I’ve been super blessed these last few months to work and be mentored under our new Superintendent, Mr. Rex Boley. During our conversations he has shared what I’ve come to capture as “Boleyisims” or basically little nuggets of wisdom. Many of these nuggets he shares with me are words of wisdom gleaned over the years from his Father.
One of these little Boleyisims he shares often is, “My Dad always shared, ‘The Squeaky Wheel gets the grease, but if the wheel squeaks too much you know what happens?” Then a pause…”It gets replaced.”
I laugh because often times I think about my prayer life here! I’m definitely a squeaky wheel in the courts of my Lord. However, I used to spend much of my time praying for very specific outcomes and things that I felt either I needed or someone else needed! Yet, as I have continued to mature in my faith and walk with my Lord Jesus Christ I’ve realized that honestly I need to be praying for God to use me as his instrument in fulfilling his plans and less of my own plans!
This shift in perspective was not a result of thinking that God was not listening to my prayers or that I felt he was disregarding me; contrary he was answering my prayers, but I could still sense a spiritual void. You see, I was limiting my spiritual perspective to my small little universe and hadn’t invited God to expand my spiritual understanding and scope of what he was really up to beyond my little world. God was merciful to me in those times, but I know it drove him nuts because he wanted to do so much more and I wasn’t willing to let go of what I thought needed to be done.
NOW my prayers are for God to make his desires, my desires; his plans, my plans! I WANT to be the squeaky wheel on Earth for the fulfillment of my Lord’s vision! I also know that if God is for and in the prayers on my heart…those prayer wheels will get greased EVERY TIME!
As an example, I used to pray, “God please bless me with a family I can care for and love!” Now, with this transformation in perspective my prayer rings, “As the Lord will’s, select for me a wife who will draw me ever closer to you and equip us together in raising a holy family who hunger to serve our Lord.”
Praying with a Heaven’s Lens and allowing God to direct my prayers has been a full-on game changer because it has poured an abundance of peace into my heart, mind, and soul! Recently, I have also been introduced to a form of prayer called Litanies. Litany prayers have roots in the ancient tradition of the Church and are written as meditative prayers for personal reflection and action; there is a rich diversity of Litanies and many are crafted for specific intercessions or spiritual disciplines.
A few of the Litanies I have really come to enjoy and play a part in my daily walk are:
The Litany of Resignation to the Will of God
For private use only.
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, Hallowed 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, etc. (Repeat, the above phrase after each statement)
In my affairs and occupations,
In all my actions,
In my health and strength,
In my body and soul,
In my life and death,
In myself and in those who belong to me,
In all men and angels,
In all creatures,
In all parts of the earth,
At all times,
For all eternity,
Although weak nature complains,
Although it costs much to self-love and sensuality,
Solely and only through love for Thee and Thy good pleasure,
Because Thou art my Creator,
Because Thou art the Supreme Lord of all things,
Because Thou art infinite perfection, therefore do I say,
with all the Saints in Heaven, With the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God.
With Jesus in the Garden of Olives, Thy Holy Will be done, O my God.
Our Father [silently].
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.
R. Amen.
The Litany of Trust
From the belief that I have to earn Your love, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that I am unlovable, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the false security that I have what it takes, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear that trusting You will leave me more destitute, Deliver me, Jesus.
From all suspicion of Your words and promises, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the rebellion against childlike dependency on You, Deliver me, Jesus.
From refusals and reluctances in accepting Your will, Deliver me, Jesus.
From anxiety about the future, Deliver me, Jesus.
From resentment or excessive preoccupation with the past, Deliver me, Jesus.
From restless self-seeking in the present moment, Deliver me, Jesus.
From disbelief in Your love and presence, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being asked to give more than I have, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the belief that my life has no meaning or worth, Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of what love demands, Deliver me, Jesus.
From discouragement, Deliver me, Jesus.
That You are continually holding me, sustaining me, loving me, Jesus, I trust in you.
That Your love goes deeper than my sins and failings, and transforms me, Jesus, I trust in you.
That not knowing what tomorrow brings is an invitation to lean on You, Jesus, I trust in you.
That you are with me in my suffering, Jesus, I trust in you.
That my suffering, united to Your own, will bear fruit in this life and the next, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You will not leave me orphan, that You are present in Your Church, Jesus, I trust in you.
That Your plan is better than anything else, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You always hear me and in Your goodness always respond to me, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You give me the grace to accept forgiveness and to forgive others, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You give me all the strength I need for what is asked, Jesus, I trust in you.
That my life is a gift, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You will teach me to trust You, Jesus, I trust in you.
That You are my Lord and my God, Jesus, I trust in you.
That I am Your beloved one, Jesus, I trust in you.
[Provided by the Sisters of Life.] — If you’d like to hear this set to music go here!
The Litany of Humility
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus. (repeat after each following line)
From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred to others,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being suspected,
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. (repeat after each following line)
That others may be esteemed more than I,
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
These three litanies are just but a small sampling of the richness and beauty to be found in this style of prayer! If it is my desire to be a squeaky wheel in the heavenly courts then let my lips be brimming with the supplications offered by these prayers, not for my interests, but those of my God and Savior ALONE!
Thank you for continuously growing with me as we seek to serve the Lord deeper each and every day! We are in the midst of a Winter Storm Warning; therefore I send prayers my friends that tonight you may find warmth, safety, and rest! Take care and God bless!
Perennial Educator 