Lord God, I find myself surrounded by values that have no place in Your kingdom. That which is
most sacred to You is trivialized and made common. Television, movies, newspapers, work
associates, even neighborhood families accept as natural: sexual infidelities, drunkenness, drug
use, violence, and pornography. I see these things so regularly that I find myself growing callous
to what I used to find shocking. Part of me wants to follow Your teachings. Part of me wants to
“fit in” and make friends easily.
Lord, help me to recognize right from wrong. Keep my heart tender that I might recoil from evil
rather than adapt and make room in my life for what offends You. Give me discernment, Lord, in
my everyday affairs so that when the big issues come, I will be prepared to do what is right.
Lord, give me courage to say yes to good. Give me the strength to walk away from all that
offends You. Help me, Jesus, to stay close to You even as I live each day in a world that
sometimes professes allegiance to You but more often than not accepts compromises in following
Your law. Through the gifts of Your Holy Spirit, may I find the graces I need to live in
accordance with Your Divine Will and may these graces be given to all those I love. Thank you,
Jesus. Amen