How many friends have I betrayed in silence?
How many souls have I abandoned
with my refusal to speak? And how much
more so my enemies?
Is my own storm so great I have not
the courage to share the sunrise
of God’s Word?
The Lord has given me eyes to see–
and I must look!
Even an evil heart is hungry for the bread of life,
and a malicious mind thirsts for living water–
But self-righteousness is cynicism justified,
for an arrogant man can do no wrong;
he blames others out of pride, and loses
his own identity to his own selfishness.
Christ was crucified trying to teach such men,
and He died hoping to gather them.
Will the nails pierce my hands and feet as well?
Lost souls in a lost world press upon my shoulders–
so I beg God for the courage to speak:
with as much wisdom as conviction,
and passion as power under control.
Without wisdom, my burning bones
shall scald the forsaken,
Without conviction, my words are
as empty as a dry well,
Without passion, I am salesman
peddling fire insurance,
Without power under control, I speak only
torrential rains, drowning the forgiven.
But without love, all of that and more remains true,
and I shall fade away like a sandcastle at high tide.
O Lord, let me build this house upon the Rock!
Give me strong cedars to make boards,
steel to forge nails, shingles for shelter,
and many windows to see the world,
that I may invite the hopeless and
he homeless into Your House.
Dear God, give me the courage and
the conviction, the passion and the power
under control to share the Good News.
Enable me to speak with accuracy,
empower me to teach with authenticity!
Though my dark heart may turn away
from the light for a time, or a time and a half,
please remember my prayers, Father!
Let them echo unto eternity, just as surely
as my name is written in the Book of Life.
Do not let my convictions vanish
like a morning mist at midday, nor hide
in the fog of foolish questions of no substance,
or the smoke of meaningless debates
and endless arguments–
For opinions do not solve problems,
laws cannot change hearts,
rules do not save us,
and boundries cannot protect us;
And no man ever accepted Truth
because he lost the argument.
The faithful love of the Lord endures forever.
“Do not let my convictions vanish
like a morning mist at midday, nor hide
in the fog of foolish questions of no substance”
I have this thought (prayer) constantly.
To remain…the steadfast conviction…the endurance to run the race…faithfulness to Him above all.
Beautiful, Nor.
Easier said than done. That’s why it’s a prayer.
Well done! I love the diverse elements that provide plenty of food for thought. And so heartfelt!
Blessings,
Mary
Thanks, Mary. Unlike the rest of my writing, The Pstorms are entirely prolific–once completed with pen and paper, I publish them. And I think we need to be that honest, that raw and that real, with God.