Does Prayer Change God’s Mind?

23Mar07

Does prayer change God’s mind?  This is one of those nifty little questions that people like to toss around when discussing prayer.  The problem is that most folks do not take the time or effort to think what a question is really asking.  So let’s formulate an answer to this question.

In thinking about this one first has to determine, What is prayer?  We defined prayer as communication with God last Sunday and we walked through four different categories of prayer.  I find it interesting that three of those categories are relational and build trust and intimacy with God.  Only one of the categories, supplication, focuses on bringing requests to God.  So prayer is not primarily asking of God, prayer is primarily about intimacy with God.  When we are intimate with God it changes our asking.  Asking is something we do of our earthly fathers and it is also something we do of our heavenly father. 

As a Dad of a three, almost four year old, I get asked many things.  And one thing I am learning is that I have to say no many many times.  Why?  Because my little girl asks of me many things that would not be good for her if I said yes.  I must say no because I love her.  She also asks of me things that do not fit into the plan for the day.  For me to say yes would be disruptive to what must be accomplished.  Now, as a human father I am fallible.  Sometimes I say no when I should say yes.  Sometimes I say yes when I should say no.  Sometimes I act like I am not listening.  But God is not fallible.  He is perfectly wise in all of his dealings with us and he is perfectly good in all of his dealings with us.  So God answers our prayer always according to his character.  He never answers our prayers because he gives in to us or thinks we have a better argument, etc.  God always answers according to his purposes and plan.  We can rest assured that God always hears and responds for our good.

The next word in this question is the word “change.”  We know clearly from the Scripture that God does not change!  Malachi 3:6 says, “For I the Lord, do not change…”  God does not change his in his character or purposes.  He, at times, in the Scripture, does change in his actions towards men.  This does not mean that his will changed or his plan changed or his character changed.  And it certainly does not mean that he was forced into action by prayer.  It simply means that God has ordered things in such a way that he lovingly responds to our prayers when those prayers are in line with his purpose and character.  For example, God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach to them judgement.  Then is vs. 10 it states, “When God saw their deeds, that they turned away from their wicked ways, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.”  Here is an example of God “changing” in his actions towards men.  Now, was this outside of his knowledge, purpose, or character.  Absolutely not!  As a matter of fact, when Jonah was whining about God’s response to the city’s belief God said, “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh?”  God’s actions were in-line with His character and plan.  Why would he go to the trouble that it took to get Jonah to Nineveh had he not intended to show compassion upon them.  This is a great passage to illustrate that God has a plan that will come to pass and at the same time we make real choices, that have real consequences.  This is what happens when a sovereign God determines to interact with his creation.

The final word in this question is the word, “mind.”  The key thought here is that my mind and God’s mind is quite a different thing.  My mind cannot come close to conceiving or understanding an omniscient mind.  So to even reason whether or not prayer changes God’s mind, one must first admit to have no real knowledge of what the mind of God is like.  God says in Isaiah, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.”For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (55:8-9) 

 So, to declare that prayer changes God’s mind is quite a statement.  That would suggest that someone knows the reality of the mind of God.  So here lies our answer to this question.  Prayer does not change God’s mind.  God does respond to our prayers and does, at times, change course of action as he relates to us as his creation.  But this is always, always, always in line with His will and His character.

- Tad Thompson

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