Morning prayer · 4 March

Lie down in peace

A small boat with its anchor dropped, resting still on calm water at night, sails loosely folded as if no longer needed.

Most merciful Jesus, please give me your grace, to be with me, work in me and stay with me right to the end. Help me always want whatever pleases you most. Let your will be mine, and let my will always follow yours and agree with it completely. Let me choose and turn down only what you would. Help me let go of my hold on the things of this world. Above everything else I could want, let me rest in you, and let my heart be at peace in you. You’re the true peace of the heart, its only rest; without you everything is hard and restless. In you alone, the highest and eternal God, I’ll lie down in peace and rest. Amen.

I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 4:8 (BSB)

Adapted from Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ (tr. William Benham, 1874), in plain words. The verse is from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). Drawing: Mutter.