Prayers to Know the Will of God to Shepherd me, O God

Prayer for One's Vocation Eternal Father, I believe in Your infinite wisdom and love. I believe that You have created me for heaven, that You have traced for me the way with all the necessary graces to arrive at it, and that there You await me for the eternal reward of a faithful servant. I beseech You, through the merits of Jesus Christ my divine Master, and through Mary, Queen of Apostles, enlighten my mind and strengthen my will that I may clearly see this way and generously tread along this path. Help me so that at the moment of death I may be able to say as St. Paul did: "I have finished my course, I have fought the good fight; for the rest there is laid up for me a crown of justice." Amen.

Act of Conformity to God's Will O my God, I do not know what will happen today, but it is enough for me to know and to believe that nothing will happen to me that is not permitted by You from all eternity for my greater good. I adore Your holy and eternal dispositions. I surrender myself with all my heart to Your fatherly love. I make of everything a loving sacrifice in union with that of my Divine Saviour. I ask, in His Name and through the merits of His Passion, the grace of patience and perfect submission to You in all my sufferings, so that whatever You permit to happen may be for Your greater glory and my sanctification. Amen.

Prayer to Know the Will of God Lord, what is Your will that I do? I am completely open to Your plan for me. I desire to live only in You and to be guided by You forever. Grant that Your holy wll may be carried out perfectly in me.

~~ St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641)

Prayer for Unity of Will with God O God, my spiritual and corporal existence is Yours since You are my Creator. But my will is mine because You have created it as free and want it to remain such. However, I am free to offer it in homage to You and to make it a sacrifice of praise and honor to You. Hence, I give my will entirely to You, so that it no longer belongs to me. Henceforth, I must be careful to let nothing proceed from my heart that would be unworthy of You. I must exert constant vigilance over my will to avoid taking away from You what is not truly Yours. Amen. ~~St. Louise de Marillac (1591-1660)

Prayer to Do Always the Will of God O Lord, regulate all things by Your wisdom, so that I may always serve You in the manner that You will rather than in the manner that I will. Do not punish me by granting what I will if it offends against Your love, for I want Your love to live always in me. Help me to deny myself in order that I may serve You. Let me live for You--Who in Yourself are the true life. Amen. ~~St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1584)

Prayer that God Will Speak Inwardly Speak, O Lord, for Your servant is listening. I say, Your servant, because at last I am such. I am Your servant and I want to be; I want to walk in Your way all the days and nights of my life. Fill me with a spirit to understand what Your holy plans are for me. And reduce my desires to the single desire to understand Your sublime truths.

Speak, in order to console my anxious soul. Speak, in order to lead it to repentance. Speak, so that Your glory, thus more exalted, will grow eternally. Amen.

Prayer of Complete Trust in God O kind and merciful God, in Your Hands I place my hopes and fears, my likes and dislikes, my happiness and unhappiness, my joys and sorrows. I offer You the needs of my perishable body and the more important ones of my imperishable soul. I do not have to be afraid for my soul as long as I leave it in Your loving care. Great are my failings and my wretchedness, but even greater is my hope in You. It is stronger than my weakness, greater than my difficulties, and mightier than death. Though assailed by temptation, I will hope in You. Though I may falter because of weakness, I will continue to trust in You. Though I may not live up to my promises, I will confidently seek grace from You to renew and keep them. Though You may take away my earthly life, even then I will maintain my hope in You. You are my Father and my God, the ground of my salvation. You are my gracious and loving Father, and I am Your beloved child. I cast myself in Your Arms and ask for Your blessing. I place all my trust in You and I know that I will not be confounded. Amen.

Help Me To Let Go, and Let God Dear Lord, Help me to let go and let You. Urge me to let go of my impatience and to open my heart to Your Loving Patience. Teach me how to let go of my pompous attitude in thinking I'm the only one capable of solving all of my problems. Counsel me on how to let go of my cares, my worries and the noises in my life ...and to let You surround me with Your Tranquil Assurances of my comfort. Encourage me to let go of my selfishness and let You show me the benefit of praying for others who seek Your Protection, Your Healings, Your Forgiveness, Your Compassion and Your Rainbows after raging storms. Remind me, Lord, of the Holy Benefits when I let go and let You lead me on Your Path. Smile with me, Lord, when I finally let go and let

You take over. Nod Your Head in Sanctified Approval when I let go of my follies and let You replace them with positive goals in my life. Amen. Glory, Honor and Praise to You, Lord, forever and ever.

Prayer to Do God's Will God, our Father, help us not to lose sight of heavenly realities while we apply ourselves diligently to the circumestances of our earthly lives. Enable us to hear Your voice, follow Your will, pursue Your purpose, and accept Your judgments. Help us to act to please You rather than ourselves or others. And after our earthly lives are over, let us be united with Your Son in the unity that You share with Him and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer for My Vocation God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission.... I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good. I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place while not intending it--if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. Amen. ~~by John Henry Newman, taken from "Prayers for Today," published by Leaflet Missal Co.

Soul Searching Prayer Does my life please You as I live each day? Do I glorify You, Lord, in everything I say? Do I show others Your love in all that I do? When others see me do they also see You?

