Whatever You Ask

Can you really move mountains through prayer alone? Before sailing for China, Hudson Taylor put that very question to the test—and watched God meet every need.

“Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13).

Hudson Taylor had a radical experience that changed his life. This change came suddenly and unexpectedly in the summer of 1849, when he was 17 years old. Paging through papers in his father’s library, he discovered some religious tracts. As he read one, he fell under a “joyful conviction,” fell down on his knees, and accepted “this Savior and His Salvation.”

After determining that Jesus would be Lord of every part of his life, Taylor felt called to be a missionary to China. But before he left, he wanted to be sure he could depend on God. Jesus had said, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do,” and Taylor needed to know if this was true. Was it possible “to move man, through God, by prayer alone?” He prayed, and God miraculously provided. Every bill was paid, every door opened, every challenge met.

When he was 21, filled with confidence, he left his native England for China, where he spent most of the rest of his life. During the course of his ministry, he established hundreds of mission stations and brought the Gospel to thousands of people.

Countless lives were changed because Taylor simply believed that God’s Word was true—that God would do whatever he asked in Jesus’ name. God is looking for other men and women who have this same willingness to believe His Word.

Dare to believe that Jesus’ words are true!

Reflection Question: When have you seen God miraculously meet your needs after you asked Him?

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Hudson Taylor?

Hudson Taylor (1832–1905) was an influential missionary to China who, after a radical conversion at 17, established hundreds of mission stations and reached thousands with the Gospel—living by the conviction that God answers prayer.

What does John 14:13 promise?

Jesus said, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” It invites believers to pray in faith, asking according to His will and for His glory.