Police officers in prayer in “Courageous”
In this age of easily accessible AI (artificial intelligence) it’s dangerous (in a not-very-wise sense) to make sweeping statements where you’re indicating something is always or never true, as was done with this statement. With AI at your finger tips, such statements are easily checked. I did a check, so let’s start there with what a couple of AI engines found.
The question I asked the AIs was: “How many scientific studies on prayer have there been and are there any (what percentage) that conclude that prayer is effective?”
Grok:
Grok focused in immediately on intercessory prayer and included this in its summary of results.
“Approximately 50–60% of studies in major reviews report some positive effects. For example:
- A 2000 meta-analysis of 23 trials (2,774 patients) found 13 studies (57%) showing statistically significant positive results, 9 with no effect, and 1 negative.
- A 2001 review of 90 studies (clinical and lab) reported positive outcomes in 71% of clinical trials and 62% of lab experiments.
- A 2007 review of 17 studies noted “small but significant” positive effects in 7 (41%), but the 3 most methodologically rigorous showed no significant findings.”[1]
ChatGPT:
ChapGPT started with a review of the different types of prayer, and then summarized results for intercessory prayer. It included this in its summary of results:
“Intercessory Prayer (praying for someone else)
These are the most common and often cited controlled studies.
So right off the bat we can see it is inaccurate and incorrect to say that “all” scientific studies on prayer say “it doesn’t do anything.” But that’s a technicality. It is technically incorrect to make that statement since it is not true. But there’s a larger point to be made here which I’ll get into next.
God is not your Personal Genie
If you believe that God should always answer all of your prayers in the affirmative and grant them, then you have a concept of God as a “genie of the lamp” who exists to grant your every whim. Further, you don’t understand prayer or relationships or the responsibility of a parent. Well, God is not your personal genie. Let me start correcting your view of God by clarifying and creating a proper view of those three items: prayer, relationships, and responsibilities of parents. I’ll take them in reverse order starting with the responsibilities of parents, but first I need to make one more important point.
Prayer and the Curse
I expect for the various surveys and studies made on prayer, many of their tracking items had to do with requests for healing. But an important consideration needs to be keep in mind with regards to healing requests. All of creation is under a curse. For both mankind and the creatures on earth, that means death comes to all. This is in fulfillment of God’s word to Adam that on the day he sins and eats of the forbidden tree, he will die. (Gen 2.17) Or as the text puts it, מוֺת תָמְוּת “mōt tamut” “dying, you will die.” In other words, as a penalty for sin, the process of dying will begin and it will result in death. That is precisely what we see today: aging leading to death. This is another fulfillment of God’s word in scripture.
Now, if all will die (except those taken in the rapture 1 Cor 15.51), can all the prayers for healing be answered in the affirmative? Clearly not. God may grant a reprieve when someone nears death as he did for King Hezekiah (2 Ki 20.6), but even in that case, eventually time runs out, and the process of dying that is always working against us is completed. So, clearly, not all prayer for healing can be granted. Our only hope in this matter is the day when the curse and death are taken away. (Rev 21.4) That will be when Jesus returns and we live in the new heaven and the new earth (Rev 21.1) where death and the curse have been removed. Until that day, we are all subject to the curse and dying, and thus, though God may heal sometimes, at some point we must face the result of sin and the curse:
“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,”
(Heb 9:27)
Thus, all people reach a point where, regardless of prayers that are prayed for healing, God says, “No. This is your appointed time to stand before me.”
Prayer and our Heavenly Father
Do you consider yourself a child of God? Scripture tells us “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”(John 1:12) So you are only a child of God if you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the son of God, who died so that you might live. (1 Pe 3.18) If you don’t believe that, then you are just one of the creatures that God has placed in his very good creation. (Gen 1.31) You are not a member of God’s household. Jesus said to those who belong to him,
“2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14.2-3
Those who believe Jesus is the Messiah are given a room in God’s own house. We become members of God’s family and are given a place to live in God’s house. Let me ask you: Whose prayer is God more likely to answer? Is it the prayer of his own child, whom he has prepared a place for and is eagerly awaiting or a prayer of one who denies he exists, or tells others there is no God, or uses his name as a swear word?
If you are not a child of God, God in his grace may still answer your prayer, that you may “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 34.8). However, what God really wants from those who don’t know him is one thing: to bring you into a right relationship with him. He wants you to pray the prayer of the father who wanted a healing for his sick son, who was under the influence of a demon. That father prayed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9.24) You see, you don’t have to have a perfect faith, or even a large faith. God can work with very little faith. (See the parable of the mustard seed (Matt 17.20) which is a very small seed.)
Our God is a very good God and he is a very good father. Jesus reveals the heart of the father in the sermon on the mount:
9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Matt 7.9-11
God does not give gifts that are harmful, even to those who are not his children, because God loves the entire world. (John 3.16) If you are asking for something that will be harmful for you ,don’t be surprised if God denies that request. Good parents don’t give their children dangerous things, or encourage bad behaviors, such as allowing their children to play in the middle of a busy avenue. Likewise, our father in heaven will not give things that are dangerous, and He will not affirm you in bad behaviors. So that is another thing to note: God answers all prayers, but sometimes the answer is no. For those who deny him or are actively blaspheming him, instead of answering prayer, God’s answer may be to allow natural consequences, which include allowing Satan (who brings only problems) to have his way with a person (1 Tim 1.20) to help that person see the truth.
