MY PRAYER: Father,
As I observe those who call upon Your name
To fulfill their trivial, meaningless desires—
Those who are always craving and never satisfied,
Those who constantly demand more from You—
Like ravenous, all-consuming gluttons—
I’m amazed at how little they understand
Either Your nature or Your purpose in life for them.
Mellifluously, they say, “Praise the Lord,”
In a voice that quavers with calculated sanctimony,
But in their self-serving hearts, they do not seek You.
Instead, they seek a way to take advantage of others—
To manipulate the innocent to achieve nefarious goals,
Which they cloak in a shroud of religious altruism.
Winning at the expense of those who must lose,
They smile greedily, having successfully conned their prey.
As I watch and listen, I still remember a time,
When I was young, naïve, and easily fooled—
When I was unable to discern their deceptive intentions.
But that was then, and things have changed.
When I observe them now, I recognize how devious,
Self-serving, and cunning they really are.
In their hearts, they harbor pretense and treachery,
While craftily displaying a facade of external humility.
When I was innocence and naive, I was easily deceived.
Trusting by nature, I believed they had been sent by You
And that they had my best interests at heart.
As I reflect upon their actions decades later,
Having weathered their malice, manipulation and treachery,
I see the fruitlessness of their constant scheming.
Now, when I look for them, they cannot be found.
While I smile at the future, regardless of what it may hold,
I have learned that coming to You in complete honesty
Is the only path that will lead to a life of lasting contentment,
Amen.
—Jack Watts
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