Samuel Johnson’s Prayers against Sloth

Samuel Johnson, known especially for his contribution to the standardization of the English language by producing A Dictionary of the English Language in 1755, was a devout Anglican and struggled against slothfulness his whole life. Below are a couple of his prayers against this.

Slothfulness as distraction or indifference are common to all men. May these prayers, along with the Scriptures themselves, help you to contradict this in your own struggle.

“O Lord, in whose hands are life and death, by whose power I am sustained, and by whose mercy I am spared, look down upon me with pity. Forgive me that I have this day neglected the duty Thou hast assigned to it, and suffered the hours, of which I must give account, to pass away without any endeavor to accomplish thy will, or to promote my own salvation. Make me to remember, O God, that every day is Thy gift, and ought to be used according to Thy command. Grant me, therefore, so to repent of my negligence, that I may obtain mercy from Thee, and pass the time which Thou shalt yet allow me in diligent performance of Thy commands, through Jesus Christ. Amen.”

"O Lord, who wouldst that all men should be saved, and who Knowest that without thy grace we can do nothing acceptable to thee, have mercy upon me. Enable me to break the chain of my sins, to reject sensuality in word and thought, and to overcome and suppress vain scruples; and to use such diligence in lawful employment as may enable me to support myself and do good to others. O Lord, forgive me the time lost in idleness; pardon the sins which I have committed, and grant that I may redeem the time misspent, and be reconciled to thee by true repentance, that I may live and die in peace, and be received to everlasting happiness. Take not from me, O Lord, thy Holy Spirit, but let me have support and comfort for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen."

HT: Aaron Lewis