A Different Direction

This morning's reading of the 5th Psalm took me in an unexpected direction.  Actually, anytime we seek to read and pray the Scripture, we should not be surprised at such a thing happening.  This approach to the Scripture is based on a spiritual discipline known as Lectio Divina.  Its beginnings are associated with Benedictine of the 6th century.  It involves a slow and deliberate reading of the Word followed by meditation and prayer.  It is not a spiritual discipline designed to provide information about the Bible, instead its purpose is to help us experience the Bible as the Living Word.

 

It is not a moment for praying as we often think of praying.  An important part of the discipline is the listening part.  As we focus on one part of a passage instead of the whole, we are likely to sense or hear a Word we would miss if we were not focused so specifically.  And so, this morning as I delved into the 5th Psalm, I found myself being called to pray for those whose prayers are not yet answered.  "Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing.  Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I pray." (Ps. 5:1)  As I heard this word and realized how it resonated in my own heart, it came to me that there are so many around me who are crying out with sighs and groans to deep to be heard.  There are many who seek some response and, yet, hear only the silence.  Their prayers are the prayers of the desperate. 

 

I am not sure it ever occurred to me before this morning to pray for those who are praying with deep desperation and sense no relief, no help, no comfort, and no answers.  And, yet, like me and you, still, they pray.  To pray for these is such a special opportunity and ministry.  These who are struggling in their prayers are not hard to find.  They are closer than we might think.  If there is trouble seeing, ask the Father to give eyes to see.