This is a testimony sent to me by one of my readers. Jody wrote in response to my recent article “Effective Prayer,” which got me thinking that articles/stories such as this would be a great way to encourage others that God is on the side of believers in Christ, and He does answer prayer in His timing (usually at the very last minute) when we have exhausted all effort and find ourselves in desperate need.

Hi Jim,

I had a very similar experience to your food prayer in this article. It was the first answered prayer God ever gave me, and I have NEVER forgotten it. In my case, God did not provide money but the actual food from the hand of a very standoffish person I worked with.

One night, I had exactly $1.00 in my bank account and no food in the house. And I have hypoglycemia, so I need to eat regularly. I was not getting paid until the next day and had no idea how I would cope without food for the next 24 hours. I worked the night shift and left my apartment that evening to head to work. In the hallway of the apartment complex, I said a prayer to God. I said, “Lord, you know I need to eat, and you know I have no money and don’t get paid till tomorrow. Will you please provide something for me to eat tonight?” Then I continued out to my car and headed to work.

Once at work (I was a little early), I took my bag upstairs and set it at my station, and then headed back downstairs to the cafeteria to relax before my shift. As I was coming down the stairs, a coworker that I had hired in with and attended training with was coming up the stairs. In her hand, she had a McDonald’s bag. As we passed, she looked at me and said, “Jody, would you like this McDonald’s meal? I only bought it because I had to get the Dances with Wolves video that came with it.” This was the early 90s, and that movie was relatively new and had just come out.

I can tell you that I almost fell down the rest of those stairs; I was so shocked. I gladly accepted her offer and then headed to the cafeteria and ate my meal that the Lord had just so graciously provided. I also have to say that this was not the friendliest girl I’ve ever known either. Pretty standoffish and not warm or touchy-feely. So God not only provided exactly what I asked for, but He also used the most unlikely person to do it. A few years later, I heard that this girl became a Christian.

From that moment on, my faith was cemented, and I knew I could count on God no matter what. Answered prayer doesn’t come as instantaneously as that one did anymore, but He is still just as faithful even when it takes longer. I am currently going on 10 years waiting for the fulfillment of my last prayer of this kind (regarding finances and housing).

When I read your article, I knew you’d be able to appreciate my comment. Thanks for sharing, and I enjoy reading your articles at Rapture Ready.

God bless you,

Jody

LATER, after I asked Jody for permission to share this story. Jody wrote:

I can’t say I’ve had many (miracles) like that, but I have had a few more and had much bigger ones happen.

That same job terminated me in 1998 due to illness, and I asked God if He would like me to fight the termination or walk away. The word came back to fight but that the battle would be His and not mine. Two years later, I walked back into that job after beating them in federal court. He always comes thru when I let Him choose the answer and the action. The result did not surprise me, but more than a few people were in awe and amazement, and I made sure I gave all the glory to Him. I hope a few people came to know Christ thru that answered prayer.

I’ve also had some equal disasters when I have not allowed Him to choose or asked Him what to do.

I don’t mind a bit if you use my story. Just let me know when you do so that I can read it and save it. Thanks! I love to talk to people who also know God this way and have similar experiences. I don’t know many people that allow God this level of control over their lives.

Best wishes,

Jody

NOTE:

If you would like to share your story about God’s faithfulness, send it to me, and let’s see if and how God can use YOUR testimonial. Please try to make it two pages or less and try not to ramble too much (as I often do).

YBIC

Jim Towers

Write me at jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com or visit me at www.dropzonedelta.com Warriors following Christ or my website www.propheticsignsandwonders.com

Most of us pray only when we need something or are ailing. That’s the way it was with me for the longest time. Relying on my wits and abilities, I plunged into places angels fear to tread (I just thought that last phrase was catchy – forgive me.)

Prayer was one of the last things on my mind. I will say this though, my prayers were always in earnest and believing. And now that I am older, I am more prone to reflect on the deeper things of God and find myself in prayer continually, although I can’t remember praying in fear about anything. Mostly, my prayers are for others and my country – which I believe stands in peril because of its moral collapse.

Praying to me is simply talking with God, appreciating Him and His presence in my life. This in spite of our proclivity for sinful behavior. (Thank God for Jesus!)

