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POEM
Praying

Ed Wiebe

At times I close my eyes
But don’t actually pray;
My soul, I realize,
Won’t mean the words I say.
Just empty words come out;
My heart is just like stone.
Why should God care about
A prayer of words alone?
Sometimes, I’m sad to say,
When chance is very good,
I don’t take time to pray,
Although I know I should.
Instead of pausing where
We two before have met,
A quick and shallow prayer
Is all my Lord will get.
But, sadly, strength won’t flow,
His work does not get done,
What’s more, my faith won’t grow,
With prayer said on the run.
When I in blind haste pray,
My Father will not hear;
But first my words He’ll weigh
To see if I’m sincere.
I rue the times I’ve spent
In shallow, hasty chat;
With tears, I now repent
Of treating God like that.
I shall not treat my God
As if I did not care;
I won’t throw Him a nod
And think that that was prayer.
I’ll train my soul at length
To yield my will and whim,
And give my time and strength
To centre in on Him.

Ed Wiebe has just completed a term of ministry as interim associate pastor at Westwood MB Church in Prince George, B.C.

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Last modified November 29, 2000.

© 2000 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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