Project 1:8 Podcast – Episode 006 Q&A #1: The Power of Prayer

Host: Scott
Date: May 23, 2025

Overview

In this Q&A episode, Scott tackles a central question about the power of prayer—specifically, whether prayer can change God's mind and what role our petitions play within God’s perfect will. The discussion is rooted in scripture, exploring the relational nature of prayer, its purpose, and how believers can align their hearts with God's. Scott utilizes biblical examples (such as Jesus’ prayers and the Lord’s Prayer) and practical illustrations to clarify often confusing aspects of intercession, divine sovereignty, and human free will.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Community, Safety, and the Podcast’s Mission (00:00–04:15)

• The podcast is a space for deep, honest questions where judgment or shame are absent.
• There’s excitement about upcoming video content and interviews.
• Scott’s core prayer for the podcast: “That this podcast will be an interactive place for people to ask the deepest questions on their hearts in the safety of this platform.” (03:30)

2. Listener’s Core Question (04:15–07:05)

• Listener’s Query:
  • Does prayer for a specific outcome really change God’s mind?
  • If God’s will is perfect and will be done anyway, does prayer have any real power?
  • In cases like praying for someone with cancer: if they recover, was it because of the power of prayer, and would God have acted without those prayers?
• Scott acknowledges the complexity and deep interest in this subject.

3. The Mystery & Limits of Our Understanding (07:05–08:22)

• Scott admits upfront that aspects of prayer and God’s response are ultimately mysteries:
  • “We cannot fully understand God… you may come away… still baffled by the nuances of prayer, and that’s just going to have to be the reality of some of it.” (07:22)
  • But some principles can be known and explored.

4. The Biblical Foundation of Prayer (08:22–16:00)

• Prayer as Relationship: From Genesis, God designed humans to be in two-way communication with Himself:
  • Genesis 1:28 and 3:8–9 illustrate early divine-human dialogue.
  • “From that very start, there is a mutual communication between God and humanity. It was a natural part of their relationship. This is the basis of our prayers today.” (10:00)
• Jesus and the “How to Pray” Question:
  • Disciples only directly asked Jesus to teach them one thing: How to pray (Luke 11:1).
  • Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–46) powerfully illustrated submission to God’s will even while earnestly asking for a different outcome.
  • “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but you will.” (referencing Matthew 26:39; see 12:30)
• The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6): Highlights key postures in prayer:
  • God’s personal, loving, ‘Father’ nature
  • God’s holiness and his “otherness”
  • Our need for provision, forgiveness, and protection
  • The desire for God’s kingdom and will above our own

5. Prayer as Alignment and Relationship (16:00–23:55)

• Intimacy: Comparing prayer to a child approaching a loving parent.
  • “It’s very natural… you know that children can come to you at any given time… and that’s what you want because you love them,… and in fact you want to hear from them in order to show them your love back to them.” (17:40)
• Holiness and God’s Will:
  • Acknowledging God’s holiness in prayer shapes our expectations.
  • When we pray, “Lord, your will be done”, it’s a surrender—putting God's glory and purposes first, whether or not the outcome is what we desire.
  • Scott’s reflection: “Whether or not God heals you has nothing to do with His desire to be glorified through you.” (20:10)
• Praying for Yourself and Others:
  • Scott points out that while it’s common (and right) to pray for healing, we rarely pray: “Lord, show this person how to draw closer to you and demonstrate your holiness to others around them during this sickness.” (20:25)
• Dependence and Transformation:
  • The phrase “give us today our daily bread” is a reminder of God’s daily provision (alluding to the manna story—Exodus).
  • Prayer also moves us toward forgiving others and depending on God, even during trials or when faced with the unknown.

6. Can Prayer Change God’s Mind? (23:55–29:05)

• Scott says the Bible does show examples (like Abraham) of people interceding, and it can seem like God “changes his mind,” but this happens within God’s omniscience and foreknowledge.
  • “God already knows all the potential outcomes, and somehow his perfect will functions within our freedom to choose, to decide, and to communicate.” (25:30)
• Miraculous Answers & Unanswered Prayers:
  • Regarding the cancer example: A miraculous recovery after prayer can be seen as God responding to intercession. But if no one prays, it doesn’t necessarily mean God wouldn’t act.
  • There may be unseen prayers, or God could still choose differently for His own reasons.
  • Ultimately: “The key point is that God was glorified by their life or their death in ways that we can’t fully explain. Our part is to trust his decision as our Lord. And that’s why we pray: to align our hearts to his heart as well.” (28:30)

7. Concluding Encouragement and Takeaways (29:05–31:40)

• Prayer as Partnership: God desires ongoing communication with us—modeled by Jesus, meant for maturity and deeper faith.
• “In our partnership with God, he considers our free will, communication, and responds in the most beneficial way for our growth and his glory, even if we don’t understand it or agree with it.” (30:45)
• Final invitation for listeners to reach out for personal conversation, support, or guidance.

Notable Quotes

• On the heart of prayer and mystery:
  “Our understanding of prayer and how God responds to our prayers is not something that we can fully understand, because, quite frankly, we cannot fully understand God.” (07:20)

• On God’s desire for relationship:
  “He established that desire to have that relationship where we are talking with one another and communicating to one another. So from that very start, there is a mutual communication between God and humanity.” (10:00)

• On aligning prayer to God’s will:
  “It may seem like he changes his mind, but God already knows all the potential outcomes, and somehow his perfect will functions within our freedom to choose, to decide, and to communicate.” (25:30)

• On prayer and God’s glory:
  “Whether or not God heals you has nothing to do with his desire to be glorified through you.” (20:10)

• On our ultimate response:
  “Our part is to trust his decision as our Lord. And that’s why we pray: to align our hearts to his heart as well.” (28:20)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:00–04:15 — Host introduction, podcast direction, and mission
• 04:15–07:05 — Listener Q&A on the power of prayer
• 07:05–08:22 — Limits of human understanding on prayer
• 08:22–16:00 — Scriptural foundations: God’s desire for relationship, communication, examples in Genesis, and Jesus’ instructions
• 16:00–23:55 — The Lord’s Prayer unpacked; personal illustrations; intimacy and alignment
• 23:55–29:05 — Deep-diving into “changing God’s mind,” miraculous healing, and the role of intercession
• 29:05–31:40 — Takeaways, encouragement, and resources for listeners

Final Thoughts

This episode provides a thoughtful, compassionate exploration of why and how Christians pray, underscoring both the privilege and mystery of communicating with God. Scott doesn’t offer trite answers but encourages listeners to keep praying, trusting, and seeking alignment with the heart of God—believing that prayer changes things, even when the outcomes remain a divine mystery.