"Yesterday's Prayer"

Go out, go out, go so far out,

Go past what most men know,

Find the place so far from town,

Listen to the winds that blow.

The cowboys and frontiersmen, too,

The natives from back when,

Ancient history sought what’s true,

They worked and struggled then.

But resting on the mountainside,

With hands upon the reins,

They looked up and to God they cried,

To help and heal their pains.

Some knew more than others,

And some the Good Book read,

Some heard it from their mothers,

And remembered what she said.

Some heard it from a preacher,

Who horseback came around,

And he became their teacher,

So they could hear the sound,

Of the Spirit speaking on the wind,

And telling them He heard,

Sharing light and love to lend,

And making clear His word.

But no matter what they knew,

Their challenge drove the prayer,

They needed more when heartbreak grew,

And hoped that God was there.

And lost in time the words they prayed,

All blown away and gone,

But I believe requests once laid,

If they are not wrong,

Live on past the lives of those,

Who prayed them long ago,

And God above who all things knows,

His grace to all will show.

When I listen to the wind,

Sometimes I think I hear,

The prayers of those who once have been,

And felt the Spirit near.

I fancy that they prayed for me,

And after all these years,

God still answers, don’t you see,

To cast out fears and tears.

And so, the prayers of those long past,

Still bring heaven’s yes,

Bound to God, they hold us fast,

And give us promised rest.

And so like those who found the wind,

And heard the Spirit speak,

I pray the Lord His grace to send,

And strength for all the weak.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NAS)

Don’t worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Make your request known to God, and trust God to answer in His time and way. God’s peace is promised to those who pray. And the peace does not depend upon the answer, but to the praying. Our conversation with God should always be accompanied by thanksgiving, and as much as possible, in alignment with what we know is God’s will according to His word. The life of prayer is the most adventurous because God leads us into one surprise after another. And our prayers will impact the lives of others long after we’re gone.

Lord, teach us to pray and not worry, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Bruce Greene, used by permission. Thanks, Bruce, and God bless you.