 2 Corinthians 1:20 and John affirms in 1 John 5:14-15, we can approach God with confidence, knowing that His promises are a resounding “Yes and Amen.”

In a world where people often feel adrift and unsure, the covenant relationship we have with God offers a fixed anchor. It provides stability, direction, and assurance, especially in our prayer lives. As we align our prayers with His will, we not only strengthen our faith but also experience the transformative power of God’s promises being fulfilled in our lives.