Cars, like us, sometimes have bad days. Recently, I accidentally hit a curb, which caused my car to drift to one side and eventually led to a flat tire. I pulled over and tried to change it, but the cold and low clearance made it difficult to set the jack properly. Thankfully, my friend Mark Mendoza came to help with his jack, and together, we got the tire replaced.

While I was working on the car, I reflected on how we often treat prayer like a spare tire—something we rely on only when things go wrong. But prayer shouldn’t be a last resort. Instead, it must be the fuel that keeps us moving every day. Just as a car won’t go anywhere without fuel, we can’t grow spiritually or face life’s challenges without a continuous connection with God through prayer.

The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.” This reminds us that prayer is not just for emergencies; it’s meant to be constant, sustaining us in every moment. When prayer becomes our daily habit, even life’s inconveniences can turn into opportunities to see God’s hand at work.

As 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face… then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Let’s make prayer our fuel, not just a spare tire, so we can face every situation—whether smooth or challenging—with the assurance that God is always with us.