Prayer

On the Way of the Cross

Lord,

What is it that I must move beyond now?

All that I feel, think, and see seems to end here.
But Lord, I long to see deeper.
Let my soul be drawn to You.
I want to see You who are beyond all that I know.

Your love is the love that gave itself,
torn, wounded, and bleeding.
By that blood I have been washed and covered in grace.
You were pierced for my wrongs.
You were crushed for my sins.
You were punished, and I have peace.
You were whipped, and I am healed.

Lord, I want to see You clearly.
I am thirsty.
I hunger and thirst for what is right.
Lead me in Your way,
in Your truth,
into Your kingdom.

My ears are dull.
My eyes are dim.
My heart is slow to understand.
I am foolish, and I do not know Your path.

Lord, beyond the waves, I want to see You
standing upon the sea.
In the storm, I want to lie beside You
as You rest in the boat.
Beneath the bleeding cross,
I want to look up at You.
At Your empty tomb,
I want to sit and wait.

Lord, lead me.

Lord, my heart is longing for You.
Come and fill me.
Anoint me with Your Spirit.
Meet me, Lord.

I want to stand in the desert where You walk.
I want to be where You are.
Lord, where are You travelling now?
Where is Your kingdom?
Beside whom are You sitting,
wiping away tears?

All my life I have asked You
to stay where I am.
Yet I have not gone where You are.
I have had no heart to go,
no desire to go,
no wisdom to go.

Have mercy on me, Lord.
Have compassion on me.

I should go where You are,
yet I remain behind.
Am I only circling?
Am I only drifting?

You have given me everything.
Yet I have not given You all.
Is that why my faith feels so small,
so thin?

Lord, my heart and soul ache.
They are lonely and dry.
I long for You until my spirit feels empty.

Where You go, I want to go.
Where You dwell, I want to remain.
No one else is my way.
Not even I am my own way.

Lord, I believe I will be most at peace
when I walk in Your path.

Lead me.
Lead me, Lord.

I do not want to turn away.
I do not want to run.
I do not want to act in haste.

I only want to trust You completely.
I place myself into Your hands.

Amen.

*these are my own paintings *