Good News Tucson - A Family Values Magazine

God at the Gas Pump

Don't you love the price of gasoline? One of my least favorite weekly tasks is to stop and refill the gas tank. Between my busy schedule and the price per gallon, it tends to be an activity to be endured, not enjoyed. A few weeks ago I was headed to the airport to pick someone up, and realized that the gas tank was on "E." I decided not to stop where I usually get gas, thinking I could make it to the airport and back on fumes. You've never done this, have you?! After picking my friend up, I realized that, like it or not, I was going to have to stop and refuel. So, I pulled in to the nearest station and "joyfully" began to pump.

After a couple of minutes of refueling, a large car pulled up on the other side of the pump I was using to buy gas. The door opened, and an older man stumbled as he got out of his car. Our eyes made contact, and he said to me "I have bad knees from playing football when I was a young man." "Oh", I said, and continued to fill my "bottomless pit!"

Suddenly, I got this impression that I should pray for the healing of the man's knees. It wasn't on my task list this day, but I sensed it was on the Lord's, and so I prayed, "Lord, if you want me to pray for this man's knees, have him come around and start talking to me once again." Within a few seconds, the man came around the pump, with his wife, and started talking to me. I began to ask him how long he had the problems with his knees. He said for many years, explaining that both knees had been damaged playing football. Despite surgery on both knees, there was little improvement, with limited mobility and pain in each.

I explained to him that I was a Christian, and that I had seen God heal conditions like this before. I asked him, "Can I pray for your knees now?" Startled, he said "Yes." I laid my hand on his right knee, inviting the Holy Spirit to come upon his knee. Next, I commanded all pain to leave the knee, and for the knee to be restored in the name of Jesus. Meanwhile, my "bottomless pit" of a gas tank finally filled up! I asked the man, "How's your knee now, is the pain gone? Do you have improved mobility in your knee?" He began to move his knee and said, "All the pain is gone, and I have most of the mobility back!" Both he and his wife were smiling and then he said, "Please pray for my other knee!" So I did, with the same result! God showed up at the gas pump! The man was so excited, shook my hand, and thanked me for praying for his healing.

As a Christian, we carry the resurrection power of Jesus Christ in us. God is waiting to demonstrate His love and power through ordinary believers, as they are faithful to pray for others in the common and mundane circumstances of life. Won't you pray for someone today!

Bob Sawvelle is the Sr. Pastor at Tucson Area Christian Fellowship. He is married to Carolyn, and they have three daughters. He can be reached at 325-2045.