A4P Guest: “I am – – a little concerned, (about what you said) that God will never change His mind when we seek His mercy by fasting and praying. I know this is one of the very controversial topics in Biblical discourse. But, I believe God will listen to our prayers and stop the wrath He would have otherwise brought. That’s what He did to the people of Israel. That’s what He did to the Nineveh people. So fasting and praying do matter. Your point sounded like praying and fasting have got nothing to do with God’s mercy.”

A4P: First, thank you for your – “Your point sounded like” phrase. That means you doubted that I meant to say God doesn’t answer our prayers or doesn’t give us mercy when we ask. Well, I’ll try to clarify my point today if I may.

Second, I’m not sure if this topic of changing God’s mind by fasting and praying is referred as “one of the very controversial topics in Biblical discourse.”

Third, the one question I think we need to wrestle with to understand “God never changes His mind” is: What is God’s mind referring to?

We have to ask this question because, I believe, that is where the answer lies!

God’s mind is the Amen! If we were to find God’s mind and open it, the only thing we find would be only one thing and that is the Word, the Amen!

So, that in mind, let’s go deeper. God is not a respecter of any man! God is not after making us rich, healthy and famous! Don’t ever let anyone take this truth away from you!

Instead God is in the business of glorifying His own Son, Jesus Christ; whose name is the Amen and The Word of God! (2 Corinthians 1:20; Revelation 19:13) .

That is God’s mind! God’s mind is after His own pleasure; after His own glory! His mind is after making His own Name famous! Oh, I pray in the Name of Jesus that this won’t be a mysterious truth to anyone who is reading this!

Read the Book of Romans pairing it to Exodus and Deuteronomy; the book Colossians, Revelation and more!

God’s mind is always fixed on respecting and honoring His own Name and Word!

So, if our fasting and praying is on nothing other than the Word and the Truth of God which always bring glory and praise to His Name, we are in a way seeking or asking God to change His mind.

Let me give you one quick example: If you fast and pray so that God approves your relationship you have with an unbelieving girl, you are asking God to change His mind on 2 Corinthians 6:14 where it says, “Don’t be yoked together with unbelievers.”

If we are yoked with believers, our devotion to bring God glory and praise will increase! Otherwise it will go down the drain. (Deuteronomy 7:3-6) So, God doesn’t change His mind here because a believer can’t bring God’s glory by marrying an unbeliever.

And don’t miss this please: Since we are created in Christ Jesus to declare His praises (1 Peter 2:9), we can be happy and fulfilled ONLY when we bring praise and glory to His Name by aligning our life with His Word and Will.

Sure, the Bible says, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14) – (Don’t miss here our part and God’s part. God never does our part; only His part!)

Humbling ourselves, praying and seeking God’s face, turning from our wicked ways are our parts to do first. Then after we do our part, if we pray and fast for God to do His part of forgiving our sins and healing our land (or life), wow, we will see that He is swift, faster than the speed of light to be found faithful in doing His part!

That is what I mean when I say “God never changes His mind!” I hope and pray you will never fast and pray for God to change His mind! Otherwise your fasting and praying will be counted as sin (Psalm 109:7) ///