Does God change his mind?

Question

If God has a plan for us all (someone dies and they say it was God's will) then why does it do any good to pray? If someone's prayers get "answered" then it's because they prayed, but if they don't get answered it's because God had another plan. So if you pray that someone gets well or doesn't die, is it because someone prayed for them?

Answer 1

This is actually a very good question. Unfortunately, it is also one that can't be answered in under 1500 keystrokes.

In short, Scripture says Yes and No. But one would have to study on why He did change His mind, and what was involved.

but to sum it up, about as simple as I can...if God says "this is right, this is wrong", then His standard of justice is not going to change. He'll never declare somethig a "sin" and then say "well, now it's ok - Oprah said it should be".

But will He change His mind on His course of action? Yes. Why does He do it sometimes, and sometimes not? This has to do with Sovereign Will...His plan for all to be. How does changing His mind affect this?

As for why someone does or does not die, it's not necessarily in proportion to how many prayers are offered up. If so, this would reduce God to a cosmic bell-hop. (Still hasn't happened? simply get more people to pray and He'll be obligated to react). See...prayer is our "petition"...not our cosmic service order.

It will always be up to God's judgement to say "yes", "wait" or "no", and there are many reasons for why He will answer this way. (sin in life, how righteous the person is, His grace, His Mercy, how this affects the Divine Plan, and so much more)

Seriously, email stamps are free if you want to continue on!

† Travelling Prayer Warrior †

Answer 2

God doesn't need to change his mind, but people can and do. What someone prays about for another is not always granted if it is not within the will of God. Who can the know depths of the wisdom of God? His wisdom for every single person spans time and eternity! His view of life is so much more far reaching than ours is! Having a prayer "answered" doesn't automatically mean the one praying get's what they asked, they DO get answers - right, God could have another plan, too.

It is not always God's will that someone die. If I came over and just murdered you, that would not be God's will - either for me or for you. God is the Heavenly Father, the God of Life, He always desires us to live out our lives naturally. He never wants his children on earth to kill each other. But God has it "covered" in heaven what happens after that because He knows people do horrid things to good people. And all this is with regard to EVERYBODY involved or affected by such an event. God never desires to lose a single one...

Sometimes a person gets what they pray for or about because they prayed, but again, how can we know the mind of the Infinite, Perfect Father in every circumstance of every person for all their eternal lives?

Answer 3

Praying to God is a pridiledge - not something to be dreaded. A person is to pray for God's will in their life. When you are in God's will everything falls into place just the way it is supposed to. Prayer is a way to connect with God. It is an awesome thing to do. You should do it more often and not think of it as a chore or something you HAVE to do but instead something you GET to do.

Answer 4

For the guy who said "Yes and no" here is what that verse in Exodus really says; from the King James version which is the original translation: "And the Lord repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people" Exodus 32:14
He didn't change his mind. James 1:17 says "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." That specifically says he does not change his mind and that there isn't even a hint of changing. And when you pray you can pray for specific things, but you should also realize that God has a plan and He knows best, and should pray that His will to be done. For example, my sister is in a bad relationship: I pray for her to get out of it, but in the same breath I ask God to do His will, because I don't know what plans he has for my sister and he may use the experience of going through a bad relationship to bring her back to her feet.

Answer 5

Prayer is God's invitation to his children to take part in His work here on earth. It can be described as a spiritual key that opens the door for God to come and do the work that He wants to do but is waiting for us to come to Him and ask Him to do.

That having been said, God is sovereign. If there is a work that is necessary for Him to do so that his overall plan for mankind or for an individuals life will come to pass then He will accomplish it no matter what. If He wants someone to ask Him then He can always put that matter on their heart by his Spirit. Either way his will shall come to pass.

When it comes to prayers for things like people getting healed then that's one of those areas where we don't have all of the answers. One answer we have is that it is God who heals people. While He might use doctors and medicines it is his healing power that causes the actual process to effectually take place. We cannot know for sure why God might heal one person while allowing another to pass on. What we do know is that God does things that glorify Himself and that He does everything according to His perfect will and counsel. Sometimes we can see part of the reason why He does something and sometimes not.

Answer 6

Well it depends on what you mean by praying... praying after the person dies is nonsense.. they're dead. But prayer before they die makes a lot of sense and the reason being is that God says,
"You have not because you ask not." Who knows maybe your prayers will make the person live... And there are testimonies of that.
Now yes sometimes God does change His mind...He did when He was about to leave Israel because of their disobedient towards Him.. He even "left the camp" His spirit no longer was with them.. He told Moses that He could no longer dwell amongst unholy people so He was going to send them a angel instead to lead them... Moses said to Him no. please don't, and he interceded on their (Israel's) behalf... and God changed His mind and didn't leave them. (He is a merciful God....and a whole nation was spared because of one mans prayer.)
So yes God does change His mind.....
And one thing to remember....
We don't understand all that God does because if we did....
He wouldn't be God.

You have a wonderful day!!!
~Me

Answer 7

Here's a conversation between Abraham and the LORD, where the Bible teaches us that a man in high esteem with God, like Abraham, might be able to influence God's heavenly decisions.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2018:23-32

The analogy to Abraham's direct conversation with God would be prayer for us. Daniel the prophet prays to God several times in the Book of Daniel, and his prayers for the redemption of his people are actually answered by an angel.

Answer 8

Prayer makes the difference. God knows everything, He also knows if we are going to pray or not.

Answer 9

God has a plan indeed but the main point of the plan is not related to the person dead
is more the mission of that person when is living among us, if he or she had received His word and if he or she is making progress.

Mainly we should not jugde what God is to do with us because life belongs to Him.

and i think we shouldnt say "its God's will' because probably it wasnt, probably ,he wanted us to have more faith when we prayed for that person.

God has a plan yes but it depend on us if we follow it or not

Answer 10

it is the a book in wich all the things are written [ according to muslim point of veiw ] nothing will change unless there a very power prayer towards god
for example
imam hussuain the holy prophet daughter's son give the gift of seven sons to a farmer which came in his presence prophet was sitting there and before that he had said you would not have any son in your life but then the importance of hussain God have to show.the farmer then have seven sons one after an other what do you call it
some people have powers given by God
i know this is a bit difficult to read and to undr stand i did my level best