I was sitting at a traffic light.
The morning was dreary and a light rain was falling on on my car’s windshield as I sat at a red light waiting for the light to turn green. A student crossed the street in front of me on her way to school. She wore a pink hat, sported a pink backpack, and wore pink boots on a rainy wintry day.
I prayed for her.
My eyes stayed on her as she made her way to the other side of the street. I prayed for her to graduate from high school, go to college, make a difference in the world and find Jesus.
She had no idea.
Afterward, I was reflecting on the miracle that had just happened. Though that person was unaware of what I had done, the truth was that I had talked with the Creator of heaven and earth about her. I had prayed blessing upon her life. The prayers arose from my heart with sincerity and were not quick, glib or rote. I believe what happened was Spirit led.
Why did I pray for her to go to college?
It’s fine that I did. As stated, my prayers came from my heart. But as I thought about it later, I wondered why that request came to mind, in particular. Only 7% of the world’s population goes to college, so college is not God’s best story for most people! As I reflected on what may have been a prayer influenced by American culture, my list for that dear person distilled to the most important two things in God’s eyes:
That she would know Jesus.
And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? (Mark 8:36)
That she would live the good purposes for which she was created.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)
Pray for someone this week. Even if they never know.
Picture Explanation: Some pink to remind us to pray. And a picture of a grandson that had a birthday this week. I have prayed for him his entire life, even though he doesn’t know.
Speaking of living for things that last: If you are interested in being contacted to participate in a One Gritty Blink Bible study, click on the Oaks Ministries link below and send me an email so I can place you on a list to be contacted as online and face-to-face studies are planned. Let’s not just focus on things in this short life, but also what counts for eternity!
Note: No part of my posts are derived from A.I. Thoughts and writing stem from my mind and heart as I process life week-by-week and continue to grow in my understanding of God and how to apply His wisdom to the world around me.
© 2024 by Oaks Ministries. All rights reserved.
3 Responses
Hi, Laurie! This post is a great encouragement for us to pray continually and to listen to the Lord about what He would have us pray. I don’t like seeing vans with dark tinted windows or no windows. When I see those vans, I think of human trafficking, and I always pray that there is no traffic going on and that if there is that those inside would be delivered from their situation and those involved in the trafficking would be punished. Sometimes I am outside of my own thoughts as I’m driving, and I pray for the people around me. Thanks, though, for this encouragement. Lord, help me to make this a continual practice in my life!
Thanks for sharing your prayer prompt about human trafficking. May we all remain connected to the Lord as we travel through the day. Our prayers are needed.
I live on a cross country thoroughfare, and I pray the same, LeAnn! … Thank you, God, that you constantly intercede, that you invite us to join you in those prayers, that you hear – even keeping those prayers in a bowl (Rev. 5:8), and that you answer! Thank you that You in us is greater than all of the evil in the world! And thank you for all of the praying Grandmas like Laurie out there. God, increase the number of believers who pray.