祷告与上帝的主权矛盾吗？
Does prayer contradict God's sovereignty?
简答 Short Answer
不矛盾。上帝不仅预定了结果，也预定了达成结果的途径，而祷告正是祂所预定的途径之一。祷告是主权之下的恩典管道，不是试图改变上帝的计划。
No contradiction. God ordains not only outcomes but the means to achieve them, and prayer is one of those ordained means. Prayer is a channel of grace under sovereignty, not an attempt to change God's plan.
详细解答 Detailed Answer
这是改革宗信仰中一个经典的问题。如果上帝已经预定了一切，祷告不是多余的吗？
答案是：上帝预定了目的，也预定了手段。就像上帝预定了庄稼生长，但农夫仍然要播种浇灌；上帝预定了人得救，但传道人仍然要传福音。同样，上帝预定了许多事要通过祷告来成就。雅各书说：「你们得不着，是因为你们不求」（雅4:2）。这说明祷告确实是上帝成就祂旨意的真实途径。
加尔文在《基督教要义》中说，祷告的首要目的不是改变上帝，而是改变我们：让我们的心与上帝的旨意对齐，让我们学会依靠祂而不是依靠自己。祷告是上帝赐给我们的恩典，让我们有份参与祂的计划。
更深一层说，上帝邀请我们祷告，是因为祂愿意与我们建立真实的关系。一个国王可以不经过任何人直接下令，但一个父亲会对孩子说：「来，告诉爸爸你需要什么。」上帝是那位父亲。
韦敏斯德信条教导：上帝从永恒就预定了一切将要发生的事，但「第二因」（包括人的祷告和行动）并不因此被废除，反而被确立。神的主权和人的责任不是二选一，而是奥秘地并存。
所以，相信上帝的主权不是停止祷告的理由，反而是更大胆祷告的理由——因为我们知道，我们的祷告是全能上帝计划中真实有效的一环。
This is a classic question in Reformed theology. If God has predetermined everything, isn't prayer redundant?
The answer: God ordains ends and means. Just as God ordains crops to grow but farmers must sow and water; God ordains salvation but preachers must preach the gospel. Similarly, God ordains many things to be accomplished through prayer. James says: 'You do not have because you do not ask' (James 4:2). Prayer is a real means through which God accomplishes His will.
Calvin wrote in the Institutes that prayer's primary purpose isn't changing God but changing us: aligning our hearts with His will, teaching dependence on Him rather than ourselves. Prayer is grace God gives so we may participate in His plan.
At a deeper level, God invites prayer because He desires genuine relationship. A king could issue decrees without consulting anyone, but a father says: 'Come, tell daddy what you need.' God is that Father.
The Westminster Confession teaches: God from eternity ordained everything that comes to pass, yet 'second causes' (including human prayer and action) are not abolished but established. God's sovereignty and human responsibility don't compete but mysteriously coexist.
So believing in God's sovereignty isn't reason to stop praying but to pray more boldly — knowing our prayers are a real, effective part of the Almighty's plan.