What inspires you?

Phil Wall of hopehiv (www.hopehiv.org) told me that he returns regularly to read the prayer of Thomas A Kempis as it inspires him and reminds him to keep focused on his mission.

Here is the prayer: More than These

"Lord, what can I rely on in this life? Or, of all the things under heaven’s vault, which object is my greatest comfort? Is it not You, my Lord God, whose mercies are without number?

When You were absent from me Lord, could things go well? And how could they ever go amiss when You are with me? I would rather be poor for Your sake than rich without You. Where You are there is heaven, and where you are not there is death and hell.

You are my sole desire and therefore I long for You, cry out to you and beseech You. There is no one in whom I can confide; there is no one whom I can trust to help me when in need, except You, my God. You console me and You are faithful in everything…

Therefore it is in You, Lord God, that I put my trust; on You I lay all my anxieties and worries. Everything that is not You I find terribly unstable and insecure. My many friends are of no help to me, nor can influential associates aid me. Wise counsellors can’t offer me the correct answer, nor can the books of the learned give me any comfort. No precious stone can buy my freedom, nor can any secret and tranquil place give me safety. None of these are any good to me unless You Yourself, Lord, assist and help me, teach and defend me.

Whatever may seem good for our peace and happiness is really nothing, if You are absent from us; of themselves all these things can do nothing for us.

You are the end of everything good, the highest point of life and the depth of wisdom. Your servant’s greatest comfort is to place his trust in You above all else. To You I raise my eyes. In you I trust… "

Do you have anything like this that inspires you? Please share it here and help inspire others today.