The Time Prayer Saved My Life

It’s about 5:30 a.m. yet it felt like the middle of the night as I raced down I-75 through Atlanta, GA on my way to the airport. I looked at the gas gauge and recalled the company policy was to fill up the gas tank on rental cars prior to their return. Being that I was on a business trip and had the time, I decided that I would exit off of the interstate in south Atlanta- not too far from the airport and fill ‘er up.

I pulled into a vacant convenience store parking lot up to a gas pump and saw “out of order” written on a piece of cardboard from a David’s Sunflower Seeds box. So I cranked the steering wheel and pulled around to an outer pump. Bad idea!

I got out of the car and looked at the controls as a man walked up to me from the side of the convenience store. He watched me pull out a credit card from my wallet to pay for the gas and he proceeded to inform me that I needed to put the card in the slot. Now this guy either thought I looked clueless or he was up to something. He didn’t look like an employee with his brown t-shirt and jeans. Actually, the scent of marijuana told me all I needed to know. I thanked him (hoped he go away) and proceeded to put my card in the machine so I could fill up the tank.

He then asked, “Yo man, do you have any money?” confirming the fact that he was indeed, not an employee. I don’t usually carry much cash when I travel and that’s exactly what I told him. Out of the blue he replied, “Praise Jesus” and gave me a brief story about how he was just released from prison and didn’t have any money to survive. Before I could respond, he put his hand in his pocket and said that if I didn’t give him money he was going to “cut me up.” At that moment, you’d think I’d be peeing my pants. But actually, I felt a great peace and that gave me confidence. Again I replied that I didn’t have any money- but that I noticed he said, “Praise Jesus” a moment ago, and I offered to pray for him. He took me up on my offer.

I asked him if it was cool to place my hand on him as I prayed and he agreed. So I strategically placed my hand on the arm in which had the hand- that had the knife- that he said was in his pocket. (Did you follow that?) I figured that if he made a move I would feel his muscle twitch and could defend myself if necessary. I prayed for him knowing that God would be in this situation. After the prayer, the man looked me right in the eyes and thanked me.

I looked over to my left and saw another man with an afro approaching us wearing the same clothes. He arrived along with a strong scent of weed and said, “Man, did you pray for him?” I said yes and that man gave me a huge bearhug and looked at my eyes with his stoned eyes and said, “You don’t even know him. I love you man. No really, I do.”

Sensing my opportunity to jet, I told the guys that I had to get going and got into my rental car as they quickly scampered away. I pulled out of the empty parking lot without even filling up my tank. I got back onto I-75 toward the airport when a huge rush of adrenaline overcame me. I literally had to shout out loud to get it out. Then I just kept saying, “Whoo…Thank you God…Thank you for protecting me!”

I began to process what had just happened and realized that God had my back and likely saved my life. Chances are, I was being setup for an ambush by these guys and God gave me peace and an escape. I don’t know if these guys were impacted by this- but I sure was (am). In this seemingly frightening moment, I experienced a calm that I can’t fully explain- a peace that passes understanding- and the love and protection of God.

I love how God uses bad things for good!

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