Dear KMAG: 20191001 Open Topic

I Prayed (or The Choice)
The Bible says ask, and you’ll receive,
So I asked for things to ease my days.
Things for myself that I could conceive
To make me happy along my way.
I prayed for wealth, but I’m still poor.
I rent my house and have a big loan.
I own a few things, but still want more –
Just the things that my neighbors own.
I prayed for success at my job,
For a promotion to get more pay.
I’m really tired of watching snobs
Living so large and having their way.
I prayed that my name becomes well known
So others would respect who I am.
I’m through with living my life unknown,
And others who see me as a sham.
I prayed, but no, I didn’t get.
My life, it seems, is getting worse.
I’m still poor, and I’m still in debt.
I expected much, but got the reverse.
So I mocked God ‘cause He wouldn’t give
Me anything for my life of ease.
All of the things I wanted to live –
Money, success, fame – none of these.
But then, last night, I had a strange dream –
Someone, bright, at the end of my bed,
I can’t be sure, but so it seemed,
Talking to me. Was it in my head?
“You wanted riches so you could spend
It on yourself for your life of ease.
But it’s the poor who become God’s friends,
Looking to Him as the One to please.”
“You wanted success, to be number one,
But God loves the humble most of all.
The powerful lose when all’s said and done
If they don’t answer the Spirit’s call.”
“And, last of all, you wanted fame,
For approval from your fellow man.
All for yourself, not to honor God’s name,
And not in accord with God’s perfect plan.”
“God knows all your thoughts, every one.
You asked for much but didn’t receive.
You missed the part where “God’s will be done”
And God’s will comes first . . . you must believe.”
“Life is much more than just a jaunt.
God heard when you prayed; He heard you plead.
He didn’t give you things that you want,
But gave you everything that you need.”
“Where is the profit if the world is yours,
When in the process you lose your soul?
You’re on top when the world keeps score,
But you’ve lost all if God’s not your goal.”
“You prayed in Christ’s name, like adding frill,
But Christ’s name means nothing – not to you.
Using Christ’s name means “if in Your will”
And for respect, for which He is due.”
“And then, you chose to mock God’s name,
But God won’t be mocked, never by man.
Whatever you’ve sown, that’s what you’ll reap,
As it has been since time began.”
“God desires for all men to come,
To leave their old life for one that’s new,
To believe God and trust in His Son,
And leave the wide road to walk with the few.”
“And now as for you, you’ve got a choice,
A chance to escape this world of strife;
To reject or listen to God’s voice,
To be assigned death or to choose life.”
“The choice is yours, but you must choose
To be forgiven or lost in sin.
Choose the world and you’ll forever lose;
Choose life in Christ and forever win.”