Hudson Taylor, a young man still in his teens, after answering God’s call on his life to evangelize the empire of China, wanted to know if he could move men through the power of prayer. He set out on an experiment; he would not ask his employer for his pay when it was due him. Instead, he would ask God to remind him. This grew his confidence in the power of prayer. He conducted many of these type experiences, until one day he thought, “Can I, through prayer, move a man to open up to the gospel through the power of prayer?” He was treating an ill-tempered man from his gangrene infection who would not listen to the gospel. Hudson began to pray earnestly for this man and eventually he saw that the man’s heart was softened as he believed the gospel. Hudson Taylor’s stated purpose was to move man through the act of prayer to God, however the first step is to move God to act upon the Man.

Proverbs 21:1 KJV

21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

I have very little problem believing that God can turn the heart of a man. While God still allows a man free will, he can give opportunities for men to change, God can remove blinders from the eyes that Satan has covered, and can allow thoughts and questions to arise in the minds of men – if the man or woman does not refuse the prompting of the Holy Spirit – God is not limited in his ability.

No, the problem I have is understanding how to move God to work on my behalf. Sometimes it is because I do not fully believe that he cares for me as a father cares for a son. Other times it is out of doubt. I think also times arise when I am afraid to ask because I may be asking out of my own desires. My wife is much freer with her prayers. She will ask God for incredible things, in very simple ways. I often scoff internally to find days or even hours later God has answered her childlike prayer. The other day we were forecasted for 95-105 degree days with no rain in sight. She simply prayed, “God, if you would, would you allow tomorrow to be cooler? Maybe overcast too?” The next day it was 85, and beautiful with the cloud coverage and a breeze that made it much easier to work in outside. I am well aware that God is in control of the weather, but often I do not pray for these things because I don’t always believe He will answer. I am not saying that we can strong arm God. Paul stated that he was content in every state, and this should be our default. However, it doesn’t hurt to ask God, in a content state, to change the circumstances – sometimes He just wants to hear our voices – He may just oblige us.

James 5:16 KJV

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much

There are conditions on moving God to work on our behalf. We must be right with his and our fellow man confessing our faults to God. We must pray fervently, that is with passion, faith, and angst. We must be righteous – saved by the grace of God and grafted into his righteousness. These prayers do much to move the arm of God and He loves to hear from us.

S.T.
I Thessalonians5:24
"Faithful is he..."