A Call for “Drive-By” Praying

In our ongoing series about prayer, we talked about prayerwalking last week. This, week, I

want to take you to a different place to pray: your car. Think, in fact, about how much time you and your family spend in the car. Then, consider how you use that time. Maybe you talk to one another. Perhaps you listen to something. Other than the driver, you might all be looking at your phones. Whatever you typically do, I challenge you to use your time to pray as you drive – even to pray aloud as a family as you go. 

Think about how many places and people you pass every day for whom you might pray, including these examples: 

• Other churches. How many churches do you drive by daily, but don’t think about praying for them? Perhaps our congregations would work together more often if we actually prayed for each other.  

• Schools. It’s important that somebody be praying for the teachers, the teens, and the children. If you drive by a school, be that intercessor.   

• Centers of other world faiths. When you see a mosque, a temple, or some other religious meeting place, pray that the leaders and the people who attend there might turn to Christ. You might be the first person and family ever to pray for them. 

• Hospitals. Inside those walls are likely people dealing with life and death. Families might be worried. Medical personnel are working long hours. Who’s lifting them to God? 

• “Pockets of sin.” I don’t know what that might be in your community. It might be an abortion clinic, an adult entertainment venue, a gang-ridden area, or another pocket of sin. I do know that prayer for folks who frequent and/or work at those places matters.   

• Bad drivers. You know who I mean—that person who cuts you off in traffic, who’s paying little attention to the road. Rather than curse under your breath, why not pray for him or her instead? 

• Military bases. These men and women put their lives on the line for us. We have an obligation to pray for them and their chaplain leaders who seek to guide them spiritually.  

• Unchurched neighbors. How many neighbors do you see as you drive to church on Sunday, and it seems certain they’re not planning to go to church? For many, worshiping God never crosses their minds. Interceding for them as you pass them on Sunday is not a bad idea. 

• Fire stations and police departments. As a former firefighter, I’m partial to this one. In fact, every siren I hear indicates somebody may be in trouble. An emergency may well be at hand, and first responders are running toward it. Let the familiar wail of a siren be for you and your family a call to prayer. 

• Playgrounds. Only God knows what kids are facing in their homes. Pray they will have believing parents and grandparents who will lead them to follow Jesus. For those who are not so blessed, pray they will hear the gospel.  

• School bus drivers. I doubt I have to say much about the pressure and responsibility of transporting dozens of kids throughout the day. How good it would be if a Christian bus driver greets those kids every day!  

• Funeral homes. You know why we need to pray for all those associated with these reminders of the reality of death.  

• Government buildings. The apostle Paul reminded us to pray for those in authority over us (1 Tim 2:1-2). Do that when you see government buildings and offices as you drive. During an election season, allow the seemingly hundreds of campaign signs in your area to compel you to pray.  

• Truck drivers. Some drive long hours and spend multiple days away from home. I assume that loneliness might be a struggle, and isolation could lead to temptation. Why not say a quick prayer as you pass a semi? 

• Highway workers. They’re often doing dangerous work as cars move past them (and, often too rapidly). What might happen if every believer who passes a highway worker prays for her or him? 

• Sports arenas. I love sports, but I also recognize we can easily make sports a god. Pray for the athletes and the spectators who might gather in that arena.  

• Drive-thru servers. I spend far too much time eating via drive-thru windows as I travel. Now, I’m learning to whisper a prayer for the persons who serve me through that window—realizing again that I might be the only person praying for that attendant that day.  

  
  

I’m sure you could come up with other ideas, and I’m glad you can. You might even think about, for example, praying for those folks you hear from as you listen to music, talk shows, or podcasts as you drive. Whatever you choose to focus on during a given drive, all of us can take this challenge to watch and pray as we drive. It’s just a matter of being intentional and seeing people as Jesus saw them: as sheep without a shepherd (Matt 9:36).  

If you really want to have fun with this approach to prayer, get your kids and grandkids involved. Tell them what to watch for, and I can almost guarantee you they won’t miss many opportunities to point out what they see. Depending on their age and church experience, they might even be willing to say the prayer.  

We may not always know about it until we reach eternity, but a short car ride saturated in prayer can make an eternal difference. Try it the next time you and your family jump in the car!