The primary inspiration for this poem are the words found in Matthew 18:18; through Jesus Christ, we have the authority to bind evil or unleash good in His name. Yet how often do we fail to practice this, for whatever reason?

“Binding Up and Setting Loose”

Lord, the things You desire to do in our lives are like gifts wrapped up with a bow.
But in Your plan, they will not open and begin to work until we ask You to do so.
You have given unto Your children authority to bind and defeat the powers of darkness
And to set loose Your good and light in lives that would otherwise be lifeless.
But perhaps we have become accustomed to this gift, or its true meaning we forgot.
If we complain about the Spirit not moving in us, we do not have because we ask not.
Whether it be strength in weakness or joy in suffering, Lord, let us not be afraid to ask.
I pray that we would use all the gifts You give to equip us for success in each and every task.
May Your Spirit be poured out in our hearts and fill us with boldness and power,
That we may stand strong against the Devil in Your name until You return in the final hour.

Admittedly, my view about the Holy Spirit has changed somewhat, but the rest still very much applies as it did the day I wrote this. So often, I have lost spiritual battles because I refused to fight; it seems so much easier to give in, and yet by doing so we sacrifice victory in Christ, who can give us victory in all things.

“Passionately Devoted”

Lord, when I think of the way that I live, I am often filled with shame
When I consider how many other things I do instead of praising Your holy name.
I know the things that I ought to do, but I choose to do them not.
I know that I should call upon You for strength, but fail to act when the battle is to be fought.
Cleanse me from impure thoughts, O God; fill me afresh with the Holy Ghost,
So that I may serve You with passion as I serve You with my all, not just almost.
I have stumbled and lost my way, like a sheep wandering from the fold.
Bring me back to Your presence, Lord; may Your light in my life be as bright as pure gold.

Some people think that just because God is so vast and eternal, that we cannot possibly know Him. While it’s true that God’s divine nature will always be a mystery to us, He has taken steps to make Himself knowable to us through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

“Above all, but in reach”

God, the world around us shows how great and awesome You are.
You made everything-all that lives; You gave a place to each and every star.
Your ways are beyond our understanding, how You think and choose what is to be done.
Yet You chose to meet with us through the sacrifice of Your Son.
You made a way for all to come near to the foot of Your heavenly throne.
You sent Jesus to die on the cross, so that sin and death would be overthrown.
Thank You, Father, for Your wonderful ways, and Your miraculous grace and love, constantly new.
You are above all, yet You dwell with us, and when all is done, we will forever dwell with You.

As I read back over this poem so many years later, I can’t help but think of Keith Green’s song, “When I hear the praises start.” It’s not exactly the same theme, but God’s desire for us to live and seek fulfillment from Him holds true to both.

“God’s Plan for my Story”

Oh My child, how I long to work in you, and give you an amazing life story
As you seek Me out and do My will, living your life for My glory.
Yet, sometimes you choose to walk away, and allow the world to define your identity,
Thus choosing for yourself a lesser life than what was planned for you by Me.
Come back to Me, o wandering child, turn about and come back to your Creator;
Who knows you better than anyone, from your outermost layer to the core.
I love you, My child, and long to bless you, but first, you must submit your life to Me.
Let Me shape your future, refine your identity, and bring out your best for all to see.
Your choices define who you are, and what effect you will leave on the lives of others.
So let My plan be done through your life, and reach out through Christ to your lost sisters and brothers.

I wrote this after my spiritual “dry spell;” I thought of Israel’s revival as foretold in Ezekiel 37 and thought it an appropriate analogy of how Jesus took us from death to life.

“Returning to the Lord”

Lord, lately I have been desolate, my faith has grown withered and dry,
Like the bones You showed Ezekiel in the valley, and I think I know the reason why:
I have neglected prayer and reading Your Word, which contains the life You desire to give.
Without Your Holy Spirit, I am dead; You are that which enables me to live.
I pray that my heart would be drawn back to You, and that You would fill me abundantly
With Your Holy Spirit, that I might live and be a witness for You, my God holy.
Give me the strength to be a living sacrifice, offering up my whole being, spirit, flesh, and bone;
Use me in mighty ways for Your kingdom, Lord Jesus, and may I always humbly bow before Your throne.
May my steps follow Yours, as You show me the way to live rightly according to Your desire.
I pray that I would always honor and glorify You, and may my faith be as pure gold refined in a fire.

As the title implies, this poem was partially based off of Jesus’ prayer in the Garden before His betrayal and arrest. The other contributing factor was a time of introspection in which I examined my heart and walk with God.

“Your Will Be Done”

Lord, how often I say to You “Work in me,” – but then I turn and go my own way?
Do I really allow You to begin a new work of faith as I go through the day?
I need to let go of my own desires, to see the bigger picture of it all.
You should be the focus and center of my life, with me faithfully following Your call.
I pray to You, Lord, may Your will be done, as You prayed in the garden of Gethsemane.
May I take the blessings and gifts from You and make praises for You many.
Help to keep my head in the game, may my eye be ever on the goal:
To glorify You in action, word, and thought, to love You with my strength, body, mind, and soul.

This poem follows on the theme of the first, but additionally examines the lifelong journey of purification.

“A Broken Vessel Made New”

Lord, when all You created was shattered in the Fall,
Who knew that You would have a plan to reclaim and restore it all?
I was a broken vessel, infected by the virus of sin,
Yet You shed Your blood willingly to cleanse me from all I had been.
You took the broken shards of my heart and softened me like a potter’s clay,
Making me a new creation with Your blood that You shed on the cross, that I might say
That in You, Jesus Christ, have I begun life anew. The process, however, has only begun;
Sin still battles the change You forge to make me of God a son.
But Lord, Your Word is my weapon and Your mighty presence my shield.
You never allow more than I can take, and so unto You I yield.
I pray that I would abide in Your Word, so that more deeply in You I may grow.
May Your Spirit be poured out on me, so that in my life, praises for You would grow.

Busyness strikes again this week; at my teaching job, it’s test week for many of my students. Before I lay head to pillow, however, I am determined to post 2 more poems. Here is the first; it was written after a period in my life when I had just come out of a very (spiritually) dry time, and I hungered to have GOD’s Word flow into my life again.

“Longing for the Word of the Lord”

Lord, once Your Word rang in my heart like the sweet song of a lark.
Now, however, I have left Your Word out and I have fallen into the dark.
Without the nourishing words of Scripture, my heart has become a dry husk.
I pray, Lord, that You would heal me and bring me back-not leave me in the dusk.
I implore You, in the name of Jesus, to give me a thirst for the righteousness that comes from You alone.
May Your Word once again take its place in my life and fill me-spirit, mind, flesh and bone.
Draw me back to You, O Lord of my life, come and light the fire once again in me.
I pray that You would be the food and drink that give me life and sight spiritually.