Does Prayer Move the Hand of God?

I leaned into the group as the conversation turned towards prayer. There was a pause, and someone quietly asked, “if God is sovereign, why pray?” 

We know from the study of Scripture, that nothing can thwart the purposes of God. 

If God is going to do what He is going to do, why do we pray? Do our prayers touch the heart of God? Can they change our circumstances and move the hand of God? Or as Jesus stated, can our prayers really move “mountains”??

Yes, they can …and yes, they do!!

Prayer changes things. 

Prayer can change circumstances. Prayer can change events. Prayer can change people. And prayer changes me!

We opened our Bibles to a passage in Philippians. At the time of the writing of this epistle, Paul was in prison. Paul was rejoicing that even while he was in prison unable to preach the gospel outside the walls, the gospel was not hindered. The gospel was being preached by others!! Some were preaching with good intentions while others proclaimed Christ out of selfish ambition. 

Either way, he was rejoicing because the gospel was being preached. 

Then he makes what appears to be a prophetic statement. 

“Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance.” Philippians 1:19

As our group pondered the passage and the purpose of prayer. We reminded ourselves that God is not a vending machine. The focus of our discussion was the many ways God delivers. Sometimes He delivers us from our circumstances, through our circumstances and out of our circumstances via death. 

Heads nodded. 

The issue of God answering prayers was politely circumvented. I think because deep in all our hearts we remembered the unanswered prayers. I mean how many times have we lifted our prayers before God and wept. And the prayers have gone unanswered. It causes us to wonder, do our prayers really matter? Can they really move “mountains?” 

Wait a minute!! What is Paul saying here? 

Is he saying that he is about to be delivered from prison through the prayers of others AND the help of the Spirit? 

Curiosity got the cat and caused me to do a little digging. 

How many times was Paul in prison? How many times was he delivered? Is it possible, that after writing this letter he was actually DELIVERED from prison?? If so, Paul tells us it was because of the PRAYERS of others and the HELP of the SPIRIT!!!!

Guess what I learned??

Yes. Paul was delivered from prison after writing the prison epistles!!!

What we know from the Scriptures is that Paul was put in prison at least three times…and it could’ve been more. (2 Cor. 11:23) His first imprisonment was in Philippi according to Acts 16. His second imprisonment was under house arrest in Rome for approximately two years during which he wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon. According to Acts 28:30-31 He was free to receive visitors and preach the gospel. NIV study notes state that he was released from first his Roman imprisonment around 62 or 63 AD. 

It was his third or last imprisonment in which he wrote 2 Timothy. 

What I love about this little passage in Philippians which I have so often overlooked…is that Paul was delivered from prison through the prayers of others and the help of the Spirit.

So, yes…prayer does change things. It can change our circumstances. It can change world events. It can change the hearts of people. It can change me. 

So, pray! Don’t give up!! 

Lay your heart, your burdens and cares before the LORD. When prayers go unanswered, remember the ones He did answer!!!! Yes, God is sovereign and will accomplish His will. But He seems to leave room for us to move His hand through prayer. God hears and like a loving Father He desires to give good gifts to His children. Just keep in mind He is God, and we are not.