Our Prayers Can Influence God

The prayer from the heart of a man right with God has much power. James 5:16 b (NLV)

The bible gives us the assurance that when we are right with God, we can influence Him. There are many examples in the bible of people who moved the hand of God. But the one example that stands out to me is with King Hezekiah. God sent the prophet Isaiah to tell him to put his house in order because he was going to die. But something amazing happened. According to the word of the Lord, King Hezekiah ended up living 15 years after that event. Why? The book of Isaiah tells us when this death sentence was given to the king he turned his face to the wall and prayed to God and before the prophet had left the middle court the word of the Lord came to him saying return and tell King Hezekiah "I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of 
the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.” (2 Kings 20:1-6). Did you get that? King Hezekiah was as good as dead, but he was able to influence God with his fervent prayer and because of that prayer of meekness God extended years to his life. If you are right before God your prayers do matter and you too can influence Him. Although you must understand when we pray to God we are making a request that is subject to His sovereign will. God will give you only what he deems best for you. So if you are in right 
standings before God and your prayers are not answered it is not that He does not hear you, it is because Father knows best.

When a righteous man prays and leaves it up to God to answer in His own way, there will be no unanswered prayers. ~C.W. Wood