Do you want what you want when you want it?
Do you pray and expect a reply?
And when it's not instantly answered,
do you feel that God passed you by?
Well, prayers that are prayed in this manner
are really not prayers at all,
For you can't go to God in a hurry
and expect Him to answer your call.
Prayers are not meant for obtaining
what we selfishly wish to acquire,
For God and His wisdom refuses
the things we wrongly desire...
And don't pray for freedom from trouble
or pray that life's trials pass you by.
Instead pray for strength and courage
to meet life's dark hours and not cry
That God was not there when you called Him
and He turned a deaf ear to your prayer
And just when you needed Him most of all
He left you alone in despair.
Wake up! You are missing completely
the reason and purpose for prayer,
Which is really to keep us contented
that God holds us safe in His care...
And God only answers our pleadings
when He knows our wants fill a need,
And whenever our will becomes His will
there is no prayer that God does not heed.
Helen Steiner Rice
