Does prayer actually change God's mind?

Does prayer actually change God's mind?
Dr. Stephen Wellum answers in Honest Answers | Episode 46
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[@FiciousCritik]

' Prayer doesn't change God, it changes me. ' - A. Hopkins as C.S. Lewis in "Shadowlands" (not verbatim)

[@nicholasr82]

I don't care who said it tell me how

[@FiciousCritik]

@@nicholasr82 No. I am not C.S. Lewis. It was Lewis who was quoted; he's dead.⚰️

[@makinghistory20]

@@nicholasr82 Are you asking how prayer changes you or (a person) I should say?

[@nicholasr82]

@@makinghistory20 either and your answer has to be experience not imagination or churchianity has to be real Christianity. (don't take offence).

[@makinghistory20]

@@nicholasr82 Absolutely! One of the easiest questions I’ve ever had to answer. I know prayer changes me. Faith and trust matter too. Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”. So I carry on in life knowing that everything that happens even if it’s bad will still work in my favor in the bigger picture. Sometimes when bad things are happening I find myself asking God to change that situation but then I remember that I’m going through that situation for a reason. I pray for understanding, to not miss the message He’s trying to send me. I also know that His grace and mercy is with me so through prayer I’m building my faith and leaning on Him more and more. Slowly but surely I come out stronger. And as my faith and relationship grow (through prayer) I’m better equipped to deal with what comes next.

[@danielomamofe7722]

The greatest enemy of knowledge isnt lack of knowledge it is believing you already know

[@atheistangel007]

That is religion/faith in a nutshell.

[@sunnyl7330]

This was not an answer to the question.

[@philiprichardson3740]

I agree, the question was never answered. Either prayer changes God’s mind or it doesn’t. If it does, then can someone else pray for a different outcome and change his mind again?

[@vincentortega4284]

Prayer is communicating with father God. I'm praying to thank him. I'm not going to change his mind about His perfect plans.

[@billgamelson9964]

Oh now that is truly sad.

[@swagsukeuchiha7599]

@@billgamelson9964 man

[@thandam8251]

The role of prayer is quite simple - to ask God for what we want. God will decide whether we need it and will give it to us if we do. Our lives are our responsibility not God's. If we need something but we do not ask for it God has no obligation to give it.

[@thelonelyartist711]

ThandaM better said. Quick, to the point. Less confusing, but we could add in "what others may need".

[@thandam8251]

@@thelonelyartist711 well indeed. If our desire is for the welfare of others (as it should be) we can also pray for them. And again God will decide if its necessary and give or withhold accordingly

[@thandam8251]

@@user-kf7tt2vk6t Yep. God never promised a simple or easy life to anyone. And freedom of choice means freedom to make the wrong choices as well.

[@thandam8251]

@@user-kf7tt2vk6t Nope, Job's friends blamed Job for the difficulties in his life. I have not blamed you or your wife for the rape she suffered. I simply mentioned a fact of life that God has never promised that life will be easy. I also mentioned the fact that God has given each of us the power to choose good or evil. The power to choose evil would be useless if God stopped everyone who tried to make a bad choice. God has to let people make their bad choices even when they hurt innocent people so that either they can learn from their mistakes or so that at the last day they evil deeds may used against them in the Final Judgement. Prayer is not going make you escape every bad thing in life. Even the Son of God prayed "Father take this cup from me, nevertheless not my will be done but thine". And we know that Jesus had a difficult life despite being perfect. How then will we who also make bad choices escape having hardships in life?

[@ashwinmalushte7787]

How to answer a question without answering the question

[@TboneWTF]

It's called "circular reasoning" or hyperbole.

[@the_player_xd_1520]

What about when Moses changes Gods mind when God repented on killing them off

[@reniqharris]

EXACTLY

[@grilledcheese2285]

im very late to this reply but as a calvinist, God does not change his will, however he changes his mind, ill explain, when you pray something like moses prayed to God to not kill the Jews, he "changed" his mind, but God knew that he would change his mind through his predestined will, God's will was to allow moses prayer, he knew he was going to change his mind, and that was his will. Hopefully that cleared up.

[@robbielloyd213]

It’s important to pray for exactly what God says is already gonna happen. Then God can answer those prayers because that’s what he was already planning on doing.

[@neposite]

This was one of the most helpful clue of my Christian life. A great biblical answer for me in my despair. May God bless you hundredfold for your great ministry.

[@jasonfrederick1258]

Man is the co-ruler of life on earth. He bears a part of the responsibility to bring Goodness to pass...both in his own life and in that of others. God intends not to do anything on earth without Man's knowledge and cooperation. This is why God would listen to Man's prayer. One of the greatest works of "cultivating the garden" is praying for others.

[@gamesmithoz]

Sorry, but after hearing all that it still seems to me that you didn't answer the question "Does prayer actually change God's mind?"

[@williammarinelli2363]

King Hezekiah seemed to think so. For 15 years. Did he have a credit card?

[@TboneWTF]

It should be obvious to most people the answer is "of course not!"

[@atheistangel007]

I give a 9.7 for the mental gymnastics this guy just did.

[@tanman7879]

Lmao couldn't get any more confusing.

[@martinwagner7361]

Mental gymnastics belongs to their absolute first aid survival kit when being roasted by knowledgeable scholars - which they anyway mostly avoid......fir very obvious reasons.....😋😂

[@jackbolland9628]

@@martinwagner7361 when you mean knowledgeable scholars if you mean philosophers of religion and theology, about 75% of these are Bible believing Christian

[@martinwagner7361]

@@jackbolland9628 I guess my comment speaks for itself what kind of guys I call knowledgeable Jack.....surely NOT these jokers from bible seminaries whose conclusions ohh wonder ooh wonder always fits so nearly with the doctrine of the seminary presented.....😉😂

[@martinwagner7361]

