There is nothing sweeter than the sights, sounds, and smells that come in with the dawn of a new day, bringing excitement and maybe even a pep in your step as you set forth to conquer all the things that lay before you.
That is, unless you are anything like me, and those blazing sun rays stream in and feel more like a nuisance disrupting your precious sleep rather than a welcoming salutation. Just five more minutes…please!
As you well know, each new day will bear its own unique set of triumphs and challenges, bringing on whimsical highs and debilitating lows. You may range from joyfully bouncing out of bed one day to barely having the energy to get up the next.
Mornings can be sweet and lazy as your spouse brings you in a cup of coffee or utterly hectic as you stumble into the kitchen to find your toddler having a meltdown on the floor. Ugh.
So, whether you feel invigorated about the day ahead or overwhelmed by the tasks that it brings, the beauty about it is this — we have the ability to share our heart and greet our faithful Father, every single morning!
Implementing daily prayer as part of your morning routine will not only posture your heart with gratitude, but when we pause and take a moment to pray, it sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Psalms 118:24 tells us that every day is a gift. However, if I were being completely honest, as a mom trying to get two teens up and ready for school, packing lunches, and trying to get everyone out the door by 7:30, I don’t always make time to pray, much less see my morning as a precious gift. Maybe you struggle with this, too?
Thankfully, we serve a loving God who knew we would struggle to meet with Him in the mornings. This is why Scripture alludes to the value and importance of seeking God when we first awake on multiple occasions.
We see it most often in the poetic Book of Psalms as David opens up his heart, rejoicing, praising, and giving thanks, all while seeking wisdom and crying out in anguish in his morning prayers. I'm pretty sure David had some rather rough mornings, yet he still met with God!
So, maybe we learn from him and follow his clumsy, yet heartfelt example. The truth is, there is no need to overcomplicate or perfect our prayers. It’s more about being intentional and purposeful with our prayers, going to God with our praise and vulnerability.
Not sure where to start? Well, please feel free to use the prompting prayers below as a guideline or base, and then personalize them to fit your needs as you bring your heart before the Lord. Each prayer will have a Psalm and a question or reflection as you open up your heart to God.
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1. A Prayer of Thankfulness
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days (Psalm 90:14).
Gracious Father, You alone are holy and constant, filled with mercy and compassion. Your sacrificial love never fails and is truly beyond my comprehension, which is why my words always fall short.
I can’t even begin to express the gratitude that I feel. As You breathe life into my lungs each morning and grant me another day, I sincerely thank You for this gift of life. Thank you for the many blessings You have so graciously bestowed upon me and my family.
You are such a good, kind, and gracious Father. Your many promises give me hope, grant me comfort, and give me great joy.
As I embark on this new day, may Your unfailing love carry me through, and may I find ways to glorify You in my deeds and actions today. I ask all this in Your Holy and Precious Name. Amen.
Reflect on the bounty of blessings the Lord has given you, and thank Him for those specific things in your prayers today.
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2. A Prayer for Wisdom
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly (Psalm 5:3).
O Lord, I am so very grateful that You are our true source of wisdom. It gives me great comfort and peace knowing that You are with me and will lead and direct me today. As You well know, some things are weighing heavy on my heart, and I need Your help.
I earnestly seek Your wisdom and discernment as I journey into this new day. Grant me the courage to stand firm, while showing grace and love towards others. I long to honor You with my choices, but I so easily sway and give in to my anger or fear.
Lord, I invite You to transform my thoughts and help me focus on what You would have me to do. I want Your will and Your way to take place on this day. Amen.
What is bothering you today? Are there big choices or decisions that need to be made or a certain situation that is confusing your heart? Lay all those burdens down as you lay them at His feet.
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3. A Prayer for Protection
But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you (Psalm 5:11).
Yahweh, I am forever grateful that You are my safety net, my rock, and my fortress. As the day draws in and the weight of the world crashes in around me, I ask that You lay Your loving hands upon me, and upon my family.
Grant us the ability to carry out the tasks You lay before us without fear or trepidation. Guard our hearts and minds from the evil one’s schemes, and help us set our eyes on You alone.
Help me place my trust in Your unwavering source of security. Watch over us and place barriers of protection around my children and family as we go about our day.
As my children are in school and I am at work, help us be a blessing to those around us and provide us with opportunities to speak about Your love so that others will come to know You and not live in fear. I ask this in Your mighty name. Amen.
Do you feel that God is your source of protection? What about your children’s source of protection? When you are apart from your family, do you find it difficult to trust God?
Share those fears and concerns with God and ask Him to grant you peace as He faithfully delivers His protection for you and your family.
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4. A Prayer to Trust
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life (Psalm 143:8).
God, this morning as I rise and try to tackle a new day, I long to put my trust in You. I trust that You will lead and guide me and help me accept the things I cannot change.
Some days prove harder than others and when I want to give into my feelings and be taken over by them, reassure me that You are with me and that I can find hope in You.
Help me lean into Your Word and promises that remind me to entrust You with the entirety of my life. I am so thankful that You are a Father who is constant and unchanging in a world that seems to be changing at warp speed. I trust You, and You alone. Amen.
Our God is completely trustworthy. However, sometimes our faith can waver, and we may turn to others or rely on false illusions to feel better about certain situations.
However, we must be habitually faithful in seeking God through prayer and digging into His Word to combat the lies that will lead us astray.
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5. A Prayer for Peace and Comfort
I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises (Psalm 119:147-148).
Faithful Father, You have been so good to me in times of sorrow, grief, or sadness, as You have so generously given me an unexplainable and reassuring amount of comfort and peace. Thank you for being so kind and compassionate to me.
As I enter a new day, I humbly ask that You walk alongside me and draw close as I face the challenges of today. Grant me comfort when strong emotions emerge, wanting to take hold and take me under.
Help me find ways to set my sights on You when I am in need and provide tender ways for me to feel Your loving embrace. I am forever grateful for Your unending peace and comfort. Amen.
Are you in need of peace and comfort today? It’s okay to admit that. Find ways to get still and quiet before God.
Maybe you just need to curl up with your Bible and a cozy blanket or step away for a minute and sit on your back porch. But seek Him. Let Him wash over you with His precious peace.
Well, friend, there you have it. A few short and simply sweet prayers, along with some poetic Bible verses and thoughtful questions to get your day started. May you go in peace and prayer as you seize this beautiful and miraculous gift of a day!
For further reading:
How Does Joy Come in the Morning?
How Are God’s Mercies ‘New Every Morning’?
10 Morning Blessing Quotes to Begin Your Day
Music Video:
'Don’t Believe Them' Lauren Daigle Live Performance
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Originally published Monday, 28 August 2023.