Prayers and Free Will

[Nelka]

How does it work if you were to pray for someone, for example to stop being so horrible, if they choose to be horrible then it is their free will so surely your prayer could not change them.

Does it however work in a different way, by Grace?

Thanks.

 

[4love2God]

Nelka asks** : “How does it work if you were to pray for someone … to stop being so horrible, if they choose to be horrible then it is their free will, so surely your prayer could not change them.”**

Hmm.

A Wife prays to God often, for God to help prevent her Husband from beating her so often.
The Husband has Free Will (and Free fists).
But, I have heard (more than once) that this “Horrible” Husband has changed his actions.

Other people will pray for a change in someone’s attitude (as opposed to his actions).
And, over the years, there have been many people who have changed their attitude, after their Spouse (or other person) has Prayed extensively for it to happen.
The Power of Prayer is not limited by what the small minds of Human Beings think that it is.

Gee, Nelka, don’t you believe that God has the Power to change a person’s attitude, even though they also have Free Will?
You must think that God is pretty small.

Do you believe that God can Heal a person (or, that the Holy Spirit can heal a person)?
Or, do you believe that God cannot perform ANY Miracle at all?
A Deist is a person who believes that God has no power in the World (He just sits there in Heaven).

Well, if you choose to NOT believe in the Power of Prayer, that is your choice.
On the other hand, I am allowed to believe that a person’s Heart can change if God has changed it.

 

[SoulSolace]

How does it work if you were to pray for someone, for example to stop being so horrible, if they choose to be horrible then it is their free will so surely your prayer could not change them.

Does it however work in a different way, by Grace?

Thanks.

You are asking for the person to receive God’s Grace, and it is only through God’s Grace that a person can change. Free will, yes, but sometimes a person’s will can be ‘pulled’ in the right direction.

Also, sometimes I’ve found when praying for someone else to change, I change instead. Sometimes seeing how lost or suffering the person I’m praying for is, then the tone of my prayers change. Other times I see that I am the one who is taking things too personally, and want everything to be just ‘so’. (not saying that is the case with you, just referencing my own experiences)

Don’t know if this will help, but will pray for your intentions today.
God bless.

 

[dmar198]

How does it work if you were to pray for someone, for example to stop being so horrible, if they choose to be horrible then it is their free will so surely your prayer could not change them.

Does it however work in a different way, by Grace?

Thanks.

When you pray for someone to change their ways, you’re not praying for their free will to be taken away, you’re just asking God to give them more grace. It’s like a room that gets brighter: the sinner is stumbling along his way but it’s largely because he has his eyes closed. When God turns up the light, that doesn’t take away the man’s free will, he can still keep his eyes shut, but the increased light makes it easier for him to choose to open his eyes and walk straight.