a tour of prayer

This morning I spent three hours prayer driving around our community with 6 others. We drove a big perimeter that took about 50 minutes around the entire Cedar Valley. And the remaining two hours, we drove several neighborhoods throughout. We prayed as we passed schools, hospitals, businesses, parks. As we drove through the residential sections, we prayed for families. We prayed for flood affected areas. We prayed as we passed the casino and strip clubs. We prayed for churches that we drove by, and for non-profits attempting to help those in need. Scripture was prayed, and spontaneous words from the heart. It was a powerful time that impacted me in these ways:

First, I was overwhelming reminded that it's all God. He is the Lord of all the earth, the Lord of the Cedar Valley. He is in charge. He saves. He is at work, and it is He who acts according to His good purposes. Nothing is possible without Him; everything is possible with Him. This time of prayer pointed powerfully to Him as the King on the throne, the lover of our city, the creator of the beauty around us, and the restorer of all which is broken.

Second, I found that it helped center me and give me spiritual eyes for the remainder of the day. Even as I spent time out and about with our kids in the afternoon, I found myself continuing to be prayerful...at the library, as I drove by places, and as I ran errands.

Third, it reminds me to be open to new experiences and to be willing to step outside of familiar or comfortable zones. God has used prayer walking over the past few years and prayer driving today with other believers to connect me not only with Him but with our community. My heart has grown for our community because of this.