“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Over the years of my life I have benefitted from the prayers of Eric Milner-White, a distinguished and highly decorated Chaplain in the First World War, he became Dean of King’s College, Cambridge where he instituted the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve which continues to this day. From 1941 to 1963 he was Dean of York Minster where he restored the fabric from damage after the Second World War. His book of prayers, My God My Glory, became a best seller which was reprinted many times. I used selections of his prayers frequently in Sunday worship. This is his prayer for Lent.

Lord, bless me this Lent.

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

reveal me to myself in the light of thy 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 quickening,

strength sufficient without thy Spirit;

lest standing still, I fall back for evermore.

 

Shew me the desires that should be disciplined, and sloths to be slain.

Shew 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, vainglory.

 

May my whole effort be to return to thee;

O make it serious and sincere

persevering and fruitful in result,

by the help of thy Holy Spirit and to thy glory,

My Lord and my God.