It works! It really works!

I have reached a point in my memoir where I am recounting how I came to know the Lord. I was stubborn and rebellious and did not come easily. One thing that I have recounted numerous times in speaking around the country and witnessing to others is that I came to know the Lord after reading the Bible in the hospital as I recovered from a terrible car accident. After reading God’s word I became convinced that in spite of my depraved condition that Jesus Christ loved me deeply, offered hope, and was willing to forgive my sins if I would repent.

One thing that had not dawned on me until I undertook this project and looked a little deeper at all of the pieces leading up to my salvation was how instrumental prayer was in this process.

Behind the scenes my parents, and in particular my mother, was relentlessly praying for me during my years of torment and never did give up on me. I have recounted several of these incidents in my book. I sincerely believe her prayers and my father’s prayers were vitally important to my conversion.

One notable incident was when I was AWOL from the military. The entire time I had been gone I had not called a single person. As far as anyone knew I had just dropped off the face of the earth. One night I just felt a strong urge to call home. I was unaware that my mother who did not know whether I was alive or dead had been on her knees fervently praying for me that very night and her prayer was specific that I would call home that night. During that call my father was able to convince me to leave my safe haven in Canada and turn myself in. It still took a while for me to find God but it did point me towards a path of eventual redemption.

Another incident was when I was in the hospital in a coma after my serious car accident in Atlanta. During the time I was unconscious I had a vision that I died and went to hell. When I awoke I was terrified because it seemed so real. I told my mother about it and it scared her very badly. She and my father prayed for me and she even called her sister and enlisted her into praying for me too.

Shortly thereafter I read the Bible while still in the hospital and accepted the Lord as my Savior and began the process of turning my life around.

What this tells me is that prayer works. The Bible states it and I have seen it in my own life in people praying for me, and me praying for others.

I hope your prayer life is active and is a serious part of your life. I don’t have time in this column to tell you of all of the other times I have seen it miraculously work in my own life, but trust me I have seen it time and again.

Don’t give up on prayer and don’t give up on those for whom you pray. God hears every one of them and the Bible tells us that He answers prayer. The answer is not always yes, but there is always an answer. Also He answers in His timeline and not ours. God is not a short order cook, so be careful that what you ask for is within His will.

I can tell you I appreciate the prayers offered up for me, particularly as I write this book. Below is a prayer that I received the other day from a reader of WFTD and know that I am very thankful for this kind person sending me this prayer. I read it every day and pray it before working on my book.

“Father God, I pray for my brother and that you will use this time in his life to reflect on your grace and forgiveness. I pray Lord that you will give him the courage to move forward as he writes. Lead him again to your light on paper to reflect on who you are Father, your power, love, forgiveness and what you have done in his life. Thank you Lord for his willingness to share his deepest hurt and pain that others may come to know you and be delivered from a life of turmoil.
In Christ Name. Amen

‘And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”-Luke 24:47.'”


Phil.4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God,
And the peace of God which
surpasses all understanding, will
guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.