Are my motives pure-- I know that You see? Would I want other Christians to be just like me? You understand my thoughts-- You're the only One Who can. When I'm all by myself am I a God pleasing man? I don't mean am I perfect, for without Christ I know I'm not, But am I doing doubtful things hoping that I won't be caught? Are there any hidden issues in the depths of my heart That, as a born again Christian, I should bid to depart? If there's any thought or action that's bringing You shame, Help me to surrender it in Jesus' blessed Name. I don't want to continue anything that displeases You, And I want to do everything that You would have me do. Dear God, in Your wisdom, You know how to keep me straight, If You ever see me straying correct me before it's too late. By Your grace You have saved me and forgiven all my sin, I love You, I thank You, and I praise You. Amen.

The Litany of Divine Providence Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us. God, all-knowing and all-wise, Have mercy on us. God, all-powerful and all-good, Have mercy on us. God, most patient and most merciful, Have mercy on us. Father of mercy and consolation, Have mercy on us. God, wonderful and inscrutable in Thy plans, Have mercy on us. God, in Whose hands is our life, Have mercy on us. God, from Whom all good things and every perfect gift comes, Have mercy on us. Thou Who hast made all things for the service of man, Have mercy on us. Thou Who governest all with wisdom and love, Have mercy on us. Thou Who fillest all living things with blessing, Have mercy on us. Thou Who dost clothe the lilies of the field and feed the birds of the air, Have mercy on us.

Thou Who dost number the hairs of our head, Have mercy on us. Thou Who seest in secret, Have mercy on us. Thou Who makest the sun to shine upon the good and the bad, Have mercy on us. Thou Who allowest it to rain upon the just and the unjust, Have mercy on us. Thou Who workest all things for the benefit of those who love Thee, Have mercy on us. Thou Who sendest temporal sufferings for our correction and good, Have mercy on us. Thou Who dost reward Christian patience with an eternal reward, Have mercy on us. God, our sole refuge and hope, Have mercy on us. God, our only consoler and helper, Have mercy on us. Be merciful, Spare us, O Lord. Be merciful, Graciously hear us, O Lord. From all evil, Deliver us, O Lord. From all sin, Deliver us, O Lord. From all murmurings and complaints against Thy holy decrees, Deliver us, O Lord. From cowardice and impatience, Deliver us, O Lord. From mistrust in Thy Divine Providence, Deliver us, O Lord. From too great trust in riches and the favor of men, Deliver us, O Lord. From immoderate concern for temporal things, Deliver us, O Lord. From misuse or neglect of Thy gifts and benefits, Deliver us, O Lord. From ingratitude toward Thy loving kindness, Deliver us, O Lord. From uncharitableness toward our neighbor, Deliver us, O Lord. From obduracy in sin, Deliver us, O Lord. From all dangers of body and soul, Deliver us, O Lord. From Thy well-merited chastisements, Deliver us, O Lord. From earthquake, pestilence, famine and distress, Deliver us, O Lord. From disease, hunger and war, Deliver us, O Lord. From a wicked and unprovided death, Deliver us, O Lord. On the day of judgment, Deliver us, O Lord. We sinners beseech Thee, hear us. That we may always trust in Thy Divine Providence, We beseech Thee, hear us. That in good fortune we may not become proud and godless, We beseech Thee, hear us. That in misfortune we may not become discouraged and impatient, We beseech Thee, hear us. That we may submit simply to all Thy decrees, We beseech Thee, hear us.

That we may praise Thy name whether Thou givest or takest away, We beseech Thee, hear us. That Thy will may be done on earth as it is in Heaven, We beseech Thee, hear us. That we may seek consolation from Thee in time of trial, We beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou mayest give us what is necessary for the support of our life, We beseech Thee, hear us. That in all adversities we may grow in patience and humility, We beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou mayest accompany all our labors with Thy blessing, We beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou mayest reward our temporal sufferings with eternal joys, We beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou mayest fill our spiritual and civil rulers with the spirit of truth and the fear of God, We beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou mayest pity all who suffer want, We beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou mayest console and raise up all the abandoned and oppressed, We beseech Thee, hear us. That Thou mayest reward our benefactors with eternal goods, We beseech Thee, hear us. That we may praise and glorify Thy Divine Providence now and forever, We beseech Thee, hear us. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. Christ hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Pray 1 Our Father and 1 Hail Mary All eyes are turned to Thee, O Lord, And Thou givest them food in season. Thou openest Thy gentle hand, And fillest with blessing all living things. V. Lord, show us Thy mercy, R. And grant us Thy salvation.

