Are you a morning person? We live in a culture that is increasingly time conscious. We realize that we cannot create time, we can only manage what we fill it with. No matter what your schedule looks like — No matter what time your day starts and ends — it’s important to start it with a Prayer!
Starting Your Day
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly” (Psalm 5:3).
The Psalmist repeatedly implores people to start their day talking to God.
One day Jesus’ disciples were looking for him. They finally found him. Mark reports that “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35).
Jesus had to start his day with his heavenly Father. Jesus made morning prayers a regular habit.
Seven Morning Prayers
Whether you are a morning person or a night owl — whatever time your day starts — here are seven prayers to get your day going in the right direction.
1. A prayer for protection.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7).
Father, I come to You today, bowing before you, asking for protection from the evil one. Lord, we are assailed moment by moment with images on television, the internet, books and newspapers that leave us vulnerable to sin of every kind.
Surround me with Your divine hedge of protection. Surround me with Your strength and Your might. Let me take refuge in You and be glad, let me always sing for joy. And please shelter me, as I express my love for You and lift up Your name.
O LORD, You and only You bless me. O LORD, You and only You surround me with favor as with a shield. AMEN. [Psalm 5:11-12]
2. A prayer for guidance.
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long” (Psalm 25:5).
Lord, I’m here today with open hands and an open heart, ready to depend on you to help me through the day and all it will bring my way. Help me be like Nehemiah, help me come to you for guidance, strength, provision and protection.
As I face tough choices and hard situations, help me remember my belovedness, help me remember that I am Your child and Your representative to the world around me. Help me live today in a way that brings honor to Your holy name. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.
[A prayer by Charles Stanley]
3. A prayer for a heavy heart.
Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on a wound, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart” (Prov. 25:20).
Heavenly father, in my present need, help me to believe that you are aware of my anxiety and will do what is best for me. Give me the strength to trust you and put the present and future in your hands. Grant this through Christ, our Lord. AMEN.
4. A prayer for courage.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
AMEN.
[A prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr]
5. A prayer for help.
Help me, LORD my God; save me according to your unfailing love” (Psalm 109:26).
When you don’t know what to pray, Scripture provides the words for you! Use these prayers from Psalms to guide your request for help from God.
H – “Hear me Lord and answer me for I am poor and needy” (Psalm 86:1).
The first step is to let God know that you need him and want His help.
E – “Establish my steps in your word” (Psalm 119:133).
Second, ask God for His direction and for strength to stand firm in His promises.
L – “Let your compassion quickly meet our needs because we are on the brink of despair” (Psalm 79:8).
We often need help because of our past choices and sin. Ask God to help you focus on his compassion and grace to lift you out of your despair and heartache.
P – “Protect me, God, because I take refuge in You. I say to the Lord, You are my Lord, apart from You I have nothing good” (Psalm 16:1). AMEN.
Whether it’s spiritual protection from Satan’s attacks or physical protection, we can come to God and ask Him to be our protector and provider. Seek refuge and lean on God, not your own strength or abilities. God promises to be your refuge if you will let Him!
6. A prayer for a heart of worship.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness” (Psalm 29:2).
Lord, I want to worship only You. Take me deeper in my prayer life and in intimacy with You. Help me to walk in Your light and holiness. I want to know You more. “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord” (Psalm 89:15).
Give me joy in Your presence and help me to bring joy into the lives of others. “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11).
I want to dwell in Your house and gaze on Your beauty. I want to seek Your face. “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple… Hear my voice when I call, O LORD” (Psalm 27:4,7). AMEN.
7. A prayer to overcome negative thinking.
Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5)
Thank You for your good thoughts about me. May my thoughts reflect your truth and nothing else. When I have a negative thought, I pray for your help to quickly recognize it and that You would empower me to focus on what is true, pure, and lovely. Thank You Lord.
In Jesus Christ Name I pray, AMEN.
