Our pastor read the Litany of Humility during his sermon, and the memory of that night came crashing into my mind.
We were flinging words like mud and accusations like stones. Standing on either side of our kitchen island late one night, I don’t remember what the trigger was or who the instigator was, but somehow we ended up in one of the worst fights we had ever had.
His arms were folded across his chest, and my hands were gripping the counter like a vice, and there were tears and glares, and I’m pretty sure we both felt completely overwhelmed.
So I did the very mature thing (not) of grabbing my keys and getting in my car and driving off into the (very late) night.
I started driving in big circles around our neighborhood, still as worked up as if I was still standing in the kitchen. And then I felt a little nudge in my heart, “Pray the Litany of Humility.”
It was a pretty clear nudge, so I pulled over and found the song version on Spotify, pushing play as I continued my driving laps around the neighborhood.
It took five rounds of listening to Danielle Rose singing “Litany of Humility” for my hard heart to crack wide open.
By the fifth time, I was crying completely different tears. It was as if the prayer gave me the eyes to see myself, my husband, my marriage, and our problems with completely new eyes - and through the eyes of my Savior. My heart began to change.
By the time I pulled back into our driveway, he was waiting for me at the door. God seemed to have done a work in his heart, too, while I was out pacing the neighborhood. I came into his arms and we reconciled.
Since that night many years ago, the Litany of Humility has been very special to me. It is one - if not THE - hardest prayer I’ve ever prayed. It is also one of the most soul-changing, heart-healing prayers I’ve ever prayed.
Sitting in church today, I remembered how transformative this prayer has been. I haven’t prayed it in a while, to be honest, but I committed to praying it every day in September. I need this prayer in my life.
Will you join me?
This article originally appeared on Instagram.
The Litany of Humility
O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being loved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being extolled,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being honored,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being praised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being preferred to others,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being consulted,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the desire of being approved,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being humiliated,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being despised,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being calumniated,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the fear of being forgotten,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being ridiculed,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being wronged,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
From the fear of being suspected,
Deliver me, O Jesus.
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.