God's Will

This prayer by Thomas Merton has been one of the most helpful approaches for me when it comes to seeking God's will (previous post) and you have no clue what that might be. Merton was a Trappist monk who lived near Bardstown Ky. at the Abbey of Gethsemani. In the prayer there is a clear distinction between the general will of God (living to please Him) and the specific will (what we should do). I think Merton's prayer brings a sanity to those of us who fall into the trap of wanting specifics.

"My Lord God I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that my desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone."