My first clear and dramatic answer to prayer came in the early years of my ministry life. I was a college student at Ouachita Baptist University, attempting to pastor my first church in Washington, Arkansas, the historic Civil War Capital of Arkansas. There were four hundred people in this town which is now a beautiful State park.
Shortly after I began pastoring I read a small book in my dorm room called The Power of Positive Praying by John Bisagno, a well-known pastor in Texas. I don’t remember where I got that book, but it likely came from my father’s library.
In that small paperback there was a simple reminder that we are to pray believing that we have already received what we ask for. I took that to heart by asking the Lord with sincere conviction and a measure of eager faith in God, to take the habit of smoking away from two deacons who were the only two officers in the small country church. I prayed that week and went to the church on the weekend planning not to say anything to the deacons or to the church about the matter — just God.
These were fine men. In those days many men had taken up the habit of smoking when in the war since cigarettes were included in the rations package, and the warnings about the dangers of smoking were not so well understood as today. I appreciated these friendly and helpful Christians, but the habit they had was damaging to their influence and their health. We had not talked about it, however, up to this point.
I spoke that morning to the 50 or so people attending. I made no mention of my request to God earlier that week. I spoke again in the evening and nothing was said about it then either. After the evening meeting, when most of the people had left, I was standing outside by the huge Oak tree in the parking lot, which has since been removed. One of the deacons came up to talk as he might have done any other time. But this time, he had an important discussion to have with me. “I believe that the Lord wants me to stop my smoking,” he said with a serious look. He explained how he felt that this was a sin for him and weakened his testimony in the church and the small town. And then, to his surprise, I told him how God had led me to pray for him about this very thing this week. It was a very happy moment for me and for him. I did not tell him about my prayer for the other deacon.
About the time this happened, the other deacon walked to his truck, waving goodbye. Half my prayer was answered, and this other deacon who was driving away was now the focus of my request.
To my shock, he called me midweek in the dormitory. He hadn’t done that before. He said something like this: “Jim, I heard that J______ has stopped smoking. We talked together this week. I decided to do the same thing. I’m going to give up my cigarettes and renew my love for Christ.”
I was so excited. God answered my prayers specifically and much faster than I expected. I’ve not forgotten this simple request and answer which could have no other explanation but God.
_____
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