He Answers Prayers (Sometimes in Unexpected Ways)

When a friend of mine suggested I become a Breakthrough Intercessor, I didn’t hesitate a second to say, “Yes!” I know first-hand the power of prayer – the idea that God wanted me to join with others in the Body of Christ to bring brothers and sisters in need to the throne was something I didn’t want to miss.

I am a prisoner in Florida, but right now I am freer of the chains and bondage of my soul than I have ever been in my life. It’s all because of Jesus Christ, and it’s such a wonderful thing.

I begin every morning in devotion and prayer. At first, years ago, my prayers always centered on me. “God, I need…,” or “God, can you give me…” were typical. Then, my family and friends, the people who promised, “We will be there for you,” started to drift away.

Soon I lost contact with everyone: my wife, friends, even my dad. They were gone. That’s when I found an odd phrase slipping into my morning prayers: “God, please watch over Cathy (my wife), Dad, and my friends.”

When I stopped to consider this, I was amazed. There was no bitterness in my heart toward them for not keeping their promise. Rather, I was asking my Savior to keep them safe in my stead. Strange reaction, indeed.

In the almost 15 years I’ve been in prison, I’ve discovered God answers prayers three ways: “Yes,” “No,” and “Not now.” I’ve received all three. And I am perfectly happy with whatever answer He provides.

Dad is just a handful of miles away from where I am incarcerated, but he won’t visit. I’ve asked God to bring him here; but so far, my answer is “no.” That’s fine. My wife hasn’t contacted me in 13 years, and I have no idea where she is (but she hasn’t divorced me – at least I haven’t received any papers). That’s okay, too. Friends? They stopped writing a year or two into my sentence.

But I know God’s got something special in mind for me, and I’ve been shown some of what that gift will be.

I began this story by telling you about a friend. That friend was an absolute stranger to me until I listened to the advice of a KAIROS prison ministry volunteer and submitted a devotion to a well-known Christian magazine. My prayer for it was: “God, use this to open someone’s eyes to Your goodness.” Little did I know that I would be that “someone.”

This new friend wrote to me after reading that devotional and has been an amazing blessing ever since. It astounds me when I think how important it is to me to know someone on the outside is aware of my existence. What a God gift!

And it hasn’t stopped there. Another group of believers started writing almost two years after that single little 250 word devotional was published. Their lives, too, were touched by my words. My words about God! Now I have even more friends. They are all siblings in Christ to me.

God also blessed me recently with the honor of having another devotional on Acts 3:16 included in a book that goes through all the New Testament passages with the reference 3:16. God is choosing to use me in prison to speak to people in the so-called free world. What a privilege!

There is so much else I would love to share about prayer; how I’ve discovered it’s not just submitting a want-list to God, how it is communication with the Creator, Lord, and Savior; how I’ve discovered the power of prayer flares—a quick, one breath “Thank You” or “Love you, Jesus” thoughts sent heavenward throughout the day; and how it is such an honor to lift people up whose needs make my paltry complaints and desire pale in comparison. If He desires me to write about them, I’m sure I will get to share more about prayer in the future.

For now, though, I want to acknowledge how Jesus Christ tore down the veil for us, gave us examples of how, when, and what to pray; and, most of all, thank Him for giving me – someone the world has labeled an inmate and worthless — the ability and opportunity to be used. May He shine brightly through my meager attempts to appreciate what He’s done and is doing in my life.

That in itself sounds like a prayer, doesn’t it?