On a hot August morning in 1983, I set off to take care of some last minute details for my daughter’s eleventh birthday party. My three children were home, and I had a limited amount of time. I hurried on my way to get the engraved Bible I had bought her. My little red Volvo and I were making very good time.
I had developed the habit of praying as soon as I got in my car. My children were usually with me most of the day, so I had learned to take advantage of “pieces of time” with only Jesus. On this day, as I was pulling up to a busy intersection in town, I got into the left turn lane. As I stopped at the red light, I immediately heard a word in my heart: “Pray.” I recall thinking, “What?” Then stronger and more urgently I heard the voice of God say, “Pray.”
I finally started to pray. I heard being whispered in my mind, “People don’t always stop at red lights.” As my light turned green and before I could fully process the thoughts in my mind, a car that had apparently been picking up speed ran the red light, turning right in front of me. I sat there for a moment like a child whose dad had just jerked her off a train track an instant before a huge train went tearing thunderously by.
Finally able to turn, I drove a moment or so until I could safely pull over. As I sat there thanking Jesus, I saw the faces of my children in my mind. I thought about what their lives would have been like without a mother to take care of them. There were many thoughts, but the strongest most desperate thought for a mother is taking care of her children.
My heart was so broken at the thought of them being alone without me. In that moment of pain, I understood a little of God’s tender love for us . . . the way He wants to take care of us. God is our Father in every sense of the word. The tenderness, watchfulness, and the desperate love He has for us is more than I can humanly understand. God tenderly jerked me away from that “train track” in my life, and let me know that His desire is to take care of us in every way.
Memory Verse:
“I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”
– Psalm 34:1 (NIV)
Prayer Prompt:
“Father, thank You for Your tender, watchful love and divine protection. Help me to always be aware of Your presence. I praise You today for never leaving me. I especially praise you for being with me when…”
Contributing Writer:
Jeannie De La Garza
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