Talking With God
The Power of Prayer
When I look back, I see a pattern.
Not a formula but a faithfulness. A pattern that God has always been listening to my prayers. Even in the times when I felt like He was far away, or I couldn’t feel anything at all… He was still near. Still listening.
For me, prayer has always been about sharing what’s on my heart honestly, even when it’s messy. And often, He shows me things I didn’t plan to pray for: people, situations, places, or even personal things He wants to bring into the light.
The Bible gives us this confidence:
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14–15
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles.”
Psalm 34:17
“He will call on Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble.” Psalm 91:15
And for me, prayer always goes back to Matthew 6:6, the secret place:
“When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
That’s what prayer looks like in my life. Quiet. Alone. Sometimes early in the morning. Sometimes on a drive. Sometimes even while walking with my camera, just talking to Him as I go.
And as I was reflecting recently, five answered prayers came to mind. I’m sure I’m forgetting many but these are the ones that stood out to me today. They remind me that even when I don’t understand everything, God hears.
Answered Prayers
1. The Toothbrush and Toothpaste
When we were living in a camper, things were tight. We had just run out of toothpaste and needed new toothbrushes. We didn’t even pray about it, just went out and bought them.
The next morning, my sister showed up with a gift. Inside? Toothpaste and toothbrushes. Exactly what we had just bought. She felt led to give them to us.
It was small, but it reminded me that God cares about the little things, and He wants us to bring everything to Him in prayer.
2. The Crossroad and the Truck
There was a stressful intersection near where we lived. One morning, I prayed, “God, I don’t want to be stressed today.” When I arrived, a large truck, something I had never seen stop, braked and waved me through.
At first I was confused. I thought he was just being friendly, so I waved back. But he was actually motioning for me to go.
It may seem small, but to me, it was an answered prayer. A reminder that God listens even when the request is simple.
And thinking back now, I believe God created that moment.
He probably put the desire in that man's heart to stop, just so I would know that He saw me, that He cared, and that He heard my prayer.
3. The Vision That Led Us
At one point, we had to leave our rental, and we didn’t know where to go. I’d get in my truck every morning just to drive and seek God.
One day, He answered with a vision, my first experience of that kind. It repeated three times. I knew He was showing me our next destination.
That vision led us to where we’ve now lived for over two years.
4. The Man Who Got His Senses Back
We had prayed regularly for a man who had lost his sense of taste and smell after a coma. It had been four years since he could taste or smell anything.
One day, he came to us in pain: his nose and tongue were burning like needles. What’s interesting is that he normally didn’t feel anything in those areas. So even though it hurt, the pain itself was a good sign, something was happening.
He asked for prayer again, and we prayed.
The next day at the soup kitchen, he showed up with a huge smile. He said that for the first time in years, he tasted his coffee, and it was terrible! Then he went to clean with his mop, and the smell was so strong and unpleasant that he had to throw it out.
God healed him and gave him a powerful testimony to share with everyone around him.
5. The Hospital Visit and the Peace That Followed
About 20 years ago, I had some friends from my old neighborhood who would often come over. Even though I was still smoking weed at the time, I would share the gospel with them, tell Bible stories, and answer their questions. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real and somehow, my place became a safe space where people could explore faith.
Years later, one of those friends reached out. He told me that another friend from back then, someone I hadn’t seen in a long time, was in the hospital, very sick, and considering assisted suicide. He asked me if I could record a prayer for him. But I felt I needed to do more than that. He wasn’t far, so I decided to go see him in person.
On the way there, I was full of faith. I had all kinds of pictures in my mind. I thought I would lay hands on him, pray, and God would heal him. That he would change his mind and find hope. But when I got there… none of that happened.
No word I shared seemed to reach him. He was closed off. My prayers felt empty. I left that hospital room feeling angry, helpless, and confused. I couldn’t understand why nothing worked. I was upset with God.
That week was hard. I knew I’d be going back to see him again in seven days, but I had no idea what to say or do. I kept praying and asking God to show me something.
And then something strange happened. The morning I was supposed to go back, I woke up from a dream. It was different than anything I’d ever experienced. In the dream, I didn’t hear words exactly, but it was like I received something deep, as if God had deposited inside me what I needed to say and do.
That same day, I also received encouragement and unexpected confirmations from a few brothers and even my wife. Pieces I didn’t fully understand until later.
When I walked into the hospital room that day, the atmosphere was completely different. The Holy Spirit came so strongly. Everything flowed. Words came with clarity. The message God had given me was released. There were others in the room, people from my past, and they were all witnessing what God was doing.
Sadly, my friend still chose to go through with assisted death.
But even though I was heartbroken, I had peace.
When I asked God why He allowed it to end that way, He spoke to my heart and said,
“Today, we gave him the best opportunity to turn away from his sins.”
That moment taught me something profound: God wants partnership.
He didn’t ask me to fix everything. He just asked me to obey, to show up, and to work with Him.
A few days later, his family reached out. They had heard what happened that day and asked if I could do the funeral. They thought I was a priest. And in a way, I am. Not ordained by any institution, but called by God to tend to hearts and bring His message.
That experience marked me. It reminded me that we can do many things “for” God but the real fruit comes when we move with Him.
How the Bible Taught Me to Pray
One thing I’ve learned is that prayer has to be real.
God already knows what’s in my heart. He wants me to say it. To be honest. To cast my cares on Him because He cares.
The Lord’s Prayer gave me a model:
- Start by honoring Him
- Thank Him for what He’s done
- Bring my needs, even if He already knows
- Ask for forgiveness and healing
- Pray for others
It centers me. Keeps the focus on Him and not just on me. He’s a King and I want to approach Him with both honor and friendship.
Jesus calls us friends. So often, I just talk to Him like one. I tell Him how I’m doing. What I’m struggling with. What I’m thankful for.
It’s a real relationship, not a performance.
What My Prayer Life Looks Like
Every day, I talk to my Friend.
Sometimes I need quiet time away, especially when life at home is busy. I might leave for a drive or find a moment in the early morning before everyone wakes up.
But most of the time, the line is always open.
Prayer happens as I go.
Driving is often when I pray the most. I turn off the music, clear my heart, and speak to Him. I’ve been blessed with work that kept me on the road and that’s where my prayer life was built.
Final Thoughts: Make Bold Prayers
For us, prayer wasn’t always a spiritual habit, it became survival.
There were many seasons when we were left alone, with no one to lean on but God. That created space to pray, to seek, and to grow.
And even now, though our prayer life isn’t perfect, we’re learning to give more, to be more intentional and more surrendered.
Before anything else, you need to be born again.
Repent. Be baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
And once you're His, remember what Jesus said:
“My sheep hear My voice.” (John 10:27)
If you want to grow in hearing Him, check out my blog on Hearing God’s Voice →
And then… start praying bold prayers.
Be ready to surrender.
Be willing to get uncomfortable.
And watch what God can do.
