The power of believing prayer

One day in 1832, a group of believers gathered on a beautiful spot near Russellville, Ohio.  It was a Saturday Camp Meeting and throngs of people gathered for singing, preaching and an evangelistic appeal.  The morning was cool and pleasant, and Reverend Burroughs Westlake preached on the text, “Is there no balm in Gilead?”.

As he spoke, the outer fringes of the assembly became a scramble of confusion.  The face of the sky had grown overcast with clouds portending a terrific storm.  Volunteers were trying to throw up temporary tents, tie down supplies, and erect emergency shelters.  As the preacher finished his sermon, everyone’s attention went to the impending storm.  There was no way to protect young children or aged adults from the threatening lightning bolts, driving rain, dangerous winds, and crashing trees.

Suddenly a stranger ascended the platform.  In a soft melodious voice, he began singing William Cowper’s hymn, “God Moves In A Mysterious Way”.  He then asked the assembly to kneel in prayer, and he began to pray softly and earnestly.  The presence of the Lord seemed to descend as he prayed, and the crowd sensed they were on holy ground.

The man spoke to God as if to a friend, asking him to stop up the “bottles of heaven”, and grant the people fair weather to worship in the grove.  Much of his prayer consisted of passages of Scripture about the rain and winds and snows from heaven.  His prayer wove together verses from the Psalms, and Amos and Job.

As the man led the assembled crowd in prayer, the clouds began rolling back as if repelled by an invisible force.  The sky lightened, then brightened, then the sun broke through.  Soon the skies were blue and warm sunshine streamed down on the meeting.  Some later said it reminded them of Zechariah 14:7 which refers to “a unique day – a day known only to the Lord”.  For years afterward, those present recounted the story of the prayer that drove away the tempest and brought the sunshine.

The stranger who prayed was a local minister named William B. Christie.  He went on to preach to the assembly from 1 Corinthians 10:13.  Many were converted to Christ, including an infidel whose skepticism had vanished while sitting on his horse at the rear of the crowd during the storm-repelling prayer.

Extract from: Hastings, H.L. (1882) “Ebenezers; or Records of Prevailing Prayer” London: Houghton & Co. pp. 11-17

“And all things, whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matthew 21:22