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Inspiration Point: Pray when it is much easier not to |
Bang! I had an
eight-point buck. The broad-shouldered beast sprung from the tall
corn, surprising me as it broke through a thin veil of early morning
fog. What a trophy!
It was a prize any hunter would be proud of. But I wasn’t smiling.
I had rammed the deer with my van as it bolted across the road.
Less than 45 seconds before impact, I was at a crossroads. Either
right or left would have taken me to my morning destination — my
friend Robert’s house. I almost went left. I turned right.
My van was drivable; I wasn’t hurt. And somebody even came by who
needed the meat. So I continued my travels.
When I arrived at Robert’s house and told him what happened, he
started laughing. Resisting the temptation to punch him, I listened.
He told me how he had suddenly woken up that morning, feeling he was
supposed to pray that I would have a safe journey.
Instead, he went back to sleep.
Why didn’t you pray? He replied, “I figured you knew how to drive.”
I did. The deer didn’t ... thanks Robert.
Would his prayer have prevented the accident, changed my direction
at my crossroads?
Obviously, there’s nothing that says: “Thus saith the Lord, pray
and the buck won’t be struck.” More importantly we should ask: “What
role does prayer play in my life when I’m at a crossroads?”
The Bible says, “Do not be anxious about anything.” That seems
impossible — especially at the crossroads. It continues: “But in
everything, by prayer; earnest, pleading prayers mixed with
thanksgiving present your urgent requests to God.”
And then the impossible happens: “And the peace of God which
transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind ...”
Now that’s a trophy; that’s what we need when we collide with
obstacles at the crossroads of our lives.
Syndicated columnist Rick Leland is
pastor of The Free Church in Three Rivers, Mich. |
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From
May 26, 2007,
Newberg Graphic
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