The First Class Journey of Prayer

Global adventures rest on ice these days. Travelers? Grounded. Rows of planes gather dust in parking lots around the world. Your stick and bandana along with your suitcases are also sidelined. But there is one absolutely amazing adventure you can still embark on from your armchair.  The first class journey of prayer takes you to a bucket list destination. It awaits every Christian.

You’ve no doubt heard – or may yourself have uttered- that familiar phrase all we can do is pray.

Journey of Prayer As A First Resort

In fact, a lot of people are saying that right now.

Money in their pockets says “In God We Trust” but they don’t really believe it. They make worrying their full-time job. And subjugate prayer to a mere hobby. Therefore, they panic about the health of their families and their country’s political future. But their heads fall into their hands instead of their knees falling to the floor. And they feel helpless against a virus that cannot be squelched. They feel powerless over an election that did not bring about their desired result. And they resign themselves to prayer as their last as opposed to their first resort.

Your Royal Excursion, Entourage, and Digs

Don’t subjugate prayer to a ratty life raft cobbled together with rope and string. It’s a red carpet embarkation. You have access to the ultimate travel professional. Only the Alpha and the Omega knows what tomorrow looks like. So if you have mapped out an itinerary of your own, it’s important to stay open to where God is taking you. Pray for the Lord’s guidance in your journey but be prepared for the outcome. He may usher you into a side door, as I talk about in my first devotion book in my trilogy. Or He may permit you to fall through a trap door (my second book) in order to execute a much needed course correction. Pray for clear instructions from Him. Continually ask for wisdom for every next step.

Take comfort in knowing you and your fellow sojourners make up an impressive entourage. The King knighted you as His sons and daughters. Indeed, as part of a royal priesthood and a holy nation, (1 Peter 2:9) all who believe in His name are invited to come boldly before the throne with confidence (Hebrews 4:16). As you and your fellow travelers bring your concerns, heart’s desires, and Morse code messages of life to Him, thank God for His perpetual, welcoming invitation. “What a privilege to carry/Everything to God in prayer,” the old hymn reminds us. You can call his “front desk” anytime and lay out your hurts and worries.

And to you and all His heirs and partners in prayer, the Lord promises to bestow priceless heirlooms. “In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will. (Ephesians 1:11) Indeed, Jesus explains that many rooms in His Father’s house are being prepared for us by Him (John 14:2). Imagine the splendor of the rooms of the Lord’s house! They are sure to put any five-star hotel room to shame. We can remain faithful in prayer to go the distance and stay on God’s course for our lives. And thank God in advance through our petitions for the place He’s preparing for us as we press on in our journey of prayer.

Journey Per Diem and Worry-Free Baggage Drop Off

Business travelers are often given a daily per diem. This refers to an amount of money designed to cover meals, transportation, and other travel incidentals. God promises us a portion and provision no “employer” could ever match. He quenches our deepest hunger and thirst by satisfying our deepest longings when we pray for peace and contentment (John 6:35). He gives us our “daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Indeed, God not only provides us with enough light for our next steps, He alone sees to the end of the road. We are lucky if we can see ahead to the end of our noses! We can pray that the manna He sees fit to provide for us will be our “chosen portion and our cup” (Psalm 16:5).

One of the best parts of traveling to the throne of grace and leaving our concerns at the foot of the throne is that we can leave our burdens there. Our luggage never needs weighing on our return trip when we dump our worries at His feet in our journey of prayer. Jesus explains in Matthew 11:28 that His “yoke is easy” and His “burden is light.”

God wants us to drop off all our baggage. He invites us to do it! And when it comes to the baggage of shame, He promises to remove it as far as the East is from the West. (And He never wants us to pick it up again.) Once we repent and are forgiven of our wrongdoings, He reminds us “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” We can offer prayers of thanksgiving to our Redeemer for making this baggage drop off possible.

An Exemplary Tour Guide For The First Class Journey of Prayer

What a blessing it is to know that God’s itinerary features the most rewarding stopovers. As a result, we can trust His discernment in navigating our various stopovers. However, we might have in mind to travel to A but He takes us to B. “A man’s mind plans his way as he journeys through life. But the Lord directs His steps and establishes them.” (Proverbs 16:9). Some misguided people view prayer as a chore or obligation. But prayer isn’t a box to check off on your to-do list. It’s a method of divine transportation.

Let go of your travel plans. And let God determine your destination. Our Divine Tour Guide doesn’t guarantee there won’t be snags, delays, and detours along the way. But we can rest in His sovereignty. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11). God invites us to partner with Him and ask Him for strength and perseverance to “run the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).

Our Final First Class Destination

When we choose God’s direction for our lives,  He issues the best travel insurance no money can buy. We eventually arrive at our final destination.  A lifetime of “travel mercy” may be far from guaranteed. But Almighty God will stamp our passports at our last heavenly stop. “Be faithful to me and I will give you a crown of life,” we read in Revelation 2:10. God assures us, along with our regal travel companions, that once we arrive at our final destination, our journey, however challenging the trip may be, it will have been well worth it. Despite the challenges, the first class journey of prayer will be a success. In that moment of joy and discovery we will be home at last. As thanksgiving and praise replace petitions, we will share in God’s glory for a thousand years and beyond.

Join Christian encourager/blogger/author Cindy LaFavre Yorks as she sojourns alongside you in your faith walk. Partner with her as she shares her travel tips for navigating life’s most challenging detours. Through personal storytelling and Bible application, Cindy cheers you on as you raise your white flag and deepen your trust in Him to develop an unshakeable faith to help you go the distance.