From Adventures in Prayer, by Catherine Marshall:
Father, for such a long time I have pleaded before You regarding this, the deep desire of my heart: ________. Yet the more I’ve clamored for Your help, the more remote You have seemed.
I confess my demanding spirit. I’ve suggested to You ways my prayer could be answered. To my shame, I’ve even bargained with You. Yet I know that trying to manipulate the Lord of the universe is utter foolishness. No wonder my spirit is so sore and weary!
I want to trust You, Father. My spirit knows that these verities are forever trustworthy even when I feel nothing:
- That You are there (You said, “Lo, I am with you always.”)
- That You love me (You said, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.”)
- That You alone know what is best for me (For in You, Lord, “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”)
Perhaps all along, You have been waiting for me to give up all self-effort. At last, I want You in my life even more than I want _________. So now, by an act of my will, I relinquish this desire to You. I will accept Your will, whatever that may be. Thank You for counting this act of my will as the decision of the real person even when my emotions protest. I ask You to hold me true to this decision. To You, Lord God, who alone are worthy, I bend the knee with thanksgiving, believing that this, too, will “work together for the good.”
Amen.