Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:4

Often, the prayers of another can quickly become our prayer. Saints through the ages have used times of reflection to inspire them and shape them. This phrase of the Psalmist is a prayer of hope—that he is reflecting the character of God. Thomas Merton wrote a prayer that still inspires, for it is about the intent of living faithfully. May this prayer become yours today:

My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.