Baby Brother
My brother David and I were the only kids in our family for the first eight years of my life and the first 10 of his. I really wanted to have a younger brother or sister to play with, so every night I prayed to God, “Lord, I would love a younger sibling if it is Your will.”

Well, one day David and I were eating lunch, and my parents told us that they had a surprise. I guessed it almost immediately: My mom was going to have a baby! David and I asked a billion questions and squealed with joy. Today I have a wonderful 5-year-old brother named Charlie who brings excitement and spontaneity to our lives. He’s truly an answer to prayer.
—Tegan from Maple Grove, Minn.

Lung Transplant
Last year, our close family friend's 5-year-old son was having serious trouble with his bone marrow transplant. His body rejected the marrow, causing him to contract a new disease. His lungs began to fill with fluid. His condition became so bad that he could not breathe on his own, and he stayed at Children's Hospital for three months.

He was like a brother to me, and I felt like I was related to his entire family. I had been praying for him long and hard every chance I got for months and months, and suddenly on Super Bowl Sunday we received a call that the hospital had received a pair of lungs for him that would be transplanted that night. Upon hearing these words I began crying, not only because I was so incredibly happy, but because God had answered my prayer in the darkest of times!

That time showed me how strong God is and that I can always lean on Him for answers to my prayers! He saved that boy's life!
—Rachel from Boston, Mass.

Friends and Home Schooling
Over the summer, my best friend visited from Illinois. I was so happy, and so was she. She confided in me that she didn't have many good friends in her town. She goes to a private school, and she felt that the girls there excluded her because her family doesn't have much money.

Since then, I’ve been praying for her that she would make some friends. Just a few months ago, she e-mailed me and told me that now she’s friends with practically all the girls in her school (it's pretty small)!

Here’s another answer to prayer. Just before my friend came, I was seriously considering home schooling. I had a very bad first year in junior high and didn't want to go back. I prayed to God that He would show me what I was supposed to do. I prayed for a sign, and the next day a man came to our house, selling materials for home schoolers. I was overjoyed! I knew it was a sign from God! Now, I'm home schooled and loving every minute of it!
—Emily from Cedar Falls, Iowa

Heart Miracle
I was born nine weeks early and was rushed to the neonatal intensive care unit. Many things were wrong with me, and the doctors didn’t think I would live. A heart-and-lung transplant was discussed. Many people prayed that God would heal me, and He did!

At 10 months old, I was taken to All Children’s Hospital so the doctors could assess my condition. They were amazed. I no longer needed the transplant or any other intervention! The cardiologist told my parents, “She could live to age 100 with that heart.”

This past year at my check-up, my cardiologist repeatedly said that the healing was a miracle. Prayer not only made a difference in my life; it saved my life!
—Sarah-Ashley from Tampa, Fla.

Money for Missions
I was accepted to go on the 2007 Brio missions trip and had mailed out a letter asking for donations toward the trip. It was the last couple of days before a payment was due, and I was freaking out about the money. I had started reading Daring to Live on the Edge: The Adventure of Faith and Finances by Loren Cunningham and read about how Christians shouldn't be worrying about money and just trust God. I prayed and asked God to help me stop worrying, and I didn't worry for the rest of the day. The next day, a check came in the mail for the amount of money I needed for the rest of my payment!
—Julie from Unalaska, Alaska

Encouraging Others
I lead a small group, and we started talking about opportunities we miss out on because we tell God to wait. I went away convicted and asking God not to let me miss important opportunities.

A few days later I was compelled to pray for a friend of mine and then let her know that I was convicted to pray for her. I wrote the letter and on Christmas Day received an e-mail telling how God had spoken to her through my letter. God used me to give hope to her when she needed it the most.
—Stephanie from Springfield, Ga.

Making Friends
In August 2006 I went to summer camp for the first time. I was 13 and had never been away from home for a week without my family or my friends! The week before camp I prayed hard, asking God to send me one friend to help me through the week.

My first day didn’t go well. Disappointed, I sat on a picnic bench by myself and ate an oatmeal cookie. Then, much to my surprise, I heard a voice behind me ask if I was enjoying my cookie! I turned around to see a girl standing by the picnic bench. I said hi, and she sat down beside me, proceeding to tell me all about camp. That week we became friends, and today we’re still communicating through e-mail. (We live far apart and can’t see each other often.) This is just one example of how God still answers prayer!
—Amy from Port Elgin, Ontario, Canada