Finding a Car Through Prayer

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Before the days of GPS, smartphones, and online searches, finding what you needed was often hopeless. I was in the middle of what felt like an endless search for a new car that met my family’s specific needs, and I couldn't find it anywhere.

Let me take you back in time before we could depend on technology to help us find anything we wanted.

1985

Our vehicle was on its last leg, and we'd been visiting dealerships to compare makes and models. We finally decided on the Buick Century.

We liked the charcoal gray exterior with a dark gray interior. We also wanted the optional center console.

The center console wasn't a typical configuration for a family car. Most Buicks came with a bench seat in the front and the automatic shift mounted on the steering column.

In fact, in all of Boston, we couldn't find a Century with a center console. I even called Buick dealerships in other New England states. If the dealer had a Century with a center console, they were too far away from us and unwilling to trade with a dealer in our area.

This fruitless search went on for several weeks.

Finding the Car

One evening, as we finished dinner, I had an urge to go hunting for the car. I said, "I'm going out to find our car."

Diane said, "Well, you know what we want. If you find it, don't even bother calling me. Just go ahead and get it."

I backed out of our driveway and headed to Route 9, where I planned to turn left toward Boston. But as I waited for the light to change, I asked the Holy Spirit for help.

"Holy Spirit, I don't know where our car is, but YOU do. Please show me where it is."

As the light turned green, an inward TUG urged me to turn right instead of left. I was now heading AWAY from Boston, and MY plan was in shreds.

So I drove west on Route 9, praying in the Spirit. 

There was no TUG to get onto Interstate 495, so I kept driving straight.

There was no TUG to get off in Westboro, so I kept driving.

There was no TUG to stop or turn in Shrewsbury, so I kept driving.

I drove into Worcester, a city of nearly 40 square miles with a population of over 160,000. I knew very little about it.

I came to an intersection where a street branched to my left. THE TUG pulled me in that direction.

I'd never been down that street. But I followed THE TUG.

About four minutes later, I came to a Buick dealership. As I got out of the car, a salesman met me.

I told him what I wanted — charcoal gray, a gray interior, and a center console.

He said, "I think I have what you're looking for."

We went to the back lot, and he pointed to it. Charcoal Gray.

He didn't have the key, so I looked through the window. Dark gray interior with a center console.

There it was. Our car. Waiting for me to find it.

The Back Story

This loaded Buick, with the atypical center console, was a special order for the sales manager's wife. It was built to her specifications.

Before it arrived at the dealership, she saw another car on the showroom floor and decided she wanted THAT one.

Her Century arrived, and she no longer wanted it. So it had to be sold.

It arrived that morning and was waiting to be cleaned and prepped, so it was still on the back lot.

The Right Timing

Earlier in the day, another couple looked at it and decided to think about it before deciding.

I arrived after they left the dealership and bought the car.

The indecisive couple returned the following day to buy the car, but I already had it.

Remember. After dinner that evening, I suddenly had an URGE to go out and look for our car.

I wasn't aware I was operating in a tiny window. But the Holy Spirit did, and he led me there.

Right place. Right time.

In Christ, you are connected to God. If you are connected to God, you are connected to everything and can drill down into anything.

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Keep on asking, and it will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.
- Matthew 7:7-8 AMPC

13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.
14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.
15 Everything that belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is Mine and disclose it to you.
- John 16:13-15 BSB

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