Thursday March 16, 2006

Pray For This Truck Driver

Last night, just before 8:30, a driver named Mark called from Michigan and said, “I need prayer.” 

The reason anyone calls our home/office, or any other field office in Transport For Christ at night, is that our phone numbers are listed on the back of The Road Map of Life New Testaments that chaplains, volunteers, and drivers place in truck stops, travel plazas, and restaurants across the USA and Canada.

I asked, “Are you comfortable telling me why you need prayer tonight and how I can pray for you?”

His Story:

Mark and his wife have gotten to a place in their marriage where each has fallen into a bad pattern of doing his own thing – partly due to the fact that he is away from home so much.  She has become so independent at home, taking care of the house and their daughter, that when he is home he doesn’t feel like part of the family, and all they do is argue.  (A very common thing in over-the-road truck drivers.)

I asked about his relationship with the Lord, and if he died tonight would he go to Heaven?  He wasn’t sure.  He said he tries to pray, but doesn’t think God hears him.

I told him that he wouldn’t be able to “fix” his marriage until his relationship with God was “fixed”.  After a bit more conversation, it was a joy to hear him pray and ask God to forgive him, change him, and take charge of his life.

We talked about a lot of things – especially that he can only change his life and his attitudes.  He cannot change his wife.  That is God’s job.  I encouraged him to stop at chapels for encouragement, Bible study, and worship services when he can.  (I am sending literature so he can see where each chapel is located.)  I gave him the phone number of one of TFC’s chaplains who does Bible studies over the cell phone.

Pray for Mark and His Wife

Ask God to bring him into contact with someone who will mentor him spiritually. 

Pray for his wife.  I gather that she is “religious” but not walking with the Lord.  Ask God to bring her to the place where she realizes her need of a relationship with Him.  Ask Him to bring a godly woman into her life to mentor her.