Welcome to answers from an apostolic faith.
In the Father and Son, the Holy Spirit, One God. Amen.
If God already knows what I'm going to do, then why does He judge me on these things? So, if He knows I'm gonna do sins X and Y, why does He judge me on these sins? If He knows already what I’m going to pray about, then why do I actually need to pray? So, all these questions assume that since God foreknows, then I have no choice but to actually do these things and then, where's my free will? So why, why go through the motions of life then? Why live life in itself? Why not let things go and have God plan and write my own life as He eventually has written in His book? All these are very good questions, but they have one common answer.
So, this is the famous question of God's foreknowledge versus predestination. So, when people hear that humans are predestined to something, they misunderstand what this means, so, they think that my life is written down for me, but it's not. So, things don't happen because God knows them, no! But actually, God knows them because they happen. What does that mean? I'll give you two examples...
So, the first example, again, going back to that piece of paper... So, people think that God writes down the story of my life on it, and then I have to abide by what’s written on there, but that’s not how it works. Actually, since God is above time, so God does know what's on the paper, but He is not the one writing my story; I am the one writing my own story with my own free will. But since God knows what I’m writing, that's His foreknowledge. He's above time; He sees me. He's about to do this and that.
So, in His foreknowledge, He predestines me. What does that mean? Because He knows that I’m about to do something good, He tells me: I want you to use this something good for the salvation of the people, so go ahead and do it. I'm predestining you to this, since I foreknow what you are about to do.
Another example: so, imagine watching a movie and you pause, you rewind and re-watch the same scene of the movie over and over again. So, this is as if you are in the place of God. So, you're re-watching that movie or that scene of the movie and since you've seen it already, you foreknow what's about to happen.
So, you see all the actors doing what you expect them to do, but are you in control of these actors? You're not, but you foreknow what they're about to do because you have watched this
over and over again. In the same way, since God is above time, He sees and He foreknows what you're about to do, so He predestines you to do these things. So, actually, I am the one who is control of my life, not God. God is love. He therefore gives me free will to love him back and He tells me: Choose me, choose to do good. So, if I want to do good, God will support me, help me and direct me in doing this good deed. Again, this question of predestination is explained in Romans 8:28-30. St. Paul says the following:
'' 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are (...) called according to His purpose. [So the verse seems to say that there's a purpose for the people that are called, but then he clarifies; he says:] 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son... [So God predestined those whom he foreknew, right? And then, in verse 30, he goes on:] 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified'' (Romans 8:28-30)
So, I have been glorified, because I have been justified, because I have been called, because I have been predestined, because God foreknew that I will choose Him. So, this entire plan of God is based on my choice of choosing Him. But what about people that choose to do evil? Does God predestine them, in the same way we understand it, in doing evil?
John 3:16 is very clear. God sent His only begotten Son to save the entire world. So, it is not the will of God for people to do evil. So, if someone is fore-appointed or predestined to do evil, it's not in the way we understand it. It's not as if God wants him to do so evil, no! God's will is for this person to be saved, but because this person chose to do evil, God allows him to do evil. But if it was up to God, God would want this person to do good.
So where does prayer fit in all of this? Do I actually need to go through the motion of prayer or things will happen eventually as they are planned? Well, if God knows that I will pray in His foreknowledge, He acts based on these prayers. So, for example, if I pray to God 'cause I have an important decision to take, then based on my prayers, God will guide me and direct me. So God puts in a specific time frame an answer. In His foreknowledge, He puts an answer here, because He knows I have been praying. And at the perfect time, as I'm praying, He puts an answer for me here. But if I'm not praying, this answer disappears. I should not expect an answer from God if I don't pray to Him, but I should and He does answer me if I pray. So prayer is of extreme importance. And yes, based on my praying, I will receive an answer.
Remember: Know your faith, live your faith, and teach your faith. And glory be to God forever. Amen.