The prayer of Saint Nikolaus of Flüe:

My Lord and my God, take everything from me that keeps me far from you;
My Lord and my God, give everything to me that brings me nearer to you;

My Lord and my God, take me away from myself and give me completely to you.

In order to taste and suffer the divine things, which are infinitely far above our human nature, God must alienate us from ourselves, from our desires, even sometimes, somehow, and for some time our desires that are for the most part good. We can’t do it by our own power. When God asks it of us, the most we can do is say yes and not put up any barriers to stop him. We can’t force the issue.

The prayer of Saint Nikolaus of Flüe is both comforting and dangerous.

Comforting: God answers prayer.

Dangerous: Be careful what we wish for. God may give it to us – not, of course, for my own pure enjoyment, but to quietly and without noise overflow into the lives of others.