Praying for Strangers #devotional by B J Bassett

 

Praying for Strangers

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 2:2 NIV

Have you found that something good you used to do you no longer do? I have.

When I heard a siren, I always prayed for the person. Those prayers are no longer spoken, and I’m unsure why I stopped praying. The strangers I prayed for may not have had anyone else to pray for them.

There’s a story about a woman who prayed whenever she heard a siren. When she bought a home in a different location, her heart sank when she realized that her new home was nowhere near a hospital. It wasn’t until after she’d moved that she discovered she lived on a freeway over which many emergency vehicles sped to four different hospitals. The move had increased her ministry on behalf of accident victims.

Writing about her has reminded me of the ministry of praying for strangers in harm’s way, which I had so quickly forgotten to do.

Is there a ministry unique to you that God is nudging you to start or return to?

Father, keep me vigilant in praying for strangers in harm’s way. Don’t let me slip back into forgetting to pray for them. Amen.

                        Reprinted from

The King’s Daughters—A Women’s Devotional

By BJ Bassett

B. J. Bassett encourages others as an author, teacher and speaker. Her books include a contemporary novel, Gillian’s Heart; a historical novel Lily; Sweet Charity; A Touch of Grace—The G.R.A.C.E. Ministries Story; and coauthor of a children’s devotional My Time with God, Focus on the Family, Heritage Builders, with over 55,000 copies sold.

 

As a contributing writer, publications consist of Writer’s Handbook 2000, The Writer, and The Focus on the Family Guide to Growing a Healthy Home, Wolgemuth& Hyatt, Publishers, Inc.—consistently on Bookstore Journal’s Best-selling Christian Books List from November 1990 - February 1991, and voted the 10 Best Books for 1990 by Today’s Christian Woman.

 

Magazines, devotional booklets, curriculum and newspaper publishers include Focus on the Family, Woman’s World, The Quiet Hour, Pathways to God, Devotions, Harcourt Brace, WordAction, Gospel Publishing and Times Standard (newspaper).

 

She teaches writing workshops at Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, OR and at writer’s conferences. As a speaker for Stonecroft Ministries, she tells her story of rejection and acceptance, not only in life, but as a writer as well. She also offers book talks, including discussion questions and shares the journey -- from the seed of an idea to a published book.

 

She enjoys reading, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, munching warm scones oozing with butter and strawberry jam and sipping earl grey tea.