Can prayer change God’s mind? Or does prayer affect only us who pray?

So the Lord changed his mind and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. – Exodus 32:14 GNT

God “changed His mind” or as the KJV says, “repented” and the NIV, “relented.” Anyway the word is translated does not change the fact that prayer has a powerful effect in our lives.

What does it mean to put my own life on the line like Moses did for his people? To think so much about the value of sinners that I would consider my life to be one with them? It has to be true intercession.

This passage screams on how effective prayer is. I am more encouraged today to pray and to intercede – God hears and responds. Prayer makes a difference in how He interacts with me.

There are some who would argue that Moses changed nothing – it was God’s ultimate plan all along. I am not so sure. I believe God gives us opportunity to participate in the administration of creation. Especially when David writes about this incident and shares a very similar point of view.

They forgot the God who had saved them
    by his mighty acts in Egypt.
What wonderful things he did there!
    What amazing things at the Red Sea!
When God said that he would destroy his people,
    his chosen servant, Moses, stood up against God
    and kept his anger from destroying them. – Psalm 106:21-23 GNT

Moses stood up to God – the prayers of Moses kept God from destroying the children of Israel – prayer does make a difference.

Moses knew God and knew His promises. This verse is a great promise that helps me in my prayer life.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die.” – John 11:25 GNT

As a follower of Jesus I have learned that when I pray God listens and answers my prayers. I know He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His Word is truth and through Him I have been set free. God loves me with an everlasting love and nothing can change that. I have learned that in Jesus is life.

Those who listen to me will be happy—
    those who stay at my door every day,
    waiting at the entrance to my home – Proverbs 8:34 GNT

How often do I find myself acting on my feelings. Sometimes I decide and then pray or pray and then decide (which sometimes works out just as badly). I know God wants me to pray and wait for an answer.

I would have liked to hear Paul pray – I am encouraged because many have been written.

 I have not stopped giving thanks to God for you. I remember you in my prayers and ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you the Spirit, who will make you wise and reveal God to you, so that you will know him. I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. – Ephesians 1:16-20 GNT

I cannot go to far wrong when I am praying along with the Word of God. So I pray for a surer walk with the Holy Spirit so that I might know Him, and that I might see His light and know the hope that lies before me with His blessings and promises that sustain me along with His power working in me.

“I am the Lord your God, etc. You shall have no other gods before me,” etc. Here I earnestly consider that God expects and teaches me to trust him sincerely in all things and that it is his most earnest purpose to be my God. I must think of him in this way at the risk of losing eternal salvation. My heart must not build upon anything else or trust in any other thing, be it wealth, prestige, wisdom, might, piety, or anything else. Second, I give thanks for his infinite compassion by which he has come to me in such a fatherly way and, unasked, unbidden, and unmerited, has offered to be my God, to care for me, and to be my comfort, guardian, help, and strength in every time of need. We poor mortals have sought so many gods and would have to seek them still if he did not enable us to hear him openly tell us in our own language that he intends to be our God. How could we ever-in all eternity-thank him enough! Third, I confess and acknowledge my great sin and ingratitude for having so shamefully despised such sublime teachings and such a precious gift throughout my whole life, and for having fearfully provoked his wrath by countless acts of idolatry. I repent of these and ask for his grace. Fourth, I
pray and say: “O my God and Lord, help me by thy grace to learn and understand thy commandments more fully every day and to live by them in sincere confidence. Preserve my heart so that I shall never again become forgetful and ungrateful, that I may never seek after other gods or other consolation on earth or in any creature, but cling truly and solely to thee, my only God. Amen, dear Lord God and Father. Amen.” – Luther (providing an example of how he meditates on the Ten Commandments and in this case, the first one)