Can Prayer Change God's Mind?

In this episode Dr. Betters answers the question, "Hello! I am very much enjoying and benefiting from your Ministry, Dr Betters. Thank you. I have a question that follows on from your statement that prayer is never a way of trying to persuade God to change his mind. Given that there are Biblical examples of God being persuaded to change his mind and act differently to what He had first intended, why shouldn't people today plead humbly for God to change the course of events through prayer? (Abraham bargained with God over Sodom & Gomorrah, Hezekiah asked for extra years to live, the persistent mother in Matthew 15)."

"Ask Doctor Betters" is video series where every Monday Dr. Charles F. Betters answers questions on suffering and the sovereignty of God in 5-8 minutes.

"Ask Doctor Betters" also available as an iTunes Podcast:

[caseygottschalk]

I like you videos. However this one makes it seem as if our prayers are pointless because he has his plan and that is that. Far to many of my prayers have been answered. Sometimes I can sit down and just talk to God for 30 minutes like he is my friend. He hears me, he understands me and I believe he can change his mind. Not on his eternal plan maybe, but wether someone lives a few more years he can. I am just one person with one opinion. But I need to believe my Father loves me, listens and does all he can to give me what I need to make it through this life.

[kmckenney]

Definitely not as distracting without the music.,
Thank you for taking the time to do these videos for us

[pigjubby]

Jonah 3:10:
"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not."
Our repentance does matter.

[Richesfam]

That's probably why his name is I AM THAT I AM....HE IS WHO HE IS
All he does is right. it's up to you to keep studying him

[iancampbell]

God is the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. God has a divine plan that is perfect and cannot change. What does that mean? Everything we know has already happened and nothing you do can change that. If you are saved, you are saved from the day you were born. No that's wrong. If you are saved, you are saved from the moment God conceived our entire existence. Free will cannot exist without the choice you make effecting the outcome. If the outcome is set, there is no choice.

[sumitramenta]

Praise the Lord Dr. Betters
Please teach me how to pray because I am not receiving any answer for my prayers, I asked God for my son's life but God didn't answer my prayer and my son went to God and even in my beloved husband I asked God for my beloved husband life but God didn't answer and he also is with God now, I suffered a lot of problems in my life but never felt so depressed and low, because I taught God is with me and he will take care of me, but after facing all these I am feeling like is God listening my prayers, dose God loves me, am I God's child, are my prayers going near God.

[mollieboldt]

HI DR.BETTERS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING US VIEWERS TO UNDERSTAND GOD, IN THE WAY IT TRULY IS.SOMETIMES CERTAIN USED WORDS ARE VERY CONFUSING, I'M NOT QUESTIONING GOD, I WANT TO KNOW HIM JUST AS HE IS, IN THE SPIRIT FORM.YOU DO HELP US SO THANK YOU.MAY FATHER GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS ALWAYS.I WILL KEEP WATCHING, AND LEARNING FROM YOU AND I THANK GOD FOR CALLING YOU ALWAYS . HALLELUJAH

[iancampbell]

Chuck makes a good argument as to prayer not mattering? God knows the end before it starts. If you pray, God knows you were going to pray so nothing changes. If you don't pray, God knows you were not going to pray so nothing changes.

[randolphwhitely]

I think often we put God in a box.
God sometimes chooses to respond to our prayers by altering outcomes, which to us seem significant but are often small compared to eternity.
Hezekiah lived 15 more years — big to him, but not to eternity. God sometimes chooses to heal people; big to them, but not to eternity.

[johnny]

It's unbelievable when you think about it...

[iancampbell]

So God has difficulty communicating with man? Why? So man cannot understand God? Why? Either way, it sounds like a God problem.

[elaineboyernjjjklklpoy]

Will you help me pray right so God will answer me maybe I'm not using the right wording never been very religious but always believed and tried to live a good life, im now very ill and desperate for the lords touch to heal me, even 8f you pray with me i will be so so grateful thank you Amen 🙏

[smeatonlighthouse]

When we pray 'in the Spirit' then our prayer will be according to the mind of God. It is us who have to change, not God. To pray 'in Jesus name' is to pray the prayer as if it was Jesus praying himself, and that was always according to the will of His Father in Heaven. Too often Christians pray in the 'flesh' and their prayers are answered in the negative.

[ianwatkins]

May i ask you something Dr. Betters, I'm 52 years old and only just got thinking about religion and wanting to learn more, what bible would you recommend for me ? I've heard that the king James bible is a very popular bible. Please could you give me a little information Dr. Betters😊 best wishes to you! Ian, UK

[ricklamb]

Its not a tough to answer, God did all these things, but just pretended to change His mind, when He did what He was planning to do all along, example, He still destroyed Sodom and Gomorah.He already knew there wasn't even one innocent person left there..That was Jesus anyway not God the Father.