Hey everyone. I am a Christian, but there are a few questions that I have concerning my faith. Here is one of them...

If God's will for us and the world is absolute and can not change, then what is the point of prayer? If I have a family member who has cancer and I'm praying for healing, I'm really asking God to do one of two things: heal or not heal. If His will is already written, then how could me praying make any difference? I can't change God's will just by praying, can I?

Found, but still with many questions,
Jason

Jason, thanks for the questions. I'm glad you're thinking about these things and inviting others to teach you about things you're not sure about. That's a positive sign of maturity. Please allow me to challenge your view of God and prayer in this matter.

From your post I'm seeing two things. The first is that God is some cosmic force who we have to discover and deal with. The second is that because God is so impersonal that makes our prayer more like wishful thinking than communication. I think both of these are bad presumptions. Theologically speaking, God may know and will something to be, but that does not mean we should look at the whole situation as futile.

God desires to be in relationship with us. We know this because he was in the Garden with Adam and Eve until they sinned. Even this did not stop God from trying to be in relationship with humanity. He sent law and prophets to speak to His people on His behalf. He sent His only son to walk with humans and disciple them and be a testimony to God's character. Jesus's death and resurrection broke sin's power so that we could be in relationship with God on an individual level. God's will is for us to be reconciled to Him and to be in relationship with him. It was never God's will that there be death in this world, that was the result of our sin. God does not will people to be sick, sickness is an effect of the Fall.

When we go to God in prayer the primary purpose of praying is to be in relationship with God as the adopted children we become in Christ. The point of praying is to come in to better knowledge of God's will. We don't learn God's will or come in closer relationship with Him when we try to use God as a cosmic vending machine, only asking for particular things to happen around us. This isn't to say we shouldn't pray for people's healing. We should pray for the sick, but we should do so realizing that God has a plan for them AND for those praying for the person. If we pray with the attitude that seems to be one minded about having God do something then we miss out on God's will for our own lives which is to take this opportunity to grow closer to God in our relationship and understanding of His will. If God heals then praise be to Him as He demonstrates His power and glory over this world. If God does not heal then we are reminded of our dependence upon Him because of sin's power over the world.

Don't make your prayers about affecting change in God. Prayer should be about affecting change within ourselves as we come closer to God. Hope that helps. As more questions if I'm unclear (I often am!). Chat later.