Unanswered Prayer

 

 

Someone said yes wait and no

Are God’s responses to our prayers

But tell me How can I know

To which one I should adhere?

 

Another person advanced

God’s responses are yes and no,

There is no wait in His replies

That is unbiblical say so.

 

“God answers every prayer.”

This is a position held by most

With some having a special line

Of which they daily boast.

 

Regarding unanswered prayer

There is never a case,

Nowhere in the biblical text

Can such ever be traced.

 

Yet we pray incessantly

About matters of great importance

And each time without an answer

But there is no admittance.

 

How do we know for sure

That God always answers prayer?

Can we attest to this?

Does it in His word appear?

 

Is answered prayer in proportion

To requests that are granted

Or whatever form the answer comes

Even if we are disappointed?

 

And if we do not hear from God

As is known to have occurred,

Would this not be unanswered prayer

Even if the answer is deferred?

 

What then is answered prayer?

Is it only when we get our request?

Is prayer only answered when we get relief

From some undesirable test?

 

It is definitely not as clear cut

As we had thought at first

Though the position we held on this

We once would never reverse.

God answers every prayer

That is my belief,

He points all to His Holy Word

In which we find relief.

 

We may not favour God’s answer

But His answer is always best

And once we follow the Spirit’s lead

We will conquer every test.

 

When prayer seems unanswered

As sometimes it will seem

We have an advocate with the Father:

We, meaning the redeemed.

 

Stewart Russell © December 19, 2021

 

Is Praying a Waste of Time?

Is praying a waste of time?

I would think not.

It’s a command from God’s Word

It is the believer’s lot.

Can we change the future?

I would think not.

The future is already written

That is history’s lot.

By the way history is written

And I mean all of it,

It’s in the memory bank of God

And this is no trick.

So why do we pray

Regarding what has happened?

Can we change the past

Which is already fashioned?

I guess based on these facts

One would be inclined to say

We are wasting time and effort

Every time we pray.

If it doesn’t change anything

Why bother to pray?

Prayer is never about outcome

It is following God’s way.

Jesus prayed in the garden

“Let this cup pass from me.”

But he was resigned to God’s will

And that most assuredly.

He knew before he prayed

That nothing would be changed

So why did he pray

If he knew all was prearranged?

Jesus connected with the Father

And he did this in his prayer

This communication is important

As we live out each and every day.

It is about thanking the Lord

For all his benefits to us,

It is about acknowledging God

That sent our Saviour, Jesus.

It is thanking Him for salvation

And for the life everlasting

And knowing he is with us

Through whatever we are passing.

It is about saying to Him

“God what a wonder you are!”

And unceasingly adoring Him

For the bright and morning star.

Jesus is that Light

That faithfully shows the way,

We should thank God for him

Each and every day.

Our requests have already been met

But God wants to hear from us

He regards us as His dear children

Like he regards His Son, Jesus.

But He wants our communication

To be straight from the heart,

To be a token of our love

From which we will never depart.

Not based on the outcomes

As is the case with the World

But because we truly love Him

And trust Him at His Word.

What is there I must ask God for?

The answer to that is nothing.

But there is much to thank Him for

For everything comes from Him.

His care of His children

Is not dependent on their prayers

But is premised on His faithfulness

As a loving Father that cares.

So pray because you love God,

Pray because He cares,

Pray because you like talking to Him

And because He answers prayer.

Pray because He commands it,

Pray because you are on line,

Pray because prayer is a vital link

That God answers every time.

Stewart Russell © July 2018

Our Mother

In the midst of pain and discomfort

God shows Himself to be real

A tower of strength to the feeble

As in the case of our mother who is frail

She is even more dependent on Him

As there’s not much we can do for her

“Jesus suffered much for us,” she says

And with her we must concur

On one occasion while the pain persisted

I heard her in essence say

Jesus’ pain was far more

Compared to what she suffers each day

It’s sometimes difficult to comprehend

While watching her in her wheel chair

This woman that gave birth to seven children

Now almost totally dependent for her care

Such are the vicissitudes of life, I guess

That will attend us should we live as long

As she has for more than ninety years

Though now she is not nearly as strong

So many of you have enquired after her

And your prayers have been dear to us

But the greatest consolation we have of all

Is her strong faith in her Saviour, Jesus

Thus in her weakness she is made strong

And when no one is around he’s there

And during the still watches of the night

Is when he still demonstrates he cares

For sure on him she continually calls

And there’s not an occasion he does not reply

No busy tone or temporary disconnection

His assurance is always to supply

This is not to make light of your calls

Nor indeed your kind and loving expressions

So please do continue to pour them on

Seeing you are the means of God’s ministrations

  

You are His love, His hands His help

And we are the beneficiaries at this time

Our mother is your mother; I hope you know

Since Eve was the mother of all human kind

Thanks to all for your prayers and thoughts

And assuring us we’re not in this alone

And if you did not call do not be distraught

Ours is a greater connection than a phone

For just the thought you’ve spared at this time

To even think about Mum Russell

Means more to us than you’ll ever know

And such helps us through our time of trial.

Stewart Russell © December 2017

Meeting Blessings!

Today I met a Blessing
Then two, then three, then four!
I then said: "Thank You, Father!"
And He sent me of Blessings even more.

My feet were shod!
My face was washed!
My drinking water clean!
And, best of all surprises, my oft' cruel boss 
Wasn't today even mean! 

Much Thankfulness now filled my Heart
Oh, how I blessed The Lord
And on the wing of bird song
I felt my heart raise a chord: 

Blessings are Mine

From the Hand of the Divine!

I have no need to Repine for

All God's Blessings are truly Mine!

I felt triumphantly happy!
I tapped my foot - I was glad!
No one could burst my bubble
Even if they behaved like pinching crabs!

I trust my God - He's faithful! 
I trust my God - He's my friend! 
I trust my God to carry me
Until this Life shall end!

God is no commodity trader!
He's no banker grand and elite
And He definitely is no ghost rider 
Fooling me from under a white sheet!

I may not see His face 
But I feel His Love and his hand every day
And as long as I am able
I will to Him bow, and say my Prayers: 

Thank You, Lord for food and health!

Thank You, Lord for my needs - not worldly wealth!

 Let me always in You confide, and 

Please, forever, in my Heart abide. 

Amen.