

Life without purpose is barren indeed.
There can’t be a harvest unless you plant seed.
There can’t be attainment unless there’s a goal,
And man’s but a robot unless there’s a soul.
If we send no ships out, no ships will come in,
And unless there’s a contest, nobody can win.
For games can’t be won unless they are played,
And prayers can’t be answered unless they are prayed.
So whatever is wrong with your life today,
You’ll find a solution if you kneel down and pray.
Not just for pleasure, enjoyment and health,
Not just for honors and prestige and wealth.
But pray for a purpose to make life worth living,
And pray for the joy of unselfish giving.
For prayer is your gladness and blessings from heaven is your reward.
When you make your life’s purpose the choice of the Lord.
So when someone ask you today, “How you doing?”
You should say, “ fine because I prayed.”



So glad to find this poem by Helen Steiner Rice. This is from Prayerfully, published in 1951and republished in The Prayerful Heart (1982) by Charles Allen and Helen Rice. Her poem started with Life without purpose is barren indeed. This version added the last 2 lines. Notice the rhythm is different.
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