You plucked the fruit of my heart 
and it was foul 
in Your mouth.

You had given me good soil
for growing
and had set me beside a stream
flowing
with the waters of life.

But I planted
seeds 
from the Tempter’s catalogue.

Hate sprouted up amongst Love.
Sadness cast its creeping tendrils over my Joy.
Peace was disturbed by an invasion of Fear.
Frustration, Selfishness and Malice
ran riot In the beds where 
Patience, Kindness and Goodness were meant to grow.
Suspicion robbed Trust of its nutrients and
Callousness squeezed out Gentleness.
Impetuousness grew like wildfire way beyond the borders set for Self-control.

But you scorched my soil with Your fierce love 
which only that which was 
Good 
could withstand.

You scattered more 
of the seeds of Your Spirit 
into my cleared ground so that 
good fruit 
might replace my bitter harvest.


Rachel Parkinson 24 hour prayer. June 2010