A Prayer

Almighty God, you alone are good and holy.
Purify our lives and make us brave disciples.
We do not ask you to keep us safe,
but to keep us loyal,
so we may serve Jesus Christ,
who, tempted in every way as we are,
was faithful to you. 

From lack of reverence for truth and beauty;
from a calculating or sentimental mind;
from going along with mean and ugly things:
O God, deliver us.

From cowardice that dares not face truth;
laziness content with half-truth;
or arrogance that thinks we know it all:
O God, deliver us.

From artificial life and worship;
from all that is hollow or insincere:
O God, deliver us.

From trite ideals and cheap pleasures;
from mistaking hard vulgarity for humor:
O God, deliver us.

From being dull, pompous, or rude;
from putting down our neighbors:
O God, deliver us.

From cynicism about others;
from intolerance or cruel indifference:
O God, deliver us.

From being satisfied with things as they are,
in the church or in the world;
from failing to share you indignation about injustice:
O God, deliver us.

From selfishness, self-indulgence, or self-pity:
O God, deliver us.

From token concern for the poor,
for lonely or loveless people;
from confusing faith with good feeling,
or love with wanting to be loved:
O God, deliver us.

For everything in us that may hide your light:
O God, deliver us.

May the God of peace
make us holy in every way
and keep our whole being--
spirit, soul, and body--
free from every fault
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

– from Oremus