In some of my early gift booklets I explored the medium of poetry as a means of prayer; a way of approaching God in a way that captures the imagination and speaks as prose sometimes cannot quite do. The poems from those booklets, together with many others I’d written subsequently, were later collected in my book Poems to Help You Pray. Here’s one of them, asking for God’s healing touch in a troubled world.
The Lord is close to those whose hearts are broken
and rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
To all beset by fears,
by sickness, pain or tears,
reach out and make them whole,
in body and in soul.
To all who long for peace,
bid inner turmoil cease;
reach out and touch their life
and put an end to strife.
To all oppressed by care,
regrets, dismay, despair,
reach out and touch their mind;
help put the past behind.
To all who’ve gone astray,
give light to point the way;
reach out and touch their heart,
your love and life impart.