Month: July 2006

Prayer Poem

Iris Godfrey

My husband was recently given a number of very old hymn books. In one of those books was a piece of newsprint paper with a short poem on it. The photo on the reverse of the poem was of a gathering of people whose clothing style says 1920’s-1940’s. The book itself was copyrighted in 1880. So I imagine the poem was written many, many years ago.

I play to use this poem in my retreat this Saturday, but thought I would also like to post it for any who would enjoy it.

Our Part In Prayer

Some go to God in prayer
As though they would be heard
By merit of their earnestness,
Or power of their word;
As though God did not want to bless,
Or to their crying heed,
If they could prove their need.
Some go to God in prayer
With broken, bleeding hearts,
Craving the peace and victory
Which He alone imparts,
They lay their burdens down
On shoulders that are strong,
Then take them back upon their own
And carry them along.
Some humbly talk with God;
Confess their helplessness,
And having laid their burdens down
Trust Him to do the rest.
Such go away in peace,
And with the victor’s shout
To watch with interst, and see
How He will work things out.
—Barbara Ryberg

Call To Me

Iris Godfrey

These wonderful words from our Heavenly Father to us are so very comforting. He tells us that if we will call to Him, He will answer and will tell us great and wonderful things we do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3 HCSB)

This verse lets us know there is more to prayer than form, or even my asking, seeking, or knocking. There is more to time with Him than what I know. There is more, always more. In this verse, He is very clear about His willingness to tell us things we do not know. In other words, more than the text, beyond the text, and into the person Jesus Christ. There is an essence of life that He so willingly longs to share with us as we commune with Him.

I love Scripture, and everything is through, in, and out of Scripture. I am reminded of a hymn from my childhood, “Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee Lord.” The desire for fellowship will lead the believer to Him through the Word. The word can never be just a mental exercise — not for the converted. For the curious, maybe. But for the fervent believer in Jesus Christ, even a casual reading of Scripture becomes an encounter with Him.

John 14: 21 The one who has My commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.” WOW — He will reveal Himself — not just data — not just information, but Himself. The action of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer, is the interactive agent who empowers all the revealing.

As we call to Him, He does answer, and He does tell us things we do not know. What an absolutely wonderful reason to spend time in prayer with Him.