When did you stop?

Why did you stop?

What caused you to lose confidence in the very act of praying?

Surely, you did, at one time, call upon the Lord in prayer…didn’t you?

There is a country song titled, “Unanswered Prayers” which was made famous by Garth Brooks a few years ago. Okay, it’s been a little more than a few years but we won’t talk about getting old here. The context of Garth’s song is running into your high school sweetheart after having grown into adulthood, married someone else, had children, etc. The “old flame” was the one he used to pray that God would allow him to have for the rest of his life.  Obviously, God didn’t answer his prayer, they moved on to love another and now, being happy with his life, says that there are times when he thanks God for unanswered prayers.

Can I be honest? There are not many times in my life that I get great joy out of unanswered prayers…at least not in the moment.

It was my parent’s divorce that did it for me. I had a wonderful prayer life. I had been preaching for five years and was in my senior year of high school.  I had a great girlfriend (who actually married me), an awesome car, and what I thought was a perfect family. When I discovered that my parent’s marriage might be coming to an end, I prayed like I had never prayed before. I prayed a lot! I prayed, believed, claimed Scriptures, and everything else I thought might move God to answer my prayers.  He didn’t…they divorced…and I quit talking to Him.

So, there I was, on my way to the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago to prepare for full-time ministry and I was no longer speaking to the One whom I was preaching about on a weekly basis.  I was the prodigal son, only I was still telling others about my wonderful heavenly Father while not being fully convinced that He was all that wonderful deep down inside.

It was up there on Culby 18 that it all changed. Someone on our floor turned the custodial closet into a prayer closet.  I can still remember going in there and just sitting awkwardly as if I expected an audible apology.  I’d like to tell you that the glory fell in that moment and tears broke forth like a raging river but I’d be lying.  I sat in there, silent, alone, and then I walked back out…still upset, still doubting.  A few days passed, and the Holy Spirit was working overtime on my heart.  Every time I walked by that closet I felt strangely compelled to step inside.  One day I did…I was not alone…Someone was inside waiting for me…in that closet I realized again what I had known all along; He had been there all along and had never left me alone.  From that day on, I frequented that closet and God began to heal my broken heart.

That was sixteen years ago.  I wish I could tell you that I never missed a beat in my prayer life after that.  Again, I’d be lying if I said such a thing.  There is much more to say, and I’ll say it in my next post.  For now, let me leave you with these words of encouragement.

Find your closet…step inside…He’s there…He’s been waiting…and He’s listening…talk to Him…PRAY.