Morning prayer · 12 June

Don’t leave me to myself

A small wooden puppet with its own loose strings tangled, while a steady unseen hand from above gently takes hold of the strings to guide it.

Merciful Father and good Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner, and forgive my sins. Help me overcome every trap, temptation and harmful pleasure, avoid what you forbid, and do what you command. Help me believe, hope, love and want what you know is right. Give me a humble, sincere mind, to love you, pray to you and praise you. Help me always move humbly on to better things, and never slide back. Lord, don’t leave me to my own will, to human ignorance or weakness, or to what I deserve, but only to your loving care. Order all my thoughts and actions yourself, so that your will alone is done by me, in me and to me. Free me from all evil, and bring me to eternal life. Amen.

But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

Luke 18:13 (BSB)

Adapted from a prayer attributed to St Anselm, via Meditations and Prayers (ed. E. B. Pusey, 1856), in plain words. The verse is from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). Drawing: Mutter.