Prayer Answered

             Back in 1989 I had quit going to church and was having some problems with using drugs and not having a personal relationship with the Lord. I would hear the Holy Spirit urging me to come home sometimes, but stayed high when not working and sometimes while working and ignored the plea of Infinite love. One day on lunch hour I was feeling pretty nasty, too much cocaine and not enough sleep and I felt this urging from the Lord to get back in church. I thought, those people do not really want me there, yet I felt my need so strongly (the Spirit)that I just lifted up a little prayer to God and told Him that if someone invited me, I would go to church. I, of course, did not expect anyone would do such a thing as I had made it clear that the folks at church should leave me alone. Now several things were going on that I did not know about and here is how several prayers were answered. There was group of people at the church I had previously attended who had been praying for me for several months. I did not know this - but they were pleading with God to show me my need of Him as I was not responding to any of their calls. That day on lunch hour the Holy Spirit was pleading with me and informing me that I needed to go to church in answer to their prayers. Yes the prayers of a righteous man are answered by the Lord who loves us all soooooooooooooooooooooooo much!

             Back to me - when I got home that day, and walked in the door, Donnie said "you got a call from Mrs. Carlton today". I said, "what did she need"? (she was a little old lady about 90 years old that lived a few miles away). Donnie said, "she just wanted to invite you to come to church this Sabbath". I ask when she had called and Donnie said it was about 1:00 pm - RIGHT AT THE TIME THAT I HAD PRAYED "LORD IF YOU WANT ME TO GO TO CHURCH, YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE SOMEONE INVITE ME"! Now I know that this little Christian lady was following the prompting of God's Holy Spirit to answer my prayer. Well, guess who went to church that Saturday? The Lord blessed me with some new friends who encouraged me to start a personal relationship with Jesus and showed me how to do it. Sure I kept using the drugs for awhile, but the love of my Lord slowly overcame the urge to use the drugs and He changed my life radically. It's taken time and still is taking His time - He never gives up on me and in fact has promised to finish the work He has started in me. I am so impatient, He on the other hand is so very patient. Praise the Lord who answered prayers being prayed for me and my own prayer, even while I was high on drugs. Yes Jesus cares and answers prayer!

-Terry Newlon