Living By Prayer

O God of the open ear,

Will you teach me to live by prayer
      as well as by providence,
   for myself, my soul, my body, my children, my family, my church?
Please give me a heart that is moldable to your will;
   so that I might live in prayer,
   and honor you,
   being kept from evil, known and unknown.
Help me to see the sin that is present in everything I do,
   yet to also see the good that can come from all things as well.
Let me know that the work of prayer is to change what I want to be what you want,
   and that without this, it is foolishness to pray;
When I try to change your will to mine I am trying to command Christ,
   to be above him, and wiser than he:
      this is my sin and pride.
I can only succeed when I pray
   according to your principle and promise,
   and to be done with as it pleases you,
   according to your sovereign will.
When you command me to pray
      for pardon, peace, brokenness,
   it is because you will give me the thing promised,
      for your glory,
      as well as for my good.
Help me not only to desire small things
   but with holy boldness to desire great things
      for your people, and for myself,
      that they and I might live to show your glory.
Please teach me
   that it is wisdom for me to pray for all I have,
      out of love, willingly, not of necessity;
   that I may come to you at any time,
      to present my needs properly to you;
   that my great sin lies in not keeping in mind
      the goodness of your ways;
   that remembering this truth is one way
      that I can feel your presence;
   that there is no worse way for me to be
      than being controlled by my own lusts for my own purposes.