This morning as I was driving down Wilshire Avenue, I noticed a red and white sign. Actually, I notice it almost every morning as I drive by that same location.
It’s a FOR SALE sign that sits near the edge of large empty field advertising for a commercial real estate business.
It is also a prayer marker for me.
Just as I use a yellow highlighter to underline or “mark” passages in books I’m reading, I have “markers” that remind me to pray.
This one is for the sign’s owners; friends I rarely see these days but spent large chunks of time with when our kids were in school together. Years ago, I promised myself (and them) that when I passed one of their signs I would say a prayer for them.
So I do.
It isn’t long. It isn’t complicated. Usually it is something like this:
“God, I bring Brent and Wynell to you. Be with them today. Meet their needs. Show yourself in their life in some way.”
Sometimes I pray for one of their kids. Sometimes I pray for their health, or that a property will sell. Often I just pray whatever comes out and trust that the Holy Spirit will prompt me on what their needs are.
I have a lot of prayer markers – things I “take notice” of that prompt me to pray for a particular person or situation…
- The song that reminds me to pray for my friend who loves it.
- The neighborhood dog that reminds me to pray for its owner.
- The ambulance rushing down the street that reminds me to pray for a paramedic friend.
- The ringtone that reminds me to pray for my son.
Anything can be a prayer marker if it jogs my memory of someone or something and causes me to pray.
When I was young I thought that to “intercede in prayer” meant that I had to get on my knees and pray for a deliberate amount of time.
These days, I’ve learned that sincere prayer can happen anywhere, even in a car driving down the road.
You just have to do it.
Super, as usual, Good reminder for us
I am going to start doing this. I was just thinking about how to remember and pray more often for my friends, past and present. Thank you!