Can Prayer CHANGE things?

July 1, 2010
Leadership Clip to Evernote
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I want you to weigh in on a discussion that takes place on many occasions in the “theology camps.” I love and desire to partner with all those who love and follow Jesus. It just seems that so many are now becoming so divisive along doctrinal issues, it makes unity so difficult.

For me, the most basic question for me, as a leader…who has a desire and vision to see God do great things, I feel those things cannot be separated from the belief in powerful changing prayer. There was a leader that posted a comment a couple days ago that said, “prayer is useless.”

So this is the question…

When I pray...







About artie: I'm the lead Pastor at Cornerstone, a Multi-Ethnic church in the heart of Orangeburg, South Carolina. Also the founder of the Comb Network.com, a movement to plant Multi-Ethnic, culturally relevant churches in smaller cities. I direct a gathering of small city leader called "The Sticks."

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  • Lee Brown

    Prayer has NO power in and of itself, so prayer does not change things. But, the power belongs to the One you are praying to. God is the One who has power, not prayer so lets not rely on prayer but to God Almighty!

    • http://intensedebate.com/people/Joe_Sewell Joe Sewell

      To be fair, there may be a bit of "mind over matter," or, more precisely, conditioning your body to react using the subconscious mind.

      That would only apply to internal items, though, such as anxiety or even some physical ailments, and even that comes from God.

      Praying, for example, for God to clean up the Gulf gusher would require an external power, and THAT is God!

  • http://herbhalstead.me herbhalstead

    My belief is: Yes, there is absolutely, no question about it – He listens to our prayers and can and does respond.

    Read 1 Chronicles 7:11-22 (prayer changed God's mind)

    Read Exodus 32:1-14 (prayer changed God's mind)

    Read Numbers 16:41-48 (ritual changed God's mind… uh-oh)

  • http://www.personalfinancenotebook.com Patrenia

    Yes, prayer really does change things. Either the situation will change OR your outlook about the situation will change. That’s been my experience.

  • Stacy Caudill

    Prayer is our communication with the Father. Prayer allows us to unload our burdens, to seek council and to praise and worship. I have found and been given a lot of answers in praying. It is important to remember that everything is in God's timing and just because we do not see the results does not mean that He is not cooking our order!. For someone to say "prayer is useless" clearly means to me they don't get it!

  • Daniel

    Picked that it can definitely change things! In Genesis 18 we see that when Abraham begs for Sodom to be spared, God relents and agrees to Abraham's deal (If I can find X righteous people…). Also, James 5 states "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." :)

  • Lee Brown

    I agree with all the post for this topic. I am just afraid that to many people think if they bow the head and close the eyes, then the act itself will create change. Romans 8:26 states we do not even know what to pray and the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf. Our righteousness comes straight from Jesus Christ, so He would get credit for that not us. Our righteousness are like filthy rags. I never said that God does not listen…all I know in the references above, God is the One who made things happen, not the prayer itself. We do need to pray and we need to humble ourselves before God Creator but we need to be reliant on Him, not just an act of saying words. He deserves all the glory and honor for everything, and we do not need to elevate an act of man and think it would truly alter the God of the universe and His will, because he is perfect in all He does.

    • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/artiedavis61 artiedavis61

      I feel your angst Lee I understand, but real PRAYER in the biblical sense, the communication sought after by the disciples, they passion cry of the heart that Jesus exemplified is not a man generated thing, it is Spirit led, and Spirit empowered. That can of prayer DOES ALTER the heart of God! many biblical examples of this. I look at this like the requests of my own children. If they asked me for something, that previously I had not planned on giving them, but because of my love for them, I will grant their request as long as it is not harmful to them. I think any other view of God puts in a place that is "untouchable" by us. I don't see that in the character of God.

      • Lee Brown

        Artie, I do agree with you and obviously I have opened a theological can of worms. My ultimate goal with my statements was for us to realize that God is THE source of all changes in an ultimate sense. I deal, and I am sure you do to, with many people who think that if they pray or the pastor prays for them, the desired result will occur, with no true acknowledgement of God. The act of praying is not a source of power, but the one who prays with a heart seeking after God and His will, sure God hears and can change things. The only way we could pray a prayer like that is because of God's Spirit living in us and it being Spirit led. My prayers may change His mind, but ultimately He is the one who actually changes the cirmcustance, and it is always consistent with His nature. I am learning alot with this discussion and I am listening to what you and others are saying because I want to continue to learn and one way i can do that is through God's children. This is awesome discussion, and we should be able to do this and glean from each other and sharpen one another. We are often way to lazy to think!

        • http://intensedebate.com/profiles/artiedavis61 artiedavis61

          Hey bro. It's always good to be on the learning side! I really appreciate your humility & heart. God bless!