A Morning Prayer

Every morning, typically at the beginning of my quiet time with the LORD, I pray something like this.

LORD, thank you for this personal time with you in prayer and in the Word. May it help me maintain a heart of love for you. May my witness of you to others fundamentally flow from your love to me and them.

Thank you for already working in the lives of everyone I will encounter today. Thank you for fresh mercy and grace—for me and for them. May I not take your goodness to me for granted nor mechanically witness to others of your love for them. Instead, may my witness fit with what you are already doing in my and their lives. May I be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. When I speak, give me courage to speak the truth in love and to show genuine humility and love to everyone—regardless of their age, ethnicity, lifestyle, or creed.

Today, may I too think others are to die for. May I embrace your perspective that “mercy triumphs over judgment.” May I not treat people like they are projects, nor dispensable objects used to complete my mission and make me feel important. May I not indifferently bypass and neglect the hurting person cast to the side of the road, because of the project in-hand or the goal in sight. This day (precious, priceless, unique, and never to be repeated), may I be part of your effort of leading those I encounter in “paths of righteousness for your name’s sake” — whether by a word said, a deed done, or an example lived.

This is the day you’ve made! A new day of mercy and grace. Thank you. After this quiet time with you, continue to shape my thoughts, my desires, my decisions, my words, and my actions. May they glorify you. Help me! If I am not in union with you and a participator of your life, I am incapable of walking forward today with rest, gentleness, and humility. This morning, I will meditate on and give thanks for your love; tonight I want to remember your faithfulness to me and those I encounter. The time that spans between now and then I yield to you. Your ability to do your perfect work through imperfect people and cause everything to work together for good amazes me. Fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit. I need your empowerment to think, to will, and to act according to your good pleasure. Today, regardless of what I face or anticipate may I have joy in the journey, hope as an anchor to my soul, and faith that expresses itself through love.