If prayer truly changes things...

[danlirette]

If prayer truly changes things (whcih it does, Praise God!) then is it not logical and reasonable to conclude that the future is not completely settled but only partially settled?

I'm not espousing the Open Theistic view of Gregory Boyd of Jesse Morrell by any means; however, they do make some valid points which can't be overlooked.

I do, however, believe that God knows all things and sees the end from the beginning; this is where I stray from Jesse Morrell and Greg Boyd's views.

For example, if all things are to happen in a certain manner, then why pray?

However, if the future can change through God's Divine intervention through diligent prayer, then we must conclude that the future is not completely settled but is in fact partly open.

[Eli Brayley]

Consider, perhaps, that the future doesn't exactly change simply because of prayer, but that God "causes us to will and to do according to His good pleasure" and directs our hearts to pray, so fulfilling His will.

I have found that 1 Chronicles chapter 29 explains the tension between freewill and sovereignty beyond all question. It appears to start and emphasize the freewill of man, but then it swoops down at the end (David's prayer in 10-19) to proclaim the sovereignty of God - that all things that were done were done by the grace and power of God alone. Amazing chapter. Check it out for yourself.

Beware of being fooled by logical footwork and not by Scripture. A good question, though, Dan.

[danlirette]

You know, you're absolutely right.

Things change when we pray because it's God who had us pray His Will.

Logic... can be a terrible blight!