--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Prayer is not intended to change God's…" description: "\"Prayer is not intended to change God's purpose, nor is it to move Him to form fresh purposes. God has decreed that certain events shall come to pass th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/arthur-w-pink-4530_accomplishment_prayer-is-not-intended-to-change-god-s-p_2635899.png" --- # Prayer is not intended to change God's purpose, nor is it… ![“Prayer is not intended to change God's purpose, nor is it to move Him to form fresh purposes. God has decreed that certain events shall come to pass through the means He has appointed for their accomplishment.” quote by Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/arthur-w-pink-4530_accomplishment_prayer-is-not-intended-to-change-god-s-p_2635899.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/arthur-w-pink-4530_accomplishment_prayer-is-not-intended-to-change-god-s-p_2635899.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f0/arthur-w-pink-4530_accomplishment_prayer-is-not-intended-to-change-god-s-p_2635899.png) > “Prayer is not intended to change God's purpose, nor is it to move Him to form fresh purposes. God has decreed that certain events shall come to pass through the means He has appointed for their accomplishment.” [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer aligns with divine purpose, not to change it. **In simple terms:** Prayer follows God’s plan. Key Takeaway Pray within God’s will. Themes prayer divine purpose theology Mood reverent serious Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal devotion - church teaching - mission work Key Concepts Christian doctrine spiritual discipline Questions to Reflect On - How to reconcile prayer with personal hopes? - What is the role of human effort? A Different Perspective May feel limiting to personal desire. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Change god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-god/) [Events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/events/) [Form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/form/) [God Decreed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-decreed-951734/) [God Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-purpose/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Moving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moving/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayer Intended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-intended-1709696/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Purposes God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purposes-god-569282/) [Temptation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temptation/) ## Related quotes > [Like sacrifices, prayer is intended to change man, not God. Its purpose is to cultivate a contrite heart, to promote feelings of humility and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-jakobovits-baron-jakobovits/like-sacrifices-prayer-is-intended-to-change-man-not-god-its-purpose/) [Immanuel Jakobovits, Baron Jakobovits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-jakobovits-baron-jakobovits/) > [There is a prayer intended to give strength to people faced with circumstances they don’t want to accept. The power of the prayer comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-alice/there-is-a-prayer-intended-to-give-strength-to-people-faced-with/) [Mary Alice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-alice/) > [In all of its expressions, whether halting and short or flowing in beautiful, well-structured phrases, prayer is simply a conversation with God. If we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/in-all-of-its-expressions-whether-halting-and-short-or-flowing-in/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Prayer is intended to increase the devotion of the individual, but if the individual himself prays he requires no formula; he pours himself forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-von-humboldt/prayer-is-intended-to-increase-the-devotion-of-the-individual-but-if/) [Wilhelm von Humboldt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-von-humboldt/) > [“God decreed that the love which came to Cosette was a love that saves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/god-decreed-that-the-love-which-came-to-cosette-was-a-love-that-saves/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Whether God has decreed all things that ever come to pass or not, all that own the being of a God, own that He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/whether-god-has-decreed-all-things-that-ever-come-to-pass-or-not-all/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [God has decreed that there be sick and poor in this world, but in the next it will be the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/god-has-decreed-that-there-be-sick-and-poor-in-this-world-but-in-the/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [God decreed to save and damn certain particular persons. This decree has its foundation in the foreknowledge of God, by which he knew from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacobus-arminius/god-decreed-to-save-and-damn-certain-particular-persons-this-decree/) [Jacobus Arminius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacobus-arminius/) > [“It was as if God had decreed this characterless engagement of brainless forces as his answer to the human presumption.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow-2/it-was-as-if-god-had-decreed-this-characterless-engagement-of/) [E.L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow-2/) > [Has God decreed all things that come to pass? Then there is nothing that falls out by chance, nor are we to ascribe what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-boston/has-god-decreed-all-things-that-come-to-pass-then-there-is-nothing/) [Thomas Boston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-boston/) > [Go for the purposes of God, and the means to fulfill them will follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/go-for-the-purposes-of-god-and-the-means-to-fulfill-them-will-follow/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [Worship ought not to be construed in a utilitarian way. Its purpose is not to gain numbers nor for our church to be seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marva-dawn/worship-ought-not-to-be-construed-in-a-utilitarian-way-its-purpose-is/) [Marva Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marva-dawn/) > [For, after all, if it is from Christ that we are to learn how God relates himself to sin, suffering, evil, and death, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bentley-hart/for-after-all-if-it-is-from-christ-that-we-are-to-learn-how-god/) [David Bentley Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bentley-hart/) > [It is my desire and intent to trust the multi-layered good purposes of God than in what humans fabricate out of their need and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-p-young/it-is-my-desire-and-intent-to-trust-the-multi-layered-good-purposes/) [William P. