Day 35: When God Relents

Opening Scripture

Psalm 106:21–23 (NIV)

21 They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, 22 miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. 23 So he said he would destroy them— had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them.

Devotional Reflection

Prayer moves the heart of God. The people of Israel repaid God’s kindness with the debaucherous worship of the idols they had known in Egypt. God was prepared to destroy them, yet the interceding prayer of Moses stayed His hand. God relented, even though He would have been fully justified in destroying the entire nation.

When we think about the will of God, we often imagine it as fixed and immovable. Yet Scripture reveals that God desires to work with His people. Like a father preparing to entrust responsibility to a son, God allows us to influence His heart. He never changes His character—our prayers will never move Him to act against His nature. But within His perfect nature as both Judge and Savior, there is far more room for mercy and response than we often realize.

God desires to act on behalf of His people. He delights in doing good for those who draw near to Him. He longs to thrill our hearts with His kindness. If we truly believed this, it would be evident in the way we pray.

God knows the end from the beginning. He knows what we will ask before we ask it. He also knows how He will respond within the boundaries of His holy character. And yet, God remains present in the moment, allowing His heart to be moved by faithful intercession—even while fully aware of all things from eternity past to eternity future.

He opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant so he could see the armies of heaven and be freed from fear. He stopped the sun at Joshua’s request so Israel could finish the battle. Jesus healed the daughter of a Canaanite woman, even though His earthly ministry was first directed toward Israel. God was prepared to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, yet He was willing to relent when Abraham interceded—if even ten righteous people could be found.

We often underestimate the influence we have on the heart of God when we draw near to Him in devoted prayer.

How many miracles have been missed because we were not devoted? Because we did not pray? Because we did not ask? Scripture tells us plainly that we do not have because we do not ask. When our requests align with God’s desires, and when our prayer lives are marked by humility, obedience, and faith, there is nothing God withholds from the righteous.

The Examen

1. Where might God be inviting me to stand in the breach for someone else through prayer and intercession?

2. What has kept me from asking God boldly for what aligns with His heart and purposes?

Lectio Divina Scripture

Psalms 37:25

²⁵ I was young and now I am old,

yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken

or their children begging bread. (NIV)

Read the passage slowly out loud several times. With each reading, emphasize a different word or phrase. Notice what stands out and why.

Prayer Prompt

Lord, teach me to stand in the breach. Form in me a heart of intercession that trusts Your goodness and believes You delight in showing mercy. Give me faith to ask boldly and humility to align my desires with Yours. Amen.