Sherry Sterling

Dear friends,

Sometimes I want or need to pray, but I can’t find the words. Sometimes it’s simply, Dear God. Or, Help, please. Sometimes I’ll pray through the Lord’s Prayer, one line at a time, adding what is mine to praise, remember, realign, request, repent, or forgive in that moment.

Sometimes, I’ll turn to the Psalms for words from another who prayed to God, long ago, and I’ll pray each verse as my own. Today’s Psalm, Psalm 142, is one David prayed while in a cave.

Would you try it with me? I’ve added my prayer, verse by verse, after the dashes.

1 I cry aloud to the Lord;
    I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.——God, I am feeling a lot. I need your help.

2 I pour out before him my complaint;
    before him I tell my trouble.——I can tell you all the details of what I’m going through.

3 When my spirit grows faint within me,
    it is you who watch over my way.——Please give me the faith to trust that you’re holding it all.
In the path where I walk
    people have hidden a snare for me.——My spirit is weary with the pain of disconnection.

4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand;
    no one is concerned for me.——I feel so alone in this.
I have no refuge;
    no one cares for my life.——I have no where to turn to about this.

5 I cry to you, Lord;
    I say, “You are my refuge,
    my portion in the land of the living.”——I remember that I can turn to you, God.

6 Listen to my cry,
    for I am in desperate need;——The pain is palpable.
rescue me from those who pursue me,
    for they are too strong for me.——I can’t do this on my own. Please help me find relief.

7 Set me free from my prison,
    that I may praise your name.

Then the righteous will gather about me
    because of your goodness to me.——With your help, I turn from focus on my own pain towards your goodness, and then I am open to others’ support, as well.

This form of prayer is a reminder that we can lean on each other in the Body of Christ, for words when we have no words.

Peace and love,

—Sherry