My Life, A Prayer to You

I do not have any bumper stickers on my car that signify a relationship to God or Christianity. That is because my attitude while driving does not always bring honor to God or His church. Recently I was both embarrassed, shamed and convicted when I reacted improperly to a pedestrian while driving with my kids in the car. They know of my faith, bumper sticker or not. Yet there I was, setting a poor example. I have repented, asking forgiveness from them and from God. And as part of my Lenten focus, I am setting my mind on improving my reactions to others while I am driving. (When my children read this, they will know exactly what I am talking about!)

Just before my faith blossomed into what I know as a "born again" experience -- a specific moment when I felt that a veil of uncertainty was lifted from my understanding and I knew that Jesus Christ is the only hope -- just at that time in the early 1980's, a music group called The Second Chapter of Acts was singing a song written by Keith Green called Make My Life a Prayer to You. That song has stuck with me all these years, and at times I have spoken it as a prayer.

When my children were toddlers and I had so little time for prolonged prayer or Bible study, I remember sitting with them on the kitchen floor, or changing their diapers, or falling exhausted into bed, when I would pray, "make my life a prayer to you."

Looking back, I see now how much of my life was a prayer to God in caring for the children He has entrusted to my care. In these days, when my children are older, and often far from me, I still pray this. May God give me the grace to live it, too. Even while driving!

"Make my life a prayer to You,
I wanna do what You want me to,
No empty words and no white lies
No token prayers, no compromise.

"I wanna shine the light You gave
Thru Your Son, You sent to save us
From ourselves and our despair;
It comforts me to know You're really there."