Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. - Ephesians 6:18
I turned down the frozen vegetable aisle at the supermarket and saw three young men—mid twenties—standing close to one another near the hash browns. I thought it was an unusual, suspicious scene. But as I drew near, I saw one man put his hand on another’s shoulder and heard him quietly say, “we can pray about that.” By the time I was passing by them, the three had bowed their heads and one man began in prayer. “Father God,” he said, and then I was too distant to hear more. I opened the freezer door for my veggies and glanced back at them, still huddled close together and continuing to pray. I couldn’t imagine what necessitated this gathering, but whatever it was, these men did not let a frozen aisle in a busy store deter them from speaking with God.
I’ve thought about this scene a good deal since I observed it. It felt inviting, warm and far too uncommon. It’s easy to tell someone we’ll pray for them, give them a hug and walk away. You might be the kind of person to remember every one of those promises. Or, you might be someone who forgets to follow through from time to time. What if we decide instead to grab the moment when we see the need and pray right then and there—grocery aisle, car wash, locker room or office water cooler. A simple question, “can I pray for you right now?” is usually all that’s necessary to initiate a conversation with God and stand in the gap for someone else, in an act of love and devotion. With practice, we can actively support and uplift others through our prayers, making wherever we are at the time a sacred, holy place—even a frozen aisle in the supermarket.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
Don’t feel obligated to pray in the moment in every circumstance, but be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading. It’s good to examine our response to other’s needs and see where our habits may need to be modified. Perhaps the actions of these bold young men may embolden us as well.