Can Our Prayers
Change God’s Heart?

Can our prayers change the heart of God? Do we have that much power in our prayers that we can cause the Author and Creator of the universe to have a change of heart?

God never changes, right? Malachi 3:6 says, “I the Lord do not change.” God is the same throughout eternity. He is the Alpha and Omega and everything in between.

Yes. He is, and I have heard some Christians take very strident positions about how God is unchanging. Those kinds thoughts can make us wonder if it is even worth it to spend time praying — because God isn’t going to change anyway, right?

Well, not exactly. I think God is better described this way. God’s character does not change, but God can change His plans — especially in response to our prayers. Our prayers can and do affect the heart and mind of God.

Let’s take a look at a passage in Isaiah. (Isaiah 38:1-8). I will put the verses here for you to make it easier for you to read.

About that time King Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave Hezekiah this message: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.'”

When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,

Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly.

Then this message came to Isaiah from the Lord:

“Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.

“‘And this a is the sign from the Lord to prove that He will do as He promised:

I will cause the sun’s shadow to move ten steps backward on the sundial of Ahaz!'” So the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps.

In this passage from Isaiah, we see that God responded directly to Hezekiah’s prayer. Hekekiah’s prayer affected the heart and mind of God.

God had just told Isaiah to tell Hezekiah, who was deathly ill, that he would not recover from his terrible illness. After Hezekiah prayed and cried out to God, God “changed His mind.” God specifically tells Isaiah to tell Hezekiah that He heard Hezekiah’s prayer. Then, instead of telling Hezekiah that needs to put his affairs in order, God tells Hezekiah that He will add 15 years to Hezekiah’s life.

God does change in response to our prayers. He hears our prayers, and it is within His character to change His plans in response to them.

Let us note that God’s character never changes, and because His character never changes, it is still, today, within His character to change His plans in response to our prayers.

Of course, God is not required to give us whatever we ask for and whatever we want. Like a good parent, He hears our prayers. Then, He makes a decision whether to grant our request. In Matthew 7:9, Jesus asks what earthly father would give a stone to his son who is asking for a loaf of bread. If we have a need, and we ask God to meet that need, He tells us He will.

So, dear Readers, let us pray. Let us pray fervently, knowing that God hears our prayers, and our prayers have an effect on the heart and mind of God.

I’m Robyn Renée Monroe . . .
Writer, Speaker, Prayer Provocateur . . .
Encouraging You to Pray. Everyday. One Prayer at a Time.