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For enlightenment.
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Almighty God,
not because of any merits of my own do I lay my prayers before Thee, but because I trust in Thine unfathomable mercies. May I never lose the sense of Thy loving presence. In every trial and temptation may I look to Thee and not be ashamed. |
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When heavy burdens oppress me,
or when I am disheartened in my tasks and the gloom of failure settles upon me. Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon me, O Lord, and strengthen me. |
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When the shadow of sickness, sorrow, or suffering
falls upon me or my dear ones, and hides Thee from my vision. Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon me, O Lord, and give me hope. |
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When through self-indulgence
or from a blind following of the multitude, or by the deliberate suppression of the voice of conscience, my sense of duty grows dim and I call good evil and evil good, and the darkness light and the light darkness. Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon me, O Lord, and give me discernment. |
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When, immersed in sordid cares,
or in the eager pursuit of worldly aims and pleasures, the very thought of Thee fades out of my consciousness. Lift up the light of Thy countenance upon me, O Lord, and lead back my soul to Thy presence. |
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But when there is a stirring within me of a better spirit,
and a healthy discontent seizes upon me and bids me rise above my sinful self, and I try as best I can to raise my soul out of the dark abyss to Thee, O my Father who art in heaven, then come Thou to meet me, to cheer me, and to hearten me. O lift up the light of Thy countenance upon me, and bring back life to my soul. Amen. |
Basil L.Q. Henriques’s prayer “For Enlightenment” was first published in The Fratres Book of Prayer for the Oxford and St. George’s Synagogue Jewish Lads Club in 1916, and later reprinted in the Prayer Book of the St. George’s Settlement Synagogue (1929), “Special Prayers” section, pages 93-94.
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