I spent last night at my Mom's, so my drive to work this morning was going to be about 45 minutes instead of the usual 7 minutes and 24 seconds. Not that I really keep track or anything.. So what do I do with all that time in my car at 4:30 in the morning? There really was nothing to do, but pray. I found myself pouring out to the Lord about everything on my heart. Turns out that was a lot of stuff. Do you ever surprise yourself with what flows out of you when you pray out loud to the Father?
I prayed about relationships, finances, and more relationships. I prayed for my speaking engagements coming up. I prayed for my mom and for the Lord to comfort her in her grieving. And then I began to pray for someone I love, that my heart was just breaking for. Someone who had been suffering for such a long time, that I didn't know exactly how to pray anymore. I realized my own lack of faith as I struggled to pray for this person. It had been so long since he had some relief. I didn't know what to ask for. And I told the Lord exactly that. "Father, I just don't know what to pray for him anymore. Help me."
Just then, a tractor-trailer came up behind me on the beltway and I noticed in the front of his truck was a big cross. The cross was all lit up with white lights and somehow the driver had managed to hang it right onto the grill of the truck. And there it was bearing down on me in my rear-view mirror and on my heart. The Lord was answering my prayer. How do I pray for this person I love when I just don't even know what to pray for?
Pray that he comes to the cross. Pray the he finds forgiveness, healing and new life in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The answer to our deepest needs is the cross. And when we can't find words, He still finds us. Romans 8:26 says, .." We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words can't express."
Is He wonderful? He brings together a trucker with a lit-up cross on his front grill and a girl who ran out of words. And my heart rests in knowing that He hears me and loves me enough to meet me at 4:30 in the morning on the beltway when I've got nothing to do but pray.
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Tracey: I too, look for "signs" when I am at the end of my rope. I really should keep a journal of all the signs He has given me throughout my life, because there are many. Just recently, I too, was on the road, praying for a sign. I came upon a dump truck with these words written on the back: Jesus loves me. That was enough for me. Thank you, Lord, for being ever-present and hearing every whisper and seeing every tear.
Tracey,
I also find myself praying and calling upon His name for loved ones when I am driving on I-270 in the mornings. I set aside some time for devotion every morning; even after that time, whenever I am driving on the highway, I start praying endlessly. Keep on praying Tracey; He answers prayers at the time we least expect it.
Emeline