Providence Continued ~ His Desires Mine

O Thou that hearest prayer,

Teach me to pray.

I confess that in religious excersizes the language of my lips and the feelings of my heart have not always agreed,

that I have frequently taken carelessly upon my tongue a name never pronounced above without reverence and humility,

that I have often desired things which would have injured me,

that I have depreciated some of my chief mercies,

that I have erred both on the side of my hopes and also my fears,

that I am unfit to choose for myself,

for it is not in me to choose my steps.

Let thy Spirit help my infirmities,

for I know not what to pray for as I ought.

Let him produce in me wise desires by which I may ask right things,

then I shall know thou hearest me.

May I never be importunate for temporal blessings,

but always refer them to thy fatherly goodness,

for thou knowest what I need before I ask;

may I never think I prosper unless my soul prospers,

or that I am rich unless rich towards thee,

or that I am wise unless wise unto salvation.

May I seek first thy kingdom and its righteousness.

May I value things in relation to eternity.

May my spiritual welfare be my chief solitude.

May I be poor, afflicted, despised and have thy blessing,

rather that be successful in enterprise,

or have more than my heart can wish, or be admired by my fellow-men,

if thereby these things make me forget thee.

May I regard the world as dreams, lies, vanities, vexation of spirit,

and desire to depart from it.

An may I seek my happiness in thy favour, image, presence, service.

Amen