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THY WILL BE DONE!
When I can say in my heart of hearts: “Thy will be done” I have achieved that real understanding of the way in which God works, ever for the best. it is not easy for me to subject my will to God’s for I think that what I want I ought to have, and must have, no matter who suffers for my selfishness.
As I grow up to the better comprehension of the way in which God works upon and through men I begin to apprehend something of the great truth that each one must play his or her part courageously and faithfully, even though we do not always attain the aims which we desire.
I can always have my way, if I make my way God’s way. This is no surrender of my personality, but a real conforming to the laws and conditions under which we live, by God’s Providence. I need not act like a fretful child who wants each whim satisfied, whether for its benefit or not.
I must see that I am only one, and there are many millions around me—all of whom are God’s children. lf I want too much I shall not receive it, unless my desire is for the Spirit, which is infinite in supply, always more than we ask. Only as we seek the Spirit shall we be satisfied, for there lies the Will of God.
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Thy will, O God, be done, not mine. For how can I know, what can I do, save as I am in accord with Thee? What are my petty desires when compared with Thy great purposes? May I not learn the better way, to seek to comprehend what Thou wouldst have me do, and do it, with willing heart? | |
Raise me, O Lord, above the material desires, the little wants of petty souls. Aid me to the higher understanding of Thine infinite will, which ever works for all mankind. If what I think I need is not attained, surely it is better so. | |
Help me to be sure that Thy way is always right, and mine is often wrong. | |
Give me the uplook, that I may yield gladly, willingly and fully to Thy purposes made manifest to me as I look more deeply within, and find Thy will. | |
Not my will, but Thine be done, now and forever. Amen. |
This untitled prayer by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy accompanied his short reflection, “Thy Will Be Done!” found in The Helpful Manual (Centre of Jewish Science, 1927), pp. 23-24.
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““Thy will be done” a prayer for self-resignation by Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy (1927)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.
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