Airplane Prayers: Living with Intentionality

When you fly, do you pray for a quiet flight and a safe arrival? Or do you pray for those you will sit next to?

ā€œWhen I fly, I always pray about who is going to sit next to me,ā€ Navigator Church Ministries staff Jeff Edwards says. ā€œThen I look for ways to engage them and have a spiritual conversation, believing that they are there not by accident, but providentially.ā€

On a recent flight, Jeff met a professional tennis coach on the first leg of his journey from California to Florida.

ā€œWe talked a lot of tennis, a subject I don’t know much about,ā€ Jeff says. ā€œIt was a short flight and didn’t get to any spiritual conversation, but I knew the coach would be on the next leg of my flight, so I asked God to seat me next to him again.ā€

It was a bit of a crazy prayer, but Jeff had learned to approach prayer like an adventurous child.

Jeff flies standby as a retired airline employee, so he doesn’t know if he will even get on a plane, let alone know where he will sit. The coach boarded after him, and walked right by the empty seat next to Jeff.

ā€œThen he turned around, realizing he missed his row,ā€ Jeff says. ā€œHe sat down next to me.ā€

For the first two hours, the coach read a book. Jeff prayed, asking God to give him an idea to restart the conversation.

ā€œExcuse me, I don’t want to be rude, but don’t you think it is strange that we are sitting next to each other again?ā€ Jeff asked the man. ā€œYou need to know that I prayed and asked God for this. Would you be interested in knowing why?ā€

The man closed his book and said, ā€œYes! It is stranger than you think, because when we got off the first flight, I changed my seat!ā€

For the next two hours, Jeff shared the Bridge to Life Illustration© with the coach.

ā€œHe said he would get a Bible and review all the verses we had discussed,ā€ Jeff says. ā€œI have no doubt that God has continued the work of that miraculous encounter in bringing that man to Himself. Our God answers prayer!ā€

ā€œIt is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone.ā€
Hudson Taylor, missionary to China

ā€œIn your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect …ā€
1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)

Ask God for discernment and courage to seize opportunities to share God’s love with those you meet in everyday life. You can offer an encouraging word, sincere thanks, or a few questions to get to know someone.

Comments:

  1. What a cool story! I pray, too, for fellow passengers and taxi drivers, and have had some wonderful conversations.

  2. This is one of those great encouragement and reminder of living intentionally.
    I get parking in a busy city anywhere I want to park at long as I tell God about it ahead of time in my Quiet time in the morning.
    Thank you for sharing.
    Denis. The Navigators – Rwanda.

  3. Thank you for this article, I usually don’t pray for those I sit next to on the plane or buses. From now on I will not only pray for a safe trip, but also the person God places beside me, and for an opening to share Christ with them.

  4. I am flying to east coast from California next week. I believe the Lord is preparing me to pray, prepare and do the same… ask The Lord who am I going to sit next with. Thank you.

  5. Great story! I used it in teaching my Sunday School Class last Sunday. We are embarking on an evangelical emphasis and this story was a perfect example of “intentional prayer.

  6. My wife and i had the chance to pray and see what God wanted to do. I will begin a discipline class, ā€œEvery man a Warriorā€ with a new believer. Pray for us it will be the first time for a long distance relationship.

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