This has been an amazing week and time of journeying in prayer as a church, praying with a single purpose for God’s divine plan and doing it with one mind. The power of our prayers is only as strong as the agreement behind them, both with one another and with heaven. I believe the Lord is urging us to participate with His Spirit in a bond of fellowship that’s so deep until we think like one person, and on the same things!
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to be of one mind, that we be like-minded. In Phil 2:1-2, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfil my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.”
To be “like-minded” and of “one mind” can mean that one becomes intimate and so closely-joined, as if it’s one person. It can also refer to giving top priority for unity and being in one accord. As we think “alike”, we should’ve the same priorities as God does. It’s the agreement in oneness of the spirit and with the Holy Spirit that our prayers are backed with heaven’s full authority.
Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the Lord, I do not change.” This is a reference to God’s character that He doesn’t change. He’s ever the same, yesterday, today and forever. God is unchangeable, but it doesn’t imply that He doesn’t change His mind. We read in many instances where God could and did change His mind. God has a perfect plan, but He’ll change His mind because we don’t want it and have therefore forfeited the promise and inheritance in our day.
Abraham understood this in Genesis 18:16-33. We see Abraham standing before the Lord, praying for Sodom and Gomorrah and pleading to the Lord to reconsider His plan to destroy the evil cities. Abraham began his intercession by asking the Lord not to destroy the cities if he found 50 righteous people and God agreed. But Abraham couldn’t find 50 righteous people and he continued, and even 10 righteous people couldn’t be found in those two wicked cities. Ultimately, God did move in judgement and destroyed both cities. From here, Abraham taught us that he could reason with God in prayer.
In Exodus 32:9-10, Moses understood this as well. God was on the verge of destroying the whole nation of Israel and proposed starting over with Moses. But Moses pleaded with God to spare the people from His judgement and reminded God of His promise and plan.
“So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.” Exo 32:14. The Lord relented from the course He had purposed. In the New Living Translation, it reads, “So the Lord changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.” We see that God can change His mind and one man can make a difference!
Because Moses prayed, God changed His mind. One human being standing in this vast universe, like a little speck of dust on this earth, who called on the God of all creation to change His mind about the destiny of one nation. God is listening and cares, and your prayers are so important. You don’t need an army of prayer warriors, but the prayer of the righteous who knows and understands God’s heart.
Andrew Murray put it this way, “Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ and expect great things!”
