I PRAYED...

"The way to peace and victory is to accept every circumstance, every trial, straight from the hand of a loving Father; and to live up in the heavenly places, above the clouds, in the very presence of the Throne, and to look down from Glory upon our environment as lovingly and divinely appointed..."

I prayed for strength and then I lost awhile

All sense of nearness, human and divine;

The love I leaned on failed and pierced my heart.

The hands I clung to loosed themselves from mine;

But while I swayed, weak, trembling and alone,

The everlasting arms upheld my own.

I prayed for light; the sun went down in clouds,

The moon was darkened by a misty doubt.

The stars of heaven were dimmed by earthly fears,

And all my little candle flames burned out;

But while I sat in shadow, wrapped in night,

The face of Christ made all the darkness bright.

I prayed for peace and dreamed of restful ease,

A slumber drugged from pain, a hushed repose;

Above my head the skies were black with storm

And fiercer grew the onslaught of my foes;

But while the battle raged and wild winds blew,

I heard His voice and perfect peace I knew.

I thank Thee, Lord, Thou wert too wise to heed

My feeble prayers and answer as I sought,

Since these rich gifts Thy bounty has bestowed

Have brought me more than all I asked or thought;

Giver of good, so answer each request

With Thine own giving, better than my best.

---Annie Johnson Flint

copied from Streams in the Desert - 1965

CHECK IT OUT!! From filling in for me last week, God has led Josh to start his own blog! Please visit OUTDOORS....A PASSION at http://passionoutdoors.blogspot.com/ Be sure to give him feedback through the COMMENT option on his post.