Anytime is a good time to pray!  However, I find that being in traffic offers a wonderful opportunity to work on my relationship with God.  It just so happens that I have lots of time to do that, as we worked our way back to Ocala from Vermont.

Our trip takes us through some of the traffic capitals of the country: Hartford, New York City, the George Washington Bridge, Washington DC, and other spots along I-95 with construction or accidents.  I really, really dislike being in heavy traffic, moving at a snail’s pace. But, if I’m driving so I have responsibility for a passenger and the others on the road.

My children used to refer to me as the “Road Warrior” because my demeanor changed dramatically when I got behind the wheel of the car, even for the trip to school with little or no traffic. So, I know that this is an area of my life where I desperately need God’s help all the time!

I recently read a passage from Kasey Van Norman’s book, Raw Faith, which has helped me to understand the real purpose of prayer. Van Norman states that “The point of prayer is to come to a point where our only desire is to know and do the will of God.”

This means that I cannot pray that everyone else on the road will be vaporized. Or that there will be a state trooper down the road to arrest the reckless person weaving in and out of the lanes. This means that I stick to my own needs regarding my driving responsibilities. Do I know God’s will for me as a driver? I am pretty sure that it does not include cursing at everyone else on the road.

Van Norman also reminded me that if I cannot put my request into words, ask the Holy Spirit who knows and understands the will of God. He will intercede with “groanings,” sounds that only God understands. How wonderful!

So whether I am driving on I-95 or SR 200, I know that God loves me unconditionally. I know that God loves you unconditionally, too.

Terri

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

Originally posted on October 20, 2017