@@jackbolland9628 After I had a NearDeathExperience over 13y ago I was pretty furious about these Scammers of Christianity with their demonic shit of Doctrines worth NOTHING, actually in regards to the REALITY of GOD first hand experienced by myself a total BLASPHEMY making a demon God who supposedly sends people forever to hell and needs his son butchered to appease his nonsensical wrath with a lust for blood......As the hardcore Atheist that I was I should have gone straight to hell which didn't happen, just the exact opposite- received by EXCRUCIATING Love. So what do these Bullshitters KNOW : NOTHING. Therefore they can be roasted by anyone who truly knows.....not only NearDeathExperiencers though first and foremost they, obviously..... But there are as well good scholars like Bart Ehrmann whom I salute for the fact that he started his journey as a scholar as a Christian Fundamentalist only to find out that it was all Mumbo jumbo and THEN having the scientific INTEGRITY to present his research results DESPITE going against his very preferences- an integrity these lousy Scammers could only dream off. Plus all the damage they cause to multimillion of people with their dark demonic and FALSE Doctrines. Search Bart Ehrmann if you want an internationally renowned Scholar with INTEGRITY Jack... Interestingly enough Bart confirmed everything I experienced in my NDE and later spiritual Quest but UNFORTUNATELY he draw the entirely wrong conclusions: just because the Doctrines of Christianity ARE FALSE , the entire Niccaen Creed yes - so Jesus neither died for the forgiveness of our sins for his psycho pathological Daddy nor is Jesus God etc.etc. and all of that doesn't mean GOD doesn't exist, that's Barts unfortunate conclusion most likely because he was so heavily imprinted with all these extremely pathological Doctrines..... The reason I have such a harsh contempt for them is simply that I see the devastating damage they do to humanity first hand in the hospice that I volunteer - either these Doctrines turn you into an Atheist (and I'm still waiting for an happily dying Atheist) or they scare you into beLIEving in a "god" that will probably send you to eternal punishment......I became the first since already in Sunday school I smelled the foul cake of Christianity with so called Pastors and Volunteers as "Teachers" that were just unable to answer any of the more intelligible questions and therefore we treated it as a kind of fairytale show just good enough for a lot of jokes amongst us Youngsters but surely NOT good enough to be ever taken seriously....... And the way God was presented to us as this harshly judgmental Authority figure sending Rascals like us all too eagerly into everlasting torment neither was very inviting...yet the REALITY of GOD that I experienced 35y later I WOULD HAVE LOVED to know most intimately my ENTIRE LIFE. WHO wouldn't like to experience the most exquisite, purest LOVE with NO STRINGS ATTACHED......? It would spared me many hopeless years as an Atheist - and I'm absolutely convinced that Jesus taught this truth originally to his disciples but that it got later on corrupted by Christianity. ... Not only would the Truth give an immense assurance for our dying people but even more so to our LIVING People who could live fully instead of crippled by fear and left empty by the vanity of our collective Consumerism, our common substitute for God..... At least we have by now many thousands of profound testimonies of NearDeathExperiences, one doesn't even need to experience it but can get at least some sense of it as enough sincere Experiencers are willing to share it publicly- which is quite a big step as nobody wants to have the most intimate Experience of their entire Life mocked and defiled by some Scoffers and their shaky egocentric "What I haven't experienced yet can't exist" world view. With the advancement of modern resuscitation techniques we will get more and more NDEs and more & more verifiable data - that alone gives reason to a LOT of optimism as much research for the survival of Consciousness independent from death of the physical body WILL take place with many of the most intelligent Researchers challenging our primitive outdated material reductionists "model" of Consciousness leading to a real PARADIGM SHIFT in the future as the outcome of all the research will hopefully have a deepest impact on our whole way of Life with its many ethical inefficiencies, after all the REALITY of GOD is far too exciting and exhilarating with its countless meaningful implications then to just leave it for Religion......😉😱 😇🙏❤

[@ianpatrick23]

Love that you tackled this question

[@sids5002]

If it doesn't affect what god does, then that would mean that prayer is pointless. Where does that leave religions? If it does affect what god does, then god is not perfect, as he has had his mind changed. Where does that leave religions? Either way, it's not good for all the gods.

[@flashoftruth]

//then that would mean that prayer is pointless// Nailed it.

[@herrickkimball]

I don't think this discussion really answers the question: "Does Prayer Change God's Mind?" A simple, down-to-earth example: someone I know is sick with cancer. People pray for the person's healing. Do those prayers change God's mind in such a way that he heals the cancer? If not, then the question arises... Did not enough people pray? Did they not pray sincerely enough? Or, was the faith of those who prayed too weak to influence God to change His mind? What is the purpose of prayer if it does not change God's mind? I am comfortable with God's sovereignty and his providential orchestrations either way. I am comfortable praying in earnest regardless of the outcome. But it is a hard thing to explain to others that prayer, though very important, does not change God's mind in such outcomes.

[@kyriekayhalford3501]

Exactly .. this is what I’m struggling with at the moment .. does he choose who he heals and who he doesn’t ? To say he heals one person and not the other well , just doesn’t seem right to me .. also why do devote and faithful Christians spreading the word of god get horrible terrible diseases that make them suffer the last year’s of their life ... where’s this “protection”

[@toyosioyejobi309]

Hmm.... Deep. This is wheri feel the words of Jesus that if we pray according to his will he will answer us. We have to move according to his will not our flesh and our desires. A close relationship with the holy spirit grants us this. Also Jesus has said he that beleives in me this signs shall follow them. So when preaching to unbelievers if theres any amongst then that is sick. If you are truly know christ and you are not led by your flesh in his name they shall be healed. Im a testimony of the many times God has answered. We just have to be kore closer to him to know his will. I guess thatd why at times it feels he isn't listening. Even christ before he died wished for a moment he didn't go through suffering but he asserted not as i will but as you will

[@emmapinn5216]

These men from the Southern Seminary are some of the best performers of mental gymnastics I've ever heard

[@willcd]

Agreed!

[@vendora1]

twisted pretzels

[@sharondoan1447]

I have watched many videos produced by Roman Catholic, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and Southern Baptist Convention theologians and they are all super sure of their take on the Bible. They are well meaning, wonderfully qualified , men who have studied the Bible on a level way beyond most of us. They sometimes are almost in agreement. More often , they review the same passages of scripture and conclude differently. What are we to believe? We are to believe that somehow, by a great mystery , and unfathomable set of circumstances we are born into sin. What is sin? It is disobedience to God. And it goes on from there.

[@bonesrhodes3762]

it's more than mental gymnastics: it is also deeply based in intentional intellectual dishonesty - their evasion and double-speak is purposeful and they are fully aware of what they are doing --- they should change their site from 'honestanswers' to 'lying-for-Jesus'

[@Rochelle1510]

Thank you lord Jesus Christ for restoration in my marriage with my husband Floyd

[@Yasdnil_Droj]

Pastor Tony Evans explained it this way: God answering prayers can be compared to a TV Channel and a TV. The channels are always there but it does not connect to the your TV until you you connect it. Similarly prayers are answered because you ask for it, it's there God is just waiting for you to ask. Ask and it shall be given. I hope I explained it OK.

[@rajeshj6697]

Dear brother, there are lot of explanations which would suggest or tell us that every thing is determined by god and our prayer doesn't change situations but only change me. I did not get this logic. If my prayers do nothing why would I pray. What I mean here is, if I am sick I prayed god and he healed me is what my understanding. Timing might vary. But his is already determined to heal or not heal, then there is no point of praying. It's like irrespective of prayer, god operates things as per his plan. Sounds like god is dictator, not only in this concept. I am exploring all these concepts and everytime explanations or beliefs or understanding is such that everything is attributed to god and man is like puppet, I don't think it is. Your explanation has better way but people are denying it..

[@toddrickchandler9220]

Anyone who believes what your pastor and this guy says, will most likely become more delusional.

[@EternallyMindedFocus]

"Does prayer actually change God's mind?" "Let me explain how God's sovereignty and prayer can coexist." [proceeds to explain that if you don't pray, someone else will pray the same thing] OK look. First of all, sovereign God sometimes *willfully* withholds his hand waiting for prayer to happen. James 4:2b says, "You do not have because you do not ask God." Secondly, the thing I've noticed about Calvinists and anyone else who only sees God through the lens of "sovereign" is that they get hung up on God's eternal nature and immutability, and they ignore the fact that God is *multi-dimensional* .. On one hand, God lives eternally, He laid out the world's and its containing universe's timeline like a movie reel. On the other hand, God has entered into this timeline, He has engaged with His creation, and is actively participating in it with us as we experience the sequence of events. In this sense, God is not just eternal, He is *present* with us. As such, the relationship God has with humankind is just that--a relationship. He relates to us, and as such He has designed our world such that we are not on a robotic rail, we engage with Him, and the Bible has multiple examples of where *God being present actually, literally, changes his mind* . The ancient verbiage translates as "repents". Regardless, little of this relates to the value of prayer "motivating" God. God, who is indeed sovereign, awaits His hand as He awaits our ask. That's how He likes to do it, because He wants an engaged relationship with us.

