Pray Counselors

I have been asking the hypostasis to show me a way to pray. I’ve been crying intent on the Lord to answer my prayers and pleading with Jesus, the great Shepherd, to intercede for his saints in his sweet mercy. But honestly, I confess, I’ve had a tough time expressing myself in prayer.
There is such a large amount of conversations during the day. Some lamenting, some confused, others are expressing fear and anxiety.
During an incredible and schizophrenic world crisis, we’ve got our particular crises: an old depression that gets worse, a newly discovered malignancy, a lost job, a terminally ill friend and every one we’d like is to be before the throne of grace of God and pour out our hearts and reason with the Almighty all the clouds of thoughts that affected us during the day.
What have you ever been doing with all this? How have you ever been praying to the Eternal God? What quiet instruction have you ever intimately requested in whispers to the Wonderful Counsellor? I confess that after the intensity of days, in my moment of prayer, many times, I’ve only managed to urge on my knees, hands clasped, eyes closed looking forward to a breath of the Spirit in my Spirit.

So, when the prayer doesn’t reach my mind, or my mouth can utter a word, I praise. I sing praise, more and more. So, I open my Bible to the psalms, there are the words that I searched in my heart and didn’t find, there are the words that expressed the torn hearts of the psalmists. Humanity’s pain isn’t new; it’s as old as humanity’s parents, Adam, and Eve.

Psalms allow us to mourn with the body, the soul, and therefore the heart. I make the words of the psalmists my prayer.
Praying with the psalms gives me the depth of my humanity. Still, it also confirmed the breadth of the agony of all fallen humanity; we were all captured, torn apart by the identical anguish, separated from God, fallen, desolate with our pains, weaknesses, disappointments, and doubts.
The mourning of humanity is refining the hearts, producing repentance within the conscience. Yes, it’s true that several, many are insensitive, and some, cruel, are taking advantage of the pain of others.
But we are still within the psalms, and that they can enrich our prayers. In them, we discover words to precise our affections that are confused and frustrated. Praying the psalms heals us from spiritual muteness

Good morning, Lord! Today’s a new day, a chance for a new start. Yesterday is gone and with it any regrets, mistakes, or failures I may have experienced. It’s a good day to be glad and give thanks, and I do, Lord. Thank you for today, a new opportunity to love, give, and be all that you want me to be. Amen.
– Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Dear Lord, as we rise to meet each new day, please let us be filled with Your spirit. Wherever we go, let us spread love, joy, peace, goodness, and faithfulness. Let us desire to become more like you and to worship you in all we do. Help us desire these things so much more than the sin that entices us. Thank you for always going before us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
– Dr. Charles Stanley

Dear God, Thank you for your amazing power and work in our lives, thank you for your goodness and for your blessings over us. Thank you for your great love and care. Thank you for your sacrifice so that we might have freedom and life. Forgive us for when we don’t thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you’ve given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you afresh. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
– Debbie McDaniel