A PRAYER FOR LENT

LORD, bless to me this Lent.

Lord, let me fast most truly and profitably, by feeding in prayer on your Spirit:

reveal me to myself in the light of your holiness.

Suffer me never to think that I have:

Knowledge enough to need no teaching,

Wisdom enough to need no correction,

Talents enough to need no grace,

Goodness enough to need no progress,

Humility enough to need no repentance,

Devotion enough to need no inspiring,

Strength sufficient without your Spirit;

Lest, standing still, I fall back for evermore.

Show me the desires that should be disciplined, and laxities to be slain.

Show me the omissions to be made up and the habits to be mended.

And behind these, weaken, humble, and annihilate in me self-will, self-righteousness, self-satisfaction, self-sufficiency, self-assertion, pride.

May my whole effort be to return to you; make it serious and sincere, persevering and fruitful in result, by the help of your Holy Spirit and to your glory, my Lord and my God. Amen.