Prayer in the Middle Voice: Participating with God’s Work

Prayer is fundamentally an act of participation with God’s ongoing work rather than an attempt to initiate or control divine action. This approach, known as "prayer in the middle voice," emphasizes aligning oneself with what God is already doing instead of trying to force outcomes or create plans independently.

The story of Jehoshaphat illustrates this principle clearly. Facing an overwhelming enemy force, Jehoshaphat does not present a detailed strategy but prays with the posture of dependence and attentiveness: "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you" ([42:36]). This prayer reflects trust that God is already at work and that the believer’s role is to join in His plan. The declaration that "the battle's not yours, but God's" further affirms that God’s activity precedes human participation ([44:21]).

Worship and praise are integral components of prayer in the middle voice. When Jehoshaphat’s people begin to sing and praise God, it prompts divine intervention, as God sets ambushes against their enemies ([45:03]). Their worship is not merely a request for help but an active engagement with God’s victory, demonstrating that prayer involves joining God’s work through praise and trust.

The linguistic concept of the middle voice in Greek verbs provides a helpful framework for understanding this participatory prayer. The middle voice indicates an action done with involvement or partnership, neither fully initiating nor passively receiving. Prayer in the middle voice means listening, obeying, and joining God’s ongoing activity rather than attempting to persuade or manipulate Him ([46:54]).

Mary’s response to the angel’s message exemplifies this posture of participatory prayer. She does not seek to control the situation but surrenders to God’s plan, saying, "May it be to me as you have said" ([55:17]). Her prayer is an act of willing participation, trusting that God is already at work and that her role is to join in that divine activity.

Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane further models this approach. His surrender to the Father’s will—"not as I will, but as you will"—demonstrates that prayer is about aligning with God’s plan rather than initiating it ([58:04]). This submission exemplifies the middle voice posture of prayer, where the believer participates in God’s purposes through surrender.

Praying in this participatory way can involve risk, as God often invites believers to become active participants in the answers to their prayers ([58:57]). This partnership means that prayer is not a passive request but a call to listen, surrender, and then engage in God’s work, sometimes requiring personal involvement in the unfolding solution.

The call to "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) reinforces that this posture of participation is ongoing. Living in constant awareness of God’s presence, listening for His guidance, and responding to His prompts cultivates prayer in the middle voice. Practical practices such as praying at set times or responding to God’s nudges help believers maintain this active partnership with God’s work.

Prayer in the middle voice transforms the act of praying from a mere request into a dynamic partnership with God’s ongoing activity in the world. It calls believers to listen, surrender, and participate in God’s plans, recognizing that God is already at work and inviting them to join Him.

This article was written by an AI tool for churches, based on a sermon from Gateway Community Church Merced, one of 60 churches in Boulder, CO