Warriors and Worriers

 

 

 

“Why worry

When you can pray?”

“It’s easier said than done”

Is what we also say.

 

Warrior or worrier

Which of the two are you?

In whom do you really trust?

Answer me true.

 

Believers, if you ask me,

Are prone to worrying,

Yet they do pray incessantly

With much warring.

 

Warriors

They appear to be

But worriers

Is what we see.

Seems a very thin line

Between the two,

Prayer warriors are worriers;

Is this what they do?

 

Hamstrung by terms

And engrossed with titles,

Trust and faith seem lacking

But are so vital.

 

Ineffective worriers

Masquerading as warriors

Touting faith and resilience

From concrete towers.

 

Warring with the enemy

For victory already won,

Looking like beaten down foes

Terrorized and undone.

 

This is the image I get

Like watching a performance

Where the bark is extremely loud

But is down on resistance.

 

Where is the faith?

Where is the trust?

Why are the warriors, worriers?

Why this anxious fuss?

 

 

 

Goliath the warrior

Was felled by a stone

Where prior to this great victory

Israel did groan.

 

As cowardly worriers

They faced the Philistines

Until David with his sling shot

Arrived just in time.

 

Baal’s warriors warred

Against God on Mt Carmel,

But were reduced to losing worriers

When all of them fell.

 

Battles are not won

By how well Christians pray

But in unrelenting trust in Christ

Who is the way.

 

 

From hearts inclined to God

Is where the battle is won;

Not in anyone’s skillful rhetoric

With words cleverly spun.

 

It’s not how we beg

Or how we moan and groan

But out of our humble hearts

Reserved for God’s throne.

 

Warriors are faithful

To the written Word of God,

Not trusting in worldly armour

Like Israel’s King Saul.

 

Prayer warriors worry

Like the worriers of Baal

Where worry indicates unbelief

And worry spells fail.

 

Stewart Russell © July 6, 2024