Is it any wonder David of the Old Testament found favor with God? David, although being all too human, was given favored stature before God Almighty. David was always talking with God. (He even wrote songs to God. You can read them in the book of Psalms.)

What I’m trying to say here is that when we call out to God, we must do so with honesty and openness if we expect Him to listen.

God hates the hollow repetitious prayers that are mouthed by some. Even a heartfelt “Our Father” can have the stench of piety or hypocrisy to our omniscient God, who knows our propensity to fake it – especially in front of others.

Today I stopped at the grocery store on my way home, and after I got out of the car – low and behold, I spotted a dollar bill lying on the pavement of the parking lot next to where I parked. Naturally, I picked it up and looked to see if anyone had dropped it. There were only a couple of other people, but they were too far away to have dropped it in that spot. That incident reminded me of the time I hadn’t eaten all day and was famished; on top of that, my car had broken down, and I was on foot.

It was late at night, and just like in a movie of a poor, hungry soul, I was trudging along 123 Street in North Miami just west of Biscayne Blvd near the Old Movie Studio where “Flipper” had been filmed years ago. I was praying for myself for once while my stomach cried out for food. (I hadn’t yet been paid for my latest gig.) Because of my need for glucose, I felt I would soon fall on my face from weakness onto the cement sidewalk.

The short, desperate prayer had just left my lips when a gust of wind blowing from west to east made what little litter in the gutter flutter and come toward me. Among the candy wrapper and a couple of pieces of paper, I spotted what I knew to be paper money. Instantly, I ran and picked up the ten-dollar bill God had sent me. I thanked Him profusely, and shaking like a leaf, I went back to Kenny Rodgers Fried Chicken a block away and ate to my heart’s content.

Incidentally, I wrote about this and the many other incidences of miraculous happenings in my 240-page manuscript (for which I’m still seeking a publisher).

There are all kinds of prayers going up to God at any given moment.

Consider the apostle Paul who prayed for healing for a “thorn” he had in the flesh. If the thorn was some physical ailment or something like arthritic pain, God might not have said, “My grace is sufficient for thee.” On the other hand, if it was one of sinful desire or thought, it might have been more apropos to say such a thing since He accepts us with sinful baggage that we find hard or even impossible to overcome. A perfect example is when a man sees a desireful woman and wonders what it would be like to spend some time with her. After all, we are sexual creatures. (I’ll leave that hot potato right there.)

My take on prayer is that we must really say what is in the deep recesses of our hearts and minds, no thees and thous. Fall on your face if you must; confess your sins if you must; this may be the only time you will be able to be frank with God Almighty – take advantage of this opportunity. There are times when we don’t know what else to do but pray, like the loss of a loved one, loss of income, hunger, pain and/or utter defeat.

Whenever I get down, it only takes a short prayer for God to send healing and hope. On the other hand, sometimes it seems to take forever as in, “Those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

When things seem to be taking a long time to come together, it could be that the angels that God has ordered to rescue you have been hindered by our adversary? Jesus said to pray without ceasing.

If you can’t see the glory of God while driving along the highway and seeing the ocean pass by with a beautiful sunset in the background to appreciate, then you may not be a Christian after all. Maybe a walk in the woods or being surrounded by flowers is for you, but I find myself being thankful for all these wonders and praising God all day long.

Yes, that’s the KEY to what I’m attempting to say; praise is the key that unlocks the door to God’s heart. Thank Him for your food, for your rest, for your health, for the undeserved relationship that Christ made possible for you, and you will find God’s ear inclined toward you. He loves those who love Him.

In some cases, the best we can hope for is to be at ease in our current circumstances and wait on the Lord to act on our behalf. Don’t forget that the Bible tells us to wait upon the Lord. “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall run and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

P.S.

I’m reading a book with the title “Jesus” that was written to explore the intimate details of Jesus’ early life. It’s a very interesting book, and I’ll tell you something about it when I finish. It is written by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola and is referred to as a “Theography” as opposed to biography.

YBIC

Jim Towers

write me at jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com or visit me at www.dropzonedelta.com and my very own website www.propheticsignsandwonders.com.