With all the uncertainty that’s going on in my life, I’m trying to cling to prayer as much as I can, to continually ask God to guide me in a direction that best promotes His peace in this world. Ironically, as I looked for prayers to say in the morning, a friend sent me the beautiful gift book, “At Prayer with Mother Teresa,” a collection of reflections and meditations by Mother Teresa and her favorite saints, theologians, or fellow believers, complied by Eileen Egan. Among the beautiful passages are these six prayers that I dog-eared in the book:
Prayer for Enlightenment by Mother Teresa
Come, O Blessed Spirit Knowledge and Light, and grant that I may perceive the Will of the Father; show me the nothingness of earthly things, that I may realize their vanity and use them only for Thy glory and my own salvation, looking ever beyond them to Thee and Thy eternal rewards.
Prayer of Rabindranath Tagore
This is my prayer to you, O Lord–strike at the root of penury in my heart.
Give me the strength lightly to bear my joys and sorrows.
Give me the strength to make my love fruitful in service.
Give me the strength never to disown the poor or bend my knees before insolent might.
Give me the strength to raise my mind high above daily trifles.
And give me the strength to surrender my strength to your will with love.
Prayer of Compassion by Alan Paton
Make me, O Lord, the instrument of Thy love, that I may bring comfort to those who sorrow and joy to those who are regarded as persons of little account. In this country of many races make me courteous to those who are humble and understanding to those who are resentful. Teach me what I should be to the arrogant, the cruel, for I do not know. And as for me myself, make me more joyful than I am, especially if this is needed for the sake of others. Let me remember by many experiences of joy and thankfulness, especially those that endure. And may I this coming day do some work of peace for thee.
Prayer of Perseverance by Mother Teresa
Lord, give me this vision of faith,
So that my work will not become monotonous.
Prayer to Overcome Fear by Thomas a Kempis
My Lord Jesus, do not be far from me,
But come quickly and help me
For I am terrified by fears of the future.
How shall I break their power over me?
How shall I go unhurt without your help?
O Lord,
You have promised,
“I myself will prepare your way,
leveling mountains and hills.
I will open the gates of the prison,
And reveal to you
The hidden treasures of spiritual knowledge.”
O Lord, do as you have said,
Drive away all my fears.
This is my hope and my only comfort–
To turn to you,
To put all my trust in you,
To call inwardly upon you,
And to wait for your comfort with patience
Prayer to Avert Suicides by Mother Teresa
O God,
You who know the moment of our death,
You who know the moment of our creation,
We pray to You.
Bless this person contemplating suicide
And preserve this life of your child.
Turn the depths of this person’s depression away from self-destruction
And infuse him with your Holy Breath of Your Life.
Uncover for him the joys of the life you have set out for him,
And grant him hope and confidence in Your love and mercy. Amen.
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