©2004, Janet K. Poludniak

There is no law or man or pen that can change the hearts of men,
but when the power of God comes in, changes will begin.
No law could ever legislate that people may not pray
for when a crisis strikes our lives, a prayer's just what we say,
for there's a place in every man that longs for truth and love,
and only One can fill that void: our Father, God above.

Self-proclaimed agnostics and atheists alike
will cry out to the One true God when terror starts to strike.
In crisis situations, who cares if prayer offends?
Deep, down inside we know the truth . . . each life on God depends!
He commands us all to pray while governments say, "No."
I ask, "Which is the higher power? Which way will your heart go?"

Prayers aren't bound by prison walls, and naught can break its power!
In joy or peace, terror or pain . . . we need God every hour.
When shots rang out at Columbine, naught stopped their prayers' assent!
When radicals destroyed the Towers, folks prayed without relent!
And down south in Paducah, they didn't seek man's blessing;
they quickly called upon the Lord, their desperate need confessing.

When bullets flew in Dallas, were there questions? Recompense?
They knew it was a crisis and God was their sole defense!
If it makes sense for us to pray amidst a terrible time,
doesn't it make sense to pray when it's peaceful and sublime?
A prayer can rise above the rule . . . on past the bullets' spray;
it can rise past clouds of smoke when sanity's gone astray!

When life is in an uproar, certainly prayer is due,
but prayers of thanks in times of peace should be in order, too!
One prayer could stop a crisis, a hardship, or a loss.
The greatest prayer ever prayed, Christ prayed from the cross.
As sure as day turns into night and night turns into day,
God put it in the hearts of men—when trouble comes to pray!

But should we wait for crises, or ‘til we fall apart . . .
or should we set our minds on Christ and pray from a humble heart?
God's law is higher than other laws, so let's submit to Him.
To do less--to refuse to pray--I tell you, it's a sin!
There may be consequences to these choices when we start,
but that won't matter if He is King enthroned within our heart.

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