Do Our Prayers Change Anything?

Photo: LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford

From The Lutheran Witness, by Jason D. Lane

God is omniscient; He knows all things before they happen and He knows everything we need before we ask. God is omnipotent; He has control over all things and nothing happens that He does not move forward by the power of His might. Even Satan, whom Christ calls “the ruler of this world” (John 14:30), is still God’s devil (see Job 1). What can little Christians like us do before the Almighty? What can we ask of Him that He was not already planning to give?

Even our catechism teaches us that God’s name is holy by itself without our prayer. God’s kingdom comes even without our prayers. His will, too, is done without our prayers. Scripture even says that God is not like us, who regret what we do and constantly change our minds. “I am not like a man,” He says, “that I should have regret” (see 1 Sam. 15:29). All this may lead us to believe that whatever God wills He does, and we cannot change it. Everything, it seems, is already determined for good or for ill. God is immutable, unchanging. So why pray, if prayer can’t change anything?

First, it can. The nineteenth-century Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, thought that prayer could effect change. But he didn’t think it could change God. He wrote a now wildly popular sentiment: “The prayer does not change God, but it changes the one who offers it.”[1] That is a nice thought, and surely our prayers to God can change our hearts and our desires. But they can do much more than that.

 Scripture clearly teaches that God commands us to pray and promises to hear us for the sake of Jesus Christ not merely to change us, but to cause God to act. God changes His mind and heart in a way that does not undermine His eternal and immutable nature. God responds to human sinning in time. He answers prayers in time. In the wicked days of Noah, God “regretted that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him to His heart” (Gen. 6:6). In 1 Samuel 15, mentioned above, God regretted making Saul king over Israel. Numerous accounts in Scripture demonstrate that God also answers the prayers of His people. God planned to do one thing, and then, because of the prayers of mortal creatures, He did something else according to those prayers.

Think of Abraham interceding for Lot and his family in Sodom (Gen. 18:22–33). Think of Nineveh, lying in sackcloth and ashes and saying, “Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish” (Jonah 3:9). Think also of Jonah’s outrageous response: “That is why I made hast to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster” (Jonah 3:2). In other words, Jonah knew that God changes His mind, because He is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Sometimes, God does something that He may not have done if no human being had asked Him. Elisha, for example, asked God to open his servant’s eyes to see the angelic hosts surrounding the city of Dothan, and he asked God to blind the Syrians. God did it. He opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant and blinded the eyes of the enemy, “in accordance with the prayer of Elisha” (2 Kings 6:15–18).   

Christians need to maintain God’s immutability, because Scripture teaches that God is not fickle about His will toward us: “Every good and perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of lights, in whom there is no variation or change” (James 1:17). Though we are fickle and feckless, God is constant and clear in His purpose. In preaching on the contrast between God and us from this passage in James, Martin Luther says:

False doctrine doesn’t stand still; it doesn’t stay in one place. Today one way of thinking is right, tomorrow it’s something else. That’s why, since the time of the apostles, new doctrines keep appearing and attack the foundation of our doctrine. They strike quickly. Our Lord God is not like that at all: whatever He does, He stands by it. If I were God, I’d get so tired of this world and want to change it, so that the sun wouldn’t always run the same course. But God’s work never changes. He stands by marriage, even though He’s seen so many broken marriages. No one is able to be that consistent—neither man nor devil (WA 45, 79. From a Sermon preached on James 1:16–21 on 29 April 1537).

God’s constancy and immutability is a teaching of great comfort to inconsistent and uncertain creatures like us, who must live in a changing world and with our own changing hearts. 

On the other hand, we must not think of God as a magic lamp that can be manipulated or tricked into giving us what we want. Instead, “God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we would ask as dear children ask their dear Father” (SC, Introduction). We should believe it because He says so. We are His children, and He made it so in Holy Baptism.

Therefore, Christ says, “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10). Whatever prevents us from prayer to our Heavenly Father is of the devil, who wants us to expect less from God, take Him for a harsh master, or, if we must pray at all, treat Him as if He were nothing more than a lucky charm. 

Prayer is an act of obedience to God’s command, but it is also an act of faith, to believe that God will hear us for the sake of Christ. Prayer is simply the language of faith that the children of God speak to their Heavenly Father. St. Paul therefore writes, “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:16–18), not because we are always moving our lips in formal prayer, but because faith looks to God in all things. If God has not withheld His only Son from us, “how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things” (Rom. 8:32)?

All that is to say that we are invited to believe and therefore to pray to our Father to give us all things for Jesus’ sake, “let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven” (Isaiah 7:11). We are taught to pray for His name to hallowed among us, His kingdom to come among us, and His will to be done among us. But we are also taught to pray for the temporal blessings of daily bread. So pray for the eternal things. Pray for the temporal things. Ask, seek, knock. He wants to give it all to us by grace. 

