O Thou that hearest
prayer,
Teach
me to pray.
I
confess that in religious exercises
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 of my
fears,
that I am unfit
to choose for myself,
for it is not
in me to direct 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 toward 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 solicitude.
May I be poor,
afflicted, despised and have
thy blessing,
rather than 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.
And may I seek my
happiness in thy favour,
image,
presence, service.
