Focal verse
“Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
Reflection
Every afternoon, no matter the weather, I pull into the gravel lot next to our school and wait. When I put the car in park, I’m generally in the middle of a line of cars. We’re all waiting to pick up our children at the end of the school day.
Peeking into the rearview mirror, I see that cars continue to line up behind me. Some afternoons, I watch kids on the baseball field or playground equipment. I imagine the end-of-school rush to get backpacks and homework loaded and the teachers sharing the last announcements. Some days I bring a book or catch up on messages to friends. Other days I listen to music or sit in silence. But other times I sit and pray.
These moments I spend in the car, praying, help me to prepare for the after-school time ahead but also to give thanks for the school day. I pray for the teachers and students. I pray for safety and health. I ask God to give me patience and peace. Sometimes I simply sit and offer the names of friends and family.
These prayers remind me that prayer can happen anytime and anywhere. We don’t need a specific script or a church building to offer our thoughts to God. God is with us and always ready to listen. God delights in our small pockets of time that we turn to in prayer.
November provides a prime time to focus on gratitude. I wonder if it’s also the perfect time to dwell in prayer. As we move toward Thanksgiving and the bustle of the holiday season, perhaps we need the reminder to use what small pockets of time we have to pray.
Maybe, while the morning coffee is brewing or you’re preparing your baby’s bottle, you say a quick prayer of thanks for nourishment. Maybe, when you’re driving the children to school and you hit a red light, you offer a prayer for safekeeping. There’s no wrong time to pray and no wrong words we can offer. God is with us and listening, delighting in our moments of connecting.
Practices
- For November, write a prayer together for each day. Talk with your family about what and whom you might pray for. You can add these written prayers to a prayer jar or display them in your home.
- Volunteer as a family at your local food pantry. See if you can serve a meal to those experiencing hunger or can organize the pantry’s shelves. While you’re there, say a prayer for all who walk through the doors.
Prayer practice
When you find yourself in your car, waiting, take a few moments to pray. If the words are hard to find, you can name friends and family. Or pray these words: God, thank you for this day and this time to be in your presence. Help me to remember that in the waiting you are with me. Be with our family. Help us to be bearers of light and love to others. Amen.
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