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Pondering Prayers: Traveler

By: Steve Negley

Posted: November 21, 2018

Category: Daily Devotional

A Prayer for Those Who Travel

Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
Genesis 28:10-17

Read Genesis 28:1-17

As God blessed Jacob at the place called Bethel, God’s promises included care for the journey. (“Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go…” vs. 15)

The on this busiest travel day of the year, we need to remember that God’s people were often on the move: Jacob, Abraham and Sarah, the people of Israel in the wilderness, Jesus on the roads of Palestine, Paul in his missionary journeys. God cares for those who travel, and will keep us wherever we go.

In the Worshipbook (jointly published in the early 1970’s by The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, The PCUS, and The United Presbyterian Church), we find this prayer “For Travelers”. Let’s pray it today for all who are on the go.

Prayer:

The world is yours, mighty God, and all people who live by your faithfulness. Watch over people who are traveling, who drive or fly, or sail the seas. May they be careful, but not afraid, and safely reach their destinations. Wherever we wander in your spacious world, teach us that we never journey beyond your loving care, revealed in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.