The Power of Prayer

The Power of Prayer
 When I was so much younger
The Bible was a storybook,
Jesus, the main character
As through the many words I'd look.

Heaven was a fairytale land
With lovely scenes to behold,
A place of wonder, beauty, peace
Where noone ever grows old.

As I began to grow older
And was sitting on that cold pew,
I had a terrible feeling
Singing, "Jesus is calling you".

That preacher, talking right at me
I felt everyone was staring,
I just wanted to leave that place
And hide my sin I was bearing.

Once I was home I felt better,
Though not completely at ease,
That feeling just kept hanging on
I could not find any peace.

When Sunday rolled around again
As it too often seemed to do,
I tried to look so very sick
And Mama didn't have a clue.

My mama and me stayed at home
All day I had to stay in bed;
That was perfectly fine with me...
Could be distressed at church instead.

The next Sunday I tried again
But, Mama was getting too smart.
As I complained, she looked at me
And said, "Your problem is your heart".

So once again we went to church
At the end, I was on the verge;
But, I stubbornly would not budge
I would not give in to the urge!

As weeks went by, then months, then years
Feeling not much stirring at all,
As I would stand in church and hear
The pastor's invitation call.

My life was taking a nosedive
Indulging in my secret sin,
Granddad would pray aloud for me
That I would let the Savior in.

He would only make me angry
How dare he embarrass me so!
In front of my family and friends
Well, now I just won't even go.

I stayed on that dark, lonely road
That leads straight to self destruction,
I didn't need family or church
As I wallowed in deception.

My family never ceased to pray
For this, their child of transgression;
But, I chose to turn a deaf ear
Choosing instead sinful passion.

I was firmly in Satan's grasp
And he was hanging on so tight,
He didn't plan to let me go
Without a long, horrendous fight.

He had me pushed to the edge
Almost as far as I could go,
Dangling on the outer brink
When I heard a loud voice say, "NO!"

The Lord was close beside me
Wrestling Satan for my soul.
He told me that He loved me
And had paid for me my toll.

I cried and prayed, "Lord, please help me...
I'm so very steeped in sin,
I can't go on without You, Lord,
Please Lord Jesus, please come in".

Instantly, I had complete peace
And joy that's beyond compare.
Still holding me and guiding me
I know He'll always be there.

I praise God for His Only Son
Who saved my soul from torment
It makes me shudder when I think
How my life could have been spent.

Thank you, Jesus, for my family
Who never gave up or lost faith
For all the years they prayed that I
In Your Precious Blood would be bathed.

Now I have an eternal home
I'll again be with those loved ones,
Whose prayers, I am convinced, are why
I've been redeemed by God's Dear Son.

Never give up! Don't lose faith!
Sincere prayers are never unheard,
Jesus hears them, I am proof
With every prayer, a heart is stirred!

Susan Trafford Martin
1997