Why Pray

I pray to keep focused. I pray to remind myself that I am not alone. I pray to ask for guidance. And sometimes I pray for direction. Who am I kidding, I pray for that reason lots!

This prayer from Thomas Merton has been in my prayer box for quite some time. Some call it the Prayer of Surrender others of Abandonment. Either way, it is about the idea that while we want very much to do God’s will we don;t always know we are and it’s okay. Our desire, our intention matters. And God knows our intention always.

The Prayer

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going
I do not see the road ahead of me
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you
and I hope I have that desire in all I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me on the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore, will I trust you always.
Though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death,
I will not fear, for you are ever with me
and you will never leave me to face my struggles alone. Amen.

(Thomas Merton-Trappist Monk)

This week, pray this prayer as you begin each day. Allow it to comfort and guide you.

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