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-p-young/) > [“In the Garden story, good and evil are found on the same tree, not in separate orchards. Good and evil give meaning and definition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terryl-l-givens/in-the-garden-story-good-and-evil-are-found-on-the-same-tree-not-in/) [Terryl L. Givens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terryl-l-givens/) ## More by Arthur W. Pink > [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [God has often given His people favor in the sight of heathen masters (as Joseph and Daniel), and has magnified the sufficiency of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/god-has-often-given-his-people-favor-in-the-sight-of-heathen-masters/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [An ineffably holy God, who has the utmost abhorrence of sin, was never invented by any of Adam's descendents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/an-ineffably-holy-god-who-has-the-utmost-abhorrence-of-sin-was-never/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Were God to show grace to all of Adam's descendants, men would at once conclude that He was righteously compelled to take them to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/were-god-to-show-grace-to-all-of-adam-s-descendants-men-would-at-once/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Real prayer is communion with God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/real-prayer-is-communion-with-god/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Growing in grace is a deepening realization of our nothingness; it is a heartfelt recognition that we are not worthy of the least of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/growing-in-grace-is-a-deepening-realization-of-our-nothingness-it-is/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Christ is the Divine answer to the Devil's overthrow of our first parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/christ-is-the-divine-answer-to-the-devil-s-overthrow-of-our-first/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Instead of a river, God often gives us a brook, which may be running today and dried up tomorrow. Why? To teach us not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/instead-of-a-river-god-often-gives-us-a-brook-which-may-be-running/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“The gospel of Satan is not a system of revolutionary principles, nor yet a program of anarchy. It does not promote strife and war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/the-gospel-of-satan-is-not-a-system-of-revolutionary-principles-nor/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“Again, there are multitudes who are quite ready for Christ to justify them, but not to sanctify. Some kind, some degree, of sanctification they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/again-there-are-multitudes-who-are-quite-ready-for-christ-to-justify/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Those circumstances, which to the dim eye of Jacob's faith wore a hue so somber, were at that very moment developing and perfecting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/those-circumstances-which-to-the-dim-eye-of-jacob-s-faith-wore-a-hue/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Chastisement is designed for our good, to promote our highest interests. Look beyond the rod to the All-wise hand that wields it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/chastisement-is-designed-for-our-good-to-promote-our-highest/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [Prayer is the way and means God has appointed for the communication of the blessings of His goodness to His people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/prayer-is-the-way-and-means-god-has-appointed-for-the-communication/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [In the person of Christ God beholds a holiness which abides His closest scrutiny, yea, which rejoices and satisfies His heart; and whatever Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/in-the-person-of-christ-god-beholds-a-holiness-which-abides-his/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) > [“Is there not in these words of our Lord a latent reference to the history of man’s fall, and a designed contrast from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/is-there-not-in-these-words-of-our-lord-a-latent-reference-to-the/) [Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) [Explore all 109 Arthur W. Pink quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/) ## More Accomplishment quotes > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [To accomplish much you must first lose everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/che-guevara/to-accomplish-much-you-must-first-lose-everything/) [Che Guevara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/che-guevara/) > [One of the most important rules for success is this: Every great success is the result of hundreds and thousands of small efforts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/one-of-the-most-important-rules-for-success-is-this-every-great/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For many of us, work is the one place where we feel appreciated. The things that we long to experience at home - pride…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arlie-russell-hochschild/for-many-of-us-work-is-the-one-place-where-we-feel-appreciated-the/) [Arlie Russell Hochschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arlie-russell-hochschild/) > [Humility is an elusive virtue. The more we pursue it - and the more we seem to acquire it - the more we take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-aquilina/humility-is-an-elusive-virtue-the-more-we-pursue-it-and-the-more-we/) [Mike Aquilina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-aquilina/) > [I'm not always right, but I learn from my mistakes and make it a productive experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-kolhoff/i-m-not-always-right-but-i-learn-from-my-mistakes-and-make-it-a/) [Carson Kolhoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-kolhoff/) > [Suffering in life can uncover untold depths of character and unknown strength for service. People who go through life unscathed by sorrow and untouched…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/suffering-in-life-can-uncover-untold-depths-of-character-and-unknown/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Research is the live heart of the scientific life ... Greatness of position, respect for past accomplishments, the Nobel Prize itself -- none of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivian-gornick/research-is-the-live-heart-of-the-scientific-life-greatness-of/) [Vivian Gornick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivian-gornick/) > [“One man accomplishment Is another mans failure.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-sargent/one-man-accomplishment-is-another-mans-failure/) [Anthony Sargent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-sargent/) > [I expected college to feel like a major accomplishment. I walked across the stage, eight months pregnant with my almost seven-year-old daughter watching in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie-land/i-expected-college-to-feel-like-a-major-accomplishment-i-walked/) [Stephanie Land](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie-land/) > [Our purpose on this earth is not one single event, an accomplishment we can check off a list. There is no test. No passing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-hand/our-purpose-on-this-earth-is-not-one-single-event-an-accomplishment/) [Cynthia Hand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-hand/) > [An untrained or uneducated Marine ... deployed to the combat zone is a bigger threat to mission accomplishment ... than the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/an-untrained-or-uneducated-marine-deployed-to-the-combat-zone-is-a/) [James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/) [Browse all 1,598 Accomplishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Prayer is not intended to change God's purpose, nor is it to move Him to form fresh purposes. God has decreed that certain events shall come to pass through the means He has appointed for their accomplishment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Arthur W. 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