These Things I Pray: Songs of the Soul

By David Heller

THESE THINGS I PRAY is a compilation of poetic prayers by David Heller, Ph.D. These thoughtful prayers are inclusive and ecumenical, and adaptable to anyone’s personal prayer offerings. The prayers capture an extensive array of religious themes, including: opening one’s heart to God, authenticity of belief, the variety of spiritual approaches, faith and doubt, the human condition, expressing gratitude, asking for forgiveness, cultivating goodness, the search for meaning, and much, much more. The following selection is a typical offering from the collection:



Gender Musings


Women and men are a funny mix

All do better when they decline gender tricks.

All fare well when they look deep

Beyond the surface, so much to reap.

Of course there are differences

And a certain delicate tension,

But invite God into a relationship

And love becomes the prevailing convention.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664138445

David Heller

David Heller, PhD. is a clinical psychologist and the author of forty previous books, including many of a spiritual and religious nature. These works include: In Search Of God, The Soul Of A Relationship, When Darkness Reigned And Light Was Barely Visible (with Jared Heller), The Soul Of A Man, Talking To Your Child About God (Literary Guild Selection), Dear God: Children’s Letters To God, The Eternal Gifts Of Judaism, Just Build The Ark And The Animals Will Come, and The Kids’ Book of Prayers About All Sorts of Things (with Elizabeth Heller). Dr. Heller is a summa cum laude graduate of Harvard and received his doctorate from The University of Michigan.

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Copyright © 2020 by David Heller.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 10/23/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

817803

Contents

Introduction: My Best Friend

Opening My Heart

Baring The Soul

My Soul’s Yearning

An Aching Heart for God

Early Years

So Many Questions

Waiting

A Basic Light-Hearted Prayer

Sensing God

To Thine Own Self and God

For What Shall We Pray?

Not All Prayers are Created Equal

Praying for The Presence of God

Whose God is This?

Many Religions, One God

An Egalitarian God

Gratitude

Timeless Prayer

Omniscience

Existential Need

Prayer for Guidance

Prayer for Insight

One Thing I Do Know

What is The Purpose?

So Why are We Here?

Concerning Truth

Truth and Lies

Separating The Wheat from The Chaff

False Prophets

Preach Me No Lies

Authenticity

Individual Differences

Individual Responsibility

To Bear Witness

Righteousness

The Problem of Anger

Appearances

Indifference

Beauty in The Surround

Gratitude II: Thank You, God

The Universality of Caring

The Nature of A Parent’s Love

God and Country

One Nation Under God: A Prayer For America

Prayer for Freedom From Prejudice

Beyond Color

Brothers and Sisters

A Prayer for Universal Healing

Spiritual Humility

Why is There Suffering?

What is The Reason?

Searching for Tranquility

God’s Love

Gratitude III

Bible Musings

Asking for Absolution

Quintessential Doubt

The Ebb and Flow of Faith

Awaken vs. Forsaken

On Frustration

On Isolation

Prayers in The Darkness

Loss

Discernment

Decisions, Decisions

Reflecting at The Crossroads

Transgressions

Little Wonders

Gender Musings

Searching for Stars

Omnipresence

Order vs. Randomness

Discovering Goodness

Practicing Goodness

My Spiritual Duty

These Things I Know

The Nature of Love

The Spirituality of Closeness

The Darkness Present

Good and Evil

Good Vs. Evil II: Some Honest Doubt

Does God Grow Tired?

The Weary Traveler

The Roadmap of Resilience

Inspiration: Gift of The Spirit

Nature’s Way

Prayer for The Homeless

What Most Matters

Gratitude IV

In Search of Kindness

In Search of Meaning

In Search of Heaven

On Human Nature

On Death and Dying

Complexity of Life

The Balance of Life

What Does God Think of