[@earthygreen]

interesting....

[@Straycathollow]

What are your thoughts on the head covering mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11? Is it relevant today?

[@matts-yk3ms]

Gods word remains the same, through the ages, so yes it is.

[@erichodge567]

This "answer" was all over the place.

[@abelmendez2667]

Is it me or is the video not matching the audio?

[@allenbird7783]

There would be simpler ways of answering this. To the question "If God is omnipotent and omniscient, why pray?" one might reply "Why do anything?" Praying that it doesn't rain is not substantially different from carrying an umbrella in terms of not getting wet. It would seem that God wants some input on our part rather than doing everything for us. Also, if God is omniscient, who is to say that feedback from us, including in the form of prayers, is not part of the mechanism of that omniscience?

[@BatMite19]

I have heard it said, and I agree, that while prayer changes nothing, it accomplishes everything.

[@youngcnyce]

A personal relationship with God is very important, that comes through prayer

[@user-xs2qq7kv9w]

Not even Muslim are that pathetic that they claim to have a relationship with Muhammad.

[@earthygreen]

It is precisely because I believe in God's sovereignty that I lose any reason for praying. Nothing I can say will do anything, and despite watching this whole video, I still don't see how that fact changes. What should I pray for? I can't know His plans, so whatever I ask for, whatever I pray for, isn't going to happen b/c I don't have the foresight to know what God is going to do. The ONLY thing I can reasonably pray at any point is a submissive prayer, "Thy Will be done." That's it. In the last year? 2 years? That's the only prayer I can seem to feel like isn't a waste of time. Just telling Him, "I submit to your will." As if He doesn't already know that anyway... So.. again... what's the point aside from that he says, 'pray without ceasing?" I pray without ceasing, for something that likely won't ever happen (life's experience shows 99.9% of my prayers for friends, family, nation go completely unanswered/'NO."), I pray, Thy Will be Done, which is going to be done whether I pray or not, my petitions to Him aren't going to change His mind, nor would I want them to, as He knows better than I anyway... I just don't see the point of prayer. I don't know what I'm supposed to accomplish with praying about random things that may or may not happen b/c it's God's Will whether it happens or not and He doesn't change.

[@xlar54]

It keeps you in communement with Him. Prayer doesnt have to be a list of "i wants". It can be a conversation. It can be expressing your fears or your joy. It can be anything. The point of prayer is that your stay connected to Him at all times.

[@mireliom]

With humble love : Calvinists fumble this topic all the time because they actually say God’s decisions are the cause of all things and the Bible is clear that it would be a misunderstanding of the Bible to think that .. Double talk is not God’s way. But when you relinquish a MAN’s teaching, CALVINS, you will see God and his sovereignty the right way as he teaches in the Bible of himself .

[@frankroto]

So, prayer can't and won't change anything (because God has everything planned), but it's still important because...and this is where his explanation goes off the rails and becomes unintelligible. Given that God is omniscient and knows the (already entirely planned out) future, the only thing your prayer might conceivably change is how you feel about the subject of your prayer. Pray for your child to beat cancer. It won't change anything--hundreds of children die of cancer every day, as per God's plan--but it might make you feel better.

[@kamleshdhruv5217]

No one can change God's mind. But if God wills due to your Righteousness and true love for Him He can do things which you may not have expected.

[@B1G_ChUnG5]

Tefilla does not mean “beg” it literally means to analyze yourself. God doesn’t need prayer. It’s not for meant for God, but for us.

[@angramp3430]

Thank you for this video.

[@jonathansharp5376]

Amen! Thank You.

[@Day12My]

It's because prayers are not a "make your request to the genie God up in the sky" It's supposed to be a DECLARATION OF DEPENDANCE!!!!

[@justicemo9090]

oh it's essentially useless in it's effects, all it's meant to do is remind us just how helpless we are...wow never thought of it like that, thanks.

[@krisbaker9427]

Or, how can you distract a busy God to focus him on your tiny problem. That seems blasphemous to me. Doesn’t He know what to do without you telling Him? Anyone who prays has very big balls as they are commanding God Himself. I would never do such a thing.

[@gontlafetsembeha2848]

Very insightful 🙌

[@justicemo9090]

lol not really

[@annchovey2089]

When they were drawing straws to see who got what topic, this guy lost.

[@smeatonlighthouse4384]

All genuine prayer is led of the Spirit of God who knows the mind of God and helps us in our intercession in relation to what to ask for. God inhabits eternity and is not subject to time, so He knows what He intends to do and lays that conviction on the heart of the one who prays.

[@justicemo9090]

therefore prayer is useless, you are asking for what god wants you to ask for, literally. What a useless act to partake in. Literally asking God for what God has made you desire to ask... so he makes you want x, you want x and so have to pray for x to the very entity that gave you the desire!?

[@lewisramsden7645]

That's really helped me

[@brandonkim76]

me too..

[@yagami1918]

I'd say that prayer changes us/ our plans and not God's will. Keeping it simple I would like to picture two roads one adjacent to each other if our life is prayerfully lived we go to the path of God's will while if we don't have prayers within us we go the other way which is our worldy desires.

[@MrXDreamsOfficial]

I didn't hear an "honest answer" to the question. Sounds like he's saying people should only pray for what they know God is already going to do. Unfortunately, for some reason, God is a lot more cryptic these days is communications with humans, or at least it seems that way.

[@rigaudmoise3679]

Where the words Satan and devil come from,was those words rere part of the creation?

[@flashoftruth]

No.

[@truman5838]

Then you can say God already knew what everyone would pray for which was already factored into his plans.

[@dashhill443]

What?

[@paulwright7551]

If I, or someone else prays according to God's plan, then prayer changes nothing. There is only the illusion of change from my perceptive. All of his rambling was just an attempt to divert from that simple conclusion.

[@cologist]

Glad I'm not the only one who noticed that ^_^" "A tale , told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.” ― William Shakespeare, Macbeth

[@rvelohim7]

I think the key is found in Gods will, not according to our selfish desires. 1 John 5:14-15 (CSB) 14 This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him. James puts it in another way. James 4:3 (CSB) You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. See, people; Often it’s the case, that God knows what and why we ask for stuff. James is saying don’t ask with the wrong intentions or desires of the heart because you won’t get anything from the Lord.

[@ascensionacquisition9448]

Some of this is false doctrine. SOURCE THE BIBLE MORE. It is the tool we use for discernment. Think about when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead or followed the man all the way back to his home so that he could heal his daughter. God is compassionate and is merciful. He sympathizes with us and our prayers do mean something to him. So to answer the question, YES prayer can change God's mind because prayer is an act of faith and just as the Bible says in John 15 - "when you abide in my love, I will abide in you". When you seek the prayers of saints it is an even stronger act of faith because you are believing that GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS. Some of these men should not be answering such questions. Lean not on your own understanding but lean on every word of God.

