Pray Rather than Worry

 

 

Pray rather than worry

Worry results from fear,

Fear is a plain case of unbelief

So is worrying prayer.

 

Pray rather than worry

Worry is unbelief,

Unbelief says that God is unable

To bring needed relief.

 

Pray rather than worry

Worry brings on stress,

Stress when not properly managed

Is feeling less blessed.

 

 

 

Pray rather than worry

Worry is double-minded,

The apostle James forbids this;

Please be reminded.

 

Pray rather than worry

Worry makes it worse

Whatever our problem is at the time

As though it’s a curse.

 

Pray rather than worry

Worry is not faith,

Search worry all the way through;

There is not a trace.

 

 

 

Pray rather than worry

Worry is frustrating,

You will pray for hours on end

Without ever receiving.

 

Pray rather than worry

Worry is a force,

If this is the reason why you pray

Then Satan is the source.

 

Pray rather than worry

Worry is not trusting,

Pray in simple faith believing

That God is hearing.

 

 

 

Prayer is often worry

That brings us false relief,

This is believing with much prayer

We will get release.

 

Put it all in God’s hands

Whatever is the matter

And dare my sister to leave it there

With a little less chatter.

 

Let not prayer be chatter

Going on and on and on

As though hoping for God to return

From wherever He has gone.

 

Gone on a long journey

With no return in sight

Just like how the prophets of Baal

Engaged in futile fight.

 

Slashing, shouting, striving

But to no avail,

The god, to whom they often prayed

Had repeatedly failed.

 

 

 

Pray rather than worry

But with childlike trust

To God the Father that indwells us

In the name of Jesus.

 

Stewart Russell © November 21, 2025

 

In Line and Online

 

 

How times have changed

And how life has progressed

And what a price we are paying

Just to have a little rest!

 

In line was a discipline

That was developed at school,

From primary school days in sun and rain

Get in line was the rule.

 

Stay in your given position

And don’t you dare go out of line

Or you may feel a whack in your back

Or some heat on your behind.

 

It’s not a forbidden expletive

Just an anatomical designation

That teachers and parents often used

To get a child’s attention.

 

In line for milk and biscuits

In line when the lunch break ends,

In line to board the school bus

In line was then the trend.

 

In line to receive punishment

Usually a lash in the hand or two

Or a caning by the school principal

Leaving the butt black and blue.

 

In line to get your immunization

In line to get your tooth pulled,

In line for pleasure and in line for pain

In line there was scarcely a lull.

 

 

It was the discipline of the time

And it gave us a sense of order

That we even practised into adult life

At home and beyond our border.

 

In line could be frustrating though

Like in line to pay a bill,

Land tax, income tax or driver’s license

Can be a difficult pill.

 

In line at the petrol station

Inhaling pungent petrol fumes

Or in certain un-named supermarkets

Where there is little room.

 

In line at the commercial banks

Standing for an inordinately long time,

In line to board public transportation

After the daily grind.

 

But a change of sorts has come

Where in line is giving way to online,

Much of this change was made necessary

When COVID plagued body and mind.

 

 

 

 

 

Paying from the comfort of home

Working and shopping too,

Online facilitates a far better experience

For people like me and you.

 

Sometimes in line still plays a part

In frustrating me and you

Especially with certain utility services

When we have to report an issue.

 

Although we are operating on line

We sometimes have to wait in line

And the wait can be so time consuming

It can wreak havoc with our mind.

 

When you are standing in line

You know how many are before you

But online it is a different situation

And often you don’t have a clue.

 

While the customer service reps

Are busy dealing with other complaints,

You listen to some unappealing music

And learn to exercise restraint.

 

In line can play havoc with online

And cause patrons a frustrating wait

But I’d still rather online to in line

Because I get an easier break.

 

I can shop overseas if I want

Or I can peruse the local stores

And I can have the item that I ordered

Delivered right to my door.

 

 

I can pay my bills on time

Be it morning, noon or night

And should I feel somewhat hungry,

I can order my favourite delight.

 

That online trumps in line

I have not the slightest doubt,

Perhaps it is time my valued reader

That you also try it out.

 

Stewart Russell © August 11, 2023