God of Heaven,
Who am I, that you welcome my prayers?
What am I, that you would find my words acceptable?
What is a speck of dust
In the eyes of transcendent majesty?
What business does a wayward brute have
Coming before the throne of divine justice
And eternal purity?
What orator can attain to your approval?
What words are worthy of your attention?
What are my prayers,
That you would hear me with affection?
As I come to you in quiet petition,
I confess:
My mind is blank,
My heart is numb,
My soul is drowsy and dull.
I yearn for sweet closeness and conversation
But I find in my prayers
It is not You who is cold-hearted and distant.
It is me.
As I pray, I find my prayers are regularly impeded.
I confess:
My mind is distracted.
My heart is disaffected.
My soul is drowsy and dull.
I yearn for familiarity and fellowship
But I find in my prayers,
It is not your Word which is weak or insufficient.
It is mine.
Yet I cast myself upon your grace,
Admitting my absolute neediness.
It is not the sincerity of my requests,
Nor the eloquence of my speech,
Nor the potency of my zeal,
That penetrates the heavens
And makes my prayers effective.
But you attend to my prayers
Purely by your grace,
For the sake of Christ
Who has cleansed me for acceptable worship (Romans 12:1-2),
Who is interceding for me at your right hand (Romans 8:34)
Who has given me His Spirit
To speak on my behalf
With groans to deep for words,
Converting my pitiful petitions
Into powerful prayers
That align with your perfect purposes (Romans 8:26-27)
On account of your grace,
I find boldness to pray,
For I know that you will hear me,
Not because of my love
Not because of my loyalty
Not because of my elocution,
But because of my Lord, Jesus Christ.
When I ask, I will receive.
When I seek, I will find.
When I knock, the door will be opened –
Unless I, like a foolish child,
Ask for things that will not profit me,
In which case I delight in my Father,
Who will perfectly provide me with the good I need,
Even through my imperfect prayers,
To the praise of his glorious grace (Matthew 7:7-11).
For I find rest in knowing
That the way I feel about my fumbling prayers
Does not determine their fruitfulness.
Instead I am sure,
That neither the weakness of my words
Nor the frailty of my fervor –
Nothing can separate me from the love of God
In Christ Jesus my Lord (Romans 8:38-39)
By whom I pray with expectant hope,
Amen.