[@thespurge]

"First of all, in order for God to change His mind, He would have to improve upon Himself in some way. In other words, if God changed His mind, that action would suggest that His first way of thinking was deficient, but, because we prayed, He improved His plan concerning our situation. We change our minds when we see a better way to do something. We thought A but realized B was better, so we change our mind. But, since God knows all things, the beginning from the end (Revelation 22:13; Ephesians 1:4), it is not possible for Him to improve upon any plan that He has made. His plans are already perfect (2 Samuel 22:31), and He has stated that His plans will prevail (Isaiah 46:9-11)." www.gotquestions.org/does-prayer-change-God-mind.html

[@ningshimlungleng5785]

Chris Baies exactly bro, it is not that our prayer changes God's mind but rather it is we that changes, as we spend time with God in prayer, we came to know the will of God in our life...

[@reniqharris]

So what about when Hezekiah was told to get his house in order ,that he would soon die...but he prayed earnestly to God to change this and God added 15 more years to his life....or what about the children of isreal who begin to worship a molten calf in the wilderness after being set free from slavery in egypt, but because moses delayed coming down from the mountain, God said your people have made an idol an worshipped it , I am hot with anger and I will consume them...but moses prayed and God repented and stayed His hand from destroying them...or when God said that He would destroy sodom and Gomorrah but Abraham prayed and asked God if their be just one righteous would he stay His hand from destroying the cities and God said yes and allowed lot and his wife escape judgement even tho she turned back and the cities were still destroyed because of sin...I dont wanna say prayer changes Gods mind but I will say He gives certain measures of grace to whomever He will

[@thespurge]

@@reniqharris ".I dont wanna say prayer changes Gods mind but I will say He gives certain measures of grace to whomever He will" Oh absolultley. God is a gracious God who comes to our level and communicates with us anthropomorphically or humanly. He gives us the chance to speak to him and pray and intercede because it tests us and changes us. Prayer is not for changing God, it's for changing us. We see who God is when we pray.

[@cookieDaXapper]

Prayer would be unnecessary if all were perfect, acted in God's perfection, sinless. However this is not the case, when sin enters the picture, God, in his perfection, has set this universe to do his will by rules, some unknown to us. "It rains on the just and the unjust", "The land will vomit you out." It then falls upon us to ask his "exception" to judgement, circumstances, and giving praise because of the knowledge of his mercy. In Jonah, would God have destroyed Nineveh had they not prayed? As believers we should NEVER deal in what ifs, or I should have, but "pray always"."having faith that God will hear you, and respond."

[@zn2573]

Isaiah 38:5 talks about how Hezekiah repented and lived 15 years more. God changes his mind if we repent and humble ourselves before him.

[@Sixslices]

But it’s not really changing His mind. He knew that he would pray and He was prepared to answer that prayer.

[@evansowards5979]

"7 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” 9 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people. 10 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them, in order that I may make a great nation of you.” 11 But Moses implored the Lord his God and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people." (Exodus 32:7-14, ESV) We can infer then that God does in some sense "change his mind." How exactly that works, I don't know. I'm not God. The point is that prayer is important and we should pray to Father God.

[@reniqharris]

The exact same scriptures I referenced to prove this point...lets not forget when hezekiah was told to set his house in order because the Lord said He would soon die...but he prayed earnestly and God added 15 more years 2 his life...or when Jesus was not set to do any works or miracles but his mother prayed that the water be turned into wine abd He ANSWERED and manifested her request just to name a few ...seems to me alot of changes were made by God after petitioned by man...

[@GeorgePenton-np9rh]

I for one opine that God DOES often change His Mind, and often in response to our prayers. God would have changed His Mind about Sodom and Gommorrah if enough people had prayed and repented. I understand that St. Thomas Aquinus taught that God does sometimes change His Mind but, since all time is present to God, God foresees that He will change His Mind.

[@bogdanvojnovic989]

If he knows he will change his mind, than there's no changing, because he KNEW from the beginning what will happen and transpire in time ahead. Change by definition means different course of action from the planned one. If there is ONLY the planned one, there's NO CHANGE OF COURSE OF ACTION, thus no change of mind.

[@GeorgePenton-np9rh]

@@bogdanvojnovic989 I understand what you are saying but I'm not sure that is the clearest way to look at it. At least from the human perspective, from where we stand in the scheme of things, It seems to me clearer to say that God might change His mind if enough people pray, or He might change His original plan if someone commits a grievous enough sin, like for instance Adam and Eve. I certainly do agree that God is not indecisive and that He doesn't change His mind on whims or caprices.

[@billgamelson9964]

It bridges the gap of freewill.

[@energiovanni432]

We are Him so our ideas are considered and weighed of course otherwise we’d have no reason to exist. We are gathering information honing and recording perfect love from macro to micro. His plan is laid out plain and simple, unless we require otherwise of Him. Mark 11:24-25, Matthew 6 is important in this regard as well.

[@bantehhonourine6103]

Prayer is the key and its our master key!

[@justicemo9090]

try understanding the logic behind the entire video... or are you just faithing it through

[@justicemo9090]

try understanding the logic behind the entire video... or are you just faithing it through

[@jamiegossett]

do you have to kneel to pray?

[@terrythompson6231]

No Larry..kneeling does show that we're coming under the authority of One who is greater but the position of the body is 2nd only to the position of our spirit. If we come humbly in spirit it won't matter the position of the physical body. One can pray while working, driving, resting, kneeling, etc. To stay in a constant spirit of prayer thruout any given day would require of us to be in many positions but God honors your intentions.

[@2l84me8]

@@terrythompson6231 B.S.

[@menezesshirleyjune]

Honest prayers.

[@kathymcconnell4556]

prayer changes OUR minds. god does not have a mind, he IS mind and we are just a piece of that

[@justicemo9090]

ok...good luck with that one.

[@Jesusislord42]

In short, yes prayer can change God’s mind if the prayer is according to His will and character. I would’ve liked for him to give examples of God saying He would do something and then various men of God praying for Him to do something different. There are many examples of this!

[@TboneWTF]

Has prayer ever resolved serious problems you have had? Can you offer an example?

[@robbielloyd213]

I pray that another persons prayers don’t get answered. Who wins?

[@bo1jon227]

How is God's mind going to change according to his will and character? It would remain exactly the same

[@Razaiel]

In the story of Sodom & Gomorrah, God's mind is changed through prayer. Initially He was just going to destroy the cities & everyone in them, but through prayer Abraham pleaded with God until He said that He would spare the cities for the sake of one righteous person.

[@atheistangel007]

Ah, so God not only doesn't have a "perfect" plan, but his decisions are obviously not always the best ones if he changed his first choice. But your apologetics can cover all the bases, including 5th base.

[@dashhill443]

@@atheistangel007 Lmaoooooo

[@commoveo1]

It just beyond your understanding!

[@commoveo1]

You know Hebrew? Most likely not! Your interpreting someone else’s interpretation lol. Humble yourself! You need it.

[@FFamadas]

The title is a bait. The question is not really dealt with. Disappointing.

[@kristofferhidalgo8564]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYeWp3mNjrSaedE

[@FFamadas]

Saw the link but although it is better explained it also falls short. People struggle with this question. I think it is a simple limitation of understanding of God. Thanks for the link.

