How to resolve this inconsistency in religion?

Question

I can't get my head around a glaring inconsistency in all theistic faiths. Please explain how both the following (generally accepted) statements can be true at the same time:

1) God know everything. He knows what will happen. He is always right. He knows what you want and even whether or not it will rain on your wedding day. In fact, he decided whether or or not it will rain on your wedding day.

2) We sometimes pray to ask God something. "Please God, don't let it rain on my wedding day". We hope that by asking, what we want will happen.

These two things are in conflict. If God decided it will rain on our wedding day, are we asking God to change his mind? By asking, we are effectively trying to convince God that his first decision was wrong, and we're asking (respectfully) for him to change his mind. But how can he change his mind if he is always right?

In summary, by asking God to change something, we are in fact implying that the original situation was a mistake.

So either God can be convinced that his decisions are wrong (i.e. to change his mind), or prayer is a waste of time.

Isn't that so?

Answer 1

Prayer is about relationship, not about convincing God to do things your way. It's about coming to know God better so that we better understand His will for our lives. When we ask for things to be done our way, we're giving of ourselves to talk to God about who we are and what we want (sure, He knows it anyway, but it's the process of talking that counts). Ultimately, His will will be done, but by talking things out, we learn that God is listening and cares about what we think.

I think there are situations where God is waiting to decide what He is going to do, and when we talk with Him, He takes our opinions into consideration as He makes His decision that is best in the long run. Whether or not it rains on our wedding day probably has nothing to do with the final outcome of this world, and so He can suspend His judgment and wait for our input before making His decision.

Does that make sense?

I wish you all the best in your spiritual journey as you ponder good questions like this one. May you find value in your relationship with your Maker, and may you understand more often than not the answers to your prayers, whether yes or no.

Answer 2

So, where's the inconsistency?

God can change anything...that doesn't mean he is wrong.

If I am scheduled for a business meeting on a certain day and I want to take my kid out for ice cream, I can change my mind without being wrong about anything.

Answer 3

Jesus in the Garden of Gesthsemanee (?spelling) before He was crucified, knowing all along why He was here and what death He would suffer: "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not my will but thine be done."

W@e pray and seek in our humanity. But a christian indwelt with the Holy Spirit (given after the new birth) knows that although God can do anything He wishes, and that He sees eternity future, and although we are told to pray about "all" things, it is the Father's will we seek, for His is the best plan. Our humanity did not leave us because our spirits were made alive in Christ. We continue in the warfare that rages all around us daily.

Answer 4

your question is too good.....

now read this carefully..... god knows all ...he knows that where it gonna rain 100 yrs. after....

assume.. you pray god that it should not rain......god previously knows who is going to pray for what ....and so if he has to grant your wish will make decisions accordingly..

God does not change decisions....he makes decisions like this coz he know each and every moment of this earth

Answer 5

"Isn't that so?"

It would seem so! Prepare yourself for a bunch of people talking in circles trying to justify it though.

Answer 6

God also knows if we will affect the conditions, like praying or seeding clouds so it will rain. And still, everything is perfectly designed so we will wake up.

Answer 7

Mankind do not pray perfect prayers. We often pray foolishness.

Yet, if there was a man who had the faith of a mustard seed, he could tell a mountain to pick up and be cast into the sea.

Asking that it not rain could occur.

Yet, most pray foolish prayers of the flesh, not the spirit.  

Answer 8

God does what God chooses to do. There isn't much else to say about that

Answer 9

I asked this same question a few days ago.  Collective response of the Christian community: "You don't understand.  Just do it."

I'm not trying to make fun of anyone here.  Here's the example I used:

"God has a plan for each and every person. If, for example, you get cancer, then that's part of the plan. It's "your time" or what have you. By praying, aren't you essentially asking God to change His plan? If you still die of cancer, I can understand the "plan" thing, but if you do get better--is that God changing His plan? And if it isn't, what's the purpose of prayer to begin with?

I got an answer from one of my friends stating, "God gave you cancer to test you. If you kept your faith in Him and prayed to Him, He would spare you, if that's what He wanted." This sounds like two answers in one: First, the "if that's what He wanted" makes it sound like your fate is sealed, part of the plan, and prayer won't help you. But second, if he WOULD cure you if you prayed, that seems a lot like a "pray to me or I'll kill you" situation, which makes NO sense to me at all."

I got one answer which was pretty well thought-out, but still leaves a lot of loopholes:  God has a plan, but some things are negotiable, for example.  You can check out the answers I got if there aren't any good ones that pop up here.

Anyway, I'm with you--I still don't understand the purpose of prayer, especially "God please grant me ________" prayers.  And, if God is all-knowing, the prayer seems unnecessary anyway.

Answer 10

get out of it.

Answer 11

You have made some false assumptions. God set the universe in motion, He didn't decide for it to rain on your wedding day. He knows whether or not it will, but this world is on it's own in a physical realm. He can intervene, but He is not a cosmic vending machine.