Does God answer the prayer, "change his heart"?

[Orion]

I was listening to Bott Radio, and they have people call in with prayer requests. A lady called in with a prayer request that I could really relate to. Her husband and her were seperated, and she was wanting to reconsile with him, and asking that people pray that "God would change his heart". I prayed this prayer for 6 months, from October 2006 until the unwanted divorce in May 2007, that God would change HER heart and reconsile OUR marriage, because it is God's will that NO marriage end in divorce. Yet it happened, and was told that "God doesn't go against our free will."

Is this true, and that poor lady is just saying a futile prayer, . . . or DOES God take an active role in changing someone's heart? And if so, why not with my ex-wife or the majority who end up with a finalized divorce, because of one person's actions?

Comments?

 

[mondar]

I was listening to Bott Radio, and they have people call in with prayer requests. A lady called in with a prayer request that I could really relate to. Her husband and her were seperated, and she was wanting to reconsile with him, and asking that people pray that "God would change his heart". I prayed this prayer for 6 months, from October 2006 until the unwanted divorce in May 2007, that God would change HER heart and reconsile OUR marriage, because it is God's will that NO marriage end in divorce. Yet it happened, and was told that "God doesn't go against our free will."

Is this true, and that poor lady is just saying a futile prayer, . . . or DOES God take an active role in changing someone's heart? And if so, why not with my ex-wife or the majority who end up with a finalized divorce, because of one person's actions?

Comments?

John 3:7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Mans will is not of sufficient freedom to control the will of God. Nicodemus once asked Jesus "how can this be?" Jesus answer that a heart change is like the wind, we can see its effects, but we cannot control it.

I find the background on your life interesting, even intriguing. Are you revealing the reason you hate the biblical concept of Gods absolute sovereign control? Is this the part of your life where you will say "its not fair?"

 

[Orion]

First of all, . . . just because something is a BIBLICAL concept, as I see it, doesn't make it one that God would agree with. Yeah, I know, . . . blasphemy. But I'm not a "biblical literalist/innerrantist".

To get back onto topic, . . . if you believe that man's will is insufficient to control, or dominate God's will, then is it God's will that so many people, and even christians [at the same rate as "the world"] end up in a divorce?

 

[mondar]

First of all, . . . just because something is a BIBLICAL concept, as I see it, doesn't make it one that God would agree with. Yeah, I know, . . . blasphemy. But I'm not a "biblical literalist/innerrantist".

Of course, and I am a biblical innerrantist. Any answers I make you can assume that I attempt to correctly read the text. Of course while the biblical text is inerrant, I am not infallible, and am prone to make mistakes. Nevertheless, I will endeavor to give answers that are consistent with what I see as the teaching of the scripture.

To get back onto topic, . . . if you believe that man's will is insufficient to control, or dominate God's will, then is it God's will that so many people, and even christians [at the same rate as "the world"] end up in a divorce?

Divorce is not the will of God in the sense that it is Gods standard. In Malachi, it says that God hates divorce. Divorce is a part of God's decree in the sense that he wanted it to happen as with other evils. Again we return to a previous thread.

Do you remember my comments on the life of Joseph from Genesis 50. God wanted Joseph to go to Egypt to save many. God did not help the brother's of Joseph sin in selling him into slavery. Joseph said "you intended it for evil, but God intended it for good." Another illustration is Assyria and Israel. God wanted Assyria to punish Israel. Assyria abused Israel, but then God judged Assyria for their own deeds. Even the cross of Christ is a great example, God wanted it to happen, but he did not magically make men more evil so that they would crucify the Son of God. They were already sinners and evil. God chose to have that event happen, and he gave Jesus Christ into the power of evil men so that it would happen, but God did not make them more evil so that they would crucify Christ, he merely used an evil event for his glory and a greater good.

So then, God hates divorce, but as a sovereign God, he chose to give a person over into divorce for his own reasons. Those reasons I cannot know. I do not know you, your wife, nor do I have a special connection to God.

 

[Orion]

IF God intended my divorce for good, it hasn't materialized yet. It may. Life ebbs and flows. Bad times turn into good, . . . .and eventually good into bad.

So, as per the OP, and the woman who asked that "God change the heart of her husband towards reconsiliation", . . . does God honor that, and in what way would that "work" be seen?

What if the person doesn't want to change the direction they are taking, though? Would God still have the power/ability to change their mind, in effect, supersceding their "free will"?

 

[NIGHTMARE]

IF God intended my divorce for good, it hasn't materialized yet. It may. Life ebbs and flows. Bad times turn into good, . . . .and eventually good into bad.

So, as per the OP, and the woman who asked that "God change the heart of her husband towards reconsiliation", . . . does God honor that, and in what way would that "work" be seen?

What if the person doesn't want to change the direction they are taking, though? Would God still have the power/ability to change their mind, in effect, supersceding their "free will"?

Yes Good can change the direction there taking,,,,but it depends on the person,,,everyone does not have free will......

Jeremiah 1:5Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

What if Jeremiah wanted be a rock climber or race horses for a career???? It would not have mattered because before he was even born God had already ordained him a prophet,,,,and if he would have tryed not to be a prophet,,,,GOd would have smacked Him around until he changed his mind.....

Remember Jonah?????

 

[JoJo]

I wish I had a sufficient answer for you. Only God is sufficient in this area. I've been praying for God to change my kids' dad's heart for close to 20 years. I am trusting God's will to be done in this area, so I give the burden of analyzing and solving to Him.

 

[mondar]

IF God intended my divorce for good, it hasn't materialized yet. It may. Life ebbs and flows. Bad times turn into good, . . . .and eventually good into bad.

So, as per the OP, and the woman who asked that "God change the heart of her husband towards reconsiliation", . . . does God honor that, and in what way would that "work" be seen?

What if the person doesn't want to change the direction they are taking, though? Would God still have the power/ability to change their mind, in effect, supersceding their "free will"?

hmm, I observe we have very different idea's of what the term "free will" means. Me thinks there was confusion.

 

[Orion]

Probably so, mondar, . . . probably so.