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Can Our Prayers Cause God to Change His Mind?

Scripture teaches that God sometimes adjusts his plans in response to our actions or requests. The Bible contains several examples of this: the Hebrews on the outskirts of Canaan (Nu 14:11-23); Hezekiah’s repentance on behalf of Israel (Am 7:1-7) and the sparing of Nineveh (Jnh 3:1-10).

Experiencing God’s will is dynamic. As with any interpersonal relationship, God’s relationship with humanity involves complex twists and turns. God modifies his responses based on ours, and we adjust our responses to God’s. So, in a sense, it can be said that God sometimes changes his mind in response to our prayers.

At the same time, God’s will is determined. There are decrees and promises he has made that do not change. He kept his covenant with the forefathers of the Israelites (Dt 7:7-8), and he keeps his new covenant with those who believe in Jesus (Jn 6:37-40,44). God wants us to live out his will obediently. He has predetermined ways he expects us to respond, but he has made us capable of resisting him (Ps 143:10; 1Th 5:16-18; Heb 10:35-39; 2Pe 3:9).

These aspects of God’s will work together. While it is not possible for us to fully understand how they work together, we know that God is ultimately in control.