We all seemed to like the prayer by Thomas Merton that I linked to last Monday.  Here is another inspiring prayer for discernment.  This is by Vasily Drosdov Philaret, a Russian Orthodox biblical theologian and metropolitan, or archbishop, of Moscow whose scholarship, oratory, and administrative ability made him a leading Russian churchman of the 19th century.

O Lord,

I do not know what to ask You.
You alone know my real needs,
and You love me more
than I even know how to love.
Enable me to discern my true needs
which are hidden from me.
I ask for neither cross nor consolation;
I wait in patience for You.
My heart is open to You.
For Your great mercy’s sake,
come to me and help me.
Put Your mark on me and heal me,
cast me down and raise me up.
Silently I adore Your holy will
and Your inscrutable ways.
I offer myself in sacrifice to You
and put all my trust in You.
I desire only to do Your will.
Teach me how to pray
and pray in me, Yourself.

Amen.

Related articles

• I Have No Idea – A Prayer of Thomas Merton (tbolto.wordpress.com)
• “Why Pray?” (dish.andrewsullivan.com)
• Three pilgrim prayers (pilgrimswaywalk.wordpress.com)