God’s sovereignty can also function as an incentive to pray in line with God’s will. Thus Jesus prays, “Father, the time [lit., hour] has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you” (John 17:1). This is important. The hour in John’s Gospel is the time appointed by the Father at which Jesus will in fact be glorified by means of the cross, and thus returned to the glory that he enjoyed with the Father before the world began (John 12:23–24; 17:5). By saying that the hour has come, Jesus is acknowledging that his Father’s appointed time has arrived. This does not prompt Jesus to say only “Your will be done.” Still less does it breed silence: the hour has arrived and there is not much anyone can do about it, since everything has been ordained by my heavenly Father. Rather, Jesus’ logic runs like this: My Father’s appointed hour for the “glorification” of his Son has arrived; so then, Father, glorify your Son.
This sort of logic is not in any way unusual. Those who pray in the Scriptures regularly pray in line with what God has already disclosed he is going to do.
Carson, D. A. (1992). A call to spiritual reformation: priorities from Paul and his prayers (pp. 161–162). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
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