Morning in the Fall

We begin with several deep

breaths, and a moment of quiet

stillness. And we begin to pray: 

   In the name of God,

   Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. 

   Amen.

 

A morning reading and prayer

from Psalm 118:24-25.
   “This is the day

   the Lord has made.
   We will rejoice and

   be glad in it.
   Please, Lord, please save us.
   Please, Lord, please

   give us success.”
 

A reading from St. Paul to read

aloud and consider, Romans 14:7-8.

   “For we don’t live for ourselves 

   or die for ourselves.

   If we live,

   it’s to honor the Lord. 

   And if we die,

   it’s to honor the Lord. 

   So whether we live or die, 

   we belong to the Lord.”

 

Hearing that declaration of

living and dying for Christ, 

of being his no matter the

moment, we pray:

   Christ, I am yours.

   This day is yours.

   I want this day

   and all it contains

   to honor you and 

   to be guided by you.

   Please put me where 

   I am most needed and 

   most need to be.

Hear and consider the simple

prayer Jesus modeled for 

his friends in Matthew 6:9-13.

   “Pray like this:

   Our Father in heaven,

   may your name be kept holy.

   May your Kingdom come soon.
   May your will be done on earth,
   as it is in heaven. 

   Give us today the food we need,

   and forgive us our sins,
   as we have forgiven those 

   who sin against us.

   And don’t let us yield to temptation,
   but rescue us from the evil one.”

 

Notice what those words stir

up in you, in your mind and

in your heart. And we pray, 

   Awesome God 

   of heaven and earth,

   Great Source of all that is:

   I honor you and

   I commit myself to you.

   I will follow your Way

   in all times and places.

   I will be content with 

   what you bring me today.

   I'm only human

   and I need your help  

   to share with others

   the mercy, grace and good

   that I receive from you.

   Thank you,

   for being my strength

   when I am weak, 

   and my wisdom

   when I speak.

   I am yours,

   and yours I will always be.

 

In Luke 18:13 Jesus tells the 

story of two people praying 

aloud, and calls attention to 

the prayer given in humility,

   “But the tax collector stood 

   at a distance and dared 

   not even lift his eyes to heaven 

   as he prayed. 

   Instead, he beat his chest 

   in sorrow, saying, 

   ‘O God, be merciful to me, 

   for I am a sinner.’”

 

We would be so humble

and express our need of

God’s grace in all things,

as we pray:
   God be merciful and help me,

   because I'm not all I should be.
 

Take a few moments to 

consider all that is planned

for this day. Who would you 

ask God to bless? What other 

needs would you put into

God’s care?

 

And now we go into the day

with renewed hope and with

our trust in God, as we pray

with King David in Psalm 19:14:
   “May the words of my mouth 
   and the meditation of my heart
   be pleasing to you,
   O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
 

Breathe deeply in, and out, 

and go into the day with God!