Dear God, deliver me from arrogance. In so many areas, in so many ways, my chief defect is my prideful feeling of self-sufficiency. It takes me away from you, and I begin to believe myself to be a leader. I have dominion over others. My reliance on you, and hence any claim to humility I may have, slip away.

Knock me down, O Lord. Remove my pride. Make me ready to be a servant. Let me seek your will above all.

(Letter #1096)

Dear God, I have a secret and it is you. As I walk through the day, interacting with this or that person or task, let me dwell fondly on my relationship with you. Your love for me.

I am adored — as are we all. Let me be awake to this, all throughout the day, safe, secure, enfolded in your embrace. No matter what happens in the area surrounding my body, or to my body, no matter my exertions, no matter my chores and tasks, no matter, even, my conflicts and warfare — you beam down upon me, you whisper into my ear, you wrap me in a warm cloak.

Dear Lord, you are here with me, simply waiting for me to glance your way. Let me feel you adore me.

(Letter #1095)

Dear God, how can I be of use today? All my plans and thoughts are selfish. I seek leisure, ease, advancement, pleasure, security, status, praise. All for me.

Lord, let me shed these pursuits, and instead keep a simple aim: seeking and doing your will. Let me ask, over and over and over, what you would have me do. Let me accept the guidance that comes, even when you would have me do nothing, or act contrary to my desires.

O Lord, let me live faith today, as your servant and agent. Let me not seek to improve my position, but to aid and advance those around me.

Thy will be done today, let me seek and do it.

(Letter #1094)

Dear God, let me not pine for a feeling of connection or serenity. My feelings are not important. Let me, instead, seek your will even though I may wish to pursue my own aims, even though my feelings may be ones of isolation and self-sufficiency. These are the times I need your dominion over me the most.

I meditate and pray not to feel better, but to set aside how I may feel.

Lord, let me seek your will today first, in all things.

(Letter #1093)

Dear God, place into the forefront of my thoughts my greatest shortcoming. Grant me awareness of how I fall short – that I may try to improve. My selfishness, my egotism, my self-pity: make me see it. Let me thereby become willing to try to be a better person.

(Letter #1092)

Dear God, let me not hoard your love, your resources. For what am I saving, in what tomorrow would you not support me? My smallness, my defective miserliness – remove it. What I have, today, let me give.

Let me bestow every last bit of energy and well-being as I try to improve the comfort and lives of others. Let me not be a stagnant pond, saving up my brackish water for some imagined future use – but instead let me be a clear stream from which the creatures all around me may drink and refresh themselves.

Grant me willingness to live without thought of my own well-being. Deliver to me, O Lord, the faith that will allow me to live risking it all for you. Wherever you guide me, let me go willingly, even unto the jaws of the lion.

(Letter #1091)

Dear God, let me search myself for gifts I may offer. Let me bestow my time, attitude, attention, and energy without reservation. Let me fulfill others’ needs today, without regard for self in any wise. Let me be your obedient child.

(Letter #1090)

Dear God, is one morning more or less important in your sight than another? Surely you love all your children, all the days, in equal measure. Just as with all those ways you saved me in the past, you will do in equal measure today.

Lord, my sweet, dear Lord, visit me personally today. Be with me all throughout the day, my constant companion. My shortcoming is that I see you so infrequently, though I know you to be there. Faced with some challenge, my first thought is to solve it – not to have faith that it will be solved.

Lord, let me have the presence of mind to place faith prior to everything else that unfolds around me. Let me make room for it. Let me make room for you.

Watch over this son of yours, gently guide me when I fail.

(Letter #1089)

Dear God, let me quietly, secretly spread peace today. Let everything I may do be unannounced — let me take quiet satisfaction in crafting works that will leave delight in the hearts of others — let me ease others’ pathways — with no attribution or notice.

Spare me, O Lord, from seeking credit. Spare me from my own craven ego. Let me place others’ fame and well-being ahead of my own desires.

(Letter #1088)

Dear God, overshadow me. Insert your will into my thoughts, take me by the nose and point me onto the proper path. I am so obstinate and willful: bridle me.

Lord, grant me willingness to be ruled, gratitude for your directions. Grant me meekness, let me be compliant.

Give me the wherewithal to halt my galloping forward and instead be attentive to your leading.

(Letter #1087)