Some years ago I worked with a friend of mine at Alexander Youth Services. (Children’s Prison)
Every Sunday we would go and sing praise songs and teach a Biblical message. One Sunday I taught a lesson on what true freedom was, about how Jesus has the key to unlock the hold that Satin has on our lives. At the end of our time that day a young man came up to me. He was about 12 years old and was a “Wheel” man in a robbery. The gang had chosen him to drive as they knew that he would not be in jail long if he was caught.
As he approached me, he asked if I did personal prayer,. Well, of course, I told him “yes”. He began to tell me that his time had already been served but he could not go home. I asked him why and he told me that his mother was on cocaine. His case worker told him that they would try again in a month to see if his mom had started rehab. You see with her being the only adult in the home, he could not go home until she finished rehab. This was the second month of extension of his stay due to this problem… To make matters worse they told him that when she did enter rehab it may take 4-6 months for her to get out.
This young man was scared; he did not want to stay in this place any longer. Being young I can imagine that the older kids were mean to him. So I asked him if he believed in the power of prayer. He said he did and that he had heard of Jesus’ love. I put my arm on his shoulder and we bowed our heads. My heart was breaking over this young lad that had made a mistake. He had paid his dues and now was being punished more because he could not go home.
I prayed for God to intervene in this young boy’s behalf. It was just a simple prayer and I am not even sure how good it sounded. But that prayer meant freedom to this young man. As we said “Amen” I looked up into his eyes to see streams of tears running down his face. My heart ached for him… I wanted to just take him up in my arms and take him home. But the reality was that until his mother got clean he had to stay in Youth services…
Due to the fact that there are several “Communities” out there it sometimes takes us a month to make it back to any one community. It was the fourth Sunday from that day, when we made it back to that same building where the young boy was. As we set up our music and prepared for the guards to allow the prisoners into the day room, I turned towards the door just in time to see him come running through the door. He ran straight for me and literally jumped into my arms. He was so excited and began to tell me a new story.
Two days after I had prayed with him his mother had decided to go into rehab. In almost a month she had made a miraculous recovery. He said it was one of the fastest the center had seen. This young man was going home in 2-3 days and he was scared that he would not be able to see me to tell me of the power of prayer. His life was changed by the healing power that prayer brings. My life was forever changed as God blessed me with the opportunity to be a part of a miracle and that I was available.
Matthew 21: 21-22 So Jesus answered and said to them. “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, It will be done. 22) And whatever things you ask in prayer believing, you will receive.”
When Jesus walked this earth he said to a lot of people “Let it be according to YOUR faith.” This young man’s faith in the Lord was enough to take care of his needs. I don’t know where he is today but my prayer is that he has become a godly man and is following his Savior…
How is your faith today??? Are you available to God for His work today?
“The Greatest Adventure in Life is seen through the Love of Christ”
Bro John 501-262-0015