[@kristofferhidalgo8564]

@@FFamadas Good Day and your welcome... Yes you are somewhat correct we human only lives in one spectrum of time. But God is in infinite It is Hard to comprehend... But at the end of the day that is why we always said he''s will be done/Thy will be done or in short amen. Whether we actually say, "Thy will be done" when we pray, or whether we use a less formal phrase, it is important to pray in God's will. It is acceptable for us to tell God what our will is for a given situation, but then we should always defer to Him and let Him know that we desire His will above our own. Even Jesus did this in the Garden of Gethsemane when He was facing torture and death on the cross: "…he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 'My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will'" (Matthew 26:39). And just to add more about this... kzbin.info/www/bejne/moOnYaV9oq-Eh6c

[@JaimeTaverasmusic]

This is such a hard attempt to make the Bible say what you want it to say to fit Calvinistic beliefs. Come on your answer is so hard to explain and is barely understandable. Why are we over complicating simple things. Prayer is not that complicated. Simple people in all of humanity’s history always believed that when they prayed God would hear them and that prayer did and could change outcomes, which otherwise wouldn’t have changed if not for the prayer. This “friction” did not exist for them. Why are we creating it now just so it can fit Calvinistic interpretations of Gods sovereignty etc. It’s simple. When we pray by faith and God hears us, and if what we ask for is in line with his word and will he will do it. The parable you referred to vaguely clearly shows that the persistent woman changed the kings mind. So yes we can change events, and outcomes through prayer. Then again you vaguely referred to the story of Jesus praying in the garden. Jesus knew the Fathers plan but he still prayed for a potential change to the plan, but he submitted his will to the Fathers. If there was no potential for a change of the plan, then Jesus was praying wrong. And we all know that cannot be. In that prayer Jesus made we learned that we can pray for God to change his mind, so it is possible, however we should always submit our wills to his. If he’s not willing to change his mind, we should submit to it, and if he’s willing to change his mind, we should be grateful and he shall receive all glory

[@dillondavis6145]

Congratulations! You're an open theist!! Amazing theology....lol 😬

[@1920s]

That’s definite open theism.

[@mimamima2]

Faith can do all things

[@toddrickchandler9220]

Have you looked at the definition of faith?

[@2l84me8]

Faith is the excuse people give when they have no good response for their actions.

[@edlicsathiamurthy4520]

This is Calvinistic answer... honest Calvinistic answers... good also to hear from other theological perspective... like Arminian view on prayers... then we may have a fuller honest answers

[@annoymousperson2811]

Dear person reading this you are so loved!😃

[@justicemo9090]

lol bro, lemme react to your message cause it seems no one else sees it...

[@sashtilalbachan4552]

Yes... Prayer is all about relationship between God and man.

[@atheistangel007]

Really? And how do you know it's a god let alone your chosen god? Did it show you at least 2 forms of ID?

[@Sketcher93]

My opinion is that praying works for the person that's praying and opens them up and from a scientific perspective in this dimension of reality energies match energies so it can't be a bad thing to draw in "like energies" that creates higher energy around us. In that respect it would be advantageous for us to pray. But not with an expectation toward a certain result. If someone was meant to die at a certain age, no amount of praying is going to change that. We should accept that we do not have all the information on this subject maybe never will because our senses limit our experience in this dimension. We are consciousness squeezed into a meat suit that will eventually die and we will continue on as pure consciousness.

[@georgepenton6023]

In my opinion----and I emphasize that it is only a human opinion---God DOES sometimes change His Mind, in answer to a prayer of petition. In scripture, at the wedding at Cana, Jesus (God) changed water into wine after His mother petitioned Him to do so. This was Jesus' first public miracle and it launched His public ministry. But Jesus' original plan was to launch His public ministry at some other time and place. So clearly here God did change His Mind after a prayer of petition. Prayer changes things.

[@codymarkley8372]

It is pretty mysterious I will say

[@joshmamba8053]

And since he's omniscient, He already new the petition would come.

[@atheistangel007]

"Prayer changes things." Then a "perfect plan" is impossible. But curious why GOD would do party tricks, but not use its power to save suffering children? It seems its priorities are all fucked up, and obviously, so are yours.

[@atheistangel007]

@@joshmamba8053 That makes absolutely zero sense.

[@atheistangel007]

@@codymarkley8372 Yep, almost as "mysterious" as a _flat Earth._

[@nicholasr82]

So after 7 minutes maybe 8 minutes of waffle, he still never answered the question which was does prayer change God's mind? All I heard was that stinking Calvinist doctrine. According to what he did say, I can take from it that he believes prayer does not change God's mind. He said our prayers are to line up with Gods will. God's will cannot be changed. So when we pray, it has to be us humbling ourselves to line up with God's will so our prayers match this. Well that's only right partially. How do you know a thing is God's will? Once you know it's God's will, are you to just say thank you for a terrible situation or pray for mercury and for God to change His mind and help you? What if it's a man's or a women's will to cause you pain and they are getting away with It? Because you can't change that situation, is that God's sovereign will? There are so many variables in this question but the answer is Yes, you can change Gods mind. What about when God was going to destroy the Hebrews in the wilderness after God had just written the commandments on stone? God told Moses to go back down and that He, God was going to destroy them all for their sin. Moses prayed to God and petitioned God not to and even told God that He would look silly if He did after saving them from Egypt in such a great way to just then kill them all. God it says, repented of the evil He was going to do. What about Hannah that was ridiculed for not being able to have a child? She tried over and over yet could not get pregnant to the insults of her husband's other wife. This guy and those who believe this Calvinist doctrine of evil would say it's God's will that's why you are not getting pregnant and would advise not to even attempt ivf treatment in this age because they'd be going against God's will. What about the women Jesus spoke of that needed a personal matter resolving in her favour? She pestered the man so much that he did something about it answering her wishes. Jesus said will not God do the same for His children who keep asking? What about all those people that were healed in the bible? From those who had leprosy to those who could not walk or see, should they have remained in that place or called out to Jesus for help for God to change their situation. You see according to calvinism God is sovereign over everything and through everything but they don't believe that your prayers will change anything, they pray "let your will be done if you want to heal but if not we thank you anyway". This can, on the surface look very humble and look like people are submitting to the will of God but it is neither. In this type of mindset and doctrine there is no need for praying and there is no need to even go to church because God is going to do do what he's going to do with or without you but god does not see it that way. God has a plan for the human race and for his Kingdom and his glory but God cares about every one of us, and he wants us to ask him for his help in all situations, so that he can manifest himself by helping us which brings about a testimony and increases not just our faith but those who hear that testimony. You will find that in calvinist churches ( when I say a calvinist church it may be calling itself a Baptist Church or a Pentecostal Church or an evangelizing church but, the doctrine taught is calvinist doctrine and what the doctrine is dictates what the church is), there is no testimonies of God intervening supernaturally in their lives because they do not want to ask God, directly in faith to change their situations and help them with their problems. When I say in faith, I mean asking for God to step down from heaven and change the situation to how they need it to be. Instead they don't pray in faith they pray without faith. Just because you are talking to God does not mean you have faith. As it says "You don't receive what you ask for because you don't beleive". Or you are double minded in that you say you believe in God's power but you see the situations around you as being too big for God to handle.

