PRAYING AND WORKING

 

Prayer is the breath of faith in God’s own ears,

Prayer is the open mouth He waits to fill;

Prayer is the voice our heavenly Father hears,

That brings down blessings from His holy hill;

Wisdom to learn, and strength to do His gracious will

 

First pray; then work. No work can e'er succeed

That prayerless wit and will to do combine;

All prayerless strength is but a broken reed,

A withered branch that's severed from the vine:

No fruits, or works of such, shall heaven-recorded shine.

 

Faith always prays, and praying works by love;

God's chronicles record the power of prayer;

His heroes, servants, martyrs, from above

Drew all the sap that made their lives so fair:

There is your full supply, if you like fruit would bear.

 

“Praying and working" – life words, full of light,

Prayer without ceasing leads to ceaseless toil;

Not toil that wearies, for His yoke is light

Who feeds the lamp He trims with golden oil;

And His dear workman's strength renews with heavenly spoil.

 

Part of a poem by J.G.Deck published in ‘Hymns and Sacred Poems - James G. Deck’ p.156 (1889 edition)