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I’ve seen prayers answered. But often, in my experiences, if you get what you pray for, you’ve really shortchanged yourself.
- Anne Lamott
A Prayer of Complete Devotion
I recently read a biography of Mother Angelica, the feisty nun who founded the Eternal Word Television Network.
I’d never seen her on television, never heard her speak. And I wasn’t quite sure why I thought I should read this book (Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles, by Raymond Arroyo) until I got near the end. There I found this prayer:
Lord, I want you to use me in any way you want. I don’t care what it is. Just don’t let me see the fruit.
Wow. I had to put the book down to digest that. Use me, Lord. Use me completely, at any cost, and keep my awareness of me out of the way. The fruit of my labors isn’t mine—it’s for you. I want what you want, no matter what.
Use me in any way, in every minute. Use every ounce of me that you have created. Don’t let my weaknesses get in your way. Use me in any task, big or small, obvious or not. Show me how I can serve you and I’ll do it, because that’s why I exist and why I want to exist: to do your will.
Use me, Lord, and don’t let me see the fruit. All I want to see is you.
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Julia Attaway is a freelance writer, homeschooler and mother of five. She is the editor of Daily Guideposts: Your First Year of Motherhood, a book of devotions for first-time moms. She lives in New York.
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This is a challenging prayer for me. I definitely and desperately want to be used by God, but I also want to see the fruit. Maybe that's the trouble? I see that not seeing the fruit would be a very humble and submissive stance, one that is completely about serving God and not doing things for the good feeling that comes along with it. I just don't know how happy life would be if I couldn't see the results of my "plantings". Can you explain? I'm in a place right now where I'm planting and not seeing a thing and it's very disheartening. I would be very sad to never see the end result of God's work in the lives of those around me, or even in myself.
I feel the same way. That's the most difficult and challenging part of this prayer.
what a very powerful prayer! So perfect...
This prayer touch me hard, at first I didn't really understand, until I keep reading and read Julia Attaway words, I want to say Thank You Julia Attaway for helping me understand what mother Angelica was saying and what she meant. Yes Lord use me anyway, anytime, and anyhow, please don't let my weaknesses get in your way. Prasie God, in Jesus name. Amen.
Just what I need. Thank you!
What a tremendous and gutsy prayer! Thanks for your posts, Julia. I read them often and enjoy them.