A Prayer for a Balanced Life

While doing some sermon research for my husband, I came across this prayer. It is SO much the prayer of my heart! I think I will make it my personal prayer each day this coming week...

O Lord! Help me to be …

Firm but not harsh;

Realistic but not skeptical;

Scheduled but not rigid;

Pure but not proud;

Close-mouthed but not unfriendly;

Appropriate but not stiff;

Funny but not frivolous;

Teachable but not gullible;

Flexible but not scatterbrained;

Humble but not pious;

Kind but not compromising;

Dependable but not dull;

Decisive but not stubborn;

Persistent but not needling;

Precise but not picky;

Simple but not foolish;

Demanding but not intolerant;

Thorough but not unkind;

Human but not worldly;

Spiritual but not impractical;

Generous but not irresponsible;

Enthusiastic but not “hyper;”

Honest but not brutal;

Fair but not unloving;

Proper but not unreal;

Confident but not snobbish;

Bold but not brazen;

Busy but not harried;

Active but not shallow;

Deep but not dry;

Wise but not intimidating;

Intense but not forbidding;

Empathetic but not uncontrolled;

Forgiving but not naive;

Sympathetic but not pitying;

Helpful but not condescending;

Penitent but not paralyzed;

Organized but not bossy;

Spontaneous but not inconsistent.

Lord, I guess I’m asking to grow in favor with God and man.

I am asking you to help me become a balanced person. Amen.

(written by Marlene Evans)

10 comments:

  1. a prayer that everyone needs..

    just came back from Brenda's blog. Just told her that it's Sunday morning here, a little cloudy- and will be packing and herding my two boys off to church maybe in an hour's time after some light breakfast.

    have a blessed Sunday, Rebecca!

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  2. You,too, Silver. I need to go check where you live! Still about 12 hours till I head out for Sunday School and Church.

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  3. Rebecca, please vist my latest blog, it is very special to me and comes from my heart.
    Thank you......:-) Hugs

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  4. Rebecca, if we all could say this prayer and truly mean it from the heart what wonderful human beings we would be....:-) Hugs

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  5. Rebecca...this is a most beautiful prayer, that we all should aspire to...may I copy and frame this for my own personal use...I would like to display it in my "quiet time" room.

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  6. Of course (seeings how I copied it from either Ray Prichard or John Piper's sermon in a Galatians sermon series). I am thinking of meditating on one line a day...finding Scripture to accompany me and encourage me on that particular path in my quiet times....Framing it for your "quiet time" room is a wonderful idea. Let's pray that all we who meditate on it will be changed by God's Spirit to become like the Son.

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  7. Very nice, Rebecca, I'll be copying it too since you don't mind.
    Seems like such a fine line between selfish traits and serving traits in some of them, and unfortunately I seem to be erring on the selfish side lately.
    Thanks for the reminder.

    (I am going to be blatantly honest here as I have to admit I am so stubborn and unwilling to change in some ways that this will most likely start out as a half-hearted prayer in some respects.)

    All the best,
    Eileen

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  8. thank you for the visit! :o) ... it is wonderful to meet sisters in the Lord through blogging ... ya!

    and this was a perfect prayer ...

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  9. It's a little overwhelming, but such a good prayer. It would require not only a balanced life, but a disciplined life.

    Thanks for sharing it. I will most likely copy it also. It's a good one to read once in a while to keep us on track.

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Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)