Silent Prayer

Father, in your lovingkindness

You have heard and embraced my stress

When my soul cannot find words to confess

You bear my spirit’s sigh, 

For in my heart the shadows deep

Obscure Your mercy as I weep 

As my deep place calls unto deep

You hear and heed my cry.

There are moments deep within  my soul

Where burgeoning billows round it roll,

And I see no power that can control

Their pathless way,

My heart knows not whom or what to ask 

So I question why  is my soul downcast?

I preach to my soul taking it to task

But I cannot pray.

When you come to Christ for love and mercy 

And help in your anguish  And your perplexity 

When you plead for him to forgive your sin, 

You really need to know

You are going with the flow 

Of his own deepest wishes, not against them.

Your blessed Word my mind can teach

That even my groanings without speech

Into my  Father's heart can reach

And find its solace there.

You  count all my unspoken sighs ;

You treasure up  my wordless cries,

And send to me divine replies

As answered prayer.

You read within my human groan,

Whose cause is to myself unknown,

My spirit's need for You alone

For You even still more.

When in my heart the shadows creep

To obscure Your mercy as I weep 

As my deep place calls unto deep

My groans You’ll not ignore

You heed my cry once more.

Anthony Foster Romans 8:26 (After George Matheson)

December 23, 2020