Everyone has heard the little saying, "prayer changes things." Some people might even think it is a verse in the Bible, but no, I don't think you will find that exact verse anywhere in the Holy Bible. It is a nice little phrase that man has come up with that may be true. Being a peacemaker by nature, I don't like conflict or controversy in my life, but I am going to step out of my comfort zone for a minute and ask for some responses to this phrase. I'm sure that I'll get many different opinions, but I would really like to know what you think. Does prayer really change things? Or, does God already have everything in our lives mapped out to where there is nothing we can do to change what is already going to happen? I certainly don't claim to be a theologian, nor do I think I have all the answers. The one thing I do know for certain is that prayer changes me! Please leave your comments and let me know if you think that by praying, God will change the outcome of a situation, circumstance, etc. Feel free to use examples from your personal life or scriptural references.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Wednesday Hodgepodge
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12 comments:
Hmmm...interesting question. I think I agree with you: that prayer changes us. Prayer might not change anything, but it changes us. I think mostly that's the case.
However, I once read or heard somewhere that once a dying man prayed to God to prolong his life so that he could do lots more things (I forgot the details)...and God heard his prayers and He gave him that (exactly the number of years he asked for). So prayer can change what's going to happen as well, if God approves of it.
I think it all depends on if it is in God's will. But that goes back to how everything is already predetermined. I feel that prayer does change things. I started praying really hard that God would help me find a new job that would fit me. He provided a pretty sweat deal. An awesome job, in a cool city where a close friend of mine (the roommate) just moved to. Everything seemed to fit perfectly together as if it were meant to be. So going back to prayer chaning or predestination. I think its a good mixture of both. Thats my opinion.
Kathy
My opinion is that God has our lives already mapped out,he knows what we are going to do.Thats why sometimes we pray and we pray and things never happen.I think he has a plan and what we asked for does not fit in his plan.A friend and I had an argument about this,he said that being Gods child he is going to give me every(with a good intent)thing I asked for.Which I dont believe is true.We would be so spoilt !!
I want to give you an example:When I was 15,I wanted a pair of black patent leather stilleto pumps.They are expensive in India and I knew I could not ask my parents for those so I prayed,really hard !I truly believed that God would give them to me.I even told all my friends...I had Hindu and Muslim friends...no Christian friends and this was a strange thought to them !I never got them and that has always stayed in my mind.I mentioned this to my friend and what he said was that God will give it to you but it may not have been the right time.
Well I did not realise it but this year for Easter I bought myself a pair of black patent leather shoes.the exact same ones I wanted 17 years ago...incidentally it was for my Easter dress that I wanted those shoes for when I was 15!
To conclude.God has a plan ...sometimes he says yes,sometimes no and sometimes Maybe.
Kat,
I think everyone has their own way of looking at life and so far I agree pretty much with the people who have left their comments here.
I think that God has made an outline of our lives, just like an outline we make at school. We can have details added to the out line, and our lives can have details added to it. The details will not change the out come of our lives, but may make our lives just a little more interesting to live.
I do believe that God wants to give us what we want just like we want to give our children every thing they want. We as parents know that giving our children every thing is not always best. I think God looks at our lives in the same way. If He gives us all we want then we can not be molded into the good people he would like us to be, we would become spoiled little brats that would take his love for granted.
So, to answer your questions, I say yes and yes. Our lives our predetermined and yes prayer does change things even if it is just our perception of it.
The story from the Bible is Hezekiah, who was dying from a disease. He prayed that God would give him more time, which He did. God also told Hezekiah that while he was alive the kingdom would remain intact, but once he died, the people would be enslaved. I'm not sure he asked for a specific number of years though.
As for prayer changing - absolutely. It changes us and God can answer those prayers if the outcome will further His kingdom and purpose. Now before everyone freaks on me - there isn't a person on this earth that can comprehend God's overall purpose. We see one very small piece of the puzzle, but God sees the entire picture.
Just my 2 cents worth! :)
Ooohhh...so it's Hezekiah, eh? I forgot all about the details. All I remember is that God did answer his prayer to add more years to his life he he he...
Wow! Thanks to each of you for your excellent answers! You guys are really smart and gave this question a lot of thought. You each brought out some really good points. Thank you!
Hi Kathy,I do believe if you open your heart the our lord,he will listen to you!!You must go to him as child to a father!!!
Peace and God Bless!!!
Steven
My opinion is that yes, prayer does change things. Not necessarily because there is a higher power answering your call, but because you in yourself unconsciously make the changes. Be it because you feel better about yourself due to the prayer so you are happier with your situation, or you avoid situations due to the prayer which prevent you from doing what you don't want to do.
If you believe enough in something, soon you will start believing its happening. So, you can say the prayers worked.
I say, YES - prayer does change things. If it didn't work, there wouldn't be so many people that still believe in it! Besides, why would God bother giving us free will if prayer didn't change anything?
http://www.mrs-mandypoo.blogspot.com
I think prayer brings you back to yourself - to that deeply personal being that is sometimes ignored amongst the chaos of the world. That in itself can help you with the relationship you have within and, in turn, with decisions you make.
I found that I was putting more emphasis on the prayer and not enough emphasis on God. It is God who changes things. Not my ability to pray the right words. All the prayer in the world cannot change something if God doesn't want to. But I fully believe that He uses our prayers to change things. He has given us the privelege to be in on what He is doing. He wants us to be a part of things.
Joshua asked God to make the sun stand still and God did. Would He have done it whether Joshua asked or not? I don't know. Would He have done it if it wasn't part of His will -- no matter how much Joshua asked? I don't think so.
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