Blogopticon 09 28 09: Goannatree and Samuel Johnson's Prayer

Today the Blogopticon was delighted with this profound, lovely and relatively brief (and therefore practical) pray from Samuel Johnson, shared at one of my favorite smaller blogs, Goannatree.  The blogger notes that she says this prayer for herself on the first day as a doctoral student at the University of Saint Andrews:

Almighty God, in whose hands are all the powers of man; who givest understanding, and takest it away; who as it seemeth good unto Thee, enlightenest the thoughts of the simple, and darkenest the meditations fo the wise, be present with me in my studies and enquiries.

Grant, O LORD, that I may not lavish away the life which Thou hast given me on useless trifles, not waste it in vain searches after things which Thou hast hidden from me.

Enable me, by the Holy Spirit, so to shun sloth and negligence, that every day may discharge part of the task which Thou hast allotted me; and so further with Thy help that labour which, without thy help must be ineffectual, such success as will most promote thy glory, and the salvation of my own soul, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Check out the blog here.