A simple prayer (for humility)

So, do you ever find yourself arguing with.... yourself? I don't know if it's just me or if it's a common thing, but sometimes I get tired of it.

The other day I was out for a run. I'd left the house, wound through the neighborhood, and made my way to the trail along the river. It's one of my favorite places. Especially the section right after I leave the road and drop down into my little paradise. It's a paved path lined with trees and the water is 'right there.' When I'm running regularly I visit almost every day.

Yet, the other day I was tooling along here and noticed my mind was in a rage about something. It was most likely about work. And at one point I actually either said out loud or at least mouthed the words - SHUT UP! I was tired of complaining - even to myself.

I mean, what's my problem? Why was I getting so worked up inside my head? Why can't I just let things go? Why couldn't I simply enjoy the peace and quiet of this place?

Yes, I actually asked myself those things.

At first I wished I could just turn my brain off. But does that really help anything or anyone?

If only I could use this time (and so many other times) more purposefully... wisely... for something beneficial...

Often on long runs, or while trying to stay sane during a marathon, I will search through my memory banks for bible verses I have (or had) memorized. The most common is, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want." I'm also fond of the 'Jesus' prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." 

Well, in Richard Foster's book, 'Learning Humility,' he says when he began his year-long quest into humility he sought divine guidance for a prayer that might carry him through. This four-part petition is what emerged (p. 143):

Lord Jesus, I invite you to...

Purify my heart,

Renew my mind,

Sanctify my imagination, and

Enlarge my soul.

Amen.

I like this. Short and sweet, but covers so much.

This could also be a way to open the door to so much more. I'm sure some days I will be reminded of different stains on my heart that need purifying (and confessing). Other days my sin may be a lack of imagination, or thinking my world is too small. The idea is to use this simple prayer as a framework, and see what happens...

It's not like there's much else to do when I'm out for a run. And it's not like it needs to be limited to only running time too! Perhaps I should make it a bookmark and start each reading with it. Or, I suppose the list could go on...