"Singing" to a Cup -- How Praying Creatively Brought an Unforgettable Experience

My daily morning drive takes me approximately 25 miles northbound on Interstate 95, a time that I usually use to pray for people that God lays on my heart. As I pulled off at my exit, I looped around the off ramp and stopped at the traffic light; waiting to cross a busy, construction-filled boulevard. The work in this area has made it a 'full attention' intersection so I was looking around at all the cars when a large, noisy diesel pickup truck pulled up on my immediate left - in the left turn lane. I looked up at it and spotted six rough and burly guys jammed into the front and back seats. Only one window was slightly down.

My CD player was playing, "Smile" by Kutless, and it was rapidly approaching my favorite line: "With one smile I could see, the faith we share inside..." (I love that phrase!) Since I knew those words were coming, I decided to do something that has become a regular routine for me: pray for someone. But who? I decided to let my water cup help make the choice. Yeah, you read right. I have a water cup that usually has names written on the sides. Names of people I'm privileged to pray for on a regular basis. (And, yes, I do change it out on a regular basis.)

So, I picked up my 32oz, white Styrofoam cup, glanced at the first name I saw written on the side, and sang the song lyrics as a prayer for this particular person. Though my lips may have sung the lyrics, my heart's plea was, "Lord, let this young, teenaged friend be recognized by their countenance as a believer in You. Let Jesus be seen in their life."

Suddenly, I heard shouting in my left ear: "HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? SINGING TO A CUP?"

Startled, I turned the music down and looked out my window. From the white pickup, a tough looking guy in the backseat had rolled the window down and was glaring down at me. His countenance was anything but friendly. Just for a moment I felt a tinge of fear.

"Actually," I began, a beautiful peace instantly settling over me, "I'm praying."

This guy softened; his angry look instantly vanished, and he began to stammer out words. "Oh. Uhh, oh. Uhh, that's, uhh, good. Yeah, that's good."

I held up my cup -- resplendent with names very familiar and dear to me -- and twirled it slowly for him to read.

For several seconds I watched him study the cup with sad eyes. Then his eyes resolutely found mine.

"Would you pray for me?" He fell silent for a moment and I felt my mouth drop open. Did he really just ask me that, God?

Then he quietly added, "I sure could use prayer right now." The sincerity and desperation of his voice nearly brought me to tears.

"Sure I will," I said, looking him straight in the eye. "What's your name?"

"Cory."

"With a 'K' or a 'C'?"

"A 'C'"

"Cory, I will pray for you."

I dug for a pen, intending to add his name to the cup, but at that exact moment the traffic light turned green. Quickly putting the cup back into the holder, I drove out into the intersection, the white truck simultaneously turning left. Just then, another voice called out from the truck. More than a request, it was a plea, a cry: "Hey! Please pray for me too!"

There was no time to look over, to do so would have been dangerous with the amount of traffic around me, so I raised my left arm high out the window to signal that, yes, I'd heard - I would pray. In the next moment the truck was gone, out of sight, swallowed by the road congestion.

Tearfully, as I drove the remaining few miles to work, I made good on my promise... praying for these searching souls.

Think that people don't watch you?

*You* are watched, friend.

A hurting world is searching... looking... watching.

Lord, I don't know if I'll ever see Cory again, but I know that You can open his heart. You can help him. Please guide this truck full of workers to the beautiful Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Draw them; bring Your loving conviction to the sin which separates them from You. Give them the courage to cast their cares on You. Let Your grace be seen so clearly that they willingly surrender their lives to Your loving control.

And, God, should the reader of this story know You, instill a passion within them to live as shining and pure vessels. May Jesus be seen both inside and out... for all who look on and watch.

In Christ's beautiful name I ask,

Amen.

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Other articles involving Prayer that you might enjoy:

God and the Stuck Spark Plug - a Lesson in Prayer - Click Here

Praying for Someone Via Text Messages - Click Here

Praying From the Heart at a Graduation Ceremony -- and the Surprise That Followed - Click Here