Uses Of Prayer 

SOMETIMES TO ASK, 
Sometimes to praise, 
Express hope or trust
In different ways.

Sometimes to say -
Lord, You alone I Fear. 
Whatever the prayer,
Always sincere.

LORD, 
I'm trying hard to come to peace.
Please help me 
Have this struggle cease.

It's only through Your Divine Grace 
I can reach my goal.
Have inner peace that lies within my soul.

LORD, 
I'm on my knees.
Please listen to my pleas. 
It is not for me I plead.
It is for those of greater need. 
The many who are there 
Suffering, need Your care. 
May I help in any way2
Pray tell me, I'll obey. 
My heart cries out to You. 
Please, Lord, what can I do?

THE SOUND IN EVERY WORD, 
All that is ever heard,
Each sight the eye may see, 
Exists, not separately . . . 
As sunlight is the sun, 
All we hear, see - One!

LET ME EXALT YOUR NAME.
May my being acclaim You.
Reflect the reason 
For Your eternal fame.

May I with every breadth, 
Up to the time of death,
Reach to any height or depth. 
Go to any length or breath,
Ever more of love to show
Your love, that all can know. 
Through the Grace You bestow.

INVOKING GOD'S NAME, 
Is it to acclaim?
To get aid 
When one is afraid? 
Or even complain? 
It is never in vain!

LIKE THE STRING THAT HOLDS PEARLS TOGETHER, 
Humility is the sine qua non.
It is the ultimate bell-weather 
Without which virtues become undone.

GUIDE ME THROUGH MY HEART, 
I will follow You. 
Whatever You ask,
I will try to do.

There will be no words, 
This I fully know.
I will understand 
The way I should go.

FOR THY WILL TO BE DONE, 
Please show me the way.
It's what I strive for. 
You to obey.

That it may be Yours, 
I forever yearn.
That I may know it. 
Learn to discern.
I now know, 
The place to look.
Where Your will is told, 
It's in the Good Book.

IN TIME OF NEED - I WILL REMEMBER. 
In time of need - I will surrender.
In time of need - whatever, 
I will endeavor to remember 
Thy will be done.

LORD, 
When will I take my leave?
May I know? I will not grieve. 
My health is in a decline. 
Tell me, I will resign.

I accept, it's up to You
When to bid goodbye, say "adieu". 
I feel well, don't wish to go.
But it's Your call, this I know. 
If I can, I'd like to stay. 
Serve You longer, if I may.

IF "GOOD" - DO YOU ASK - "WHY YOU, WHY?" 
Or just let it pass by…
If "bad" - do you do the same 
or complain "it is a dirty shame"?

Why not treat them both equally? 
Recognize all is as meant to be . . .
Whether "good" or "bad", for each one 
Praise the Lord, say - "Thy will be done".

OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND AGAIN, 
Recognize one's blessings, say - Amen. 
For keeping one humble, this is a need.
A prescription in every creed.

To say it silently or aloud,
In all places - alone, or in a crowd. 
Never to be expressed mechanically 
Nor dramatized for another to see.

As food and water is to keep body whole, 
Amen is needed for the soul.

SHOULD ONE CALL UPON GOD FOR AID, 

Pray to Him when one is afraid?

Some will scoff and refuse to pray, 
Can't believe there is help this way. 
That is their choosing, only theirs,
On their own, remain with their fears.

Speaking for me, 
it's my belief, 
Through true prayer there is relief.

WHY BIRDS SING, FLY? 
Why lilies wave good-bye?
Why a lion roars?
Why animals walk on all fours? 
Why the sun shines bright? 
Why day and night?
Why the suffering and strife? 
Why the mysteries in life?

Why is it not for man to know 
The reason for the earthly show?
Why life is just this way? 
This why some pray.

TO HAVE FAITH DOWN MY CORE- 
No worry, question or doubt- 
Accepting all's for the best- 
No concern with finding out.

God alone knows what's ahead. 
No other than He.
Not to think about my fate, 
Whatever it proves to be.

I pray for the time to come, 
When all my doubt is put to rest.
Happy to live day by day. 
My faith having met this test.

THEY ARE NOT THE SAME, 
Each has a different aim.
Prayer is an outer affair, 
Directed for God to hear.

Words flowing from the heart 
To Him, of whom all are part.

Expressing an emotional appeal, 
Or humble gratitude one does feel.

Meditation turns inwardly , 
To dwell on one's divinity. 

One feels ease expand, 
God's love grow.

Both are needed to nurture the soul, 
If spirituality is the goal.

INNER REFINING 
TRYING FOR IT CONSCIOUSLY
UNENDING PROCESS . . .