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this topic came out in this thread too, here's a related question:
Can we pray for shortening the days of the Second Coming?
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Do we think that prayers have only a "spiritual" effect on us and our convictions, OR are they sometimes also practically fulfilled by the Father?
Someone's idea is that since the Father have decided everything from the beginning of the time, our prayers have no effect on the events that will happen.
I don't think that this position is very Scriptural since seems like God always wanted us to cooperate to His Salvation Plan, but I'm curious to hear both sides on this opinion.
In defense to the idea that our prayer may have influence even though God has set things by knowing the future, I propose this simple reasoning.
Imagine 2 possible timelines of the future, one in which a person (let's call her Martha) prays, and another in which she doesn't pray. And let's imagine that the prayer is about getting the courage to testify the Lord in a hostile country.
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TIMELINE 1
Event A: Martha prays for courage
Event B: The Lord, by knowing Martha's prayer and by considering the prayer according to His will, gives her the courage
Event C: Martha goes in a hostile country to testify the Lord
TIMELINE 2
Event A-2: Martha doesn't pray for courage
Event B-2: The Lord doesn't force the gift of courage upon Martha, by respecting her free will
Event C-2: Martha stays at home
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Now, the Lord knows the future. He knows from the very beginning if Martha will choose event A or event A-2 (and let's say that she decides A), so he knows that He will send her courage. But this doesn't mean that Martha's prayer wasn't important, indeed it was fundamental!
Thus, even though God knows the future, our prayers may have a practical effect.
What do you think about it?
Can we pray for shortening the days of the Second Coming?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do we think that prayers have only a "spiritual" effect on us and our convictions, OR are they sometimes also practically fulfilled by the Father?
Someone's idea is that since the Father have decided everything from the beginning of the time, our prayers have no effect on the events that will happen.
I don't think that this position is very Scriptural since seems like God always wanted us to cooperate to His Salvation Plan, but I'm curious to hear both sides on this opinion.
In defense to the idea that our prayer may have influence even though God has set things by knowing the future, I propose this simple reasoning.
Imagine 2 possible timelines of the future, one in which a person (let's call her Martha) prays, and another in which she doesn't pray. And let's imagine that the prayer is about getting the courage to testify the Lord in a hostile country.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
TIMELINE 1
Event A: Martha prays for courage
Event B: The Lord, by knowing Martha's prayer and by considering the prayer according to His will, gives her the courage
Event C: Martha goes in a hostile country to testify the Lord
TIMELINE 2
Event A-2: Martha doesn't pray for courage
Event B-2: The Lord doesn't force the gift of courage upon Martha, by respecting her free will
Event C-2: Martha stays at home
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, the Lord knows the future. He knows from the very beginning if Martha will choose event A or event A-2 (and let's say that she decides A), so he knows that He will send her courage. But this doesn't mean that Martha's prayer wasn't important, indeed it was fundamental!
Thus, even though God knows the future, our prayers may have a practical effect.
What do you think about it?
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