"Do not pray for your hearts desires..."

Dear Parish Faithful,

Great Lent: The Twenty Fourth Day

From Evagrius of Pontus (+ 399)

Do not pray for your heart's desires,

for they may not entirely harmonize

with God's purposes.

Pray instead as you have been taught:

"May your will be done in me."

Pray to God this way about everything,

that his will might be accomplished in you,

for he only desires what is good and useful

for your life,

whereas you do not always request this.

Fr. Steven