Mother Teresa’s prayers were not just a way for her to connect with God, but also a way to find strength and guidance in the face of challenges and hardships. For her, prayer was not just a passive activity, but an active way to engage with the world and make a difference in the lives of others.
One of Mother Teresa’s most famous prayers is the “Do It Anyway” prayer, which reflects her unwavering commitment to serving others, no matter the obstacles that lay in her path. The prayer reads:
“People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you. Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight. Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Give the best you’ve got anyway.”
This prayer speaks to the heart of Mother Teresa’s mission, which was to spread love and compassion in a world that can often be harsh and unforgiving. It reminds us that even when faced with opposition and adversity, we must continue to do what is right and just, and not lose sight of our ultimate goal.
Another prayer that was close to Mother Teresa’s heart was the Prayer of St. Francis, which begins, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” This prayer captures the essence of Mother Teresa’s work, which was to bring comfort and healing to those who were suffering. She saw herself as a vessel through which God’s love could flow, and this prayer served as a reminder to her that she was not the one doing the work, but rather, it was God working through her.
As Mother Teresa once said, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” For her, prayer was not just a way to ask for things, but a way to align her heart and will with God’s and find the strength to carry on in her work.
Despite her many accomplishments, Mother Teresa remained humble and dedicated to her faith until the very end of her life. She once said, “I’m just a pencil in the hand of God,” reminding us that it was not her own abilities or achievements that made her work meaningful, but rather, the grace and power of God working through her.
Mother Teresa’s prayers remind us that we, too, can find strength and guidance in our own lives through a commitment to prayer and a deep trust in God’s plan. As we face the challenges and uncertainties of our own lives, may we be inspired by her example to remain steadfast in our faith and continue to spread love and compassion to those around us.