Poetry 23 - " Thankful to be a Virgin"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Thankful for their Virginity

Father in Heaven,

I hold no personal pride in where my body is today.

It is only by your grace that I have made it to this point.

I thank You that I am still a virgin.

It has not always been easy,

but it has always been right.

Thank You for Your strength,

when mine was weak.

Thank You for Your wisdom,

when mine was insufficient.

Thank You for Your courage,

when I leaned toward cowardice.

Thank You for Your forgiveness,

when I wanted to succumb to the pressure.

Thank You for Your grace,

when that was all I had.

In a day when virginity is looked down upon,

I am pleased to still be one.

May I only surrender mine within Your will and grace.

Amen.

Poetry 22 - "Carrying a Sexually Transmitted Disease"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Carrying a Sexually Transmitted Disease

Oh

Dear God,

My worst nightmare has come true.

I have a disease that can be understood by very few.

It is so private, that it is known only by a few.

I must share my part of the blame,

but it does not stop the pain.

I confess my fault,

but I am hurt and disillusioned.

I lift my body to You.

I lift my emotions to You.

I lift my spirit to You.

You are the great physician.

Please heal my body if it is Your will.

Heal my sprit

and my emotions

and my mind

because it is Your will.

Amen.

Poetry 21 - "Rape Vicitms"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Rape Victims

Dear God,

I have been violated.

I have been hurt beyond description.

It affects me every single day.

I am depressed.

I am scared.

I am angry.

I feel guilty,

even though I know I am not.

I feel to blame,

even though I am innocent.

I feel like damaged goods,

even though I know I am not.

I feel it is hopeless,

even though I know it is not.

I know Your love heals all wounds.

Heal mine!

Help me to get over this desire to get even.

Help me to be kind to myself.

Help me to not expect too much too soon.

Help me to trust again.

Help me to experience Your grace

when I need it most!

Amen.

Poetry 20 - "Abused as Children, Now Divorced"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Were

. . . Abused as Children, and Now are Divorced

Lord,

The pain lingers on.

I was the prey.

Now I am a casualty.

When I was a child, I was sexually abused

by someone I trusted.

The pain lingers on.

Now the scars that remain

have contributed to the dissolution of my marriage.

I thought I could just put it all behind me.

I now know I need help to do so.

Once again,

I feel alone.

The pain lingers on.

Help me deal with the pain.

Grant me deliverance from the demons in my memory.

I ask for a miracle in my life.

For, that is what I feel it will take.

That is what You can give.

Amen.

Poetry 19 - "Aging and Sex"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Struggling with Aging and Sex

Dear God,

I look in the mirror and realize

I am not as young as I once was.

I cannot run as fast

or as long.

Sexually, it is the same.

I have the same desires,

but these failures make me feel so worthless.

My being is not made up entirely of sex,

so why do I feel like it is?

Help me accept myself where I am.

Help me make change and adapt where I can

and should.

Help me to be patient with myself.

Help my partner to be patient with me.

Help me release this struggle to Your grace.

Amen.

Poetry 18 - "Recovering from Date Rape"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Recovering from Date Rape

Precious Lord,

I trusted and I cared.

I went out with a person who violated me.

Why do I feel guilty?

I did nothing wrong.

Why do others doubt me?

I am the victim.

Why must I suffer?

Another sinned against me.

Jesus,

I am still unsure of what damage has been done to me

I ask for Your protection

from the memories,

from this person,

from my desire to see them pay a high price,

from disease

from shame.

To You, I commit this dreadful deed.

From You, I must draw strength.

Upon You, I must lean.

With You, I must walk this dark valley,

for you have walked valleys of pain before.

My tears remind me of the act committed against me.

May I respond as You did

to those who sinned against You?

Amen.

Poetry 17 - "Thought Life"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Struggling with their Thought Life

Lord,

My mind gives me little or no rest.

Far too often

I think thoughts

I know are not pleasing to You.

This is a battle I cannot win alone.

I know my desires are normal,

but I also know

that I am invading the privacy of another

without their permission

. . . or Yours.

Help me to bring the area of my life under control.

Help me to submit to You and Your Spirit.

Help me to respect the other person.

Thank You for helping me,

even when I do not even realize it.

Amen

Poetry 16 - "Temptation"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . in a Sexually Tempting Relationship

Lord,

I love someone.

I love them in powerful fashion.

Our love is real.

Our love is strong.

The temptation is also real . . .

and strong.

The desires are pulling us in a direction that

we have no intention of going.

We have decided not to become involved sexually,

but the pressure is incredible at times.

Heavenly Father,

I ask You

for grace that is stronger than our temptation.

for confidence that our decision is correct,

for a route of escape when the way seems closed.

I recommit myself to You.

Amen.

Poetry 15 - "Considering Marriage"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Considering Marriage

Dear Lord,

You created marriage.

You created sex.

I am now considering both

with someone for whom I care very deeply.

As sincerely as I know how,

I ask for Your blessing on this relationship.

I ask You to bless this marriage.

I desire for you to bless our sexual union.

I will be honest and open with this person,

I will share what I desire to share sexually,

and be open to sharing what I now do not.

