Shopping List Praying

 

 

Heavenly Father,

Help me reduce my shopping list

And the constant adding of items

I believe I miss.

 

It is growing longer

And daily more bulky

And I am really beginning to feel

I am kind of greedy.

 

It is mostly about the things

That I think I need:

Mostly tangible and material

And bargain deals.

 

For life to be much easier,

For finances to improve

And to help me to get myself

Into a better groove.

 

The car wants changing

It is over three years

And the house needs painting;

It looks so drear.

 

 

Thus continues the list

With intermittent breaks

To think of more needed items

Mostly for my sake.

 

I am not selfish,

I pray for others too

That as God supplies my needs

They will also get through.

 

It’s getting overbearing,

These shopping lists

But for some reason, dear God,

I cannot resist.

 

And then the complaints,

These are numerous too

Such that I am tired and sleepy

When I get through.

 

Nothing is going right

In this country of ours

And almost every waking morn

There are new horrors.

 

Another homicide

Or another road fatality

And my prayer shopping list

Grows exponentially.

 

I am tired of it, Lord,

For it has become a ritual

And that I now seem ungrateful

Is somewhat regrettable.

 

 

Help me to see you

Beyond a shopping list

And to see you as the reason

Why I exist.

 

In you I live and move

And have my being,

Without you there’s nothing

I am capable of achieving.

 

And all that I ask for

You give to me anyway

Meaning I should give thanks

Each and every day.

 

You have promised

To supply my every need

And that you have been doing

In fact, indeed.

 

 

Help me not reduce you

To a shopping list God

But to acknowledge the fact

You are my all in all.

 

So, all praise to you

For your abundance

And let my shopping list pale

In genuine repentance.

 

Stewart Russell © September 1, 2024