Prayer and Relationship
God wants to be in relationship with you. Relationships are maintained and strengthened by communication. Where there is no communication many relationships wither and die. Thus, one reason for prayer is not merely so you can put in your requests like a child sitting on Santa Claus’ lap. It is to maintain your relationship with the creator of the universe who has adopted you as his child and is concerned about you and cares about you (1 Pe 5.7) and wants to hear from you. However, the creator of the universe (Gen 1.1) has many ways of solving problems. He can see far beyond our limited view of the world. He often comes up with solutions we cannot see.
For example, consider Elijah, a mighty prophet of God through whom God exhibited great power in a challenge to false prophets at Mt Carmel (1 Ki 18.20-39). But even after so great a victory and display of God’s power, a threat on his life from the wicked Jezebel, wife to the wicked king Ahab, had Elijah scared and running for his life. (1 Ki 19.2-3) He thought he was the only prophet of God left and that he had to hide in the desert, and then a cave (1 Ki 19.8) to preserve his life. God had to show him that he was, in fact, not the only prophet left, but that God had preserved 7,000 faithful people for his work and that Elijah still had work God wanted him to do. (1 Ki 19.15-18)
We often don’t know what God is planning. But what we do know is that God is always up to something good for those who love him. (Rom 8.28) This is another reason God calls us to faith. He’s up to something good for you, but you may not be able to see it now, and, in fact, you may not see it for some time. Nonetheless, God wants you to continue to walk in faith and maintain relationship through communication. Communication with God is through prayer.
The Purpose of Prayer
What is the purpose of prayer? Why are you praying? As I pointed out above, prayer is not just about our wants. It is good to remember to whom we speak—not to a personal genie but to the sovereign creator of the universe. It is arrogant to think we can impose our will on the sovereign creator of all things. Rather, we should come to him in humility so that he can reveal his will to us and we can align with it. We do well to remember that since he loves us, he is happy to hear our requests. But we must keep firmly in mind that our requests are from our limited point of view. They are requests, not demands or expectations. We are instructed not to put God to the test (Deut 6.16) by saying we won’t believe in God or obey him unless he does thus and so. Rather, scripture tells us:
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4.6-7)
Where does such peace come from? It comes from praying in a way that is honorable and pleasurable to the Lord:
It comes by requesting His will be done and not our own:
From the Lord’s pattern prayer: “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mat 6:10)
From the Lord’s prayer before his crucifixion: “yet not my will, but yours be done.” Luke 22.42
The peace of God comes by orienting our entire life as Jesus did, to do the will of the Father in heaven:
“For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”(John 6:38)
It comes by being humble before him, particularly when presenting requests.
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'” (James 4:6)
and
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”(James 4:10)
You experience the peace of God when you delight yourself in the Lord, so he is pleased to grant your requests, since they will be aligned with what he wants:
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psa 37:4)
Do these things and you’ll find the peace of God spoken of above, because you’ll stop fretting over your will and will begin understanding and knowing that God will accomplish his purpose. (Is 46.10) When you focus on God and His purpose, he’ll focus on making sure you get the things you need. (Matt 6.33) As he opens your eyes to things he’s doing in your life, you’ll have a new appreciation of how he works in your life, how he answers prayer and his many methods to bring peace to his children, i.e., to those who believe. Sometimes he’ll change circumstances. Sometimes he’ll change people around you. And sometimes (or perhaps many times) he’ll change you and your way of thinking. Whichever it is, it will be done for the good of his children.
Are you looking for answers to prayer and the peace only God can give? Then accept Jesus, His son, as your Lord and Messiah who saves you from the penalty of sin, and submit your requests to the Father through him. Understand our God is an awesome God. He has “answers” to prayer other than “yes.” It could be, “wait and see what I’ll do”, or “no, I have something better in mind.” It could be simply “No, this is not good for you.” Whatever the case, his answer will come with a peace only God can give through his Spirit.
Duane Caldwell | January 15, 2026 | Printer friendly version
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Notes:
1. Grok AI, 1/14/2026
https://grok.com/share/c2hhcmQtMi1jb3B5_d76588fb-e0bd-42de-8619-1dcc58fd3a9c
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2. Royal College of Psyciatrists, https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/sigs/spirituality-spsig/resources/spirituality-special-interest-group-publications-dr-peter-fenwick-scientific-evidence-for-the-efficacy-of-prayer.pdf?sfvrsn=7004ce2_2&utm_source=chatgpt.com “Scientific Evidence for the Efficacy of Prayer”, Oct 31, 2025
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3. ChapGPT [AI], 1/14/2026, https://chatgpt.com/s/t_6967b5fb57708191977efee3853b9018
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Image:
Policemen in prayer in the movie “Courageous” (2011)
