Opening Illustration: Song and clip from "Jesus take the wheel." This little clip we just heard reveals how prayer is only a breath away. It’s really more natural to pray than not to pray.
Thesis: We need to understand the importance of prayer and the impact of prayer in our lives. The song you heard reflects the importance of prayer and really how natural it is to pray.
When you think of prayer what comes to mind?
The other day I was listening to this song you just heard called ¡¡¡ÓJesus take the wheel¡¨ sung by Carrie Underwood. The story is about a women driving and then the car loses control and she cries out, ¡¡¡ÓJesus take the wheel!¡¨ She is spared a horrible accident and thanks the Lord for help and in that moment her prayer changes her. She then tells Jesus to take the wheel of her life. It is a powerful song about the power and the importance of prayer. Let¡¦s listen to the words for a moment.
Lyrics of Jesus, Take the Wheel
(James/Lindsey/Sampson)
She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati
On a snow white Christmas Eve
Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat
Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline
It¡¦d been a long hard year
She had a lot on her mind and she didn¡¦t pay attention
she was going way too fast
Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass
She saw both their lives flash before her eyes
She didn¡¦t even have time to cry
She was sooo scared
She threw her hands up in the air
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can¡¦t do this on my own
I¡¦m letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I¡¦m on
Jesus take the wheel
It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder
And the car came to a stop
She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock
And for the first time in a long time
She bowed her head to pray
She said I¡¦m sorry for the way
I¡¦ve been living my life
I know I¡¦ve got to change
So from now on tonight
Jesus take the wheel
Take it from my hands
Cause I can¡¦t do this on my own
I¡¦m letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I¡¦m on
Ooh, Jesus take the wheel
Ooh, I¡¦m letting go
So give me one more chance
Save me from this road I¡¦m on
From this road I¡¦m on
Jesus take the wheel
Ooh, take it, take it from me
Ooh ooh wah ah ooh ooh ooh
I recall a time in my life when I was driving and the truck started sliding sideways on a snowy road in Minneapolis. I was on an entrance ramp with Bear and He and I cried out to Jesus to take the wheel and believe it or not the truck straightened out and spared us a horrible accident. So I can relate to this song and to the natural reaction of prayer in crisis moments.