A Prayer For Self-Control

I opened to this prayer in my book Prayers for People Under Pressure by Jonathan Aitken.

O God,

Control my tongue.

Keep me from saying things that make trouble

and from involving myself in arguments

that on make bad situations worse

and that get nowhere. Control my thoughts.

Shut the door of my mind

against all envious and jealous thoughts;

shut it against bitter and resentful thoughts;

shut it against all ugly and unclean thoughts.

Help me to live today in purity, in humility, and in love.

Through Jesus Christ my Lord.

Amen.

                                                 William Barclay (1899-1978)