Prayer for God’s will in my life

Life is unpredictable, and sometimes, it’s difficult to swallow the fact that we can’t always have what we want, no matter how hard we work for it. It may seem unfair to think that we work so hard for something that we want so badly, only for it to be snatched away from us by a cruel twist of fate or if we are never in the right circumstance to chase it in the first place. Yet despite all these, there is comfort in knowing that our Almighty God has greater plans for us—plans that surpass everything we’ve ever dreamed of. The destination we have in mind may not be what He has in store for us, but that is not a reason for us to descend into despair. Instead, follow His will with an obedient heart, and open our eyes, heart, and mind throughout the journey. 

This prayer for God’s will aims to help us accept the hard truths in life and ask God for His plans and preparations for us. 

Thy will be done prayer

Eternal Lord,

Great is Your faithfulness unto me, even though I have failed You numerous times. Forgive me for my trespasses and my disobedience, for all the doubt-fueled accusations I’ve thrown at You, for blaming You when all You’ve ever done is guide me and nurture me. Pardon me of my grave sins, and let the blood of my savior Jesus Christ wash them away, cleansing me of impurities and renewing my soul.

As I navigate the uncertainties of life, I long to feel the familiarity of Your presence. I long to be assured that my future is in good hands because it is You who prepared it. Make Your holy plans clear so I can set off in the right direction. 

I pray this Thy will be done prayer with all the faith I have and all the courage I can muster. It is both terrifying and comforting to let go of control and leave You at the wheel of my ship: terrifying because I have felt lonely and restless in this journey for so long, and comforting because, at long last, I have someone I can rely on, someone who is more powerful than all my enemies and problems.

I know that there will be days when my wants are in conflict with Your will, but I will make the hard choice and dutifully follow Your plans. I know that what You’ve prepared for me will give me far greater happiness and contentment than what earthly luxuries I can imagine. 

Let Your will be done, and Your glory reign supreme.  

Amen. 

Short prayer for God’s will

God our Father, 

In the midst of uncertainty, I seek Your assurance and will for me. What have you prepared for me? No matter how difficult life can be, I fully put my entire life in the palms of Your hands. Command, and I will follow. Be my solid rock and anchor me to what is true and what is right, even when doubts and temptations threaten to cloud my judgment. 

Amen. 

The Word of God

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 NRSVUE

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NRSVUE

Then he said to them all, “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Luke 9:23 NRSVUE

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105 NRSVUE

Intercessory prayer to Saint Ignatius of Loyola

Holy Saint Ignatius,

The extent of your devotion to the Lord is admirable, and you have earned many stars on your crown for the countless sinners you’ve converted to the faith. Your missionary and charitable deeds were a testament to your trust in the Lord Almighty, and I thank you for inspiring that kind of passion among your fellow men and women. 

Saint Ignatius, may you shed a ray of your faithfulness to me so that I, too, can be as devoted to the Lord as you were. I pray for utter surrender to Him and His will. Help me see what He wants me to do and decipher His messages to me. Fill me with obedience and trust.

Saint Ignatius, pray for me. Amen.

Further reflection

Why do we believe in God?

As Christians, we’ve probably been asked this question countless times. We cannot literally see, touch, or hear Him. The feeling of His presence is not felt by the body but by the soul. He makes His presence known to us through the zenith of our greatest victories and through the single thread that keeps us from falling into the dark abyss of despair and hopelessness. This wonderful, indescribable feeling of not being lonely, even if we are alone, can be difficult to describe to those who are non-believers.

Yet why do we put our trust in the Divine Creator even though He is intangible in our lives? It’s a baffling question with many reasons. One of them is because, in the simplest sense, we are merely little mortal creatures struggling to survive and navigate life and the world. We have misfortunes and abundance and happiness and sorrow. We’re all trying our best, and in the end, this lifelong struggle can be exhausting or even hopeless, like a never-ending cycle that seems to lead us nowhere. We feel like we are alone, even if we have dozens of people who greet us with ‘Happy Birthday’ or tell us, “I got you.” 

We take comfort in God, in the Eternal Lord who knows everything, sees everything, and is everything. It’s a freeing feeling because our burdens are lifted. We have the assurance that no matter how difficult things get, we will get through it because God, who sees our future and prepares it for us, says so. 

Sometimes, God asks us to do things that are against our personal goals. In the Bible, God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac to prove his love and devotion to Him. Although saddened by this order, he swallowed down his pride and put his faith in the Lord, knowing that God’s will must be followed. Although God was only testing Abraham’s faith and stopped him from really sacrificing his son, this story is a good example of how God can sometimes put our faith to the test. Hence, it’s important to obey His will and just trust in Him.

God is not just our Creator, Protector, Friend, and Father. He is our Comforter, the Mastermind of our future, and the Architect of our life. So be still, and lean unto God. Do what needs to be done, and leave the rest to Him.