Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem (306-373 A.D.)

O Lord and Master of my life, take from me the spirit of sloth, despair, lust of power, and idle talk.  But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. 

Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for blessed art Thou, unto ages of ages. Amen.

My loving wife Susan, who is Eastern Orthodox, introduced me a couple of years ago to this simple and beautiful prayer. St. Ephrem’s words are pregnant with meaning – and I think it captures in it the essence of many Scriptures: The Lord’s prayer, the Greatest Commandments, Romans 12, and 1 Corinthians 13 come to mind.In these days of loud and mean-spirited discourse, it is good for us Christians to bow our heads as we mourn for our own sins during Lent.  The Lord Jesus Christ calls us to be living icons of grace and truth; His ambassadors in this wounded planet.  In this prayer, we have been gifted a sweet treasure as we journey with Jesus Christ to the Cross!