Many times in life we want things
Things we see as good
as necessary
as harmless
And we pray and we ask God
Give us this thing we want
and we set about
to obtain our desire
Helping ourselves to our want
Feeding our hunger for it
with our own commentary
surely this is best?
We pray, for we’d not pursue this
Without praying and asking
God grant me this
Bless me in this way
We are persistent like the widow
We shall find what we seek
the Bible tells us
seek and you will find
We have not because we ask not
God desires to give us good things
this is surely on His list
our reward for this day.
In our praying we are focused
This that we want so badly
must be God’s will
it is a good thing
Obstacles are to be overcome
Caution signs prayed past
detour signs ignored
for this is right and good
When what we want is delayed
Red flags, warnings appear
we want it badly still
it is for us the brass ring.
Yet God is saying “No my child”
This isn’t what I have for you
wait a little longer
open your eyes
Perhaps financing falls through
Or houses fail inspection
family feuds begin
we have to settle instead
Everywhere we look is turmoil
Unexpected roadblocks appear
our desire grows stronger
we overlook stormy skies.
The way seems so right to us
What we want so benign
surely it is God’s will
this is a blessing we seek
And we reshape puzzle pieces
We redraw the road map
we cover up pitfalls
we make the picture fit
So sure are we that we know
That for us this is the best
we desire it badly still
do we hear God speak?
“What I have for you is better.”
“This will happen in my time.”
we ignore these words
we turn off our ears
“…broad is the way…to destruction…”
“I know the plans I have…”
but this is our want
this is our desire
We mean to follow God in all
Our intention is to honor Him
but we have not heard
we do not truly hear.
Then this we wanted is ours
See we are right after all
the others had less belief
we were right all along
This person is now our spouse
The job is now our position
we have achieved our goal
the wanted is ours
The car is ours to drive
The house is ours as home
“Oh what a relief!”
Hear how sweet the song?
Until the skipped stitches
Cause the dream to unravel
the ignored can’t continue to be
obstacles beckon in droves
The raise just isn’t enough
The new employer closes shop
the car breaks down
the spouse walks out
Didn’t we pray about this?
Did we not seek the Lord?
Yes, but we now see,
we ignored God’s no.
d.f.a.v. 3-24-14
Are we listening?
–Donna