Why we pray differently under grace
Prayer is not merely a request—it is a reflection of our doctrinal position. To understand why believers today are not instructed to ask for physical provision as Israel once did, we must rightly divide the Word of truth and examine the nature of God’s promises to each group.
Israel’s Covenant Basis for Physical Requests
Under the law, Israel was given a conditional covenant. God promised tangible blessings—land, health, prosperity, protection—in exchange for obedience to His statutes (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Their prayers were covenantal appeals: if they obeyed, they could expect physical provision. This was not presumption—it was promise.
“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently… the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth” (Deuteronomy 28:1). “Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field” (Deuteronomy 28:3).
Their relationship with God was national, visible, and earthly. Their prayers reflected that. They asked for rain, healing, deliverance, and victory—because those were the terms of their covenant.
This is the foundation of kingdom prayer: covenant-based, earthly, and circumstantial.
