I saw this line on a social media site today, “God changes the hearts of people. Prayer changes the heart of God.” It’s a nice sentiment, for blasphemy. Does prayer really change the heart of God? See what His word says:
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” Numbers 23:19
“God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change—he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God.” Psalm 55:19
“God said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’” Hebrews 7:21b
If the author of that sentiment had left it simply at ‘God changes the hearts of people’ I would have said “Amen!” and moved on. But he didn’t. He added that second sentence and inspired this blog.
It’s undeniable that God changes the hearts of people. He is the Life-Giver of our hearts. Anyone who has a relationship with God must testify that God has changed their heart. He is the only one who is able. Argue as we may with others, but, ultimately, our words will fall on deaf ears if God Himself does not move their hearts to respond.
It is an absolutely classic, egotistical human error to believe that we have any control whatsoever on God’s heart by our prayers. It implies that we have power and that God’s heart is in need of change. God loves us and, with our limited understanding of love, we tend to believe that when someone loves us, we hold a certain manipulative power over them. By playing the ‘don’t you love me?’ card, we can get someone to do things for us that they are not otherwise inclined to do. To hold that view of God’s love is a dangerous misunderstanding. God’s love for us is not human love. His love means that His heart is unchangeably set on doing what is best for us, even when we don’t understand His ways. God is for us! Prayer is not going to make Him more or less for us. The height, breadth and depth of His love are already past our limits of understanding. We cannot ask for more love from Him because more love does not exist. He is all of love.
Granted, our sentimental author-friend was probably on the right track, but with the wrong word choice. While we cannot affect change in the heart of God, scripture does say that God’s heart is stirred when His children come to Him. As any parent can attest, when our children are eager to talk to us, it stirs the love in our hearts.
Prayer brings about an intimacy with God and a deeper understanding of His love for us. Prayer is the gift that He has given us to communicate with Him. He didn’t give us the ability to pray for His sake, He gave it for our sake because our souls need communication with our Creator. C.S. Lewis said, “I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God- it changes me.” When we talk to our heavenly Father, it doesn’t change His heart, it is a manner in which He changes our hearts.
We should praise God all the more because His heart is unchangeable. His love for us is not merit-based. His mercy is not dependent on our deserts. He is perfect and good and that will never change. Thank God!
This blog was written by Hannah Foti, the Marketing Coordinator at Christian Care Ministry. Hannah is 26, a pastor’s kid, photographer, Florida Gator & Philadelphia Eagles fan and a very happy new wife.
I have to disagree with you there. What about Moses? God was set to destroy the Israelites and Moses talked him out of it and BECAUSE of Moses, God did not do what he had planned.
I really do think that prayers affect what God does or doesn’t do for us. Why else would we ask him for anything? God will always be good and perfect and all that, but that doesn’t mean he won’t change his mind about his plans for us. We just don’t always know about it.
God does not change his mind … unless he wants to. Like when, during a conversation with Abraham, he repeatedly changed his standard of how many innocent were necessary to spare the Sodom. Or when Moses convinced him not to blot out his ungrateful people (Numbers 14:20). Or when Phinehas turned back his wrath from the people of Israel so that he did not consume them in his jealousy (Numbers 25:11). Or when he “relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people” (Exodus 32:14). Or when he added 15 years to Hezekiah’s life (Isaiah 38:5). Or when he “relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to [the people of Nineveh], and he did not do it.” (Jonah 3:10)
Theologians of the past and present, including the authors of the Bible (and every other holy book), have felt entitled to say whatever they want as long as it was inspired by their faith. It doesn’t make a single word of it true.
Amos 7:3 and 7:6 where God relented and said, “It won’t be so” is another example. Of course, we must remember that God knows the end from the beginning, so maybe relented/changed His mind doesn’t mean it in the way we’re thinking it does?
As parents we bring our children in to conversations and ask them questions about what they would do or how . We don’t always have the answers but as parents we want our children to speak out with their own mouth and be part of the solution. I believe My God always has the answers He just wants me to trust Him completely and not doubt His ways. I believe God could be testing our heart,so we may see ourselves better.
Yes, I totally agree!!!!!!!!!! Hannah
Thanks for your write up on this!!!
Yes, I agree Hannah….and would also like to encourage those here to ponder the sovereignty of our heavenly, gracious, merciful, omnipotent, loving Father. Could it be that before time existed and we were created, that He knew all that we would ask or think? Could it be that He had provided already for the request or need or “change of heart” (as it may appear) simply because He had already predetermined a solution or outcome. God, knowing the beginning and the end of every life and situation has already provided the answer for every bend in the road.
It is our surrendered position before Him that makes us the ‘apple of His eye’.