Does Prayer Change God's Mind?

-When we pray, does it cause God to do things He otherwise would not have done?-

Not long after Dallas Seminary was founded in 1924, bankruptcy knocked at its doors. By noon on one particular day, every creditor threatened foreclosure. That morning, the founders of the Seminary met to pray in president Lewis Sperry Chafer's office. They asked God to provide the needed funds. Harry Ironside was part of that prayer meeting. When it was his turn to pray, he prayed in his characteristically pointed manner: "Lord, we know that the cattle on a thousand hills are thine. Please sell some of them and send us the money."

Meanwhile, as these men were praying, into the seminary's business office came a tall Texan. Addressing a secretary, he said, "I just sold two carloads of cattle in Fort Worth. I've been trying to make a business deal go through and it won't work, and I feel that God is compelling me to give this money to the seminary. I don't know if you need it or not, but here's the check."
Well aware of the seriousness of the seminary's financial situation, and knowing that it was for that purpose the founders were gathered in prayer, the secretary took the check to the door of the president's office and timidly knocked. When she finally got a response, Chafer took the check out of her hand and stared at it with amazement. The amount matched the exact size of the seminary's debt. Looking at the signature on the check, he recognized the name of the cattle rancher. Turning to Harry Ironside, he said, "Harry, God sold the cattle!"

What a story! It demonstrates the reality that God is active in our everyday world. But for some this story may raise questions. Was God planning to allow the seminary to go under, but changed His mind when so many godly men gathered to persuade Him otherwise? Would that Texan have come to the seminary with money even if these men weren't praying? Just what can we expect of prayer?

If you're a Christian, most likely you pray. But, like most of us, you may wonder what happens when we pray. Is it possible to change our circumstances or the circumstances of others by our prayers? What if God intends to do one thing and I would prefer that He do another? Will my prayers change His mind and His actions? What difference can my prayers make if God decides all things? Will He not ultimately do what He wants? And if He responds to our prayers, is His sovereignty limited?

Scripture teaches both that God is, indeed, the one and only sovereign being, and that the prayers of His people are effective. How can both statements be true? They are true because God has factored our prayers and His sovereign desires into one plan in ways the finite human mind cannot fully understand.

-Lance Hartman-