A Prayer on Fasting

O God, during this season of Lent you call me:

to fast from discontent and to feast on gratitude;

to fast from anger and to feast on patience;

to fast from bitterness and to feast on forgiveness;

to fast from self-concern and to feast on compassion.

O God, during this season of Lent you call me:

to fast from discouragement and to feast on hope;

to fast from laziness and to feast on commitment;

to fast from complaining and to feast on acceptance; 

to fast from lust and to feast on respect.

O God, during this season of Lent you call me:

to fast from prejudice and to feast on understanding;

to fast from resentment and to feast on reconciliation;

to fast from lies and to feast on the truth;

to fast from wasted time and to feast on honest work.

O God, during this season of Lent you call me:

to fast from grimness and to feast on joy;

to fast from suspicion and to feast on trust;

to fast from idle talk and to feast on prayer and silence;

to fast from guilt and to feast on the mercy of God.

May almighty God have mercy on me,

forgive me my sins and bring me to everlasting life.

Amen.