by Thomas Kempis 

O Lord God, who are sweetness unspeakable, turn all fleshy delight into bitterness to me, delights which would turn me from the love of eternal things to the love of short and unworthy sensible pleasure. Do not let flesh and blood overcome me, or the world with its short glory deceive me, or the devil, with his thousandfold arts, ensnare me, but give me spiritual strength to resist, patience to suffer, and constancy to persevere. In place of all worldly consolation, give me the most sweet consolation of the Holy Spirit, and in place of all fleshly love send into my soul the love of Your Holy name.

Behold-meat, drink, clothing, and all other necessities of the body are painful and troublesome to a fervent spirit which, if it might, would always rest in God and in spiritual things. Grant me, therefore, grace to use such bodily necessities temperately, and grace not to be deceived by excessive desire for them. It is not lawful to forsake all things, for physical nature must be preserved, and Your holy law prohibits superfluous things to be sought more for pleasure than for necessity, for so the flesh would rebel against the spirit.  Wherefore, Lord, I beseech You, that the hand of Your grace may so govern and teach me that I shall not exceed by any manner of superfluity.