Mei Hashiloach, my Institute for Jewish Spirituality study text for the year, asks the question on Mikketz: Who rules over whom? Do I rule over God or does God’s desires direct me?

Said differently: who gets credit for my successes? Do I? or am I just a vessel for the Holy One?

My teacher Jonathan Slater reminds us of the prayer:

Not my will, God, but Yours
May I become aware of how I might best act in this moment and the next
Make Your will known to me,
So that I might live with honesty and love,
To act with the greatest wisdom available to me, and
To make for a more just and compassionate world.

Now that is a prayer to live by…