A Servant's Prayer

This is an edited prayer by Lev Gilet (also known as a Monk of the Eastern Church) from his book ‘Serve the Lord with Gladness”. Originally written for priests, this prayer has been edited to be used by anyone who serves the Lord in any capacity.

Lord Jesus, I consecrate myself to You once again. Or rather, I pray that You would consecrate me once again as Your servant, doing away with my unfaithfulness and my past treachery. Although I have been consecrated to You, nevertheless, up to the present time (God help me!) I have often made a lie of that commitment, like Judas, or Ananias and his wife; or I have forsaken it, like Peter before the Resurrection.

Consecrate me upon Golgotha, from the height of Your Cross, as You consecrated Your Beloved Disciple John. Remit my life, as You remitted John to Your Mother. Grant that I may take her to my own home, to be with me and within me, for she is the living evidence of true consecration and of Your Presence. Grant me to bear Your Presence to others.

I offer into Your hands my body and my soul, my will, my feelings, and my understanding. I want to keep nothing that does not belong to You and does not find its life in You. O Lord, grant me to hear once again this call that has determined or will determine my life: “Be my servant.”

Lord, make of me in very truth Your servant! Amen.

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Lord Jesus, I thank You with all my heart that so many times You have knelt before me to wash my feet, to purify me, and to show me Your humility and you're compassion. You continue to do so unceasingly. Grant, O Lord, that I might enter ever more fully into the depths of Your merciful love and proclaim that love to all those whom You lead to me.

Make of me someone who serves, who washes dirty or tired feet. Make me someone whose habitual attitude is to kneel before others, especially sinners, Your beloved sinners, and before every form of suffering. What I cannot obtain either sitting or standing, grant me to obtain on my knees. What my words cannot acquire, grant to a humble and silent life of service.