Prayer distilled to the essentials

'Lord, let me not live to be useless'.

This one line prayer explains something of the devotional intensity and driven pragmatism of John Wesley.

'Lord give me life till my work is done, and work till my life is done'.

The epitaph of Vera Brittain, expressing that longing so characteristically human for our lives to have meaning and value.

'For all that is past, thanks - for all that is to come, Yes!'

Dag Hammarskold's formula for spiritually respopnsible and responsive living.

And then this, which I found today, another one line prayer from Albert C Outler, Wesleyan scholar, Christian gentleman, and ecumenical enthusiast:

'Keep us Lord from the love that deceives, and from the candour that wounds.'

As a succinct statement of Christian hospitality to the views of others, that is hard to beat for its generosity tempered by integrity.

Comments open for your favourite one line prayer.

Comments

[Endlessly Restless]

This is actually an extract from a prayer that Nicky Lee used recently at Holy Trinity Brompton - I think it makes a fine one (or two?) line prayer, and I'll use it to open our hosegrip (I mean housegroup) meeting tonight.

"Lord open your word to us, and open us to your word"