NIGHT PRAYER: Thursday 8/29

The gift of prudence inclines my mind and heart

 to discern what’s truly good in every circumstance

 and to choose the right means of achieving it.

 

The word prudent comes from two Latin words

 PRO- VIDERE

 which means: to see before, to look ahead.

 

To be prudent 

is to be capable of exercising sound judgment

 in practical matters...

 

It sounds simple, Lord - almost too simple!

 “Making good choices in practical matters…”

 But then why do I so often act rashly,

  impulsively, thoughtlessly, carelessly 

     -   imprudently?

 

I think it’s because I don’t look ahead, Lord.

 I fail to look at the whole picture - the bigger picture.

 I don’t take the long view.

 

Instead, I look only at what’s at hand,

my immediate situation:

 what I want now

 what will satisfy me now

 what I think I need now

and at the same time

 I fail to take account of

 my long-term responsibilities,

 my responsibility for others

 and what my wants and needs will be

    tomorrow, next week, next year…

 

Prudence is born of common sense, Lord,

  and of good judgement, and thoughtfulness;

 prudence comes when I think before I act,

   when I think through the consequences of my actions,

   when I pay attention to what I know to be true,

   when I study and read your word,

   when I listen to my conscience,

   when I desire to act with integrity,

   when I’m humble enough to recognize

      that it’s never “all about me…”

   when I stop and pray

     and ask you for the grace, the help, to be prudent…

 

And prudence is mine, Lord:

 when I want to see as you see,

 when I want to choose as you’d have me choose,

 when I want to speak as you’d have me speak,

 when I want to do what you’d have me do…

 when I believe that your way

 is - always - better, smarter, wiser than mine…

 

So I pray tonight as Solomon prayed:

 Lord, give me, a wise and prudent heart…

 tilt my heart in your direction,

 shift my heart when it's set in its ways,

 turn my heart toward those in need,

 mold my heart to mirror yours,

 stretch my heart to open wider,

 move my heart to welcome all,

 dispose my heart to be forgiving,

 impel my heart to your will

    whatever your will may be...

 

Lord, I pray you give me the prudence I need:

 to open my eyes, my mind and heart

    and to look ahead,

 to take in the long view, the big picture,

 to think before I act,

 to act with awareness

    of all my responsibilities,

 to use my common sense,

 to do as my conscience directs me,

 to hear the word you speak to me,

 to love what you command,

 to seek your truth,

 to follow your Spirit’s guidance,

 to go wherever you lead me,

 to do whatever you ask of me,

 to look ahead with hope in you

 and to see the peace you offer those

    who pray for a prudent heart..

 

Protect us, Lord, while we’re awake

 and watch over us while we sleep

that awake, we might keep watch with you

 and asleep, rest in your peace.  

 

Amen. 

 

It's not easy finding music for prudence - and this piece

might not exactly hit the mark but it comes close: after

all, prudence is "doing the next right thing..."

 

Do The Right Thing by Tim Perry

 

If a widget doesn't appear below, click here!

 

 

Do the right thing, do the right thing
Do it all the time, do it all the time
Make yourself right, never mind 'em
Don't you know you're not the only one suffering

 

I see you up again wandering so diligent
Crossing your T's as though it weren't irrelevant
They say formality, this is what they really meant:
They can be the walk and we can be the pavement

 

Do the right thing, do the right thing
Do it all the time, do it all the time
Make yourself right, never mind them
Don't you know you're not the only one suffering

 

So what you're up against all the disingenuous
They wave you along and say there's always room for us
But we know better than that to take 'em serious
Still don't let'em make you bitter in the process

 

And when the light is up, this is how oughta be
We'll make it alright, they'll come around eventually
They say it's nothing but that ain't the reality
They may take us on but they can never take us easy

 

They ain't moving, they're just moving around
So if you love yourself, you better get out
Get out, get out, get out now

 

Do the right thing, do the right thing (do the right thing)
Do it all the time, do it all the time (do it all the time)
Make yourself right, never mind them (do it all the time)
Don't you know you're not the only one suffering

 

I hear a higher calling
Better here than there I guess
So long, so long

 

 

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