Dear God, let me not seek applause today. Let me shun recognition. Let me help in secret, quietly spreading good will and positive development.

If the spotlight shines my way, let me turn it elsewhere, to shine on some other soul. Let me diminish my self-importance, my self-regard.

Let me feel guided today. I am fearful for the future and what may occur. Let me trust your pathways.

(Letter #1052)

Dear God, I harbor fears like termites chewing my foundations. I face no crisis in this moment, but I foresee calamity in the future. Lord, let me recognize this as a form of fantasy. I cannot know what future days or weeks will bring. To imagine I can is arrogance.

You are with me in the here and now – it is now that you call me to act. Worry for tomorrow will only serve to make me useless today.

Lord, let me live and act today, in this moment. Guide me to do your will.

(Letter #1051)

Dear God, I know you support me. Let me please believe it. I face troubles that worry me. How will I manage?

Let me please place all my apprehensions into your hands. Let me act as if I truly believe that you will intercede. Let me believe this so strongly that I can refrain from meddling and desperately trying to alter the course of events.

Let me gratefully accept every occurrence today. Let me live thankfully.

(Letter #1050)

Dear God, shelter me today. Protect me. Watch over me.

I fear so much – unforeseen calamity, negative interactions with other people, depletion of resources, pain visited upon loved ones. In truth, Lord, even the worst of my days merely reflects a small portion of what I routinely fear may come to pass, and even in those cases it is only momentary.

Lord, let me see clearly how my fears are rooted in delusion and fantasy. To nurture them, to worry over them so habitually, is a defect.

When I am shot through with fear, I do not have faith, and I cannot be of service to others. I am thus supremely selfish. Lord, take away this shortcoming. Let me become right-sized. Let me become a useful person. Let my faith in you grow.

Thy will be done.

(Letter #1049)

Dear God, even in the face of challenge, in the face of self-created fear, you offer abundance. It is my task to see it. Lord, let me rely upon you today. At every juncture where I am timid, or falter, let me consciously rely on you.

Too often, my dependence on you is in name only. I may face some trial and, in fear, I mouth the words of prayer. But I do not act on them – instead I set about trying to solve my own problem, on my own and without your assistance.

Lord, what would it be like if I were to truly depend upon you? Let me seek your support with great deliberateness today. Let me not simply cry out, “help me.” Let me stop, and receive your aid.

(Letter #1048)

Dear God, I deserve none of these gifts. I merit no recognition. No reward is due me. All this relief, all this bounty, this peace – all bestowed by you as pure grace. You give; my duty is to receive with thanks.

I expend such effort seeking to achieve, or build toward some imagined future. This is true in all the realms of my life: work, family, community, even spiritual. Work and effort. All false – every accomplishment comes to me as a gift from you.

Lord, let me cease my self-deception. Let me feel the joy of being fully loved by you.

I need not seek to deserve anything. You love me, your child, even at my most hateful.

How, Lord, can I better have and express the gratitude your love and bounty impels? All my attempts are inadequate, yet you love me even in my ingratitude.

Let me feel you shine upon me today, and in some small way let me pass this to others.

(Letter #1047)

Dear God, let me please focus today on my actions and not my emotions or sentiment. Let me act rightly, regardless of my internal condition. Let me shirk nothing.

So often, Lord, I wait before fulfilling some responsibility, until I feel ready to act, or more often, until other pursuits are exhausted. Let me instead place obligation first.

The less I may wish to do them, the more sacred your assigned tasks are, for they become thereby greater demonstrations of faith. I have so little of that.

Let me, please, by acting rightly, grow in my devotion to you.

Lord, thy will be done today.

(Letter #1046)

Dear God, let me think less of myself. I am consumed with thoughts of status. I crave recognition, praise, acclaim. I scheme about how to present myself in the best light, how to manipulate circumstances so those in authority view me positively.

Lord, take away this self-seeking. Let me view myself as a quiet servant. Let me seek anonymity. Let me discipline my pride and ego – let me please have some small measure of humility. Let me honestly triy to efface self. Let me honestly try to seek and do your will.

(Letter #1045)

Dear God, I worry overmuch. It gets in the way of my ability to be your servant. I am thinking too often and too much about my own woes. How, Lord, can I abandon myself to you?

How can I leave this self-centered fear behind, a heap of discarded, restrictive clothing?

Let me be new. Reborn as your joyous servant. Let me be eager today, to do your will at every turn.

(Letter 1044)

Dear God, let me direct my efforts outward toward others. Let me examine every situation in which I find myself, looking for ways to serve those around me.

Small waves of fear lap at me. I am frightened of what may happen, that I may not be adequate to the circumstances around me. As quickly as it comes, this feeling is replaced by resolve that I can and will master all challenges. Lord, let me recognize both of these poles as false extremes. I have no powers that allow me to conquer, nor are there any special forces arrayed against me.

You call me, instead, to be a simple servant.

Let me be a neutral steward, not concerned with trivial interactions but instead with enacting your will. A custodian. Let me see the things that you ask me to maintain, to repair, to clean up, to prune. Let me work quietly, even amidst chaos.

(Letter #1043)