Why Prayer Changes Things Even When It Doesn’t Feel Like It

You know, sometimes we pray and it feels meaningless. I mean, since God is sovereign, do our prayers really matter? I know I’ve wondered that. Perhaps you have too. Graciously, the Bible offers the answer.

Overall, prayer does have the power to affect change in individual lives and circumstances. However, prayer does not change God’s mind, as God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That said, prayer is vital and is used by God to fulfill His will and transform personal lives. The Bible makes this clear.

Let’s explore a little further and discover what exactly prayer changes. How powerful is prayer after all?

The Power of Prayer

The power of prayer resides solely in the one to whom the prayer is offered. In other words, the power of prayer is the power of God. God is all powerful (Ps. 115:3; Is. 55:11; Jer. 32:17). Therefore, prayer is inherently powerful.

The Bible is full of stories where prayer has led to miraculous, life changing moments:

1. Moses’ Intercession for the Israelites (Exodus 32:11-14):
   • When the Israelites worshiped the golden calf, God’s anger burned against them. Moses interceded fervently for the people, asking God to relent from His anger. As a result of Moses’ earnest prayer, God relented and did not bring disaster upon the people.
2. Hannah’s Prayer for a Child (1 Samuel 1:10-20):
   • Hannah, who was barren, prayed fervently for a child at the tabernacle. Her prayer was so earnest that Eli the priest initially thought she was drunk. God heard her plea, and she eventually gave birth to Samuel, whom she dedicated to the Lord.
3. Elijah Praying for Rain (1 Kings 18:41-45):
   • During a severe drought, Elijah fervently prayed for rain. He sent his servant to check for any signs of rain seven times. On the seventh time, a small cloud appeared, and soon there was a heavy rain, demonstrating the power of persistent and fervent prayer.
4. Hezekiah’s Prayer for Healing (2 Kings 20:1-11):
   • King Hezekiah became seriously ill and was told by the prophet Isaiah that he would die. Hezekiah turned to the wall and prayed fervently for healing. In response to his prayer, God extended his life by 15 years.
5. Daniel’s Prayer for Understanding (Daniel 9:1-27):
   • Daniel, understanding the prophecy of Jeremiah regarding the Babylonian exile, prayed fervently for the restoration of Jerusalem. In response to his prayer, the angel Gabriel appeared, providing insights and understanding about the future.
6. The Prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:9-10):
   • Jabez prayed a short but fervent prayer, asking God to bless him, enlarge his territory, and keep him from harm. God granted his request, demonstrating the power of a sincere and specific prayer.
7. The Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8):
   • Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow who kept coming to a judge seeking justice. Though the judge initially ignored her, her persistence eventually led him to grant her request. Jesus used this parable to illustrate the importance of persistent and fervent prayer.
8. Peter’s Release from Prison (Acts 12:1-17):
   • When Peter was imprisoned by King Herod, the church earnestly prayed for his release. An angel miraculously appeared, leading Peter out of prison, showcasing the power of collective and fervent prayer.
9. Paul and Silas’ Prayer in Prison (Acts 16:22-26):
   • Paul and Silas, imprisoned for their faith, prayed and sang hymns to God. Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, the prison doors opened, and everyone’s chains were loosed. Their fervent prayer resulted in a miraculous intervention.

These stories illustrate very clearly that there is power in prayer. That power comes from God, the one who answers our prayers. Which leads us to another question that we so often ask. Does prayer change God’s will?

Does Prayer Change God’s Will?

The short answer is: No, prayer does not change God’s mind. The Bible makes clear that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God does not change, period (Malachi 3:6). Therefore, God cannot change His mind. It is impossible.

Let’s think about why we change our minds. Often, I change my mind because my opinions have changed, I’ve learned more information, or I’m improving on a previous stance. But God is all-knowing; He already has all the information. He is perfect, and thus, unable to change His mind.

But what about that verse we mentioned earlier? The one that where Moses interceded for the Israelites and God relented. Intercession is a type of prayer where you pray specifically for others and their needs.

If you want to know more about intercession, then check out this article. It covers not only key elements of intercession, but also, five other types of prayer.

Didn’t God change His mind then? Let’s take a closer look at it. The specific verse reads,

“And the LORD relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people.”

Exodus 32:14, ESV

The Hebrew word “relented” is nacham. Which can be translated as relent, but can also mean to “be grieved.”¹ So, this verse can be understood as God grieving because of what it was going to have to take to bring the people back into a right relationship with Him.

So, prayer does not change God’s will? After all, His will is already perfect and good. But if prayer doesn’t change God’s mind, then why should we pray?

Prayer Changes Your Life Even if You Don’t See It

While prayer is a powerful thing, it does not alter God’s ultimate will. Instead, prayer aligns individuals with His plans, allowing them to partake in His purpose.

The unchanging nature of God emphasizes the importance of submitting to His divine wisdom and trusting that prayers are heard and answered according to His perfect plan. Prayer changes our perspective, and as a result, our lives.

Prayer Changes Your Perspective

Prayer gives us the means to realign our perspectives with God’s perspective. We are able to see the bigger picture, the eternal picture of our challenges and circumstances and how they impact our eternity.

This changed perspective reminds us of eternal truths that never change. It reminds us of God’s character and God’s nature. If you want a reminder about God’s character, then check out this article. It is a quick Biblical look at who God is and what He is like.

It reminds me of the story in the Bible of Peter walking on the water. When his focus was on Jesus, he didn’t notice the waves and the storm. But when he took his eyes off of Jesus, he began to sink.

That is exactly what prayer does. It keeps our eyes on Jesus and not our circumstances. This gives us a spiritual vantage point to help us navigate the challenges we face in life with faith and hope.

Bible Verses About the Power of Prayer to Change Things

All throughout the Bible, Scripture is clear on the power and necessity of prayer in our spiritual life. Here are some verses that illustrate that fact,

• Matthew 7:7 (NIV):“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
• James 5:16 (NIV):“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
• Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV):“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
• 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV):“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.”
• Mark 11:24 (NIV):“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
• Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV):“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”
• 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV):“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
• Matthew 18:19 (NIV):“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
• Ephesians 6:18 (NIV):“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV):“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

God wants us to pray. He hears our prayers. And He wants to use our prayers for His glory and our good. So, prayer does change things. It changes our perspective on the circumstances around us and it brings us closer to living Biblically. Now, let’s pray without ceasing.

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1. Mounce, William D, Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Grand Rapids, Mich., Zondervan, 2009. ↩︎