I will give my body unashamedly

and unconditionally to this person.

I will accept their body unashamedly

and unconditionally

as a gift from them and from You.

I am willing to accept my share of the responsibility

for the learning process.

I am willing to accept my share of the joy

from the result of having learned.

Thank You Father that we are both sexual beings.

As long as we live

may we only be sexually involved with one another

because this is right, and this is pleasing to You.

Amen.

Poetry 14 - "Previously Married"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Previously Married

Father,

I was once married,

now I am not.

I once knew sexual intimacy,

now I do not.

I once shared my total being with another

now I do not.

I grapple with this almost every day I live.

The frustration is immense.

The temptation is incredible.

The pain is very real. Dear Father

I ask for grace to deal with this pressure,

but what I would really like

is someone

with which to once again

share this most intimate part of me.

Please grant me the comfort I need

to live a life that is pleasing to You.

Place your healing balm on my soul and my body.

Amen.

Poetry 13 - "Recovering from Broken Relationship"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Recovering from a Broken Relationship

Dear Lord,

Why do I feel attracted

to someone who is not attracted to me?

This is not the way it should be!

My heart is in knots,

please untie it.

I ask for freedom from this bondage I am living under.

Help me to grant them freedom.

May I learn to love again.

Help me to trust again.

Help us both Father to move on with our lives.

Amen.

Poetry 12 - "Struggling with Abstinence"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Struggling with Abstinence

Dear God,

I need Your help.

I never knew temptation could be this strong.

It was so easy to tell everyone

that I will not become sexually active with another person

before I marry them.

Living it is much more difficult.

It is more difficult than I ever imagined.

Sometimes

I ask why You placed these desires within me

if I do not have someone to share them with.

I know that isn’t the right way to view it.

But it is how I feel

. . . sometimes . . . sometimes.

This is going to have to be a partnership with You.

If I am indeed going to keep THIS promise

I must have Your help.

Please Dear Father,

Grant me the strength I simply do not have.

Amen.

Poetry 11 - "Abuse Victims"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Victims of Sexual Abuse

Oh my God,

no one knows pain like mine.

I hurt from the treatment I received in the past.

No one deserves what I received.

I feel so dirty,

so cheap,

so used.

I did nothing wrong Lord.

I am the victim.

Why must I pay this awful price?

I cannot even express how badly this hurts!

It hurts me now is relating to others.

It hurts in relating to myself.

It hurts in relating to You.

I must have your healing!

Please heal me mentally.

Please heal me physically.

Please heal me emotionally.

Please heal me spiritually.

Please heal me sexually!

Oh my Father! I know You love me!

In spite of the awful event in my life . . . You love me.

Help me to move on in my life.

Help me to grow,

to learn

to trust

to love.

Yes God, help me to learn to love.

Amen.

Poetry 10 - "Body Shame"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Struggling with Body Shame

Lord,

I look at myself in the mirror . . .

and I cringe.

Do others see what I see?

Do I see what I see?

I am made in Your image. I do not feel like it.

Do You really love me . . . as I am?

Do You accept me?

Do I accept me?

I know I must accept me.

But I also know I should change some things.

Do I REALLY want to make changes in my appearance?

Do I have the ability to make changes?

Do You want me to make changes?

At times I seek to place the blame on others.

While others may have played a part,

this is my battle and my struggle to win.

I confess where I am weak.

I accept where I am simply me.

At times I wonder if I know the difference.

Do You wish to help me?

YES!

I release this struggle to Your grace.

I rest in Your love.

Amen.

Poetry 9 - "Used"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Feeling Used and Abandoned

Lord it hurts.

I should have known better.

I feel like such a fool.

I gave in . . . and now . . .

I am alone.

I thought it was “right.”

I thought it would work out.

I was wrong.

I need Your forgiveness.

I need Your love.

I need Your acceptance and restoration.

I need Your strength to learn from my mistakes.

I need to release the desire for revenge.

I tried to fill an empty spot in my life.

I used the wrong thing.

I need You.

I need You more than ever.

Lord, it hurts. Please help me.

Amen.

Poetry 8 - "Theology"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Having Trouble with Sexuality versus Theology

Father,

I thought I had all the answers.

I am learning anew that I do not.

Please help me to reconcile in my mind,

what I know about You

and what I seem to be learning about sexuality.

If something is right, help me to cling to that.

If something is wrong, help me to leave it.

If I am unsure, help me to discern.

Amen.

Poetry 7 - "Repentant"

For a full explanation as to the background of these poems, go the my entry on January 16, 2011. This "link" should take you there

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A Prayer for

Those Who Are

. . . Repentant for Having Sinned Sexually

Dear God,

How do I say, “I’m sorry,”

and sound like I meant it? For I do.

I truly am sorry for my sin.

I feel so black,

so vile.

I have hurt someone else.

I have hurt myself.

I have hurt You.

Please remind my spirit

that there is no sin so great you will not forgive it.

You know my weakness.

You know my area of temptation.

You know I fell.

You know.

Forgive me of my sin.

Help me to have the strength that comes from above

so I will not repeat my error.

I pray to you, because Jesus died for me.

Thank you, Father.

Amen.