Sometimes when you can’t find words of your own, it’s helpful to pray the words of others. Sometimes, they can express your thoughts and longings better than you can. Often, they are the tried and true petitions that saints of old have offered up to God through the ages.

The best is praying God’s word back to God. Also, prayer books such as The Book of Common Prayer, The Valley of Vision, and Every Moment Holy are useful. Sometimes, you can repeat the words of fellow saints when their words echo your own.

Here’s one I love that you can pray when you come to the point of absolute and ultimate surrender:

“Lord, I give up all my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all, utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Use me as Thou wilt. Send me where Thou wilt. Work out Thy whole will in my life at any cost, now and forever. Amen” (Betty Scott Stam).