Let Us Pray: O God, Whose Providence is never frustrated in its decrees, we beseech Thee to keep from us all harm and grant us every blessing, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Litany of Resignation to the Will of God Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear us. Jesus, graciously hear us. God the Father, Who hath created me, allowed be Thy will. God the Son, Who hath redeemed me, Not my will but Thine be done. God the Holy Ghost, Who hath offered sanctification, Blessed be the Most Sweet Will of God. Thou Who dost know and foresee all things, Have mercy on us. Thou Who dost govern and rule all things, Have mercy on us. Thou Who, according to Thy inscrutable designs, dost effect all things in a wonderful manner, Have mercy on us. Thou Who dost permit evil in order thence to derive good for the salvation of the elect, Have mercy on us. In all things and in all possible events, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. In all circumstances and disgraces, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. In my state and employment, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. In my affairs and occupations, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. In all my actions, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. In my health and strength, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. In my body and soul, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. In my life and death, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. In myself and in those who belong to me, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. In all men and angels, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. In all creatures, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. In all parts of the earth, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. At all times, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. For all eternity, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. Although weak nature complains, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. Although it costs much to self-love and sensuality, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. Solely and only through love for Thee and Thy good pleasure, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. Because Thou art my Creator, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God.

Because Thou art the Supreme Lord of all things, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. Because Thou art infinite perfection, therefore do I say, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. with all the Saints in Heaven, With the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. With Jesus in the Garden of Olives, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God. Pray 1 Our Father V. May the just, most amiable will of God be done in all things. R. May it be praised and magnified forever! Amen. Let Us Pray: Grant me Thy grace, O Father, that perfect resignation to Thy Holy Will may be with me, and labor with me, and continue with me to the end. Grant me always to desire and will that which is most acceptable to Thee and which pleaseth Thee best. Let Thy will be mine, and let my will always follow Thine and agree perfectly with it. Let me always will and not will the same with Thee; let me not be able to will or not will anything except what Thou willest or willest not. Amen.

A Meditation: A Willing Servant Let us listen quietly in the early morning before the dawn brings forth a new day; Let our hearts and minds be open and ready, listening for what our Master has to say. He speaks to the heart which is open and yielded, ready and willing whatever the task; Not forging ahead but waiting with patience, accepting humbly what of us, He might ask. It may be to reach out in love to the hungry, or to lift up the helpless and help them to stand; To the lost it may be a word that will touch them with the strength they receive from a loving Hand. Let us seek Him first with all our heart and soul, And be ready and willing to reach out and meet His goal! With His Word planted deep inside to keep us pure and whole! He willingly gave His all for us therefore let us seek His will;

Let us keep our minds focused on Him in quietness, while we stand yielded and still. He is searching for those who are willing to take up their cross for Him; Willing to follow His leading though at times the way may be hard and grim! ~~ Helen Johnson My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:27-28

The Sinner's Prayer Try me, O God, and search the ground of my heart: prove me and examine my thoughts. Look well if there be any wickedness in me, any root of bitterness yet undiscovered; and lead me in the way everlasting. Show me the true state of my soul. Bring me out from every false refuge. Strip off every deceitful covering, every covering that is not of Thy Spirit. Forbid that the anchor of my hope should be cast, or the house of my dependence built, on any but Christ, the Rock of Ages. Forbid that I should rest short of that repentance which is Thy gift, and is connected with life eternal: and forbid, O forbid, that I should sit down without aspiring to that conformity unto Thee in righteousness and true holiness, abstracted from which repentance is false and faith is dead. ~~ Augustus Toplady

God's Will Prayer Dear Lord God Almighty We know that You are Jesus, and that You died for us. Give us Your Holy Spirit, to live in us forever, and thus bless us with Eternal Life. Let Your Holy Spirit testify through us and speak the Truth through us. Let Your Holy Spirit Love through us - a perfect unselfish Holy Love; so that we lay down all worldly ambitions, give up our wills, and do Your Holy Will. Take our thoughts away from making money, or finding business opportunities. Take our desire away from seeking worldly wealth or fame. Take our eyes away from looking on vain worldly appearances, which deceive and mislead us. Keep our

thoughts on doing Your Holy will, not on seeking worldly material things, or vain worldly status. Let Your Holy Spirit give us our ONE desire and ONE purpose: to do Your Holy Will. If You desire us to walk paths of poverty, then so be it. If You desire us to lose everything that we think is important or valuable, then so be it. If You Desire us to sacrifice everything we have and our lives, then so be it. If You desire us to endure pain and seasons of harsh conditions, then so be it. If You desire us to live or die, then so be it. Let Your Holy Will be done in our lives. For, even our lives are not our own. We owe everything to You. Keep us from looking in the mirror and admiring our own beauty, which is not beauty at all. Let the True Beauty be in us - Your Holy Spirit of Truth and Grace. Keep us from pride and love of self, which is our enemy. Bless us with absolute, total, unselfish Love. Which is only possible through Your Holy Spirit. We give You our lives. Do with us as You Will. Make our lives useful to Your Service. The only ambition we have is to humbly, and honestly do Your Will. We want to lift up Your Name Jesus, not our names. We want to make known the power of Your Holy Spirit, Jesus. We want You to claim us for Yourself, and use us according to Your Divine purpose. And no matter the job or task that You assign to us, we will be contented, and full of Joy, to do Your Holy Will, Jesus. Let Your Holy Spirit, Jesus, live in us forever, and give us purpose, hope, and peace and joy, and Eternal Life. For without You, we perish. In Your Holy Spirit, Jesus, we Pray! Amen.