Wednesday Words - Prayer, Desire, and Faith

On Sunday, January 8, I will begin a new teaching series at Valley Christian Church called All Kinds of Prayer. The title of the series comes from Ephesians 6:8, "...pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests." You can see an overview of the whole series here.

Each week we'll be looking at at a different facet or theme of prayer. As we do, we will take note of principles, people, and practices that can help us pray along that particular theme. The first week, we'll be considering prayers of humility.

A simple and humble prayer that I have grown to appreciate is one by Thomas Merton. It weaves humility, prayer, and desire into a beautiful expression of faith.

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 I am following
your will does not mean
that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that my desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire
in all that 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 by 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 perils alone.

- Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

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