Lord, help me to live as you always taught;

Clear my mind of every unrighteous thought.

Give me the courage to defy all temptations;

Grant I not succumb to the world's degradations.

Enable me to face the things that I fear,

And never lose sight of the things that are dear.

Grant that I always meet hatred with love;

All pettiness and trifles, in your power, rise above.

Help me to remember those less fortunate than I,

And those whom injustice has left asking, "Why?"

The bereaved, the hurting, those we ostracize,

The downtrodden, the lonely, those we cast-aside.

Empower me to peace with my fellow man,

To listen and empathize and try to understand.

Control my tongue and my temper Lord too,

That I not wound a soul or bring dishonor to you.

May I never evade the truth to simply avoid pain,

And may I look within before I hastily cast blame.

Grant that I never speak or act a fabrication,

Nor hypocritically pray prayers of faithful adoration.

Lord, may I never forget your holiness divine

And that all you have, through Jesus, is mine.

Keep me from stumbling off the straight and narrow path

These things, dear Lord, I unpretentiously ask.

From "Room Beneath the Snow: Poems That Preach"