Early one morning, I was listless during my prayer time before the Blessed Sacrament. I did not feel like my normal self. There was nothing particularly wrong with me. I wasn’t tired. I wasn’t sick. My prayer just didn’t seem right or normal.
After my hour of private prayer, I moved on to the main chapel to join my sisters for Morning Prayer. I happened to be one of the prayer leaders that morning. The first phrase, from Psalm 61, I had to pray aloud as leader was “O God, listen to my cry, be attentive to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call out, with heaviness in my heart.” God knew how I was feeling. He gave me a chance to articulate what was inside of me. It was good to say those words.
The Psalm continued. With my sisters I prayed phrases such as:
“Lift me up.”
“You have been my refuge.”
“Let me dwell in your tent forever.”
“O God, grant the desires of those who love you.”
As I prayed those words, I could feel my spirit lighten. Bit by bit I was feeling more like myself.
At the conclusion of the Psalm, once again it was my turn to pray aloud as leader. This time I said, “I will sing praise to your Name forever, as I fulfill my vows day after day.” What a perfect way to end! God put fitting words on my lips. He brought me from listlessness to thoughts of hope and promise. God knew what I needed.
