I am wonderfully in awe of how God allows us to be in relationship with Him and to talk with Him. I love these two parables found in Luke:
Luke 11:5-13
[5] Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this illustration: “Suppose you went to a friend's house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would say to him, [6] ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ [7] He would call out from his bedroom, ‘Don't bother me. The door is locked for the night, and we are all in bed. I can't help you this time.’ [8] But I tell you this—though he won't do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you what you want so his reputation won't be damaged.
[9] “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. [10] For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.
[11] “You fathers—if your children ask* for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? [12] Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! [13] If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”
Luke 18:1-8
[18:1] One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up. [2] “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who was a godless man with great contempt for everyone. [3] A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, appealing for justice against someone who had harmed her. [4] The judge ignored her for a while, but eventually she wore him out. ‘I fear neither God nor man,’ he said to himself, [5] ‘but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”
[6] Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this evil judge. [7] Even he rendered a just decision in the end, so don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who plead with him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? [8] I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when I, the Son of Man, return, how many will I find who have faith?”
I believe, at times, God will allow us to persuade Him to answer our prayers as we desire, other times, I believe He will answer, but in “no”. When and where these occur are entirely up to our Sovereign Lord.
Again, I am fascinated that the Bible reveals there are times when God has changed his mind, as influenced by man:
We see in the stories of Noah and the flood; Israel’s turning away (often) from God while traversing the desert; Jonah and Nineveh; the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and elsewhere that God did change His mind (Okay the cities of S&G were still destroyed but some people were rescued because God listened to Abraham).
These are some scriptures that demonstrate where God did change His mind:
Genesis 6:5-7
[5]Now the LORD observed the extent of the people's wickedness, and he saw that all their thoughts were consistently and totally evil. [6]So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them. It broke his heart. [7]And the LORD said, "I will completely wipe out this human race that I have created. Yes, and I will destroy all the animals and birds, too. I am sorry I ever made them." [8]But Noah found favor with the LORD. (NIV)
Exodus 32:9-14
[9] "I have seen these people," the LORD said to Moses, "and they are a stiff-necked people. [10] Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation."
[11] But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. "O LORD ," he said, "why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? [12] Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. [13] Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.' " [14] Then the LORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
Numbers 25:10,11
[10]Then the LORD said to Moses, [11]"Phinehas son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron the priest has turned my anger away from the Israelites by displaying passionate zeal among them on my behalf. So I have stopped destroying all Israel as I had intended to do in my anger. (NIV)
Ezekiel 4:12-15
[12]Each day prepare your bread as you would barley cakes. While all the people are watching, bake it over a fire using dried human dung as fuel and then eat the bread. [13]For this is what the LORD says: Israel will eat defiled bread in the Gentile lands, where I will banish them!"
[14]Then I said, "O Sovereign LORD, must I be defiled by using human dung? For I have never been defiled before. From the time I was a child until now I have never eaten any animal that died of sickness or that I found dead. And I have never eaten any of the animals that our laws forbid."
[15]"All right," the LORD said. "You may bake your bread with cow dung instead of human dung." (NIV)
Ezekiel 20:19-22
[19]`I am the LORD your God,' I told them. `Follow my laws, pay attention to my instructions, [20]and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the LORD your God.'
[21]"But their children, too, rebelled against me. They refused to keep my laws and follow my instructions, even though obeying them would have given them life. And they also violated my Sabbath days. So again I threatened to pour out my fury on them in the wilderness. [22]Nevertheless, I withdrew my judgment against them to protect the honor of my name among the nations who had seen my power in bringing them out of Egypt. (NIV)
1Thessalonians 5:9
[9]For God decided to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. (NIV)
Now, we also see in Scripture where God does not change His mind:
Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that he should lie.
He is not a human, that he should change his mind.
Has he ever spoken and failed to act?
Has he ever promised and not carried it through? (NIV)
Ephesians 1:11
Furthermore, because of Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago. (NIV)
Hebrews 6:17,18
[17]God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. [18]So God has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence. (NIV)
Hebrews 7:20-22
[20]God took an oath that Christ would always be a priest, but he never did this for any other priest. [21]Only to Jesus did he say,
"The Lord has taken an oath
and will not break his vow:
`You are a priest forever.' "
[22]Because of God's oath, it is Jesus who guarantees the effectiveness of this better covenant. (NIV)
So, what does this all mean? God cannot and will not change His nature, His oaths, or His promises. He will not change what is absolute truth.
Now, understand that God does hear our prayers. When prayers are within the scope of all that has been described He will respond. For, it is because of His very nature God is loving, gracious, merciful, compassionate, unfailing, and forgiving.
He hears the prayers of a righteous person; of a repentant heart; and of those He loves and has compassion for:
2 Kings 13:4
Then Jehoahaz sought the LORD's favor, and the LORD listened to him, for he saw how severely the king of Aram was oppressing Israel. (NIV)
2 Kings 19:20
Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: "This is what the LORD , the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. (NIV)
2 Kings 20:5 (Isaiah 38:5)
"Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. (NIV)
Psalm 6:9
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;
the LORD accepts my prayer. (NIV)
Psalm 116:1
I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy. (NIV)
Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked
but he hears the prayer of the righteous. (NIV)
Ezekiel 36:37
"This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep,… (NIV)
Daniel 10:12
Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. (NIV)
Zechariah 1:8-16
[8]In a vision during the night, I saw a man sitting on a red horse that was standing among some myrtle trees in a small valley. Behind him were red, brown, and white horses, each with its own rider. [9]I asked the angel who was talking with me, "My lord, what are all those horses for?"
"I will show you," the angel replied.
[10]So the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, "They are the ones the LORD has sent out to patrol the earth."
[11]Then the other riders reported to the angel of the LORD, who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have patrolled the earth, and the whole earth is at peace."
[12]Upon hearing this, the angel of the LORD prayed this prayer: "O LORD Almighty, for seventy years now you have been angry with Jerusalem and the towns of Judah. How long will it be until you again show mercy to them?" [13]And the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.
[14]Then the angel said to me, "Shout this message for all to hear: `This is what the LORD Almighty says: My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong. [15]But I am very angry with the other nations that enjoy peace and security. I was only a little angry with my people, but the nations punished them far beyond my intentions.
[16]" `Therefore, this is what the LORD says: I have returned to show mercy to Jerusalem. My Temple will be rebuilt, says the LORD Almighty, and plans will be made for the reconstruction of Jerusalem.' (NLT)
Luke 1:13
But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. (NIV)
Acts 10:30,31
[30]Cornelius answered: "Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me [31]and said, 'Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor.
Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
God has emotions and He enjoys showing us His love for us, by answering our prayers, responding to our needs and requests (the answer maybe yes, no, or grow {not right now}). He also will not break His promises; His word is SOLID...SOLID ROCK!
Cool stuff, because in such a perfect relationship, with our Papa God, we are ushered into relationship and conversation with Our Father in Heaven and EVERYTHING that comes from Him is GOOD and PERFECT, even His “yes”, “no”, and “grow” (not right now) answers are prefect for us.
When God our Father considers our requests, sometimes He likes to partner with us over the things we want to do, what we like, and what we want to ask Him for….all bound up in His perfect love. So, consider that some of the desires of your own heart, when you take them to Him, became the desire of His heart to answer.
What a GREAT and GLORIOUS relationship we are invited into with our Papa in Heaven!
GOD so ROCKS!
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