my favorite prayer ever

O God, be thou exalted over my possessions. Nothing of earth's treasures shall seem dear unto me if only Thou art glorified in my life. Be Thou exalted over my friendships. I am determined that Thou shalt be above all, though I must stand deserted and alone in the midst of the earth. Be Thou exalted above my comforts. Though it mean the loss of bodily comforts and the carrying of heavy crosses I shall keep my vow made this day before Thee. Be Thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream. Rise, O Lord, into Thy proper place of honor, above my ambitions, above my likes and dislikes, above my family, my health and even my life itself. Let me decrease that Thou mayest increase, let me sink that Thou mayest rise above. Ride forth upon me as Thou didst ride into Jerusalem mounted upon a donkey, the humble little beast, and let me hear the children cry to Thee, `Hosanna in the highest.'

This is a prayer, from the book The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. It's from the 8th chapter of the book, The Gaze of the Soul. I have this prayer in three different places that I encounter each and every day, in my purse, by my bed, and in my bathroom. I long for my life to live out the words that I repeat over and over each day. It's honestly discouraging, because everytime I read this, I see another aspect of my life that I could improve, or I'll recognize something that I did against God. But, I just adore this prayer. I've never found anything more powerful or focusing than reading these words and meaning them multiple times a day. I hope they are so encouraging to you too :)