Prayers for Discernment
My God,
You have created me out of love to know you, love you
and serve you in a way no one else can do.
Your plans for me are far greater than any
I might dare dream for myself.
Lord, grant that I might be open to your grace
to know the next good step in your plan for my life.
Give me the courage and the generosity to say “Yes”!
Show me your will for me, O Lord, and help me to say with Mary,
“I am the servant of the Lord: let it be done to me according to your word.
Amen.
(Bishop George J. Lucas)
Eternal God,
from my mother's womb
you have known and loved me
more than I can ever know.
I ask for the courage to live a holy life,
that your hand guide my decisions
and that your mercy be extended
when I seek my own glory instead of yours.
I ask for the wisdom to know your will for me,
and like our Blessed Mother,
I ask for the strength to say yes.
May I find you in every person I meet, and may my life so shine forth
your goodness and love that each person may be led to you
through Jesus, your Son,
who is Lord, forever and ever.
Amen.
Anonymous
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)