Discovering God's Stability in a Changing World

Discovering God's Stability in a Changing World

I the lord do not change. So you, o descendants of jacob, are not destroyed. - Malachi 3:6.

We live in a world full of rapid change; and it is occurring faster and faster. One thing though does not and will not change, and that is God.

Change has a purpose; it is either for better or for worse. It is impossible, however, for God to change. What does that actually mean?

God’s life does not change. Created things have a beginning and an ending, but God does not. He has always been. At no time did He not exist. He does not grow older.

He does not get wiser, stronger or weaker. He cannot change for the better. He is already there.

They shall perish, but you go on forever. They will grow old, like worn-out clothing, and you will change them like a man putting on a new shirt and throwing away the old one! (Ps. 102:26, TLB).

Listen to me, my people, my chosen ones! I alone am God. I am the First; I am the Last (Isa. 48:12, TLB).

God’s character does not change. He does not become less or more truthful, merciful or good than He was or is.

James talks about God’s goodness, holiness and generosity to men. He speaks about God as one “with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (Jas. 1:17, RSV).

God’s truth does not change. He does not have to take back anything He has ever said. God still keeps the promises of His Word.

God’s purposes do not change. What God does in the context of time, He planned from eternity. All He has committed Himself to do in His Word will be done.

One of God’s characteristics is His immutability. We need to pray in harmony with His character. Let’s consider some of God’s character traits and what they mean for our prayers:

God is holy, so we must never pray for anything that would compromise His holiness or cause us to be unholy (Psalm 99:9; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 15:4).

God is love, and our prayers should both invoke the love of God for others and reflect the love of God in our own attitudes (Jeremiah 31:3; John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

God is good, and the results of our prayers must bring goodness into the lives of all concerned (Psalm 25:8; 33:5; 34:8; Nahum 1:7; Matthew 19:17; Romans 2:4).

God is merciful, and our prayers should reflect that we have received His mercy and are willing to be merciful ourselves (Psalm 108:4; Lamentations 3:22; Joel 2:13).

God is jealous, and we dare not ask for something that would take first place in our hearts over God (Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:24; 1 Corinthians 10:22).

God is just, and we cannot expect Him to grant a request that would be unjust or unfair to anyone (Psalm 103:6; Zephaniah 3:5; John 5:30; Romans 2:2).

God is long-suffering, and neither our prayers nor our waiting for answers should show impatience toward Him who is so patient with us (Isaiah 48:9; Romans 9:22; 1 Peter 3:20).

God is truth, and our prayers must never seek to change or disguise truth (Deuteronomy 32:4; Romans 3:4; Hebrew 6:18).

Spend a few minutes discussing how these traits will affect your prayers together, especially after you are married.