Highway Prayers

DAILY READING

Philippians 4:4-7

One day recently I was riding down the interstate and I noticed a car in one of the other lanes. It was covered with writing on the windows: “Mayo Clinic-bound!” “Please pray for us!” “Praying for healing!” I was touched. Here was a family on a journey seeking healing, driving a long way, and gathering prayers as they went from perfect strangers. 

I silently prayed for this family — not knowing a thing about their situation, only knowing that they had requested prayers. I took comfort in the fact that God knows them, knows their need and delights in answering prayers.

I’ll never know how their trip to Mayo Clinic turned out. Did they get the diagnosis and treatment they needed? Did they leave discouraged or full of hope? Did they find the healing they sought? I don’t have answers, but I have faith that for one moment I had the privilege to pray for a brother or sister in need, and that God was pleased.

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• Have you ever prayed for a complete stranger? What was the circumstance?
• How did praying for them affect your faith?
• Ask God to help you be aware of someone for whom you can pray today.

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Next time you’re riding in the car, pick out another car near you and pray for the people in the car. Ask God to bless them and to meet their needs. Thank God for always listening to our prayers. Notice how it makes you feel to be able to pray for someone else.

PRAYER GUIDE

Loving Father, give us eyes to see the needs of people around us. Nudge us to pray for those within our circle of influence. We thank you for always hearing our prayers — even when we will never know the outcome. Amen.

WRITE FOR THE FIELD GUIDE

Are you inspired by the Daily Field Guide devotions each week? You can inspire others in the congregation with your reflections on God’s word by becoming a Field Guide author! Contact Jason Alteri at jalteri@bumc.net to learn more.