[@jasperetale6916]

Ezekiel 14:13-21

[@adventureinallthings]

Does prayer actually change God's mind? is the name of this clip, he outlines the problem in that it seems a paradox without any clear answer and then talks it upside down and inside out and concludes he has answered it , but at the end he is no further along than the start, i listened to it three times and came away none the wiser. sorry Dr Step but saying God has preordained everything but we have free will and petitioner prayer is possible just because it is in scripture, is meaningless. It's like saying god created the world and he also didn't create it because it says so in scripture ( I know it doesn't say any such thing but you get the point ). the only way one can deal with that question and accept it, is by not dealing with it ...

[@adventureinallthings]

@Mark Yates so God already knows and has decided who is going to hell ? and all prayer does for those so dammed is to connect, be at peace and understand that will? really? can't you see the problem

[@markflickinger4290]

Jonathan O Mahony...I thought the same thing when he was done talking...He never answered the original question, which titled the video. 🤷‍♂️

[@estheryoung963]

Prayer moves God to hear and contemplate your prayer

[@John-ym9ht]

There are many options of the paths to God's sovereign plan. He seems to allow some changes to be affected along the way through prayer without ever changing His preordained final outcome. Prayer does not change the purpose of God but it can change the actions He takes to accomplish it.

[@justicemo9090]

so you can surprise God? if God is found changing his mind what exactly would that mean? (is he not ever constant in his thoughts, means and intent)

[@pulsar756]

if the outcome is preordained, then prayer is useless

[@samuelmansman4828]

@@justicemo9090 there were times when Jesus was amazed with peoples faith

[@justicemo9090]

@@samuelmansman4828 then Jesus was not omniscient, God is omniscient, therefore Jesus is not God... (that's for mainstream christianity).

[@samuelmansman4828]

@@justicemo9090 Philippians 2:7 states that he emptied himself. Which means he put that aside to dwell with us and to live the human life. That doesn’t mean he wasn’t God, he still was able to read peoples thoughts and what not. I’m sure The Lord wants to hear his children with fresh ears sometimes and put aside his all knowing stature. Look at God more personally, not only as a God but also as a father. God bless friend hope this helps :) ♥️💯

[@edlicsathiamurthy4520]

I would be careful if someone goes around claiming he has the honest answers to something... honestly our comprehension of eternal truths are limited and npt all things are revealed .... we have the tendency to see through our own theological perspectives

[@g.alistar7798]

Prayer is much more comprehensive than petition....confession, thanksgiving, worship all seem good reasons for prayer. Petition against God’s will is futile. Often like Paul’s thorn, prayer is how we get through the attacks of Satan, the world cosmos and especially our own sinful nature. We need prayer, God does not. Q. Is it legit to be thankful for great men of God, long dead? Not prayer for the dead but rather, thankful for Schofield, Calvin, Luther and great men of God?

[@codymarkley8372]

I think that they are still blessing us through the spirit of God then yeah I think we can thank God for them.

[@jt19933]

Right, but only petitioning prayers are the ones that are somewhat said to change God's mind. That's why he focuses on those.

[@douglasanderson1276]

Gods is infinity in all his attributes, he sees all time as one and sees all butterfly effects. He has infinity unlimited processing powers for ultimate game theory. And he wants us to struggle, grow, care, trust in him, rely on him, for he is a good Father who wants his children to overcome by the power of the shed blood of Jesus and the Spirit

[@2l84me8]

How do you know that’s true? Can you demonstrate your god’s existence?

[@douglasanderson1276]

@@2l84me8 The fact that we are communicating should be a good start. It may sound goofy, but you can ask him if you are willing. There is plenty of apologetics on the internet. If he is real and there is more than this life, should it not need an hour of research.

[@2l84me8]

@@douglasanderson1276 The huge difference here is that I can communicate with you and receive direct feedback. There is no such equivalent with your god nor is there a reason to try with a specific one when there is currently no evidence for any god.

[@douglasanderson1276]

@@2l84me8 OK. Then all is meaningless. Where did all the known and unknown come from? It is still a worth pursuit to at least consider there is more than this broken world that screams that all things are broken (pain)

[@2l84me8]

@@douglasanderson1276 That isn’t a response nor is that a good reason to believe without evidence, let alone attempt to communicate with no feedback at all.

[@TboneWTF]

Prayer does nothing to resolve serious problems. You might as well be talking to the lamp post for all the good prayer does. Can any one offer an example of when praying resolved a serious issue they wher having? Any one at all?

[@TboneWTF]

lol

[@TboneWTF]

lol

[@t-bonewtf]

ooo

[@jordanp3470]

Prayer does nothing external, it is only a necessity for conforming your inner self to God’s will

[@TboneWTF]

@@jordanp3470 LOL. Wrong. The bible tells us to just ask and God will answer us and provide what we need. You don't understand the bible my friend. You'd rather make up what you decide is correct. This is why religion and the idea of God is so dangerous.

[@christopherpavkovich4995]

How about a simple yes or no.

[@damianwhite504]

Exactly. Probabley because the question cannot really be answered

[@krisbaker9427]

Not a simple question

[@Richard-1531]

AMEN

[@fredflintstone8048]

I've considered that perhaps God who not only carries out his divine will in the world also divinely wills us to pray a certain way at times which would be in alignment with what He ends up carrying out. Otherwise it's just rolling the dice. I've listened to many a Christian complain bitterly that they prayed their hearts out to God and that He did not grant their requests. Do I believe that I must pray for God's will to take place in my life for it to happen? No. For example I never prayed for Him to make me a believer, to give me faith. I would not have even considered such an idea back then. In any case His will, not mine was done. Jesus told us to pray that His will be done, so we're bending our will to His, or perhaps that's His work as well: Php 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, Php 2:13 for it is God who works in you, both to ___will___ and to ___work___ for his good pleasure.

[@theQandA]

“If I don’t pray for something, can I thwart God?” No, because if you don’t pray for something then God didn’t pre-ordain you to pray for it.

[@thehappytoothdentalclinic]

the Q&A Pre-ordain? Doesn't that go against the 'free will' that God has given us?

[@chaddavis6877]

Very good statement! We only pray through what He knew before!

[@Jsween876]

Could it be that when we pray we determine the way in which things will come to pass in our lives? The plans of our lives will come to pass according to the will of god but when we pray , these plans are perhaps delivered in a more favorable way. For eg. Let’s say you petition to him for help to go to university. Perhaps you going to university is already a part of gods plan for your life but if you hadn’t prayed you would have struggled to come up with the finances for school (perhaps work many jobs) but when you pray and ask perhaps the approach to university becomes easier/clearer. Perhaps the opportunity for a scholarship comes your way. So...essentially your not changing gods mind regarding the end result but how you get to the end is dependent upon prayer. I feel also perhaps that the method in which things happen without prayer may cause some damage to not only our soul but bodies as well. Maybe the plan for our lives is like a fork. If you pray you get to go one way which has to lead to a better more fulfilling result. If we don’t pray then the other alternative to our lives is presented to us which could result in a shorter more woeful life. Both were already there for us...and it’s through prayer that it is finalized. I don’t know...that’s kind of my interpretation of prayer when it comes to petitioning for things. Of course prayer entails so much more than asking for things. It’s important to remember that as well. (I’m not sure if the university eg was a good enough one so let’s take another. Say you have a book to read. Reading this book is a part of your destiny according to gods will. Say before you read the book you asked for wisdom and understanding. After reading the book I would assume you would leave with a better meaning from the book. You would understand the lesson taught in the book much more and apply it to your life better leading to a more favorable result from you reading the book. Say you hadn’t prayed before; you would’ve read the book just the same but gotten nothing from it. It would’ve been just a story to you and so then you would miss out on it’s application in your life which perhaps would’ve had a profound impact. I hope that makes sense.)

