Does God change his mind? If not why bother praying?

“Nothing is permanent but change.” HERACLITUS “Change is constant” Benjamin Disraeli (1867)

1. Does God change his mind? Malachi 3:6 “I the LORD do not change. Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.”

James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows Numbers 23:19 God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.

Matthew 6:8 …do not be like them (pagans) for your Father knows what you need before you ask him…

Psalm 139 1 You have searched me, LORD,    and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise;    you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down;    you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue    you, LORD, know it completely… 16 all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

2. But what do we do with accounts where God seems to change his mind? Genesis 6:6 (MSG) “God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, "I'll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I'm sorry I made them."

Exodus 32 v10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. v12 “Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people.” v14 Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

Jonah 3:9-10 “Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

Your prayers in Jesus’ name are significant and powerful enough to move God into action

3. The Power of Prayer Hebrews 4 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

James 5:16 “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (NIV) “The prayers of a person living right with God is something to be reckoned with” (MSG)

1John 5:14-15 And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he's listening. And if we're confident that he's listening, we know that what we've asked for is as good as ours. (MSG)

"I discovered an astonishing truth. God is attracted to weakness "I discovered an astonishing truth. God is attracted to weakness. He can’t resist those who humbly and honestly admit how desperately they need him" (p. 19 Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala) Your prayers in Jesus’ name are significant and powerful enough to move God into action

Does God change his mind? If not why bother praying?

Second service questions

God is all-knowing and does not change His mind – why then does he allow ordained spiritual leaders to fall from grace?

If God is all-powerful, all-wise and all- loving, should anyone remain lost for a never-ending duration? The bible says He always does His will and He wills that none perish…love never fails…but seeks UNTIL He finds…?

How do we distinguish between what is God’s will & what is our will? <and similarly, but new question> How do we know if it’s God who is answering our prayers or if it’s our own thoughts?

What about the people who don’t hear about God? There is the story about the Roman soldier who was led by God to find someone to tell him about God; does God do this with everyone?

First service Questions

Why do people pray “if it be your will to heal” Why do people pray “if it be your will to heal”? To pray this, I feel it is faith destroying for the person who is sick. God says “I am the Lord that heals you” - Exodus 15:20 By Jesus’ stripes you are healed – 1 Peter 2:24 Praise the Lord, O my soul forget not all his benefits. Who forgives all your diseases – Psalm 103:2-3 God’s Word is His will God does not lie

Does prayer have to be spoken out loud to be effective? And when is it time to give up when a prayer is not answered?

Would it be right to say God NEVER changes his character, which is gracious, just living, compassionate, etc. & within His character He relents & changes His decrees at times?

Why do we pray for people next to the death bed when we know God will take him or her away?

How do we make our prayers more powerful?