The only prayers that matter
Are heartfelt prayers,
We are born-again believers
And not soothsayers.
It is not our business to say
What the outcome will be
But rather to pray from our heart
And to do so sincerely.
Let us not treat to prayer
As though prayer is the object,
But as a God-given facility
To be used as a conduit.
An open line to the Father
Like an internet phone
So that we can call him any time
Whether in Barbados or Rome.
From heart to heart
That is: from our heart to God’s
With whatever troubles us
At home and abroad.
The data package is unlimited
And so is the time
And unlike internet providers,
We don’t pay a dime.
The prayers that matter, however,
Are prayers from the heart,
This is the heart of the matter
And this is where we start.
Not elocution or oration
But straight from the heart,
Not a premise of bargaining rights
But taking the humble part.
The war that we wage
Is not prayer but the Gospel,
Prayer is constant communication
With the God of the Bible.
It is mostly not audible
And it need not be
Except in corporate circumstances
For example: in an assembly.
The weapon of our warfare
Is God’s precious Word
And in constant touch with God
We share it with the world.
Let us not boast about
About your prayers or mine
And whose prayers win the most battles
In this or at any time…
But let us pray from the heart
Every minute of every day
For this is praying without ceasing;
It is the Christian way.
A thought spared for a brother
As he goes through his crisis
Is a heartfelt prayer
That the Father doesn’t miss.
And even when we don’t assemble
As was the case not long ago
Still, heartfelt prayers are ongoing
Is a thought we should know.
The heart of the matter
Sums up our heartfelt prayers
For every brother and sister
Each and every day.
Stewart Russell © September 3, 2020