[@kyriekayhalford3501]

WHAT

[@vmars316]

"god relented" how do that work ?

[@i.charles8658]

Prayer, the more often one prays to Lord God, not showy, in private, one becomes holier day by day, and a far better person, closer and closer to God.

[@ShelDockToyotaVitz]

Love this. If you have a friend and you love that friend and you want to please this friend, you would do the things you know makes this friend happy. Praying in conjunction with God's will shows we support what our God wants and this makes him happy.

[@MoneyBthemotive713]

And then there was corona god is good

[@justicemo9090]

"shows", so without prayer, he cannot see or tell whether or not you support what he wants?

[@justicemo9090]

"shows", so without prayer, he cannot see or tell whether or not you support what he wants?

[@ShelDockToyotaVitz]

Our actions should support our prayers, also our prayers should reflects the will of our God. Yes what we do matters to our God.

[@justicemo9090]

@@ShelDockToyotaVitz but he put that will in you in the first place, so saying "should reflect his will" assumes his will is not in us and thus negates your initial statement/comment

[@madhumitabarik2789]

Answer should come yes or no

[@daniellemroberts]

R. C. Sproul has a good book on this topic for free on Kindle.

[@youdontsay2529]

Apologetics is the art of saying a lot without making sense.

[@playbackproductions1]

@@youdontsay2529 oh the irony. Well at least brevity is wit... as they say

[@cetr4ch]

Someone said prayer doesn't answer all things, is it true?

[@Emily-mn1hr]

God may answer some prayers and other He might not. If He doesn’t answer it there’s always a reason but doing what mark 11:24 says helps to getting prayers answered. Mark 11:24 “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

[@elemenmusic2874]

He will not answer prayers that he has not set for you. For example, if you said “dear lord please let me and this girl get together because I love her.” If he doesn’t want you to be with her he won’t answer, same with a job, if that’s not what he planned then he won’t answer

[@rvelohim7]

Sometimes God’s silence is his answer. In the garden Jesus asked his Father to pass this cup from me but let it not be my will,but yours. The Father’s silence was his answer. By simply say NO! that’s an answer.

[@ncbible1575]

is prayer really me trying to get God to do something or is it me trying to line up with God?

[@wishyouthebest9222]

Seems like the second. "...thy will be done..."

[@junevandermark952]

Prayer is a self-indulgent delusion. If a god existed to answer conflicting prayers of self-centered humans, the god would not have any will left over for itself. I suggest it is only because humans are so unruly and judgmental of each other, that so many are willing to place faith in the existence of a judge-mental god. As the Roman historian Polybius once said, “Since the masses of the people are inconstant, full of unruly desires, passionate, and reckless of consequences, they must be filled with fears to keep them in order. The ancients did well, therefore, to invent gods, and the belief in punishment after death.”

[@taylermontgomery2004]

Personally I am not a Calvinist due to its fallible logistics in predestination and prayer (though not in all Calvinistic beliefs), so I think open theism works well with the doctrine because God has changed His mind before from prayers, such as having spared judging Nineveh after the Assyrians repented (when Jonah preached there). Why is God so judgmental? Why can't He just be careless and let the world operate without intervention if the world seems to work well without Him? Because those who live to do evil until death would get exactly what they want, and those who live to be just and righteous only suck wind in meaninglessness, and die anyway. Are religions made to brainwash societies to obey hierarchies? I can't say the motives for all world religions, but their fundamental intents were to resolve the fear of death. Except we have a standard of substantiation to prove God exists and the fundamental of what Christianity really is (though I do agree Christianity has been abused as an agent of governance in the past). I would fear that if there is no God, then those who are as depraved as me would get away with what all their hearts desired, along with thieves, murderers, rapists, pedophiles, sex traffickers, and terrorists. Even worse, that “evil” and “good” would be delusional concepts. How strange would the world have to be, that if humanity thirsted for justice and righteousness to the ends of the earth, that justice is nothing but an illusion used to control people? Why thirst for water where there is no such a thing? What would be the moral difference between cutting off a head of lettuce and my neighbor's head off? We would either be insane or deterministic. Because I desire to be good like everybody else does, and I am not, morals rustle in a forest of objective truth. Otherwise, why try to be good without a standard or reason to? If it is not so that I hurt people, then what stops you from always getting away with hidden evil such as theft? Your conscience of course. And otherwise, the ten commandments would be good advice instead of laws bearing repercussions if there is no justice in the afterlife. Thus Jesus was right, "Blessed are those who do hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." (Mat 5:6) And, “There appoints a man the day of his death and after this comes to him the Judgement” (Hebrews 9:27). Justice is served in the afterlife, eternal life offered to everyone who is willing to receive it, and mercy granted to the repentant. Hell proves we have a free will to spend eternity with God or without Him. No one will be in heaven against their will. Hell is not vile completely because God made it vile, rather being anywhere far from God’s presence will all that is good also be far (life, strength, goodness, joy, etc.) That is our fulfillment; our thirst for righteousness is quenched (Proverbs 11:4). But only through Jesus Christ only can we inherit the righteousness we decided to not muster for ourselves, so we will be saved from the wrath we duly deserve (Romans 6:23) by repenting and putting our faith in Christ. Without Christ, He will judge you by your conscience that both defends you and condemns you, and you will receive the wages of your sin fairly. We also have another thirst for knowing why we exist and why existence exists. The same thirst for justice and being good is axiomatic for moral standards. Why not a thirst for knowing our being also be axiomatic for a super intelligent conscious being?

[@johnhaleii208]

Is it wrong to have desires? I have been praying for a wife, or even the opportunity to pursue a lady to possibly become my wife for twenty years (not an exaggeration). The only responses can only be described as mocking. Those around me find love and throw it away as if it were nothing, and not a whisper of a chance for me. God's responses to my prayers lead me to believe that He is rejecting me out of hand just as every woman that I attempt to pursue does.

[@BB.halo_heir]

Pursue God that way first. "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight". One of the best things you can be and do for your future wife is be a godly man. You have to be that before you meet her. ♡

[@mikefluech]

God's plan is dependent on my prayers (2:47-2:52)? How does that work with this man's version of sovereignty? When a man has a wrong understanding of something like sovereignty, he will have to say illogical things to make his beliefs work.

[@Jan-hm8sd]

Very confusing

[@jaimeduncan6167]

Yes, is interesting he mentions that the prays are the means , then he goes into the reverse question: What if I don't pray? and he goes off in a dogmatic way, instead or simple saying: God will use a different means. For example, if I hire a carpenter to build a stable by Jan 5 and the dude is lazy, I can hire someone else that is willing. Other will pray if I don't, but I lost the blessing as the lazy carpenter lost my business.Same goes with praise, as the scripture say, the rocks will do. God for some reason is always trying to work with us. Let do it together appears to be his calling for humans.

[@thomp6402]

Wrong answers are often confusing. I’m not attacking this man, but it is clear he can’t address this issue. I’m sure he’s a great man. But... the question in the title is never actually answered.

