Prayers for Each MomentSample

When the Day Is Beginning

When I was in school and facing a big test, I loved to start with a brand-new pencil. One that hadn’t made any mistakes yet. One that hadn’t been forced to scratch out or try to erase any blunders. In its own little way, that brand-new pencil seemed full of hope and promise.

I feel much the same way about mornings. When I first open my eyes, the day seems so full of hope and promise. I haven’t made any mistakes yet. There are no blunders to regret. No hastily spoken words to try to erase.

To try to keep it that way—at least as much as I am able—I’ve learned that I’d better turn to God right away for some divine help.

So before my feet hit the floor and I race headlong toward my first mistake of the day, I like to pause and pray.

Sometimes, it’s simply a smile, stretch, and “Good morning, God” as I soak in the sunrise streaming through the window. Other times, when I’m forced to leap out of bed in a rush, it might be a hastily muttered “Help, Lord!”

But when I have more than a moment to linger, my prayers are more like the one below. So, whether it’s morning or midday or midnight when you read this, will you join me in prayer?

To Pray:

Holy Father, thank You. Thank You for this beautiful new day, for Your breath of life that fills my lungs, and for this fresh start.

As my feet hit the floor, guide me to the places where I should go today and to the people You would have me meet. Fill my mind with thoughts of You and my mouth with the words You would have me share.

Teach my heart to take up the servant’s cloth, just as Jesus did, and to serve where I can and those I can.

Protect me from the evils of this world and the evils of my own wayward will, which we both know is probably the greater danger.

Open my eyes to see You at work in the world around me. Give me the courage, the desire, and the love for others to join You there in that work.

And more than anything, God, draw me closer and closer and still closer to You. Hold me safe in the circle of Your grace always.

I love You, Lord.

Amen.