The Prayer that God Kept by Frances M. McCrory-Meservy

Prov 30:7-9 Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.

I don't recall how old I was when I read this in the Bible; but I know it was about the time my Father died in 1955. This just jumped off the page at me and I stopped reading and prayed this scripture just as it is written.

I am 68 years old now and God has continuously answered this prayer throughout my life.

I never get by with a lie no matter how small. I am always found out. I can actually remember the few times I lied, probably because I was caught.  By the time I was a JR in high school, I realized it was best not to lie - ever. So if you see something that I say or said that is false, please let me know so I can correct it.  

It is also why if you send me an e-mail alleging something, I check it out in 2 to 3 different places and if I find it is a lie, I let you know it and don't forward it.  I never want to be a part of a lie and being a false witness is the ultimate lie. 

I have never been so poor that I went without anything that I needed.  Even when my allotment check was late, I literally found the money for food. 

I have never been rich enough to forget God and when I wonder why I don't have more, I remember my prayer and say, "Thank you Lord for watching over my soul."

I did steal something one time when I was about 20 years old and felt so horrible that I sneaked it back into the store.  Did you know it's harder to sneak something back into the store than it is to take it in the first place?  I repented and God forgave me.  I asked him to please help me not want something so much that I sin.  He answered that prayer also.

I never want to profane the name of God.

Some people use the word God and Jesus in the form of a curse word.  Our tongue is the hardest part of our bodies to control.  With our tongues we build up and we tear down. 

There are others who say they are Christians; but steal, cheat and tell lies about other people.  They made God look bad and in so doing, profane his Good Name.  We need to examine our words before we say them or write them down.

Profane: Verb to treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt Antonyms (the opposite of profane): elevate, ennoble, uplift.

Mat 15:17-20 "Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. "These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

Prov 17:4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

Prov 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

1 Tim 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Prov 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

Prov 22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

Prov 22:16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

1 Tim 4:7 But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

1 Tim 6:20-21 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge; by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.

2 Tim 2:16-18 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.

Psa 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.

Psa 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness And of Your praise all the day long.

Prov 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Prov 21:23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.

James 3:5-6 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

1 Pet 3:10 For "He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.


Christian Bible Studies

Home