[@trtchurch]

What kind of stupid question is that? Of course prayer changes Gods heart. I can testify to this a million times, and there are scriptures in Gods Word to back it up!!

[@FaithFallRepentGraceRepeat]

It’s not a stupid question. Some people don’t know the relationship between God’s will, our free will and our prayers. It is confusing at times because any of those important factors can contradict at any time.

[@edlynward4359]

Rediculous! You obviously don't understand who God is. To say that you CHANGE God's mind is to say that you present God with something that He did not already know. God knows all, and that includes anything you pray even before you pray it. You don't CHANGE God's mind or heart no matter what you do.

[@dashhill443]

Where was God when I was 8 praying for rescue from my abusive Uncle??

[@2l84me8]

So why haven’t you prayed to stop cancer, famine, thirst, war, and natural disasters? I guess your prayers don’t work afterall.

[@defendingthefaith.7889]

Not at all. Prayer is not about changing what he already willed. Prayer is a relationship with him.

[@sashabowman204]

Revelation says prayer and repentance to stop the wrath of Jesus

[@2l84me8]

So pray to a wrathful god is stop being a wrathful god?

[@Ejaezy]

So what you're saying is...my prayer is a part of God's plan. Yet, if I choose not to pray, he will have someone else pray so that his plan is still accomplished. So wouldn't that mean that my prayer is NOT a part of God's plan? if it was, then my not praying would thwart his plan. Unless God changes his mind and chooses for someone else's prayer to accomplish the same purpose once I choose not to pray...

[@billgamelson9964]

You have got a lot to learn.

[@1974jrod]

No

[@markreed2576]

After reading the sarcastic unbelieving comments it comes down to this, for those who do believe no explanation is necessary. For those who don’t believe no explanation is possible. Deal with it !

[@technobrain1461]

But we have reality to deal with those who do believe and claim that their prays get answered. If I was a believer, I'll be praying to see a real change in the way the Laws of physics work on this planet. I'll put an end to any kinds of accidents that affect lives on earth in horrific way. Just think about that.

[@flashoftruth]

Or you could just admit you can't prove any "god" exists...but that would require intellectual honesty and to let go of your ego, and we all know that isn't going to happen.

[@420kerbster]

HELL IS HOT EITHER WAY 🔥 HOT

[@flashoftruth]

@@420kerbster Yeah, and Elvis made me pancakes today 😋

[@FrankJGZ]

@@flashoftruth You too!!

[@joescoggins5937]

Consistancy is not a strong point with some theologians. "Prayer works," but it doesn't really do anything. Biblically, prayer is not some way to manipulate God. Rather, it is designed for us to acknowledge who He is, what He is doing and to willingly submitting to it. If I pray for a new house, and I get a new house, that does not mean my prayer "worked." That means I prayed and I got a new house...two separate things. God's promise is to give us deep spiritual satisfaction, not to give us material things. "Blessing equals material things" is a distinctly western thought pattern and is left over from the Old Covenant. Under the New Covenant, prayer deals with the eternal, not the temporal. Fortunately for those in oppressed and persecuted areas, the temporal is of little importance to God or man. Prayer is for God's benefit in that it acknowledges who He is in all of His majesty and power, and for our benefit as we discover what He's doing and getting on board with it. In His sovereignty, God has determined to give us freedom to choose to follow Him through Christ or not. He has also given us the freedom to commune with Him in prayer, or not. It is to our benefit to choose to commune with Him in prayer.

[@Sandcrawler444]

Does that mean God can't heal my schizophrenia?

[@jrwatson4265]

Can you prove that a God exist? Are praying to your self, meditating, building up your own confidence and then go out and work toward your goals, but giving a invisible God credit, plus your money.

[@Deeloyal]

Johann Schultz I get the angst with all of this Johann, I’ve struggled with the idea of prayer... a lot. I agree with parts of what people say but am baffled by a whole lot of stuff said, especially the pre-programmed Christianeeze stuff. My father died at a young age and it was so disappointing, I prayed with as much “faith” as I could, still died. Yet, I have seen very specific and meaningful requests answered, not just things that fit with Gods redemptive plan, like, personal meaningful likes that I have. As I write this, I still struggle to pray faithfully for more “noble” things but I think there is still something to this thing called prayer. Stay strong dear, you are a special gem in the eyes of the maker. Sincerely, Dennis

[@rlh125]

@@jrwatson4265, God’s existence can be proven and has been to the satisfaction of hundreds of millions of people. And the arguments against his existence are absurd. Even intelligent people like Christopher Hitchens have to resort to ridiculous arguments in order to attack Christianity (sadly, Hitchens is experiencing an eternity in torment…which is a high price to pay for a few dozen years of sinful living and the accolades of people who will meet his same fate). Book recommendations: The Irrational Atheist I Don’t Have Enough Faith To Be An Atheist Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Vol 1 and 2 “A young man who wishes to remain a sound atheist cannot be too careful of his reading.“ - CS Lewis

[@rlh125]

“Under the New Covenant, prayer deals with the eternal, not the temporal.” You seem to be saying we shouldn’t pray for temporal, and especially material, things. James says the opposite in chapter 4: “You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.” The clear implication is that they SHOULD ask God but haven’t. He then adds an important detail for those who do ask: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” So, while God isn’t an ATM from which we can pull endless piles of cash to “live your best life now!”, there is nothing wrong with praying for temporal things. There is nothing in the NT that says such prayers are restricted to people who lived under the Old Covenant.

[@TheOverlapLifewithTimBarber]

If you actually read the Bible, the answer is "yes". What on earth. Determinism makes everything confusing - which is odd, because God is not the God of confusion, but on determinism, God determined determinism to be confusing, which makes him the God of confusion.

[@jmar5785]

No. It changes the mind of the one that prays.

[@matteojay6052]

so basically God has a limit?

[@jmar5785]

@@matteojay6052 how does that follow?

[@denisepacheco]

I feel you went around and around but you didn’t make it clear . You tried but you didn’t deliver .

[@yolisabeauchamp1088]

Go to the Desiring God channel there's a series called "Ask Pastor John " that answers this question well. I think just type "Ask Pastor John, if God is sovereign why pray"...or something like that but the question is answered 🙂

[@iancampbell1316]

When Jesus was on the cross and is near death, he asks God why he has forsaken him. Why did he ask that? It's God's plan and he is the son of God so he knows what is coming. Jesus actually said he would die and be risen in three days. So, why ask God why he has forsaken him?

[@BB.halo_heir]

Jesus was not actually asking him that. He was quoting scripture. Read Psalm 22. Psalm 22 is evidence of Jesus in the Old Testament. Psalm 22 is a direct account of what was to come. ♡

[@usofliberty]

The way I understand it is, that as part of this plan Jesus experienced what we would have experienced when we die and were sent to hell. A spiritual separation from god, and Jesus began to feel that in the garden. He was trying to pray to the father and he wasn't able to reach him. He is then crucified and reeling from the pain of that separation as well as all the physical pain. He would know that he was to be sacrificed but to experience that lack of gods presence was too much to bear and he called out in sorrow.

[@iancampbell1316]

@@usofliberty The best interpretation I've heard. Thank you.

[@jaimeduncan6167]

He was fulling the scripture, he is quoting one of David's poem/songs. If you read that scripture you will see that it's not a reclamation but the introduction of a statement of fait. God "separation" from Jesus was expected, but terrible.