Inarticulate Longings - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

When words will not come
unsure what to pray for
save for, that your will be done

Silent in praying
inarticulate longings only
unable to speak

Spirit, you know my situation
that which I cannot utter
speak for me to the king
that my prayer may have words

Guide my wandering thinking
given me ears to hear
the answer from the Lord
let me feel him here.

April 28, 2010
Romans 8:26
Romans 8:26-27

&
Day 217, “Our Prayer Helper”, in
“Daily Mediations: On Golden Texts of the Bible”,
by Henry Gariepy
http://books.google.com/books?id=9tjVtRt3TUMC&pg=PP1&dq=henry+gariepy&ei=6tqBSqLVDJiQyQT4i9DOCg#v=onepage&q=&f=false
read April 27, 2010, reread 4/28/2010

and earlier poem, posted (as God would have it) today on FaithWriters:
-------------------

In the silence of our hearts

Even when words are not spoken aloud
the words of prayer lifted only
in the silence of our hearts
even these are heard, even these answered
by our good and loving God
Even when words will not come
the musings, the sighs of our spirits
even then, the sighs alone
speak to God, who hears
and answers our prayers
even unspoken, even without words
our prayers answered by God.

May 3, 2009
Pastoral Prayer,
Reverend Huntley Halvorson,
Suncook United Methodist Church,
Suncook, NH
May 3, 2009

Copyright by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010. Contact me at Ray Foss
for usage.