Peggy McMahon - Abba Hear My Prayers. For Times I Cannot Pray Myself

Father, Father,

You, who hear the awful groaning of my soul, carry me I pray, through one more day. Lift me in your precious arms, let my tears wash over me as you feed my soul. Let me drink the water as one who is thirsty for life. Touch my heart and fill my longing with your peace. Love me. Rest, help me rest.

Amen.

Most gracious and loving Father,

You have gifted me with those who are willing to stand by me and I am grateful. Without their strength, I would fall; without their compassion, I would wither. There are days and nights when the ocean is so wide that I am unable to swim its breadth. It is then, they keep me afloat. It is then, they listen to my breath with their soul, and they breathe life for me.

In this circle of existence, I am, because they are. Thank you for the gift of your children, who help this child to survive.

Amen.

My Father,

Protect me with shelter today, I pray. Shield me from the icy winds of anguish, from blinding storms of doubt; draw aside the black curtain of despair and let me walk in the light of your love.

Open my mind to all that is positive. Turn me from the well worn tracks of self-defeating thoughts. Bathe my troubled mind with redolent spirit. Nourish me like a child of the water, a child of the truth.

Let me rest upon your arms, until my breath flows quiet into the sea.

Amen.

Most Holy Father, Giver of all life,

On this holy day of communion, I come to your house frail and trembling. My soul has been bruised, I need you. Touch me with the oil of your Spirit, mend my brokenness. Help me believe that for what I ask, you have already given. I need not be perfect, I need only to have faith.

Amen.

O Blessed Father,

This day has come and gone and I am learning patience. And with patience comes peace, although for me not easily.

Teach me how easy it is to trust you, so that I never again have to wrestle the bearer of ambivalent fear. Let me know that you have already wrestled him for me and you know the outcome. Let me feel your faith in me, so that I might be strengthened.

Is it really so difficult I ask, and you answer, Most assuredly not.

Father, if you walk in front, I will follow, if you walk beside, I will lean into you. If you walk behind I will fall back on you. No matter where I am, there you will be. I am not alone. Teach me this, I pray.

Amen.

Reflection

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:5-6 KJV

O Holy Spirit,

My body is so bone tired, yet my soul longs for you. I long for you to take me to the place where all pain is no more, all anxiety and sadness gone. Show me, I pray, how to use my pain for strength, as a doorway to faith.

Let me lie down with the assurance that all is right with me, that all is part of your intended plan.

Lie me down under your star studded sky, give me your promise that you will rest beside me tonight, watching over me as I sleep. Remind me that all I need do is to believe and you will do the rest.

Help me break through the waves of pain and torment. Show me an ocean at rest so that I might know how vast is your peace. And in the morning, shower me with warm sun in the midst of this winter, delight me with birdsong outside my window.

Be ever my guardian and keep me safe from harm.

Amen.

Reflection

Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

My dear Father,

The tempest winds blow over the edge of my mind today. Not howling rages, but enough to distract my thoughts, enough to take me away from you.

Please touch me, bring me back to you. Let me feel your healing hand across my timid mind. Let me feel I belong. Bless my precious friend, hold her in your loving embrace. May I stand beside her, as she has stood beside me countless times. Bless us both, give us peace.

Amen.

My Father,

Let my hunger be satisfied in you, my thirst be quenched. When I stumble be there to hold me, when I tire be there to replenish, when I reach the end be there.

The wind blows today, the cold pierces my skin, yet I feel this unbelievable warmth that comes from inside me, because I know you have kindled the fire of my desires even before I was born. How can I not believe in you? There is proof all around me. The snowflakes displaying their unique design, the blue of the sky giving way to limitless color, the compatibility of my special friend, whom you sent to comfort me.

How can I doubt you? In all your creative ways teach me faith.

Amen.

Loving Father,

A crashing despair has depleted my reserves. All hope seems lost. Please hold me close, comfort me and point me in the direction I am to go. Be with those who use their minds to reach mine. Let me know that this too shall pass and that this fellowship of little people together make God visible in the world.( Can You Drink The Cup, Henri Nouwen)

I want to believe that truth, yet the rawness of this pain is still too frightening for some. Guide me to those who have looked straight into this fear and persevered. Perhaps that is all we can ask.just help to persevere.

Amen.

O Holy God,

I pray for transcendence. I pray for flight above and beyond this troubled mind. You, who know everything, and fulfill all pleas for peace, restore my dignity, not just for me, but so that I may serve you with honor and respect.

Turn my mind from self-indulgent, selfish thoughts and ask meno, command me, escort me, carry me out of the darkness into the light.

Amen.

Most gracious and loving Father,

I ask you to hold my cup of sorrow Lord, until I am strong enough. Then slowly, surely show me how to lift it. For now, hold my anxious mind in your cupped hands. Still the noise in the rapid turbulence of my heart so that I might pray in the inner chapel of my soul. Let the silence of your word transform my burdensome thoughts.

Teach me how to ask for your presence, then show me how to listen with my soul. Bring me to that place where joy and sorrow embrace each other. Bring me peace for the night.

Amen.

Oh weary head, I want rest. Turn my heart toward you Father. Hold me as you would a little child. Soothe my fears, still my hand, slow my thoughts. Lead me to your psalms, you who provide rest in green pastures and respite beside still waters.