Two recent answered prayers are cause for my gratitude. One involved a little girl and her lost teddy bear. The other involved a friend suffering from kidney disease. My wife and I celebrate both answers. Theologically, these answers are testimonies of God’s kingdom being near. Both answers were heart-warming.

    Our experience indicates that a spiritual dimension, the realm of heaven, is accessible to ordinary humans. Many people try to pray but don’t expect answers. In the Bible, answered prayer was a common occurrence. Answered prayer verifies the existence of an infinite-personal God, the deity who our Lord Jesus called, “Father.” This biblical God (Yahweh) sent his Son to save us. This God listens to our prayers. He wants our joy to increase because we receive answers to our prayers.

    Why is answered prayer important? It’s a testimony of faith in God that can’t be ignored.  It’s also a tribute to the Person who is answering, a sign that He cares. But the big question is, “How can I pray effectively, in faith, so God will hear me?”

    America’s culture has a split personality. It’s either religious or secular. I’m both! I’m scientific and I’m a believer. I live in a miracle, the church. Non-religious spirituality is rising but church attendance is declining. Ignorance of the Bible is rampant. Public discussion of morality is absent because belief in a holy God has waned. This wasn’t always the case. Now atheists and agnostic educators – humanists with moral compasses set on spin – freely promote the posture of skepticism in classrooms to the point that it’s the unofficial policy of America’s colleges and universities.

    Back to answered prayer. A friend was suffering from terrible kidney stones. Too large to pass, unable to break them up, surgery occurred to save his kidney. One large stone was safely removed but two others could not be taken out, so more radical surgery was planned for later. We went to prayer for him. We sent him an anointed cloth. In the recent follow-up with his doctor, he discovered that the two remaining large stones had vanished. The doctor said, “This is a miracle!”

    The second instance is simpler but proof of Poppa’s tender love. Our four-year old granddaughter couldn’t find her beloved teddy bear. Her parents searched their house in vain before leaving for Christmas. “Berry the Bear” was lost! A sad little girl grieved for her lost teddy bear. Last week, Grandma Lana gave her another stuffed bear and told her, “Let’s ask your Heavenly Father to send an angel to help you find Berry.” Then she prayed a brief conversational prayer with her. Fifteen minutes after leaving with her mom to return to her home, our daughter texted us, “We just found Berry!” She didn’t even know about Grandma’s prayer! This child experienced a big hug from God. It was real to her, not theological, not religious. I like that!

    Jesus said that a child-like relationship with Heavenly Father is what the kingdom of God is about. This is my God – the One I worship – who listened to me when I was a child, praying. I know now that being made right with God (through the grace of Jesus) is for this very purpose, so that I may know Him and help express His Son’s life here on the earth.  Our Father loves us. He wants our suffering to be diminished and our fellowship with Him to be enriched. Incredible but true- God wants you and me to know the Lord as our Friend and He wants you and me to be known by Him.

    Ron Wood is a writer and minister living in Arkansas. Write to him at wood.stone.ron@gmail.com or visit his website at www.touchedbygrace.org.