[1] Soren Kierkegaard, Purity of Heart Is To Will One Thing (New York: Harper, 1956), 51.

VISIT THE LUTHERAN WITNESS FOR MORE ARTICLES

LUTHERANS engage - Summer Issue

“It’s so amazing to see how God just made everything fall into place.” 

David Anderson said these words about Light of the World Lutheran Church, a church plant in DeSoto, Kan. But they could also be used to describe the other projects in this issue of Lutherans Engage the World, from the dedication of a new Lutheran center in Romania, to the opportunity three pastors have had to serve their communities in unique ways, to the staggering array of mercy projects that your gifts and prayers have supported over the past few years. 

Thank you for reading and for walking with us in Christ’s church.

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VIDEO: Sunday August 18, 2024 - Complete Service

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AUDIO: Announcements, Readings & Sermon for Sunday August 18, 2024

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Old Testament Reading -- Proverbs 9:1–10 
Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks sense she says, 
“Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 

Epistle Reading -- Ephesians 5:6–21 
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.” 

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. 

The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the sixth chapter
[Jesus said:] “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. 

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” 

After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” 

2024 Power of the Purse, a fundraiser to benefit Youth Bereavement Care

Click image to link to event website

September 20, 2024 | 6:00 pm
Good Samaritan Hospice, a mission of Concordia Lutheran Ministries, will hold a Power of the Purse event on Friday, Sept. 20 at The Mansion, located at 141 Mansion Ln., Butler, PA 16002. All proceeds benefit Good Samaritan Hospice Youth Bereavement Care, which provides free support for youth who have been affected by the death of a loved one.

This purse bash event will begin at 6 p.m. and will feature many ways to win: each admission ticket includes a chance to win one of 10 designer handbags, and there will be additional drawings for baskets, wallets, high-value spotlight designer bags, a “win it all” wine table and more. Light appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided, and outside snacks and alcoholic drinks will be permitted.

In-person tickets are ON SALE NOW! Non-attending tickets are also AVAILABLE! Click here to order yours!

Registration ends Friday, 08/30/2024 11:59pm EDT

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, CLICK HERE.

Evangelism/Outreach Committee at Zion

Evangelism/Outreach Committee at Zion 
Join our team to share the Good News of our Savior with those in our community! 

WHO can Outreach??? 
Everyone in some form or another can Outreach and does without even knowing. We are all believers in His Love and if we share that Love we’re doing Outreach. 

WHAT is Outreach??? 
Building relationships with others who are not a member of a Church with the goal of sharing who Jesus is and what He has done for us. 

WHEN do I Outreach??? 
At all times, in all that we do, shine brightly Jesus Love for you and others will see His Love in you. Share the Good News in conversation, talk of His Forgiveness, Love, and Grace. 

WHERE do I Outreach??? 
Everywhere and anywhere at home with a neighbor, with a co-worker, a schoolmate or a teammate, in a parking lot or a sporting event, even in waiting rooms. God has promised to give you the words you need, when you need them. 

HOW do I Outreach??? 
As an individual in our vocations in life, AND as a congregation that develops specific programs and events designed to share the Good News of the Savior's love and forgiveness. After all, as a congregation, our mission is to "Equip, Educate, & Encourage believers in Christ, sending them into the World to share the Gospel." 

If you are interested in being a part of this new committee, please email Mike and Michele Wallace at mikeandmichelewallace@gmail.com by August 30th.
Our plan is to organize a kick-off meeting in September! 

Bulletin: Sunday August 18, 2024

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THIS WEEK AT ZION

Saturday August 17
No Event’s Scheduled

Sunday August 18
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Summer Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
6:30 p.m. - Youth Group Campfire Cookout (ADDITIONAL DETAILS)
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Monday August 19
No Event’s Scheduled

Tuesday August 20
No Event’s Scheduled

Wednesday August 21
2:00 p.m. - Mid-Week Worship Service with Communion
2:30 p.m. - 30 min. Bible Study - The Book of “Hebrews”
(Each Bible study session starts with a review of the previous Bible Study)
(The 2:00 p.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)

Thursday August 22
No Event’s Scheduled

Friday August 23
No Event’s Scheduled

Saturday August 24
No Event’s Scheduled

Sunday August 25
8:00 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
9:15 a.m. — Adult/Teen Bible Study & Summer Sunday School
10:30 a.m. — Worship Service with Communion
6:30 p.m. - Youth Group Campfire Cookout (ADDITIONAL DETAILS)
(The 8:00 a.m. service streamed on our YouTube channel)