Dear God, as I tend my relationship with you, I have a more frequent understanding of how to respond to events in the world. This opens the door to hasty and ill-considered action, as I pridefully believe I somehow have a direct line to your will.

The more certain I feel, the more I ought to pause to discern your voice and guidance. The action that was correct yesterday may not be so today.

Lord, let me be willing to seek humility. Let me not be filled with pride and ego. It is such a small step from having a conscious contact with you, to becoming a zealot or crusader.

God, grant me uncertainty. Let me see it, when it comes, as a gift. Uncertainty causes me to pause, and in that space let me be willing to hear your quiet leading.

Without your guidance, I so easily fall into error and selfish behavior. Let me remain small and powerless, taking your hand like a child.

(msg809)

Dear God, I sit here, in this room, feeling and noticing every physical sensation I am able. The ground under the soles of my feet. The cushion pressing against my lower back. The expanse of my ribs as I breathe. The gurgle of the coffee maker. The tick of the clock.

I am alive, present in this body in this space. Lord, this is your gift to me. This body is not mine but yours, an instrument with which you act in this world. My highest joy is to become ready for your use.

The day stretches before me with few obligations. You grant me the freedom to fill it with selfish trivia, or with industry. Let me have the willingness to choose the latter. Let me abandon myself to you fully today, with great joy and without reservation.

Let me be your trusted instrument today.

(Msg808)

Dear God, my mind swirls with thoughts about how I will or should handle problems that I face, how I will respond to events, how I will get things done. My self-centered mind sees me as the prime mover. But this is illusion. My role is not to overcome obstacles, but instead to simply play my part, the one ordained and designed by you.

God, fill me with willingness to do your will today. My experience has been that, if I expend effort in truly seeking and discerning your guidance, that I have unlimited stores of motive power. The more I help others in your name, the more energy I have.

What a glorious, ever-renewable resource is your love! Yours is the cup that never empties. When my energy and ability are depleted, it typically means I am pursuing my own selfish ends. My energy wanes. When I pursue your will, I find that I never tire.

Let me seek and do your will today.

(msg807)

Dear God, let me be present before you. I set aside this time to seek you; let me not undercut this intention by distracting myself.

What tasks would you have me do today, O Lord? I worry they may be beyond me. But, in truth, I have never been unequal to any of your burdens. Instead, if I am honest with myself, I find that you place no demands on me whatsoever.

You offer opportunity for me to draw near to you. I take this opportunity, or I do not. Even when I stray far from your presence, you are patient, lovingly waiting for my return and you never spurn me when I finally come to myself.

What a kind and loving friend you are! You are no taskmaster.

Let me reflect your love in some small way to those around me today. Let me reject no one’s humanity.

God, grant me the willingness to see you before me, not just in this secret place of prayer but in everyday times as well. Let me be awake to you, unbound by trance, and undistracted by self.

(msg806)