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Prayer Can...
Read these short poems and thoughts about what prayer can and cannot do. William Arthur Ward gives us simple yet meaningful words to reflect upon when it comes to prayer, faith, and our relationship with God.
Ward reminds us that prayer does not always change our circumstances or give us exactly what we ask for. Sometimes its greatest purpose is the change it brings within us. Prayer can comfort us, strengthen us, help us think of others, and draw us closer to God.
William Arthur Ward wrote, "Prayer can put us on the pathway from discord to harmony, from meditation to ministry, from selfishness to service." As you read these thoughts and poems about prayer, take time to reflect on his words. They may be short, but their message offers much wisdom about the purpose and power of prayer.
Updated September 28, 2026, by Catherine Pulsifer.
Prayer Can...
Poet: William Arthur Ward
Prayer can make our week days strong,
Our trying days triumphant,
Our sabbath days sacred,
And our holidays wholesome.
Fortunately prayer does not always bring us what we want;
Rather it helps us to become the kind of person we should be.
The value of prayer is not in what it gives us
But in what it makes us.
It is not primarily a method of getting,
But it is a splendid ways of growing.
He who would earnestly desire spiritual growth
Must be ever vigilant lest his meditations become daydreams,
And his prayers become a play on words.
Prayer takes the lid off our aspirations,
The ceiling off our abilities,
And the limitations off our achievements.
Thoughts On Prayer
Poet: William Arthur Ward
Prayer is the signature of the soul
On the correspondence with our Creator.
Prayer can chart our course and
Set our sails for each day's voyage.
The best cure for a short temper is
A lengthened prayer life.
Faith-filled prayers can calm the waves of anxiety
And undercurrents of fear.
The way we pray shows how we live;
The way we live shows how we pray.
Daily pressures can peeve, provoke, and perturb us;
Private prayers can strengthen, steady, and support us.
Brighten your corner with prayer;
It is the lamp of understanding.
When we pray for rain and do not bother to repair our roof,
Our petition is full of holes.
You can have poise over the which annoys when
You turn your cares into prayers.
A primary purpose of prayer is to attune
Our spiritual ears to hear divine whispers.
Prayer is the seed of miracles,
The soul of worship,
And the food of spiritual growth.
Prayer is our golden opportunity to transform
The blues into a red-letter day.
Key Reflections In These Poems
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Prayer can change us.
Prayer does not always give us what we want, but it can help us become the person we should be. Through prayer, we can grow in patience, faith, wisdom, and understanding.
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Prayer can bring strength during difficult days.
Life brings pressure, worry, and fear, but prayer gives us a place to bring those concerns. It can steady our thoughts and help us face each day with greater peace.
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Prayer requires more than words.
William Arthur Ward reminds us that prayer should be sincere rather than simply words we repeat. Our prayers become more meaningful when they influence how we live and the choices we make.
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Prayer draws us closer to God.
Prayer gives us quiet time to listen as well as speak. It helps us become more aware of God's guidance and strengthens our relationship with Him.
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Prayer and action belong together.
As Ward points out, praying for rain while failing to repair the roof leaves our petition full of holes. Prayer can guide us, but we must also be willing to take the steps that are ours to take.
Popular Pages
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Conclusion
William Arthur Ward's words remind us that prayer is about much more than asking God for what we want. Prayer can strengthen us during difficult days, calm our fears, deepen our faith, and help us grow into the people we are meant to be.
Perhaps one of the most important thoughts on this page is that prayer can change the person who prays. Circumstances may not always change as quickly as we would like, but through prayer our attitude, understanding, and response to those circumstances can change.
May these short thoughts encourage you to make prayer a regular part of your day. Whether your prayer is only a few words or a quiet conversation with God, may it bring you peace, wisdom, strength, and a deeper awareness of His presence in your life.
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