Genuine question coming in good faith:

If God's will and his plan is what it is, what is the utility of prayer? Can his will change based upon enough prayer?

I am not trying to sound like an edgy athiest. I prayed for Charlie Kirk and his family yesterday, but I'm just conflicted.

J.D. Vance said he prayed for Charlie, but that God didn't answer those prayers and "that's OK because God had other plans," so why do we pray?

I've always been more agnostic, but I know there's evil in the world, so I want to be on the opposite side of that. I know that I "feel" something profound when I pray, but I just don't fully understand how it fits into the bigger picture of God's will.

>>23580154

>>23580074

>>23580054

>>23580046

>>23580026

Thank you.

My troubles come with trying to reconcile the usefulness of petitionary prayer with the idea of God's will being set in stone.

I struggle with the concept of God "changing his mind", for lack of a better term. Since he is all-knowing, it would seem that there wouldn't be room for petition or bargain in his plans.

And if what we ask must already be in accordance to his will, why even ask?

Not trying to be difficult, just looking for clarity.

>>23580301

I think it comes from the belief that God is all-knowing and would already put into motion the best and most necessary or appropriate course of action, so who am I to ask him to change his will?

Then again the concept of us having free will could be a factor, which is interesting, in the sense that maybe if he sees that our focus and intentions are pure and just, he may "reward" us as a sign that we're on the right path.