A Prayer for a Confusing and Distracting Time
You are Lord of my life. You are the Lord and Master of all things everywhere and at all times. I confess and profess this deep and towering truth.
But I don’t always live it out. I know that you are Lord of me and of everything. I want you to be my Lord, my God, my Redeemer, even though in the moments of decision and of temptation I sometimes bow to other gods. I shudder to write, even to think those last words. But I recognize, Lord, that every unfaithful decision, every sinful choice I make is exactly that — a bowing down in subservience to another “god,” another who exercises lordship and mastery over my life.
The mental image of that spiritual reality appalls me. It also is the root of all my unhappiness. I know that every time I submit to another “god,” I move farther away from your purpose for my life and from your design of my being. I have indeed been make for you and can be fully at peace only in, by, through, with, and for you.
I know all this and yet in the moment of misdirected desire and longing I look away from you and willingly step into the trap.
You, Lord, are my shepherd, my guide, my protector. You walk with me every moment through the course of my life. All the time — without exception you are there. Break through to me when I harden myself by pretending that you are not there beside me. Break through when I have locked my attention on my false “gods.” I plead for this intervention now, because I know that I never do then.
Today, like all days, will be full of distractions, full of low priority matters masquerading as important. Lead me, Lord, through the thicket of distractions and disguised priorities. Please, Lord, please, grant me to reach the end of the day knowing that I have followed close to you and have reached the goal you have set for me.
© 2010 Gary A. Chorpenning
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 
As always, Gary, you are right on the money. Sooo much of what you say could have come out of my mouth, although not so eloquently. Some phrases particularly spoke to me:
“But I don’t always live it out.”
“I recognize, Lord, that every unfaithful decision, every sinful choice I make is exactly that — a bowing down in subservience to another “god,” another who exercises lordship and mastery over my life.”
“It also is the root of all my unhappiness.”
“I look away from you and willingly step into the trap.”
“I plead for this intervention now, because I know that I never do then.”
“Please, Lord, please, grant me to reach the end of the day knowing that I have followed close to you and have reached the goal you have set for me.”
I might as well have copied the whole thing!! 🙂
Thanks, Gary! Keep ’em comin’!
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This is a powerful and fervent prayer.
“another “god,” – another who exercises lordship and mastery over my life.”
We could discuss more about some of examples that we find.
I like how you began the prayer, acknowledging God for who He is. ” You are the Lord and Master of all things everywhere and at all times. ”
Following the example of the Lord’s Prayer
Powerful and descriptive words – “Deep and towering truth” – A truth that becomes much deeper and more towering each day as I take time to reflect upon it.
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