By Marybeth Whalen
“As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right” I Samuel 12:23 (NIV)
Do you pray in your car? How about in the shower? Or while you are brushing your teeth? These are all moments in my day when I have learned to take advantage of the time I have to pray. This lesson was brought home to me in a whole new way one day as I was out driving around. It was one of those days when I had a long list of errands and many parking lots and highways to navigate. As I drove, I noticed a silver sedan ahead of me, which made me think of a friend of mine who drives one of those kinds of cars and was going through a tough time. As I looked at the car, I felt like God was telling me that my friend really needed my prayers that day. And so I prayed, and made a mental note to call her and check in with her as soon as I got home.
Just a few minutes later, I saw another similar silver sedan, and so I prayed again. Moments later, another one. This continued on throughout the day. By the end of the day, I was just laughing at how God had arranged for me to notice so many of these silver sedans—so many that I couldn’t not pray for my friend all day. I was reminded that day in a powerful way that: 1) God loves each of us enough to bring reminders to others to pray for us, and 2) God wants us to pray for our brothers and sisters. If we are obedient, He will send us reminders to help us lest we forget in all the busyness of our lives. Saying, “Oh, I meant to pray but I forgot” will be a thing of the past if we rely on Him to help us remember. As my silver car example proves, He can provide us with some pretty creative reminders.
I know one woman who knew she needed to pray for her brother who was going through a tough time. So she decided to pray for him every time she brushed her teeth. Even after her brother’s hard time was behind him, she still found herself praying for him while she brushed her teeth, and was grateful that, through this commitment to prayer, she had formed a habit. So, she continued to pray for her brother and still does to this day.
No matter where or when or what God uses to prompt us to pray, we know that it is vital to pray. God uses cars, and toothbrushes and anything else that is needed to help us remember to intercede for those people who desperately need our prayers. As a recipient of some of those prayers through the years, I am grateful for a creative, involved, active, loving God who will use whatever He can to remind us to lift up each other in prayer.
Dear Lord, please remind me who I need to pray for and help me to be obedient to pray for them immediately. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
A Busy Woman’s Guide to Prayer: Forget the Guilt and Find the Gift by Cheri Fuller
Visit Marybeth Whalen’s blog
For the Write Reason General Editor Marybeth Whalen
Application Steps:
The next time you are on the road, look around at the cars and pray for people you know who drive those same kinds of cars. Let this become a habit for you.
Reflections:
What creative things has God used to remind you to pray for someone?
Are you finding pockets of time in your day to pray?
Power Verses:
Numbers 11:2, “When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down.” (NIV)
Romans 1:9-10a, “God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times.” (NIV)
Luke 18:1, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (NIV)
© 2008 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.
“As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right” I Samuel 12:23 (NIV)
Do you pray in your car? How about in the shower? Or while you are brushing your teeth? These are all moments in my day when I have learned to take advantage of the time I have to pray. This lesson was brought home to me in a whole new way one day as I was out driving around. It was one of those days when I had a long list of errands and many parking lots and highways to navigate. As I drove, I noticed a silver sedan ahead of me, which made me think of a friend of mine who drives one of those kinds of cars and was going through a tough time. As I looked at the car, I felt like God was telling me that my friend really needed my prayers that day. And so I prayed, and made a mental note to call her and check in with her as soon as I got home.
Just a few minutes later, I saw another similar silver sedan, and so I prayed again. Moments later, another one. This continued on throughout the day. By the end of the day, I was just laughing at how God had arranged for me to notice so many of these silver sedans—so many that I couldn’t not pray for my friend all day. I was reminded that day in a powerful way that: 1) God loves each of us enough to bring reminders to others to pray for us, and 2) God wants us to pray for our brothers and sisters. If we are obedient, He will send us reminders to help us lest we forget in all the busyness of our lives. Saying, “Oh, I meant to pray but I forgot” will be a thing of the past if we rely on Him to help us remember. As my silver car example proves, He can provide us with some pretty creative reminders.
I know one woman who knew she needed to pray for her brother who was going through a tough time. So she decided to pray for him every time she brushed her teeth. Even after her brother’s hard time was behind him, she still found herself praying for him while she brushed her teeth, and was grateful that, through this commitment to prayer, she had formed a habit. So, she continued to pray for her brother and still does to this day.
No matter where or when or what God uses to prompt us to pray, we know that it is vital to pray. God uses cars, and toothbrushes and anything else that is needed to help us remember to intercede for those people who desperately need our prayers. As a recipient of some of those prayers through the years, I am grateful for a creative, involved, active, loving God who will use whatever He can to remind us to lift up each other in prayer.
Dear Lord, please remind me who I need to pray for and help me to be obedient to pray for them immediately. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Related Resources:
Do You Know Him?
A Busy Woman’s Guide to Prayer: Forget the Guilt and Find the Gift by Cheri Fuller
Visit Marybeth Whalen’s blog
For the Write Reason General Editor Marybeth Whalen
Application Steps:
The next time you are on the road, look around at the cars and pray for people you know who drive those same kinds of cars. Let this become a habit for you.
Reflections:
What creative things has God used to remind you to pray for someone?
Are you finding pockets of time in your day to pray?
Power Verses:
Numbers 11:2, “When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the Lord and the fire died down.” (NIV)
Romans 1:9-10a, “God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times.” (NIV)
Luke 18:1, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (NIV)
© 2008 by Marybeth Whalen. All rights reserved.
3 Comments:
Thanks MaryBeth for the reminder that God can use anything to remind us to pray for others. I have several things that remind me to pray for other. The UPS truck, passing by friends home or roads that led to their homes and livestock for the friends that farm.
:) i get so many reminders and always thank God whenever the reminders bring a big smile to my face.
I feel guilty when I don't have a solid block of time to spend in prayer but with young kids that's nearly impossible! This was a good reminder to me that the prayers I offer up throughout the day do matter too!
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