exploring the possibilities. prayers that touch god’s heart and change his mind

Exploring the PossibilitiesExploring the Possibilities

Prayers that touch God’s heart Prayers that touch God’s heart and change His mindand change His mind

If God is in control, why pray?•Sovereignty / Love•Key: God is outside of time!

Suppose God is outside and above the Time-line. In that case, what we call ‘tomorrow’ is visible to Him in just the same way as what we call ‘today’. All the days are ‘Now’ for Him.(C.S. Lewis- Mere Christianity)

Does God change His mind?•Moses/Israelites (Exodus 32)•Jonah/Ninevah (Jonah 3)•“the LORD changed His mind…”

"I the LORD do not change.”(Malachi 3:6)“My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused.”(Hosea 11:8)

Why God changes His mind•Unchanging character / Changing mind

“If you ask why He ever answers prayer at all, the answer must be, ‘Because He is unchangeable.’”(Charles Finney)

The ‘thinky feely’ God•Mind / Heart•Task oriented / People oriented•Purposeful / Personal

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. (Matthew 6:9-11)

Partners in the divine•“We are God's co-workers” (1 Cor 3:9)•“As God's partners” (2 Cor 6:1)•Senior / junior partners

As partners in God’s work on earth, we insist that God’s will be done while at the same time committing ourselves to whatever that may require of us.(Philip Yancey- Prayer)

Prayers that touch God’s heart Prayers that touch God’s heart and change His mindand change His mind